The hospital ship Oxfordshire reaches Sydney. The Melbourne Argus quotes unnamed Hong Kong passengers as saying 'it seemed that they had not had nearly as bad a time of it as prisoners in other areas'. The reporter goes on to remark 'Yet some are very sick indeed':
Every single person taken on the ship was suffering from malnutrition, many of them from deficiency diseases such as beri-beri, and some had war wounds still unhealed since the Japanese capture of Hong Kong in December, 1941.
((Following text undated:))
Some Australian mine-sweepers were sent to pick us up and take us back into Hong Kong harbour. There was a slight swell as we boarded and I am a bad sailor so I lay on the deck. Presently a big, burly, Australian sailor came along with a pillow and a blanket, and put my head on the pillow and covered me with the blanket; it touched my heart.
REPATRIATION NOTICE No. 3
1. Shipping space is likely to be available in the near future. Persons who registered for repatriation “by subsequent ship” and who are now ready to depart should report forthwith in person or in writing to this office, or, in the case of Stanley residents to Mr H. H. H. Priestley at Stanley.
2. Members of staffs of Government Departments and Essential Services should first obtain a letter from their Head of Department saying that they can be spared.
REPATRIATION NOTICE No. 4
The following persons are requested to “Stand by” for embarkation for Australia on or about Tuesday, 25th Sept., 1945.
AT STANLEY
To picture show last evening, on hangar deck. It was 'In Old Oklahama' with John Wayne and Martha Scott. Clifton and I sat on a ladder at the side and told each other how ludicrous it was to be sitting on an aircraft carrier, watching a film. It was rather rough.
In the evening Lance-Sergeant H. W. Jackson of the Fingerprint Department of the Hong Kong Police is savaged by a large shark while swimming alone off Tweed Bay Beach, close to the part generally named 'The Diving Rocks'.
Fine, occasional squalls. A/c to S, 9.00am. Sea calm.
Lists & baggage ready for Aust. passengers dis-embarking.
Much though [sic – thought?] re--- as usual, wish it was two weeks ago.
REPATRIATION NOTICE No. 6
The Repatriation Office is open to the public for enquiries, registration, etc., between the following hours:—
Monday to Saturday only
10.00 a.m.—12.00 Noon.
2.30 p.m.—4.00 p.m.
Sundays closed.
23rd September, 1945.
Published on p.4 of SCMP for 26 Sep 1945.
Haven't been on Flight Deck much because pretty windy. Sat on sponson most of morning with Doreen (Leonard) and Clare Vam Wylick.
Cecil Harcourt gives a press conference and offers an honest but down-beat view of his administration's achievements:
As yet we have been unable to do much more than maintain law and order, protect life and property, and round-up and disarm the Japanese....The real trouble is that he has neither the men nor the resources to do anything more.
Osprey light abeam 7.43. Anchored in roads at S. entrance to harbour 10.45am.
Nothing doing whatever. Why did I leave you G pal-o-mine.
REPATRIATION NOTICE
No. 5
1. The Stanley passengers mentioned in Notice No. 4 should assemble at Stanley at 10 a.m. on TUESDAY, 25th September, 1945.
2. The Hongkong passengers should assemble at Queen’s Pier at 10 a.m. on TUESDAY, 25th September, or, if residents of Kowloon, board H.M. escort carrier “STRIKER” direct at HOLTS Wharf at 10 A.M. Tuesday.
3. The following additional passengers should also embark at 10 a.m. Tuesday:—
STANLEY
Mrs M. F. Taylor, Miss H. Ezra, Miss K. G. Grant, Mr J. Burford.
Got sunburnt on Flight Deck, when we had a display of AA fire, straight, orange flashes streaking into a puff put in the sky by one of the 5 inch guns.
Paravanes (one on each side of the ship) were let down, like great blue fish.
Intriguing little transports 'Clarkat' moving about the ship. Moving decks which go up from hangar to flight deck. Enormous steps we have to climb over every secton of 'downstairs'. Bathroom queue reminiscent of Stanley.
We are supposed to sight Singapore tomorrow.
The China Mail notes that the navy is providing Stanley with electricity from a lorry next to the power station outside the prison. But 'it's the same old story' as during internment - the excessive use of 'hot plates' means that the supply has to be tempoarily cut off t some areas.
Fine, SW wind.
“Empress” boat arrived 2pm.
Passengers for Aust. checked up by Aust. Govt. Rep.
Anchored Singapore about half past 12. Passed a convoy of small naval craft convoying a large 3-funnelled transport. In harbour were many naval ships, including the aircraft carrier 'Trumpeter' which is a sister ship to us, and the flagship 'Nelson'. We stayed for about 3 hours. We left about 4pm. The little islands around are bristling with trees and bushes sprouting thick and green out of the sea.
The China Mail (page 2) pays tribute to the Hong Kong resistance. It mentions David Loie, who contacted the BAAG at Waichow 'early' but states that, in general, 'Hong Kong's Heroes of the Fifth Column are nameless'.
The article goes on to claim that most resistance agents were Chinese, but that the Indians were well represented, and that no community of 'third nationals' (neutrals) that was more than half a dozen in size failed to produce at least one operative.
((Following text undated:))
As we were steaming through the China Sea on a glorious night, the Captain asked all the ladies to go down onto the flight deck and dance with the sailors. As I simply adore dancing, I did not need a second invitation, and we danced the whole night through, being thrown from sailor to sailor. They were marvellous dancers as only the sailors who loved dancing turned up.
Fine, warm.
More checking up of passengers for Aust. Some had Med. inspection.
Everyone more or less fed up hanging around here. I do almost nothing but think of G.
A/C Smiter called for 1 hour.