Washed blanket.
Jap reports of last two raids as expected, "blind bombing, driven off, no damage". Received message from mother “Anxious for news”, dispatched 16-July-1942. Some speed! Took 14 days to come from HK anyway.
With Steve pm.
Cold wind sprang up 9pm.
Camp dogs taken away by Jap Military. “Case of Howie” & their dog.
Wood for Steve am.
List of Camp cats (4 legged) required by Japs.
Much colder.
With Steve pm.
Black-out in town cancelled.
Cold 52’ ((11 degrees celcius)).
Choir practice 6-7pm & then with Steve. Black-out cancelled.
Murphy broadcast from Port. E. re getting us out? 25,000 Japs wiped out 40 klmts from HK?
Last night raid accounted for many Japs & Indians & unfortunately Chinese too.
Fine, cold. No cigs.
Japs combing out the list of next repatriates.
With Steve pm.
Demand by Blkhd’s for torches exposed failure of Supt’s to carry out roll-calls. H.Qs screw up in consequence. ((That's a bit cryptic. Can anyone explain what it means please?
2013 update: Martin and Barbara note that "Blkhd's" were the Block Heads, the camp name for the internee appointed to be nominally in charge for a particular block.))
Fine day. Cold.
Meatless day, no cigs either.
Chinese forces capture Nam Tau?
With Steve pm.
Harman died.
Fine, cold.
Cigs 4 Pkts Y1.00.
Played softball pm. lost 30-20.
With Steve pm.
Men on Medical list of Repatriation inspected by Jap M.O.s
No news. Fed up with inactivity & waiting & half starvation.
Fine, cold wind from N.
Ground rice for Eve.
Bathing is chilly business these days. Japs having difficulty supplying firewood.
Sha Tau Kok & Plover Bay in Chinese hands?
Choir practice 5-6pm. Dr. Talbot joined us.
With Steve pm.
Fine, cold.
Flashes over N.Ts 2-4am.
Repaired suit-case for Olive & bed for Dr. Hackett.
Saw Dr. Hargreaves re eyes.
Indians being withdrawn from posts in N.Ts?
With Steve at St. Steph’s kitchen, Carol Choir practice.
Many rumours re date of repatriation etc.
“Belinda” at St Steph’s. (("Belinda" was a play put on as entertainment - see comments below for details.))
Fine, cold.
Aerial activity increased somewhat today.
Zindel very pessimistic ie, no money, biscuits or beans & soya milk will cease in 2 weeks time.
Ground beans for Eve, mended shoes for Betty ((Is this the same person as "Betty G" mentioned on Aug 25th?)).
Choir practice 5.30 pm St. Steph’s kitchen, saw Steve after.
Fine, warmer.
Rogers died am. Cardiac beri-beri. Buried 6pm.
Chow late due to coal.
With Steve pm.
Meatless day.
Activity in N.Ts.
Fine.
Got back my passport, renewed by Gimson.
Parcels in town for us, we are to be all repatriated by the end of the year?
With Steve pm.
Fine.
Saw Hargreaves but he can do nothing for me due to lack of funds.
Played softball pm v M.Qs. Won 14-16. Choir practice 5-6pm. Steve to practice at St Steph’s. Saw him after.
Zindel to send telegram to Geneva re serious food situation.
Yesterday’s repatriation rumour all tripe.
New Moon.
Wrote music all day.
Raid at 3.50 pm Kai Tak direction. No opposition. Fine. Another raid 5pm.
With Steve pm.
(Guff as heard. HK to be retaken by 8th inst. Women & kids to leave 20th inst. & general repatriation next Jan.)
Drizzly.
Concert at St Steph’s a flop. Saw Steve after.
Targets hit yesterday? Q.M.Hosp. now used as barracks, Whitfield Barracks, Mt. Parker, 2 cruiser & a freighter. Jap paper makes light of it all as usual.
Cold & drizzly.
Had tooth extracted, tough.
Meijima in. No news.
Meeting of Anti-Axis heads etc. has Japs guessing. Their naval victories are so good down South they can afford to change C-in-Cs (Ha!ha!)
Choir practice 6-7pm.
Saw Steve after concert.
Overcast & cold.
Only 1 Pkt.Cigs.
More rumours current re repatriation.
Jap paper prints report by Domei via Tokyo re raid on 1st Dec. Tells of their interceptors downing 7 of our bombers the remainder dumping their bombs into the sea & fleeing. Obviously printed for consumption in other parts of Jap Occupied countries.
Saw Steve after concert.
Pendle [?] & door-knocking. ((Possibly referring to Mr Pemble.))
Fine, cold, no news or rumours.
Walk with Steve pm.
Fine, cold.
Repat. Comm. having meetings but no news yet.
Black-out.
With Steve pm.