Stanley postponed, thanks to D.M.S. (Dr P.S. Selwyn-Clarke). Froggish throat.
Really grand filling meal tonight - liver; then jam sauce pudding.
Arthur's birthday, therefore bread and jam from Tony.
Letter from Mum - she has been ill, but better now. ((This was probably reaction to the ordeal at the Jockey Club Hospital.))
Things change for the nurses at Bowen Road Military Hospital:
Up until about Jan. 18th, we were allowed to go out into the town provided we got permission from the matron and had one of our two men escort us. We ((presumably the writer Anna Waters and the other Canadian nurse, Kay Christie)) only went out once. On Sunday, Jan. 11th, we walked up to the War Memorial Hospital to visit one of our officers.
After Jan. 18th, Jap guards were put on the gates. Barbed wire was put up around the hospital grounds. Some time later it was electrified. The guards used to wander around the hospital any time during the day or night but we didn't have any trouble with them.
Source:
Report by Miss Anna May Waters Nurse with the Canadian Forces at Hong Kong, as given on board the MS Gripsholm, November 1943, points 43-44
I went up the Peak today to contact the No.1 in the B.A.T. ((British American Tobacco)) - I got some cigarettes for my men. Players are 60 cents for 10 now and I want them to keep such little money as they still have for food. I heard some cigs were sent to the internees (civilians) and I considered that my men who are still working deserved them much more. Our house is still all right - not into the hot room yet - but 4 people are living in it. Miss Kelly!! - a Mrs Priestwood, Moss Supt of Kai Tak and another man.
They are a protection so I don't mind - in fact I got out some old cushions and curtains for them. I hear from the Insp i/c of the SD Garage that they found my car today and are going to pinch it tomorrow. I can do nothing. Well Darling it is getting dark now so I'll stop. [torn page, missing word] My love always. B.
Special job. Colder.
The convent of St. Albert , Hong Kong , had been previously converted into a hospital by the Royal Army Medical Corps . On January 18 , 1942 this hospital was commanded by a lieutenant colonel , R.A.M.C. and it also accommodated the Commanding Officer and medical staff of the Tung Wah Hospital which had been evacuated a few days before .
On their arrival , the staff and patients from the Royal Naval Hospital , Hong Kong , were given a most cordial reception and everything possible was done to assist them . Part of the second and third floors of the hospital were set aside for their accommodation .
The Navy put its equipment and food supplies into the communal store and , in the words of the P.M.O .:
' During our stay at St. Albert's , we received far more from this store than we had ever put into it . '
From the day of their arrival at St. Albert's Convent , the naval medical officers and nursing staff from the Royal Naval Hospital , Hong Kong , were required by the Japanese to be constantly at twenty - four hours ' notice to move elsewhere . This made their lives extremely uncertain , particularly as regards food for the future as , by this time , it was well realised that in the months or even years ahead food might mean ultimate survival . The Principal Medical Officer has stated :
' As always , securing food was one of our constant preoccupations for we never knew when we should be leaving or what we should be allowed to take with us . It was very difficult to plan our rations under such circumstances . '
During the period at St. Albert's Convent , the Principal Medical Officer himself showed some degree of reduced physical health which is hardly surprising considering the strain which he had undergone . He developed four separate whitlows , two on each hand , which finally had to be incised by one of his naval colleagues .
On February 24 , 1942 the P.M.O. was informed that the naval staff from Hong Kong Hospital were to be ready to leave St. Albert's Convent on the following day . This meant virtually the final splitting of the naval party as an individual unit .
On the morning of February 25 , naval patients were transferred to Bowen Road Hospital with the exception of those who had almost recovered , who were sent to North Point Prisoner - of - War Camp . The P.M.O. and naval nursing sisters were transferred to Bowen Road Military Hospital . The remaining naval medical officers were sent to the Military Hospital in St. Theresa's Convent , Kowloon . The naval sick berth staff were sent as prisoners - of - war to North Point Camp .