8.30am. Slept beautifully, delicious breakfast of bacon and egg and porridge.
10.30pm. Mabel and Clifton are married!
Olive, Nan and I went to town to try to find whereabouts of everyone, and met Dr. and Mrs. Valentine (from Smiter) who said Clifton was on board 'Empress of Australia' in the harbour. Later, I saw Mabel and Clifton on the other side of the road, swinging along as if walking on air, arms entwined. We rushed over to them. 'Hey, we're married!' Mabel announced - they had been married this morning, in cabin on ship, by Father Green, the padre who was in Shamshuipo; Clifton in shorts and shirt, Mabel in shorts and blouse, with wedding ring made in camp out of a ten cent coin.
Mabel has jumped ship, and as Mrs. C. T. Large, will travel with Clifton, who was in an absolute daze, I don't think he even realised we were there. They went in to Echelon Barracks and I haven't seen them since, though I met Mrs Greenwood who said she saw Mabel after the Red Cross had fitted her out and she looked fine. I'm terribly happy for them, I'm sure they were made for each other ((They had over 60 years together. Clifton died in 2006, Mabel is now 93.))
Olive and I, Nan Grady and Van (H. Vanthall), Elliott (Mr. M. E. Purves) and a few others hired a rowing boat to take us out to the Empress. We weren't allowed on board at first as none of us had any passes. Eventually, Mr. W. J. Carrie - an HK official at the gangway - arranged things. Mum appeared, so smart in a newish dress, she is fatter.
Some of our pows from Japan are on board, others got off at Manila to go to Rest Camp there. News that Arthur (Alsey) is alive and well, and sent his regards. Topper (S. Brown, Olive's fiance) died of dysentery in Japan in 1944. About 3,000 on board.
I'm trying to get berth on Empress in Mabel's place.