((The following entry was undated))
Since my last entry there has been very tragic news. Last Tuesday, 2nd Nov, our worst fears about the prisoners were confirmed, and, indeed, the news was much worse than our worst fears. At midday the following bulletin was issued:-
Fine, colder.
More fanatical claims in Jap paper. 2 A.Cs ((Aircraft Carriers)) 3 battleships 17 Cruisers 472 planes 7 transports, 10,000 men & 5 destroyers sunk, downed & drowned for their loss of 33 planes (Oh Yeh!).
With Steve pm.
Variety (p. Dean Smith; asst. by DG Wilson, Betty Drown, Tom Concannon)
Goldie flake ((sp?)) (E. Grant ((sp?)), C. Schik ((sp?)), V. Garton)
“Grand Chan's Diamond” (Eric Curtis, K. Gray, E. Tomlin, A. Brenchley, W.H.E. Colledge)
Much colder.
Japs add to & re-affirm results of Bourgainville battles.
3 ½ oz. peanut butter issued free.
Mary’s birthday. gave her talc & tigerbalm. Steve to Concert.
List of people leaving next month nearing completion.
Made up Canteen lists.
I got out of hospital this afternoon - just 10 days there. "Be it ever so humble there is no place like home". - I never thought I'd ever welcome returning to this little "cell" as "home". I had a frightful chill - and after the fever went my face broke out horribly with herpes. But it's nearly better now. No word yet if I am to be included but I'm pretty sure I will be. Poor Dora is very disappointed - for I don't think she or Margery will be included.
Notes:
15/11/43 "Chan pd ¥5.00 for 1 qt Yeast".
Franklin Gimson notes in his diary that Lady Grayburn seems to have recovered her mental balance and can now see things more impartially.
Gimson also prepares a notice with today's date outlining arrangements for a hoped for repatriation of some of the aged, the sick, the young, the mothers of the young - and even of the women.
((Shows – see 11th Nov for details))
700 British repatriates + 8 Canadians announced
Shopping. Tab 6/b [either a small ‘b’ or a 6]
Fine, cool.
List of names of those selected for repatriation displayed. Much happiness & sadness, disappointment etc about in consequence. ? of the day now is “Are you going?”
I rec. letter from Marj dated 27th Sept 1942. She was happy & well then & Rae too bless’em. (Although you seldom appear in this diary darling I think of you both just the same, daily & nightly, hoping, wishing & planning)
It's not quite 4pm - so not 7am with you yet and you can hardly be up yet. Alabaster came down specially to tell me I am on the list - what a relief! Now I know I'll be free before the end of the year and home sometime in January. What a reunion that will be - you'll be scared when you see me I'm sure - I'm so thin but I'll soon fatten up. I won't be a good bed companion for sometime however - all knobs!
((Shows – see 11th Nov for details))
Fine, cloudy.
Bathrooms.
Stores arrived.
Nothing fresh re news or repatriation.
Fine, did some washing.
Restless day, inferior rice full of husks.
With Steve pm.
Turkey in the War?
Mail to neutral Euro. countries suspended. Why?
James O'Toole in Shamshuipo:
Sent letter to Alan (Barwell) & 1 yen. There is some talk of them being sent away, hope so, for news of my safety & well being to reach England....
Now allowed to write 25 words on a p.c. twice in three months, to Stanley counting as a turn. Letters come in every Sunday as a rule.
Source:
O'Toole Shamshuipo Diary at
Raid at 11.05 pm
About 11 p.m. sound of plane. Then screech. Then big bang. A bomb, long trajectory across roofs. Siren late. Apparently one or two raiders and bombs for godowns and Kowloon Docks. Next day saw seven big four-engined bombers pass over sedately. Flak low.
Fine, warm.
Hill fire on Is. S of HK out by early am.
Sound of gunfire from N.Ts all day.
With Steve pm.
Ground rice & mended straps am.
Fed up.
Raid on Kowloon 11pm & some very heavy stuff dropped. No opposition from Japs except a little useless, belated AA fire & one plane flying around low after our chaps had gone. (Quite in keeping with their invincibility & indomitable fighting spirit, & their unfailing qualities that enable them to knock down our chaps at least 8 to 1 Ha Ha!!
OBJECTIVE: Bomb Kowloon docks and mine Victoria Harbor
TIME OVER TARGET: ~11:00 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Twenty B-24s from the 373rd, 374th, 375th and 425th Bomb Squadrons (308th Heavy Bomb Group)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW:
Dr. Harry Talbot is admitted to the hospital at Stanley Prison by an arrangment with the warder Kader Bux, probably to treat the banker David Edmondston, who he finds in poor physical condition made worse by anxiety. He has a large carbuncle on his neck which Talbot treats over the next two weeks, leaving it much cleaner.
Source:
Harry Talbot, Medical Report on David Edmondston, in HKMS163-1-104