BAAG records of shipping in HK during 1944-45 – the Shoneito 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 and of godowns, docks etc that were being utilised.
The Shoneito (or Shoneishma) Maru was seen off Tsuen Wan on 21st August 1944 arriving from Hainan Island, China.
Arrived on 21st August 1944 from Hainan Island.
Inward cargo: 4,000lbs sulphur, 710 iron plates of various sizes, 720 straw bags of coal, 1 marine engine. This was discharged during 22nd-23rd August by 62 workers and taken to “the main godown, Naval Supply Depot, Naval Dockyard, and Kowloon Docks.”
Departed on 25th August 1944 for Shanghai.
Outward cargo: 600 bags of grain sugar, 400 bags of cotton yarn, 820 gunny bags of wolfram ore, loaded by 72 workmen on 24th August at Tsuen Wan.
Supplementary information: The only wolfram/tungsten mine in Hong Kong at that time was Needle Hill. See our article about the mine during this period linked below in related articles.
An image of this ship would be helpful.
This article was first posted on 5th June 2016.
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
Related Indhhk articles:
This is almost certainly Shokei Maru 昭慶丸 built 1938, 2557 tons that departed Sana, Hainan Is 18 August 1944 and arrived Hong Kong on 21 August as correctly reported. The ship left Hong Kong on 30 August for Mako and thence Shanghai. The discrepancy between 25 Aug and 30 Aug can easily be explained by the ship waiting in the outer roadstead for a escort, although I have no record of any escort.
The length of the ship was 281′ not 360′ but the rest of the description appears accurate.