Barbara Anslow's diary: View pages

Delicious frothy dumpling.  No more flour ration.

Benediction in evening in grotto, then Catholic Action meeting.

A. Bush (48) died last night of blood poisoning.

Concerts have been stopped until further notice because of our 'V's last Saturday!

((The so-called Grotto was a rough and rocky space between the American Block and the (prewar) Leprosarium.   The Catholics used it for open-air meetings and church services.  A makeshift altar was made into the rocks at one end and a cross cemented in it.  Concrete blocks which had been lying about the camp were humped there to make several rows of low and extremely hard seats. In due course most people made tiny cushions and carried them wherever they went - to concerts, meetings etc.))

Mum received $15 from the Relief Committee on account of herself and Mabel, principally to buy sugar.

Rumour that the troops from Shamshuipo are coming into the Prison; that the Germans on the Stalingrad front are in a chaotic state; that British (or Allies) have got into Caucausus via Iran.  

We did garden over in morning – Dorothy, her Martin nephew ((either John or Peter)) and I.  Then washed clothes and hair ((no shampoo or hot water, a sliver of Welfare poor soap)).

To Benediction in grotto in evening.  Finished writing Chapter 6.

Mr Kelly said rumour is that within 4 days we shall hear something favourable about repatriation.

Irish Red Cross has donated money to Irish internees, who have handed it over to be devoted to Hospital deserving cases. Got dates and sugar, boiled same and result was some quite respectable jam.

Olive has an idea that we make bookmarks  for all the patients who are in hospital on Christmas Day. Nice idea. 

Wonderful rumour - that BBC (not BCC which is British Communal Council)  announced that all British civilian internees are to be repatriated soon - but the rumour isn't yet very strong.  Trouble over notices on Board, not seen by Superintendents.  We are still very much in disgrace over the 'V's' at concert.

Mum gave Mabel her 'seconds' in pasties - so pleased she had the chance to give her something.  ((Seconds were 'second helpings' which were served at the end of a meal if there was any left over after the regulation rations hd been served; strict lists were kept of seconds, every person had their turn of seconds in rotation.   Pasties were the best meals in camp, even if the contents weren't always meat:  the pastry casing was heaven.))

Finished writing Chapter 7.

Received $15 from Mr L. Barton ((Treasury)).

Camp in disgrace for being generally lax, (notably not keeping to the Jap's rules of being in the vicinity of our respective blocks after curfew.)

Glorious tiffin of dumpling, roast meat, and a baked sweet potato.

Finished writing Chapter 7.

Rumours of repatriation not yet substantiated.  

Mabel OK.

Lovely recital by Elizabeth and Heath tonight in St Stephens.

Petition is going round about wanting to be repatriated. First didn't mean to sign it,  but then after talking on the bank with Mr Fantham and Mrs Braithwaite, decided to do so.  I do want to go out of here, tho I really feel we should have no say, yet it might help as Fantham says, if Gimson really wants to know what we want to do.

Went for a swim after French lesson.

Mabel has to have 5 or 6  teeth out.

We now have a bench at office, room for many on it.  ((Up to then, there were only chairs for the 2 stewards and us stenos; with the bench, some of the doctors could have tiffin in the office.))

Mrs. Braude has sent Mabel a litle bit of margerine and a TIN OF JAM - so terribly generous of her.  ((Irene Braude, the head of the VADs.   She looked after her toddler daughter Patricia, her mother Mrs. Deacon whose husband had died in camp April 1942, and also little Jean Addis Martin whose mother (a VAD officer) had died in 1941.  Jean's Dad Mr T. Addis Martin was in camp in a different billet.   Mabel used to take Patricia and Jean and little Bill Owen out for walks most mornings, and make clothes for them.))

Heard that the 'Tatakuma Maru' arrived with parcels on board for prisoners of war. I didn't see her come in, but Mabel did.

Mabel is to have 6 teeth out tomorrow, Sammy Shields officiating.

Typhoon around, great howling gusts all night and day, enormous waves.  2 small ships sheltering in cove.

Mabel had 6 teeth out.  Went up to see her, she was just coming round and asked 'Didn't he come with you?'   I said 'Who?'  She said 'Sid.' (Her boyfriend in Shamshuipo Camp). It made me want to cry.  Then she asked 'Where's Mummy?' and later 'Where's Olive?'   They wanted to put her back to sleep but she said she'd wait till Mum had been.  Seemed quite chirpy later.

