(Wittenbach) / Short
Diary pages from this date
One more month gone. How much longer are we to remain here?
At any rate, the Americans have departed……and some of the British community have received their $75 parcels! Really I had begun to doubt both the promised departure and arrival. True, instead of $75 worth we get only $52.50, the rest going on squeeze and rake offs etc; but even that is something. Yvonne and I hope ours will come soon.
The Americans finally departed on the Asama Maru at 6 p.m. on Tuesday 30th June. We had heard the Asama was due on Monday morning and sure enough, at about noon, a large ship appeared on the horizon and as it drew nearer and steamed in between the Lamma Islands we saw it had the Japanese colours (white background with central red disc) painted amidships on the sides, with a large white cross on either side of the colours and another cross both at the bows and the stern. It disappeared from view behind the hill of the peninsula and then steamed round the point and anchored in the channel between this island and the Po Toi Islands, about a mile from the shore. Rob Kendall was with us, and Frasier, Pete and a couple of other Americans with Mrs Glanville and Co next door. They were all very cheerful and thrilled at the prospect of getting away. It is quite extraordinary how sentimental the average American seems to grow on such occasions. I think most of them felt genuinely sorry that the British were being left behind, they seemed almost to have a guilty feeling that they were sneaking away and abandoning us to our fate!. They had been saying “Good bye,” off and on for the last few days and Bob (whose special weakness was Isa) ((probably Isa Lammert)) had been almost living on our balcony for those days. He insisted on kissing all the girls good bye and this happened at least twice! They all seemed to be of the opinion that we should be following within two to four months. Let’s hope so: the sooner the better.
A diarist in Shamshuipo POW Camp records:
Stanley reported to be overcrowded & much free love being practised.
Tony Banham comments that 'the truth was less exotic', and indeed most accounts of camp life report that the combination of hunger, poor nutrition and lack of privacy inhibits most people's interest in sex. There are a number of 'camp romances' though, some of which will cause problems after the war.
Source:
Tony Banham, We Shall Suffer There, 2009, July 5, 1942
Sunday. First of all I had a shampoo and set. Then we had services at 10:30 in Mrs. Ziegler’s room. There seemed to be singing and services in a number of places.
There is a plan to have all the children play at certain times and places on board. It’s causing quite a stir.
Two years ago today Marj went away, two years wasted. I wonder what you think of it all dearest. It is raining too just as it was two years ago on that hateful day. Shall I be seeing you before this year is out I wonder Marj pal.
Shifted to A.4. D.room (The Single Officers dining room) Lyle, Jones ((probably means himself)), McGrath, Rae, Fitzgerald, Gemmell & Excell.