Our room's turn to sweep the passage.
Water-carrying day; spent a long time at water hydrant, then went down to well. ((strangely, now I can't remember where that well was!)). There's a pump now. Met Concannon there, he carried water up for me. Got most of my washing done, and hair.
Newspaper supposedly suppressed. Rumours of Canton being surrounded.
Clifton still on fluid diet (at hospital).
Lovely stew - carroty and oniony - for tiffin.
The Japanese Red Cross sends the International Committee of the Red Cross a telegram which gives us an idea of the set up in the camp medical facilities in early 1945:
Tweed Bay Hospital containing about seventy patients in six wards attended by ample medical staff and qualified nurses. Latter accommodated top floor hospital...TB Sanatorium in excellent location and presently accommodat(es) ten male and three female patients....
(spelling and punctuation normalised)
Source: Telegram 1673 in B G 17 07-069 Archives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (Geneva)
Nearly a month of the new year has gone by, and not a word written. Events are moving rapidly. Last Sunday HK had her first "carpet bombing". 55 tons (600 craters) dropped between the Fleet Club & Naval Dock Yard. Only a matter of days for fall of Manila, Germany by the 15 Feb. No word of Dad or Emile — I feel I shall never see Dad again. Emile perhaps. Rosie is looking after me. A noticeable feeling of tension - the Japs are preparing the defence of H.K. ! Trading has literally ceased - goods can be delivered to canteens. A few buildings in the camp has been converted to storerooms for boxes of paper. Delivery of veg and fire wood for the past fortnight is scarce and irregular. 150 men left today on a working party, to an unknown destination, and were told to take change of clothing, blankets etc. Great speculation. Black market, cig are now practically unobtainable, cost between ¥10/15. I sold my Red Cross blanket & odds & ends, rec. 300 ??? ((unclear)) and a cotton blanket.
Cloudy. NW wind. Warmer.
Ground rice.
Some chow at Steves.
Took door down for Rita.
Nickel [Nicol?] saw me re work .
Lorry with nothing.
Yesterday’s papers destroyed.