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10 Dec 1941, Additional notes

" ...it was not until the news of the sinking of the battleship Prince of Wales and the battle cruiser Repulse off Singapore on the 10th December 1941 was flashed to Hong Kong that the fate of these capital ships presaged our fate, devoid of air cover. Our faith in our requirement to hold out for 90 days was based on our relief by such ships, and now they were gone, it began to dawn even on the most optimistic of us that our position was hopeless. It was against this background ... that the battle of Hong Kong island was fought, and it is against this backcloth ... that the record of the garrison should be judged. To be able to maintain any fighting morale at all under these conditions was only possible on a foundation of general heroism, and this made all those separate acts to which I have referred all the more heroic."

((Source L.T. Ride))

14 Dec 1941, Additional notes

On Sunday 14th December there came an urgent message from General Maltby for the setting up of a fortress observation post on the north face of the Peak which could dominate the mainland. Information regarding the movements of the enemy was vital and the post came under the direct control of General Maltby himself and his GSO1.

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

18 Dec 1941, Additional notes

"The night was the darkest I have ever seen. ... overcast, cloudy, rain at intervals, otherwise mostly drizzle. In addition, the enemy had set alight the oil tanks near North Point, and the smoke drifted over the island. ... Three landings were made, each in two waves, and seven battalions, or about 7000 men, landed in all during the night. On the East, Colonel Tanaka with two battalions landed in the Shaukiwan area. He sent one battalion against Lyemun and Sai Wan, the other over Quarry Gap into Tytam Valley. Colonel Shoji with three battalions landed somewhere near North Point and plugged straight inland for Jardine’s Lookout and Wongneichong Gap. Another two battalions, under Colonel Doi, landed west of the docks. Their job was to take care of the bridge-head, and when possible push troops forward to support Shoji’s men."

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

20 Dec 1941, Additional notes

In the meantime, Colonel Tanaka was sending his advance party along the Wongneichong reservoir catchwater, above the Ridge. They reached a point above Repulse Bay Hotel soon after dawn on the 20th; they attacked, and by 9.30 the same morning, the hotel was surrounded and the garage was in enemy hands.

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

21 Dec 1941, Additional notes

In the northern sector, the Japanese had pushed forward vigorously at Mount Nicholson and Black’s Link, and by 8.15 on the morning of the 21st, were dug in on the Eastern slope of Mount Nicholson.

The enemy followed up this success by attacking strongly down King’s Road while they directed a heavy mortar fire on to the Naval Yard. Another enemy landing in force was made at Causeway Bay (and a section of No 6 Portuguese Company HKVDC, in Watson’s factory, was cut off). By noon the enemy had made considerable headway along the north shore and every gun in the Naval Yard had been knocked out.

On the 21st, an attempt was made by troops in the Stanley sector to link up with troops in the northern part of the island. No 1 company HKVDC formed the vanguard of the attack, with their carrier platoon ahead, and Canadian Rifles in support. They moved out along Island Road at 9 a.m. towards Tytam Crossroads, the first objective being Red Hill, the peninsula separating Tytam Bay and Stanley Bay.

On the night of the 21st a message from Repulse Bay Hotel said the troops there were retiring that night on Stanley and if those on the Ridge could join them by scouting the hills they should do so before midnight. The main body of troops on the Ridge left after dark but the majority failed to reach Repulse Bay.

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

22 Dec 1941, Additional notes

On the 22nd an artillery attack on the Ridge was commenced and our sandbag defences and walls of the houses began to crumble.

No 6 Platoon of the Scottish Company were assigned to hold the area of the bridge over the Lido Road on the night of 22nd December to protect the evacuation of troops in the Repulse Bay Hotel area from enemy troops who were penetrating down the valley to the east of Violet Hill.

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

23 Dec 1941, Additional notes

On the 23rd, at Leighton Hill, the withdrawal of the Rajputs had exposed the flank of the garrison holding the Hill ...

