The last group of bankers and their families arrives in from town today - 17 British, 10 Dutch and 2 Norwegians according to the Red Cross, although George Gerrard's diary gives the British figure as 18.
Pages tagged:
Youth concert ((for details see 15th July))
About a fortnight ago, eleven more people came in, chiefly bank people. Alec Kennedy was amongst them; he had spent the early days of internment in this camp, then was taken to town by the Japs to assist with the business of liquidating the HK Shanghai Bank. He has now returned and when I asked him if he was glad he said, “Well, yes and no. We had more freedom outside and felt we were more in touch with things; but it’s much pleasanter living out here”.
Showery.
Working on Dr Hasketts hold-all.
No swim, no G today.
Choir practice 10-11AM.
Talk with Steve pm.
Bulletin re interview with Hatori told us very little. Not much hopes of any improvement.
Hungry.
Letter No 16 turned up 2 days ago - I've been lucky, I've had 9 and lots of people have had much less and a few have still not heard at all. I have Nos 4, 5, 6, 8, then 15, 16, 17, 18 and No 20. The last one was the greatest thrill of course. Then your Red Cross forms of 23/12 & 20/1/43! were of course still better - we are not allowed to send replies on them as we are supposed to have a monthly letter. I did send in replies - so I must try to get my forms back to keep. No more ne
Dow / Myhill
Letter No 18 turned up today. I have two marked 18 but I thought something was wrong No 17 is of 4/10/42 and the first No 18 I got was of 18/10/42 a fortnight's difference and then No 20 is of 25/10/42. So the first No 18 is really No 19 and I got the real 18 of 11/10/42 today. I now have a complete sequence from 15-20.
Rained, cooler.
Hold-all.
Choir practice 11-12am St Stephens.
No swim.
Talk with Steve pm.
Full moon.
"Smuggling" (E.A. Pritchard, Com of CMC)
Dull & little rain.
Hold-all finished & returned 6PM.
List “A” Canadians checked & told of arrangements that have been made.
((G))
I didn't write on on Sunday. I was a bit depressed and I'm not much better today. I have read over your letters again - I don't know when you'd get the first letter from me but there is a wide gap till the second and D.O.K. when that will reach you. I know you will be worried and depressed too but you have a lot to occupy your mind and you will have energy too if you are getting fairly normal food.
My weight last Sunday was 159lbs which is the lowest I've been for over a year. Of course rations are low in everything that is rice, flour, beef, fish and very poor quality of vegetables such as water spinach which is only lepsop ((Chinese for "rubbish")), grass, fit for chickens and rabbits etc. and now that private parcels coming in have been stopped that reduces any extras. Fortunately we are able to buy bananas at 15sen each which help our --- and bread. A food ship at the present juncture is desirable and would be joyfully welcomed.
Classical concert (Mrs. DM Richards ((I guess this means "The wife of D M Richards" probably L Richards)), Heasman, AT. Lay, Welsh choir conducted by Rev. DM Richards / c - Cyril Brown)
Today is my birthday. Many happy returns me. I wonder if Pop and I shall have met again before we celebrate our next. Dear me! I feel I’m growing quite elderly ((he was aged 31)).
Cloudy & cool.
((G))
Allowance arrived.
Rumours ? re repatriation by end of Sept.
Sang in Welsh Choir in concert at St Stephens. Well received.
Classical concert ((for details see 22nd July))
Issue of Y20