Diary pages from this date

St Stephen's etc. still evacuated, the 200 ex inhabitants are sleeping wherever they can in Blocks 9, 10 and 11.  Not supposed to return to their billets, but some have risked it to get essentials.

Leilah (in hospital) looking so much better.

German lesson off (Crutwell's) because air raid alarm between 11.45 and 12.10, but we had it at 4pm.

The Formosans are reputed to have stopped Tony Sandberg's wedding till Saturday because it's 'a better day' !

Irma Mejia's 20th birthday.

Peace Programme meeting in grotto in evening.

Noel Croucher is defiant in the aftermath of yesterday's bombing:

The next day, Colonel Nomura ((see note)) ordered a few of us to parade, and he called me out, told me he wanted me to answer some questions, and warned me to speak the truth. He asked, 'Was that an American plane which dropped the bomb on your roof?' I answered 'No,' and he asked me why. I told him that it must have been a Japanese plane because the Japanese had vowed that no American bomber would ever reach Hong Kong.

Source:

Vaudine England, The Quest of Noel Croucher, 1998, 150

Note:

In George Wright-Nooth's telling of this story, the Japanese Colonel is Noma.

Noma Kennosuke was the head of the Kempeitai (Gendarmes) in Hong Kong until February 1945 when he was replaced by Kanazawa Asao - according to Philip Snow, Noma was 'recalled', which suggests he left Hong Kong.

Hot, humid.

Hosp. Cookhse floor. Finished off G’s shoes.

Some news knocking about  re 5th & 8th Armies.

G with Kew as lecture as promised. ((Possibly A J Kew or H W Kew))

Salt (rock) £18 per lb. ∴