So far, the Band due in for the Races on Saturday, but Far East situation so fluid that even that may be off.
HMS 'Prince of Wales' and more Fleet in Singapore, it's supposed/hoped it will help Japs to change their minds, though 'HULL HINTS HOPE ABANDONED' says evening paper. I can't believe that. ((Cordell Hull was an eminent US politician)).
Japan's reply expected to be against USA policy, which should mean breaking off of diplomatic relations, then Japan going on her way re Indo China and Burma, then WAR.
Sunny. Race Day.
Had just settled down to work in Puckle's office when Olive appeared with Arthur - unbeknown to R.S. ((Royal Scots)), another Band had arranged to do the Races.
I left work at 7pm, then Arthur and I to Peninsula for tea, then to King's 'My Life with Caroline.'
The Jap/USA situation is getting worse because Japan though evasive in her reply, says she means to keep her troops in Indo China against the Chinese.
HKVDC have been mobilised since this morning. ((Mabel and Sid were having lunch at Dairy Farm in town when some one called for silence and said that Army & Navy personnel should return to their barracks immediately.))
Lots of people think there will not be things happening here (HK) at first.
Mum, Olive and I played tennis with Mr Bendall in afternoon, then to his house for dinner.
Was raked out of bed this am at 6.30 - to be at office at 7am. ((My office, ARP HQ, was only about 300 yards away, a Chinese messenger brought me a handwritten note from my boss asking me to get to the office by 7am. Not know why, but fearing the worst - we'd been on alert for the past few days - I hurried off)). When I got there Mr Bevan, Deputy Director of ARP, said war had been declared between Britain/America against Japan. ((I had charge of a number of files labelled 'Bring up in an emergency' - so I duly brought them up!)) Just after 8 o'clock air raid sirens sounded ((The sirens were activated from our offices)).
About 10.30 all clear went, it was said 1 bomb had been dropped in Shamshuipo (Kowloon) causing many casualties.
At 1.30pm sirens went again; quite a lot of AA fire. I saw 3 planes high up, being chased away to Lyemun.
It's hardly worth writing diary because I can't visualise us ever getting out of this, but I want to try to believe in a future.
Kai Tak has been bombed and I'm thinking of Arthur and Sid.
Mabel is at CSO ((Colonial Secretary's Office)). ((She had first reported this morning to her Army Office, but was told no females allowed in Fortress HQ now, so she went to CSO and offered her typing services there.))
Mum nursing at Jockey Club hospital. I'm home now until 7pm. Scared and gloomy. I'm sure we'll have raids every night and day, and the night much worse than in the day. Tony Cole is coming here ((to our flat)) to eat ((he lived in Kowloon.))
2 false alarms, 1 last night and one early this am, and 6 more throughout the morning. Not much damage, mostly propaganda leaflets dropped, which means I fear that we may expect heavier raids in due course. Tonight misty.
Mabel is at Women's International Club in town ((for wartime billet, not far from CSO)). Olive staying overnight on 4th floor of Gloucester Hotel ((her Food Control Office nearby)). Olive phoned me and I rang Mabel, she heard there is one Royal Scot in Military Hospital.
Japs are said to be at Taipo, according to the London news. Also some Japs were ambushed and mostly annihiliated on Castle Peak Road - where the boys are. Can't properly imagine it.
Wrote to Arthur, though have little hope of his getting the letter, expect they're too busy to see about such things. Topper called at flat but none of us in. Mr Bendall also called, and Mr. Hall came home for a few hours. ((Mr. Hall was a colleague of my Dad's; his wife, evacuated to Australia, had written and asked Mum if he could lodge with us, which he did. We left a writing pad on the table in our flat, so that any one calling while we were out could leave a message.))
Libya and Moscow news brighter.
Singapore/Malaya news not good, and raids at Manila.
Sid has been wounded. Bullet through shoulder. He told Hospital to phone Mum at the Jockey Club ((we didn't have a phone at home)) and she went to see him.
In afternoon I had a few hours off: went into town; alarm signal on way, I went into Battery Path tunnel - more orderly than I had expected ((despite large numbers of interested rather than frightened Chinese)), and quite cool.
I left clothes at International Club for Mabel, where met Virginia Beaumont ((VAD friend of Mabel's)) and we got lifts to Bowen Road Military Hospital and I was able to get in to see Sid. He is very shocked and upset, and didn't look like his old self. He's worried about the 2 men he had with him - no news of them - they went on ahead when he got entangled in a creeper plant and was sniped. He says Arthur is at HQ.
Peaceful last night, but 3 raids in afternoon. News that Japs have sunk 'Prince of Wales' and 'Repulse' by bomb - hard to believe.
