Diary pages from this date

A notice apears in camp:

The Japanese Camp Authorities informed me to-day that 10 Dutch bankers (2 married couples and 6 single men) will arrive here from town on 16th July probably at 2 p.m.

These 10 persons must be accomodated in the Dutch part of our block and the Camp Authorities have ordered that the billeting and re-billeting in this block are to be affected in accordance with the scheme shown below. ((Missing))

Those of the inhabitants of this block who are required to move, must do so before 6 p.m. on 15th July 1943.

The Camp Authorities further informed me that, if the new accomodations do not offer sufficient space for all, furniture and personal effects, articles which are not strictly needed, should be packed in trunks and stored, If no storage-space is available in the block, same will be arranged for by the Authorities upon application.

STANLEY, 14th July 1943

Note:

This notice is signed by a 'European' whose name I can't make out (presumably the head of the relevant Block) and by 'A. Nakazawa' - or so it seems, but according to Geofrey Emerson his name was Chikanori, a former tailor's assistant (or in another account, shipping clerk), who served as one of the two Camp Superintendents between March 1942 and September 1943. He was a young man, probably in his twenties. He and his fellow Superintendent T. Yamashita, a former barber at the Hong Kong Hotel, were dog lovers who used to walk around camp with beautiful specimens. They seem to have done their best to treat the internees decently.

Another sensation was caused by the arrest of the Commissioner of Police Pennefather-Evans on Sunday when he was called out of the 9 o'clock communion service and taken away. Why he has been taken away beats us, but there it is and how he is doing about a change of clothing is unknown to us as his things have not been taken away altho' in the case of the others theirs were taken.

About 30 people are coming into the camp on Friday again mostly bankers and their families, 18 British, 10 Dutch and 2 Norwegians, so that the numbers are rising again, at the moment the figure is 2536, of which about 110 are Dutch, Norwegian and American.

Last Thursday we the Trojans played the Police Whites and tho' we lost on two rinks still my last wood got the winning shot and we got three points to their two. My rink was down 15-9 and it was a very exciting finish, for when I was to play my last bowl of the match we were lying one shot which made the match a draw, but with a good try I drew the winning shot and we won by one and the rain had just come on. Since then it rained incessantly and it has been very miserable especially being unable to get sweaty clothes washed and dried.

J.F., D.B.B. and I nevertheless try to have our usual evening walk and last Sunday we had our cup of coffee on the hillside. In our sojourns round the camp we are known as the three Musketeers.

Well the news of the invasion of Sicily has cheered us greatly and tho' the news in the paper is a wee bit old and not very informative yet we know that our invasion is cast iron and of great movement and importance.

Hugh Smith arrived back to the room after his fortnights honeymoon and his wife has gone back to duty at the Tweed Bay Hospital. They had the loan of the Shields’ room in the married block, Mrs Shields being in hospital and Sunny lived in the dental room.

The rations are very low and very poor in quality and tho' the B.C.R. are pressing for better food and more food, Our prospects of this are very small unless of course a food ship arrives or some of the parcels come. I am losing weight but keeping well.

Fine am. showery pm.

Initials for Hackett.

Took Bon for swim aft. rained.

((G))

Steve comm.. work in Hosp. Saw him 7pm as G was going home.

Hatori came to camp aft.