R. E. Jones Wartime diary: View pages

9 planes flew over during the afternoon E to W & a string of floaters was released was release (sic) from one of them that formed the letter “V”.

Drs making out petition re repatriation.

News received very good if true. Solomon Isles back in our hands. New Guinea almost relieved of Japs. San Francisco tells us that war in Far East will be finished in 80 days. (8th Dec). Berlin in flames. Bremen smashed up, Rommel can get no more supplies. Battle for Stalingrad very severe & the Germans, although entering the City sometimes, are promptly driven out again. Japs gradually withdrawing to China Coast consolidating their lines.

BBC 22-9-42. 5 dest. 3 cruisers 14 transports sunk in one attack on Solomons, & they lost 20,000 men in 48 hrs. troops have forged ahead N & S. Tobruk recaptured & our [?] Germans driven from Stalingrad. 1,500 tanks crossed Volga & are cutting up retreating Germans. Stalin in speech given on 2nd Anniversary of 1st bombing of Britain said “You (Germany) knew that after 1st raid they could not maintain air superiority over R.A.F. The R.A.F. have now superiority in every field & Germans know that Russia would soon pass them in production. Germany now knows that they have no hope against the Russian mincing machine & before long will know what it is like to have their territory invaded from the N as well as the W.

Kowloon Bus Co. afire.

Statue Square an execution ground.

Fine, dry & cool breeze.

Fanling bombed?

1st day of Autumn.

No news.

Allies fighting in Caucasus. Guam attacked by U.S. All seems to be coming our way gradually.

Japs fortifying and preparing HK for attack.

No news.

Chinese wine & corned beef for supper.

Fighting at Shum Chun. ((Today called Shenzhen)) Jap women & children leaving.

Hitler has visited Stalingrad front & has returned to Berlin for conference re possibility of carrying on Stalingrad attack?

Jap troop movement to & from Fort.

Repatriation request details being worked out.

Yamashita held meeting with our Council to point out facts re Camp discipline.

Lots of news of Russia, Lybia & the bombing of Germany.

Zindel (I.R.C.) [cf Zingall earlier..] visited Camp. No news today.

An absolute uneventful day.

8P.M. curfew re-enforced.

Petition re repatriation going the rounds for signatures.

Another dismal day. Strong wind from NE blew up.

“Kamakura Maru” arrived.

G. getting in the blood.

Weather moderated a little.

Much controversy re repatriation request.

Aussies gave beating to Japs in New Guinea.

“K.Maru” to take regulars away?

28,000 Japs wiped up in New Guinea & a big Jap convoy sunk off Formosa?

Fine day.

Odds & ends of news arrived but it is not worth repeating.

2 Jap convoys messed up off Formosa. Japs lost 2 Battleshps 4 cruisers & 11 transports & destroyers in an attack on the Aleutians. Burma bombed. 8,000 Japs mopped up in New Guinea.

C.S. & C of P. informed re my desire to rejoin R.N. if I am repatriated.

Cig. issue (5).

((Jones was a submariner in the Royal Navy before working in the Hong Kong Prisons. "C.S. & C of P" are probably the Colonial Secretary, Gimson, and the Commissioner of Prisons, Willcocks))

U.S. established big airfield in W. Aleutians ready to bomb Japan. Swatow & Amoy turned over to W.C.W.s by Japs. ((Brian Edgar explains: W.C.W.s were supporters of the pro-Japanese Chinese Government led by Wang Ching Wei.))

General meeting.

Rice cut 10%.

Oda returned from Tokyo, rumours re repatriation circulating in consequence.

46 people accepted by Japs for Shanghai, date of sailing unknown.

Got 8Y for £1.

Drop of Chinese wine with Steve.

Played cards for cigs PM.

Double 10th but no celebrations.

75 Japs killed?

Strong wind.

Fried bread & eggs at Steves.

3 years married today & again no celebrations.

Rain & wind.

Japs have lost in 10mths., 197 warships & 4 hundred odd merchant vessels. Russians cut off German supplies at Stalingrad?