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.

  • 28 Aug 1944, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

    Submitted by Admin on Thu, 2014-06-12 20:22
    Book / Document: 
    R. E. Jones Wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Mon, 28 Aug 1944

    Fine day. Wind E.

    Collected grass for drying & to help out the wood for water boiling which is now twice daily.

    Battle for Paris began 25th Anglo-US forces about 140 mls from German border & German forces let down very badly in Rumania due to collapse of Rumanian resistance.

    A few more words with Stevens re quiet hour. ((Is this the same person he usually calls "Steve"? Or is he referring to the family as a whole?))

    We are allowed two Canteen purchases per month Y20 each as from 1st Sept.

    PM roll-calls now fixed 7pm so all lectures, concerts etc. must now come to an end.  Some think the new order due to fact that patriotic songs were played & sung last night, others that trouble is expected at anytime.

    With Steve for ½ an hour.

    This new roll-call routine makes the evening seem very long.

    Damned hungry again.

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  • 28 Aug 1944, Eric MacNider's wartime diary

    Submitted by Grace on Tue, 2014-09-02 13:56
    Book / Document: 
    Eric MacNider's wartime diary
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Mon, 28 Aug 1944

    Canteen quota increased from Y88,000 to Y120,000

    Roll call at 7p.m. nightly

  • 28 Aug 1944, John Charter's wartime journal

    Submitted by HK Bill on Sat, 2022-02-12 10:09
    Book / Document: 
    John Charter's wartime journal
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Mon, 28 Aug 1944

    The only snag about sudden, stupendous days of news is that life has to return again to its narrow little rut, and the rut is apt to look rather smaller than usual by comparison with the gala day. However, news is still good and our troops are doing splendidly in France. If only I could be there doing something instead of just sitting and waiting and waiting for news and worrying about stupid, petty little troubles!

    Today is David’s birthday (Yvonne’s brother) and he will be 9 years old. What a change we will see in him when we eventually meet; he was not quite 5 when he and Chère were evacuated. Yvonne celebrated her birthday on 6th August and our programme was much the same as that on my birthday, ending up with a select gathering in Maudie’s room. I managed to beat out from an aluminium fan blade a plate and two spoons. I riveted brass handles onto the spoons (for strength) and if we could keep them polished they would look quite smart. These by the way were Y’s birthday present, for we were short of plates and spoons. The china plates belonging to Isa and Mr Lammert have gradually been broken and spoons have mysteriously vanished.

    We hear the parcels may arrive some time this week. Most of us had given up all of hope of ever seeing them. I certainly had. Well, we haven’t got them yet!


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