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

24 Dec 1941, Additional notes

On the 24th, heavy enemy artillery fire was directed on the Central District, the Naval Yard and Victoria Barracks, and there were many fires in the town. Leighton Hill was in enemy hands, and the defence line ran from Canal Road in Wanchai, to the Lee Theatre, thence to Morrison Hill, Mount Parrish, Wanchai Gap to Bennett’s Hill. The Stanley force was concentrated on to the Peninsula and awaited the final assault. Two platoons of No 3 Company HKVDC were holding Chung Am Kok peninsula. The first line of defence at Stanley ran from the village to Tytam Beach, and was held by the remainder of No 2 Company, the “Stanley Platoon” (the European warders of the gaol), “C” Company Middlesex and “B” Company Royal Rifles. South of St. Stephen’s College was the second line, held by the gunners of First Battery HKVDC and “A” and “C” Companies Royal Rifles. The residue of the Stanley force was manning the third line – from St. Stephen’s Preparatory School to Tweed Bay. This force had been gathering since the 19th, and included survivors from Shek O, Tytam and Repulse Bay together with a large number of civilian refugees

By the 24th, the first defence line across the narrow neck of the isthmus was established and all troops not required for the operation of guns or other services in the Stanley Fort were utilized in this line. The main attack came at ten minutes to nine on Christmas Eve.

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

25 Dec 1941, Additional notes

On Christmas Day the enemy bombardment and aerial attacks continued, but the Stanley Guns were able to answer them back. We felt the situation to be difficult but not hopeless, with 2500 men and enough ammunition, food and water. There were many gallant actions at Stanley by Volunteers - to name only two, the Scottish Platoon at Chung Am Kok, and the men of the first Battery between Prison Road and Fort Road.

in the north, by 6.30 on Christmas Morning the defenders were fighting in O’Brien Street and Wanchai Market. As the day wore on the enemy drive along the north shore was decisive, and at 3.15 p.m. the defending forces surrendered.

“The Garrison of Hong Kong has surrendered. All fighting will cease and you will hoist the white flag. All arms and ammunition will be collected and stored under guard. Officers in charge of units are responsible for the discipline of their troops. Officers will retain their revolvers. Further orders will be set out dealing with dispersal areas.”

At Stanley, the news was not received until 8 o’clock on Christmas night. The Brigade Commander there would not surrender without written instructions and so Stanley held out until the early hours of Boxing Day, when all forces in the Colony laid down their arms.

((Source - a dramatization of the history of the Hong Kong Volunteers, which was broadcast over Radio Hong Kong on 31st May 1954 as part of the HKVDC Centenary Celebrations))

25 Jul 1942, Additional notes

27 Jan 1943, Additional notes

"The Jail Show" is put on at St Stephens. Mabel Redwood keeps a copy of the poster:

The poster's text reads:

The Jail Show
Second Stretch

Mustered and Misled
by James Norman and Wallace Kinloch

Thursday Jan 28th
Friday Jan 29th
Saturday Jan 30th

St. Stephens Hall
6pm sharp

Mabel added a pencil note:

Two shows put on in camp by internees. The Chinese man is supposed to be Clifton.

05 Jun 1943, The Hong Club's committee holds its only meeting in Stanley Camp

((The Hong Kong Club's committee met just once during the internment, on this day. Vaudine England describes the meeting on page 88 of her book, "Kindred Spirits: A History Of The Hong Kong Club":))

This unique meeting, held on 5 June 1943, was chaired by Newbigging, with vice chairman Robert Young and three other men in attendance: H.J. Armstrong, D.H. Blake and John Fleming, the Club accountant, who, in the absence of Trenchard Davis, acted as secretary. Several topics were recorded from the meeting. The first was ‘casualties in hostilities', which referred to the many Club members lost in action, including J.E. Potter, their colleague on the Committee. This was followed by the issue that may have triggered the meeting: the apparently impending repatriation of Mrs Thornhill. It was resolved to give her a letter of reference...

recording her loyal and efficient service to the Club. It was further decided, as no other means of assisting her financially were possible, to give her a letter addressed to the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank London requesting the Bank to pay her One Hundred Pounds (£100) as a gratuity and to cover her undrawn December 1941 salary. Repayment to the Bank of such sum to be jointly and severally guaranteed by the undemoted Committee and other Members of the Club, who would if agreeable, sign such letter in confirmation thereof.

