Smuggled in and out of Stanley | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Smuggled in and out of Stanley

Date(s) of events described: 
Sun, 1 Feb 1942

((Not sure of the date he arrived at Stanley. Likely early February, 1942))

On arriving at Stanley, after having been smuggled in, Miss Cholmeley ((sic.)) and Moss were there with open arms and had fixed up a bed space for me in their flat, so all was well. Whilst in Stanley I made myself useful repairing shoes, making drinking mugs from tins, and helping the old and feeble who could not help themselves. Was doing butcher work and cooking the meal (what there was of it). The customs staff are doing their fair share of work for instance. The Commissioner, Mr. Pritchard, is in charge of labour for his block, this is a hard job getting the men to work on the very poor rations they got. Oppen is doing this alone, Fuller, Ward and Kemp are Rice Boilers (or try to be), Mesger ((sic.)) and Ogden carting stones and bricklaying; Cutteridge, Stines and Seraphine cooks assistants (doing their best).

During my stay in Stanley I was always on the lookout for a possible way to get out. I did one time think of swimming for it to a nearby island, but as the weather was rather cold and one could not swim on the rations I dropped this idea.

Comments

Barbara Anslow wrote:

I wonder if 'Meager' is a misprint for Mr. W.J. Mezger, who lived near us in the Married Quarters,  in an amah's room with another fellow?

I've just checked the original again. Wright's report originally showed it as "Mesger", then we mistakenly transcribed it as "Meager"!

Thanks Barbara, I've corrected it.

Regards, David

Both Mr Fuller and Mr Mezger lived in the ex-Servants' quarters adjacent to the room in Block 3 Married Quarters we Redwoods occupied.