Wednesday, July 30, 2014

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries


31 Jul 1942, Barbara Anslow's diary

Posted: 19 Feb 2012 05:47 AM PST

Book / Document: 
Barbara Anslow's diary
Date of events described: 
Fri, 1942-07-31

Row with Olive about buns.  I threw one at her.  ((At this time there was still a flour ration, and we each had a bread bun every day.  Of course they weren't exactly of uniform size, so we used to take it in turns having first choice from our room's supply.  On this day, I thought it was my turn to choose, so took the best one; but Olive insisted it was HER turn, so we had a fierce argument, then I threw my bun at her - it hit her on the face... I felt so ashamed afterwards, and we all wept.))

Baby Elizabeth Mary born to Mrs Dorothy Fyffe.

31 Jul 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Posted: 07 Jun 2012 02:54 AM PDT

Date of events described: 
Fri, 1942-07-31

Birth of Elizabeth Mary Fyffe.

 

Almost from the start the bankers at the Sun Wah Hotel have been raising money to provide relief for Stanley and Shamshuipo and for Allied nationals still in Hong Kong. At first they've been getting Indian and Chinese customers to agree to divert some of their funds for this purpose, but they realise that, although quite large sums are involved, still more is needed. Today HKSBC chief Sir Vandeleur Grayburn gets a message to the British Embassy at  Chungking through a British Army Aid Group agent asking for the honouring of financial instruments (Rupee and Sterling drafts on paper dated 23/12/41) that they're selling secretly to raise the extra funds. After a period of confusion - the authorities in London are aware that the bankers are now working under 'duress' and not all their financial transactions should be accepted - the Rupee and Sterling drafts are honoured.

Sources:

Birth: China Mail, September 15, 1945, page 3

Bankers: Frank King, History of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Volume 3, 613-614

31 Jul 1942, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

Posted: 26 Jun 2012 02:26 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Fri, 1942-07-31

More rain.

Good news confirmed but a rumour is knocking about re Russians being in a bad way. However they seem to know what they are doing.

31 Jul 1942, Ella Buuck's wartime diary

Posted: 10 Jul 2012 02:14 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
Ella Buuck's wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Fri, 1942-07-31

After a good breakfast, I did the family wash, also ironed what I had to do, then went up on deck into the sunshine. The weather was perfect. The meals are very good and surely I'll gain back some weight. Leonard has been going for a swim every day.

31 Jul 1942, Eric MacNider's wartime diary

Posted: 16 Jul 2014 11:57 PM PDT

Book / Document: 
Eric MacNider's wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Fri, 1942-07-31

To Mr. & Mrs. D.R. Fyffe, a daughter

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