70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries
6 Dec 1941. R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Submitted by Admin on Wed, 2011-12-28 11:24Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Sat, 6 Dec 1941A few drinks in the Club for a change
6 Dec 1941, Barbara Anslow's diary
Submitted by Barbara Anslow on Thu, 2012-01-26 05:05Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Sat, 6 Dec 1941Sunny. Race Day.
Had just settled down to work in Puckle's office when Olive appeared with Arthur - unbeknown to R.S. ((Royal Scots)), another Band had arranged to do the Races.
I left work at 7pm, then Arthur and I to Peninsula for tea, then to King's 'My Life with Caroline.'
The Jap/USA situation is getting worse because Japan though evasive in her reply, says she means to keep her troops in Indo China against the Chinese.
6 Dec 1941, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Submitted by brian edgar on Sat, 2012-03-03 00:05Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Sat, 6 Dec 1941A day of bright sunshine. Many of the HKVDC leave their offices to take part in weekend exercises.
Crowds flock to Happy Valley for the races.
Barbara Redwood is taken to the cinema to see 'My Life With Caroline' by her boyfriend Arthur Alsey a bandsman with the Royal Scots who has a day's leave. They watch a newsreel with comforting images of US planes 'in formidable formation'.
In the evening the 'Tin Hat Ball' is held at the Peninsula Hotel: the purpose is to help raise the £160,000 which would complete the purchase price of a bomber squadron the people of Hong Kong had presented to Britain.
Sources:
HKVDC, Ball: John Luff, The Hidden Years, 1967, 14
Races, Cinema: Mabel Winifred Redwood, It Was Like This..., 2001, 68-69
6 Dec 1941, Sheridan's diary of the hostilities
Submitted by brian edgar on Sat, 2012-10-13 21:31Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Sat, 6 Dec 1941However, we have just had two Regiments of Canadians arrive to help out in the defence of the Crown Colony. ((The Canadians came on November 16.)) Two Canadian Army Service Corps Sgts. are attached to the Supply Depot. I show them round the Bakery. ((The RASC Supply Depot and Bakery were on Queen’s Rd., the latter opposite the Naval Dockyard entrance.)) They are surprised to see 33 Chinese bakers working so hard. The Canadians arrival means extra bread production, it is now about 12 to 14000 lbs per day, not bad for a bakery with only a mechanical dough mixer and all the remainder hand work. If we move out the dough mixer will be left behind, it is cemented to the floor and needs electric power to drive it.
We read in the local papers that large landings of Japanese troops have been sighted up the coast towards Bias Bay and Waichow area. Also in the same papers it states that Mr Kurusu and Admiral Nomuru of the Japanese Navy are in Washington as a peace mission. I am roped in to escort civilian lorries from the Dairy Farm cold storage at East Point to the various food stores and to some private houses in the Shouson Hill area. ((There were food stores at various locations around the island. We've found mentions of them at Quarry Bay, Wanchai Gap, and Stanley.)) They are loaded with tinned commodities, flour, sugar, tea, etc. We work from early morning until darkness sets in and move many tons of foodstuff with the aid of hundreds of coolies.
6 Dec 1941, A. H. Potts' wartime diary
Submitted by Admin on Thu, 2012-12-06 17:34Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Sat, 6 Dec 1941On Saturday, the air was electric with rumours but nothing was done in the way of mobilizing.
06 Dec 1941, INTERNED - DECEMBER 1941
Submitted by Clive Hamilton on Tue, 2017-01-03 06:32Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Sat, 6 Dec 1941We were dancing in the Rose Room of the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong on the evening of Saturday the 6th December, 1941. During the evening an announcement was made on the loudspeaker, recalling all service personnel to report to their headquarters immediately. It was an ominous sign that war with Japan was close at hand.
06 Dec 1941, Major John Monro MC RA diary of the Battle of Hong Kong
Submitted by Smartyhands on Mon, 2021-12-13 12:08Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Sat, 6 Dec 1941Yesterday afternoon ((i.e. 6 Dec 1941)) I went down to the airport for a flying lesson. I thought it went rather well and was very disappointed with Baugh for not letting me go solo. After it got dark we went into the bar and met some of the C.N.A.C (China National Aviation Corporation) pilots. They had about a dozen planes leaving for Nam Yeung that night. The first two Douglasses went off at about 7:15 and were expected back shortly after nine.
Baugh and I had intended going out together to dine. First of all we went up to his mess for a wash. When we got there we found there was a flap in progress. A message had just been received from the RAF Singapore putting them on No.1 state of readiness. “Horrid” Horry rang up Newman to find out if he had had any further news, but was told that headquarters far from having had any fresh cause of alarm, were thinking of relaxing their precautions. All the same to be quite sure I rang up my office to find out whether I was wanted. George Cross, who was on duty at the time, seemed quite offended and assured me that all was quiet, and that he could deal with any situation which might arise.
About this time the two Douglasses which had left earlier in the evening returned to the aerodrome long before they were expected. For some reason they had turned back. One landed in such a hurry that it broke its undercarriage.
There was an air of expectancy and excitement in the mess where I stayed to dinner as Baugh was now confined to barracks.
As I went home after dinner everything seemed quiet and normal. There were the usual Saturday night crowds in the main streets and on the ferries. Hong Kong was illuminated as usual.
