70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries
21 Apr 1943, Harry Ching's wartime diary
Submitted by Admin on Sat, 2013-03-23 16:58Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 21 Apr 1943((Following text not dated:))
Gendarme visit alarms family. With Eurasian George Kotwall ((executed as BAAG agent in October, 1943)). But mistaken identity. "You master's wife?" Confusion. Wanted Morgie Master next door. Allegedly carried messages Ginger Hyde ((banker)) to Volunteer husband ((Pte R. J. Master)) in camp for one Ansari instructing Indians escapology. Supposedly from one Sedgwick ((P. C. M. Sedgewick, a HK Govt Cadet)) at Waichow.
21 Apr 1943, R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Submitted by Admin on Fri, 2013-04-12 22:01Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 21 Apr 1943Dull but improved pm. Little done all day.
1lb vitamin biscuits issued. The Japs gave them to us but they were ours in the first place & have been allowed to go musty. A rats nest was found in one tin.
Bulletin re meeting with Hatori promulgated, nothing much in it.
Span yarn with Steve pm whilst Mary & G walked with kids.
Full moon.
21 Apr 1943, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Submitted by brian edgar on Sun, 2014-01-26 16:50Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 21 Apr 1943The banker Charles Hyde is arrested for his role in a plot to help Captain Mateen Ansari escape from Ma Tau-chung Camp. The plot has been infiltrated by Japanese intelligence - in fact, it might have been instigated by them - and a letter written by Hyde with regard to the plan falls into the hands of a pro-Japanese Indian.
Hyde's wide-ranging resistance work included raising money to buy supplies for the camps, smuggling medical drugs into Stanley, organising escapes and sending military intelligence to the British Army Aid Group.
Source:
Ride Papers, 10/37/10 (kindly supplied by Elizabeth Ride)
Note:
This is the most plausible of a number of dates given for Hyde's arrest. Others are April 30, May 3, 'some time in April', 'May' and 'early May'. An undated entry in Harry Ching's diary suggests that Hyde's involvement in plots to free Captain Ansari was known at an early stage in the arrest process:
Hyde's detention was reported, along with that of Selwyn-Clarke and Bunje, in a report that reached the British Army Aid Group on May 3.
For more details of Hyde's resistance work, see
http://brianedgar.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/charles-hydes-resistance-work/
The Ride Papers are held at the Hong Kong Heritage Project:
21 Apr - 22 Jun 1943, The Diary of Mrs Grace Smith
Submitted by jjohnantonsmith on Sun, 2021-10-03 22:44Date(s) of events described:Wed, 21 Apr 1943 to Tue, 22 Jun 1943
[Left page] …loaf for 2 days.
Eggs .40 sen ea.
Oranges .30 sen “
Bananas .7½ sen “[Right page] …allowance of ¥25. Prices in… [Seems to repeat text from top of previous page]
__________________________________________________________22nd June 1943
Red Letter Day
Lovely letter from Pixie [Her daughter-in-law] which did much to hearten me. After two months without a cent, I got ¥20. I could now buy a banana [illegible]
