Date.
District.
39.
Eastern.
40.
Upper Levels.
41.
Upper Levels.
20.12.41.
1.
Police H. Q. & Central.
Eastern.
Hong Kong.
4.
Hong Kong Traf-
fic Office.
5.
Upper Levels.
Time.
43.
20. 12. 41
581
Constables in Sub Inspector Taylor's party had re treated rapidly leaving the Europeans when the firing commenced but returned about twenty minute later. The Military party under Sergeant Gilham was located in Arsenel Street. They reported thai they had been attacked by cavalry. Sub Inspector Taylor proceeded to Command Headquarters and made a report as to the situation. He then went to Police Headquarters as he had earlier attempted to telephone No.2 Station and failed to obtain an answer. P. 5. A.40 Youe was in charge of the simi- lar Lewis gun and riflemen party at the Lee Theatre The nearest machine gun team provided by the Middle sex in charge of Sergeant Gilham was located in Percival Street near Russel Street. This Sergeant had arranged with Sergeant Youe that Police should retire if they heard three blasts of the whistle. The arranged signal was later sounded, presumably by Sergeant Gilham when he thought he was being attacked by cavalry, and the Police team according- ly retired slowly to No. 2 Station.
-
22.00 Police evacuated the Station owing to one of the
to Lewis Gun sections returning and reporting that they 23.00 had heard a whistle signal, previously arranged with
Sgt. Gilham of the Middlesex, that the enemy had broken through. Mr. Fay, Assistant Superintendent of Police, in the absence of Mr. Heath, Assistant Superintendent of Police, out on duty, tried to telephone Col. Stewart and the Commissioner of Police but failed so evacuation took place. From the Gloucester Hotel however the Military were contacted and the alleged break through was found to be incor- rect and Sergeant Gilham's and the Police's with- drawal had been premature. Messrs. Heath and Fay, Assistant Superintendents of Police, with about ten Europeans thereupon returned to Wanchai and carried out a water front patrol during the night.
22.15 A report was made that signalling was taking place
from a roof of a house in Lower Lascar Road near Ladder Street. A Police search was made under Mr. Wright Nooth, Assistant Superintendent of Police, without result.
23.00 The Demolition Depot at Oaklands Path reported that
several shots had been fired at the depot coming from the direction of Centre Street. A Police search under Mr. Wright Nooth, Assistant Superinten- dent of Police, was made without result and a Police guard was left for the night.
00.15 The General Alarm was sounded as the result of a
rumoured threathened attack by the enemy or Fifth Columnists. After some hours the men were per- mitted to stand down apart from reinforced sentry posts as no incident occurred.
08.00 No.2 Station was reoccupied by Police. Heavy shel- ling was experienced with hits on the Station. The bombing of the district continued.
09.15 General air raids began.
On the request of Mr. Calthrop, Senior Superinten- dent of Police, on or about this date the Traffic Inspector Hong Kong took over control of the Dis- patch Riders, provided by Police Reserve Flying Squad, based at Police Headquarters.
The Station came under trench mortar fire. Three shells fell in front of the Station and one hit a chimney.