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.
  • 12 Jan 1942: RE Jones Diary

    Book / Document: 
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Mon, 12 Jan 1942

    Nothing doing today. Shared out Club Funds $15 per member. How much longer Marj darling. ($210 left)

  • 12 Jan 1942, Barbara Anslow's diary

    Book / Document: 
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Mon, 12 Jan 1942

    Medical Dept (?) have started to send bread daily - one slice each with butter or jam ((this was in addition to our simple basic rations)).  Also porridge.

    Finished reading 'Human Being' ((a birthday present a week before Jap attack)) and passed it to Jack Fancey as he had nothing to read.  ((Jack - about my age - had TB which had prevented him from going fighting with the others.  His mother (also in Tai Koon) told me he might as well have gone to war with his colleagues and risk being killed, as he was obviously going to die soon.))

    We are due for Stanley within the next week.   Very cold.

    Wrote to Mum. ((Still at Queen Mary Hospital, there were occasional opportunities of contact through some one in the Tai Koon Hotel getting permission to go to the hospital for some medical reason.))

  • 12 Jan 1942, Harry Ching's wartime diary

    Book / Document: 
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Mon, 12 Jan 1942

    Hongkong notes have been legal tender only up to $10 denomination. To-day permitted to use larger denominations as temporary measure. Shops accept at half value. 

    ((Following text not dated:))

    Sanitary Department truck appears with two Europeans. Their crew removed one great heap of garbage. With reduction of garbage, flies seemed fewer, but relief temporary. Neighbours continued dump in streets, and large heap forming at our front gate. 

  • 12 Jan 1942, Eric MacNider's wartime diary

    Date(s) of events described: 
    Mon, 12 Jan 1942

    Wedding – Dr Dean Abbott Smith / Catherine Purves – Q.M.Hospital (Mackenzie Dow)

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