Up with the lark. Breakfast, then given a half pound slab of York choc. each, cigs and matches. As we went down the gangway, each given a scran bag with sausage rolls etc.
Pages tagged:
The Empress of Australia finally manages to land in Liverpool - it's been delayed by gales around the British Isles, and today's China Mail describes it as a 'hoodoo ship'.
Source:
Oliver Lindsay, The Lasting Honour, 1980 ed., 197
Worrying news for the former internees and POWs.
The China Mail headline reports that Macao is 'mobilising' and that a 'state of siege' exists after the occupation of a city centre hotel by armed (perhaps communist) troops. Portuguese Volunteers there are postponing their return to Hong Kong.
Yesterday, they learn from page 2, three mystery shots were fired in Kowloon, The second, perhaps from a high-powered rifle killed a Chinese man on a sampan in the harbour.
And two kempeitai officers have escaped from Shamshuipo.
Barbara Anslow has previously shared her wartime diaries with us [1], documenting Hong Kong life during the fighting in 1941, and on through three years eight months of internment at Stanley. When we left the diary, she had just finished the long journey back to England, arriving at her Aunt's house in Kent. Here she rounds off the story, taking us through the years 1945-1948, her unexpected decision to return to Hong Kong, and a look at how the time in camp has affected her life since. Over to Barbara:
Getting used to life in England, out of camp
RELIEF RATION SCHEME
Hong Kong people now taking their rations under the D. B. R. basic rations scheme speak glowingly of the efficiency of the improved service and of the much improved quality of the rations supplied.
The new Distribution Depot is at No. 6 Chater Road, and is visited daily by a fairly large number of people after the bread ration of 12 ozs.
The weekly ration consists of the following items:
The Hong Kong Sunday Herald (page 2) is upbeat about the progress being made:
Hong Kong has had a busy week rehabilitating itself. The endless fag up winding stairs is over with the installation of a skeleton lift service in every large building. The lifts keep going out of order but, nevertheless, most of the heart-aging climbs are over.
David MacDougall once again ((see November 2)) tells London how bad things are:
Father Bernard Meyer's and Father Nicholas Maestrini's Catholic Centre is officially opened.
The Daily Mirror announces (page 8) that God Is My Co-Pilot is showing in London. It's a film about American ace Robert Lee Scott and the climax is his duel with a Japanese flier above Hong Kong. Is this the first appearance of the Hong Kong war in a non-Japanese film?
Source:
The China Mail reports on its first page that the value of the Hong Kong Dollar has risen against the Chinese National Dollar, the US Dollar, and almost all forms of fresh food.
Slab sugar, peanut oil, pork, beef and duck have all fallen in price.
Page two carries an interesting and significant letter from 'a few ratings', which shows that nothing about 'old Hong Kong' was automatically changed by the deprivations of Stanley Camp:
Former Stanley internees Henry Graye and Elizabeth Florence Donaldson are married at 'the Registry'. The reception is in the Rose Room of the Pensinula Hotel - the former Japanese headquarters is getting back to normal.
Bishop Ronald Hall preaches at the mid-day service at the Cathedral. He's a man who's never made any secret of his left-wing views. After referring to the heavy losses among the brave defenders of Hong Kong, he tells the congregation:
The debate as to Hong Kong's attitude to servicemen continues.
'Barnacle Bill', a merchant seaman, visited Hong Kong several times before the Japanese attack and he found the general attitude appalling, but makes one exception:
The only man who ever had any time for us and did put himself out to do things for us was Padre Cyril Brown of the Missions for Seamen....Outside hospitality was nil.
The vigorous newspaper debate about the nature of post-war Hong Kong's 'Europeans' continues.
Cecil Harcourt, head of the military adminstration, sends out letters thanking those who sent food, money and other necessities into the camps.
One is received by Melitza ('Lila') Pio-Ulski, piano teacher and wife of George Pio-Ulski, the leader of the orchestra at the Hong Kong Hotel before and during the occupation. They had not been interned because of their Russian nationality.
Bernard Tohill boards the S.S. Tamaroa for the three day voyage to Shanghai. He will live close by in Nantao until his ordination as a priest on July 1, 1948.
The correspondent 'Dig In' works for the Government-run Civil Labour Control and assures readers that, contrary to previous claims, he and his fellows are doing their best to put an end to the exploitation of 'coolies' bycontractors who take a significant portion of their earnings for getting them work.
REPATRIATION NOTICE NO. 35
H.M.S. “GERUSALEMME”
(1) The undermentioned are listed for embarkation:-
AUSTRALIA
REPATRIATION NOTICE No. 36
MANILA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.
1. The undermentioned are listed for H.M.S. “VINDEX” which will be sailing for Australia.
AUSTRALIA:-
- Mr G. F. L’Estrange,
- Mr and Mrs W. G. C. Ham and children,
- Mr and Mrs M. Chin and son.
NEW ZEALAND:-
- Mr H. V. Thorne.
MANILA:-
Lieutenant Peckham deny reports that Japanese residents of the internment camp at Stanley Fort have been allowed to go into Hong Kong without escort - they are always accompanied, he claims, although not neccesarily by the commandoes who run the Camp. They are allowed out, one or two per day, to buy things like food, winter clothing or paint for the Camp. Some are needed to help in the liquidation of the Yokohama Specie Bank or to answer questions about the institutions they ran during the occupation.
Ssiter Mary Paul of the Maryknoll Convent writes to General Officer Commanding, Major-General F. W. Festing.
REPATRIATION NOTICE No. 37
AMERICAN CITIZENS ONLY
The undermentioned persons are warned to stand by in readiness to leave for MANILA (en route for U.S.A.) by H.M.S "Glory” which may leave Hong Kong on Wednesday, 21st November or, shortly afterwards.
Instructions as to places and times for embarkation will be published later.
Those who have not received certificates from the United States Consul and who desire to be repatriated must call at the Consulate and also on the Repatriation Officer before 4 p.m. Tuesday, 20th November.
Mrs M. A. Boulton
A report on page 2 of today's China Mail throws some light on a little-known aspect of the occupation.