Jap Q. M. G. visited Camp
Pages tagged:
Goodwin did not have a watch, nor a compass, but at around midnight (June 17) he made his way up slope taking note of patrols below him that were probably looking for him. As he went higher, gaps appeared in the clouds, and a few stars were visible. At last he had a chance to get his bearings.
Nice day. Wind SE.
Rec. letter from Marj Apr ’43.
Jap officials arrived 10am to inspect the Camp. Qurst.[?] General. Let us hope they see & hear the truth & that they are told where they have failed in their conduct & treatment since the Camp’s inception.
Ground bread rice. Rumours of our evacuation have gained in volume, Macao next stop.
Daily average of rations for the week .92oz fish, 6.7 veg.
“Coffin” Tribunal (Nielson)
It must have been around midnight when Goodwin set off along a good track which he assumed would lead him to Tolo Harbour. However after following the track for about a mile, it disappeared into an area where the ground was churned up and there appeared to be landslides. Also here were masses of broken concrete piled up.
"Then a darker shadow on a face of rock resolved itself into the entrance of a tunnel, and I realised that the upheaval had been caused by the collapse of a mine."
Nice day except for heavy shower am.
The arrested people released 10am. They had violated the Jap. Gov’t rule forbidding public dancing, however, they were treated OK at HQs given cigs & tea.
Excellent news from all fronts. Saipan ours 16th & Arezzo 16th. Russians pushing ahead 19 mls per day. Turkey likely to abandon neutrality on our side & Germany indicates her selfish desire to protect the Fatherland only, to hell with her Protectorates it seems.
With Steve pm.
Current in town reduced 1hr. ie 8-11pm.
Wind E stronger pm.
Bl. 8, 9 & 11 & bungs, B, C, D, E & F isolated
attempted assassination of Hitler
Jap. Chief of Staff visited camp
Goodwin made good progress along his chosen track beside the Shingmun River, but came to a halt at around midnight where a stream joined the river. He went into the river and waded and stumbled over shingle banks in heavy rain and complete darkness.
"I continued until the bank rose to a vertical cliff, and the river became a deep wide stream that could be followed only by swimming."
((Following text not dated:))
Next door Japs fined Y100 and to attend gendarmerie three days for penance for breaching black-out. We no juice so every night black-out for us.
Fine, E wind. Partial eclipse of sun 2.30pm.
Jap C of Staff and others inspected Camp. Supposed to be investigations through report made by Canadians & by our own petition. One officer is supposed to have definitely said that the rice as measured was not enough.
Ground bread rice & chopped wood.
News excellent. Togo admits fall of Saipan & its serious consequences to the people.
Blocks 8, 9, 11 & Bungalows [blank space here as if meant to fill in details] placed out of bounds due to typhoid.
With Steve pm.
Oil issued.
News in HK News of resignation of Tojo Cabinet en bloc
Goodwin moved easily over several miles along a level highway that followed the shore, until around midnight he came to a point where the road turned inland and crossed the railway lines. There was a sentry on guard, so he went down to the sea and waded for some distance before returning to the road. The road climbed as it went inland, and there was heavy rainfall. It took some effort for him to reach the summit of the road, where he rested, enjoying a view of Tolo Harbour and the hundreds of fishing boats, brightly lit for fishing at night.
My birthday tomorrow and the Japanese have just issued a warning that a typhoon is heading straight for the Colony and is due to strike us within the next 24 hours!
Fine until aft. then rained.
News even better than expected. Togo & Cabinet resigned 18th. (Will the next Cabinet ask for terms?) Cagny in France taken 18th & Montgomery says things are going better than expected. Ancona, Italy evacuated by Germans after our attack which caused a major dent in their line. 18th. Russians advancing on Lemberg (Levow) [Lvov]
Biggest consignment of Canteen goods seen for a long time arrived today.
Adm.Yonai & Gen.Keisho [?] asked to form another Cabinet.
Place of “Yi” release found.
Squally pm.
The only major typhoon of internment strikes Hong Kong. As a result vegetables are diminished and the damp weather makes the fish go bad. There is a plague of rats and the twenty cats promised by the Japanese never arrive.
Source:
Geoffrey Emerson, Hong Kong Internment, 1973, 98
Typhoon blow
Sentry box wood returned to Hill
Goodwin moved quickly along the railway track towards Taipo Market, until he reached a bridge where he was slowed down by having to negotiate sections where sleepers were missing. At a point where two sleepers were missing he found he was already moving forward when he:-
"just managed to throw myself sideways and grab a rail in falling."
Typhoon passed to S’th’wd. Gardens look in sad state now.
3 sentry boxes blown down and damaged, then the wood was stolen. CS. ordered it back to his office by 1PM.
No lorry & so no paper or news.
Weather cleared pm. S wind, overcast.
With Steve pm.
Ground rice & she gave me some tea.
New Moon.
W. Faid fell off roof at Indian Quarters, and died.