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.
  • 11 Apr 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

    Book / Document: 
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Wed, 11 Apr 1945

    Getting warmer.

    Bridge in afternoon in our room with Gladys, Marie and Vincent.

    We had seconds in vegetable balls. Eyes not so bad.

    Cigarettes came in today. ((We 4 Redwoods were non-smokers, but aways 'bought' our allotment and sold them at profit to smokers who were always happy to have them - so we covered what we had paid for them and had spare money for canteen purchases))

    Americans and Russians supposed to be meeting in Germany in about 1 month.

    Another theft from Canteen (6/7th April), valued at about Yen 2,000.

    Rumour that 25 Shamshuipo men killed at Kai Tak.

  • 11 Apr 1945, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

    Book / Document: 
    Date(s) of events described: 
    Wed, 11 Apr 1945

    Overcast, improved later.

    Baking oven.

    3 ½ pkts. cigs.

    Lorry in 5.30pm. 

    More wood.

    H.M.S. KG V damaged E of Taiwan? Japs refute US prop. re Sukuki being Peace Premier. Essen captured by Canadians. 

  • 11 Apr 1945, Diary of George Gerrard in Stanley Internment Camp Hong Kong

    Date(s) of events described: 
    Wed, 11 Apr 1945

    The big news is the continuous bombing of Hong Kong for four days. When they commenced doing their stuff on the 2nd Easter Monday, then on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The big B24's made a grand sight to the number of about 50 per day and Boy Oh Boy did they drop some big stuff on Hong Kong, they plastered the place all right. Ships were struck, Jap planes brought down and terrific havoc in Hong Kong, places like K dock, K teck, Lowu, Feryy Wharf, railway station, Causeway Bay, French Hospital and so on. I saw one of the Jap planes coming down, it was a great sight tho' I didn't see strike in it as it passed over the ridge beside Shek O.

    I was glad and happy to receive your 2 postcards of 7th June '44 and 30th August '44, they were both so cheery and I am very grateful to you for all your loving thoughts and wishes. I was also delighted to know that you had received my postcards of January and February 1944, they would help to relieve your mind about me a lot.

    Food is still very poor and malnutrition rife. We now only get water on the evening every fifth day and it is difficult to store sufficient for time with the limited containers we have tho' possibly we are better off than some. I am still keeping fairly well but will be glad when it is all over.

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