Vaudeville ((see 16th for details))
Canadians' luggage searched - Y25 each
issue of 3 ozs lard
Pages tagged:
Windy with occasional rain, warmer.
Took G’s luggage to go-down am.
4 Pkts cigs issued, Canadians’ luggage inspected aft.
Chorus for Phil. ((who?))
Talk with Steve after.
G to supper with O.B. & S.S. (("O.B." is also mentioned in Jones' diary for 23rd July, where Barbara Anslow suggests he may be referring to Oscar Basham. Not sure who "S.S." is.)) Took stencils for them.
Brooke Himsworth born. ((Nice to see him in the 2011 HK gathering photos))
Birth of Brooke Himsworth to Emily and Eric Himsworth.
Brooke Himswoth attended the Stanley Camp Reunion organised by Geoffrey Emerson in 2015.
Rudolf Zindel visits Stanley, interviews 22 internees and discusses matters with Franklin Gimson. The two main topics are the setting up of Rosary Hill Red Cross Home, which the internees welcome, and the September 24 repatriation of 60 Canadians and 2 Americans from Stanley. Zindel also notes that in September he paid 2,391 British internees M.Y. 25 - but that the recipients are agitating for an increase in this 'pocket allowance' that is not possible given his present funding, even if the Japanese agree.
To Mr. & Mrs. E. Himsworth, a son (Brook)
Farewell to Fr. Murphy and 4 sisters of I.C. ((Probably Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, ie Roman Catholic nuns. Thanks to Barbara Anslow for providing their names as listed in Greg Leck's book Captives of the Empire:
I was up seeing Win this afternoon - she'd had a letter from you dated 9/11/42. It told her of Ken's death (now nearly 2 years ago). Win had been in hospital for 4 days with malaria - there's quite a lot about the Camp as we can do nothing in the Village or outside the barbed wire and the Japs do nothing or next to nothing. I hope I escape - we are practically free of mosquitoes in the Indian Quarters, so I'm hopeful.
There is not much news except that it would appear that we are doing well on all fronts and that of course is most satisfactory and if we knew all that is going on we would probably be astounded at the rapidity of our movements.
The Canadians and Americans are expected to board the 'Teia Maru' on Thursday 23rd inst., she being due on Wednesday night 22nd. The weather has been very strong with equinoxial gales and rain. Nothing very important to record, but the news is excellent.
Fine.
Aired bedding.
1lb rice issued to residents. Took G some rice & ground some for her.
Sandwiches at Mary’s with G. Mutton very good. Took her sunglasses back 8pm & had tea. Wanted to stay but daren’t broach the ? What was she thinking I wonder.
Own cooking finished, now attached to A1, 2 & 3 from pm meal.
The Japanese discover a secret radio at the Argyle Street Camp.
There are a number of arrests later in the day, including that of the New Zealander Lt. H. C. Dixon, the main radio operative, whose taken to Yaumati Gendarmerie. These continue until September 27 when Major Charles Boxer and Capatain Woodward are taken away. Nine men are arrested in all.
Source:
Ralph Goodwin, Passport to Eternity, 1956, 43-46
Mrs. Anne G. Lacey marries Philip Edward Farrington, a works foreman.
The Teia Maru anchors off Stanley. On September 19 it had loaded repatriates from Shanghai.
Sources:
Greg Leck, Captives of Empire, 625
http://www.combinedfleet.com/Teia_t.htm
Wedding - Phillip Eden Patrick Eamon Farrington & (Mrs) Antoinette Susan Lacey (Rose).
Jap object to Gimson signing passports + certif. of identity ((sp?)) as C.S. & Rep. of HM British Govt, HK.
Windy & wet.
Saw G a.m. for a little while & had cup of tea. Talk with Steve pm. G there. Went up to see her & say Goodbye at 8pm but so many people being there spoilt it. We kissed Goodbye at 9pm but I couldn’t say anything of what I had thought of saying.
Tae-a Maru arrived 8.15pm & anchored in the bay.
The Teia Maru sets sail, having loaded 88 Hong Kong repatriates - 73 Canadian, 13 Latin American and 2 American - and some passengers for the Philipines.
The repatriates include American writer Emily Hahn. Hahn had turned down repatriation in June 1942 so that she could help her POW lover, Major Charles Boxer, but now circumstances are different and she feels the risk to her and her daugher Carola outweighs any advantages in remaining.
((The following text is not dated:))
Eighteen months later the Canadians left, and once again our hearts ached to be going with them, but as Hong Kong was a British colony, we had to remain until the end.
When the Canadians had left, it gave us a little more space for living in, and the five of us; Mary, Alec, Carmen, Owen, and I moved into a slightly smaller room, but at least we didn't have to share it with anyone else, and we had some privacy.