Choir practice this evening, Olive and I.

Rumour that regular troops ARE away ((i.e. they had left Hong Kong.))

Mabel looked so weary and frail this morning.

Olive and I went to receive 'scapula' medals at the Maryknoll chapel.  Feast of the Little Flower. ((St Teresa)).

The wall, cutting policemen off from the office ((hospital)), is complete. ((Several Policemen who were billetted at the hospital as protectors of the Sisters, since apart from patients, only one other male - the duty doctor - stayed overnight.  Until this wall was built, these policemen had occupied a section of the office behind piles of hospital stores)).

Heard that some of our troops had gone away.  Saw the fat 'Tatakuma Maru' going out.

This evening Mrs Drown and Heath played.   People humming softly to Schubert's 'Ave Maria', 'Today I feel so happy', 'Cheek to Cheek', and roaring out 'We're going to sail away'; then a quick 'I want to be happy' - and 'Rule Britannia', everyone yelling out that Britons never would be slaves.

Pasties at the hospilal, delicious pastry.

Mabel looking so much better.  

Had Welfare issue of lav. Paper.  

Lovely Elizabeth in evening, after Rosary servce in the open.

No French lesson because Sister Mary has a fever.  So I went to see Mabel and tripped in the gutter en route and made a mess of my knee.  

No rumours today.

This evening I went to see the Salmon family.  I don't know why I don't go oftener, I do enjoy them. Mr Salmon said that we will hear within a day or two that we are to be repatriated; that our troops have not gone away –  that that rumour emanated from fact that Eurasian and Chinese internees had been released, and Canadians sent from North Point to Shamshuipo.

Mabel is to have extra food from Irish Red Cross.

Worrying news that a ship 'Lisbon Maru' carrying  British and Australian prisoners of war had left a southern  port, and was torpedoed by American subs.  Some were able to swim to a nearby island, others were rescued and a few drowned.   Every one here worried about their men, but rumour is that Nakazawa has given his word that no soldiers have left Hong Kong yet.

((The Lisbon Maru was torpedoed on 1st of October and sank on the 2nd of October, see http://gwulo.com/node/10823 and http://gwulo.com/node/9993 for details.))

I am now considered on the Permanent Government Staff, subject to medical exam.  ((Having served 3 years)).

No real news or rumours except  that the Volunteers are coming in to the Prison, and Stalingrad still holding.

X-rays can start going in again.  ((Patients who needed X-rays were allowed to go again. They had been suspended because Stott escaped from the French Hospital in town where the x-rays took place.))

Rosaleen's first wedding anniversary.  ((Her husband, Royal Scots, in Kowloon camp))

Dr. Y-E says Mabel may get up soon and take a walk, and be examined after it. She said she heard something about her tonsils being yanked out.

Lovely fried fritter and baked potato, but everyone is ready to rebel because of no pasty or dumpling since Monday.

Went to Club (Prison Officers') in evening, so crowded – I had to sit behind the piano.

Dreadful headlines in Jap paper - the 'Lisbon Maru' which went down on 1st October was full of Hong Kong troops; supposedly 1,800 troops on board and 900 saved.  Old Horswell (late P.D.O. Dockyard)  said a 'Major M. Greenwood' among the missing; the rank could be mixed up, feel so sorry for Mrs G if it's her husband (he isn't a Major). Also a Lieut Wood is missing – I don't know if that's Joanie's husband. ((He was an officer in HK R.N.R. - but it wasn't he)).

Don't think Topper or Sid or Arthur would be classed as technicians (which we understood these troops were), but it's an awful doubt in everyone's mind.  Haven't told Mabel (still in hospital) about the ship but she's bound to know sooner or later - dreadful, because she's doing so well. ((Topper, Olive's fiance, was in R.A.; Sid (Royal Scots) was Mabel's boyfriend; Arthur (Royal Scots) a friend of mine.))

Xrays started again.

Not feeling so sure that our men are all right.  Yet no good worrying.  Mabel is taking it well.

Mrs. M. E. Blair died (in her fifties).

Dr Selwyn-Clarke came, gave us girls (in office) sweets between us. 

Lilian Hope has gone to Shanghai and thence to Canada.