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Frank H. Fisher writes in his diary:
The Canadians and those with wives and families in Canada have been called up.((to be listed for repatriation)).
Today's cut in the flour ration mentioned by R. E. Jones is the start of a process which is to lead to the complete cessation of new flour supplies to the camp. The ration ends on January 29. 1944 (http://gwulo.com/node/13649).
Source:
Fisher: Daniel S, Levy, Two-Gun Cohen: A Biography, 1997, Kindle Edition, Location 5505
St. David's Soc. & 40th ann. SS College.
Martin / Richards
Welsh lesson Ps. 46 - J. Owen-Hughes.
Canada repatriation list at C.S.O.
Death of D.E.G. Jantz ((sp)) (36). ((Who was this?))
Last day of another month thank goodness. February has been a good month as far as the weather goes – bright and sunny and invigorating. Today the clouds gathered and we have had a drizzling rain. Usually the fine weather breaks up somewhere in the middle of February and the monsoon begins to change, bringing with it the awful damp weather; so we have been given two weeks extra fine weather which is something to be thankful for.
Cloudy & some rain.
((G.))
M&V pie.
Walk with Steve pm.
((G.))
Canadians etc called to office to register.
Flour ration cut, rice increased.
It's just 4pm - 7am with you and I suppose even on Sunday you'll be up or getting up. This is the end of another month and still we can see no signs of deliverance. Only in Russia is any progress being made - we seem terribly tied up in North Africa and because of that, I suppose, nothing seems to be going on in Burma or in the South. We are so tired of waiting but we must just have patience and carry on.
Later now 6pm. - 9am with you. I got a bit depressed when I thought of you all and started writing - but what's the use?
Flour reduced 6 oz to 3 1/2 oz.
I.Q. Rice ?? ((sp)) others br. every other day.
Rice increased 6 oz to 12 oz.
St. David's Day celebration.
Concert (O'Connor, Heasman, Corra, Drown, Heath - "That Romantic Age ((sp)) - Yvonne Charter, Nora Witchell (p. W.H. Colledge).
I stopped again last night - it seems clear that there is no hope of relief this Spring and if we are relieved before Christmas we shall be lucky. It's a long way ahead and it is such a shame that we should be separated on Aug 31st. If we could only communicate in any way - even if I could persuade the Red Cross Delegate to send you a cable or wireless - I've no money to pay for it.
We must be patient. Cheerio Darling B
Diarist Frank H. Fisher cynically notes that many 'Pseudo Canadians getting quite frantic to get on the list ((for repatriation - see yesterday's entry)).
Source:
Fisher: Daniel S, Levy, Two-Gun Cohen: A Biography, 1997, Kindle Edition, Location 5505
Petition against food.
Entertainment mtg. (Young).
Canadian list extension to father, mother, brother, sister from wife &/or children.
Attempted burglary at Bung. (A).
Hong softball final – Police 21 v. Hosp. 10
Cards from P.O.W. Argyle Street Camp
((G.))
Police beat Hosp. in softball 12-8.
Walk with Steve.
((G.))
8 yrs. £290.
((The '1940 list of Prison officers' gives Jones' start date as a Prison Officer as "Mar 2, '35", so that explains his note "8 yrs". Not sure what the "£290" refers to though, probably his cash balance?
Stuart Braga: After 8 years his salary would probably have been £290 per annum. The incremental steps are in the Blue Book. ))
3 one-act plays – “Prelude & Fugue” “Farewell Supper” “The Playgoers” Ray Mabb, Whittaker Stone ((or Stanham, name unclear)) Garton, Luke, Brendley, Cooper, Tebbutt, Morgan
p. by Elizabeth Tebbutt & John Stericker. Piano – Mary Goodban.
At Shamshuipo the entire camp attends a play written by one of the prisoners. The Golden Road is set soon after a time everyone's yearning for: the end of the war. A POW rushes home to be re-united with his fiancee but discovers she's married someone else:
Her explanation that 'two years is a long time' was greeted by the audience with the tense silence of men who recognized in it a horrible truth.
Source:
Andro LInklater, The Code of Love, 2000, 120
Last Sunday afternoon J.F. and I set off to report at the C.S.O. and just as we had started the rain came down in lumps. There was quite a crowd at the offices and we formed a queue. Mr Gearson ((Gimson)), the Col. Secretary asked the questions, wife's name and address and if repatriated could I keep myself. So it all looks very hopeful. Evidently the Japs had to have the information on Monday morning.