Date.
+
District.
Time.
31.
Kowloon Police Headquarters.
20.
11. 12.41
35
11.45
senior officer to Sub Inspector Bradsell, states that the vehicles were already being loaded when he returned from dealing with some rice riots. It is agreed that no order was received from the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kowloon, by despatch rider Sub Inspector Bradsell, the Officer in Charge, states that he only rung up the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kowloon, once, at 11.00 hours, to report falling shells and that British soldiers had in- formed him that there were a very large number of Japanese in the hills, and they were surrounding our troops. (This account has been compiled from reports furnished in turn by Sub Inspector Bradsell, Sub Inspector Collins, Acting Sub Inspector Dela- hunty, and P.S.A.29 Alexander, each giving the part he played.)
Some officer from Mong Kok Station, believed to be Sub Inspector Bradsell, the Officer in Charge, rang up and stated that street fighting was going on out- side the Prince's Theatre. (N. B. (i) Prince's Thea- tre is situated at the junction of Nathan Road and Nullah Road. (ii) It is to be noted that this version differs slightly from that of Sub Inspector Bradsell given in entry No.30. Sub Inspector Brad- sell states that he only rang up the Senior Superin- tendent of Police, Kowloon, once to report that shells were falling in the district and that he had heard that the enemy were in the hills around Kow- loon surrounding our troops. The street fighting that took place around the Prince's Theatre was how- ever definitely reported by some officer from Mong Kok and both the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kowloon, and Chief Inspector Smith are under the impression that it was Sub Inspector Bradsell. It may however have been some other officer.)
A
Sub Inspector Brittain, in accordance with again previous instructions, shortly afterwards rang up but had no further information. He was informed by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kowloon, that he, (the S.S.P.K.) had been unable to get into touch with the Military, but that the enemy had been reported by Police to be in the vicinity of Sham Shui Po, Police Training School and Mong Kok. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Kowloon, told him to try and obtain definite information as to the true position. He asked if he should retire with the Military to which the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kowloon, assented.
Sub Inspector Brittain telephoned the Senior Super- intendent of Police, Kowloon, again in accordance with instructions. (Included also in entry No.31 above). The Senior Superintendent of Police, Kow- loon, had no further information regarding the position and he informed Sub Inspector Brittain he had been unable to get in touch with Brigade Headquarters. Sub Inspector Brittain was also told that Sham Shui Po and the Police Training School were reported as having been attacked and it was believed that the enemy had reached as far as the Alhambra Theatre. Sub Inspector Brittain stated that he did not think that the Japanese were the attackers. He was instructed to obtain further information. This took some time and when Sub Inspector Brittain returned to the telephone to
32.
Kowloon Bri- gade H.Q.
11.45