Before The Japaneses Occupation 1940 -Notes from Brother Patrick's Diary

3.9.39	Heard over the radio “England is at war with Germany”. Mr Chamberlain’s speech announced the reasons. He ended up with “ God bless you all and may Heaven defend the right”
5.9.1939	First British ship – The Athenia, Donaldson was torpedoed off the Aebrdos. Four hundred were lost. (Fm http://members.iinet.net.au/~gduncan/maritime-1.html : ATHENIA (September 3, 1939) The first civilian casualty of World War II, the Cunard passenger liner Athenia of 13,581 tons, (chartered from the Anchor Donaldson Line) was sunk without warning west of Scotland by the German submarine U-30 (Oblt. Fritz-Julius Lemp) on the opening day of the Second World War, the captain believing it to be an armed merchant cruiser. The ship was carrying evacuees from Liverpool to Canada. There were 1,103 passengers not including crewmembers. Survivors were rescued by the British destroyers Electra, Escort and Fame and the freighters City of Flint the yacht Southern Cross and the Norwegian tanker Knute Nelson which brought its survivors to Galway. In all, 118 passengers were drowned. Also on board were 316 Americans of whom 28 were lost. Oblt. Lemp was never court-martialled for this error but next day Hitler ordered that under no circumstances were attacks to be made on passenger ships. The City of Flint (4,963 tons) was later torpedoed (on January 25, 1943) with the loss of seven lives. On May 9, 1941, Oblt. Fritz Lemp and fifteen of his crew were lost when the U-boat he then commanded, the U-110, was captured. This was the most important prize of the war. She was carrying the much sought after Enigma  machine which helped Britain to break the top secret German  military codes.)
5.7. 1940	Two officers from Penang visited the school to inspect the accommodation in view of occupation by Australian troops whenever they should arrive. They were satisfied with the ground and first floor but we proposed the new wing which was accepted graciously. The tuck-shop and OMA are to serve as kitchen & dinning apartments.
9.8.40	Received a note from the Sec to BR enclosing a proclamation from Mr Rea, BR to the effect that St Michael’s was to be requisitioned from Sept from 1st Sept
28.8.40	The Br.  Resident revealed his proclamation stating that the date of arrival of troops was indefinite.
5.9.40	The secretary to the BR wrote stating that orders from the Military HQ Singapore were received to the effect that immediate preparation should be made at St Michaels’ for occupation of the troops.
7.9.40	Mr. Hicks Head Master Anderson School phoned to tell me that he had received message from Mr O. Sullivan I of S Perak to the effect that he has information from Military H.Q S’pore saying that the troops were not to come before another month.
9.9.40	There were many rumours about occupation of the school by the military and that consequently there would be no re-opening. Many phone inquiries were made
22.9.40	Mr Pitt. Director of Engineering stores accompanied by an officer came to inspect the preparations for military occupation. The officer informed me that the school would probably not be needed now. He thanked me very much for the help and facilities we had offered. However, he requested the use of our playing fields for games to which I very willingly acceded.

"It is indeed sorrowful to note that when the Japanese swept through Ipoh on 28^th December 1941 and the school premises were occupied, destruction of the laboratory even while it was blooming with vigour of youth was a foregone conclusion. But the Science Department was not to be cheated of its labours and endeavours: and the courage and fidelity of the Brothers especially of Rev Bro. Rupert has much to be commended in this respect. Risking much and running many hazards. Rev. Bro. Rupert, after interviewing many a haughty Japanese officers, managed, with the help of a few Brothers and loyal boys of the school, to remove most of the science laboratory equipment to safer quarters in the parish priest's  house, resorting even to hand-carts which Rev. Bro Rupert had to push along the streets. In many instances, Rev. Bro. Rupert had to dismantle the various fittings  e.g. electrical fittings and pipings himself. The bigger articles in the form of furniture, etc, found harbour in the homes of the boys and friends of the school. All this had to be done gradually and it was not until March 1942 that most of the school laboratory’s equipment was salvaged: and in a small out-house, 10 ft sq in the Church compound. Rev. Bro. Rupert set up his laboratory by the kindness of Father Francois, the parish priest. Instruction in science was then given to several boys in spite of the fact that the Japanese might swoop down on them at any time. This, however did not continue throughout the Japanese occupation."

( Diary entry by Bro Patrick)