Attached to the Minutes is the carbon copy of this letter to the Bank, dated 15 June 1943. On it appears a long list of names of those who had signed the original — incidentally giving us an important sample of the Club’s pre-war membership still alive in the camp halfway through the war:

D.L. Newbigging, H.J. Armstrong, R.D. Gillespie, G.A. Pentreath, Robert Young, N. Croucher, Edgar Davidson, M.M. Watson, D. Morgan Richards, A.L. Shields, F.C. Hall, W.F. Suminondo, D.D. Forbes, P. Tester, E.A. Pritchard, A.N.H. Phillips, John Fleming, H. Sheldon, H.R. Sturt, M.A. Annett, A.D. MacGregor, J. Owen Hughes, Eldon Potter, Chas Terry, B.C. Hawkins, R.A.C. North, J. Finnie (the manager of Butterfield & Swire), L.C.F. Bellamy, S.T. Williamson, W.J. Ryan, R.C. Margarett, W.N. Brown, E.W. Hamilton, P.S. Cassidy, D. Clark, R.H. Wild, Denis Blake, C.C. Roberts.

Also attached was a letter of thanks from Mrs Florence E. Thornhill, dated 22 June:

I thank you [Newbigging] and the members of the Hong Kong Club for the gratuity you have so kindly arranged for me to draw on arrival in England. It will be most useful. I would also express my appreciation for the consideration shown me during my employment with your Club, and take many happy memories with me. I regret very much the circumstances which end my association with you and hope things will be back to normal soon. Yours faithfully ...

'The circumstances’ was a modest description of a devastating world war and the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong; a modest hope, too, that things would soon be ‘back to normal’.

((The meeting was held at a time when it looked as though British women, including Mrs Thornhill, would be repatriated. That didn't happen, though most of the Canadians in Camp, including one of the signatories R D Gillespie, were repatriated in September 1943.))

29 Oct 1943, Report from the New Zealand Internees Association

((On board the Gripsholm, nursing sister May Waters writes out the following report from the New Zealand Internees Association she'd been given to memorise before leaving Stanley. She attaches a covering letter and sends them both to Mr Thomson, father of one of the internees.))

M.S. Gripsholm
29.10.43

Dear Mr. Thomson,

Better introduce myself first, one of the Canadian sisters that was at Bowen Rd and Stanley Internment Camp with your daughter Kathleen.

The enclosed report is from the New Zealanders in Camp and your son, Peter, asked me if I would send it to you and ask you to send it to the New Zealand Government and to use your own judgment showing it to anyone else.

I only received it 4 days before leaving camp and had to memorise it during a very busy time. I know I haven't the exact words in two or three places but quite sure I have conveyed the same meaning.

Kae Christie ((sic.)) the other Canadian sister was going to write Mrs. Thomson but as she has a great many letters to write perhaps this one can do two duties.

Kathleen and Peter are thin but both fairly well. Everyone is lacking in energy but I must say your two keep themselves fairly busy. Believe Peter is teaching as well as the other duties there are to do, depending what squad you are in, rations, wood cutting etc. Kathleen always seems to be busy too. If not studying she's looking after someone's child. ’’Aunty Kate” is quite a favorite.

Kathleen has received several letters from home but can't understand why you don’t tell her the names of the new nieces and nephews. Since June mail has been gradually trickling through. Very little before that and some still not getting any.

Kae and I consider ourselves extremely lucky to be on our way home and we do hope the others will get out next month. Altho' we are on the Gripsholm we still receive very little news.

I do hope all the Red Cross boxes we saw being loaded on the Teia Maru are safely delivered in Hong Kong before long. Food and medical supplies are needed badly. Kathleen does’nt expect to get home directly they are repatriated but thinks she will have to go wherever the S.A’s are sent. ?? ((right edge of page damaged, and some text not clear)) course one can never tell. Perhaps we may meet in England. Just at l??? keep in touch.

