Outside roll call in am. Comment made on clogs - 'Have these people no shoes?'
Rumour - we may get electric current.
Went to work 10.30am – late because of roll call.
Mr. H.W. Page, aged 71, died.
Catholic Action Council meeting in quarry/grotto.
Talked with Pat Cullinan and Beryl re play, the rehearsal in P.O.Club. ((Beryl was to play Jessica in the Trial Scene of The Merchant of Venice.))
Rehearsal of plays.
Paper says Philippine battle going on.
Death of Harry William Page.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists him as 70 at time of death, Barbara Anslow's diary as 71. His wife, Lilian, had pre-deceased him.
Before being sent to Stanley he was held at the Kowloon Hotel.
Sources:
http://www.hongkongwardiary.com/searchgarrison/nonuniformedcivilians.ht…
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/3169577/PAGE,%20HARRY%20WILL…
Death #91 - Harry Wm. Page (71) (formerly Dairy Farm)
Since I last made an entry the old year has fled and 1945 has arrived. I don’t think anyone shed even a tiny tear over 1944. Apart from the arrival of the Canadian parcels it has been a year of disappointments (the chief one being that the war is not yet concluded!) and restrictions of one kind and another. I think the most optimistic person has, by now, given up all hope of any measure of repatriation by the Japanese.
However, there is much to be thankful for – Yvonne and I are at least together and our health, really, has been remarkably good for these conditions. The parcels have done everyone a lot of good. Many people have finished theirs by now and Y and I are nearing the end of ours, but, as always, having rationed ourselves to a tin every so many days or weeks, we have halved the ration now in order to eke it out a little longer. The issue of vitamin pills has also come to an end. These too have helped to keep people fairly fit.
There has been news in the paper of a Japanese ship which was given safe conduct with American food supplies which she also loaded at Vladivostock and took back to Tokyo. There are further Red Cross supplies and recently, the paper reported that this ship had left Tokyo and was on its way with food parcels for American prisoners in China, the Philippines and South Pacific regions. We have been pricking up our ears and licking our chops in hopeful anticipation! It has stressed the fact, more than once, that these parcels are for Americans. However, a day or two ago the Chairman of the eleven remaining Americans was called up the hill where he was asked, by Hara, to sign an affidavit to the effect that all Americans shared equally with the British in the distribution of the British parcels. Also, it seems that if this consignment is being sent through the agencies of the American Red Cross, they would not discriminate between the prisoners in the hands of the Japs – or would they?! At any rate, we hope not.
Overcast, cold. NE wind.
Outside roll-call 8.30am.
Made 2 saucepans.
Lorry with wood 4pm.
Japs deal with US landing on Luzon “as usual”.
¼ lb W.T. & 2oz Soy sauce issued. ((W.T. = "Wong Tong" or brown sugar. Barbara Anslow reported the same issue of sugar and soy sauce in her diary entry for yesterday.))
Vessel with R.C. supplies (Hoshi Maru) left Moji 8th.
Block Med. Insp. I now weigh 160 lbs approx.