25 Dec 1941, Father Biotteau's wartime diary

Submitted by fdremeaux on Mon, 12/07/2015 - 16:55
((Original text)) ((Jill Fell's translation))

Voici une date que nous n’oublierons pas de sitôt.

A peine sommes-nous entrés dans la maison que nos confrères nous apprennent la grande nouvelle : Hong Kong est aux mains des Japonais. Le Gouverneur s’est rendu, les forces combattantes ont mis bas les armes, le drapeau blanc flotte, ici et là. Déjà les fusils et munitions sont déposés en tas sur le terrain de Béthanie ! Nous avons peine à réaliser la chose. Ainsi cette « forteresse » qui était soi-disant capable de résister longtemps, sinon toujours, à l’attaque des Japonais, cette fameuse « noix » qui serait, nous assurait-on, si difficile à casser, a tenu une douzaine de jours !

Ce soir, en regardant flamber le dépôt de pétrole qui est en bas du cimetière chinois, nos pensées sont vides.

Que nous réservent les jours qui vont suivre ?

This is a date we shan't forget in a hurry.

We had no sooner entered the house than our colleagues tell us the big news: Hong Kong is in the hands of the Japanese. The Governor has surrendered, the fighting forces have laid down their arms, white flags are fluttering all over the place. Guns and ammunition have already been put in a heap on the ground at Bethany! We have difficulty taking it in. Thus the "fortress" that was apparently capable of resisting the Japanese attack for a long time, if not for ever, this famous "nut" that we were assured would be so difficult to crack, held for a mere dozen days!

This evening we watched the blazing oil depot below the Chinese cemetery, our minds are blank.

What do the days ahead hold for us?

Date(s) of events described

Comments

"This is a date we shan't forget in a hurry. We had no sooner entered the house than our colleagues tell us the big news: Hong Kong is in the hands of the Japanese. The Governor has surrendered, the fighting forces have laid down their arms, white flags are fluttering all over the place. Guns and ammunition have already been put in a heap on the ground at Bethany! We have difficulty taking it in.

Thus the "fortress" that was apparently capable of resisting the Japanese attack for a long time, if not for ever, this famous "nut" that we were assured would be so difficult to crack, held for a mere dozen days! 

This evening we watched the blazing oil depot below the Chinese cemetery, our minds are blank. What do the days ahead hold for us?"

David,

It's no problem for me to smooth out the offerings of "Google translate" in small quantities. I was only daunted when I realised that the entry I had tackled was the last of quite a few of Father Biotteau's diary entries. Over time, I'm happy to retranslate them one by one if you'd like me to. Just let me know whether to post them to Gwulo or send them to you direct.

Jill