6 Jul 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Submitted by brian edgar on Tue, 06/05/2012 - 20:14

While 2,500 people are wondering how they can follow the Americans out of Stanley, one brave man is trying to get in.

Daily Mirror, page 8:

‘HONG KONG’ BISHOP WANTS TO FLY TO PRISONERS IN CHINA

 

THE "fighting Bishop" of Hong Kong - the Right Rev. Ronald Hall—is fighting to get back to his diocese, to minister to thousands of Protestants who are prisoners in the hands of the Japanese,

Bishop Hall, who is in England, was here when Hong Kong fell, and for months has been trying to obtain permission to return.

He has now been granted facilities for a special priority flight to China. He hopes he will be allowed to visit Hong Kong.

"The Japanese have permitted the Roman Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong to resume his ministrations, but he is an Italian," Bishop Hall told the ‘Daily Mirror’ yesterday.

 

One Shamshuipo POW has heard some interesting things about life in Stanley:

 

Stanley reported to be overcrowded & 'much free love being practised'.

 

The camp was undeniably overcrowded, although the situation had been somewhat eased by the departure of the Americans. Some sexual relationships had sprung up, although most accounts suggest that Freud was wrong: in conditions of deprivation, the mind turns to thoughts of food not sex. In any case, most people who discussed this topic after the war felt that malnutrition kills libido.

 

Source:

Tony Banham, We Shall Suffer There, 2009, Sunday 5 July 1942

 

 

 

Date(s) of events described