70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

Shows diary entries from seventy-one years ago, using today's date in Hong Kong as the starting point. To see pages from earlier dates (they go back to 1 Dec 1941), choose the date below and click the 'Apply' button.

  • 26 Jan 1942: RE Jones Diary

    Submitted by Admin on Sat, 2011-12-24 14:03
    Book / Document: 
    R. E. Jones Wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Mon, 26 Jan 1942

    Fish soup high & pork soup fatty & no bread so I’m hungry tonight. Wandered around the hillsides where Marj, Blackie and I used to go.

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  • 26 Jan 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

    Submitted by brian edgar on Thu, 2012-01-12 21:47
    Book / Document: 
    Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Mon, 26 Jan 1942

    American missionaries Robert and Helen Hammond and their family (their baby Edith, Mrs. Hammond's parents, Albert and Rose Reiton and their younger daughter Esther) have been hiding in a Kowloon flat. Eventually they write a letter asking the authorities to arrange for their internment. After 46 days they see the first Japanese enter their home: a general and his interpreter. After expressing his amazement that they have passed so long without being looted, the general tells them, to be ready the next day.

     

    The Temporary Committee meets again, and once more Franklin Gimson is in attendance, announcing that he's received a visit from the Major-General in charge of Civil Administration who would be glad to receive appications from those who wished to resume 'normal duties in certain types of work.' At this stage the Japanese seem to be willing to allow 'essential workers' to help them run Hong Kong, and there are about 100 men, women and children currently 'out' and active - but few people are to leave Stanley in this way in the future.

     

    By this date a Camp canteen, for the sale of extra rations, has been proposed and agreed by the Japanese. But it will be some time before it actually exists.

    Sources:

    Hammonds: Robert Hammond, Bondservants of the Japanese, 1957 (originally 1942), 48-49

    Temporary Committee: John Stericker, Captive Colony, 1945, Chapter iv, page 4

    Canteen: G. B. Endacott and Alan Birch, Hong Kong Eclipse, 203

  • 26 Jan 1942, W J Carrie's wartime diary

    Submitted by billagee on Thu, 2019-08-29 07:56
    Book / Document: 
    W J Carrie's wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Mon, 26 Jan 1942

    Tired tonight! - I went to Stanley this morning - but we were very late in getting away - we had to wait at the Jap C.G. for a guide. I saw Greaves but no one else I know - or rather that you know. Conditions are a bit better but rations very low. So I was very late back and had no tiffin. I had bread and cheese and tea at 3.30. Now I've had a good dinner so o.k. Things  are being tightened up everywhere however - there are no Europeans to be seen on the streets now. So I'll be off too someday soon.         Cheero Darling
    All my love     B.


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