28 Dec 1941, Colin McEwan Diary

Dawn brought the signal to move – a welcome signal to most of us who were chilled to the bone & only too willing to do anything for warmth. The wind was miserably cold tho’ & we could not get really warm until the sun came up. By daylight we were in fairly open country – fertile & well-cultivated & after crossing still another river – the countryside here seems to run with rivers – but this time by a bridge – a ½ hour’s walk by groves of sugar cane brought us to our objective the Tanshan(?) Waichow highway.

By this time feet and legs were going badly & the road tank trapped & covered as it was with gravel offered little comfort to feet already tender from unaccustomed poundings. Our next objective was always four miles away – cold comfort & having been informed that we were now clear the advance party moved on to make arrangements while we acted as whippers in at

…a pace of 2mph. The last 3 miles was a trial to the spirit and the flesh – tempers were getting short although the poor lads whose feet were worst trailed on with no complaint until in the end Tai and I decided to push on and get there.

Sun Hui proved a haven. We had our first meeting with the Chinese Army – smart pleasant looking people who were down to meet the Admiral. We were given quarters in the local Chung Hok (Middle School) for the day and about 1pm had our first meal since the previous evening. Since the village people were willing to accept HK currency (at 5-1) trade was brisk and John Collingwood earned my undying gratitude by the present of two great fresh duck eggs. After a very sound sleep we took the road again about 4.30 on a lovely afternoon. Half an hour’s walk saw us through a narrow pass guarded by an outpost of the Chinese Army. The descent on the other side brought us through some lovely scenery, wooded hills leading down to a large plain plentifully scattered with villages. The combination of relief of being really in free China and the beautiful evening had its effect and there were few laggards. The arrival of the first bicycle taxis for those whose feet had suffered too much quickened our progress and at dusk we reached our destination – Military H.Q. at Tsuen Lung(Chun Lung)– the usual temple but spotlessly clean and with every preparation made for our comfort. Dinner was a fairly hilarious affair with the General Staff proving a very poor second at lying on their bellies and grabbing at food with chopsticks.