Barbara Anslow's diary: View pages

No one came for shorthand – feel like throwing them both over.

About noon, a plane sounded very near and made a most peculiar noise, as if it had dropped something, then it zoomed over our heads and went slowly out to sea.   A few moments later the air raid alarm went.  Some say it was a  sea-plane - can't be identified in camp.  Mr R Mottram said it had a jagged white marking under wings.   It appeared to be in difficulties and jettisoned about 6 of its cargo, which are either bombs, depth charges, or mines: about the size of Mimi Lau blocks, and marked '100 lbs. 1943'.

One fell near St Stephen's white cross, 3 or 4 in Bungalow A area - 2 actually on it - and one went through the roof of St Stephens and landed on a Mr King's bed, but no serious injuries there.  But at Bungalow A, the Rev. F.R. Myhill aged 33 was seriously injured, with superficial (multiple) wounds and especially on chest - and shock.

Leilah Lois Wood, aged 16, also badly hurt, she has multiple abrasions and wounds, one in her chest. Worrying because she vomited up a little fresh blood, she is also badly shocked.

Mavis Hamson, aged 8, also much bruised.  Mavis' mother and Leilah are sisters.

All clear about 1.20pm, when I went to work.

Olive not at work because of legs (septic).

Raid alarm again between 1.45 and 2.15.

About 4.30 a party of about 7 Japs and Formosans (including interpreter) came to hospital to see the victims.  Then another 2 or 3 came, including Captain Saito(?).

It's ten to 7pm and all clear hasn't gone yet.

Rumour that Churchill has made speech saying that the Japanese war will be over by April 1946!!! Which distresses us except we won't allow ourselves to take it seriously, like all the other rumours we dislike.

Bungalow A and St Stephen evacuated pro tem.

St Stephen's etc. still evacuated, the 200 ex inhabitants are sleeping wherever they can in Blocks 9, 10 and 11.  Not supposed to return to their billets, but some have risked it to get essentials.

Leilah (in hospital) looking so much better.

German lesson off (Crutwell's) because air raid alarm between 11.45 and 12.10, but we had it at 4pm.

The Formosans are reputed to have stopped Tony Sandberg's wedding till Saturday because it's 'a better day' !

Irma Mejia's 20th birthday.

Peace Programme meeting in grotto in evening.

7am Mass in Grants' room (Block 2, Married Q), then outside utside roll call, followed by a general address outside Block 2, where Married Q. people and Blocks A1, A2 and A3 assembled.  (A4 and Dutch Block went to Indian Quarters for their address.)

Lieut. Kadowaki, looking like a member of the foreign legion with khaki flaps attached to his little cap with 1 star on, Mr Max Bickerton (our interpreter) and Mr Gimson stood on tables - Kadowaki had a table to himself.

Kadowaki gave some explosive words in Japanese which Bickerton translated in a low voice to Mr Gimson, who relayed message to us.  First of all, Lt. Kadowaki referred to 'the raid 2 days ago by American planes', and expressed sympathy to us for damage and particularly to those injured. Remainder of the lecture concerned bowing.

We were told that after the bombing, the Adjutant from the Governor's office visited camp and commented that we, particularly women, were lax about bowing.  Lieut K appreciated that our customs are different from theirs, but we must oberve the bowing, otherwise - much though he regretted it - Kadowaki would have to take action.

He then summoned a small Jap soldier who demonstrated the model salute

• (a) to a soldier wearing headgear
• (b) to a soldier not wearing headgear.

He showed us how to bow, beginning as if the head is going to drop off completely, but stopping suddenly as if it was controlled by clockwork ((that is my description)). Then we were dismissed at 10.00am.

Card from Marion Woolard (Kent, a school friend).

Clifton on 'bomb disposal squad', 11 bombs. The Jap experts say they're harmless. ((None of them exploded on impact, the damage was caused by their crashing down.))

Rumour that landing in Shanghai imminent.

Eileen Grant came home from hospital today.

3 bombs were extracted, one 200 lbs, two were 100 pounders.

Worked in afternoon.  Then went to St Matthew's group party in Maria's room.  Benediction in evening.  

Meat.

Olive's 29th birthday - I gave her a dress hanger and hankies which got yesterday from Eve Hill (nurse) for 1 packet cigarettes. Mum gave Olive a pair of her voluminous pants to make a blouse with.

Mrs H had stillborn baby.

Worked in am.

C.A. Meeting.  

Two lots of bridge, first, Peg & I v. Dick (Cloake) and Philip ((Appleyard?)); second, we played Dugdale and Sewell.

Mrs. E. Byrne, whose husband died while grinding rice last year, had news that her only son has died.

Firewood cut 25%

News circulating round camp these last few days is that Labour Govt. has got in at Home with a big majority, Atlee in charge. It's said that Churchill and Atlee flew to Potsdam. Churchill also said to have resigned from politics to write a history of the war.

