Wednesday, February 19, 2014

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

20 Feb 1942, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 05:48 AM PST

Book / Document: 
R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Fri, 1942-02-20

Quiet day., no news no rumours. Food not so good again. Sugar $1 per lb. pre-war 65cts for 5lb. Chinese tobacco $2 per pkt. was 20cts.

Colder.

20 Feb 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Posted: 01 Feb 2012 07:28 AM PST

Book / Document: 
Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Date of events described: 
Fri, 1942-02-20

Volunteer R. E. Stott is sent from Tweed Bay Hospital in Stanley to St. Paul's Hospital ('the French Hospital') in Causeway Bay where the better food provided is expected to speed his recovery from a ruptured duodenal ulcer.

He is planning an escape:

Had I been able to do so I would have endeavoured to pass as Eurasian, but unfortunately was too well known by local enemy agents to succeed, Dr. Selwyn-Clarke listened intently but made no suggestions to help neither did he request me not to escape.

See also entry for August 11, 1942

 

Morris 'Two-Gun Cohen' starts the day still a prisoner of the Kempeitai. Since his interrogation (see Feb 11), he's provided them with an inaccurate written account of his activities with the Chinese Army, been beaten up without any attempt to ask him questions, and at one point been told by Rex Davis, who understands Japanese, that the two of them are to be beheaded.

But today, much to his surprise, he's sent with the Special Branch prisoners (including Davis) back to Stanley. During the first part of their journey, they are suddenly bundled into a side street off Nathan Road: the new Military Governor of Hong Kong is arriving, and they are not thought worthy of looking at him.

Sources:

Tony Banham, We Shall Suffer There, 2009, entry for August 14, 1942

Charles Drage, The Life And Times Of General Two-Gun Cohen, 1954, 298-299

Note: the date of February 20, 1942 for the arrival of  Lieutenant-General Isogai to assume the military Governorship of Hong Kong is given by John Luff in The Hidden Years (172). Philip Snow and Oliver Lindsay suggest slightly earlier and later dates respectively. Ramon Lavalle, the Argentianian Consul, in an afidavit of March 11, 1943 gives February 25.
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