Brooke Himsworth born. ((Nice to see him in the 2011 HK gathering photos))
Diary pages from this date
Rudolf Zindel visits Stanley, interviews 22 internees and discusses matters with Franklin Gimson. The two main topics are the setting up of Rosary Hill Red Cross Home, which the internees welcome, and the September 24 repatriation of 60 Canadians and 2 Americans from Stanley. Zindel also notes that in September he paid 2,391 British internees M.Y. 25 - but that the recipients are agitating for an increase in this 'pocket allowance' that is not possible given his present funding, even if the Japanese agree.
The London Sunday Express carries (page 7) news of the death of Sir Vandeleur Grayburn, 'who worked all his life in the Far East, who refused to come to wealth and comfort when the Japanese entered the war, and who finally gave his life for his country in a Japanese internment camp'. Much of the article is based on an interview with Arthur Morse, a former Hong Kong banker who'd been sent back to London and acted as the HSBC head during the war.
Grayburn's refusal to leave Hong Kong came earlier - as far as I know he wasn't considering or offered passage on one of the CNAC flights out of Hong Kong after the Japanese attack - and he died in Stanley Prison not the Internment Camp, but the tribute is more deserved than probably even Arthur Morse knew, because, as well as leading a major illegal operation to raise funds for relief and medical work in the camps, Grayburn was an agent of the resistance organisation the British Army Aid Group (code name; Night).
According to Morse, Grayburn refused to retire, sending him to London while 'remaining to face the Japanese' with the Bank's 162 British staff and 'hundreds' of other nationalities.
Morse notes Grayburn was a man of 'great vitality' and the article gives the official cause of death as 'avitaminosis'.
Source:
Zindel: General Letter No. 89/43, 21 October, 1943, Red Cross Archives (Geneva)
Birth of Brooke Himsworth to Emily and Eric Himsworth.
Brooke Himswoth attended the Stanley Camp Reunion organised by Geoffrey Emerson in 2015.
To Mr. & Mrs. E. Himsworth, a son (Brook)
Farewell to Fr. Murphy and 4 sisters of I.C. ((Probably Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, ie Roman Catholic nuns. Thanks to Barbara Anslow for providing their names as listed in Greg Leck's book Captives of the Empire:
- Sr. St. Philippe (formerly Annette Beaudoin)
- Sr. Marie de Georges (formerly Corinne Crevier)
- Sr. St. Antoine de Padoue (formerly Yvonne Forest)
- Sr. St. Etienne (formerly Aurore Plouffe)
))
I was up seeing Win this afternoon - she'd had a letter from you dated 9/11/42. It told her of Ken's death (now nearly 2 years ago). Win had been in hospital for 4 days with malaria - there's quite a lot about the Camp as we can do nothing in the Village or outside the barbed wire and the Japs do nothing or next to nothing. I hope I escape - we are practically free of mosquitoes in the Indian Quarters, so I'm hopeful.
The Canadians are off this week - lucky people - they sail on the 23rd. I've been working out a schedule; if the same boat is used the women - and perhaps myself also - should be away by the 10th of December and be free before the end of the year. Oh! to be free once more - we may get I.R.C. supplies (more food) by the middle of November (say 8 weeks more) and we shall need them. We are all half-starved but funnily enough we don't feel terribly hungry - at least not all the time. But it is awful as you pass your hands over your body - washing yourself - to feel every bone. I hope I fatten up a little before you see me or else you will have a shock!
I am feeling all right - and one gets tired doing the smallest thing - no one has any energy. I am off all Councils and Committees now so I can take my ease. My blood count keeps up too - I had another injection on the 13th but I had had none since 14th August. It's no wonder I'm run down - I've been out nearly 5 Years and the longest tour I'd done before was under 4 years; 1922-1925 was the longest. But when we get good food again we'll soon pick up. It will be so nice to be free - no lights out at 10 sharp, no queuing up for chow, a clean bed, clean pillows! Sugar and milk in one's tea! - a sharp razor blade (why didn't I bring my electric razor in with me?! - it's lost now.)
I've been reading your letters again - I still haven't got Nos 21-30 (Lin's is dated just what 22 should be so perhaps some of them will come in soon). Ian says on 10th Jan he hopes to get into the 1st XV (later confirmed) "but I won't get my Colours until next year." So he'll be back at the Academy this Autumn. I've been worrying a bit thinking he might be in the Navy already - I suppose he'll stay at school till his 18th birthday. So if I get away soon I might see him play for the Academy yet - I'd love to.
I won't write more tonight. D.O.K. how I'll get this out - the Gendarmerie have been very strict - no written stuff is to be taken out. They base their rule on what was done in America as regards the Japs being sent in exchange - I see the American point of view - who could read their hieroglyphics and there might be any amount of secret information in it but letters in English seem so different - but not to the Japs. I think I'll try to smuggle it out - if not you'll not see this until after I'm back in H.K. and can recover it and send it to you.
CheerO Darling. All my love. Billie.