Thursday, April 14, 2016

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

15 Apr 1944, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Posted: 31 Jan 2014 06:29 AM PST

Book / Document: 
Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Date(s) of events described: 
Sat, 15 Apr 1944

Trial of banker Hugo Foy, arrested in Stanley Camp earlier in 1944.

He's tried alongside Chinese banker Ho Wing and eight others, mainly Portuguese.

Source:

China Mail, September 5, 1946, page 4

Note:

I haven't been able to find much about the arrest, trial and imprisonment of HSBC employee Hugo Foy - one source even claims he was arrested about the same time as Grayburn and Streatfield (March 1943) but this is almost certainly wrong.

It seems he was one of those who were kept out of Stanley until June/July 1943 and during that period became active in raising funds for the relief of the internees and POWs: the source cited above states he saw him receive 20,000 yen (presumably Military Yen) from a Mr. Kischinschand, presumably one of the many Indians who contributed to the relief effort. He seems to have been arrested as part of a Kempeitai sweep on the Portuguese community, particularly its bankers, which also led to the arrest in Stanley of three employees of the Chartred Bank, although on different charges to Foy.

He was almost certainly the HSBC banker seen by one of the Chartered Bank men, G. A. Leiper, in Stanley Jail in 1944/45. Both survived the war.

 

15 Apr 1944, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

Posted: 17 Mar 2014 06:38 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Date(s) of events described: 
Sat, 15 Apr 1944

Wolkenlich aber kein regen. Holz partei. Schwere arbeit und essen nicht genug. Um die Abendszeit mit Steve. Russe und Romania den Frieden abkommen schleissen? Japanosiche leute furchten den Burgerkrieg Ihre Damen und Kinder nach Kowloon kommen haben Sie.

(( Jill Fell writes:

"Cloudy but no rain. Wood party. Hard work and not enough to eat. With Steve around evening time. Russia and Romania make peace pact? The Japanese people fear civil war. Their women and children have come to Kowloon."

I can't make sense of Jones's last sentence without putting a full stop between "Burgerkrieg" and "Ihre." There seem to be two separate statements. Could someone with knowledge of the historical background confirm whether the Japanese were bringing their families to Kowloon in 1944?))

15 Apr 1944, Harry Ching's wartime diary

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 11:57 PM PDT

Book / Document: 
Harry Ching's wartime diary
Date(s) of events described: 
Sat, 15 Apr 1944

((Following text not dated:))

Jimmy Kitchen and family taken..... ((Probably Jimmy Landau and family)). Rosary Hill excited by yarn me and family all in. Barma said in with Doc Arculli ((is this the same person as Tubby Arculli?)). Part of Dragon Terrace mob.....Dragon Terrace Indians mostly out and permitted leave.....Peter Abesser says applying permission go. George Lee (Dorothy's brother) applied fortnight ago. Perry ((not sure who this is)) said succeeded getting permit. Rose Peters and John Shea's wife also. Story anyone allowed to leave now. Masters and wife Morgie said going though he was P.O.W. and in gaol.

Still pondering whether go away. If no more flour ration might as well abandon Eurasian pass become enemy national eligible Red Cross relief perhaps. Waiting see how prices going. March cost us over Y1,400 including extra rice. Budget for April looks like Y1,000. Lot of people say feel must go but will give it another month before deciding.
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