Monday, December 30, 2013

�寄: 72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

 

 

寄件者: noreply+feedproxy@google.com [mailto:noreply+feedproxy@google.com] 代理 72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries
寄件日期: 20131229 5:18
收件者: Yinpong@gmail.com
主旨: 72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

 

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries


29 Dec 1941. R. E. Jones Wartime diary

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 11:05 PM PST

Book / Document: 

R. E. Jones Wartime diary

Date of events described: 

Mon, 1941-12-29

Foster turned up. 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.

29 Dec 1941. Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reports "Ceremonial entry into Hong Kong by Imperial Japanese Army and Navy"

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 07:28 AM PST

Book / Document: 

Asahi Shimbun

Date of events described: 

Mon, 1941-12-29

I bought this Japanese newspaper on eBay a couple of years ago. It is seventy years old today.

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:

§ Japan flag stands at the Victoria Park, Hong Kong

§ Commander Sakai and Japan troops parade through Hong Kong

§ Celebration for occuping Hong Kong held

§ Occupation of all islands of Hong Kong is complete

§ Japan troops bombs Manila

§ Map: around Manila, the Philippines

§ Report from Manila: Manila fallen soon

§ Picture: Hong Kong residents come out of Air-raid Shelter

§ Picture: British soldiers disarmed in Hong Kong

§ Picture: Detained British and American children with smiles for Japanese victory in Hong Kong

§ Analysis: How to fight against British and American weapons

§ Picture: British HMS Unity (N66)

§ Unque commercial ads

§ etc,


Here are complete scans of the newspaper pages (click any thumbnail for a larger view). If anyone can translate Japanese, please could you let us know what the articles say about Hong Kong?

Regards, David

Page 1

Page 2

 

 

 

 

Page 3

Page 4

 

 

 

 

29 Dec 1941, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Posted: 03 Dec 2012 08:16 AM PST

Date of events described: 

Mon, 1941-12-29

The water supply is restored in Victoria (now Central).

 

The Japanese hold their Victory Parade. Europeans are told not to watch on pain of death, but George Wright-Nooth, on a visit to the Gloucester Hotel, manages to get 'a sneaking look':

Overhead three flights of planes flew up and down the route several times. Then the parade came in sight headed by a bugle band, a large part of which appeared to be composed of officers. They were followed by the general and other high ranking naval and military officers, all of whom were mounted. Following them on foot came a large party of Japanese soldiers carrying little white boxes on their chests. These contained the ashes of those Japanese killed in action.

Wright-Nooth is saddened as what seems a 'never-ending column of men' files past.

 

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

Parade: George Wright-Nooth, Prisoner Of The Turnip Heads, 1994, 75

Dr. Newton: Oliver Lindsay, The Lasting Honour, 1980 ed., 164

29 Dec 1941, Harry Ching's wartime diary

Posted: 02 Jan 2013 06:37 AM PST

Book / Document: 

Harry Ching's wartime diary

Date of events described: 

Mon, 1941-12-29

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.

Nephew Fred and I went to the racecourse stands to inquire for his mother, of whom we have had no news since the relief hospital was over-run on Christmas Eve. The place seemed deserted, but as we neared the gate a Japanese N.C.O. suddenly appeared. Hostile, he shouted at us, then beckoned us to approach. We tried in Chinese to explain our mission, but he showed no understanding. The more we tried the more annoyed he became. "Better beat it," I muttered to Fred, "he's getting nasty." But he would not let us go, and continued to shout as we stood silently before him. Then suddenly he said, "Spik Ingrese." We brightened and he grinned. We explained it all again in English. He pointed to a big closed door at the end of the stands. We pushed it open and went in. It was the hospital morgue, with three male bodies lying on tables. We quickly withdrew. He laughed and motioned to the main grandstand. This was deserted and in confusion, beds empty and blankets and furnishings strewn around. We thanked him again and offered him a cigarette, which he refused.

Near the cemeteries outside the grandstand we met Arthur May of the Public Works Department. He had walked across the Island from the Dairy Farm on the south side. He eased our anxiety, had seen Fred's mother at the Queen Mary Hospital.

At the Monument a scene of desolation presented itself. Smashed and burnt vehicles stood about. The buildings had all been peppered with shell-fire, and the Golf Club pavilion and Texas oil station are badly wrecked. Under a truck lay the body of a woman. Presently, a discordant clanking overtook us. Wrecked vehicles were being towed into the centre of the racecourse and dumped there. I failed to recognise mine among them.

Next the ping of rifle shots alerted us and we ducked. But the targets were far away, on the other side of the Valley. The Japanese were firing on the looters whom we could see scurrying for cover on Broadwood Ridge.

 

 

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