Special job. Colder.
Pages tagged:
The convent of St. Albert, Hong Kong, had been previously converted into a hospital by the Royal Army Medical Corps. On January 18, 1942 this hospital was commanded by a lieutenant colonel, R.A.M.C. and it also accommodated the Commanding Officer and medical staff of the Tung Wah Hospital which had been evacuated a few days before.
Bad throat. Very cold.
Fire opposite us in the night - very near thing. There were just sooty sparks at first ((from the tenements on other side of the road)), but later the fire really got going. All the gongs in the neighbourhood were beating as alarms, several huge tongues of fire blew over in our direction. ((Discussions among us at what to do if the wind blew the flames across the road to our hotel.))
Internment at Stanley began.
The Queen Mary Hospital, with staff and patients, was moved to Stanley on January 19 and installed in the old Indian Single Warder's Quarters ...
I was late yesterday [torn page, missing word] got dark as I wrote - my car still safe and I begin to hope again - though I know it can't be true. They'll take it sometime.
I have just been to see Bertie and took him 100 cigarettes - he was so pleased as he was entirely out of them. He is progressing very slowly - his burns are not healing very well. Cheero Darling B.
Finished the ladder.
Rumours re Russians attacking Japan & of the Japs being told to get out of HK or be bombed out. The news is supposed to be authentic so we are feeling somewhat bucked.
Pris’s changed into their own clothing.
Ko So came to see me. ((This was probably Jones's amah. There is a bit more information about her at http://gwulo.com/comment/34555#comment-34555, where her name is spelled "Garso".))
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.
Some of lesser banks permitted pay out to depositors. Only $50 per head. Hongkong and Shanghai Bank not included "because it has not yet completed returns of more than 18,000 savings accounts". I went to Chase Bank and got $50 in the Chinese $5 notes overprinted Hongkong $1.
Post Office reopened; small sign of return normal conditions.
10 p.m. air raid siren, first since surrender. Rumour two planes made reconnaissance over Kowloon.
Pris’s did not go out today as arranged. Few internees arrived D Block & patients arrived from QM Hospital with some staff.
In morning, we were given a quarter of an hour to pack and get out of the hotel, then marched down Des Voeux Road. ((I wore most of my clothes, with blanket strapped bandolier-wise across me. Passed Nanking Hotel and saw Olive and colleagues hanging over the verandah watching.))
I was transferred to Stanley Camp on the 21st. January.
In Tokyo Premier Tojo Hideki makes a speech to the Japanese House of Peers outlining war aims. If Burma and the Philippines submit to Japanese hegemony, they'll eventually get independence. But areas like Hong Kong and Malaya which are 'absolutely essential for the defence of Greater East Asia' would be held under Japanese rule.
In Hong Kong today is a day of movement for most of the civilians.
The majority of those interned in the waterfront hotels are sent by boat to an improvised camp on the Stanley Peninsula.
((The following text is not dated, but other accounts put the move to Stanley on this day:))
We were then ordered out onto the streets and marched to the sea wall, where the oldest looking launches were awaiting to transport us to Stanley Peninsula, where we would be out of the way.
3000 & 5811 caught opening locks in C Hall with pieces of wire (when reported for this offence under our management before the war 3 day R & W). The Japs hung them upside down for an hour or more & then beheaded them. Somewhat bloody but very effective. Barrett would no doubt be please (sic) to hear about 5811.
((David: I guess '3000 & 5811' were two of the prisoners at Stanley Gaol, and 'R & W' means 'rice & water' as a punishment.
Mum and I ate something from our frugal supplies then went room-hunting again around the blocks with Connie Hawkett, an ANS friend of Mum's. (Absolutely no one was in charge. ) Once we found an empty room with some furniture, but hastily withdrew when a Chinese who seemed to be an authority came in and said this room was reserved for Japanese administrators. A complete stranger in ANS uniform hailed Mum and said she'd found an empty room and would we like to share it.. would we!! - a small room in Block 3 overlooking the courtyard, on first floor.
American internee Wenzell Brown goes to St. Stephen's College and has his first shower for 27 days:
The cold harsh needles of water seemed to give me new life. My razor, shaving brush, a cake of soap, toothpaste and toothbrush were, other than my blankets and the clothing I had on, my only possessions.
On the 22nd we were marched down the bund to a dock where we got on a launch and went to Stanley on it.
At first we were billeted with the Pommerenkes, and later the Lynns lived with us, so there were seven of us in the room.
Well darling, our Rae is 12 months old & I sincerely hope & pray that this her first birthday will be the first & last that we are parted until she leaves us to start a home of her own. I hope you had a nice little party sweetheart with one candle on the cake. God Bless you both.