20 Dec 1941, Lt. L D KILBEE HKRNVR WAR DIARY Dec 1941

The tempo of the enemy’s offensive is increasing - air activity  considerable, Jubilee and Mount Davis seem to be getting it. Spent morning at the office - rumours coming in thick and fast. The enemy, it appears, have landed considerable reinforcements and are advancing somewhere near Wong Nei Cheong, also they seem to have infiltrated near Tai Tam.

Had a very unpleasant task to carry out this morning - digging a grave and reading a short burial service for two of our lads who were killed in No. 7 during the attack yesterday. Most depressing but someone had to do it. In the afternoon I drove three severely wounded Chinese to the Queen Mary Hospital. I borrowed an Austin 10 for the job - it was quite an exciting ride - as enemy planes were bombing in the vicinity of Pokfulum Road - the road was in a hell of a mess, bomb craters, telegraph wires down and trailing all over the place.  Handed over my passengers - it must have been agony for them at every jar and bump - and there were many during that short ride - but not a murmur from one of them. Returned to the office. Slept in the school during the night. How I am beginning to loathe the school, the place is just one jumble of humanity, men and officers coming and going - no one seems to know what is happening. I am going to  ask the C.O. if I can join one of the boats tomorrow, anything to get out of this place. Had a very disturbed night - had at least three “stand to's” because the enemy had been reported advancing along the road towards the building.

Did sentry duty for two hours - outside - a really ridiculous situation - there I was armed with a revolver
with no shelter - standing out in the open. If enemy troops were about I should have been killed long before I could have been able to raise the alarm.