A hot, clear day, and one of huge emotion.
The Asama Maru, the ship which will take most of the Americans on the first stage of their journey home under a US-Japanese repatriation agreement, sails up the Lamma Channel and anchors about three miles off the Lamma Island Point.
Finally on June 29th we saw the Asama Maru coming over the horizon. What a thrill!! We were on the house tops to see it.
Star Ferry arr. at Stanley to take Americans.
Not allowed to W. of Prison
((The following text is not dated:))
After six months the Americans were repatriated, as the Japanese had made arrangements with them to have their own national repatriated. With my last ten dollars, I remember buying a pair of sandals from one of the American internees before they left, which I felt was a bit mean. (The men wore sandals made from old car tyres.) Our hearts sank as we saw the Americans going to the ship that was lying in the bay below, ready to take them back to their homeland.
2 mls Aberdeen Bay. “Asama Maru” arrived. (National flag & white crosses bow & stern) Americans left PM. (("New York" is written above the text here)).
When do we go? Rumour of 4 ships leaving, 2 to take us all away & 2 to go to Near East.
((Undated, but these notes should refer to 29th June, based on other diaries' entries for these days.))
I recall climbing the ladder leading to the roof and scanning the sea. I am sure my heart skipped a few beats when I saw a tiny speck on the horizon. Yes, it was our ship coming in, destination-freedom. I hurried down to spread the good news.
George Wright-Nooth's diary:
At 1800 hours the Asama Maru started on her voyage to Lourenco Marques...Before she set sail she gave several toots from her siren, with a final one of nine toots...(they) certainly did sound mournful and made me think of home. How far away it seems now.
Mr. and Mrs. Simpson have a boy, Douglas Robert.
Finally the day came when our ship came in. Three times we were put off: first it was to be the 16th, then the 23rd and again we had to wait.
((Following text not dated:))
Showery. “Asama Maru” left at 6PM.
Seems to be some truth in the rumour re our leaving.
Repatriation ship left with the Americans. Wonder how much longer we’re to be left to rot here.
((Dates are approximate))
Brutal Episodes during the Occupation
During the war, the Japanese military behaved brutally, especially towards the Chinese. But remarkably, as a little blonde boy, I was often shown great kindness by both Japanese officers and soldiers. I was constantly patted on the head for good luck.
Police move to Am. Block
Move changed to Bl. 12+17 Indian quarters
After several days under way I started putting together my “jigsaw puzzle” namely, the financial report which I had carefully torn and hidden. This I did when I was quite certain that I would not be observed by any Japanese, which worked quite well and I soon had my report.
We were restricted as far as water was concerned. Water for washing and bathing was available only at certain hours, while we were expected to do our laundry in sea water. Usually we snuck a bit of laundry in when taking a bath which was quite often once we got close to the equator.
Towards mid-July, a vague rumour started circulating that some of the camps were to be shifted to Japan as labour battalions. This was soon confirmed, when about a thousand of the fittest men were inoculated and rigorously inspected. They finally sailed about the 6th of August 1942 and, as we found out later, arrived safely in Japan and were sent to work at shipyards in the Tokyo area.
The police are disappointed. George Wright-Nooth records in his diary:
Tomorrow we move to our new billets...We are not however, going to the American quarters we were promised but are going instead to the Indian Quarters (Block 12) which are undoubtedly the most unhealthy quarters in the camp. This sudden change of plans is undoubtedly a double cross on someone's part and a nasty one at that.
Wright-Nooth believes that some of the Billetting Committee have intrigued to get their friends into the superior accommodation vacated by the Americans.
We sailed at 6pm ((they sailed at 6pm on the 30th, ie the previous day)).
I couldn’t help but think of all our Stanley friends whom we left behind. They must have felt sad. Their ration having been cut and we are having wonderful food.
We hear lots of stories from the passengers who were interned at Japan, also the folks from North China ports. We now can’t wait until we meet the Conte Verde ((another ship)), from Shanghai, hoping to see the Zimmermanns, Thodes etc. ((These were fellow Missionary colleagues)).
Churchill’s 3 points: Aid to Russia, & to China & an intensified anti-s/m campaign in the Atlantic.
Conditions in HK apparently very bad.
Evacuation rumour still up in the air, denied here and semi-confirmed there.
Showery all day.
Colonel Lindsay Ride escaped from Shamshuipo on January 9, 1942 and founded the British Army Aid Group, a resistance organisation based in Free China. On July 2, 1942 he sent a message to the former Vice-Chancellor of Hong Kong University, Duncan Sloss: