bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Annemarie Evans

It's a cool and blustery day. Daphne Sewell Erasmus  wanders around the grounds of St Stephen's College  with her teenage granddaughter, Hannah. The walk brings back many memories for Erasmus, 76 , not of carefree school days but of her family's struggle to survive as wartime detainees - the college buildings served as part of the civilian internment camp under Japanese occupation.
Erasmus was among 26  people from around the world who visited the college and cemetery in Stanley earlier this month to mark the 70th anniversary of the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. Local historian Geoffrey Emerson  organised the week-long programme as a commemorative event but it may be the last chance to visit for some ageing members of the group. 
While some visitors came to honour their parents, about a third, like Erasmus, were former internees. Their trip can't be entirely be  classed as a reunion. Some were  just babies and toddlers when they were in Stanley.They were so young, they don't remember one another.
 But some memories remain vivid to Erasmus: the sight of young Canadian soldiers sweltering in heavy uniforms, and the screams of a man being beaten to death on The Peak, for instance. 
Her father, William Sewell, was a Quaker missionary teaching in Chengdu when war broke out. She and her family had been living in California at the time but flew to Hong Kong to reunite with him.  The day after they landed, 30,000 Japanese soldiers swarmed across the border. 
'I think we were about the last plane to arrive in Kowloon on December 7, 1941,' Erasmus says. 'The next morning, while we were having breakfast, we heard gunfire. That was the Japanese arriving.'
 Later they were forced to flee the house under cover of darkness. 'In the middle of the night, my youngest brother lost his shoe and we had to wait. My sister kept lagging behind. It was a dreadful experience,' Erasmus recalls.
When they found shelter in another house, the sounds of fighting stopped. It was quiet and they could hear the birds again. The battle had ended.
By the time her family arrived at Stanley, the camp had been established. Committees had been set up to maintain order within the civilian community that sometimes swelled to 3,000 people. 
Her family was able to bring some of their belongings, but other internees went in with nothing. All were forced to share limited accomodation.
'We had to move into a room where we were made to feel very unwelcome because they had to make space for us,' Erasmus says.
Some 30 people squeezed into one bungalow, says Bernice Archer, a British academic and author of The Internment of Western Civilians under the Japanese 1941-1945.  
The lack of privacy in such cramped accomodation was a particular strain for many women, says Archer, whose research was sparked by conversations with a neighbour in Bristol who had been interned in Stanley. 
Although she was just six years old at the time, Erasmus was aware that people were being executed by the Japanese - some for having a banned radio, others for listening to outside broadcasts. 
'We were very aware of the executions as children. You had men walking around with swords and fixed bayonets on their rifles,'  she says.
'My parents, being Quakers, believe that there is something good in everybody. They never taught us to hate, but they couldn't hide their anxieties from us.' 
The youngsters did find moments of happiness at Stanley. Archer met a number of former child internees who recalled the camp as a place where they could run around freely and play with other children. One woman, for instance, described how they made their own fun when it was wet. She would slide down muddy slopes and boys would throw mud bombs at each other.
Erasmus, too, recalls  playing on swings, and attending a couple of hours of lessons on some days.  
Forty-six babies were delivered in Stanley during the time it served as an internment camp, 22 of which had been expected before the war.  But in 1943, there was a sudden surge in births, including that of Brooke Himsworth.  
The baby boom was due mainly to talk that the Japanese military was planning to release mothers and children and send them to Australia, says Himsworth, who now lives in Cumbria, England. As the men had to stay behind, some couples decided to try and conceive, thinking it might be their last chance to have children. 
As it turned out, the order for release did not materialise and civilian leaders had to issue a notice begging people to stop having babies. The extra mouths posed a severe strain on limited resources.
Food was scarce and malnutrition brought problems caused by an impaired immune system. Internees became swollen with beriberi  because of vitamin B deficiency, and minor cuts became potentially life-threatening wounds if infected.
Donald Ady,  the son of an American missionary, was nine when he entered the camp with  his family in 1942. They were repatriated within six months as  part of a prisoner swap, but the  food shortage had already affected their health.
 'I remember sometimes being very tired when I climbed steps owing to the malnutrition,' says Ady, now 79. 
For Erasmus, life in the Stanley camp was one of constant hunger.  They had rice, but it was the lowest quality grain, gleaned from the  holds of ships and shot through  with cockroach droppings. 'There was never enough food;  you had to make sure everything was very carefully portioned out,' she says. 'Even now, I'm very  careful never to throw food away.' 
Some Stanley children had fathers who were held in  prisoner-of-war camps because they had served in the military or the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (Volunteers).  Although prisoners managed to sneak messages to each other during the war, separated families often did not know if other members were alive. 
But their reunion with their fathers was often not a Hollywood ending. The cruel truth is that most child internees had little recollection of their fathers and often resented their presence. 
Barbara Laidlow took several years to get to know the father she hardly knew. After the surrender, she was taken in a truck to meet  him at Sham Shui Po camp. 
'I can remember my father caressing my mother and I didn't like that at all,' says Laidlow, now 68. 'It took me years to know my dad. He was a lovely man, of course, but there were difficulties.'
Another former child internee, Laura Darnell, had a similar experience. Although she was interned with her mother and five siblings for six months, it was three years before they saw her father again and the reunion was difficult.
'I didn't know him,' says Darnell, who now lives near Las Vegas. 'Here was my mum, and he was an interloper.'
Yet some of the visiting former internees have formed greater emotional link than even Emerson may have anticipated.
Laidlow, an Australian, hadn't met fellow baby internee Alan Weir, a Briton, until this Hong Kong visit. But his parents became her godparents because of the shared Stanley experience.  
'It's a terrific bond thing,' she says. 'I keep bursting into tears every five minutes. 
'We've asked Geoff if we can have a time at the end where we are all able to share and express what we are feeling.' 
Laidlow also recently discovered that her mother may have faced torture in the camp. She already knew that Japanese soldiers had placed wax tapers under her mother's nails and burned them. But new information suggests there was more torment. 'We don't really know, it's sort of a closure  we need,' she says. Her mother died in 2001. 
For Erasmus, the return to Stanley is recognition of how the experience has shaped her.
'I love coming to Stanley. it was a part of my life and it  makes me feel empathy for children [in similar situations],' she says. 
'Often people don't know anything about the past. It's good to know about the past, but here we have the future,' she say, pointing to her granddaughter. 'It's lovely.'



Written in the scars