Jap seem to be starting well, though here we sunk boats of an attempted landing at Tide Cove.
8.30am. - On duty in office from 7 pm last night till 7 this morning, but actually slept ((fully-dressed, on camp bed behind screen in main office where all ARP staff were)) from 4.30am to 6.45am.
No raids during night, but shells are coming over now, but so far not doing much damage.
Slept some of morning at home, and a little in afternoon, when they dropped about 17 bombs in Wanchai area, one near Football Club (about 200 yards from our flat). Amah took me downstairs to flat below ((where I sat drooping on a chair in the hall among lots of kindly Chinese neighbours)).
Later, to office and worked until about midnight when had chance to doss down. It seemed so queer, me retiring behind screen on camp bed, with Tony Cole on bed nearby, and Gillies (Police), both sleeping. I slept well after 2 am until 7 am Friday
Our office might be moving to CSO tunnel beneath Government House.
The rumour about Jordan ((Royal Scots Band Leader)) was confirmed today - he was shot by one of our own sentries - being deaf, he apparently didn't hear the challenge.
Mum got to Bowen Road to see Sid this morning, he is walking about now and hopes to be back with his unit within a few days.
Mabel has joined the VADs and sleeps below the military hospital in air raid shelter.
We have apparently abandoned Kowloon, and unless a miracle happens, are going to be shelled to bits.
There is talk that Chinese guerillas are coming up behind the Japs and are now at Taipo, but I'm afraid to believe anything so heartening. I can see absolutely no escape, but we didn't have to stay in Hong Kong, and at least this IS something and we are in the war with the folks at home.
ARP HQ moving to CSO Tunnel - I'm to go tomorrow at 7 am and live in Dina House, but if shelling starts I doubt if that will last for long.
Usual raids throughout the day. Peggy Wilson joining our office staff, also Bonnie Penney and Mrs Bird (known as 'Charles') ((both had just come from Kowloon when evacuated.))
((Because my next-day move to Dina House would leave Mum alone in the flat apart from the amahs, I asked her to consider staying at the Jockey Club hosp. in future, or going to a nearby billet with other ANS ladies: our men folk no longer called, most people were becoming marooned at their places of duty through uncertain transport. Mum insisted she felt quite safe with the amahs at night at present. That night Mum and I slept in our lounge, Mum on the settee, I in an armchair. The amah made us laugh because she insisted on putting a layer of cushions beside the settee 'in case Missie fall off.' ))
Walked from home with Mum just as it was getting light, and went to office ((Mum to Jockey Club hospital.) Much shelling by Happy Valley in night.
Mr Puckle (Director of ARP) gave me a lift to the CSO tunnel ((beneath Government House, we entered by entrance in Lower Albert Road opposite CSO building.)). Peggy Wilson had already arrived. ((We secretaries worked in 2 shifts - Peggy and I, then Bonnie and Charles. Our job was to keep a log of events (mostly messages per phone calls), and also to make out identification cards for ARP people.
Boiling hot in tunnel, I was glad of short-sleeved jumper. Strong smell of raw wood from the props round the earthy walls etc.. Various Govt. departments stationed in the tunnel which had been made with sections at all angles. An alcove just inside the entrance was I think meant to be for toilets, but these were not present - just a few chairs without seats. There may well have been toilets in other sections, but for calls of nature we ran over Lower Albert Road to the ones in the CSO building.))
Off duty at 3pm, had meal at Parisian Grill ((my pass allowed me to eat there free of charge.)). Bought lemonade as an excuse to stay longer when the siren sounded. Got into conversation with a stranger, Mr Robinson of Metals Control Office. Then went to Dina House, 2nd floor, as instructed, to get a billet, but couldn't get any satisfaction about where I was to sleep. Phoned Olive's office and she and Topper (who was then visiting her) came and carried me off. Had dinner with them at Gloucester, where met Eric Kennard ((Govt. clerk)) and he and one other escorted me back to Dina House where I met up with Mr G. P. Murphy and he directed me to a camp bed in a room with two ARP girls Janet Broadbridge and Lillian Hope (both from Kowloon). Hardly slept because it was so cold, also had no nightwear as my luggage hadn't arrived.
Diary not available from this date until 22nd January 1942. but the following written up from brief notes of that period when diary was recovered.
So cold in the night. Had to get up while it was dark ((as working from 7am to 3pm)). Went to Parisian Grill for breakfast with Mr G. B. Murphy, Lillian and Janet. ((P.G. was only a short walk from Dina House)). It was bacon and beautiful chips, and bread and butter and coffee. Then to tunnel. Central Police Station bombed badly in afternoon, several killed. Felt the concussion even in the tunnel.
