Diary pages from this date

The Norwegians arrived in camp on Monday and a lot of them were merry and bright and their news is that the European war should be over by the end of April. We all do hope so.

Two of the Standard Ships have been on trial and we think they must be the two ships nearest to completion from Kowloon and Taikoo Docks. I hope they don't get very far when they start on their voyages.

On Monday we were all vaccinated against smallpox a wise precaution. Another of the shipbuilding lectures was held on Monday this time the subject being Insurance of Ships by H.T.Smith.

I was at church both in the forenoon and afternoon on Sunday and later J.F. and I went for a walk round the camp boundaries. I had previously sent a pair of shoes to be sent into town to be soled and heeled with local rubber and I got them back on Thursday and quite a nice job too cost M.Y.6.50 I feel pleased now as I am well shod and hope to be able to us them when we meet again and that latter possibility may not now be so very far off.

Tonight J.F. told me that we had to report at C.S.O. tomorrow and later on Bob Young showed me the official chit relating to actual Canadians and those whose wives and families are resident in Canada, so we are to report tomorrow at 2.30pm.

It is said that there is a food ship on the way here from Canada and this ship is carrying a certain number of Jap repatriates and so it is possible that this ship said to be the 'Esripasholm' ((probably 'Gripsholm')) will take us Canadian blokes back to Canada.

We made the March issue of foodstuffs at 5pm this evening I could not do it any sooner owing to being on rations during the forenoon. We issued 6 tins of corned beef and 2lbs of sugar to each resident of the block all are happy now.

My hands are still badly scarred with fish jags, each jag turns septic with a small white head. We are still getting fish nearly every day but fortunately today as well as fish we got a small quantity of pork. Meat that is both beef and pork are very scarce in the colony and I think things in that line are bad in the colony just now.

6 pkts. Hatamen cigs. $4.80.

4 c. beef, 2 M & V, 2 lbs sugar issue.

I will add that through the kind offices of a friend of ours (who shall be, at present nameless) we have been able to obtain MY100 from town. I am still hardly able to believe our luck, and incidentally it shows the faith that many, at any rate, of the more wealthy Chinese have in the ultimate victory of our allies.

Apparently many Chinese are selling their property in town and converting it into cash. Unfortunately for them this cash is either Japanese Yen or the (by now) inflated and more or less valueless Hong Kong Dollars. Many are trying to invest this in gold or precious stones, for presumably both types of currency will be valueless after the war. Others, who know and trust the good faith of Europeans in camp are prepared to issue MY in exchange for an IOU to be made good at the cessation of hostilities. I may add that their rate of exchange is pretty exorbitant – 1 MY = 1 USD.  In other words, 1 MY = 4/6 sterling. So our MY100 will cost us about Sterling 22.10.0 (pdv £1000) unless we are very unlucky and the rate of the pound drops a lot. However, we hear that the pound has been pegged to the gold $ and in any case, however badly we are stung (within reason) it is worth it, for it is so important to keep healthy in this place.

Bright & cold.

((G.))

Issue of 4 cbf 2 M&V & 2lbs sugar.

Walk with Steve pm. 

((G.))