38
G. C. EMERSON
among them were many connected with the medical profession including 40 doctors, two dentists, one biologist, six pharmacists, 100 nurses and six masseuses, as well as a number of auxiliary nurses. The personnel, however, were far more adequate than the equipment. Very little medical equipment or supplies were provided by the Japanese, but the internees were able to set up a hospital of sorts, called Tweed Bay Hospital. Most illnesses concerned disorders of the alimentary tract, including bacillary dysentery. Other common illnesses included typhoid, tuberculosis, typhus, malaria, beriberi and pellagra. Only one serious case of mental disorder occurred. Surprisingly few died in Camp — approximately 120 – and the majority of these were older people or people suffering from diseases before internment. There were a few accidental deaths, including two who died in falls and a child who drowned. The worst accident during internment was the bombing of Bungalow C at St. Stephen's College on 16th January 1945, by an American aeroplane probably attempting to destroy a Japanese boat in Stanley Bay. The plane flew low over the camp and released its bomb too soon. Fourteen internees were killed.
Likely you may be wondering about escapes from camp. Many if not most internees thought about escaping but few actually tried. The difficulties were great, including getting through Japanese-occupied territory, finding food, and coping with languages (few internees spoke Cantonese, let alone any dialects of the area). In spite of such difficulties, there were three major escapes, two of which were successful in March 1942. One group of eight obtained a small boat and sailed to Macau; the other, two persons, went through the New Territories into China. As a result, the Japanese instituted stricter controls, including a curfew, more guards, additional barbed wire, and two roll-calls each day. In April 1942, four policemen escaped but were caught within a few miles of camp. After several weeks in prison, they were returned to Camp. The fact that attempts to escape were so few, considering there were nearly 3000 internees, might be explained by several factors. The possibility of repatriation was always present, many internees were either too old or were parents with children in Camp, and everyone was aware that retaliatory measures would be taken against those left behind.
One question almost all internees were asked after the war was, "what did you do all day?”. Actually, most people kept quite busy.
38
G. C. EMERSON
among them were many connected with the medical profession including 40 doctors, two dentists, one biologist, six pharmacists, 100 nurses and six masseuses, as well as a number of auxiliary nurses. The personnel, however, were far more adequate than the equipment. Very little medical equipment or supplies were provided by the Japanese, but the internees were able to set up a hospital of sorts, called Tweed Bay Hospital. Most illnesses concerned disor- ders of the alimentary tract, including bacillary dysentary. Other common illnesses included typhoid, tuberculosis, typhus, malaria, beriberi and pellagra. Only one serious case of mental disorder occurred. Surprisingly few died in Camp — approximately 120 – and the majority of these were older people or people suffering from diseases before internment. There were a few accidental deaths, including two who died in falls and a child who drowned. The worst accident during internment was the bombing of Bungalow C at St. Stephen's College on 16th January 1945, by an American aeroplane probably attempting to destroy a Japanese boat in Stanley Bay. The plane flew low over the camp and released its bomb too soon. Fourteen internees were killed.
Likely you may be wondering about escapes from camp. Many if not most internees thought about escaping but few actually tried. The difficulties were great, including getting through Japanese- occupied territory, finding food, and coping with languages (few internees spoke Cantonese, let alone any dialects of the area). In spite of such difficulties, there were three major escapes, two of which were successful in March 1942. One group of eight obtained a small boat and sailed to Macau; the other, two persons, went through the new Territories into China. As a result, the Japanese instituted stricter controls, including a curfew, more guards, addi- tional barbed wire, and two rollcalls each day. In April 1942, four policemen escaped but were caught within a few miles of camp. After several weeks in prison, they were returned to Camp. The fact that attempts to escape were so few, considering there were nearly 3000 internees, might be explained by several factors. The possibility of repatriation was always present, many internees were either too old or were parents with children in Camp, and everyone was aware that retaliatory measures would be taken against those left behind.
One question almost all internees were asked after the war was, "what did you do all day?”. Actually, most people kept quite busy.
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