((Lt Kerr is at the house of Kwok Lon, “Number One”, leader of the guerrillas...))
The next day I felt much better except that my leg had acquired a few more colors and degrees of swelling. As I began stirring around, a hand holding aloft a cup of steaming tea appeared over the edge of my balcony closely followed by the cheerful Francis. He sat on the edge of the pallet while I sipped the drink and came out with the interesting news that I’d be on my way again that night.
Fine.
Choir practice pm.
Made out Canteen lists.133. Y15-70.
Black-out ordered.
(400 US planes to come over tomorrow?)
Parcels searched up the hill
((Lt Kerr is being carried around / across Sharp’s Peak…))
The two fellows carrying my chair were having a hard time. The path was steep and rough, and with many a sharp turn and awkward place that called for backing and filling and twisting and tugging and occasional help from the guard…
At the top of the mountain, very near where we had stopped the night before, we again took off for a puffing spell. … I was asking ((Francis)) about the guerrillas …
Damp, misty & cold.
Ground bread rice.
Choir practice 5-6pm. Saw Steve after.
Hungry.
Wrote music for “Elijah”
Canteen buyer.
No blackout.
Peanut oil. 4oz issued free.
680 catties fish for 2,500 ((so about 165g per person)).
‘Laburnum Grove’ had a somewhat difficult and interrupted voyage. Originally it was due to be performed on Nov 4th and I had the first play reading on 18th Sept. Then for various reasons the production date was postponed from one week to another – either the Japanese withheld their permission for some of the earlier shows to be performed, or sickness in the cast of earlier shows meant postponement and every entertainment was therefore pushed back a week or two.
Windy, wet & cold.
Fish ration reduced by 50%.
Lousy dream about Marj last night.
Repaired cistern.
Food carrying.
Spot of bother with Mrs Stevens re bread. ((Not sure which Mrs Stevens he's referring to - possibly Mary Stevens, though he usually calls her by her first name.))
Cast for Gypsy musical got together & arranged for practice etc.
Saw Steve pm.
Coldest day so far. Windy & wet.
Ground bread rice & beans.
Hungry as hell all day.
German lesson.
Saw Steve pm. Eve there too.
(New scale of rations to come shortly?)
No news & Jap paper lousy. We cannot see to win anywhere & there seems to be coal-strikes all over the Empire.
Sparrows being “catapulted” for food.
The British paper the Catholic Herald publishes an article based on an interview with Mrs. Lancelot Forster, wife of the head of Stanley's Educational programme, Professor Lancelot Forster.
Mrs. Forster tells a staff reporter that she received a letter from her husband in January. It was written in September 1943 and this represented 'a much quicker delivery than usual and very probably it came on one of the (Canadian) exchange ships'.
B.O. 9.30 pm. Raid
Fine sunny day but cold.
Repairs to cistern.
Choir practice wash-out due to lack of numbers.
Saw Steve pm.
Fish cut 50% permanent.
Rumour re repatriation up again (Paratroops dropped between here & Canton)
All lights off 9.30pm. Raid on Colony 10pm lasted 10 mins. Very entertaining for us. Heavy stuff dropped. One machine lingered a little after the bombers had gone and did a little strafing on his own.
OBJECTIVE: Bomb HK & Whampoa dockyard
RESULTS: B-24s attempt to bomb dockyard at night with the aid of flares, but only six aircraft find the target. Bombs are widely scattered and cause little damage, with some apparently falling on Hong Kong Island. The Hongkong News later claims a hospital is hit, killing several Chinese patients. The 308th judges that the use of flares for night bombing over Hong Kong is a failure and the group does not repeat this experiment.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~10:20 p.m.
New scale of rations
Beck
B.O.
Fine, cold wind.
Bread rice.
4 pkts cigs issued Y1-65.
Slept on roof aft.
Food carrying.
New ration scale to come into force.
With Steve pm.
The London Sunday Express (page 4) carries an article based on the testimony of a Canadian repatriate who's recently arrived in Britain. It makes grim reading for the families of the internees:
Conditions are dreadful in Stanley, and I shudder to think what's going to happen to those people if help isn't sent quickly. We were all almost at the end of our tether when we left nearly two months ago. ((September 23 1943.)) There just isn't the food in Hong Kong to feed those people.
The latest is the reduction in the quantity of fish. On Wednesday we received two days fish which is normally on the equivalent of one day and it is said that cut is permanent but it is also inferred that the quality of vegetables will be increased which will be quite acceptable if the quality keeps up in standard to what we have been receiving lately.
Sandbach / Wittenbach
Drown / Jenner
B.O.
Fine, cold wind.
4oz. Peanut butter issued.
Wrote “Elijah” music aft.
With Steve pm. Talk about the usual things, food & freedom & what we shall do when we get them.
