| Description | The collection includes five completed printed Letts Indian and Colonial Rough Diary volumes, 1920-1921, 1923-1925, plus one covering January to April 1926, a bundle of newspaper cuttings by 'Mariner' and about H E Hillman from English language Chinese newspapers, two maps of Hong Kong, and a typescript account, extracted from his diary, of events around the fighting at Shanghai 12 August-25 August 1937.
The diaries are principally composed of details of the leisure activities of H E Hillman and his wife Minnie, plus daily weather reports. Regular leisure activities included golf, tennis, croquet, card games, walking, driving, dancing and visiting the cinema and theatre. Although there are many references to Hillman having been 'at the office', he provides very little detail concerning his work duties. Personal information noted includes illnesses and occasional correspondence with his daughter. Some significant events are noted in detail such as the arrival of the French, American and British around the world flight crews in 1924, and the violence of the Shanghai 'Crisis of 1924-25'. |
| Admin History | Henry Eilbeck Hillman (1874-1957), Captain in the Royal Navy, joined HMS Firebrand in 1896 where he first saw service in China on HMS Firebrand, HMS Number and HMS Woodlark on which he was Lieutenant in Command. In 1906 he retired from the Navy and subsequently enjoyed a 28 year career as Coast Inspector in the Chinese Maritime Customs Department. As 'Mariner', he contributed articles to the 'North China Daily News' and other local (English language) newspapers between 1934 and 1938. |