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((The bombing of Stanley Camp happened on the 16th of January, not the 17th as written below.))

On the 17th January, 1945 the whole camp was bombed by the Americans who mistakenly thought it was a Japanese only camp.  It was really terrifying as they flew low with bullets coming from all sides, smashing windows and doors.  We threw ourselves on the floor and hoped for the best.  One bomb actually hit one of the bungalows, in which there were fourteen internees who were all killed.  Many were badly hurt in the raid.

Clear, cold, wind stronger.

Air-raid 8.45 – 11.15am by many single engined US planes. All districts strafed, big fire Taikoo direction. All clear noon.

Planes over again 12.45pm. 2 planes collided 1 pilot parachuted OK the other went with his plane. Local spots machine gunned & bombed. Prison, Prep School. 3 Jap vessels took refuge in bay close by Camp.

C Bungalow hit, 14 killed, 4 injured. All clear 6.30pm. ((He lists the 14 killed:))

The raid was reported in the next day's Hongkong News:

Two alarms but we heard no raids, we've all been very jumpy.

To work in afternoon.

Mr Bailey is all right ((he was in Bungalow C)) but a bit shaken, his face all little scratches from the blast, and his clothes sort of shaggy. Gave him cigarettes.

The 14 victims of yesterday's bombing are buried in a communal grave.

George Wright-Nooth is on the grave-digging party:

While we were digging news came that two more had died in hospital, so we had to lengthen the grave.

The remains are sewn up in rice sacks, as there are no coffins.

Source:

George Wright-Nooth, Prisoner of the Turnip Heads, 1994, 241

((Following text not dated, but written after the bombing of Stanley Camp on 16th January:))

Great astonishment. 200 Canadians and Volunteers digging vegetable garden in centre of racecourse. Rosary Hill women hang around. Mavis Xavier and others pinched briefly for signalling.

Bill Shea arrested. Wife Rose sad. Food rejected.

Stanley Camp bombed, fourteen killed. Up to 9th January not a bomb since Xmas though daily alerts.

Clear, cold, fine.

Fires over HK way & on the hills to N. observed last night.

Pointed up Hosp. Cookhouse brickwork.

2 A/r alarms 10.45-11.15am  -  1.30-2.00pm. nothing happened.

Went to see damaged bungalow. Gear being salvaged. Apparent that American explosive is extra powerful.

Bomb dropped SE corner of Prison Boundary walk & in Gaol. Bullets & shrapnel marks all over the Camp. Japs have promised not to fire at planes from Camp again.

Rice ration to be increased from 1st Feb.

Several rather long alarms today, but no raids to our knowledge, probably reconnaissance planes.

Rice rissole for tiffin.

To plays rehearsal, we have decided to call off more rehearals till the air raid situation stabilizes itself.

Got sweet potatoes for cigarettes.

German lesson in aftrnoon.

Cloudy, cold, S wind.

Hosp. Cookhouse brickwork.

A/R alarms 11.15-noon, 12.45pm-1.45pm, 3.00-3.50pm.

Lorry with nothing 4pm.

Macao, Swatow & Canton raided 16th. Jap paper reports 49 killed & injured here in camp & that all buildings have white crosses on them. Lying yellow bastards. They do not tell the people why our planes had need to come so close to Camp nor why they had need to drop bombs around neutral Macao.

Big offensives started on Western & Russian fronts & more troops landed on Luzon.

Yesterday's paper says (re 16th) that 'over 10 bombs' were released at Stanley and killed 15 internees and wounded 34. (Who are the 34 no one knows!)

Paper also says 'there have been painted white crosses, an international symbol representing 'no attack' on the roofs of the buildings.'  -  We are all looking for the white crosses!

Mr. C. F. Livesey died.

Mrs. K. Martin (wife of Rev. Martin) died about tiffin time.

There are two deaths in camp today:

Kathleen Louisa Martin, wife of the Rev. E. Martin, Warden and Chaplain of St. Stephen's College;

Charles Frederick Livesy. Livesey, a marine engineer, was born in Hong Kong in 1885 and had lived at different times in Erith, Kent, and Shanghai. He had a daughter Harriet who lived with him in Shanghai.

Source:

Death #106 - Charles Frederick Livesy (59)

Death #107 - Kathleen Louisa Martin (59), wife of Rev. E.W.L. Martin

Rain & gusty wind, cold.

Hosp Ck-hse brick-work.

A/r alarm 12.30-2pm. 

Repaired Hosp Ck-hse range till 6.30pm.

Bread issued.

Lorry with wood & veg., no paper today.

Notes tell of Phillipino guerrilla activity against Japs.

No alarms today.

To Mass in am., and to Confession.

Last night went to Block 4 Concert on their stairway, good and spontaneous.

Red Cross letter to Olive from Topper's sister ((Topper was Olive's fiance, pow in Japan; sister in UK)).

Children's quiz in our room  in evening.

A Melbourne paper, The Argus, starts to publish a serialised and illustrated version of Gwen Priestwood's account of her escape. Through Japanese Barbed Wire is described as 'a Personal Account of an Amazing Journey to Chungking by an Englishwoman Who Escaped After the Fall of Hong Kong'. This initial installment takes up the first three pages of the supplementary 'Weekend Magazine'.

For her escape see the entry for March 18, 1942.

We have had some hectic and sad days of late. I must just mention Xmas before entering up these later events.

Overcast & little warmer, wind died down, clear sky by noon.

Altered water system in Bungalow “E”.

Workers’ oil & sugar issued.

Mrs Hardy to town.

Mary gave me pkt. cigs.

Lorry in 6.15pm with wood. Oil being removed via pier. Rice being sent up to the Fort.

A/r alarm 9.15pm. Big plane over apparently on reconnaissance duty.

Clifton collapsed in cookhouse this afternoon, now in hospital. Probably will be operated on tomorrow for appendicitis.

Played bridge in Mezger's room, with Betty Drown, Dick Cloake and Mez. ((W.J. Mezger;  Richard Cloake - journalist)).  Nice cake.

Air raid this afternoon - heard no bombs, but planes and a.a. fire.

Last night about 9pm alarm sounded, and a large low plane circled around.

Sandbach (Memorial service) / Brown

On roof when drone and saw many planes. Flak then late alert. Formation bombed Wanchai from Oriental Theatre to Naval Yard. Terrible devastation. One third of area. Many casualties. Exhibitionist bombing - 99% civilian damage. Doesn't shorten war by a day. Paper says over 1,000 killed and several thousand wounded. Over 500 buildings demolished.