70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries
5 Aug 1942, Barbara Anslow's diary
Submitted by Barbara Anslow on Wed, 2012-02-22 19:22Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 5 Aug 1942News came in today, and discounted, that the troops, and/or folk at St Theresa's Hospital Kowloon had been sent over to Hong Kong. Kowloon said to have been bombed, and that public hadn't been allowed to go to Kowloon on Monday because Japs said there was bombing.
First rain for about 2 months.
Paper says Prof. Robertson, who has been working in Bacteriological Institute in city all along, has died.
James Mason died in Indian Quarters this afternoon; according to rumour, he has Chinese family outside and had been trying to get them in here.
5 Aug 1942, R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Submitted by Admin on Wed, 2012-07-04 22:12Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 5 Aug 1942Fine day.
Went for swim.
No news. (Later. German advance in Russia stopped. Chemical bombs being dropped with devastating effect by us. A three pronged drive being made by us via Thailand, Burma & China)
Several people who have proved self-support left the Camp.
5 Aug 1942, Ella Buuck's wartime diary
Submitted by Admin on Fri, 2012-07-20 19:43Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 5 Aug 1942Walter’s birthday. I wonder where he might be.
The weather is finally getting better and better and calmer. This evening Mrs. Ziegler and Rev. Thode had a visit and beer with us.
There are many toys and plenty youngsters there. We were told there are 150 below 13 years of age.
5 Aug 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Submitted by brian edgar on Sat, 2014-06-21 16:35Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 5 Aug 1942M. L. Bevan's diary entry:
Bailey and Cole moved to Bungalow E. Mason died.
Cole is presumably A. L. Cole of the Colonial Secretary's Office, and Bailey is probably C. T. Bailey, who served under Bevan (Deputy Director of ARP) as an Air Raid Precautions Training Officer.
Bungalows D, E, F were all in use at first and 'E' was associated with Public Works Department staff; for unknown reasons 'D' and 'E' were closed down and then opened in 1943 for the previously uninterned health workers ('D') and bankers ('E').
Mason was Joseph Mason, who died of heart failure in bed in the Indian Quarters.
Eighteen people are 'guaranteed out' of Stanley. Four are American and most or all of the rest British. The Americans are E. F. Gingle, Dr. Frank Molthen,'Red' Sammons and Miss Dorrer.
The first death from diphtheria at North Point POW Camp is recorded. The disease struck Shamshuipo in late June, and will now wreak havoc amongst the Canadians.
Sources:
Bevan Diary: Imperial War Museum 523.1 (Bevan) 58132, Typescript of Diary
Cole and Bailey:
http://www.hongkongwardiary.com/searchgarrison/nonuniformedcivilians.htm...
Death of Mason: Geoffrey Emerson, Hong Kong Internment, 1973, 271
Mason's first name: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/stanley_camp/conversations/messages/...
Out: Maryknoll Diary, August 5, 1942
First death: Tony Banham, We Shall Suffer There, 2009, Tuesday 4 August 1942
Note:
Dr. Molthen was one of Hong Kong's first chiropractors, and he's said to have treated General and Madame Chiang Kai-shek. During the hostilities he showed himself adept at scuttling ships.
'Red' Sammons had worked for Gingle as a manager.
5 Aug 1942, Eric MacNider's wartime diary
Submitted by Richard Iwan Jones on Thu, 2014-07-17 15:06Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 5 Aug 194214 people left camp (incl. Mrs. Proulx, 2 Proulxs ((her two sons Michael and Roger)), Gosling, Kynoch, Manning ((probably refers to E Manning. There was also an M B Manning in camp, but Barbara Anslow's diary shows he was still in camp in December 1942.)), Gingles, "Doc" Molthen, Miss Dorrer ((sp?. )), Mrs. Simmonds. ((most likely Mrs M D Simmons, mother of Mrs Proulx)) )
Issue of 4p. Royal Leaf $2.40
