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Visits to London, difficulties of the journey, air raids and the effects of war on the City; also concern over Consortium business and Japanese movements in the East and family matters, house and garden, reading and occasional concert visits.
JANUARY Sons Charles and Dick 'mentioned in despatches', 4; to Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC); troubled by the ill health of staff member E.J. Davies; problems with soldiers at Woodside; to Tunbridge Wells for Burns night speech; attends talks on government policy in China 'to encourage Chinese resistance in order to keep Japan out of the Pacific.' 29.
FEBRUARY Continued problems with soldiers; to Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), British and Chinese Corporation (B&C Corp.). and London University Court meetings; death of Davies.
MARCH Speaks to Tunbridge Wells Institute of Bankers on 'Post War Policies, Mercantile and Monetary'; notes improvement in St Felix school affairs and grave situation at the P&O with heavy shipping losses; ill with cold.
APRIL Recovery slow but attends Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and P&O meetings; more soldiers and evacuees arrive at Woodside.
MAY Attends Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), London University and British and Chinese Corporation (B&C Corp.). meetings; son Dick awarded Distinguished Service Order.
JUNE Notes excessive prices and shortages in London, 'This will bring the war home to people', 4; asked to remain on London University Court; meets sons Tom, 'The time for admonition and reproof is gone. We are in happy relation now of mutual affection & toleration', 6, and John, 'As one of Cadogan's private secretaries he is quietly making a reputation in the F.O.' 6.
JULY Attends meetings over Consortium quotas and discussions at the Foreign Office on the secondment there of Morrison of the British and Chinese Corporation (B&C Corp.). and works at the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) on a new Commission to Chungking; anxious over Japanese movements in the East.
AUGUST Meets V.K. Wellington Koo (Ku Wei-chun), former Chinese ambassador to the United States.
SEPTEMBER Continuing problems with evacuees; more talks at the Foreign Office on the future of Morrison.
OCTOBER Continuing work at the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) including correspondence with Grayburn and Morrison.
NOVEMBER Notes retirement of Barnes, 'We shall miss him', 3; departure of evacuees; sitting for portrait by David Holt; to P&O, 'The annual accounts make a fine show.' 27.
DECEMBER Wedding of son Dick, 9; to Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), P&O and London University Court meetings, 'City depressed', 10; St Felix Council, 'We are working at a loss', 12; notes Japanese advance in Hong Kong, 'disaster on disaster'. 19
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