Camp women much upset by paper report of sinking of Lisbon Maru with loss of 900 HK prisoners of war. The report makes itself ridiculous in detail although perhaps the ship was lost with loss of life.
No news.
R. E. Jones Wartime diary: View pages
Churchill depicts short war. Lille bombed. 164 Ger. planes downed. Unrest in Germany. Russian news as for yesterday. Dr. Farr’s brother’s telegram intimates early meeting. Solomons & N.Guinea all ours.
Better weather.
News very good.
Fed up tonight. Must try to think less of G.
((But that didn't work. From early November on, Jones mentions her each day. Sometimes simply "GX" or "GXX", other times a few words "With Gxx after 8PM. Quarry."
On 25th December, he wrote:
"Had G to supper. Nativity Play at St Stephens. Quarry GX. Lovely Xmas considering conditions."
But just the next day things take a turn for the worse:
"Not such a good day. G got card from hubby. Spoke of breaking up."
(Throughout this time there are doubts about whether G's husband is alive or not.)
Into 1943, G is still on Jones' mind, and is mentioned in his diary most days. He hopes they'll get back together, but their romantic relationship never really gets going again. They still see each other regularly though. Common friends and the enclosed space make it difficult to avoid someone.
Later that year he learns G will be repatriated. She left camp on 23rd September, 1943, to board the repatriation ship "Teia Maru". That evening, he wrote:
"She left at 12.15pm & so ends a long period of friendship that ran the whole gamut of all feelings & emotions. Goodbye & God Bless you Girlie darling, good luck wherever you go. XX. G going has left a big blank in the Camp for me now. Tei-a Maru left at 9.30pm."
That's as much as I'll include in the daily diary entries. I'll leave out his other mentions of her, and mark them with ((G.)). The full transcription of his diary is available on the Stanley Camp Discussion List.))
Mrs. Hess in Switz. asks Britn for sanctuary. We have new bullet-proof plane in action. All news good.
Mrs. St. searched re stolen ring. ((Not sure who 'Mrs. St.' was))
Better day.
Dakar falls to U.S. troops & 2 islands in Phillipines Group in their hands. 3 point landing on Continent. Eire breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany.
Gusty day.
Cloudy & cooler.
Chinese guard left us with cigs & wine to sell for him at 2a.m.
Road closed 10am to 1PM but nothing happened.
Poker & wine.
News apparently good.
2 Bank people escaped last Sun. ((See notes for 18 Oct 1942 for more about the escape))
U.S. & Jap fleet in action in South Pacific. Burma bombed. Tokyo bombed? Stalingrad battle expected to reach climax today.
Japs lost 56 transports in Sol.battle.
Wind backed to N so it is colder.
No fresh news.
Received news that our 150 word letters have been delivered.
Cig issue.
HK & K ((Hongkong & Kowloon)) bombed by our planes at 3.30 PM. Great excitement. At last we are convinced that our lads are near us again.
1.30 AM. Planes raided HK & K. Saw flash of bombs & A.A.fire. Planes active all day.
No paper.
Lorry coolies ordered to hold no conversation with Internees.
Much less air patrols by Japs today.
Conflicting reports of damage in town in Camp.
Bowls Single Finals played off. Oram beat Bradley. ((There was a Miss J A Oram in camp, but would they have had mixed-sex competition in Bowls? The other possibility is Mr J Orem.))
Sie miss mir wollen. ((Jill Fell: The nearest thing I can think of is "Sie muss mehr wollen" = "She must want more." I wonder if he was learning by ear. "Mehr" is almost the same pronunciation as "mir". "Mir" = "to me" doesn't make sense in this context.))
Grinding rice.
(In raids on HK we lost 2 & Japs lost 12 planes) We have advanced 100 mls in Lybia & have complete control of Indian Ocean. (Taikoo raided 2.30PM?)
Saw another air attack on Colony at 11AM. Ideal day for air attacks. Fine, with high cloud.
Black out.
Quiet day today.
Targets hit so far, Whitfield barracks & 2 cruisers in Junk Bay. Quarry Bay district damaged & Peninsula Hotel.
General news good.
Quiet today.
Rec. Y.6.50.
Fighting at Tai po.