BAAG records of shipping in HK during 1944-45 – the Nichiko (Hinokaori) Maru
Elizabeth Ride has sent British Army Aid Group (BAAG) records of shipping movements in Hong Kong in 1944-45 during the Japanese occupation in World War Two.
These provide information not only about the ships themselves but what cargo was being brought into and out of Hong Kong during the latter stages of WW2, passengers carried, and of godowns, docks etc that were being utilised.
The Nichiko (Hinokaori) Maru was seen on 4th August 1944.
Arrived on 4th August 1944.
Inward cargo: 1,700 oxygen cylinders, 640 bags of coal, 40 drums of lubricating oil, 6 coils of rubber covered electric wire, 40 bags of heat absorbing cloth, 472 bags of rice, 700 lbs of tobacco.
Departed on 12th August 1944 for Singapore.
Outward cargo: none mentioned.
Outward passengers: 34 Japanese technicians – “mostly Korean carpenters and mechanics” – transferred from Canton to Singapore No.2 Naval Working Department (Naval Dock).
An image of this ship would be helpful.
Further information:
- For general information about the Elizabeth Ride collection, her father Sir Lindsay Ride, and the British Army Aid group during WW2 a very useful introduction is through http://gwulo.com/node/13968
- The BAAG papers are kept at the Hong Kong Heritage Project https://www.hongkongheritage.org/Pages/FindingAids/LibraryCollection/Elizabeth_M_Ride_Collection.aspx
The ship with the closest name to the above was transport 日春丸
Nisshun Maru (41, 6380) but this ship had been sunk the year before. 立春丸
Risshun Maru (06, 4440) is a possibility but this ship was known to be en route to Manila in convoy MI-13 at the time.
A ship called 日光丸 Nikko Maru (03, 5057) was in the area at the time but was not bound for Singapore. The ship left Kirun (Keelung) on 20 August for Moji in convoy TAMO-23. It is possible that the kanji suffix in the name has been wrongly recorded.