Diary pages from this date

The Japanese Victory Parade is held. Streets are cleared and Europeans forbidden to look on pain of death, although some risk a glimpse or two.

On a visit to Dina House, Phyllis Harrop meets Dr. Valentine, who tells her they had been trying to find her too. He takes her to see Colonel Eguchi (or Iguchi), the Japanese Director of Medical Services, and they discuss the question of prostitutes and the brothel system. She explains that there are no 'licensed houses' in Hong Kong {due to a pre-war attempt by the Government to wipe out prostitution.} Eguchi says he knows there are many 'girls' in Hong Kong and that he wants to introduce a licensed quarter as quickly as possible - the 'girls' would be medically examined and paid. He says that the new year is approaching and that there are 40,000 victorious troops in Hong Kong and that without such a system he cannot be responsible for the safety of any woman. At 5 p.m. Harrop goes with him to Wanchai and points out the brothels she's aware of  - 'I know them personally and have often raided them'.

The Japanese, under the orders of the former manager of the Yokohama Specie Bank, enter the HKSBC building and assemble the staff. Sir Vandeleur Grayburn is questioned at length and all keys are surrendered and the safes and treasuries sealed.

Policeman George Wright-Nooth is taken to Gendarmerie HQ. He's questioned by a Gendarmerie Major as to the districts where 'bad men' are to be found. He points to areas with many opium dens and gives vague names and addresses to avoid admitting that the main records have been destroyed. Wright-Nooth tells him that being confined to quarters makes it difficult for him to feed his Chinese and Indian policemen (he doesn't mention the Europeans): the Major immediately gives him a pass which reads in translation 'This officer can go anywhere. Do not stop him.'

The worst period in the ordeal of the Maryknoll Fathers comes to an end. Their bonds are removed and they are allowed to leave the garage for meals. They are back in the garage when the Japanese-speaking Major Kerr arrives. He's acting as an interpreter, and he manages to get some food to them and to the British soldiers who are being held in the room next to them. He also persuades a Japanese officer to allow them out of the garage and into a room in the House - at least this has a wooden floor not a cement one. They are allowed to spend the night in their lower chapel but there are still Japanese soldiers in Maryknoll House itself.

Sources:

Grayburn: Frank King, History of the HKSBC, Volume 3, 1988, 572-573

Harrop: Phyliis Harrop, Hong Kong Incident, 1943, 91-92

Wright-Nooth: George Wright-Nooth, Prisoner Of The Turnip Heads, 1994, 71-72 

Maryknoll: Maryknoll Diary, December 28, 1941

Notes:

1. One of the Europeans who claims to have watched the Victory Parade is George Wright-Nooth, but he dates it to December 29, which is undoubtedly wrong, assigning the events in the text to today. Wright-Nooth was on a visit to the Police HQ at the Gloucester Hotel from which he was able to see the part of the route that went along Des Voeux Road:

Nowhere was there any rejoicing. Everywhere was quiet except for marching feet and occasional military commands. Overhead three flights of planes flew up and down the route several times. Then the parade came in sight headed by a bugle band, a large part of which seemed composed of officers. They were followed by the general and other high ranking naval and military officers, all of whom were mounted. Following them on foot came a large party of Japanese soldiers carrying little white boxes on their chests. These contained the ashes of those Japanese killed in action. (page 75)

2. More of the story of the setting up of a Japanese brothel area can be read in Li Shu-Fan Hong Kong Surgeon, 1964, 113-115. Valentine and Eguchi  seem to have consulted Dr Li before Harrop, as Li claims that he suggested that Eguchi ask for five hundred 'prostitutes'  to be sent from Canton, which the Japanese had been occupying for three years, but the Colonel rejected the idea because it would have made him look ineffective. He says he showed Eguchi the brothels on a map of Wanchai, and like Harrop, that he stressed not all houses in that area were used for that purpose.

3. There is some confusion in the sources as to who was the British Deputy Director of Medical Services at this point, Dr. Valentine or Dr. MacLeod. 

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.

I had tired of keeping out of sight. So, there being strangely few soldiers about, took myself for a short walk, knee deep in stinking rubbish, and with flies pestering. At the first corner I came suddenly upon the corpse of a well-dressed young Chinese - perhaps a nocturnal prowler come to grief, or perhaps merely a body dumped to save funeral expenses.