Peggy ((Wilson)) invited me to stay with her in MacDonnell Road flat so moved there after shift. 'Uncle Sidney' (not a real uncle, but friend of Peggy's family) also lodging there, he is S.S. Harris, Gas Detection Officer. ((All 3 of us slept in the same room, felt safer that way.)) We had cold meat and salad.
I'm very mixed up over the next few days. Raids most of daylight hours, and shelling day and night. Peg & I got up at half past 5 and dressed in the drying-room as could have electric light on there as no windows. To conserve Peggy's food stocks I went to breakfast at P.G. before going (with tin hat and respirator) to tunnel. Peggy now drove a truck or lorry where required after finishing shift at 3pm. I admired her a lot for that.
Mr Garton and W. Skinner and Mr Bendall – family friends - were in and out of the tunnel re their war work. One day Mr Garton appeared and said he'd got someone to see me, and there was Sid, in khaki shorts and tin helmet. I went into corridor and we sat on chair frames ((still no seats on them)) with his mate Cooper. He said he was feeling more confident now, and appeared completely recovered. Cooper had been in hospital with foot trouble. Of Mabel, Sid said 'You'll find her much older in the head.' ((Then both went off to war again.)) I gave Sid a note for Arthur in case he saw him.
The P. Grill was dark and tiffin generally soup, then some hash, and maybe a potato or macaroni or spaghetti; and tea. If no soup, there was generally salad. One day a delicious hot cake. Enjoyed the meals until those who fed at Cafe Wiseman started saying what they were having – whole oranges, and bread and jam in addition to other rations. But I was scared to change because it was a longer walk to Cafe Wiseman, and by this time shells were bursting all over the place spasmodically. After eating at P.G. I usually went to see Olive in her office in Holland House. One afternoon I arrived too late at P.G. For tiffin, so got a cup of tea at Hong Kong Hotel, then waited in a queue at Lane Crawfords, bought half a pound of bread, 2 oz butter, a jar of paste and a jar of jam. Had to carry the bread in my fist, no bags. Went to Olive's office for a knife. There an unknown lady gave me some lettuce with which I made a delicious sandwich.
Met Olive, she said Mr. Cole had been killed at Aberdeen. ((Not Tony Cole of ARP staff, but George Cole, a Naval Dockyard colleague of my Dad's)).
On way back to Macdonnell Road, a great crater had been made directly across it. The only damage to Peggy's flat was a window pane broken, and the bathroom door broken off, but that was the end of the electric light and the water and telephone. Gas had been turned off previously when a fire threatened the gas mains.
At dusk Peg and I stood on verandah and watched the Japs shelling the Naval Dockyard - the flag was at half-mast for Mr Cole and others.
Bombs fell in vicinity of the tunnel. The concussion made our hair go up on end and wave backwards and forwards. The CSO garages were burnt out and or bombed. A lot of Indian policemen were injured and carried into the tunnel. I wished so much that I knew something about first aid, to see these great bleeding people groaning. All I could do was tear up a sheet some one produced into bandages. Bombing in the middle of Garden Road and Volunteer HQ as well.
((My colleague Barbara Budden in the tunnel was looking terrible as her father had phoned a little earlier saying he was on his way to the tunnel to see her, and she feared he had been caught in the bombing. But he hadn't.))
Uncle Sidney and I had a hectic time going back to Macdonnell Road, that evening. Shells were concentrated on the Garden Road district so we took shelter in a Military Post under the Peak Tram Station for a while. Avoiding the road, we went up the steps up to Macdonnell Road but they were in a blasted mess, sticky red clay all over the place. I was always scared of making that journey at dusk, and when Mum rang me (from Jockey Club Hospital) and said she'd feel happier if I didn't stay up at Macdonnell Road, I decided next day I would move back to Dina House, so I did.
Japs started landing at North Point, ((but we were given to understand that most of them had been mopped up.))
Heard rumours that Mabel ((with other VADs from Bowen Road Hosp.)) had been sent to Stanley to nurse... was pretty worried thinking of a 7-mile journey perhaps under fire.
Paper said more landings had been made. Tales that Chinese planes had been engaging Jap planes over Kowloon.
I re-installed myself at Dina House, slept first night in room with Janet and Lillian since Mrs Pryde and Mrs Bebbington who had moved in, were on night duty. Next day moved to large room with Mrs Hilda Hutchinson (who is expecting soon), Mrs Boulton (American); Edith Palmer from Shanghai, Marjorie Cook, and Edith and Ivy Batley (all 3 Eurasians working with ARP). At night Mrs H. told us stories about the BBC where she had worked (telephonist); and Edith told us of her many travels.
