Diary pages from this date

Life in the Italian Convent

We lived for the last two years of the War in the Italian Convent, half way up the peak of Mt Victoria. This gave me a dress circle view of the air war. Sometimes the American planes would come diving over the top of Mt Victoria, passing just a few feet away from where I crouched on the roof terrace. I would wave frantically to the pilots and other air crew and sometimes they would wave back. By today's standards, the planes flew very slowly and many were easy targets for anti-aircraft fire. If any of the pilots were captured, the Japanese would treat them very badly indeed, before executing them. In my view, those American pilots early in the War were the first kamikazes.

A new month and no further on!  We have had some trouble in camp - six men arrested by the Gendarmerie - D.O.K. what for - but I expect  they'll have a rough time.  It is horrid to think there must be some informer in Camp.       No news.    Good night L.O.   B
 

More than 18 months of poor nutrition are taking their toll. One of the most alarming developments is the occurence of eye problems due to B vitamin defiency. The camp's doctors are trying to tackle the problem, and today Dr Kenneth Uttley writes in his diary:

Now that Lane Crawford’s baker Mr Edgar has been interned here, I have set Herklots and him on to the problem along with myself; we have cut down the amount of sugar required and are making more efficient use of the soya bean residue left after making the soya bean milk for the children and invalids. We have at last what appears to be a fairly active yeast and Geoffrey and I dispense it daily at 2pm to the eye cases and certain other B2 deficient cases.  Geoffrey and Edgar are busy most of each morning working on the yeast and are thoroughly enjoying themselves. We even entertain the idea of making yeast for the whole camp, but that will have to wait.

Former Secretary to the Health Department J. I. Barnes reports that he was almost blind from vitamin defiency but 'fully recovered' his sight after two doses of yeast - he got the second because he was a 'special worker' and most cases only got one dose. His job was looking after the camp stores - he slept there at night to prevent theft.

The Kempeitai strike-back against the resistance has already smashed much of the BAAG's organisation in town, and the first arrests have been made in Stanley (see June 28). Today the campaign comes to the POW Camps: in the officers' camp at Argyle Street J. R. Haddock of the Hong Kong Naval Reserve and Volunteer M. G. Prata are arrested. At Shamshuipo Flight-Lieutenant 'Dolly' Gray is taken for questioning, and Sergeant Routledge and Flight-Sergeant Hardy follow him soon after.

Sources:

Yeast: Diary of Dr Kenneth Uttley - extract kindly supplied by Philip Cracknell

Barnes: Hong Kong World War 11 and Other Stories, J. I. Barnes, 2005 (Imperial War Museum)

Arrests: Ralph Goodwin, Passport to Eternity, 1956, 39,  123,

Note:

For more on the yeast prophylaxis, see

https://jonmarkgreville2.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/thomass-work-4-baking…

((Following text not dated:))

Downstairs vacates. Formosan family move in. Banging at door one night.

I go in haste having forgotten U device for by-passing electric meter. Turned out downstairs wanted for ignoring black-out.

Met Rose Souza going to see bank people. All foreign bankers interning.

Race ponies slaughtered for food. Unfit for racing, also to economise. Each carcase fetches Y50 to Y100. About 500 lbs horse flesh. Now only about 60 ponies left.

Pasco out, allegedly spent 12 days solitary. Deodorant reappears, still hand kissing. Sudden chit from Tubby ((Tubby Arculli)). In again.

Omar skinny and health bad. Forbidden the office and watchman told not admit him. Was in again, sent Stanley ((David Bellis: he would have been sent to Stanley Prison, not the Civilian Internment Camp at Stanley)). Scamp there looking bad. Grayburn and Streatfield bearing up. Grayburn sent regards. Routine up at 7 a.m. and wash. Sit with arms and legs folded and not move. Breakfast at 9. Six ounces rice and sung. Squat until 11 when one hour exercise and can speak to each other. Then squat until 3 p.m. More exercise. Squat. Supper. Bed 9 p.m. Questioned all over same ground. Beaten four times, plus four at Calvaire making eight in all. Saw Faure, admires him for plenty tough. Beaten four times, fined and then be interned.

Fine day. Cloudy & humid.

Took Bon for walk.

((G))

Sat in with Steve pm yarning & tea-drinking.

((G))