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Also , at this point in his report , the P.M.O. makes reference to an apparent departure from the plans originally made for this hospital in the event of hostilities breaking out in Hong Kong .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