16 Nov 1942, Barbara Anslow's diary

Submitted by Barbara Anslow on Thu, 03/08/2012 - 21:01

Mr V. Benwell and (Police) Dixie-Beale came back from x-ray.  Mr Benwell gave me two French books the Sisters at St Paul's gave him when he was there.

Mabel's pulse up so Dr. wouldn't let her out this evening.

News that Churchill had church bells rung in England because of victory in Egypt.
Mrs Drown played tonight, started with the 'V' sign, then church chimes because of victory.

I received a parcel! From  'Informal Welfare' - 1 tin pineapple, 1 tin paste, 1 tin of ginger, 1 tin beans. ((I've no idea what the 'informal welfare' was))

Sad to hear that Shamshuipo haven't received any Red Cross parcels yet.

Book / Document
Date(s) of events described

Comments

Geoff Emerson's thesis mentions the Informal Welfare Committee on page 99 - it was the 'legal' arm of Selwyn-Clarke's relief operation from the French Hospital.

The name got back to the UK and was used in a HK Fellowship report: http://gwulo.com/node/12779

I'm pretty sure it was the same body as one referred to in a 1943 BAAG document as the Internees' Welfare Committee (and I think I've also seen it called the International Welfare Committee). THe BAAG lists the members working under Selwyn-Clarke as Sykes, Drake, Kennedy-Skipton and Barry.

That would be intriguing! 

If your suggestion is correct then we have someone working for a Japanese propaganda news media whilst being simultaneously employed by the British. If you have documentary evidence to that effect then this would suggest he was a double agent or a mole.

I think Prof FS Drake was interned in Shanghai rather than HK but BAAG’s influence should extend to all POWs/civilian internees in occupied China.