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Damp, humid, overcast.

Ground rice for bread.

Food carrying.

Sun fairly powerful through the clouds.

Many floors up due to dampness. ((In Hong Kong's damp springtime weather, wooden flooring swells and lifts.))

With Steve pm. He’s ill & so is Mary.

Full moon.

2 letters Nov 43 rec, 1 Home & 1 Bob.

Much thought re Marj & Rae & food.


I saw Dr Yasoogi on Wednesday 29th and he is keeping me on yeast daily and I had also to see Dr Talbot about my vocal cords on Tuesday 4th April when he has again as about this time last year proscribed the use of my voice, a very difficult matter. I have practically the same trouble as last year with laryngitis, glottitis, red spots in the throat and a small ulcer on the right cord. I have to have inhalations again.


(Easter) (P.) Short / Sandbach / Martin

Easter carol service (Rose, Short)

Drown / Jenner

B.O.


George Wright-Nooth records in his diary that he's now reduced to cleaning his teeth with ashes, and that four razor blades have lasted him a month, and will need to be used still longer - they're very expensive, and it's either blades or food.

Source:

George Wright-Nooth, Prisoner Of The Turnip Heads, 1994, 196


Thick low mist all day. Dry.

With Steve pm. Talked about food as usual.

(Americans landed at Mirs Bay & local Japs seem very moody lately?)

Temp. dropped a little.

Oh! for some good news, real stuff that we can believe. Surely next E. Sun? I can look back to this entry in more comfortable & happier surroundings  & with a full tummy.


((Following text not dated:))

To town for Eurasian flour. Only 14 days' ration. At end of serving discover bag has hole. 2 lbs short. Fox is last and suffers. ((Possibly Kitty Fox?)) Offer recompense for half not available but they say understand, we work for nothing so they forego. Good sports. Meeting. Decide since no more flour and only Y80 left we discontinue activities. All committee resign.


Overcast, dry, cold.

Ground rice for bread.

Raymds ((sic.)) somewhat put out re my refusal to be their servant. ((I guess this refers to one of the couples surnamed Raymond who were in camp, either Albert & Ritchie, or Edward & Emma.))

With Steve pm.  

Rumour re total repat. in 17 days time.

Paper news lousy.


Tea, sugar, oil issue.

Hatori gone to Tokyo for a month

“Workers remuneration to be in cash”

No prospect of S.P. outings ((or “cuttings?)) from gaol”

B.O.


Windig, Kalt, nass und niedige wolke. Fossboden wiederliegten. Mit Steve um die Abend (Heer des Romanians sich ergibt? Zwei shiffe zu kommen um nehmen uns fort? Alle gutes Neues, wenn es wahr ist)

((R E Jones returns to writing in German for the next few days' entries. Jill & Brian translate today's entry as follows:

"Windy, cold, wet and low cloud. Relaid floor. With Steve in the evening. (Romanian army surendered? Two ships coming to take us away?) All good news if it's true."

))


Thomas Edgar writes home and includes a message for another family from Windsor:

Dear Mother & All,

We are all very fit, please do not send us anything. Please convey Meredith Clarence Road son fit and well.

Lena and Tommy

Source:

https://jonmarkgreville2.wordpress.com/2012/08/05/from-the-dark-worlds-…

 


1 Fish for evening meal.

Weighed 121 lbs.

B.O.


Diche, niedrige Wolke. Starker Wind, und schwerer regen. Etwas sonnescheine n.mt. haben. Mahlte rice für Brot. Tragte essen. Mit Steve um die Abent. Keines neues gehört.

((Translation by Jill & Brian, see comments below:

Thick, low cloud. Strong wind and heavy rain. We had some sunshine this afternoon. Milled rice for bread. Carrying food. With Steve in the evening. Heard nothing new ((i.e. war news.))

))


Schönes tag. Ich musik schrieb. Deutche stonde n.m. Mit Steve abend.

((Jill's translation:

Beautiful day. I wrote music. German lesson in the afternoon. With Steve in the evening.

))

All out offensive everywhere & more repat rumours. There is a feeling in the air that something or other is to take place shortly. Heaven grant that the “feeling” is justified.


Gutes wetter, aber viele wolke. Rice mehl fur brot gemahlen. Singend uben. Nach dem mit Steve. Eve dort auch. Ich schrieb postkarte zu die Mutter des Mariens.

((Jill's translation:

Good weather but a lot of cloud. Ground rice flour for bread. Singing practice. With Steve afterwards. Eve there as well. Wrote postcard to Mary's mother.

))


Food is getting in desperately short supply as American planes and submarines take their toll. Today the Japanese authorities end subsidised rice sales to the public - only special categories like government workers will continue to get this form of help. Embattled Red Cross delegate Rudolf Zindel manages to get the Rosary Hill home exempted from the new scheme - but only until November 15.

The question for everyone now - in town and in the camps - is simple: will the war end before the food runs out?

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