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I was at Fanling Camp in charge of the HKVDC transport during the week preceding the outbreak of hostilities.

My 23rd birthday.  Mr Bendall (Public Works Dept. official) gave me a Roget's Thesaurus, Olive and Topper stockings; Mabel - eau de cologne; Sid  - hanks; Mary (Taylor) eau de cologne.

New girl started at work, Lily A. Medina (Portuguese).

Director of Medical Services Selwyn-Selwyn Clarke makes an appeal:

Recruits are needed for the Auxiliary Medical Corps, including nurses, stretcher-bearers, clerks (male and female), telephonists and those with experience of social work.

Alfred Duff Cooper sends a message from Singapore, where he's 'Resident Cabinet Minister', to Hong Kong's ' Bachelor Husbands': he met the evacuated wives when he was in Australia, he understood their feelings, but it would be wrong for them to return to Hong Kong at the moment.

Posted No90 to Marj. Paid bills  & bought shoes. Saw “The Phantom Raiders” at the Queens. (173$ locked in Club safe)

Lbyan news isn't so good.   Germans 36 miles from Moscow.

HMAS 'Sydney' presumed lost, having sunk an armed raider merchantman, then no news.  700 men, apparently no survivors.

Japs now want to resume talks with USA 'until the last moment.'

Suggestions are that Japs must continue talks for 2 weeks, by which time their war preparations will be completed.

Readers of The Yorkshire Post might spot this Reuter's report on the first page:

Hong Kong. A Government communiqué urges that persons not required for duty in the colony in event of an outbreak of hostilities, should take any existing opportunity of leaving now. Reuter.

But in Hong Kong itself most people don't seem worried. Jardine, Matheson & Co. make the following announcement:

((In November 1941, Mrs Ziegler was living in House #29 on Cheung Chau Island. Her husband, (Rev. Albert H. Ziegler) was a Missionary in the China interior. Two of the older boys were in the USA, while the six younger children were with Mrs Ziegler at house #29.))

Rec. Nov 3rd from Marj

Mary and I went to Peggy (Wilson)'s house - St Joan's Court, Macdonnell Road, (Mary lodged there).

I like Lily Medina but I'm sorry because she's so pitifully poor.

Jap and USA talks evidently proceeding.

Battleship 'Prince of Wales' is in Singapore.

Olive and I each sent $5.00 to local Bomber Fund in lieu of Christmas cards. Perhaps we should do the same for presents, but I'm loath to make that sacrifice.

Buuck’s rented a nice flat on the Hong Kong side which was only six or seven blocks from the main street. We moved into Hongkong ((Kowloon)) on the following Thursday and Friday ((ie 4th & 5th December)). The children and I went to Phillips House, a boarding house mainly for missionaries on the Kowloon side of the Harbor. I had sent most of our big things and the little furniture we had to Buuck’s flat.

On Thursday (4th Dec) we received orders to strike camp, the reason given was that new battle stations had been allotted to the Corps, so the remainder of the camping season was to be spent in getting acquainted with them.  That day I moved all important equipment back to Hongkong and on Friday and Saturday we were kept busy taking the various units out to their new stations.

So far, the Band due in for the Races on Saturday, but Far East situation so fluid that even that may be off.

HMS 'Prince of Wales' and more Fleet in Singapore, it's supposed/hoped it will help Japs to change their minds, though 'HULL HINTS HOPE ABANDONED' says evening paper. I can't believe that.  ((Cordell Hull was an eminent US politician)).

Japan's reply expected to be against USA  policy, which should mean breaking off of diplomatic relations, then Japan going on her way re Indo China and Burma, then WAR.

Observation posts close to the border report a build-up of Japanese troops.

The number one degree of readiness order is issued at Kai Tak airport. All personnel are confined to the station,  the defences are manned and the military planes dispersed.

Sources:

Observation: Charles Barman, Resist to the End, 2009, 1

Tony Banham, Not The Slightest Chance, 2003, 13

We were dancing in the Rose Room of the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong on the evening of Saturday the 6th December, 1941.  During the evening an announcement was made on the loudspeaker, recalling all service personnel to report to their headquarters immediately.  It was an ominous sign that war with Japan was close at hand.

Yesterday afternoon ((i.e. 6 Dec 1941)) I went down to the airport for a flying lesson.  I thought it went rather well and was very disappointed with Baugh for not letting me go solo.  After it got dark we went into the bar and met some of the C.N.A.C (China National Aviation Corporation) pilots.  They had about a dozen planes leaving for Nam Yeung that night.  The first two Douglasses went off at about 7:15 and were expected back shortly after nine.

Introduction

On Saturday, the air was electric with rumours but nothing was done in the way of mobilizing.

Sunny.  Race Day.  

Had just settled down to work in Puckle's office when Olive appeared with Arthur - unbeknown to R.S. ((Royal Scots)), another Band had arranged to do the Races.

I left work at 7pm, then Arthur and I to Peninsula for tea, then to King's 'My Life with Caroline.'

A day of bright sunshine. Many of the HKVDC leave their offices to take part in weekend exercises.

Crowds flock to Happy Valley for the races.

Barbara Redwood is taken to the cinema to see 'My Life With Caroline' by her boyfriend Arthur Alsey a bandsman with the Royal Scots who has a day's leave. They watch a newsreel with comforting images of US planes 'in formidable formation'.