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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
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restnctions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet. Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the Nationa! Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright
5.
(14). During the early afternoon I informed Mr. Calthrop of the Police Department that I could no longer guarantee the effective transport of Police from Kowloon, It appeared to me that as the Kowloon Police were to bear an integral part in the defence of the Island it was essential that under no circumstances should they be left in Kowloon. Ferries were placed at his disposal alongside the Godown Company's Piers and they were moved over to HongKong during the afternoon.
Note. This action was taken after the most careful consideration, and any criticism can only arise out of an imperfect knowledge of prevailing conditions.
(15). The "W.M". Scheme became operative during the dark hours and, on completion, I arranged patrols off the eastern end of the Peninsular to pick up such stragglers who were successful in making their way to the waterfront. (16). Parties of Indian troops were brought over in the last vehicular ferry and No.1 Pokce Launch.
Friday, 12th December, 1941.
A.M.
(1). The work of feeding between three and four hundred Chinese seamen from food stocks held in the Harbour Office proceeded satisfactorily under the supervision of Messrs. D.G. Cairns, Hillyer, Roskruge and Edge. (2). I was informed by the Military Authorities that two ferries were reported as lying alongside the Godown Company's Piers. Although this seemed extremely unlikely I detailed Messrs. Dickson and Long to cross the harbour in one of the smaller ferries and tow over the two said to be remaining on the Kowloon side. There was no ferry but the two officers towed over a large launch under fire and proceeded over to Hong Kong. They would have crossed again had I not issued orders to the contrary. Crossing to HongKong for the second time they picked up the survivors from an R.A.F. motor boat who had been subject to machine gun attack from the air. (3). During the course of the day I received a request from the P.W.D. to arrange for the transport of approximately eight to nine tons of dynamite from Green Island Magazine. P.M. (4). The details in connection with the supply of dynamite were discussed and arranged with the Military Staff, and it was decided that a suitable craft (S.L. "Jeanette") towing two large wooden lifeboats (painted grey) should leave Blake Pier at 1900 hours arriving Green Island at 2000 hours. The departure from the Island was scheduled for 2400 hours and return to Blake Pier at 0100 hours (13th). Volunteers were called for about 1700 hours, and road transport details considered and arranged. The party selected comprised Messrs. Hunter, Dickson, Kossick, Stephens and Clarke of the Harbour Department and Sub-Inspector Hudson of the Police together with thirty labourers supplied by Messrs. Wang Kee (Stevedores, etc). ure from Blake Pier Messrs. Buchanan and Buttress of the P.W.D.
Shortly before the depart- f and Sergeant Donaghue of the Police joined the launch these
officers, strictly speaking, were concerned only with the road transport of the explosives. The launch arrived Green Island at 2000 hours and Mr. Hunter reported at approximately 2105 hours that due to the willing labour, etc., all explosives had been loaded and he was ready to return. The danger of keeping dynamite in the open, and alongside a magazine, was considered and I communicated with the Military Authorities who agreed that the tug should leave Green Island at 2200 hours and arrive Blake Pier at 2300 hours. The tug blew up at 2258 hours while passing the vehicular ferry pier, and the entire party was lost.
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