Rose (public baptism of Clemow) / Brown
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Overcast, drizzly, cooler. NE wind.
Made 2 finger rings from HK 10ct pieces.
King Leopold in our hands. Gamelin & Petain. Milan & Genoa captured by what Germans term “Bands of Hornets”. 500,000 Germans & Hitler defending Berlin. Stettinius President of San Francisco Conference. Goering resigned due to heart trouble, so the Nazis say.
∴ 9.30pm.
Lorry with veg. 7pm.
Rumour that Leopold ((?King)) is released and has gone to Switzerland. Stalin's son is supposed to be held as hostage by Germans. Truman says that war is not yet over but the Americans and Russians have met.
Mrs Eileen MacLeod gave a very nice talk on 'Uganda'.
We ate our garden produce this evening – very little.
Permanent blackout reminder (cigs to be lit circumspectly)
Overcast, heavy rain. hot. humid. SW wind.
Water on.
Hosp. lock.
Patten captured Links [Linz?] in Austria. 2/3s of Berlin occupied. Russians bombard with 2,000lb shells. Juveniles, women & kids are supposed to have taken up arms to defend the remainder & the only movement they can make is underground. Bremen & Hamburg capture. French & British Armies meet Russians 26th. Saigon bombed for 6 days & Tokyo & Kyushu heavily bombed.
Workers oil & sugar issued – 1.6oz & 2.4oz for 10 days.
Overcast, showery, hot, humid. SW wind.
Fetched sewing machine for A room. Odd jobs. German lesson.
Lorry in 5.30pm. parcels & papers.
Gave mirror away.
Tea 1.6, sugar 1 & salt 1oz issued.
Doreen (Leonard) and Joan (Wilkinson) came for shorthand.
Rations pretty grim. Daily baking allowed now, which helps oil situation.
Worked in afternoon, then to C.A. Meeting in Maria Connolly's room. Mrs Nora Hillon and Elsie Bidwell have joined us.
At about this time Lieutenant Kadowaki becomes the final Commandant of Stanley Camp:
He was comparatively tall and lean for a Japanese in a soft job...He had an odd walk, an exaggerated thrusting forward of the leg, rather than the expected waddle...(He) was a stickler for military etiquette.
Overcast, showery, cooler.
Odd jobs.
NE wind.
Yesterday’s Chinese paper contains account of Himmler’s request for unconditional surrender via Polish nobleman & Swedish Govt. & of Truman’s demise & Churchills non committal answer re its authenticity. German resistance in Italy finished. Provisional Govt set up in Austria (Renner).
Kris Thoresen has chicken pox.
Stye coming on my eye again.
Mr. L. Barton ((of Treasury, HK Govt.)) gave talk on Street Sleepers in Hong Kong, at St. Teresa's club.
Death of Norman Charles Barber, merchant of Loxley and Co., at the age of 46.
He was the husband of M. C. Barber. For the circumstances of his death see Barbara Anslow's diary entry for today.
Death Norman Charles Barber (46))
Heard letter rec’d by Bellamy from Lincoln (Massey Rd) in which film “Desert Victory” (Montgomery’s success in Libya) is described.
Beautiful dry day.
Shovel & handles on tins.
German lesson.
Amery’s son, alleged to have broadcast for Germans during the war, captured.
No truck, no news.
Rumour has it that Germany finished 2nd.
Mr. N. C. Barber died at 1.25pm, a Christian Scientist who refused to have operation for cancer of the tongue etc.
'Jeanette' Clark is to be called 'Helena' or similar ((handwriting in original diary too faint)). ((within a week or so of the adoption, Mrs Clark went to the Halligans saying 'I want my bairn back' – and took Jean. The Halligans were devastated. Many years later I learned that Jean had died in her early twenties.))
Horrible stye again.
Outdoor a.m. roll-call
Wt 131 lbs.
Bathing beach opened
News of death of Hitler - Goebbels suicide - Ribbentrop replaced
Another lovely day.
Outside roll-call 8am.
Fixed up G’s mirror. Path Hosp. Ckhse. Helped G with garden.
Lorry in 7pm with oil.
Hitler dead? Adm. Donetz takes over. Goebbels committed suicide? British land on Borneo. Berlin captured 2nd. General Runstedt captured in Hosp. German Navy surrendering in Denmark. Nicabar [Nicobar?] Island attacked by British. Laval interned in Spain.
Went to stream (nullah) and washed hair and clothes. The kids were having a grand time sluicing each other.
Outside roll call. They did it with two inspecting parties.
To older girls' meeting where Mrs Joan Witham gave a talk.
Newspaper says Hitler died at his bunker, and Goebells committed suicide.
Worked in afternoon. Wrote a little of story, beginning Chapter 8.
(News of peace terms in Europe)
Another hectic day 11.30 a.m. to 3.50 p.m. Left after blindly dropping bombs. One near Bowrington Canal. Everybody jittery. People moving about. Always safer some other place.