11 Jul 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
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Mildred Dibden, Iris Critchell and Ruth Little have been allowed to remain uninterned to carry on running the Fanling Babies Home alongside their Chinese staff. It's been a hard struggle to keep the abandoned and destitute children they care for fed, and it's taken it's toll on their health.
Today members of the Braga family arrive, bringing with them a Red Cross representative and permits to allow the women to be admitted to the French Hospital, where there's a ward reserved for British patients.
Mildred Dibden has to be carried out of the Home on a stretcher. At the French Hospital she meets great kindnesss and the 'reassurance of being with {her} own people':
To add to the pleasure of that first night in hospital, came a tea tray from {Dr. Selwyn-Clarke}. With his wife and daughter, he was interned in the French hospital on the floor above. Tea with toast and butter. What could be more delicious? was it possible that within six short months such luxury would bring tears to the eyes?
Iris returns to Fanling after about two months, Ruth in the middle of September, Mildred not until November 1.
Source:
Jill Doggett, The Yip Family of Amah Rock, (1969), 1982, 178
Note:
The Braga family has deep roots in Macao, and also played significant a role in Hong Kong. One member, Jose Maria ('Jack') Braga compiled an important collection of material related to Hong Kong and Macao in the war years. It's now in the Austalian National Archive:
