Introduction to Lynch Clan

My Lynch ancestors from Ireland came to America in 1848. The group included my Grandfather James Lynch and his five siblings, ages 10 to 18, who sailed without their parents to New York City. Soon they were living in a tenement house in Massachusetts working in a textile mill. From there they gradually migrated west. This blog will contain information gathered by my mother, Hazel Lynch Skonberg from her father, giving details of the trip over and life in America. There is also a diary written by his son, Will Lynch, who was with the American Consular Service of the State Department, and was taken hostage on Dec. 8, 1941, by the Japanese Army who had captured Shanghai that day. I hope you enjoy this blog about the James Lynch family in America.
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Monday, November 21, 2011

WR Lynch WW II Diary re Japanese Take-Over in Shanghai China. Days 72 and 73.

Shanghai, China, was a Cosmopolitan city that contained an International Settlement called "The Bund" before World War II.  It had been that way for years.  European countries settled in that area, in order to do business with China.  Areas also included embassies, etc.  Will Lynch speaks of the "French Settlement" and there were others for the U.S., British, German, etc., each with their own cultural customs.
Roselyn


February 17, 1942.  Tuesday.  72nd Day.
     Warmer but cloudy.
     Radio stated repatriation arrangements about OK'd., that we are to go via Portuguese East Africa ere long, but no definite time set.
     Mr. (Consul) Weil "threw" a cocktail party in his room 906 at 7:00-8:00 p.m.
     Owing to bombing terrorism in International Settlement, no passes are being issued by our "Captors", but to compensate for it our "restricted" district in the French Settlement has been enlarged, temporarily, I'm told.


February 18, 1942.  Wednesday, 73rd Day.
     Cloudy.  Not cold.
     Saw a Japanese van bearing WAKAMOTO (a sort of yeast) sign, going east on Joffre, emitting machine music of sorts.  Pamphlets were scattered.  Am told they were propaganda re Japanese victories.  Populace seemed indifferent.
     News now is that Japanese are pressing on.  
     We apparently can walk around the French Concession unrestricted.
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