Diary+Entry+2 (CY)

December 6 For the last several months the British had been increasing defense in Hong Kong. It was said that Churchill at first refused to reinforce defense in Hong Kong. He even thought it wise to reduce it because to him Hong Kong was a dead horse: no matter how hard he beat it, there was no chance that it was going to survive from the Japanese attack. They decided to send the troops only to hold back the Japanese as long as possible and buy time for them to defend other parts of the Pacific. Their intention was not to save it, but simply delay the invasion. I am enraged by the idea that we are just pawns, used and disposed in their game, but we have no choice. Who do we have on our side except for the British who at least will make a futile attempt to fight against the Japanese?
 * December 6, 8 1941**

Troops not only from Britain, but also from India and Canada have been arriving. I think it was around November that I saw the Canadian troops arriving from this city called Winnipeg. There was a soldier marching in the back, and I saw that he was younger than me. When I saw him I realized how wrong all this was. The British have made only a half-hearted effort and so there weren’t enough men to defend Hong Kong, loss seemed inevitable, and yet there were men younger than me who were destined to fight, destined to die. When the day comes it would be a dreadful one, and the hour when the Japanese claim victory over the British would be the beginning of real bloodshed. We hope to evade, but we know too well that soon a scene of unspeakable cruelty will be laid before our eyes.

December 8 It began at eight when the Japanese flew in and struck Kai Tak airfield. Aircrafts including a number of civilian aircrafts were burned. Simultaneously, Island Brigade HQ was bombed. In no time the Japanese claimed air supremacy over the British. We were all under the deadly sky invaded by the Japanese, but we kept running. It was said that the initial plan was to defend along Sham Chun River line, but how could they with so little men? Instead they chose to defend along the Gin Drinkers Line. It was evident that we were heavily outnumbered against the Japanese, and no British sappers burning the bridges and tunnels were going to delay the Japanese for long. The battle continued on through the night, and the Japanese made significant inroads into its center. As I crouch here writing what I can in the midst of this chaos, I say that more than the bloodshed of the battle, it is the coming of our future humiliation and torture that I fear.