Joan Wilkinson came for shorthand.

St Joseph's meeting in evening.  Mrs J. Witham elected President, Mrs Edna Grant Vice, Mrs Marvin Secretary.

Mrs Dorothy Fyffe gave talk to St Agnes club in our room.    Saw her polished show some months back, when she stepped into the breach at about 2 days' notice.   She went on music halls with her elder sister when she was 15, and travelled through Europe, appearing at Folies Bergere, and in Royal Command Performance in 1938, and before the King and Queen when they visited France in 1939, when Maurice Chevalier was also on the latter bill and was largely responsible for sending the sisters to Rio de Janeiro. At the time Tyrone Power and Annabella were there. At Royal Command Performance, Gracie Fields was the big attraction. Dorothy was also with Bertram Mills' circus for some time. ((Dorothy had a daughter Elisabeth, born in camp in July 1942)).

There's to be draw from Welfare - 73 tins of salmon and jam between 2,500 people!

All 'refugees' except Bungalow A's allowed back to blocks after 9 days in temporary billets.

Rumour of 3 food/evacuation ships.  Also rumour that some peace points accepted by Japs, etc.

Doreen doesn't want to bother with shorthand any more. Joan W came for lesson.

Different people heard machine-gunning last night.

1.45pm, a contingent of about 10 Japs including the colonel, and Captain Saito and Lieut. Kadowaki came to hospital on inspection. Mr R Zindel (Red Cross) was with them. Last night some of them inspected dispensary at the hospital, and it had already been cleaned out this morning.  They had also inspected the Married Quarters kitchen (in prewar garages) and criticised that too.

Bridge in evening, Peg and I v. Rosie Judah and Sheila.

Salt fish in rations, not meat.

Sheila Mackinlay's banns called today, to Searle (Police).

Not feeling well.  

St Catherine's meeting .

Working.  

Went to see Doreen about shorthand – and found that Doreen's pa knew nothing about her decision to stop learning.

Pacifism meeting in our room.

Not feeling very good.  

Worked.

Went to work, then brought up breakfast.

Having day off, though feeling much better.

Strong rumour (which Clifton swears true) that Russia declared war on Japan and we have landed on Japan proper!

Outside roll call, then news that technicians (previously interviewed) were to go off today - no one knows where,they had to be ready to leave by 2pm.

Technicians' families allowed to go with them. But the Seraphinas and Wards were not allowed because too many children. About 199 went, including (people I knew):

T. Pritchard ((Thomas Pritchard died in 1944, so I think Barbara is referring to E A Pritchard)), C. Fuller, W. Mezger, C. Harloe,
Mr and Mrs de Broekert and 3 children, 
Mr & Mrs I. Heath + 2 children,
Mr & Mrs E. Blackmore and Yvonne,
Mr & Mrs R. Lederhofer and Patricia,
Mr and Mrs Mackintyres and daughters Muriel and Ailsa, 
J. J. Cameron and daughter Moira,
S Marvin and wife, Mr & Mrs A. Black,
E. Greenwood and wife, Mr & Mrs R. Cryan,
George and May Halligan, the Langstons,
Mr & Mrs S. Chubb and Christopher.

Even Mr. A. Glanville (a patient in the TB sanitorium) was sent.

There were two instant marriages:- Sheila Bruce and Eric Humphreys, and Tamara Jex and Clifford Crofton, but the new wives weren't allowed to accompany their husbands - one Jap told Tamara she may be able to follow in 10 days' time ((he was nearly right!!)); she and Clifford had been due to have a slap-up wedding the next day. 

G. Padgett and Rose Hobbs (nurse) wanted to marry then and there but couldn't as their banns hadn't been called.

The embarkees had to line up four deep on the road outside the Gaol, crowds of us left behind stood leaning over the Married Q. railings, some kids sitting outside the railings with legs dangling over the edge.

They were allowed to take camp beds, luggage etc. Some with knapsacks, baskets, basins; suitcases; little baskets hooked on bamboo poles. Macintyre girls in brief sunsuits, Moira Cameron in blue serge coat 3 years too short for her, and all the little de Broekerts in white topees, Anne carrying her doll.

Japs counted them, and as names were called, they trailed off towards the Prep. School ((on way to jetty)). Conjectures as to why they were removed were many: Japs handing over to Wang Ching Wei, and our technicians required; or needed for exchange of other prisoners, etc. etc.

The people who went to help them with the luggage got back at 10pm and reported that they went off in a coastal boat, and apparently the only place to be was in the hold.

Every one diving in dustbins for anything useful discarded by the absentees!

Sheila Haynes came over in evening and asked me to her wedding to Pat Cullinan!

Burnett was reasonably pleased with 'Come and Get It!' which was title of my account of the food queue.

