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.
  • 8 Apr 1943, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

    Book / Document: 
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Thu, 8 Apr 1943

    Windy & cold am but improved pm.

    Zindel visited camp.

    Walk with Steve.

    ((G.)).

    Cressell died 7pm.

    New moon.

    Concert at St Stephens.

    Jap ammo. on pier.

  • 08 Apr 1943, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

    Date(s) of events described: 
    Thu, 8 Apr 1943

    Death of Paul Ewart F. Cressall.

    Before the war he was Puisne Judge and was in charge of the enquiry into allegations of corruption in the building of air-raid shelters. He took the unpublished report with him into Stanley, but it disappeared after his death.

     

    Red Cross Delegate Rudolf Zindel makes a full-day visit to Stanley and talks to 84 internees. Not surprisingly he finds 'rations' still the main focus of interest, although he is able to report a 'doubling' of the flour issue: the basis will now be 8 ozs. of rice and 4 ozs. of flour per day. He notes another piece of good news - the bathing-beach will be open from May 2.

    However, he also notes the internees' disappointment that he wasn't able to pay any 'pocket money' during April as the necessary funds have been held up in Tokyo since March. 

     

    Cressall gravestone.jpg

    Cressall gravestone.jpg, by brianwindsoredgar

    Sources:

    Cressall: Geoffrey Emerson, Hong Kong Internment, 1973, 271

    Zindel: 'Delegation Report for April 1943' p. 1 attached to General Letter No. 45/43, 7 May 1943 in Archives of the International Red Cross (Geneva)

    Note:

    By the time of the May report Zindel is in a 'desperate' financial situation because the funds still haven't reached Hong Kong. This is presumably the period referred to by Emily Hahn when for more than two months the Japanese closed down the activities of the Tokyo Delegation because they caught them 'juggling' with Red Cross funds to profit from the exchange rates (Hahn, China To Me, 384). However, it shouldn't be assumed that this was for private profit - as Hahn implies it was. It might have been, but it could also have been to make their money go farther in the relief of distress. From the autumn of 1944 Rudolf Zindel would be forced to pay for his own family's upkeep and to make sure he had enough money to fulfil his Red Cross commitments by raising black market loans against the promise of repayment in Swiss Francs when the war was over. After April 1945 Zindel received no more remittances from Tokyo so he financed the entire Hong Kong operation by borrowing against his personal Swiss bank accounts. Hahn's inaccurate and biased treatment of Red Cross activities is sadly not untypical of the thanks he got!

     

  • 08 Apr 1943, Harry Ching's wartime diary

    Book / Document: 
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Thu, 8 Apr 1943

    8th April Faure and Omar out. Omar ill, spitting blood. Was taken out to verandah questioned and beaten. Yelled loudly.

    ((Not clear which date the following applies to:))

    Grayburn and Streatfield taken away, but come back after silly questioning. One breakfast I am bunted on head with rifle butt for backing up for more chow. Sent me reeling back bleeding.

  • 08 Apr 1943, Eric MacNider's wartime diary

    Date(s) of events described: 
    Thu, 8 Apr 1943

    Death of His Honour Mr Justice P E F Cressall, M.C. (49)

    Variety concert & 2 one act plays (Webb) (N Witchell comp)

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