Today's date is given by some sources for the arrest of Thomas Monaghan, Patrick Joy and Gerald Casey. See May 24, 1943 for an account of these arrests - I believe the weight of evdience suggests that was the correct date.
Diary pages from this date
My big news this week is that I have heard about you dearest. On Monday I received a letter from Walter dated 26th June 1942 in which he said they had been in regular and frequent communication with you. He said 'you have been a brave we wife so don't worry, she is keeping her end up' and for these words I am very grateful and greatly heartened. It is really cheery. All I hope now is that a letter will come from you soon.
All of us are very hopeful that the Canadian mail bag is now open as J.F. received one from Mrs F dates April 42 and also Simmons of the Tramways and Harry Butler of the Treasury ((probably H R Butters)) and on Tuesday Bill Buchannan got a cable but no date given. The letters are all in town all right, but the Japs way of censoring is very slow. However there is a new man Lectore ((???)) in charge and he is evidently more interested in us than his predecessor was and is gearing things up a bit so that a small parcel of letters have come in here every day this week.
Craig and I took Hugh Smith to the Tweed Bay Hospital on Saturday. He is suffering fever and tachycardia, he hasn't been well all week, but I think he'll soon recover and be fit again, his girl friend Margaret Black is a Sister at the hospital so that should make his stay in hospital a pleasure.
Then I went to a meeting of the bowlers, we are putting in a team from the rations, Anderson ((not sure which one)) is very keen on it and tho' there are only three old bowlers amongst us and the rest are only novices, all are anxious that the Quarter Masters' staff and rations party should be represented.
At night D.B.B. and I were down at J.F.s' for a cup of instant postain and a biscuit and our usual yarn. J.F., D.B.B. and I most nights have been going for a walk round the camp and a sit on the rocks on hillside near to the Leprosarium. We yarn and watch the parade going round. We have nicknames for a lot of people, the ghost train, the bicycle.
The school children are on Easter holidays but it has made no difference to the noise for rehearsals go on all the time. John Masefield passion play 'Good Friday' was given on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. J.F. and I went on Thursday night and it was very good and well acted.
We are now able to buy eggs, bananas and oranges in limited quantities and of course as far as our pocket money will go, but a fried egg in place of fish soup is a real treat and a banana on our tongue is OTT.
Football - SS 'B' (Champs) v. The Rest
Presentation of shields
Issue of 4 May Blossom
Masefields's "Good Friday"
(Black-out-lights out 10pm)
Home. Weight 113 lb at month's end.
I didn't write any more on Thursday - chow was a little early and then I had a meeting. Yesterday was Good Friday and we had a holiday from Councils and Committees but I was lazy! - I went to bed very early last night, had the light out at 10 and was soon asleep. I haven't been sleeping well lately - it's funny I sleep so much better when it's cold weather. But last night I had a glorious sleep. I wakened - fully slept out - about 6.40 - 9.40pm on Good Friday with you and lay thinking of you till the kettle boiled for tea. I wonder if you were thinking of me then!
Now for your letter. He was a wise man that young officer in Joy's office who said you should get right home. I am so grateful to him and to Weisberg too. How interesting meeting McElderry and Nihill. It was decent of "Boyd" to cash you a cheque. So T.D.F. calls now and then - "Be careful Baby!"
Surely they'll let Joy start her medical course - she was amusing in her letter about Dr Carse, the Physics lecturer. I hope you were able to get her away for a holiday though Edinburgh air would do you all good too. You might have tried sending her to Coul at Aberfeldy - even just the two of them if you couldn't leave Grannie. Joy tells me Norman is "a thing of the past" - jilted her first love!!
You don't tell me how Grannie is - perhaps you have in an earlier letter - I wish I knew. So Joy and Alastair Batchelor have chummed up again - he's a nice boy I think.
Ian has a busy day - he must enjoy tennis after all the practice he had in Singapore.
I always think of you about 4p.m. - getting up as you say at 7am. You'll have a busy day always I'm sure. I hope you have a decent daily maid. I was so glad to read "we have enough of everything."
I have come to the conclusion that Pam is Miss Harrop - I don't know of anyone else who got away to whom I told that I thought you might go to Alice in India.
Joy tells me Reese is in Shetland and she expected him on leave soon. Is she fond of him?
Thank Joy for her letter - it was lovely getting it. We have no news here - we think the African campaign must be over or nearly over now. - that should have a very good effect everywhere. It is rumoured too that we have captured Pantaleria and landed at Palermo in Sicily. So perhaps we are making good progress now.
It is lovely weather here now - warm but not hot yet.
All my love Billie.