Bailey’s Shipyard during the Occupation 1942-1945

Elizabeth Ride has sent a 1942 map and several WW2 BAAG reports about WS Bailey & Co, more usually known as Bailey’s Shipyard.

Elizabeth says, The Intelligence Summaries sent on nearly all the information brought to BAAG by their underground agents, but added their comments if they thought it sounded improbable.

HF: Where the original report is difficult to read I have retyped it.

Layout. [Map GSGS 3868, HK & NT 1/20,000. Ref: 22155750].

After hostilities.
“This plant was left intact. The 4000 ton slipway is being used for ship repairs. Two steel lighters and one steel towboat were under construction and are now being completed.”

During the Occupation.
“In November 1942, Japanese trawlers and small craft were being repaired.
Wooden ships are also being built, with oil-burning engines “using blow lamps” obtained from Japan.”

WIS #11 8.11.42
Repairing Japanese trawlers. They are also constructing wooden craft fitted with 15 H.P. Diesel engines. (Source: Engineer employed in the Yard Loft[?] 15/10/42)

WIS #12  12.11.42
Only small crafts and trawlers are being repaired in this dock (Source [illegible])

WIS #27  14.4.43

KWIZ #77  15.12.44

 

In April 1944 the yard employed 740 workmen, but the number decreased in July to 400. However, after the raid of 16 October 1944 on the Kowloon Docks the number was reported to have increased again.

“Bailey´s Shipyard in Tokwawan was reported in April 1944 to be controlled by the Kowloon Docks, but in July it was said to have been taken over by the Akatsuki 2491 Butai. Wooden vessels are built by this yard, which is also engaged in repairing small craft. Since the suspension of the outside source of electricity, an auxiliary ship´s engine has been used to generate power.”

A comment attached to the above report says,” Employment figures appear high in comparison to earlier reports.”

Conditions in Occupied HK, March 1945
“Bailey’s Shipyard in Tokwawan was reported in April 1944 to be controlled by the Kowloon Docks, but in July was said to have been taken over by the Akatsuki 2941 Butai.  Wooden vessels are built by this yard, which is also engaged in repairing small craft.  In April 1944 the yard employed 740 workmen, but the number decreased to 400 in July.  However, after the raid of 16th October 1944 on the Kowloon Docks, the number was reported to have increased again.  Since the suspension of the outside source of electricity, an auxiliary Ship’s engine has been used to generate power.”HF: This photo from 1949 shows a number of industrial concerns including CLP’s Hok Un power station bottom right, Green Island Cement with the smoking chimney, Bailey’s shipyard at the corner of the bay and Hongkong-China gasworks top right.

CLP’s Hok Un power station, bottom right Bailey’s Shipyard centre, left

This article was first posted on 26th June 2015.

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.elizabethridearchive.com/hong-kong-heritage-project

The Index contains many articles using BAAG reports from WW2. And about industry in HK during that time.

Related Indhhk articles:

1. Bailey’s Shipyard – 1908 Account
2. William Seybourne Bailey co-founder of Bailey’s Shipyard
3. E O Murphy, co-founder of Bailey’s Shipyard
4. Kowloon (HK & Whampoa) Dockyards during the Occupation 1942-45
5. Taikoo Dockyard during the Occupation 1942-1945