Repatriation ((This is the last entry in Norah’s diary.))
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((An extract from a letter dated 11 Sep 1945, that Barbara wrote to a friend in the UK. Many years later the friend handed the letters back to Barbara, luckily for us!))
Father Xmas came to us - comfort parcels. We girls each received one, full of the most lovely things: knitting wool & needles &pattern; S.T.s; writing pad & envelopes; Johnsons baby powder, cold cream, box with darning wool, cotton, safety pins, deodorant, adhesive plaster, lipstick, face flannel,comb, real toilet paper, hairnet, hairbrush, soap, mirror, face towel, toothpaste and brush; hair brush; sunglasses, pencil, bandage, tape, thimble - all really thrilling.
The Empress of Australia finally leaves Junk Bay after delays caused by boarding problems. It carries former POWs from Shamshuipo and 550 former internees – mainly women and children.
Slept on boat-deck under the stars, ship under way at 7.30am after oiling.
Caught my last sight of Stanley 8.15am.
Good food issued, 20 cigs, choc. & soap issued.
Hot & sticky on our deck.
Wrote A/m to G. Bless her sweet heart.
Slept on spare mess deck.
In September 1945, thousands of recently released POWs and civilian internees were sailing away from Hong Kong, heading towards home, family and a chance to recuperate from the hardships of the recent years.
Worked all day for Col. Strickland.
Went to Canadian Cafe for cider at 12.30, then bought note books at China Products, now have a new plot book.
We are to receive Red Cross clothing.
Lovely meals - apricots, sausage, pork etc.
Invitation for HMS Vindex tomorrow, and Swiftsure on Saturday.
There's supposed to be a ship leaving Saturday, I bet I'm on it! Want to be.
Death of James Carson Ferguson at the age of 64. Mr. Ferguson spent five months in Stanley before being 'guaranteed out' to join his wife and four children. In 1944 they were all interned in Ma Tau-chung Camp. At his death he was living at Dr. Atienza's residence in Lock Road, Kowloon. He was a leading Freemason.
Overcast & stronger wind.
Posted my letter to Gwen.
Rec. £2-0-0. My first shopping = 1 tube toothpaste & 3 Pkts Biscuits 4/6.
My thoughts with G all day.
Page 3 of the Belfast News-Letter reports the British Army arrived at Hong Kong yesterday:
Saw 'Coney Island' at Queen's, in technicolour, really lovely.
The weekend boats (if any) are for Australia.
Still working at Supreme Court, and finished too late to go on HMS Vindex.
We girls (stenos) have put our names down for the next boat, I hope it's soon because am feeling very weary and ready to go from this rather uncertain atmosphere.
Mr Gimson is leaving by plane at weekend.
The British Military Administration publishes a scale of punishments, including the death penalty for anyone inciting insurrection or publishing, possessing or circulating printed matter critical of the Administration, or 'in the interests of the enemy'.
'The enemy' - as Philip Snow, points out, this seems an example of the tendency to 'elide Japan and China into a single antagonist'!
Source:
Philip Snow, The Fall of Hong Kong, 2003, 273
Passed Corregidor 7.20am andered [and entered?] Manila 9.30am.
Over 150 vessels of all sorts anchored, several sunk inshore. Much aircraft about. Most harbours traffic done by landing barges. Buildings onshore look intact although there are signs of fire on some.
Conference held onshore.
Proceeded alongside 7.30pm.
Rained.
Many units got off.
Rec. R.C. message from Marj May 45 which tells me she is at home.
Alongside all night.
New currency started. Newspaper free this morning because Yen were obsolete and HK dollars weren't available first thing. Tonight I received HK$200.
Now moved into office with clerk at Supreme Court. Furious rain and an ugly storm in morning.
HMS Duke of York is in harbour now, very near and large.
Olive had good time on Vindex last night, they came home in a Jeep. ((The Jeep, developed while we were interned, was new to us!))
There are some big announcements on the front page of today's China Mail: the Military Yen, the hated Japanese occupation currency, is no longer legal tender and the Hong Kong dollar is restored. Further, the Australian Red Cross supplies brought in on the Vindex have been packaged and are ready for distribution. The food has been placed in a common pool and is going out daily at the various distribution centres, so what is about to be distributed are items like towels, cigarettes and toileteries.
Back to anchorage 7am. Adml Frazer asked for instructions re movements.
R.C. people on board.
Found out for sure that Marj is at home.
Life will become a bore at this rate.
R.C. towel (women only) & can of fruit juice issued.
Some people went up to better accommodation.
Not feeling well in evening.
Got Australian Red Cross clothing - a set of everything,very nice.
Franklin Gimson's farewell speech is broadcast on RTHK:
It is with feelings of both joy and sorrow that I take this opportunity of broadcasting a few farewell words to listeners in Hong Kong, of joy that we have come through the worst tribulations of the war and are free men again; and of sorrow that I leave you with my normal mission as a professional Colonial Administrator unfulfilled because of the upheavals of war.
“Manganui” arrived.
Shifted messes to F11. 180.
Face towel & comb from R.C.
Oiler alongside 11.30am-1.30pm.
R.C. reps on board with mail.
Secured to wreck inside b.water 5.30pm.
Pictures, “Hit the Ice”