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What gets me down is the waiting - there seems little now that I can do.  I don't go out unless I have to -   I had to see the Controller of Food today.  I went first to the C.S.O. tunnel and for the first time went to the upper part where H.E. and the C. S.

(Many Happy Returns of today pal, under happier circumstances)

Japs got the Electric Works during the night. The coal stove will come back into its own once more.

Electric on again at noon, good work somebody.

Japs bombarding North Side plenty of black smoke visible.

They bombed the Fort 12.50 – 1.00PM but missed.

         Actual hostilities around the Hotel increased in intensity by the 19th December, and fighting for possession of the Hotel Garage took place on the 20th December when the Japanese occupying it were dislodged.  Then certain British units manned the Hotel with Mortars, Machine Guns, and various small arms (windows, verandahs, rooms, and roof being utilised).  Interchange of fire took place continuously until the British troops left the Hotel during the early hours of the 23rd December just prior to the Japanese forces entering the Hote

Shortly after midnight one of the Ordnance men dosed off with his finger on the trigger of his rifle with the inevitable result, which was somewhat alarming but fortunately caused no damage.

By the morning the situation was as follows: The Japanese had possession of the waterfront from North Point to Barclay’s Bay (below Chai Wan), including the forts at Lyemun, Pak Sha Wan and Sai Wan. Small patrols of the enemy had infiltrated into the hills in the Jardine’s Lookout and Mount Parker areas and had established a wedge across the hills towards Wong Nei Chong Gap.

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.

At 9.30 am. a party halted outside Woodside and I led 19 members of my staff in a body on to the lawn. After the house was searched we were told to carry rice and other material, in company with 30 or 40 Chinese, many with halters around their necks and hands tied to ropes, who had also been commandeered. Doctor Winterstein, Dr.Choy, Tollan, Bell and I with our Chinese staff were added to the fatigue party. I protested but after being beaten on the head with a revolver was forced to submit.

Dr. Newton, in the Kowloon Hospital has a reasonable breakfast - two bowls of cracked wheat made as porridge, three biscuits, a little butter and a glass of cocoa - but notes that 'none of us are up to very much activity' and that for most people just climbing the stairs leaves them winded. Food continues decent throughout the day, and the main problem is getting the 'night soil' (excrement) buckets emptied.

This morning the telephone had gone but Mike, on returning from H.Q. came with the news that the landing had been made and bridge heads established in the North Point area. That being the case, we decided to move into town to P.H.Q. From our window we had an excellent view of the M.T.B. raid up harbour. Although we missed the first pair we suddenly saw one – later found out to be Wagstaff’s – come racing up the harbour from Green Island in a straight line for Kowloon Bay. By this time the Japs. Were on both sides of the harbour and both M.G.

Cloudy and rainy, helping the smoke pall to blanket the eastern districts. A friend phoned early, in whispers. He is serving in the rice depot at the Lee Theatre in Percival Street, and one of his staff this morning saw a couple of Japanese soldiers at the Causeway Bay junction nearby, apparently reconnoitring since they went away. Later in the morning an Australian friend went by our back door and shouted, "They landed last night. Three hundred of them, at North Point" - a mile away eastward from us.

A bomb hit the road behind us about December 19, and broke the water main leaving us without water. Our fears were short-lived however, because in the afternoon a large shell broke another pipe in a culvert across the road. The precious liquid trickled slowly from the shattered main. We considered ourselves very fortunate to have water so close at hand. Naturally, it was dangerous to go and get water because we never knew when the next shell would come or where it would land. Some people had to walk for many blocks to get a pail of water.

During the night the enemy landed on the island - at North Point (in what strength it is too early yet to know). There is quite a racket going on at the North side of the island. A column of black smoke lying like a pall over Causeway Bay and extending gradually towards the West in the direction of the City. (I heard later the A.P.C. fuel tanks had been hit at North Point) apparently with the object of giving their troops cover when landing along the foreshore. clever.

Onboard “Robin" with several M.T.B.'s alongside.

The Japs landed last night, at Sai Wan, Lyemun Magazines and North Point.  I suppose it was obvious they would land there from the amount of artillery preparation they have carried out in these areas.  For a long time we refused to believe it in the Battle Box.  There have been so many false alarms from this area that the attitude was rather “Those bloody windy buggers!

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 . 

((Note: In the long entry for today Staff-Sergeant Sheridan describes the evacuation of the Field Bakery at Deep Water Bay and the chaotic conditions as the crucial struggle for the Wong Nai Chung Gap Came to an end.))

Sweetheart - I wonder what you're hearing about us - they made a landing on the Island last night.  Kerfoot, one of the lads who came up from Singapore with me last January got a grenade thrown into his Bren carrier from above and he was killed. We have had a much quieter day - probably because they don't know where their own troops are. I am very afraid we won't be able to hold out long.

Platoon called out 7.00AM. Took up positions around St. Stephens College commanding Fort Rd. Fort bombed & Island Rd shelled.

Canadians came up & re-inforced us for a while. (Japs landed at Taikoo during early am)

All quiet during the night.

Paper said more landings had been made. Tales that Chinese planes had been engaging Jap planes over Kowloon.