Diary pages from this date

Mrs Denton is in next bed to Mabel.  (Ivy Denton, nee Thirlwell - Eurasian).  She says a Chinese said the men who went from HK ((on 'Lisbon Maru')) were mostly Wavy Navy (HKRNVR), and that the regulars are working at Kai Tak with shaved heads.

Mr. Pyke died (Alfred, aged 59).

Catholic Action meeting in evening.

A bulletin gives names of people who have died since internment ((i.e.  who died in other camps)).  One is Mr Lacey, husband of Annie Lacey; she is here with twins called Winston and Wavell, aged 1 year.

I'm now considered on Permanent Establishment of Senior Clerical & Accounting Staff of Govt.

Death of Alfred Charles Septimus Pike, aged 59. He was married in 1918 and worked as a master mariner.

His widow, Sarah Ann,  was later to state he died of pneumonia, dysentery and beri-beri - adding 'from starvation' (underlined). She herself was treated for colitis and high blood pressure while in Stanley. In the 1950s she received grants from Australian funds set up to help former internees on account of heart and blood pressure problems and other health issues - her physician believed that internment was a factor.

Sources:

Date: Geoffrey Emerson, Hong Kong Internment, 1973, 271

All else: Australian National Archive 510

Note: for some reason the Hongkong News for October 26 has an advert recording Mr Pike's death on page 2. It says it took place on October 24.

Death of A.C.S. Pike (59).

U.S. & Jap fleet in action in South Pacific. Burma bombed. Tokyo bombed? Stalingrad battle expected to reach climax today.