Report of the P.M.O. of the Royal Naval Hospital, Hong Kong (1941-1945): View pages

On this day , all patients possible were discharged to duty . The remaining patients were transferred to No. 5 Ward on the ground floor . Gas masks were placed on bedside lockers , and each patient was given a wash - hand bowl as head protection and a mattress with which to cover himself during an air raid . 

The prepared organisation for receiving and dealing with casualties was finally checked . All casualties were to be received in No. 1 Ward where they would receive first aid and resuscitation . They would then be transferred either to No. 2 Theatre and thence to No. 5 Ward , or to No. 3 Ward direct . The latter ward was reserved for minor surgical cases and for all medical cases . 

The medical specialist was in charge of No. 1 Ward and was assisted by 1 nursing sister , 1 L.S.B.A. and 2 A.N.S. nurses . A surgeon lieutenant commander , R.N. , was in charge of No. 3 Ward , assisted by the same reception staff . 

The Principal Medical Officer , who also performed the duties of surgical specialist , was in charge of No. 5 Ward and the operating theatres and also directed passive defence and the general administration of the establishment . He had an operating theatre staff of 1 nursing sister , 2 A.N.S. nurses and 1 sick berth rating . The Matron of the hospital was in charge of officer patients and the general nursing organisation of the hospital as well as its catering . 

On this day 10 A.N.S. nurses were enrolled from the local voluntary organisation . 

A large supply of coal was ordered , as well as food and passive defence stores . 

Passive defence arrangements were finally completed during this day , the Chinese employees of the hospital being divided into parties under the direction of sick berth staff . Other Chinese employees were also sent from the R.N. Dockyard , Hong Kong . 

Blackout arrangements and lighting were in good working order , and continued to be so for some days . 

The 18 sick berth staff of the hospital were augmented by 3 R.A.F. medical orderlies .

Continued air-raid alarms caused much time to be wasted , and it was decided that the hospital staff must carry on work , under cover , on the ground floor . 

The hospital air - raid shelter was in the Pharmacist's Store . The walls were very thick , and the store was divided by two partitions with large shelves which were made into bunks and fitted with mattresses . At the beginning , these bunks were used as sleeping billets for the night duty staff , but later , all the staff slept in this shelter . 

On this day the first trouble arose with the Chinese employees , who always ran down to the tunnels under the hospital when an air raid started . Here they would remain and refuse to emerge to perform their passive defence duties . It was necessary therefore to lock the entrance to the tunnels . Thereupon , the Chinese threatened to leave the hospital altogether . They only agreed to remain provided they were permitted to shelter in a baggage room attached to No. 1 Ward . But , with a few exceptions , these Chinese were petrified with fear during air attacks . 

Food rationing was instituted on this day .

One chief petty officer was admitted in a very shocked condition with a wound of left foot and ankle joint . 

Four Chinese casualties were admitted , and after emergency operation were transferred to one of the civil hospitals during the night . 

The Chinese employees lent by the dockyard for passive defence duties did not appear and were never again available for this duty . 

The first shell landed inside the hospital area . From this time onwards the hospital laundry was out of action , and all washing had to be done in one of the ward bathrooms . The sterilising plant was also put out of action . Fortunately an ample supply of sterile drums and emergency dressings had been prepared . After this day all sterilising was carried out at the Bowen Road Military Hospital .

Three surgical casualties were admitted on this day . 

Arrangements were made for Army casualties to be admitted as necessary . 

On this day the Chinese hospital coolies again threatened to leave , their grievance being that they were not permitted to join their families in the tunnels under the hospital during the night . Finally , in order to prevent them leaving , permission to join their families at night had to be conceded . As a number of these Chinese were employed as crew of the trailer pump , it was arranged that the hospital pharmacist and one member of the sick berth staff should learn to work this machine in case of an emergency . This foresight proved to be wise , as a time came when the Chinese crew of the trailer pump was no longer available .

These were fairly uneventful days except for a fair amount of shelling . During a lull the pharmacist and one sick berth attendant were leaning over a balcony behind the sick berth staff quarters when a shell burst immediately underneath the balcony supports . By good fortune , neither was hurt .

A number of casualties was admitted at about 1500 hours . From then until 0500 hours the next day , the P.M.O. was operating continuously . The cases included one amputation through the left shoulder , one amputation through the left thigh and an officer with severe multiple gunshot wounds and a spinal paralysis .

