Brown / Dow
(Jenner / Pearson)
Pages tagged:
((Lt Kerr was being hidden in an old house…))
At 3 A.M. I was awakened. … The usual tiny lamp lit up a disordered scene. My six compatriots…were on benches around a little table cleaning their guns, an incredibly old and stooped woman was fixing some food, and three or four small children moved around helping.
… We followed ((the leader)) out into the utter darkness and with one of the boys leading me by the hand, we started up a rocky path directly toward the top of one ridge.
Fine day.
Nothing doing, no news.
Nominations for Block Committee in progress.
With Steve pm.
((Lt Kerr has been moved to a “rock cave”…))
We spent two weeks in the cave. The time went slowly, of course, but having companions and tangible hope made a great improvement over the previous days.
The dates of my diary have been pretty gappy of late – not because nothing has happened but because I seem to have been fully occupied during the day and have felt disinclined to do anything after supper but read.
Cold wind, cloudy.
Lost Q.M. by great majority & L.O. by 12 votes (32-20) (I’m about as popular as I thought) ((Does "Q.M." mean Quarter-master? "L.O." should mean Labour Officer, as on 23rd Feb he writes "Took over Labour Officer of the Block."))
Choir practice 6.30 pm St Steph’ns.
Cold, cloudy but dry.
Ground rice for bread, food carrying.
German lesson.
Choir practice 5-6pm. Discovered how to alter pitch of harmonium.
With Steve pm.
M to Hosp. early due to signs of birth.
News in paper very good.
Cloudy, cold wind.
Poor rations all day.
Choir practice 5-6pm. With Steve after.
Told Willcocks re harmonium & its history.
Took over Labour Officer of the Block.
Birth of Christine Stevens, to Mary Stevens and Ernest J. Stevens, a prison officer generally known as 'Steve'.
Signed non-escape dggidmsh ((unclear))
issue Y25
To Mrs. Stevens, daughter
“Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Mills, Norman, Re?? M??tin, Pam Pritchard ((sp)), Garston((sp?)), Joan Cha?h??, Hughes, MacN, Large, Valentine, Wilson, Chatt???, etc.) p. Norman.
Cloudy but fine & warm pm.
M had daughter, named Christine.
Watered garden for Steve am.
Signed affidavit re not attempting to escape. This signing done under compulsion, penalty for failing to sign, stand in one spot until willing, or walk up & down a room, no food or drink in any case. Now we come under Art.16 of Jap Army law & can be shot for escape or attempt to escape.
“Mid-summer Nights Dream” at St. Stephens.
With Steve pm.
Midsummer Night’s Dream. ((See 24th for details))
Cold wind but fine sunny day.
Watered Steve’s garden.
Food carrying.
Election of District Reps. Barry & Neilson [? Nelson?] get in. ((Probably F C Barry and L R Nielson.)) Wittenbach, Minshall & Stops outvoted.
Choir practice 5-6pm but hardly any of the choir turned up.
With Steve pm.
Onion splitting.
New moon.
Notice outside Kitchen:
This fish is unfit for human consumption. You eat at your own risk.
Wright-Nooth comments in his diary:
As far as I know, not one person refused it. The fish was fried and seemed to taste all right.
Sources:
Fish: George Wright-Nooth, Prisoner of the Turnip Heads, 1994, 124
To Mr. & Mrs. W.B. Tanner – a son.
Peanut butter issue. 1 oz. sugar issue.
((following text undated, but on this page)) “M. ((unclear)) D.”(s)
Fine, cold wind.
Choir practice 9.30am.
Grinding rice aft.
Wrote music for Poddy. ((Who was that?))
Helped Steve on his garden.
Hungry.
4Pkts cigs issued Y1.
Canteen restrictions to be enforced. This will prevent us spending more than Y20 (£1-1-8)