I sent off our August p.c. yesterday - I hadn't seen any instructions and so I mentioned "exchange" or repatriation. This I am now told is forbidden so it may be torn up. Perhaps Bill Faid will stop it but I feel I'd like to risk it. In any case I feel sure I'll be almost on its heels - we'll be out of here by the end of November. I was depressed the other day to think there was still 3 whole months to go but we hope it will be true then.
The first meeting of the third British Community Council takes place today.
Fire still burning. Paper says ten planes raided. Loud bang in afternoon. Shell smoke and drone but nothing else.
Classical concert ((see 3rd for details))
OBJECTIVE: Bomb Tien Ho airbase in Canton
TIME OVER TARGET: ~1:00 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Ten B-25s from the 11th Bomb Squadron (341st Medium Bomb Group) escorted by seven P-40s from the 74th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group). All aircraft are from the 14th Air Force.
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
Prince Shimidzu, Vice President of the Japanese Red Cross, and Baron Hiyashi of the Foreign Office visits the Camp. The Prince seems distressed at the overcrowding, and, when he sees a meal, expresses the hope that the Camp will get International Red Cross supplies soon. He asks how many people in Camp are fit; Franklin Gimson tells him there's only one - a man who was interned in the last few weeks.
Short (National Day of Prayer) / Myhill
Typhoon weather
The other day, in the paper, it stated, quite blandly, that all Chinese eating houses had been ordered to erect wire netting round all upper floor balconies to prevent the numerous cases of suicide that keep occurring. The horrible truth is that many of these Chinese – the comparatively poor, though probably educated – come to a final end of all their resources and decide that oblivion and death is the best alternative.
Typhoon about, wind & rain all day.
Stencil for O.B. (("O.B." is also mentioned in Jones' diary for 23rd July, where Barbara Anslow suggests he may be referring to Oscar Basham.))
Play crib with Steve pm. ((G))
Lai Chi Kok Oil Tank ablaze again 10.30pm-Midnt.
Eric Humphreys and George and Ivy Halligan are re-interned in Stanley.
Humphreys and Halligan were taken out of camp to work as technicians in town while living in the French Hospital in Causeway Bay. Today they're returned - but their journeying isn't over yet.
Source:
Archives of the International Red Cross, Geneva:
Zindel to ICRC, General Letter No. 79/43 in BG0/7 07-066.
I omitted to mention we were all greatly shocked to hear of the death of Sir V.M.Grayburn in the prison here. He died of beri beri on the evening of the 21st August (Saturday) and the news was only released by the Japs. on the 23rd evening, that is 48 hours afterwards.
4 persons (E. Humphrey , Hallaghan & Mrs.) came from town to camp. ((Brian notes the last two names should be Mr. and Mrs. Halligan, not Hallaghan.))
Typhoon weather
I didn't write yesterday (Sunday) - I was in a real Slough of Despond. A typhoon was blowing hard, we had exceeded our current quota so the electricity was off and it was dull and dismal indoors all day. The food situation is grim in the extreme. They sent in rations yesterday - some fish and veg.