Had dinner with Mr Murphy and Janet and Lillian at the Hong Kong Hotel. We were said to have sunk a cruiser off Stanley. Mrs. Boulton very nice, she wasn't in any of the essential services so wasn't eligible for meals at the Parisian Grill or Cafe Wiseman, so I used to buy bread and butter for her in Lane Crawford's - with her money.
I went to Confession at French Mission building at top of Battery Path – a young Irish priest stopped me (and others passing) and asked if I was RC and would I like to go to Confession. Inside on ground floor a priest was hearing confessions. Because Holy Communion would not be given immediately, I left without receiving it. Olive and I had exchanged tin helmets on account of size difficulties. I now felt horribly conspicuous in a red steel one.
Marjorie Cook and I had one big row over water. There was none in the taps ((Japs had turned reservoirs off)). One day she ushered a coolie into our room carrying two kerosene tins full of water; she announced she was going to use it all herself. I called her a selfish bitch ((first time I used that noun.))
In the tunnel Peggy was always getting presents of chocolates etc. I was very jealous. Then one morning Mr Manning of ARP staff brought me one dozen 4 oz packets of Cadbury's milk chocolate – he said he had heaps in his firm's godown ((store)). I ate one on the spot, gave one each to Mrs Bebbington and Mrs Pryde in Dina House, put six aside to send to Mum. Got the 6 bars sent to Mum via Olive, who wouldn't have any of it herself.
Sid phoned me at Dina House, now on first floor of Hong Kong Hotel (now a convalescent hospital); he had lost the tips of two fingers on left hand. I already knew that, as had had a note from Mabel telling me. I careered down to hotel and found Sid lying on a 'biscuit' on the floor ((with dozens of others)). He looked a bit wild and woolly. He had seen Mabel that morning at the Military Hospital where he had been first taken. They had become engaged! Sid talked of marriage too, but I didn't seriously think anything could be done then. Over the past few months they had paid off some $50 at Windsor's Jewellers for an engagement ring. His finger stumps were paining him alot, he lost them at Wanchai Gap; he saw Arthur before sent to hospital the second time.
I put my name down to help at hotel hospital after 3pm each day but the sister in charge said they had enough help so far. I felt superfluous at Sid's side, knowing he wanted Mabel all the time.
((Diary doesn't say anything about my working part of this day.. an anxious time as we knew Jap troops were advancing towards Central where we were, and heard that our a.a. guns were to be set up outside the tunnel we were working in.))
Mr Bendall took photos outside the CSO Tunnel ((where we were working) in morning of Mr Garton, Mr Skinner and me. ((These photos were developed and printed post-war, and one of them still exists:))
Left work at 3pm. Spent Christmas Day with Sid at the hospital, sitting beside him on the floor. No question of going to Mass, duties sacrosanct now. While I was sitting on floor beside Sid, Mrs Johnson a friend who was helping the wounded, came over to us and said 'I have bad news for you - we've surrendered.' She was half-crying, and wouldn't look at us.
Sid shouted to his neighbour 'Did you hear that? We've surrendered!' The news passed about quickly, and everywhere up popped bearded faces, because every one naturally queried it, especially as shelling still going on and plane overhead; and a news bulletin was circulated just afterwards, giving heartening news about our defences. But then we heard confirmation of surrender, and still could hardly believe it. We'd all laughed so much at the Peace Mission that had come a few days earlier and been rejected.
My sister Olive phoned me at the hotel and told me to go back to Dina House ((where I was billeted)), so I did, but not before going first to the Parisienne Grille ((nearby)) for a meal... had turkey but no dessert.
In Dina House ((where we ARP folk were billeted)) we all wondered what was going to happen to us. Mr Bevan (Deputy Director of ARP) said there was talk that we might be sent to barracks in Tsingtao.
In Evening Mr C. Bailey came into our girls' room wearing a paper hat and asked me to go along to the men's room for a party. But the other girls weren't feeling like celebrating - ((most of them were married women who didn't know where their fighting husbands were, or even if they were alive)) and I didn't want to spoil their mood, so said No. But Mr Bailey came back again, paper hat askew, and gave me a bottle of eau de cologne from him and Tony Cole, so I went. Mrs Vi Evans was there, Mr Hyde Lay, Lillian Hope, Janet Broadbridge and Tony Cole. We had Xmas pudding ((heated on a primus)) absolutely delicious, and chocolate and sweets; and played games.
((Mrs. Evans died during an operation in Stanley Camp. Mr Hyde Lay (and his wife Betty) were both killed in Stanley during an air raid by the Allies on 16th January 1945))