70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries
5 Aug 1943, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Submitted by brian edgar on Tue, 2012-01-17 19:50Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Thu, 5 Aug 1943Birth of William Bernard Harris.
Franklin Gimson noted in his diary that this was a 'bad-tempered day' because no meat was provided.
There's a meeting in A. W. Brown's room in Block A4. Three Lane, Crawford directors accompany Brown, the company manager, while A.L. Shields, D. L. Newbigging and two others represent Dairy Farm. The two teams are seeking a plan to merge the companys' over-lapping operations after the war and thus elminate the 'hate' that sometimes arose between them. It seems that the prospects are good: Brown claims that the only remaining question is which company is to retail tinned goods. Nevertheless, the anticipated merger won't happen until 1960 when Dairy Lane Ltd. is set up.
A 'special draft' of 14 very senior officers and their batmen (21 in all) is sent away from Hong Kong as a result of suspicions over their involvement in the BAAG network. It includes the overall commander Christopher Maltby, his number two Cedric Wallis (who was on the brink of an escape attempt) and Henry Barron Rose, the head of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps. They will arrive at Shirakawa Camp in Taiwan on August 9 and be joined by former Governor Mark Young and his batman on 12 September. Later they will be sent to Japan and end the war at Shenyang in Manchukuo (Manchuria).
Sources:
Gimson: Franklin Gimson, Internment in Hong-Kong March 1942 to August 1945, typescript held at Rhodes House (Oxford), Ms. Ind. Ocn. S222
Meeting: Nigel Cameron, The Milky Way: The History of Dairy Farm, 1986, 142, 174-175
Special draft: Tony Banham, We Shall Suffer There, Kindle Edition, Location 1904
5 Aug 1943, R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Submitted by Admin on Wed, 2013-07-24 17:00Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Thu, 5 Aug 19435 Aug 1943, Eric MacNider's wartime diary
Submitted by Old Man on Tue, 2014-08-19 10:30Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Thu, 5 Aug 1943Canadian ((sp?)) paper up hill
Variety concert (Heath, Medley, S. Andersson ((sp? might be G. Anderson)), Marie O'Connor, Brenchly, Goldie & Peggy Hunter).
To Mr. + Mrs ((Unclear)) a son
05 Aug 1943, WW2 Air Raids over Hong Kong & South China
Submitted by ssuni86 on Sun, 2017-09-17 05:33Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Thu, 5 Aug 1943OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance of Canton area
TIME OVER TARGET: ~Noon
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two P-40 fighters from the 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Captain Arthur W. Cruikshank; Lt. Jarmon
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
RESULTS: Pilots report there are no aircraft visible at the Canton airfields and that there is very little river traffic.
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
SOURCES: Original mission report in the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.
Information compiled by Steven K. Bailey, author of Bold Venture: The American Bombing of Japanese-Occupied Hong Kong, 1942-1945 (Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press, 2019).
05 Aug 1943, W J Carrie's wartime diary
Submitted by kathrynsa on Thu, 2019-10-03 09:01Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Thu, 5 Aug 1943One man writing home to try and describe our food situation and yet get past the censor, wrote "We have tiffin at 11am and washup at 5 past." We have had another meatless day today - but we had 50 lbs of pork left from yesterday - 50 lbs among 750 people! - so tonight I was washing up at 5.15pm - and I have no more chow till tomorrow. I had however an egg this morning. Eggs cost 80 sen each! ie 11 pence each at the exchange we get our allowance. So 20 Y a month, or even 25 as it ought to be doesn't go far.
No more news - still waiting. No more bombing here either - the rumour is that leaflets were dropped warning Chinese to leave H.K. especially those in the dockyards, and that real bombing is to start in 10 days. We'll see next Monday - the 9th as the 10 days will be up then. Cheerio Darling. B.
05 Aug 1943, John Charter's wartime journal
Submitted by HK Bill on Sun, 2021-08-22 23:29Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Thu, 5 Aug 1943On July 29th Mr Lammert developed a temperature and after examining him Dr Thomlinson announced that he had malaria and ordered him off to the hospital. Harold and I wheeled him down on the stretcher. His temperature shot up that night but he has improved steadily since then and is coming back tonight – just in time for Yvonne’s birthday. Harold had some good bug-hunting in Mr Lammert’s bed while he was away.
Mrs Wilmer is also in hospital. She had a bad heart attack and is still very shaky. Mr Wilmer says she is to remain there now until the ship arrives to repatriate the women, for their small servants room is too cramped and noisy and makes her nervy.
Kitty Hackett too is in hospital, suffering from a fairly mild attack of dysentery, poor thing. She is recovering now. There is one small girl, Mary Fincher, who is in with malaria. She developed the some what alarming temperature of 107’ the other night; but she too is on the mend.
I am now 141¼ lbs! That means I have actually put on 3 pounds during the last 6 weeks. I am very pleased. It must be due to the lard and eggs we get through the canteen and also the cocoa we are given on the days on which we work. I hope Y hasn’t lost weight over her teeth extraction.
The Japanese have issued an order forbidding Chinese in Jap Government employ to resign! They are also warned that all those who are dismissed for inefficiency or misconduct will not be allowed employment in the Colony for one whole year and anyone employing such a person will also be liable to prosecution! All very interesting. One imagines when the bombs come raining down on the dry docks, Naval Yard, Police Station etc., wily John Chinaman said, “This is no place for me,” and tendered his resignation by the score! Well, poor blighters, I’m sorry for them; they seem to get it in the neck whoever is governing the Colony.