((More about the technicians' departure - Yvonne de Jong (nee Blackmore) was a schoolgirl in Stanley, we are still in touch; recently she published a small paper back called 'An Extraordinary Youth' with a chapter about Stanley.

Her father being an Engineer, he with his wife and Yvonne were in the technicians' group.  Here are extracts of what she writes:-

• 'No explanation was given and we never found out why we were removed from Stanley...
• Our quartermasters issued some dry rations in case of an emergency...
• There were 177 of us... we boarded a large motorized Chinese junk and were guided into the reeking, fishy hold where we were battened down...
• Our destination turned out to be a former, small refugee compound on Argyle Street, Kowloon. There were 8 huts surrounded by high fences and barbed wire. Guards were posted at each corner...
• We were quite relieved finding ourselves to be still alive and not drowned in the deep blue sea....
• Our emergency rations proved invaluable as no food was supplied for 2 days.
• It was a time of great suspense... on the tenth morning we looked out we found there were no guards at their posts, they had disappeared overnight. Our men held a conference and decided to wait a day and see what happened next.  Nothing!
• On August 12th U.S. air planes dropped pamphlets signed by Admiral Nimitz advising us to stay where we were and await the arrival of the Navy...))

Up early and went to Bartons' room (American Block) where Sheila and Pat were married. Father Meyer took the ceremony, which was followed by a Nuptial Mass. Mr. J. Joyce was Best Man. Quentin Macfayden gave Sheila away. Pat looked nervous, Sheila most serene in her dark blue taffeta dress. Hugh Goldie there, Rosaleen Millar and sister Eileen Grant, and Miss M. Paterson.

 ((Miss Paterson was a teacher; she it was who, when a nurse at the Jockey Club wartime hospitall when the Japs first entered that hospital, bravely escaped in the night and made her way via the cemetery to Bowen Road Military Hospital and reported that the soldiers were raping the young nurses; as a result the next day Dr Selwyn-Clarke, Director of Medical Services, visited the Jockey Club with a Japanese official, and the nurses and patients were then all evacuated.. My mother told me about this as she too was nursing at that hospital. ))

Meat today, but I still can't eat rice.

Wedding reception in the Barton girls' room.  ((The Barton family occupied two rooms in American Block, one shared by Mr and Mrs Barton and their 5 sons Alec, Terence, Leo, John and Daniel, the other by their 6 daughters Marie, Margaret (Peggy), Audrey, Wendy, Jacqueline and Rosemary; Marie moved out after she married Vincent Morrison.))

Loads of tasty eats, I only had to refuse once, and the cake was delicious – white thick cream on top. Hugh Goldie there,  Boesterd, Sheila's aunt, Mrs Kella,  Marie Paterson and Bartons.

Worked in am.  Frank Angus' offer worth thinking about, about $400 a month – but I don't want to be working out here all my youth – what's left of it.  ((Frank Angus had in mind some post-war job and asked me if I would join as secretary.))

Margery Fortescue has my trouble (lack of appetite) too she has gone quite thin, and gave me one and a half limes because she was given some.

Still not well.

Started writing new story.

St Agnes meeting, then C.A. Meeting.  

Peggy Barton rusked rice bread for me.

Pacifism in evening.

Lovely First Communion Service for Barbara Willey and Ronnie Harris - both looked very nice in white.

Lazing out on grass, I heard a plane in distance; it cruised along so long, then suddenly became much louder; it was a huge thing, dark and old-looking like a great evil bird swooping down sharply over the American Block, machine-gunning - it sounded like that but no one was hurt so perhaps it wasn't.

I flew into Block 2's front entrance. Children in the road started to shriek, gardeners popped out of their gardens, and every one flew for safety. Mabel arrived back from the workshop.

While we were (sheltering) in our corridor, back came the plane again, and the Japs up the hill began pot-shooting at it with rifles, which made an awful frightening crack-crack. Lots of children and adults were at the beach. Four times the plane came, then it was all over and we saw the wreckage of a naval patrol boat (presumably Jap) to the left of the island in front of the hospital; and some saw - they said - survivors kicking about, poor souls. Tim Fortescue said a second boat was also sunk, all of which shows that the rumour that our war is over isn't true.

To 'Co-operative' talk by Mr. A. J. C. Taylor in grotto.

Mr. Pederson died after operation.

Feeling a little better. Spent most of morning at hospital, trying to get medicine.

June Cheape asked me to do duplicate bridge with her, but I haven't the guaranteed time.

3 cards from Auntie.

News of the new Labour Government: school-leaving age to be raised; no one allowed to earn over £2,000 annually; essential services - railways etc. to come under Govt. control; unemployment benefits altered; expectant and nursing mothers to be fed and housed etc. It all sounds idealistic.

Meeting in Bartons' room. Mum came and other guests.  I'm now President, Elsie Bidwell vice.  Brother F. Grimshaw talked about papal  infallibility,  

Alice, Mum, Peggy and I played bridge.