Diary pages from this date

Stayed to 2 Masses.  Visited Leprosarium ((now our TB wards)).  They had a 'Christmas tree'.

Japs had sent flat duck in rations - hospital kitchen put out a terrific meal of beans, pumpkin, 'ragout of duck', greens, and a pudding with wong tong syrup. Married Quarters had pasties and rissoles.

Mr. Cochrane and son Graham visited us. ((Alexander Cochrane of HK Police was married to Ena Penney who had been a neighbour of ours in 1929 when we lived at 98 Kennedy Road.)) Graham was born in Stanley.

Gladys Johnson gave me a handkerchief, June Cheape a home-made calendar. Beryl Goldenberg gave me a nice card.

Thomas Edgar and the other bakers make a Christmas loaf from a four year old reserve of flour. The Camp has not tasted wheat bread since January 29, 1944 - all bread has been made out of rice since the flour issue stopped.

From its last remaining stocks the camp also gave each of us a small loaf of real bread. The flour was pre-war and decidely musty. Even the weevils in it had died of malnutrition, yet it tasted as good as rich plum-pudding. We realized again that the true Christmas is not a matter of commercial enterprise.

Sources:

Unpublished manuscript of We Baked Bread To Japanese Orders! viewable at

http://brianedgar.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/thomas-edgar-some-documentation/

William Sewell, Strange Harmony, 1948, 158

Dow / Martin

((This is a new page, and at the top is written:)) Cable from ??? ((unclear)) read. ((It's not clear which date this applies to.))

I hope you are having a happy time Marj dearest & Baby Rae & am convinced that our next  Xmas will be together.

Fine, dry. Water on. 

Excellent meal pm. Rice, baked sweet potato, stew & savoury pasty.

Mrs Willcocks gave me some tobacco. I made them a lamp.

Roll call 5pm & allowed out till 8pm.

Air-raid alarm 8.15-8.40pm.