Hope you receive a letter from both Kathleen and Peter. Letter?? were supposed to of come out at the same time. Don’t worry about them, ?? sure Kathleen will be out soon and there should be food for the men.

This is a very disjointed letter but it is rather dfficult to know just what to tell you. You can really get it all from the N.Z. report. It was a great pleasure knowing and working with your daughter. She did ?? wonderful job. Both send their love to all the family.

Sincerely yours,
May Watus. ((sic.))

NEW ZEALAND.

This report is sent by the New Zealand Internees Association to supplement the private and general report of the Camp to the British Government.

We suggest that if you have not a copy of the latter report, you obtain one as soon as possible.

STATUS OF N.Z.I.A.

This Association was formed by the unanimous vote of all New Zealanders interned in Stanley.

Present officials are:- L. Thomson (Chairman) ((Possibly L O Thompson?)); R.Wild (Secretary); T. Williamson (Hon.Government Representative). ((Not sure who this was.))

There is another organisation known as the Australian and New Zealand Society but it is not representative of New Zealanders in Hong Kong or in Camp.

PERSONNEL.

The New Zealanders in Stanley now number 16 males 8 females (all adults). 4 adults and 2 children returned to Shanghai last year. There have been no deaths among New Zealanders in Stanley.

REPORT ON HEALTH AND NUTRITION OF NEW ZEALANDERS IN STANLEY INTERNMENT CAMP, HONG KONG.

A report on Health and nutrition of New Zealanders in Stanley Internment Camp, Hong Kong, as it reflects on the condition of rations of the whole Camp, requires a general introductory paragraph.

Their total caloric value has been as low as 1385 calorus per head per day with 44 grammes of protein, and never higher than 2000 calorus with 60 grammes of protein. This level was reached the 3rd quarter of 1942 and was followed by a steady fall to the present level of 1564 calorus with 44 grammes of "polished" rice and much of the other foods supplied (such as water-buffalo beef, Pacific conger-eel, Chinese "water-spinach") are of a kind not ordinarily regarded fit for human consumption.

I have examined 20 New Zealanders, all but 4 of the total number interned. According to their state of health and nutrition and with the observation that none may be classed as good, I group them as follows:-

9 persons fairly good	5 persons fair
2 persons poor	4 persons very poor.

16 persons have lost an average of 20.2% of their known pre-war weight and a majority continue to lose, 2 only (both women) have gained a little and concerning the remaining two the facts were not available.

12 persons have required treatment for specific nutritional diseases. 5 of these for more than one "malnutrition" deficiency. 9 required Thiamen Treatment for beri beri and allied conditions; 5 required Nicotinic Acid treatment for early signs of pallagra; 1 required treatment for central blindness (Reboflavin deficiency) newly observed in Stanley; 2 required treatment for non-specific malnutrition status.

I have compared these "weight" and "malnutrition" figures with those from a recent general Camp survey and find they correspond closely, so that the findings of the small New Zealand unit are roughly representative of the state of nutrition of the whole camp.

One may fairly conclude that the rations provided to the Internees by the authorities are insufficient and unsuitable to maintain health and prevent the occurrence of potentially fatal nutritional diseases. That these have been prevented and successfully treated is due entirely to the supplementary food and vitamin factors supplied by the Red Cross authorities. Failing these our mortality and morbidity rate must have been overwhelming.

Of general diseases - There have been 5 cases of dysentery, one case of typhus, 1 of erysipelas and 5 cases of moderately serious septic conditions.

(Sgd.) John Allistair Loan. M.B., S.S'c.
17.9.43

GENERAL.

The chief anxiety is that the situation regarding food and medical supplies (especially deficiency prophylactics) may become even more critical as the blockade increases.

Therefore, failing repatriation, either under a separate scheme or in conjunction with other British Nationals, we urgently request your co-operation with, or promotion of any scheme to ensure regular relief supplies.

Financial relief, although a help, is not a solution owing to lack of supplies, exorbitant prices and restrictions on purchases by internees.

Allowances irregular, maximum M. Y. 25 buys precisely 3.12 oz tins of canned mutton.

Geographical position of Hong Kong is a big hurdle regarding provisions.

