17 Mar 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

St. Patrick's Day, and it's a day of some importance in Camp history. There's a 'well-organised' concert in the evening. Father Charles Murphy seems to have been the man mainly responsible for the whole event, and he also directs Father Madison in a skit on Irish history. It's the start of what is to be an important programme of amateur dramatics.

Camp supervisor Mr. Cheng is reported seriously ill and leaves. Mr. Yamashita, a former barber at the Hong Kong Hotel, replaces him.

At 10 a.m. Shanghai lawyer and camp legal advisor Norwood Allman, one of the American 'guards' is making his rounds. He sees Elsie Fairfax-Cholmondely 'in a state of high excitement'. Although the group's security has been tight, Allman has somehow got to know an escape is imminent; but he says nothing, and continues on his way.

Sources:

St. Patrick's Day: http://www.sloba.org/Fr%20Tohill%20with%20notes.pdf;

some details from Maryknoll Diary, March 17

Cheng and Yamashita: Maryknoll Diary, March 17

Allman: Norwood Allman, Shanghai Lawyer, 1943, 16-17

Note:

To the best of my knowledge Father Charles Murphy is the only internee whose wartime exploits turned him into a comic book hero:

http://capebretonsmagazine.com/modules/publisher/item.php?itemid=4328