On this day the hospital's hot water system failed , and from then onwards all hot water had to be fetched from the galley and surgical instruments had to be boiled over a large four - jet primus stove . 

The ward work had now become much heavier . Fortunately the hospital possessed a special spinal bed in which the wounded officer could be nursed . This patient was so heavy and had so many wounds that to move him in any other way would have been impossible .

There were only a few casualties on this day , but air raids and shelling became so heavy that ward work was greatly interfered with . 

The beds were kept close up against the walls between the double windows of the wards . These windows were kept full open , but their ' typhoon shutters ' were kept closed . This made the wards very dark but gave a modicum of protection against bomb and shell splinters . 

On this day the zymotic wing of the hospital became a complete wreck as shells continually exploded in it . 

In the evening two large bombs exploded in the road outside and interrupted communications with the Military Hospital . 

In the evening news was received that the Japanese had landed , and later , in pouring rain , a small number of Army casualties was admitted .

Many casualties were received from the strenuous fighting in the Wong Nei Chong Gap in which units of the Royal Navy took part . The Principal Medical Officer was again operating for several hours .

On this day the electricity and water supplies failed . The hospital now had to rely on the underground water tanks in its grounds . The water was chlorinated and carried from these tanks in buckets . 

The failure of electricity meant that the hospital X - ray apparatus could no longer be used , and this lack of X - rays naturally embarrassed the efficient treatment of casualties .

This day started badly . A bomb exploded outside No. 5 Ward , about 12 ft . from its wall . The blast shattered a number of the ' typhoon doors ' and filled the ward with acrid smoke and dust . The main water and sewage pipes were fractured , which meant that the kitchens and lavatories of Nos . 5 and 6 Wards were out of action . 

There were no casualties from this explosion . 

During this day the hospital came under heavy and continuous shell fire from two directions , Kowloon Wharf and Leighton Hill , and the following were the main incidents of damage : 

• P.M.O's . residence . A shell burst in the drawing room . 
• The Sisters ' Quarters . Many direct hits , with the roof and top floor completely wrecked . 
• Sick Berth Staff Quarters . Pharmacist's residence . 
• No. 2 Ward . Shell pierced the roof . 
• No. 4 Ward . Shells pierced the roof . 
• Main Operating Theatre . Shells pierced the roof . 

The sick berth staff worked valiantly in repairing the damage of No. 5 Ward , and got it into reasonable working condition within a short time . 

On this day a large sanitary pit was dug in the front lawn of the hospital in which soiled dressings and ward refuse could be placed . It was realised that this situation was not ideal , being too near to the water tanks . But steps were taken to chlorinate the refuse thoroughly , and in any case , it was necessary for the pit to be near the wards . 

In the evening about 20 wounded sepoys were admitted to No. 1 Ward . These were also casualties from Wong Nei Chong Gap .

Shelling continued over and around the hospital . By this time it had been noted that the enemy shelling usually commenced at about 1000 hours daily , after which time it was necessary to cover the patients up for protection . As a routine , therefore , all wound dressings were started very early in the morning , and were completed each day before 1000 hours . Needless to say , it was necessary to keep a large number of patients morphinised almost the whole time . 

One Admiralty civilian employee was admitted with a severe wound of spine .

Shelling continued as usual . 

In spite of the efforts of the staff , dirty linen had now accumulated , and there was a shortage of bed linen and clothing . Candles were also in great demand for lighting . The Naval Chaplain , who made many visits to the hospital , procured a large number of new sheets from the local Fleet Club which proved invaluable . 

Graves had now to be dug in the gardens of the hospital , and this same Naval Chaplain conducted two funeral services . 

On this day the local Naval Passive Defence Officer procured a quantity of candles and extra clothing for the hospital . 

Shelling continued , and by now , troops were in action on each side of the hospital , and machine - gun fire was very close outside the walls . Sniping also became a danger inside the hospital boundaries.

On this day casualties included two Admiralty civilian employees .

Shelling continued and the hospital received a great deal of further damage . For example : 

( 1 ) A shell burst just outside the west end of No. 5 Ward . A fragment of shrapnel pierced the ' typhoon shutter ' , and wounded one of the bed casualties .

