70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

Early morning, moved off up the Mersey, over the Bar - very muddy, and came into view of Liverpool.

A launch brought along a crowd of dull, well-dressed men each carrying a little suitcase who climbed ladder to ship.  A crowded ferry circled  round us, people waving to us.  As we pulled alongside, there were loads of people waving and cheering on a raised sort of stage; a band was playing 'Now it can be told'.  The Mayor and other folk made speeches.  Mr. Roe's son Martin  ((from boarding school in England)) was there at dockside.  ((Mrs Roe and daughter Barbara were in same cabin as Mum and I).
 
((We all had to see the UK officials in the public saloon to get travel documents etc.  Looking back, the logistics were awesome.  I guess there were between 2,000 and 3,000 of us aboard.  Every one was interviewed.  Somehow UK had got information from any relatives any of us we might have in UK; a destination had been organised for every one.

Mum and I were told that Aunt Lily in Gillingham, Kent, had offered to have us; so had Mrs. I. Cole, (pre-war family friend) whose husband Lieut. G. Cole was killed during the HK fighting; she now lived in Devon.  What kindness!

Of course we chose to go to Aunt Lily, and then and there were issued with railway warrants to Gillingham. These interviews took all day, so we spent another night on the Empress, all packed up.))