BAAG records of shipping in HK during 1944-45 – the Yushuto (Yushushima) 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 Yushuto (Yushushima), a cargo ship, was seen on 14 August 1944

Arrived on 13 August 1944 from Formosa

Inward cargo: 1,600 straw bags of coal, 700 cyclinders of gas, 2,860 kerosene tins of calcium carbide, 12 coils of rubber covered wire, 860 bags of rice, also sugar, flour and other sundry foodstuffs. Discharged during 14-16 Aug and stored in Kowloon Godown, China Provident Godown, Naval Supply Depot Kowloon, Naval Depot No.2 Godown.

Departed on 19 August 1944 for Singapore

Outward cargo: 4 4″ A.A. guns, 10 coils of wire. Taken from Keipitai Dept and loaded by 35 Japanese workers on 18 Aug.

Outward passengers: 472 Chinese workers newly recruited in HK (including iron smiths, carpenters, electricians, fitters) embarked on 19 Aug to work on the Naval Base Singapore

An image of this ship would be helpful.