Tin Hat Ball-Peninsula Hotel

6 Dec 1941,

That night, in a fin de siecle atmosphere, parties are the mode.  Int he Peninsula Hotel, the Tin Hat Ball, attended by the Governor amongst others, is in full swing, hoping to raise GBP 160,000 toward the purchase of bombers for the RAF.  A noted beauty of the time, Hilda Yen, sings, but then at nearly midnight T. B. Wilson, the president of the American Steamship line, appears on the balcony above the dance floor, announcing: 'any men connected with any ship in the harbour - report aboard for duty.  'At once'

Not the slightest chance: the defence of Hong Kong, 1941
 By Tony Banham