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Thirty three people are executed on Stanley Beach soon after 2 p.m. All have been involved in one way or another with resistance activities organised by the British Army Aid Group.
The Stanley internees among that number are:
No concert (Executed)
Dry, cloudy, cooler.
Executions down by pier.
Choir practice 6-7.30 in a field W of Prison.
Canteen buyer.
((On board the Gripsholm, nursing sister May Waters writes out the following report from the New Zealand Internees Association she'd been given to memorise before leaving Stanley. She attaches a covering letter and sends them both to Mr Thomson, father of one of the internees.))
M.S. Gripsholm
29.10.43
Dear Mr. Thomson,
Better introduce myself first, one of the Canadian sisters that was at Bowen Rd and Stanley Internment Camp with your daughter Kathleen.
The following list shows the people who have a page on Gwulo, and who died on 29th October, 1943. This was the day that the Japanese executed over 30 people on the beach at Stanley.
Brian has more details about these people and the day's events at:
http://gwulo.com/node/11380
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Yesterday I received a parcel from the Mei Lee Ironworks containing 1 tin corned beef, 1 tin fish and 1 packet of sugar which was very acceptable. There isn't a great deal of news except disturbing rumours that some of the internee prisoners have been bumped off.
Russian news appears to be good. The 'Teia Meru' is not calling this way on the way back to Japan but for the next repatriation we are likely to receive some Red Cross food which is badly needed.
((Following text not dated:))
Mavis Xavier into Rosary Hill. Says crowded and not enough to eat. Inmates found soldiers' bones around Mt Nicholson.
People with British passports said get help from Red Cross. Grace Ablong supposedly getting but denies. Mrs Jex ((Daisy, wife of Starling Jex)) refused help when husband died.
Windy & drizzle, colder.
3 Pkts cigs.
Painted name of B.Gs case ((Who is B.G.? Possibly Mrs Billie Gill?)) & needles for M.
With Steve pm. E there.
More pris’s arrived from town knelt down in bottom of Jap army lorry.
Father’s birthday tomorrow, so I will wish him “Many happy returns”. I hope I shall have seen him before his next. Sunday, the last day of the month. Still no further news of repatriation, though we wait for it daily.
Tonight we ate our first vegetable from the garden! We had not intended to, but the weather has turned quite chilly these last two days (two blanket weather) and after quite a concentrated rehearsal from 2.30 to 5 p.m. this afternoon, we came back feeling pretty peckish.
Dull, drizzly, cold.
Needles for E.
Today’s crop of rumours. Germans routed on Russian front. We have advanced 150 mls inside Burma. Revolution in Germany & peace talks in progress.
With Steve pm.
Russia has given us an air-base N of Vladivostock.
Camage ? manager of Chartered Bank arrested.
Chinese being ill-treated (tortured) in gaol am.
Another month gone and still no news. We are promised however that we shall hear something soon.
201 admissions to Tweed Bay Hospital ((This may well be a summary of the total number of admissions to the Hospital during the month.))
((Following text not dated:))
Rumour British evacuation for women and only of fully European descent. Daisy Jex has asked permission leave. All interested how she gets on. Micky Williams dead heart failure.
Fine & warmer. Aired bedding.
Nothing happened noteworthy.
Hattori in ?
Information re pris’s very bad but very good re repatriation?
Drew map for use in “positioning” future fires.
((R E Jones' daughter Rae has this drawing among her father's papers:
Repatriation circular
(1) children separ. from parents
(2) Sick
(3) Over 70
(4) Wom with child under 15;
(5) Women
Franklin Gimson receives notice from the Japanese of the executions of October 29, and of the prison sentences imposed on others, although only those who were arrested in Stanley or have a wife there are mentioned.
All religious services and other forms of memorial are strictly forbidden, and no representations or appeals are allowed for those in prison.
Source:
John Stericker, A Tear for the Dragon, 1958, 182
Among the papers of Mr Thomas Alwyn Hughes I found this instruction, written on the back of a cigarette packet, given to the Police members interned at Stanley on November 3, 1943: