Showery, warmer. E wind.
Cookhouse & woodchopping.
The proposed suspension of water supply causing some trouble.
Singapore bombed 5th. Soviets nearing Budapest.
With Steve pm.
Protest re proposed site of Dutch latrine.
Sat with the Minnetts for a while tonight.
Emergency alarm 9.15pm. Single plane raid over Taipo way.
Wright-Nooth's diary:
There is no water in camp except for one small well and how can this supply the needs of over 2,000 people?...{Lieutenant} Hara realizes the seriousness of the situation and has been in constant conference with Gimson....Gimson has suggested a move to Shamshuipo POW camp but the Japanese will not consider it....Digging has started....The water diviners were out this morning - there were plenty of aspirants -and certain places marked out as possibilities.
Source:
Digging wells for water
Fine, cloudy, E wind.
Wells being sunk & latrines dug.
Ground rice for Mary am.
Col Takanada arrived re water question.
Digging our latrine trench & wood chopping.
With Steve pm. They gave me 6 cigs.
Formosa bombed 10 times since 2nd.
Americans in Camp rec. parcels through Zindel.
Soap issued from Welfare, seems to be good stuff too.
water from I.Q. beach
6 p.m. roll call
I forgot to mention in my last entry, that the supply of electricity was again cut off on Oct. 26th; so we had only 10 days (or evenings) of light this time. It seems to me that we have seen the last of the electricity now until either this place is retaken, or until we get away from HK or until the war ends. I have made a little oil lamp with a tiny wick (for economy) which just gives us sufficient light by which to eat our supper.
Mum came out of hospital.
There's a meeting in connection with the Proposed United Council of the Hong Kong Protestant Churches in the Quarry at 3 p.m. (Assuming, of course, that nothing stopped those summoned in a notice of October 30 from going ahead.)
Apparently the Japanese will not entertain Woodward’s scheme. It is not definite that the water will be turned off here, but the Japs want this camp to be made independent of the town water supply. This, in a way, is a very good thing, for if HK is invaded by the Americans and is bombed and shelled, it is quite possible that the water supply might be cut off or smashed and then, in all the ensuing turmoil, we might be in an awkward predicament: so it is just as well to have these arrangements made. But the situation is quite unpleasant.
Fine dry day.
Washed my sheets, dressing gown & overall & filled up as many old bottles I could find with water.
Finished latrine trench.
Much ado re water suspension.
Burma offensive opened. Mountbatten assumes some other post not yet clearly defined. Production of planes in U.S. 8,000 per month.
6pm roll call instituted so seeing Steve nightly is finished.
Water turned off 'indefinitely', but after, we were told it would be on every 3 days.
Birth of Roy Francis Denton - this is an approximate date: for more details, click this link.
Roy's mother was Ivy Denton (née Thirlwell).
Fine, dry. S.W.Wind.
Store partition walls & wood chopping.
Water situation so far well in hand. Water supply suspended 9am.
Autumn Off. started in France (Gen. Patton) Stalin shows where he thinks Japan stands in his estimation. The Japs have no doubt acquired a headache through his speech. Roosevelt returned for 4th term by overwhelming majority against Dewey.
Went to Mary’s Birthday party. Very nice.
Thanks a whole lot for your loving letter of 21st August 1943, in which you tell me of having received my letter of July 1942, letters take a long time to deliver but actually we are all grateful and thankful to receive them at all.
Japan boasts of her prosperity in the Far East and how trade is better and conditions more beneficial to the natives than ever before under British rule. Well the Chinese will be glad to see us back again I assume.
Colder. SW wind, cloudy pm.
Water & wood.
North’s notes contain more details of Stalin’s speech. Germany & Japan are certainly due for their deserts after the war is cleared up.
No lorry.
District Chairmen etc received overcoats from Col Takanada.