( 2 ) A shell exploded outside the wall of the side - cabin of No. 5 Ward . A large fragment passed through the ' typhoon shutters ' of the cabin , cut the electric light flex , traversed the substantial door of the cabin , passed across a corridor and came to rest buried in the door of the operating theatre There were two bed patients in the cabin itself and people were standing on either side of the door of the theatre Nevertheless , no person was hit ! 

On this day the Commodore , R.N. , who himself had visited the hospital almost daily , brought H.E. The Governor of Hong Kong on a tour of inspection . 

Later on this day , the Royal Naval Hospital , Hong Kong , found itself so much in the centre of the battle raging outside , that the P.M.O. frequently had to order off the premises groups of British soldiers who were attempting to take up strategic positions there . Also , having now been warned that the enemy might filter into the hospital at any time , the P.M.O. ordered all the valuables taken from patients for safe custody to be returned to them .

The Last Day : Christmas Day 1941, Until the capitulation , fighting was severe on the Bowen Road , and all round the hospital in Wanchai , and up to the very end the hospital itself continued to be badly damaged . 

( 1 ) A mortar shell lodged behind the staircase of one of the hospital residences and failed to explode . 

( 2 ) Another hospital residence was struck by two shells , one of which passed through the wall and ended up , without exploding , on a landing outside a bedroom which was occupied by one of the nursing sisters at the time . 

( 3 ) A shell exploded at the entrance of one of the A.R.P. tunnels . Unfortunately , persons were standing nearby , and one of them had his left arm completely shattered . He was at once admitted to the hospital in a desperate condition and , as neither operating theatre was now usable , the Principal Medical Officer operated on this casualty and amputated his arm , by candlelight , in a corridor leading to No. 5 Ward .

Eventually , on this day , the fighting outside died down , and news was then received of the capitulation . 

At this point in his report , the P.M.O. placed on record his tribute to his medical and nursing staffs : 

' It is difficult to make an appreciation of my medical staff , who could not have been more helpful nor remained more calm . I cannot adequately express my feelings of gratitude and affection for them . '

' The three members ( Olga H. Franklin, Gwyneth M. Griffith, and Iris A. L. Rollin) of Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service were equally tireless and uncomplaining . They worked continuously . The Superintending Sister (Olga H. Franklin) is especially deserving of praise .' 

' As regards the sick berth staff , I shall never forget their absolute tirelessness and cheerful willingness . ' 

Also , at this point in his report , the P.M.O. makes reference to an apparent departure from the plans originally made for this hospital in the event of hostilities breaking out in Hong Kong . In his own words : 

' We had originally planned to evacuate the hospital to Aberdeent should the enemy arrive in Kowloon or should the hospital be rendered useless or untenable . But in the actual event , this seemed to me to be unnecessary , as Aberdeen would have been at least as dangerous and necessarily much less efficient . On more than one occasion after December 20 , the Commodore , R.N. , asked me whether I advised evacuating the hospital . I knew that some of our worst casualties could not stand any journey , and I advised against transfer . I have no regrets on this point.' 

Immediately news of the capitulation was received , steps were taken to try to get the hospital into good working order . About a dozen of the Chinese staff returned , including three laundrymen , two cooks and some labouring coolies . 

Many of the broken water pipes and punctured tanks were repaired , sanitary pits were dug and debris was cleared away . Large tarpaulins were placed over the holes in the roofs of Wards No. 2 and 4 and of the main operating theatre . Quantities of wood were cut into logs , and a store of coal was accumulated by hand .

One of the most important incidents of Boxing Day was the arrival at the hospital of a R.A.F. ambulance which had been preserved by an Admiralty and a R.A.F. employee , both English civilians . As the hospital had no transport of its own , this ambulance proved invaluable for the collection of provisions . On January 28 the Japanese provided the Principal Medical Officer and one of his medical staff each with a pass which permitted them to use this ambulance for the collection of food and the transfer of patients . 

At the time of the capitulation there were 120 patients in the hospital . During the next fortnight 18 patients were received from the Queen Mary Hospital and 15 patients from the University Hospital . To make room for these extra patients , a number of Indian patients was transferred to the Tung Wah Hospital . The result was that , within a few days , food had to be provided for approximately 140 patients and a staff of 35 . This food was obtained by a surgeon lieutenant commander , R.N. , who visited the local Food Controller each day , and was very successful in obtaining supplies of flour , rice , beans and occasionally meat . 

