Diary pages from this date

26 Jun 1943, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp

Hugh Smith, a ship's draughtsman with the Taikoo Docks, marries Miss Margaret Elizabeth Black, a nursing sister, the Rev. Mackenzie Dow officiating. Mrs Smith writes:

Hugh and I were married on Saturday…The matron and the staff of ((Tweed Bay)) hospital gave us a reception. Under the circumstances we had a very nice wedding; everyone remarked on it. We were pleasantly surprised at the kindness shown to us. I wore a white pigskin dress piped with blue, and a small white hat instead of carrying a bouquet I had a spray of orchids…..

Some Japanese officers visiting the American Quarters are furious when they discover that a map drawn up by some internees to show their repatriation routes and those of their Japanese counterparts does not show Japan. They line up three men who happen to be in the room and smack their faces.

Sources:

Wedding: Hong Kong Fellowship Newsletter, December 1944, 14 (date from MacNider Diary)

Map: George Wright-Nooth, Prisoner of the Turnip Heads, 1994, 99

26 Jun 1943, Diary of George Gerrard in Stanley Internment Camp Hong Kong

My dearest on Thursday 24th I received your loving and lovely letter of 9th October 1942 and from Glasgow too, what a thrill I received. You are simply marvellous Nell. This news that you have travelled both ways across the Atlantic during the war time which is pretty good doing. I am very happy and pleased that you took the chance and arrived home safely. So glad that the folk at 440 Anniesland Road were glad to see you and being kind to you which is very cheery.

It was fine to know that you called at the Lands Office and saw Mr Warren Swire. I transmitted all your news of this kind to J.F. and C.C.R. and the others.

We have now received word that all the rest of the staff in Amoy have now been transferred to Shanghai. We hope that they will be all right there and trust their chances of repatriation will be good, tho' with Shai in Wang Ching Wei's hands we hae oor doots.

Then today I received your loving and glorious letter of 26th October 1942 and it was just fine and I'm so glad to know that you were well and happy. This is therefore the third letter I have received from you dearest. I hope I will be lucky and get some more.

No dear I haven't yet received any of yours or Red Cross (other than the IRC last year) parcels. Nor of course has anyone else but we are always hoping. I'm so glad that you have managed to secure a post with the Red Cross and I hope you will be very happy in your job. I always wonder whether you received the six month allotment I sent you on 10th December 1941 amounting to 600 US Dollars.

It is fine for me to know that you have heard from me I think that would be the letter I wrote when the Americans went away. We have been allowed to write a 75 word postcard which I wrote on Thursday and handed it in to the C.S. Office. This postcard is dated 31st May and we have been told we will be able to write a 200 word letter next month for June.

The Japs are funny in their ways and it would seem to us that they are in a tight corner with their shipping.

J.F., D.B.B., G.S.R. and I went to Hugh Smiths' wedding this afternoon (Saturday) down at the hospital and it went off very well. J.F. in a racey speech proposed the health (in tea) of the Bride and Bridegroom. As a camp wedding present I gave them a tin of tomatoes and a tin of condensed milk being the remaining tins left from my I.R.C. parcel last year.