(Sgd.) L. Thomson
Chairman
New Zealand Internees Association
Stanley, Hong Kong.

((Transcribed from the copies held at the UK National Archive, their ref: CO 980/120.))

List of people executed on 29th October, 1943

The following list shows the people who have a page on Gwulo, and who died on 29th October, 1943. This was the day that the Japanese executed over 30 people on the beach at Stanley.

Brian has more details about these people and the day's events at:
http://gwulo.com/node/11380

Alias / nickname	Given	Family	Maiden	DoB	DoD	Sex
	Mateen Ahmed	Ansari		1915	1943	Male
	Ahmed	Basher			1943	Male
The American Hero of Hong Kong	Chester	Bennett		1892	1943	Male
	Frederick William	Bradley		1893	1943	Male
陳炳勳	Ping-fun	Chan			1943	Male
	Cleveland Elroy John	Changyit			1943	Male
	Yung Sam	Cheung			1943	Male
	John Alexander	Fraser		1896	1943	Male
	Frederick Ivan George	Hall		1916	1943	Male
Ginger	Charles Frederick	Hyde		1900	1943	Male
BAAG No. 60.i	George	Kotwall			1943	Male
劉德光	Tak Kwong	Lau		1905	1943	Male
劉德愛	Tak Oi	Lau			1943	Female
	Hung Hoi	Lee			1943	Male
	Hung	Leung / Leong		1912	1943	Male
	Ching-kit	Luk		1925	1943	Male
	Thomas Christopher	Monaghan		1890	1943	Male
	Hubert Stanley	Rees		1900	1943	Male
	Walter Richardson	Scott		1899	1943	Male
	Alexander Christie	Sinton		1897	1943	Male
	Douglas William	Waterton		1901	1943	Male
	William John	White		1883	1943	Male
BAAG codename PREST / PRESS	Preston	Wong		1890	1943	Male
BAAG No. 71.ii / James Kim	Cheuk-ming	Yan			1943	Male
BAAG No. 105 (?) / 楊守德	Sau-tak	Yeung			1943	Male

Pages

03 Nov 1943, Additional notes

Among the papers of Mr Thomas Alwyn Hughes I found this instruction, written on the back of a cigarette packet, given to the Police members interned at Stanley on November 3, 1943:

“C. P. of one (?) Sec Nov, 3rd 1943 I want you to put clearly before the men of your sec. the following facts:- Arriving out of the recent sentences on prisoners from this Camp, the Jap. Authorities have made it abundantly clear to the C.C. that should any unauthorized communication be made into, or out of the camp be discovered, or should any escape be attempted, or should any action against the Jap. interests be discovered, not only will the offender himself be drastically dealt with but also the arrest of the C.C. & of the B.C.C. (?) will be affected & collective punishment will be inflicted on the camp. The Jap. Authorities have made it quite clear that they mean what they say. The first duty of Police is to the Public they serve. In the circumstances therefore, I specifically direct that no member of the Police Force shall take any action which may lead to penalties of this nature being inflicted on the general Public & leaders of the Camp.”

31 Jul 1945, Mini-sub cuts Japanese undersea communications cables

On this day, the British mini-submarine XE-4 and its five-man crew cut the undersea communications cables connecting Singapore to Saigon, and Saigon to Hong Kong. This forced the Japanese to communicate via radio, which was easier for the Allies to intercept.

Adam Bergius was one of the divers who did the actual cutting. This extract from his obituary in the the Scottish Sunday Herald explains:

Mr Bergius, his fellow divers and their midget subs arrived in Labuan, off Malaysia, in July 1945 on board their depot ship HMS Bonaventure, which had been built in Greenock as the Clan Campbell of the Clan Line but was requisitioned for the war effort.

On July 31, in the Mekong Delta, the XE-4 snagged on its targets, the Japanese communications cables. Sub-Lieutenant Briggs dived from the sub and returned with a snippet to prove he had cut it. An hour later, they located the second cable and Sub-Lieutenant Bergius dived from the sub to snap it after four attempts at a depth of 50 feet. He was hauled back into the mini-sub in complete exhaustion but brandishing a length of cable. Mission accomplished, the war was about to be over.

