Overcast, cold.
Workshops.
Refitted water valves on A1-3 tanks & a cold wet job it was too.
No paper today, holiday.
Pages tagged:
((Following text not dated:))
Out of firewood. Take skirting from stairs.
Ogura dead - rumour suicide, but don't think so.
Bill Shea out.
Downstairs Jap family away again, then return. Rumour all Jap families evacuating to Canton and Hankow. Japanese scared, leave Valley. All month no raids. Gloomy weather and dark nights. Sirens sound but nothing happens.
Someone in camp has a book with the silhouettes of all the types of battleships in the world, commissioned before 1936 or thereabout and the two that passed yesterday were identified as belonging to the Iash or Iasay (or some such name) built during the last war, of 29,000 ton displacement, with a max speed of 23 knots and an armament of 12 x 12”guns. Some say 12 x 15” guns but the former seems more likely. They certainly looked pretty old models with their very high control towers and squarish lines.
I have a runny cold.
Saw Pauline Beck re music for shows.
Father Meyer's birthday.
Newspaper tells of discussions re peace terms in Europe.
Cold and rainy
MQ Ration party reshuffle
Overcast, drizzly & cold.
Everyone fed up & touchy.
Asked Welfare for mattress but there is nothing doing it seems.
Workshops.
Lorry in 4.30pm.
Rec. Jan 44 from Mother.
Food ship supposed to leave Japan.
My cold still annoying.
Dress rehearsal of plays at St Stephens. Her First Dance not so bad, but The Last Meeting awful; Trial scene seemed too long.
People have heard from families overseas to whom Gladys Collard wrote after she was repatriated to Canada.
Olive in bed with cold.
Captain D. A. C. Mathers, a Hong Kong POW, receives a card from his mother-in-law, Mrs S. Mather, a Stanley internee:
Dearest Dave - All our wishes this year - had cheery Christmas New Year - Revue went with terrific swing!! Greetings, thanks, lads - God bless darling - our love -
Mother
The Censor's stamp shows the letter was passed by Kiyoshi Watanabe.
Source:
David Tett, Captives in Cathay, 2007, 197
Overcast, wet & miserable.
This is the day the Japs said our food ship would leave Moji.
Barring A2 kitchen windows ready for Welfare store.
Brightened somewhat aft.
1lb Bread Y150 in black-market.
Bulletin contains excellent news re Russian Front where big advances have been made towards Dresden & Liepsig [sic]. Stettin surrounded & bye-passed & German garrison at Elbing surrendered.
Patched plate for Steve.
Worked for Olive in afternoon.
Lovely English potatoes for tiffin.
Went to Benediction, and Stations of the Cross, then for a walk with Annie, then to Catholic Action social, with eats - in honour of Father Meyer's birthday.
To lecture 'Ends & Means'.
Dow / Martin
Overcast, not quite so cold.
A2 kitchen.
Lorry with wood 1.30pm.
No news today.
Another lorry 6.30pm with wood & drunks. ((Transcriber writes drunks, but maybe "trunks"?))
Paper says Manila in flames and ruins, and fighting at Mackinley ((where we were billetted when in Manila in July 1940)).
Much bombing of Japan by a powerful task force. The Japs claim 187 planes shot down.
9,000 planes supposed to be over Dresden.
Rumour that East Prussia has surendered, and that our oil ration here ceases at the end of March.
Overcast, slightly warmer.
A2 kitchen.
Japan bombed & shelled all day 16th & 17th also Iwojima (Bonins) where Japs expect US to land. ((US Marines landed on Iwo Jima on 19 Feb 1945, see Wikipedia.)) British & US air aid to Russian offensive. 9,000 planes in 36 hrs in Dresden area & 1,500 in one night to the North. Manila a city of ruins according to Jap report 17th.
Water in taps.
Mrs Christine Robson had appendix op.
Doreen came for shorthand.
Americans landing on Bonins.
Spent nearly an hour at Leprosarium with Pat Cullinan, arranging tea party for Sunday. Also saw Ivy, and Mrs Lena Edgar.
Spent most of afternoon with Van Der Lelys.
Overcast. Drizzly.
Working in Hosp. Cookhouse.
Workers oil & sugar issued. 25% cut.
Still on holiday. Rainy.
Visited Twidales; Betty (nee Cullen) was sick, so I went with her brother George to bring litle sister Rosie home from hospital, then to St Stephens for last rehearsal of The Last Meeting.
We got more eggs.
Overcast, cold & drizzly. Will this weather ever clear up?
Lorry with wood 1pm.
Jap paper admits US forces ashore on Iwojima. Dutch Col. who gave Germans information re Allied paratroops landing at Arnheim shot in Tower of London.
Rec. very thin blanket from Welfare.
More wood 5.30pm.
Worked at Hosp. Cookh’se.
Oil, sugar, tea & Soy issued. Workers cigs issued 50% cut.
Plenty plane activity all day despite the clouds.
Rice 11% cut.