Meanwhile the P.M.O. was operating almost continuously for some days and patients needing surgical attention continued to be received from other hospitals . 

By the middle of January 1942 , the work of the hospital was proceed ing very smoothly and most of the patients were making a good recovery . 

From the time of the capitulation , Japanese officials had been visiting the hospital almost daily . Finally , at 1000 hours on January 18 , 1942 , the P.M.O. was ordered by the Japanese to be prepared to evacuate the hospital by 1700 hours on the same day , and to transfer his patients . and staff to St. Albert's Convent . 

These orders entailed an enormous amount of work at short notice . Ten dangerously ill patients were transferred to Bowen Road Hospital , and called for very careful handling . Everything possible was done to transfer food and equipment at the same time . 

In addition to organising this transfer , the P.M.O. was constantly . harried by the Japanese Authorities . Finally , he had formally to conduct a Japanese officer over every room of the entire hospital , afterwards surrendering the keys to him . In the words of the P.M.O .: 

' It is not surprising that , with these various duties on my hands , I had no time to attend to my personal belongings . I lost my attaché case with all my private papers , receipts , valuables and many of the hospital records . The Superintending Sister similarly lost her attaché case with many of her valuables and records . At first , the sisters and nurses were told that they would be permitted to take only one valise each , but , after representations , I managed to get permission for them to take much more . But even so , they lost a very considerable amount of their personal belongings . '

One of the primary burdens , and one which weighed heavily on the shoulders of the P.M.O. , was that he was responsible for the finances of the Royal Naval Hospital , Hong Kong , as well as the cash and valuables of his patients . He distributed equally among the members of his sick berth staff the proceeds of the staff canteen funds . Patients ' cash and valuables had already been returned to them . The remaining hospital funds he employed in the purchase of extra food , hire of coolies and the purchase of quantities of petrol at an inflated price .

The convent of St. Albert , Hong Kong , had been previously converted into a hospital by the Royal Army Medical Corps . On January 18 , 1942 this hospital was commanded by a lieutenant colonel , R.A.M.C. and it also accommodated the Commanding Officer and medical staff of the Tung Wah Hospital which had been evacuated a few days before . 

On their arrival , the staff and patients from the Royal Naval Hospital , Hong Kong , were given a most cordial reception and everything possible was done to assist them . Part of the second and third floors of the hospital were set aside for their accommodation . 

The Navy put its equipment and food supplies into the communal store and , in the words of the P.M.O .: 

' During our stay at St. Albert's , we received far more from this store than we had ever put into it . ' 

From the day of their arrival at St. Albert's Convent , the naval medical officers and nursing staff from the Royal Naval Hospital , Hong Kong , were required by the Japanese to be constantly at twenty - four hours ' notice to move elsewhere . This made their lives extremely uncertain , particularly as regards food for the future as , by this time , it was well realised that in the months or even years ahead food might mean ultimate survival . The Principal Medical Officer has stated : 

' As always , securing food was one of our constant preoccupations for we never knew when we should be leaving or what we should be allowed to take with us . It was very difficult to plan our rations under such circumstances . ' 

During the period at St. Albert's Convent , the Principal Medical Officer himself showed some degree of reduced physical health which is hardly surprising considering the strain which he had undergone . He developed four separate whitlows , two on each hand , which finally had to be incised by one of his naval colleagues . 

On February 24 , 1942 the P.M.O. was informed that the naval staff from Hong Kong Hospital were to be ready to leave St. Albert's Convent on the following day . This meant virtually the final splitting of the naval party as an individual unit . 

On the morning of February 25 , naval patients were transferred to Bowen Road Hospital with the exception of those who had almost recovered , who were sent to North Point Prisoner - of - War Camp . The P.M.O. and naval nursing sisters were transferred to Bowen Road Military Hospital . The remaining naval medical officers were sent to the Military Hospital in St. Theresa's Convent , Kowloon . The naval sick berth staff were sent as prisoners - of - war to North Point Camp . 

The P.M.O. remained at the Military Hospital , Bowen Road , until July , 1942 , after which he was transferred to the prisoner - of - war camp at Argyle Street , Kowloon . He remained in this camp until May 1944 .