Saturday, August 9, 2014

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

10 Aug 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Posted: 11 Jan 2012 06:19 AM PST

Book / Document: 
Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Date of events described: 
Mon, 1942-08-10

Matron Dyson, Kay Christie, Anna May Waters, Daphne Van Wart, Molly Gordon, Mary Curry, Kathleen Thompson and the other nurses who had been working at Bowen Road Military Hospital and St Teresa's in Kowloon arrive in Stanley.

Sources:

D. C. Bowie, Captive Surgeon in Hong Kong, 1975, 169, 289 (incomplete staff list)

Note:

The Maryknoll Diary gives the figure of about 90 nurses coming into camp today, although other sources give about 60. Nicola Tyrer (Sisters in Arms, 2008, 64-66) states, citing archival evidence, that Van Wart, Thom(p)son and some other nurses came in from St Teresa's in Kowloon. Bowie's incompete staff list has Thompson (sic) and Van Wart working at Bowen Road. And according to Bowie, St. Teresa's will be closed tomorrow - see Chronology. The exact nature of these events is still unclear to me, but I'm confident that on August 10-11 all the female nurses of 'enemy' origin at Bowen Road and St Teresa's were sent into Stanley.

Note:

Nurse Mabel Redwood, had come into Stanley on June 17 because of illness:

http://gwulo.com/node/10257

10 Aug 1942, Barbara Anslow's diary

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 04:54 AM PST

Book / Document: 
Barbara Anslow's diary
Date of events described: 
Mon, 1942-08-10

Mabel is happy.  'Mara' (Tamara Jex), 'Nan' (Nan Grady), and 'Gin' (Virginia Beaumont) are here.  Mabel and I sat in boiling sun on grass above the Indian Quarters and waited patiently.  VADs arrived in 3 buses, their luggage came by sea.  Mabel careered over to them on  Bowling Green where luggage was being sorted, - much embracing.

Muriel McCaw came as a stretcher case and is in hospital. 

Colossal row over bedspace in room this morning during washing floor operations. ((There were now 6 of us in a very small room))

10 Aug 1942, Rev. Buuck's autobiographical notes

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 03:28 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
Rev. Buuck's autobiographical notes
Date of events described: 
Mon, 1942-08-10

((His wife's diary, written at the time, says this happened on 10th August. That's the date I've used for this page, not the 12th that he mentions below.))

Early on August 12th we entered the harbor of Rio De Janiero, truly one of the most beautiful in the world with Corcovado and Sugar Loaf dominating the scene. There was also a huge British troop carrier in port which we assumed to be the Queen Mary. Our little Gripsholm seemed like a toy in comparison.

We were able to get off the ship and do some sightseeing. Taking a walk along the shopping center, we purchased pictures made of butterfly wings, and an alligator skin purse and belt. We made a trip via tram to the top of Corcovado on which is a large statue of Christ overlooking the city and the harbor. The beautiful orchids and 7 story tall palms fascinated us.

In the evening we visited with our Lutheran pastor, who felt a bit uneasy since the South Americans were quite jittery during these war years.

10 Aug 1942, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 07:29 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Mon, 1942-08-10

Schwesten von HK angekommen aber sie kein neues brachten haben. Franks gedet.

((Probably "Schwestern ..."', so "Sisters arrived from HK but they brought no news."

Can't translate "Franks gedet."

Jill Fell: Not sure if I can help with 'Franks gedet'. Who is Franks? Could it be 'Franks geht' - 'Franks goes' ? but it seems to me that coming into camp is easier than going!))

10 Aug 1942, Ella Buuck's wartime diary

Posted: 20 Jul 2012 04:54 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
Ella Buuck's wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Mon, 1942-08-10

Danny ((?)) called us at 6 o'clock and already at that time we saw mountains and we hurried out on deck so as to see everything. Was it ever a glorious sight! And every few minutes new beauty appeared. The sunrise helped to make it perfect.

We anchored at 8 o'clock after breakfast. I again had to line up for the money. I signed over $75.00 U.S. to get 15,000 melreis. Then at 10a.m. we began moving to shore, docked after 11 a.m., then for a grand confusion of trying to get passes to get off. We were all ready, but it took until 11:40 until we had the passes, so we took our lunch on ship first and then went on shore to have a look around. All the interesting things to be bought—one just couldn't help but want to buy.

We returned at 1:30 as we wanted to join the gang going up the mountain. There were 150 in all. We finally started at 2:15 and had an hour's street car ride, then the tram trip up. It was beautiful to see. The view cannot be described. The statue is huge and very impressive. The palm trees are immense and all parks or gardens are very nice—lots of hedges and all nicely trimmed. We finally returned to the ship at 6:20, tired and hungry.

After supper we got the children to bed and made ready to go again. The Zimmermanns, Mrs. Ziegler, Lorenz and I took a bus downtown, went walking around and at 9 o'clock, took a taxi to Rev. Hasse's home. The Kleins joined us. The visit there was very nice. They are fine folks, have a nice church. We had a nice lunch with them and returned again at a late hour by taxi. Betty had stayed with Bobby and kept him from being too lonesome.

10 Aug 1942, Eric MacNider's wartime diary

Posted: 17 Jul 2014 12:10 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
Eric MacNider's wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Mon, 1942-08-10

62 nurses arrived from Bowen Road & St. Teresa's hospitals
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