Diary pages from this date

Stanley and Mount Davis were still requiring shells the next day, and as the remaining ones were stored at Lyemun it was decided the Ammunition Column should move to Happy Valley which was much more conveniently situated;  so we set off for our new quarters that after noon (15th) and settled down before starting off on our all night job.

We found Capt. Wiseman in charge of the small pool at Happy Valley and attached ourselves to him for rations, but I arranged for my men to sleep in one of the private boxes so that they would be undisturbed.  Major Grieve was also there in charge of coolie labour, his command of 12th Co. RASC having been transferred to Major Dewer ((probably A J Dewar)).  Lt. Gidley was still living in the stables with his coolies.

On arrival I received a message that I was not to take 9.2 shells to Stanley and Mount Davis, but was to assist in the clearing of some ten thousand six inch shells from Lyemun magazine which were to be taken to the various six inch batteries.  Some of these batteries were up the Peak which can only be reached by a road on the north side of the island facing Kowloon, and the Japanese were already registering on this road at Wanchai and Magazine Gaps.

There were other six inch batteries at Mount Parker, Red Hill, Stanley and Mount Davis.

Apparently they all needed shells and we were told this job was to be worked on till completed.  I felt rather upset as I had promised Stanley I would be back with more 9.2 shells for them, and I knew how eagerly they awaited my arrival.  Stanley had nicknamed me their ‘Fairy Godmother’ and I felt sad to think I should not be able to visit them with my welcome loads.

Sergt. Barman RA arrived at the Valley at dusk and informed me I was assisting him in the clearance of the six inch shells.

We set off for Lyemun shortly after dusk on the night of 15th.  I had been told that Kings Road had been badly shelled all day and that we were likely to encounter difficulties with the Tramway overhead cable, which had been shot down in several places, but that we should probably find it alright as gangs had been instructed to clear it away.  I was also told the military road leading from Shaukiwan Hill up to Lyemun barracks had received two direct hits from bombs, and it could not be repaired till the next day, so I was to use all caution whilst ascending and descending.

So we set off fully prepared for an exciting evening.  On reaching Kings Road we found it very cut up by small shell craters, and after proceeding about a mile I felt my car run over some cable.  Fortunately it did not twist round my axle, and I proceeded at a snail’s pace.  Soon I was passing lorries which were tied up in the cable and then I heard the honking of my leading lorry’s horn.  I stopped and got out to find it tied up in the cable and the lorry which was following had run its bonnet under the tailboard and was firmly wedged.

Whilst we were working to extricate them, Sergt. Barman arrived and said we were to return to Happy Valley immediately, as an attempted landing was taking place at Lyemun and it was impossible to get near the magazines.

We turned our remaining two lorries round and my car, and proceeded back to the Valley, but on arrival there we decided that if we got a metal saw or some big wire cutters we should have time to go back to Kings Road and rescue our other two lorries.

We went to the workshop which was located in the Hongkong Hotel garage and procured a saw and a pair of cutters.  When we got back to Kings Road we saw many more lorries tied up in the cable.  The roadway was lit up by two huge fires on the Kowloon side, so we had plenty of light by which to work, and in a short time had got our two lorries cut out and also one belonging to the Royal Scots.

We cleared the roadway of some two hundred yards of wire and then returned with our two lorries and our prize to Happy Valley.

Nothing further eventuated that night;  the attempted landing apparently failed, the pillboxes along Kings Road up to Lyemun were at this time manned by the Royal Scots who I heard put up a fine show throughout the trouble.  They were moved to other positions the next day unfortunately.

A bright, warm day:

The fine clear weather brought out the Japanese bombers. There were terrible air raids all over Victoria and casualties were numerous in the crowded Chinese districts. This caused many residents to take up permanent quarters in the air raid shelters built into the hillsides.

The artillery meanwhile, concentrates on observation posts and telephone junctions.

A curfew from 7.30 p.m. to 6.30 a.m is imposed. 

Aileen Woods' diary:

We do feel that God heard our prayers and brought us safely through {the heavy shelling of December 14} but oh...the screeching of the shells passing over us...It is not the fear of being killed outright, but suppose we were wounded and left here alone to die.

Her diary for this day shows Aileen Woods in a rather gloomy mood, but it doesn't last long: she, Doris and their sister Mrs. Winfield offer their services to the War Memorial Hospital on the Peak. During their stint there they wash up, scrub floors, sweep wards and wait upon the wounded soldiers. They draw on their background in entertainment and lead the patients in singing. And they are full of admiration for the ANS nurses, who work both on the wards and in the kitchen, for the calm round-the-clock work of the housekeeper Mrs. Carruthers, and for Dr. Harry Talbot, who, they are told, works for twenty hours at a stretch in the operating theatre without relief.

The Daily Mirror carries Churchill's message to the defenders on page 1:

We are all watching day by day your stubborn defence of the port and fortress of Hong Kong. You guard a link long famous in world civilisation between the Far East and Europe.

We are sure that the defence against barbarous and unprovoked attack will add a glorious page to British annals.

All our hearts are with you in your ordeal. Every day your resistance brings closer our certain victory.

Sources:

Bombing and shelling: John Luff, The Hidden Years, 1967, 59

Curfew: G. B. Endacott and Alan Birch, Hong Kong Eclipse, 1978, 113

Woods: Luff, 137-8

A telephone call in the morning established the fact that the ship had been well and truly finished and I personally had my first real feeling of satisfaction at something which had been done.

