82 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

Golly Anslow says it's a good story ((my book)), that characters were well-drawn, that conversation was rather more as we would speak than girls of the given age; that there seemed to be too much fainting. ((now I think, trust FJA to find something to criticize!!)) I saw him going into the gaol this evening and couldn't resist going up and asking what he had to say about it. 

Made calendar for Tony (Cole), presented it to him in afternoon at birthday tea in Bungalow C ((his billet)).  It is the lowest bungalow, built on the edge of the hill. Tea in garden - delightful setting - smooth grass, blue and silver sea, blue blue sky, hills green in the distance.

Mr and Mrs Hyde Lay ('Betty') and Mr C. T. Bailey were the other guests.  ((Both Hyde Lays were later killed when Bung. C accidentally bombed by Allies; Mr Bailey slightly injured; Tony had moved out before this.))

There was muscatel bread (made by Mr Bailey); scones (also with muscatels) made by Mrs. H.L., a wonderful chocolate cake with thick chocolate icing. Tony gave me a piece of cake to take home. SO full up, could only touch soup in evening, with 2 slices of bread.

Mabel went for a picnic in cemetery with Nan and Phyllis.

(MacKenzie, Dow)

Richards

Now the question of the I.R.C. food distribution again.

I must have been cut short in any intended dissertation about the food. Perhaps that was as well as the matter has not yet been finally settled.

Members of the BCC met together and approved the suggestion put forward by Macleod that the bulk food should be rationed and issued once a week or once a month. John Sterricker, the secretary, in his weekly Camp Bulletin, stated that this scheme of distribution had been submitted to the Japanese authorities for their sanction, he added, unfortunately, that the Japanese had been told it was the wish of internees that the food should be distributed in this manner. This raised a storm – or storms – of protest from various sections of the community, the two chief complaints being the community as a whole had never been given a chance to air its views on the subject and that therefore the BCC had no right to put forward the scheme as one which represented the wishes of the people. Also what guarantee had the community, in the light of former thefts and pilferings, that individuals would ever get their quota of the food: the I.R.C. goods had been sent to British prisoners as a whole but it was intended that everyone was to get an equal share and the only way that this could be done with certainty was to issue everyone their full quota straight away and let internees look after their own stuff and eat it as and when they want to and not as they are told to. People in the married Quarters demanded a public meeting and an explanation by the Block Chairman and Committee. This meeting was accordingly held on 12th December ((typo - the meeting was held on 12th November)) and a sickening sort of meeting it proved to be.

Greater air activity over the Colony. Japs fear air-raids.

Fine day, full moon.

((G.))

I am really all better now - I had horrid gastritis and am sure it was just because I was trying to "feed up". It was rotten while it lasted - for a while I had to go off rice altogether - I got such awful fermentation and belched rotten eggs at one end and could have filled a Zeppelin at the other! Early on Smalley gave me Streptocide - that stopped it at once but it started again the next day.

I am feeling all right now. Our Red Cross Parcel was perfect - a slab of Chocolate, 1 tin Boiled Beef and carrots and Dumplings, Galantine, Bacon, Margarine, Jam, Biscuits, Cheese, Potted Meat, Creamed Rice (Rice in thick Devonshire Cream - luscious!) a Jam Pudding, Condensed Milk and some Tea and Sugar. It fairly put me on my feet again - then there is some bulk stuff - we are to get sugar, tea, cocoa, dried fruits and bully beef. The issue is being spaced out to last till the end of March.

Then the news is splendid. The landings in North Africa have stirred us and the latest battle in the Solomons. It can't be so very long now.

I had one awful disappointment however this week - some letters arrived from home but none for me. I hear Ben Evans heard from his sister that Margot is in England but no letter from Margot. I am sure lots have gone astray. If a letter is too long or is not very legibly written - almost printed - the Jap Censors just don't bother about it and there it lies. I wish Edith had written - I hear it was announced over the wireless last July (all the letters are dated early in July) that a mail was going to Lourenco Marques and would reach H.K. but she may not have heard it. Well I must just still have patience. Dora's birthday was yesterday - I gave her a cake of toilet soap - much sought after and very expensive now but I have two or 3 cakes yet. I had a coffee and cake with her at 10.30am! Bertie sent a cake in to her - how he did it D.O.K.

Bombers have been over H.K. again today and we wonder when the offensive about here will start. We hope they don't hit the power station - so much of our cooking is done by electricity.

Goodnight L.O. AMLA B.B.

OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton, San Chau, and Hong Kong

TIME OVER TARGET: ~Noon

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One P-43 Lancer on loan to the 75^th Fighter Squadron (23^rd Fighter Group, China Air Task Force, 10^th Air Force) from the Chinese Air Force.

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: 1^st Lt. Roger C. Pryor

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None

RESULTS: No aircraft sighted at San Chau airfield.   An estimated 45 fighter aircraft observed at White Cloud airbase in Canton.  Fifteen aircraft counted at Kai Tak.  Pilot counted 17 ships in Victoria Harbor, plus additional vessels in dry dock.

JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: Japanese fighters did not attempt to intercept

AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None

SOURCES: Original mission report in the Air Force Historical Research Agency archives at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama

Information compiled by Steven K. Bailey, author of Bold Venture: The American Bombing of Japanese-Occupied Hong Kong, 1942-1945 (Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press, 2019).