Monday, September 1, 2014

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

72 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

2 Sep 1942, Barbara Anslow's diary

Posted: 26 Feb 2012 07:38 PM PST

Book / Document: 
Barbara Anslow's diary
Date of events described: 
Wed, 1942-09-02

We may write to Shamshuipo Camp - 50 words, but only 1 card per family, but Mr Fantham says I may use his.

Finished Chapter 2 of story ((written in shorthand)).

2 Sep 1942, R. E. Jones Wartime diary

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 06:49 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Wed, 1942-09-02

Better weather. No authentic news or information.

2 Sep 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Posted: 08 Sep 2012 03:49 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Date of events described: 
Wed, 1942-09-02

Mr. G. H. Cautherley, a bank official, and Mrs. D. A. Cautherley, have a boy.

 

The repatriated American banker Theodore Lindabury writes to Elizabeth Grayburn, the daughter of Sir Vandeleur and the step-daughter of Lady Mary:

I was interned with them in a Chinese Hotel from January 5 until June 29 when we left Hong Kong. During that time they were working every day in the liquidation of the Bank and were able, by various means, to secure a sufficient supply of food, other than the rice given by the Japanese. You probably have heard that condition ((sic)) in the Stanley Prison Camp are very poor and should be pleased to hear that they are not in this Camp but are interned with the other Bank people in a Chinese Hotel not far from the Bank.

Sources:

Cautherley: China Mail, September 15, 1945

Grayburns: David Tett, Captives of Cathay, 2007, 294

Notes:

1)

The bankers were living at the Sun Wah Hotel. The 'various means' of supplementing the low-quality ration rice were probably purchases on the open and black markets.

2)

It seems that at some time, probably in 1942, Mr. Cautherley went to the French Hospital in Causeway Bay for x-rays and on his return smuggled in money raised by Sir Vandeleur Grayburn and other bankers for relief purposes.

Source - Frank King, History of the HSBC, Volume 3, 621.

2 Sep 1942, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Posted: 19 Aug 2013 08:22 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Date of events described: 
Wed, 1942-09-02

Birth of George Cautherley in Tweed Bay Hospital. Later he'll remember his years in Stanley as happy ones.

Fast forward a few years and whenever Kiyoshi Watanabe, who was loved by the Camp's children, comes into Camp George will be following him around.

 

Conditions in Stanley made it hard for those who'd been wealthy and influential before the war to maintain their privileges. New divisions arose, with 'prosperity', which was always relative, depending on such things as having family and friends outside camp willing to make the sacrifice and take the risk of sending you parcels, or having a friend on the billeting committee. And some people were able to brng more into camp in the first place. Stanley was an infinitely more egalitarian place than pre-war Hong Kong, but it still had its 'have' and have nots'.

Australian journalist Dorothy Jenner is the 'leader' of her area of camp (a 'blockhead'). In a diary entry for today she makes it clear how she sees her job:

I am looking after the have-nots.

In an undated note Jenner made her views on the effects of internment clear:

When people become anonymous they become hateful. Judges & dustmen look the same in the cookhouse & are just as light-fingered. Society - or its segments - with nothing to lose or gain don't possess the dignity of denizens of the jungle. Rogues have more stature than snivelling, grabbing members of this community - taipans caught with their pants down - Externally there is little difference these days between the millionaire and the park dosser. I'll take the simple dosser, he's kinder.

Sources:

George Cautherley: 'Stanley Recollections and Reminiscences ', University of Hong Library, Special Collections, HKP940.547252 C37

Conditions, Jenner: Christina Twomey, Australia' Forgotten Prisoners, 2007, 73, 74

2 Sep 1942, Eric MacNider's wartime diary

Posted: 08 Jul 2014 07:32 AM PDT

Book / Document: 
Eric MacNider's wartime diary
Date of events described: 
Wed, 1942-09-02

Welfare distribution

To Mr. & Mrs. G.H. Cautherley, a son.
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