20 Jan 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Submitted by brian edgar on Wed, 01/11/2012 - 15:22

Daisy ('Day') Sage (later Joyce) is sent to Stanley Camp from the emergency hospital at La Salle College in Kowloon, where she'd worked in the Auxilliary Nursing Service during the fighting.

Dr. Alan Barwell is also sent from Lasalle to Stanley, as is Robert E. Stott, who's he's treating for an internal hemorrhage. Stott will later escape from the French Hospital.

The Japanese take over the Queen Mary Hospital in Pokfulam, moving the patients to other hospitals at short notice, much to the indignation of Dr K. H. Digby, who refuses to join those doctors staying outside of camp to 'work for the health of the community'. He goes to Stanley, while the doctors who agree to stay out and the volunteer drivers end up at the French Hospital in Causeway Bay. The Japanese wanted a place where all the medical offcers could live under the same roof, so presumably that was why the French Hospital (aka St Pauls) was chosen - there's a huge compound with plenty of accommodation, a high wall, and a gate.

Maryknoll House is taken over by the Japanese and the Maryknollers are sent to Stanley. They're in Blocks E, F and G in the Prison Warders' apartments, sleeping on camp cots, 4-7 in a room.

Sources:

Sage: Geoffrey Emerson, Hong Kong Internment, 2008, Additional Appendix 111

Barwell and Stott: Stott's Escape Statement, pages 2 and 3 (Ride Papers)

Queen Mary Hospital: Emily Hahn, China To Me, 1986 ed., 307-309; (Hahn gives the date of the expulsion as January 20/21; Barbara Anslow’s diary entry for tomorrow confirms January 20.)

Maryknollers: The Maryknoll Diary, 194

Date(s) of events described