The previous day Mike had seen the C.P. and today Tai and I were taken along to see him and learn our next job. P.H.Q. had been pretty heavily hammered in the morning with some casualties and preparations were being made for transfer to the Gloucester Hotel. However, we got all our information and arrangements made for our return in the evening to carry out our real job. The early evening was not too pleasant as the work was not of the kind we relished but had to be done. P.H.Q. in the evening presented a queer scene – with no lights and the bar where we made our contacts lit up by flickering candles only. Here for the first time was noticeable the lack of cohesion among the police and a tendency to herd together and talk.

At last 10 o’clock came and with the feelings very confused we had the jail opened and our prisoners handed over. I had expected to feel some sympathy for them but instead felt only a slow anger and a feeling that they were not human beings in the real sense of the word. Coming out into the street was dark as hell and all we could feel was the presence of the Punjab guard, the rasp of their boots, and the occasional whimper of one of the prisoners who was taking it pretty badly.

In Queen’s Road they were soon lined up and shot, though one of them, who all along had preserved a dead silence, made a break for it and was cornered in an alley after a chase. Duly placarded they were left and home we went again via the Punjab H.Q. where some marvellous crusty bread, cheese, and whisky proved exactly what the doctor ordered. On the way home we were all pretty quiet – I personally had a mindful of thoughts – the changes we had seen – the difference in our lives – different attitudes to life and its value – change in occupation – all these provided plenty of interesting material for thought and in just such a ruminative frame of mind we went to bed in our ARP basement and, as was our custom now, while Mike and Betty had their little room Tai and I slept with our French girl friends - and mother – and slept well at that.

The Japanese seen concentrating small craft in Kowloon Bay. They were shelled, and several were hit. The shelling continued through the night.

Very lovely day. V. cold early.

6 planes over early. Bombs fell close astern. Later attack unloaded in El[...] & entrance.

Got orders to go to Deep Water Bay & [flood]. 7.45: Another attack and bombs fell in billet just left! Terrific shindy as going down harbour. Shaving water and coffee all cold!

Found Thracian crumpled bow and took all her ammunition. Later anchored off W. shore of Deep Water Bay. Plane over p.m. dived but no bombs. One plane brought down a.m.

Landed head of bay and walked Aberdeen and back. Cholera shot. Several damaged cars and lorries. R. Scots lost 700 out of 900.

Some sad news this morning. “Thracian" ran aground during the night and damaged her stern - necessitating docking. They are preparing to move her into the dock here at Aberdeen.

Still waiting patiently for No. 11 to come off the slip - this waiting is most annoying. She may be off this evening l am told.

I don’t like the idea  of  "Thracian"  coming  here  -  The  enemy are  bound  to  blitz   the dock as soon   as they have spotted  her.  I wish they would get a move on with No. 11, the sooner I get fixed  up and away the better.

Went onboard "Thracian" after dark and had a couple of drinks.

All seem very fed up - and expect a few bombs around tomorrow. Turned in early but spent a restless night.

We hear on a portable radio that a Japanese party flying a white flag came across the Harbour from Kowloon in a motor launch. They came to discuss surrender terms. They were met by a Major Boxer for GHQ who speaks Japanese.

We later hear that there is to be no surrender. But many of us know that the Japs have a great advantage in superior numbers and resources. They have control of the main water supply from the Shing Mun Dam over on the Mainland and which is piped across the harbour. In the present dry season the small reservoirs on the Island would not keep this teeming population going for long.

Jap planes fly over and drop propaganda leaflets printed in English, Chinese, Urdu and Hindustani. They are very crude affairs and cause a lot of amusement. I notice the Chinese have thrown them on the oven fires. The Jap planes have been over again today. Two Navy torpedo boats had entered the Bay and were spotted. The Japs dropped a few bombs but no hits, the boats were away out to sea rapidly. When the air raids are on I have told the Chinese to watch me when to run for cover, but they always beat me to it. Considering that they are non-combatants they have stuck to the job, whereas many of the Supply Depot labour have faded away.

7am

Well we’ve been at it for a week now – another quiet night but they must be planning something – they’ll try to land on the island of course.

No gas this morning - I think they hit the gasworks yesterday.  Well I‘ve still got my electric kettle – what we’ll do when they hit the Electric Power Station – DOK.

((Here, Billie draws two heavy lines to indicate a break in his letter writing half way down a page; leaving the office to go home to 152))

((New sheet of paper, continuing writing having arrived home from work to 152 on 15/12/41))

152

15/12/41

Darling,

It is very late and I am very tired but I must write a few lines - on the last night – for a while at least that I shall be in 152.  I don’t know if they tried for this house though it looks like it.  One bomb fell just at the wall of the Villa’s Compound - another just on the back of the Peak School and the third just on the road halfway between 152 and 153 and just above the B.A.T. house.  Every window on that side and the next is completely shattered - not only glass but frames as well. I shall have a lovely souvenir to show you when you get back.

I was downtown of course and the coolie rang me up.  I came up at once and while I am sleeping here tonight my den is practically O.K.  I am moving out tomorrow.  Amah was of course in a complete flat spin - she was ironing at the time and her room faced that way and was wrecked too.

So we are all moving down tomorrow to Northcote Training College.

I’ve been packing all evening and am just about done in.  Of course I have to leave an awful lot and can just hope for the best.  If I have time I’ll remove it all later – if I have time and if I have transport and if the road is still clear.

So Goodnight Loved One.  These are thrilling days.       Billie

Air raids started 7.20AM. AA fire appears to be useless. Probably the Japs want HK intact meantime hoping the civil population will revolt or that we submit due to starvation (Marj dear, I’m glad you are away but would be happier if I knew you were really safe too).

V.G. ((Victoria Gaol)) personel returned to Stanley. V.G. smashed up.

Blackie getting used to gunfire now bless her.

Manned our posts about 9PM but returned by 10.50PM nothing doing.