R. E. Jones Wartime diary: View pages
Cold. NE wind and Raining.
Workshops.
Fry-pan for Mary.
Jap Garrisons off Sumatra & Java caught at sea? State of emergency in Town?
Average estimate re time to release, 3 months.
Touch of indigestion.
Drizzly & miserable but brightened up pm.
Workshops.
All news excellent. Fighting in Berlin?
“Awa Maru” to leave Moji 17th inst. with RC supplies.
2 pork sausages from Steve.
Black-out cancelled.
Overcast, cold.
Workshops.
Manila entered 4th. Kobe bombed 4th. Russians 10 mls SE Stettin 4th.
A & B Groups Canteen.
2 boxes matches issued Y1-95 each.
Question now is, “What will arrive first”, food or release.
Lorry arrived empty.
Overcast, cold, 37’.
Workshops.
Mary gave me egg & pork.
Lorry with wood 3.30pm 5 & 6 pm.
According to Chinese paper cold spell general over the World, coldest for 20 yrs.
Yesterdays & todays papers kept at H.Qs.
Overcast, cold.
Workshops.
Bishop Valtorta visited Camp & he told his bunch of R.C.s not to listen or to spread rumours & to pray for Peace.
Offensive being prepared on Western Front, ½ million US troops left for unknown destination . Manila obviously in US hands although Japs will not admit it in so many words. Anti-Axis conference reached complete agreement re final overthrow of Germany, occupation thereof etc. Burma Road opened.
Ind & Chinese police in town dis-armed. After 3 yrs the Jap Authorities have decided that the conduct of people in town does not warrant the carrying of arms. The real reason is, they know that the majority of the Police guards would turn guerrilla at the first opportunity & that may occur any day now.
Mary lent me Y50.
Cold, overcast, damp.
Canteen buyer 152.
Workers oil & sugar issued.
Sat with Steve till 2pm talking of the future so didn’t go to work.
Lorry with veg & Canteen gear 2.30pm.
Some Jap plane activity today.
Russian guns can be heard in Berlin, 37 mls. 7th. Montgomery broke through on 6 klmtre front 7th. Americans rescued 200 internees from St. Tomas University & got them away.
Y15 allowance issued.
Overcast, cold.
Repaired wash-basin for V.
Germans ask Allies to reconsider terms re unconditional surrender? Nothing doing so they have layed down arms. Jap Diet to meet tomorrow?
Black-out ordered.
Overcast, cold, drizzly.
Workshops.
Traders at St Stephens chased last night. 4, to H.Qs 6pm. Dr EH [?], Parker, Reid & Channing. ((Dr EH could be Dr E W R Hackett. Several possibilities for Parker, not sure who Reid was, and Channing could be F E Channing or J F Channing.))
Lorry with veg & Canteen stuff 4pm.
A/r alarm 3.30pm to 4.15.
Received Dec 43 & Feb 44 with snaps of Rae (3 yrs old)
1oz Suk Yin issued.
Chinese New Years Day.
Overcast, not quite so cold.
Workshops.
Some alterations to workers rations to take place.
Hungry as hell.
Chopped more wood for Rita.
Lorry with private parcels 5pm.
Liegnitz 20mls W of Breslau captured. Some changes in Jap Cabinet.
4 Traders released after a few smackings.
Overcast, cold.
Workshops.
Refitted water valves on A1-3 tanks & a cold wet job it was too.
No paper today, holiday.
Overcast, drizzly & cold.
Everyone fed up & touchy.
Asked Welfare for mattress but there is nothing doing it seems.
Workshops.
Lorry in 4.30pm.
Rec. Jan 44 from Mother.
Overcast, wet & miserable.
This is the day the Japs said our food ship would leave Moji.
Barring A2 kitchen windows ready for Welfare store.
Brightened somewhat aft.
1lb Bread Y150 in black-market.
Bulletin contains excellent news re Russian Front where big advances have been made towards Dresden & Liepsig [sic]. Stettin surrounded & bye-passed & German garrison at Elbing surrendered.
Patched plate for Steve.
Hara tells Gimson no delay in delivery when parcels arrive & that he thinks Americans will be here April.
Overcast, not quite so cold.
A2 kitchen.
Lorry with wood 1.30pm.
No news today.
Another lorry 6.30pm with wood & drunks. ((Transcriber writes drunks, but maybe "trunks"?))
Overcast, slightly warmer.
A2 kitchen.
Japan bombed & shelled all day 16th & 17th also Iwojima (Bonins) where Japs expect US to land. ((US Marines landed on Iwo Jima on 19 Feb 1945, see Wikipedia.)) British & US air aid to Russian offensive. 9,000 planes in 36 hrs in Dresden area & 1,500 in one night to the North. Manila a city of ruins according to Jap report 17th.
Rec 2 letter cards from Marj Mar & May 44 through Apostolic Delegation, Sydney. It seems that Skeg. Standard printed a copy of my letter home. I’ve forgotten what I wrote now.
Overcast. Drizzly.
Working in Hosp. Cookhouse.
Workers oil & sugar issued. 25% cut.
Paper has excellent news re attempted US landing on Iwojima Island (where is the Jap Navy that they should allow such happenings so close to home?) H.Qs. would not give Jap & Chinese paper, said they had wrapped fish in them & so spoilt them. Any excuse is better than none. ((The newspaper is right up to date, as the American landings began the previous day, 19 Feb.))
CS reckons four weeks will show us some action locally.
Lorry with wood 5.20pm & 6.15 with veg.
Papers kept at H.Qs.
Overcast, cold & drizzly. Will this weather ever clear up?
Lorry with wood 1pm.
Jap paper admits US forces ashore on Iwojima. Dutch Col. who gave Germans information re Allied paratroops landing at Arnheim shot in Tower of London.
Rec. very thin blanket from Welfare.
More wood 5.30pm.
Worked at Hosp. Cookh’se.
Oil, sugar, tea & Soy issued. Workers cigs issued 50% cut.
Plenty plane activity all day despite the clouds.
Rice 11% cut.
Another rotten day, cold & wet.
No 16. very prominent in dreams last night.
Tokyo bombed 100 planes 19th. Taiwan bombed 600 planes 16th & 18th. US forces landed on Iwojima 19th. No E. news whatever.
Vessel about 8,000 tons arrived 7.30am on which 2 white crosses were painted. Probably the “Awa Maru” with the US R.C. supplies & we are all awaiting confirmation.
Cold, wet & overcast.
Workshops.
50 men to town working on building materials.
White Cross vessel left early this morning.
30,000 US troops in Yunnan. Chinese troops in Burma being relieved for operations in China.
Lorries back 4.30pm. no news of parcels.