FO371-46258 — Page 139

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SECRET.

Subject: WAR DIARY 29th AUGUST TO 16th SEPTEMBER, 1945.

From:

THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, HONGKONG.

Date:

6th October, 1945.

No. C. IN C. HONGKONG 5/67/3.

To:

THE SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY.

(Copy to: The Commander-in-Chief, British Pacific Fleet).

128

Be pleased to lay before Their Lordships the following diary of events in my command for the period 29th August to 16th September, 1945:-

29th August.

At daybreak on 29th August, Task Group 111.2 (INDOMITABIE (Flag), VENERABLE, SWIFTSURE, EURYALUS, MAIDSTONE, IRINCE ROBERT, KEMPENFELT, WHIRLWIND, URSA, QUADRANT, 8th Submarine Flotilla and six Australian Minesweepers) arrived off Hongkong. INDOMITABIE flew off a reconnaissance flight of Hellcats in command of Acting Commander P.D. Gick, DSC, RN. They met no opposition over Hongkong and eventually flew low over Kai Tak aerodrome and dropped message bags which had been prepared, telling the Japanese Commander that he was either to send out an officer in a ship to meet me or else I would send an aircraft to bring off his representatives. He was also given a frequency on which to communicate with me by wireless. Radio connection was established shortly afterwards. The reconnaissance flight also flew over other parts of the colony and the occupants of the Prisoner of War camps showed their enthusiasm over our arrival by wild waving.

He said,

2. The Japanese Commander passed me some scanty information conceming mines by W/T and also acknowledge the message dropped in the bags. however, that he could not make arrangements for surrender as the senior officer commanding the area, Lieutenant General Tanaka, was in Canton. I informed him that he was to tell General Tanaka that I intended to enter Hongkong and occupy the Naval Dockyard on 30th August.

3. At daybreak on 29th August, Task Group 111.2 was joined by Task Group 111.4 comprised of ANSON (Flag), TYRIAN and TUSCAN under the command of Rear Admiral Daniel, who was instructed to place himself under my command.

\

4. A CAP of twelve fighters was kept up all day in case the Japanese attempted suicide attacks on the force. At about 1600 a message was received from the Japanese Commander that Commander D.H. S. Craven, RN, who had been King's Harbour Master before the Japanese occupation, wished to come off to see me and requested an aircraft be sent. Consequently, an Avenger was flown off with an escort of Hellcats, but on landing at Kai Tak it burst a tyre. The Japanese were docile and obliging and when another Avenger arrived with a spare wheel they eagerly helped to change it. When the aircraft returned they brought with them not only Commander Craven, but also a Japanese representative of the Foreign Relations Department, Mr. Makimura, dressed as an officer complete with sanuari sword.

He was interviewed by Captain J.A.S. Eccles, CBE, RN, my Flag Captain, who gave him my detailed instructions to the Japanese Commander of what was required of him. He was then flown off again in an Avenger. By this time, however, the weather had closed in over Hongkong and the Avenger failed to fine Kai Tak. By this time it was getting dark and the aircraft failed to find its way back to INDOMITABLE and finally had to crash-land in Chinese Communist Territory, the only damage being a bent propeller. On seeing the aircraft land, representatives of the Chinese Communists came to make inquiries especially about the Japanese envoy. To protect him they were told that he was a prisoner but the Communists could not understand why we kept him

prisoner and did not cut his throat!

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The following/

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