Flush toilet found in air raid shelter

Hi Vicky,

That's a good photo - any others you can add will be gratefully received, as we don't often see views of what's inside the tunnels.

My guess is that the toilet dates to when the tunnels were refurbished - early 1950s I think. The only mension of toilets in the tunnels in wartime I've seen is in a note from Barbara Anslow. She describes conditions in the tunnel below Government House in December 1941, but notes no toilets were in place:

Strong smell of raw wood from the props round the  earthy walls etc..  Various Govt. departments stationed in the tunnel which had been made with sections at all angles.  An alcove just inside the entrance was I think meant to be for toilets, but these were not present - just a few chairs without seats. There may well have been toilets in other sections, but for calls of nature we ran over Lower Albert Road to the ones in the CSO building.

Regards, David

Hi Vicky,

Please could you let us know if the photo was taken in one of the tunnels dug as air-raid shelters, or in some separate shelter? This in response to Henry Ching's message:

A flush toilet would require, first, a source of water, and second, connection to either the sewer mains or some sort of reception tank.   Both of these, I would suggest, would be far too expensive to provide in air raid tunnels.  The reference to the tunnels under Government House mentions chairs without seats.  This could mean the use of buckets which would need to be emptied manually, not flush toilets.
 
I note that Vicky refers to “air raid shelter”, not air raid tunnel.  I wonder where she took her photo?  Tunnels in Causeway Bay?  Perhaps a pen shelter?

I'm guessing the photo was taken in one of the ARP tunnels based on the dimensions and the curve of the roof, but hopefully Vicky will be able to let us know for sure.

Regards, David

Interesting photos. In late April 1941, the papers of the day mentioned that the big tunnel at Leighton Hill Road was nearing completion. "The air raid tunnel was approximatley 8 feet wide with vast corridors extending right and left throughout its length with exits at the rear of the houses facing Wong Nei Chong Road oppoiste the Hong Kong Football Club. A walk though the tunnel revealed there was adequate ventilation deep inside apart from a musty odour from the earth."

It is noted that the air raid shelter in Stockport, England had chemical toilets as well as a flushing toilet as seen here from these photos.

Thanks Vicky, these are good to see.

I checked notes on the Leighton Hill ARP tunnels and found a likely source for these toilets ("latrines" in the notes):

In June 1950, a plan of these tunnels was sent to the Department of Medical Services in connection with a proposed utilisation of the ARP tunnels in Hong Kong. During 1951 the accessible section of the tunnel network was equiped with mesh doors, grilles, latrines, electric lighting and a piped water system in readiness for its use by the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) as a Casualty Clearing Centre under the Medical Department's Civil Aid Scheme.

Source: Report on the Leighton Hill tunnels by "Mott, Hay & Anderson Far East", dated July 1979. Copy available in the Civil Engineering Library.

Good find. Looks like the ARP tunnels were still maintained during the events of the early 1950s.

There was a fair amount of work on the tunnels in the 50s related to the AMS, so I hope we'll hear from someone who was involved with the AMS at that time and can tell us more about them.

Though the war against Japan had finished, other wars were underway nearby in the early 1950s. British troops were fighting Chinese troops in Korea, and the PRC were still fighting the KMT.

I expect the AMS facilities were part of the preparations against a potential attack on Hong Kong from the Mainland.

Regards, David

The China Mail ran articles in October 1951 on the work done by the Auxiliary Services in relation to defence and security measures being taken. With reference to the AMS, the article mentioned that tunnels dug into the hillsides for defensive purposes prior to the last war were being re-conditioned. Two tunnels, one on each side of the harbour were being used as first aid posts with field training taking place on Sunday mornings. The two tunnel networks were chosen as they were close to wide roads and accessible to heavy ambulances. China Mail 17 October 1951 refers.

Thanks Vicky. What other interesting things have you found inside the tunnels?

Regards, David

Hi Vicky, another very interesting view, thanks for posting.

Henry has a question for you:

Re the most interesting  photo posted by  Vicky Hung of the narrow passage in ARP tunnel network 09, I wonder what purpose it served?  With the large number of panicky  people sheltering in the tunnel, a narrow passage like that would surely have been very hazardous.  You have kindly posted an outline of the tunnel network 09 headed Subterranean Star Street (see http://gwulo.com/star-street-tunnels-wanchai), in which you confirm that only one portal (Portal 60) remains of the original six portals.  Presumably Vicky entered the network through Portal 6, to take her photo. I wonder if she could tell us the location of this passage with reference to your outline? That might indicate which areas the narrow passage connected.

Looking at the photo, the concrete surface of the narrow tunnel looks different from the walls we've seen elsewhere.

I guess this is a later addition to the tunnels. Many sections of the old tunnels that were considered likely to collapse have been backfilled over the years. Or the work could have been done as part of the preparations for the construction of Starcrest.

Hi Vicky,

I like your photos - great shots!

I have been to the Leighton Hill Tunnels and I saw the flush toilet, very nice!

I will be going to the narrow tunnels you have posted as well - I wonder if you have any tips or advice...you say it is very small?

Anyway, let us know...if not I will let you know how it works out!

Cheers,

- B

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