For the rest of his life, Mr Bergius kept that length of cable as a war souvenir.

Thanks to Jill for the link to the obituary.

30 Aug 1945, Additional notes

Photos of Hong Kong from the last 3 years and 8 months are few and far between, but that is about to change with the arrival of the Allied Fleet.

The Canadian ship, HMCS Robert, was the fifth ship of the fleet to enter the harbour, and the first to berth in Kowloon, at Holt's Wharf. You can read about the Robert's experience that day, and see photos, at: http://gwulo.com/node/28372

Over on the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable, Arthur Ball was gathering a very interesting set of photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/peterball/albums/72057594063683584

31 Aug 1945, BAAG newsletter to internees and POWs

The BAAG publish a "NEWSLETTER for RELEASED PRISONERS OF WAR AND CIVILIAN INTERNEES IN HONGKONG.

Extracts:

After your long internment without accurate news you will want to learn a thousand things about happenings and conditions in the world at large and particularly about Britain. ...

The following also are some points of interest about Britain:—

... British women have played a vital part in all three Services, in factories, on farms and in every aspect of the war effort. Bus conductresses and women porters are the rule rather than the exception. ...

Cosmetics, silk stockings, beer (increasing now in strength!) and luxury items of food are limited but available in some measure, and after some search through the shops. ...

The emergencies and stress of war and the inter-dependence of all classes and types of people have made for a friendlier and less reserved people. Conversation in railway carriages is now habitual ! ...

The country as a whole needs a new coat of paint to brighten it up, and some devastated areas are forlorn and grey. This applies particularly to London and Southeast England and the various cities singled out for special “blitzes” by the Germans. ...

You have never been out of the thoughts of those at home, and His Majesty the King in his recent broadcast on V-J Day referred early in his speech to his joy at the thought that the surrender of Japan meant the early release from your privations and the speedy re-union with your families. ...

Click here to read the whole document.

02 Sep 1945, Additional notes

A photo from George Cautherley showing "my father with myself and my mother taken in Stanley Internment Camp on 2nd September 1945, my third birthday.":

10 Sep 1945, Leaving Hong Kong on the "Empress of Australia"

Annette Williams, née Brown, was one of the internees who sailed away from Stanley Camp and Hong Kong on the Empress of Australia. Here is a copy of an email from Annette where she summarises her research into the events of that day, posted here with her kind permission:

I have finished my research into the internees leaving Stanley and being ferried out to the Empress of Australia on 10th September, 1945. It's been an exciting journey for me and I am so very happy to have discovered what actually happened and to let you know.

Firstly, knowing from my Mother, Una Brown, that we had been ferried out to the Empress on Australian Corvettes, I spoke to a friend who has an interest in Australian corvettes. She loaned me a book titled "Corvettes - little ships for Big Men" by Frank B. Walker (based on info from RAN and the RAN Corvettes Association) ISBN 0646259180. I read through it and found the corvettes that were in Hong Kong in August and September 1945, noting the name of each one.

Secondly, my friend suggested I try the Australian War Memorial collection https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1420122. It was a goldmine! I scrolled through the monthly reports for September 1945 for all the corvettes I had listed, and checked their movements for 10th September. I discovered there had been five corvettes which ferried us out to the Empress of Australia, which was not anchored in deep water just out of Stanley Bay nor in Hong Kong Harbour, but was actually anchored in Junk Bay, which is part of the mainland just outside the Lyemun Pass eastern entrance to the Harbour.

The five corvettes were Bathurst, Broome, Gawler, Geraldton, Launceston. I have listed the comments from their reports for the 10th September below.

