R. E. Jones Wartime diary: View pages

Better weather. No authentic news or information.


Russians breaking through German lines in places. Chinese within 22mls of Canton.


All New Guinea in American hands? Foochow evacuated by Japs. Chinese making progress on Canton.

Concert.

Swim.


Japs lost 1 Battleship, 2 cruisers & 12 transports around the Carolines. Russia declares war on Japan?

Received $5 from Pope of Rome.

Thunderstorms.

Elec. off.


Spain & Portugal declare war on Germany? & other wild rumours flying about.

Rain.

Cooking with wood on coal stove very awkward.


No news.

A new craze has beset the Camp. It consists of a piece of polished wood at the edges of which numerals, the alphabet, months & the words Yes & No are placed. A port wine glass is placed upside down  in the centre of the board & persons asking questions place a finger on the bottom of the glass which then moves and gives the answer.

Tried it tonight with Steve, Hiscock ((sic. probably Hircock)), Mrs Stevens ((possibly "Steve's" wife, M A Stevens - but why so formal?)) & McLin [?] ((possibly Girlie Macklin)) & myself. Only part successful. Tonight it told us that the Japs would leave by Oct 5th & that I would see Marj Dec.1946.


Hot day.

Swim.

Plenty of news, all for us but statistics mostly.


Swim A.M.

Hot day again.

Another trial on the “Weeji” board but all answers were wrong except seeing Marj in 1946 & that the Japs would leave Oct 5th.


Martial law enforced in town. Strict searches being made for arms.

No news.


Zingall, of I.R.C. ((Zindel from the International Red Cross)) had nothing of importance to impart.

News nil.

Concert P.M.


A usual boring Sunday.

Swim A.M.

No news.


Ramedan commenced.

More Jap wounded arrived?

Cloudy & cooler.


Home news good.

Martial law declared in town?) (It has never been repealed yet).

Rained.


No news again.

Rained.

A wall & barbed wire to be erected across front of Club.


Mdme. Le Bon arrived but it seems that she had no news for us.

Cloudy.


Naval engagements in S. Pacific & Atlantic? Tobruk recaptured?

Chinese in town not having such a good time.

We are to receive Y70 per month?


Much cooler at night. OK for sleep.

No news.

Concert tonight and Japs took many flashlight photographs. ((Has anyone seen any copies of these?))


Lovely day weather.

Went for swim.

Japs have taken turbines from Kowloon power station so they have no lights over there.


Checking Inds. duty hours. ((Indians?))

Fine, cooler & dry.

Chines troops at Shum Chun. ((ie the village just across the border in China. It's a city today, now known as Shenzhen.))