The parcels are in! They came in yesterday and, strange to relate, the number actually delivered exceeded the amount previously stated by the Japanese! Well, someone was fooled somewhere. Gimson made no statement to the camp about the thefts from the lighter and as it turned out, it is just as well that he kept silent about it because everyone is thrilled at getting more than we expected and very few are aware that some were pilfered. No one knows how this extra is accounted for.
Hot.
Poor sleep last night.
Outside roll call am.
Saw Steve am with sieve.
Allies maintain pressure on Siegfried Line defences. Le Havre captured. Lomza captured. Russians entered Muresul Valley. Rumania to fight Germany according to Peace terms with Soviets. 12 divisions, the Air Force & Navy.
With Steve pm.
Perhaps it is a good thing that a few of the parcels were pilfered, for it certainly expedited their delivery. I see, in yesterday’s paper that the Jap Govt of HK has initiated a system of harbour guards and patrols for the purpose of stopping the thefts which are taking place in the harbour.
Hot, nice breeze blowing.
Canteen No.1.
Saw Dr. Thomas re beri-beri. Thiamin injections 1 daily for 1 week.
No more tobacco in Camp. Managed to get some before it ran out in Canteen.
Saw Steve pm.
Mary lent me another Y20.
No lorry in today, no paper or news. Water supply inadequate.
Death of John McCullum Broom, Second Officer on SS Mausang.
After a period of mental disturbance, Mr Broom died of beri-beri and malnutrition.
Source:
Philip Cracknell, at
http://battleforhongkong.blogspot.co.uk/
The big news for this period is that the Canadian Red Cross parcels have actually arrived and are now in our hands and some of the contents in our tummies and Boy Oh Boy are they good. I'll say they are. We had cheery news of these parcels and then we were in the dumps when they didn't actually arrive, but we quickly forget all the dull things when the --- ferry arrived at the pier with the parcels, large quantities of rice, salt, sugar, beans etc. everything was discharged by our men who worked all night and part of the next day on the job.
Hot, cool breeze.
Veg. came in but no papers.
Much conjecture re fate of 3rd.Parcel. Everyone feeling well fed at present, a splendid feeling.
Chopped wood.
With Steve pm.
Broom died.
General Sutton in a bad way due to malnutrition.
Rumour persisted re Germany’s collapse 15th. Rice 20Y per lb in Camp. Chicken raffle 1575.
Cooler, fine.
Thiamin.
Papers issued.
Allies enter Germany through Siegfried on 85 ml front. Neuchatel captured 13th. Belfort Gap being approached. Soviets enter Checho Slovakia [sic] 13th. Heavy bombing of Mindanao continues. US forces drove 8 mls into Germany E of St Virth in direction of Pruss/Prum?. Maastricht captured 14th. Praga, suburb of Warsaw captured 14th. Advance made into Coriane S of Rimini. Pacific Offensive commenced according to Chinese paper, landings made Palao & Merotai.
Liver pm meal.
They will pray for Japs' prisoners
Cloudy, windy & cooler.
Thiamin.
Back order salt made up.
Allied Airborne Troops landed on Dutch German border 17th. N. bank of Rhine. Metz attacked. Battle for Warsaw commenced. Soviets made a deep breach in German line N of Bauska.
With Steve pm.
Majority of people no smokes now
Squally NE cool.
4 Cigs = 1 Tin Corned beef. Took a couple down to Steve & Mary.
Workers oil & sugar issued.
Progress being made on Pililion Angaur & Morotai Islands & the Japs admit that it is all in preparation for big scale landings in the Philippines. Allies now through Siegfried Line & 20 mls from Cologne. Paratroops landed in Holland reinforced.
Electric supply to be resumed shortly , so say the Japs.
With Steve pm.
OBJECTIVE: Fly a fighter sweep over the Canton airbases and try to ambush the Japanese fighter pilots who have been patrolling the airspace over Samshui.
RESULTS: No Japanese aircraft are encountered and the fighter sweep is uneventful.
TIME OVER TARGET: ~9:15 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Eight P-51s from the 76th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group)
Death of Winifred Eveleyn Dabelstein, age 39.
Death - Mrs Winifred Evelyn Dabelstein (39) (TB) (at T.B. Sanatorium)
Issue of one more Canadian parcel
p.m. meal - fried white bait, sprats and red mullet
NE Squalls, cool.
Chopped wood.
Thiamin.
3rd parcel issued. A few smokes would round off our degree of pleasure & satisfaction.
Eindhoven & Bologne captured. Russians & Bulgarians cut down into Salonica.
With Steve pm.
Shik yin & pui cho ker ho. [Cantonese? Sik Yin & Bui Cha Gei Ho? A cigarette & cup tea very fine? (my guess!)]