(Conner, you mentioned the Wagga to me during our last phone call. Just as a matter of interest the monthly report for September for the Wagga said she ferried 150 internees out to the H.M.S. Smiter on the 22nd September, after we had left Hong Kong. Some other facts I discovered were that on 1st September the Fremantle had transferred hospital cases from Stanley to the Oxfordshire at Kowloon and on 4th September she had led the Empress of Australia into Hong Kong Harbour. The Castlemaine, which is currently anchored in Williamstown, Melbourne, as a museum ship, was one of the corvettes accompanying the fleet as it entered HK Harbour on 30th August. She also helped berth the Empress on 4th September. On the evening of the 25th September Castlemaine was in Stanley Bay and entertained, on board, about 25 internees from Stanley Camp. I have been on board the Castlemaine in Williamstown and felt a very strong connection with my history. I will visit her again very soon.)

Note: The monthly reports I have been looking at and listed below have copyright attached to them. Item copyright: Commonwealth of Australia copyright. Copying Provisions: Copy provided for personal non-commercial use, permission from copyright holder must be sought for commercial use.

Extract from Letters of Proceedings for the month of September, 1945:

Geraldton: "10th September 1945. Geraldton, Gawler, Launceston, Broome, and Bathurst sailed at 0700 for Stanley Bay to embark 1,000 Prisoners of War and Internees and transport them to the Empress of Australia in Junk Bay, Bathurst sweeping Double Oropesa along the route, followed by Gawler and Launceston 'L.L.' sweeping.
All ships anchored in Stanley Bay before 1030 and it soon became obvious that the organisation had failed badly. The landing barges which were to have brought the passengers to the ships were not there and never arrived. The luggage, one suitcase and one cabin trunk per passenger, was not ready and came down to the jetty one small truck load at a time. Many of the passengers were still in doubt as to whether they were travelling or not, and a committee engaged in revising the embarkation list did not finish until after 1430.
The ships' boats did a very good job and two motor-cutters send round by H.M.C.S. Prince Robert and two small ferries rushed from Hong Kong made it possible for the last ship (Geraldton), to sail from Stanley Bay at 1845.
Geraldton secured outside Launceston alongside the Empress of Australia at 1950 and disembarkation was completed by 2100."
Bathurst: "remained on Green Island patrol until 0605 on 10th September when she was withdrawn and proceeded to sweep with double Orepesa a channel from Tathong light to Stanley Bay in preparation for embarkation and transfer of internees from Stanley Camp to Empress of Australia. Remained at anchor in Stanley Bay until 1747 same day when, having embarked 234 civilian internees Bathurst weighed and proceeded alongside Empress of Australia in Junk Bay to discharge same. On completion of disembarkation at 2030 anchored in Junk Bay."
Broome: "10th. Broome, in company with Geraldton, Launceston, Gawler, and Bathurst, proceeded at 0648 to embark prisoners of War from Stanley Camp and ferry them to the Empress of Australia which was anchored in Junk Bay. Bathurst carried out a double orepesa sweep into Stanley Bay, on completion of which, ships anchored close to the shore and commenced to embark luggage and passengers. Broome was alongside the Empress of Australia by 1731, but found it necessary to return to Stanley later to disembark luggage and passengers placed on board in error. On completion of this trip, the ship returned to anchorage off Naval Dockyard where the anchor was let go at 2117."
Gawler: "Weighed at 0658 on the 10th with Launceston and streamed SA & KK sweep. Carried out sweep to Stanley Bay where 210 internees were placed on board and taken to the Empress of Australia for evacuation. I returned to anchorage at 1935."
Launceston: "0700 Weighed and proceeded to sea, Gawler in company, to carry out mine-sweeping operations to Stanley Bay. 1000 recovered sweeps and entered Stanley Bay. Sent boats inshore and working party to assist with transport of released internees and their baggage. 1820 Weighed and proceeded to Junk Bay with 240 internees on board. 1900 secured alongside Empress of Australia and transferred internees. 2232 Slipped and proceeded to anchor for the night. Wardroom had the pleasure of entertaining Commander Creer, released from Internment Camp."

Conner Hackett, mentioned above, has previously uploaded this rare photo. It was taken on the journey away from Hong Kong, though the exact location is not known. It appears to show men in pairs on the steps, passing luggage up from the barges onto a larger ship:

Annette and Conner both appear in a photo taken at Stanley Camp a few days earlier. They're sitting next to each other at the left side of the bottom step:

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