Sunday, August 17, 2014

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

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

Posted: 18 Jan 2012 07:41 AM PST

Book / Document: 
Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Date of events described: 
Tue, 1942-08-18

The inaugural meeting of the (first) British Community Council takes place.

'Community' has been chosen because it seems less democratic than 'Communal'. There are ten elected representatives, and a number of individuals are appointed by Gimson to serve as administrative officers. In fact, the Committee's role, in theory at least, is to advise him - he's won the 'constitutional conflict' and is the effective governor of the camp, except when the Japanese decide to get involved.

 

The Gripsholm is now a week's sailing away from the United States. Charles Winter, who'd worked as a bread delivery driver and lived at the French Hospital alongside the bakers, writes to the family of Thomas Edgar. The Edgars learn, perhaps for the first time, that their son is alive and well - and that he was due to be married on the afternoon of June 29, soon after Charles Winter began his journey home.

 

And the ship's passengers see some of the destruction caused by the war at sea:

At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon we passed a bit of wreckage, big enough for several men to have been on it. We passed it at extremely slow speed, no doubt to avoid striking any partly submerged wreckage and partly to make sure that we discovered any possible survivors. There was nothing alive on the wreckage. So many of our passengers crowded the rail to see, that the ship took on a decided list. Between 6 and 7, we came to a proper wreck. This time it was the forward half of a ship, floating on an even keel. It was apparently an oil tanker which had been torpedoed. The superstructure was a black mass of wreckage. Flames were still licking the edge of a hold. Our passengers crowded the rail and every vantage point, even climbing into some of our lifeboats which were swung out at deck level, everybody straining his eyes in the dusk to see if there was anybody on the wreck.

Sources:

BCC: G. B. Endacott and Alan Birch, Hong Kong Eclipse, 1978, 356, 208-209

Edgars: Letter from Charles Winter viewable at: http://brianedgar.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/thomas-edgar-some-documentation/

Wreck: Diary of J. B. Sawyer, quoted in Greg Leck, Captives of Empire, 2006, 289

 

 

 

18 Aug 1942, Barbara Anslow's diary

Posted: 22 Feb 2012 05:34 AM PST

Book / Document: 
Barbara Anslow's diary
Date of events described: 
Tue, 1942-08-18

Went to talk by Mr Gilmour.  Grand, very amusing.  He was District Officer of various outposts.

The kitchen sink ((see yesterday's diary entry)) will NOT be removed.

18 Aug 1942, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

Posted: 09 Jul 2012 06:36 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Tue, 1942-08-18

Wind backed to NE brought clouds.

No news.

Chinese believe that we shall soon be released.

18 Aug 1942, Ella Buuck's wartime diary

Posted: 20 Jul 2012 05:03 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
Ella Buuck's wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Tue, 1942-08-18

We had real excitement today for at 5:00 the ship made a sudden turn and soon we discovered an object in the water which looked like a raft, so we pulled alongside to see. About 6:00 we passed a burning ship, the ruins of which certainly gave one the shivers.

18 Aug 1942, Don Ady's wartime memories

Posted: 20 Jul 2012 05:07 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
Don Ady's wartime memories
Date of events described: 
Tue, 1942-08-18

The torpedoed oil tanker in the Carribeaan:

Greg Leck reported from some interviewee that the sea was calm and the fire was out.  That contradicts what I recall seeing. Ella confirmed my memory that the ship was still on fire.

I seem to recall the ocean itself on fire, in a circle around it about the radius of the ship's length - floating oil aflame.  And I recall large waves that were smoothed out (wind had died somewhat).

Leck told me that sometime after the fire burned out that a tug found the tanker still afloat and took it in tow to Mexico.

18 Aug 1942, Eric MacNider's wartime diary

Posted: 17 Jul 2014 12:15 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
Eric MacNider's wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Tue, 1942-08-18

Mr. E. Gilmore "Some experiences of a District Officer"

New Br. Community Council met for first time at 2:15 this afternoon under the Chairmanship of Mr. F.C. Gimson.  Unanimous vote of thanks to ??? ((sp?)) B. Communal C. for their accomplishment during their term of office.
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