The Cathay Lodge (Freemasonry) finally feels that it's safe to hold another meeting.
Source:
http://www2.gol.com/users/lodge1/history-e/papers/washizu.html
Note:
See also August 25, 1942 and June 4, 1943.
Pages tagged:
Low cloud, cold, NE wind.
Water on.
No Canteen due to lack of supplies.
Dentists windows finished.
A/r alarm 3 to 3.45pm.
Posted card to Marj.
Task force off Sumatra. Taiwan bombed 3rd. 500 planes & 4th. 400 planes.
Ernst Mejia (4) has chickenpox and is in hospital. ((He was the youngest of a family of 9 children in camp with their mother, they lived in a room below us in the MQ)).
Air raid alarm, in afernoon, rehearsal of Her First Dance.
Rumour re German collapse.
Went to see Annie, who's quite philisophical about her postponed wedding.
A Happier New Year to you Helen. I do hope that this one will see us reunited. I think and feel that the prospects are better than they have ever been, so let's hope. Judging by the news little tho' it is, we feel confident that Germany will crack under pressure very soon and naturally the squeeze on Japan will be so great shortly that her day of reckoning cannot last much longer.
Short / Rose
Day off.
Saw Mr Davis, our plays now set for 15,16 & 17th Feb.
Several people in trouble with guards; one was slapped, some had stones thrown at them (over all-clear signal misunderstanding).
Bungalow F, the only one of the three Bungalows at the Stanley Village end of the Camp to have been in continuous use up to today, is closed because of the black market activities that took place over the fence close by:
Overcast.
No work today but rations OK.
Coffee & pancake with Steve.
Lorry with wood 3pm.
Task force W of Luzon. ((Allied forces would start landing on Luzon, the largest island in the Phillipines, tomorrow morning, starting the Battle of Luzon.)) Turkey severed dip. rels. with Japan 3rd. Kyushu raided 6th. Some guff re Soviet trouble with US & British re Poland.
Salt in town 7d per oz. (10Y per catty)
To St.Agnes (older girls) meeting in morning, very few there.
Then confabbed with Pat Cullinan re Merchant of Venice play outside Leprosarium (Pat's billet).
Very lean meals.
Matriculation exams on. ((organised by teachers in camp for students of right age)).
News of landing of task force in West Luzon; rumours of repatriation; of men being sent to Formosa, and of bread supply at weekend.
Hong Kong University holds the second of two sets of Matriculation Examinations.
Among those who pass is health inspector Leslie Macey, who wasn't in Stanley when the first exams were held on May 5, 1943. Mr. Macey was one of the health workers who stayed uninterned to help Selwyn-Clarke carry out public health measures in town. Selwyn-Clarke and a number of others were arrested on suspicion of spying on May 2, 1943, and on May 5 those left from this group were waiting to be transferred to Stanley (see May 7, 1943).
I came out of hospital this afternoon, Prof. Digby required the bed for another patient so I got my oar in and said that I could easily go out now as yesterday he had me on the operating table and made a thorough examination of my rectum and found everything going well. I have to see him on Saturday for another look see.
Overcast, cold. NE wind.
No work, no rations, hungry.
Water on.
Jap say Pacific situation grave. British Pacific Fleet in Aust. 8th. Landing force at San Fernando 6th in Luzon. Churchill, Stalin & Roosevelt to meet after 20th. All seems to be going well for us. Montgomery created Field Marshall.
Diana Hardoon's and Joan Critchett's 21st birthdays.
Ground some rice.
We had noodles in evening, then to Block 5 stairway and heard Miss E. M. Gibbins' first lecture on European History. ((A teacher by profession, also taught throughout camp)).
Adrian Fortescue (3) has chicken-pox (lived with parents Tim and Margery in kitchen next to our room).
Bitterly cold.
Got powdered egg yolk.
To St Stephens, talked with Concannon (T) re our plays. He suggests leaving one out.
Fish stew at tiffin - I couldn't eat it - saved the rice and fried it with egg yolk tonight.
Yesterday's paper said Philippine situation grave - U.S. attacking Japs there.
Colder, overcast. NE wind.
Workers oil & sugar issued.
Repaired mirror for G.F.
Hungry as hell & fed up.
Strong US forces in Lingayen Bay give every indication of landing. Aust. forces now taking part in Phillipine Action.
Drizzly later.
Lorry 6.45pm veg.
Cold again.
Went to German lesson.
Each given quarter pound of wong tong free (ex Red Cross) and soy suce.
Bulletin news not too good - German breakthrough on Maginot Line.
To lecture - Mr. H. L. Ascough ((of Cable & Wireless)) on 'Behind the Scenes at a radio broadcasting station.'
Issue of oil, sugar, tea, soy sauce, 1/4lb wongtong
Drizzly, overcast, NE wind.
Ground rice for Comm.
Mended Steve’s pipe & saucepan for Mary.
Oil, sugar & tea issued.
Lorry with wood 1pm veg 4pm & 5.30pm.
Landing made in Longaney Bay 9th. ((This refers to the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines.))
Taiwan & Japan bombed 9th.
Tanaka the New Gov. took over HK.
A/r warning 9pm.
Outside roll call in am. Comment made on clogs - 'Have these people no shoes?'
Rumour - we may get electric current.
Went to work 10.30am – late because of roll call.
Mr. H.W. Page, aged 71, died.
Catholic Action Council meeting in quarry/grotto.
Talked with Pat Cullinan and Beryl re play, the rehearsal in P.O.Club. ((Beryl was to play Jessica in the Trial Scene of The Merchant of Venice.))
Rehearsal of plays.