There were some stalls in the street, selling a little food and a lot of valueless junk, mostly looted. There were also many public gambling booths, in shops, around the market and on vacant lots. Mostly they offered the dice game of Yankee Sweat, fan tan, and the Chinese card game pai kau. They were all reasonably cheerful and all well-behaved. I laid a small bet, lost and left it at that.

Looting of abandoned houses on the hills around us now openly in progress. The looters could be seen in long files like ants, climbing up the hillside paths everywhere on Broadwood Ridge, Stubbs Road and Blue Pool Road, and coming down again carrying furniture. 

In the early afternoon troops assembled on the racecourse; we heard their bugles and banzais. They were computed to number two thousand. This was part of the victory parade. 

From our roof later we could see horse lines and tents in the racecourse, and much activity in the blocks of flats overlooking it. More troops were being billeted, and the occupants are being evicted to find accommodation where they can.

Food is still scarce, and the fact presses heavily upon our spirits. The shops in our district are not yet reopening. In any case they would have little to sell; all commodity stocks have gone underground. We still have half a bag of rice and a modest store of tinned beef and fish, but no cooking oil.

Observing the looting and remembering Kowloon, not to mention our Japanese visitors, we contrive hiding places. We taxed our ingenuity. I used some banknotes to prop up the wobbly leg of a table, and we slipped single notes between shelf brackets and the wall. We discovered that the old-fashioned mantel in our bedroom was hollow; with a little skill the end panel could be removed, giving access to a long cupboard of nearly two cubic feet capacity. In here we put our tinned stuff. Under the stairs at our front door we made another cache, and later added to these.

Nothing much more today- Septic still wants me to go to the Bank Building - Macleod is apparently up in Septic's house with his family -  I decided I would not  go.  I saw the C.S. at last and had a long talk with him.    I then went to see a Col [?Ohada] armed with a letter from the C.S. but he was out - I'm to go back tomorrow at 10. I hope to be able to fix up things otherwise H.K. will be in a sorry mess.  But there is not much use writing this when there is no chance that you can see it for months and months so I think  Darling  I'll only write now and then.  I think of you all the time - so sorry that you have this additional worry - but you needn't worry - I wish I could get that to you - for we'll be all right.    B

Resumed Prison duties & commenced clearing up the debris. The Prison had been bombed & shelled & there was plenty of loose brickwork & concrete around. No water or electric on. Pris’s allowed to smoke. Indians, what are left of them, are very insolent. Tweed Bay cleared. Pos, ex ARP AHS’s, wardresses etc all eat together in ex G pty now.

Japs said we must move out.  Some one among us suggested we move to some offices within their knowledge in Shell House. So all we ARP folk immediately did so, only a short walk from Dina House.  We swept the floor and cleaned up, and saw some of the wounded soldiers on Hong Kong Hotel verandah opposite.

Jap planes were showing off against a blue sky, dropping leaflets.  Some sort of Jap. parade ((probably the Jap forces ceremonial entry into the city, some officers on horses.))

After half an hour in Shell House, some one in authority came and we were told we had to go back to Dina House, and wait until we were sent somewhere. Did so - we ladies were given a lift to Tai Koon Hotel, Des Voeux Road, next to Central Market. Men followed on foot. Separate cubicles, ladies on 2nd floor, men on fourth floor. ((More a brothel than a hotel.))

((Cubicles were all in a line, along which ran a wide verandah looking out on to Des Voeux Road; wooden and glass partitions in between. Each cubicle had a large bed which took up most of the width, then a wash basin.  Another line of cubicles backed on to the front row, so you could talk through the flimsy partitions to 5 immediate neighbours.  Some one said the hotel was a brothel. I couldn't bring myself to undress, fearing some kind of contamination, so slept in my day clothes.))
 
We all pooled whatever tinned food we had, and clubbed together and bought vegetables, there was a kitchen on our floor.  Desperately cold.  We were allowed out, Tony escorted me to Hong Kong Hotel where I saw Olive who was billeted there, and Sid in hosp.

Mr Himsworth reported he had seen Mum at the Queen Mary Hospital and that she was OK.

((At that time I knew nothing of Mum's horrific experiences at the Jockey Club Hospital which Jap soldiers entered and raped some of the young nurses;  all this is told in detail in my Mother's memoir 'It Was Like This...'))