4 Nov 1943, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Submitted by brian edgar on Fri, 08/03/2012 - 16:15

A talk by Miss P. A. Ayrton does NOT take place. It was to be called 'Confessions of A Militant Suffragette' but was banned by the Japanese authorities perhaps because of the word 'militant'.

 

Leslie Steyn reports from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, giving brief statements from some of the Gripsholm repatriates.

Emily Hahn says the Japanese are bad winners and worse losers, while Dr. Jim Henry, formerly of Lignan University and Hong Kong, says that the Chinese are dying like flies from starvation in the streets of Canton. Canadian F. F. Sullivan states that the prison camp in Hong Kong is 'the worst in the Far East'.

Steward Carl Morgan reveals that the passengers were never served rice and fish on the voyage as that was what they'd been living on for the previous two years.

Source:

Poster in M. L.Bevan's Album, Imperial War Museum 69/6/1

The Lowell Sun, November 4, 1943, page 13

Date(s) of events described

Comments

Hi Brian,

I recognise Emily Hahn's name, but not Steyn, Henry, or Sullivan. Should any of those three be added to the 'interned in Stanley' or 'in Hong Kong but not interned' lists?

Regards, David

Hi, David. Congratulations on the well-deserved AIA citation.

Steyn was the reporter; Dr. Henry had lived in Hong Kong and was mentioned by Emily Hahn in China To Me, but he was captured in Canton. I assumed Sullivan was in Stanley but I'm not sure - I'll see if I can pin it down.