Japs said we must move out. Some one among us suggested we move to some offices within their knowledge in Shell House. So all we ARP folk immediately did so, only a short walk from Dina House. We swept the floor and cleaned up, and saw some of the wounded soldiers on Hong Kong Hotel verandah opposite.
Jap planes were showing off against a blue sky, dropping leaflets. Some sort of Jap. parade ((probably the Jap forces ceremonial entry into the city, some officers on horses.))
On the 29th December 1941, we received orders to prepare on the morrow to march to a prisoner of war camp, which was situated in the old Chinese internment camp at North Point.
The water supply is restored in Victoria (now Central).
At Argyle Street Camp Dr. Newton sees the Japanese guard salute as a dead British soldier is carried out. He's not impressed: he wishes the Japanese had taken more trouble with the living.
Sources:
Water: G. B. Endacott and Alan Birch, Hong Kong Eclipse, 1978, 115
Dr. Newton: Oliver Lindsay, The Lasting Honour, 1980 ed., 164
Rumours of bicycle taxis for all of us were prevalent this morning but evidently it was not to be since, falling into separate groups in case of air raid, we moved off as usual. So still in my role of Commander of M.T.B.28 we started covering the road at a good heel and toe pace. Spirits were high and the mouth organ suddenly produced by Pony Moore lifted our feet along the moorland road we were covering. One very welcome halt we had at a wayside teashop – later to prove a howff of Tai’s and mine where doughnuts vanished like “snow off a dike”.
Conditions are easing a little back to normal. To our joy, coolies appeared and began sweeping the garbage into large heaps. Then a Sanitary Department van with a European in charge came to take the rubbish away. To our disappointment, it made only one trip and the district stank as before.
I bought this Japanese newspaper on eBay a couple of years ago. I can't read any Japanese, but the seller included this description:
The main headline is:
"Ceremonial entry into Hong Kong by Imperial Japanese Army and Navy "
Some articles and pictures:
Foster turned up. ((Probably fellow Prison Officer, G.B. Foster))
Got a few more odds & ends from GII (Makes me sad to see our little home messed up pal). 2nd night. No news from outside of any sort, no radios going. So we do not know what the situation is.
At 8 a.m. on the 30th December, 1941 all forces at Stanley, less the wounded, were lined up. We consisted of R.A., R.A.M.C., Middlesex, Royal Scots, Canadians, and a sprinkling of other units. The march was a nightmare, we marched about 16 miles over mountainous country, surrounded by Japanese patrols who marched alongside our columns which stretched for about 1 ¼ miles. With their machine guns on lorries trained on us, they laughed as they watched us struggling along. Many of the men had wounds and had to be half carried by their comrades.
The last Japanese soldiers leave Maryknoll House in the early hours of this morning. The Fathers report that the city water goes on again today - it was working in Victoria yesterday, but they're down in Stanley. They need plenty of it as they're cleaning up.
Ranks were re-established this morning in the best Naval tradition. It did seem a pity and wholly unnecessary that after days such as they had been through where officers walked, ate and slept with their men that, on return to a more or less normal living, there came the definite split. Requests for a separate officers’ mess – the request, it must be admitted, coming from a few only – was refused tactfully but firmly and in our position of “superior civilians” we had the opportunity and pleasure of watching all the sideplay.
A newspaper appeared, in English - The Hongkong News. Principal news item was a report of Sunday's victory parade. It declared, "Great Britain's century-old base of aggression at Hongkong has now fallen, and one piece of the glorious settlement of the Greater Asian war has been successfully completed."
I see I didn't write yesterday. I was up at the house today - looters had been in but they couldn't get into the hot room - though there were marks on the door that they had tried to get in. They got into my den however though I had one door locked - the other onto the verandah was blown in by the explosion - I had nailed it up but they soon burst it open. They took a few things - very little - that I had left in my dressing table drawers - then in my desk - the only thing I missed, and I'm sorry for, is my desk Ronson lighter that Win gave me - what was the [?pony]
Retrieved as much gear as possible from our Qts. & placed it all in D Block. The Japs are to occupy our flats. (I saved all I could sweetheart & said Goodbye for us both to our first little home, maybe we’ll get back there yet dear) (We are all worried now because none of you down there know what has happened to us. I hope you are bearing up Marj dear).
Ah Ding ((our family amah)) appeared at the (guarded) front door of Tai Koon and asked for me. We were allowed to talk at the door. She was very upset because our flat had been entered by the Japs who had taken mattresses and blankets, and my new red coat material (bought 7th Dec.) as a blanket. She had orders to leave our flat. She had found out that I was in Dina House by going to the ARP HQ in Happy Valley, and asking the Chinese ARP messen
The next day, with an effort, we began to clean up our future abode. I think it very true that Englishmen are seen at their best when faced with adversity. The worse the situation, the stronger their spirit becomes to face it. Under the appalling conditions we found ourselves, it was heartening to see how all worked with a will, to better our conditions.
The Maryknoll Fathers continue to clean up their house which has been left in a dreadful state both inside and outside. Their Ford V-8 is still there though: the Japanese tried to start it, but 'someone had previously subtracted an essential mechanism'.
During the morning I had the opportunity of attending a ceremony I had heard about but imagined was extinct – Mike and Leung (the Guerrilla Chief) becoming blood brothers. (A margin note here: In Feb met Mrs Leung (indecipherable squiggle) R.Lee/DB) I rather imagine that the ceremony has never been carried out in more hygienic conditions.
We celebrated the New Year by buying some bread from a hawker. It was interesting, in two colours - off-white in the upper strata and near black at the base. It cost $1.40 a pound. We had about $500 in cash, but I had no income and small prospect of acceptable employment.
Update, 10 Jan 2019: The clips listed below are no longer online, but Moddsey has found another, similar set:
May not be in the same sequence as listed but the contents are similar as seen here: https://www.criticalpast.com/stock-footage-video/1941+hong+kong
The following newsreel clips aren't dated, but they'd likely have reached Japan soon after the British surrendered.
Quiet day generally. Water came on. Lovely weather. Frank & I changed to another room. ((Possibly fellow Prison Officer, E S Franks."))