Wind getting up.
Got talking to a ginger-haired steward. I think they are overworked with us being on board. He says we're the third lot of passengers they've carried, they carried 100 evacuee children from Canada back to UK. ((Clifton anxious that Mabel 'won't wait for him')) We prayed that she would.
Those left in Stanley live the dream today: they're served 'bangers and mash' (sausages and mashed potato). This traditional English meal was one of the dishes most fantasised about during internment.
Source:
China Mail, September 28, 1945, 2
Cooler.
Passengers for Aust. disembarked 11am.
Underway 4pm after Lady Louis Mountbatten had given us a speech & we had embarked 400 Naval ratings.
£2 issued.
Wakey Wakey earlier this morning. We had stopped at Sabang, on the northern tip of Sumatra. Water looked very deep - we were anchored quite close to land, and took on about 100 Marines who had only been there ten days ago from Penang. Low lying hills, luxuriant in trees, could see absolutely no sign of habitation at all. Stayed about a couple of hours.
Pitching and rolling rather upsetting.
The ginger steward said Empress of Australia had dumped her passengers in Madras.
Men of No. 44 (Royal Marine) Commando give an evening stage show for those left in Stanley. The show only features a few simple props and the performers use borrowed costumes and make-up but their material ranges from religious song to slapstick humour.
Lovely day, calm.
Minesweeper warned re floating mine 0900.
A/c to Westw’d 5pm.
There's a revealing letter on page two of today's China Mail.
In reponse to Marcus da Silva's radio appeal (September 23) for everyone to work together in the rebuilding of Hong Kong, the correspondent points out that a fair wage which would make appeals to 'pride and patriotism' unnecsessary.
Cloudless day.
Sabang & Achin Head abeam 7.00am. ((The north-west tip of Indonesia. Today Achin is written Aceh.))
Issued with 4 pr. socks, 1 towel, singlet & shorts & 1pr. Rubber shoes.
Speed reduced due to boiler trouble.
Went to movies pm.
Too bothered by weather and rocking to write yeserday. Couldn't eat dinner.
Film 'Gentleman Jim' in evening.
Rough again.
Fine, sea slight. SW wind. Vessel about 10,000 8mls Stab. beam.
REPATRIATION NOTICE
No. 8
The following are requested to stand by for embarkation for the United Kingdom or ports en route on S.S. "HIGHLAND MONARCH" on or about Tuesday next.
Mr A. H. Elston (Police)
Mr & Mrs L. A. Searle (Police)
Mr J. Hunter (Police)
Mr W. Jones (Police)
Mr J. Fell (Police)
Mr M. A. McDonald (Police)
Mr Dewar, H. B. (Police)
Mr T. Cairns (Police)
Mr Hemsley, T. J. (Police)
Mr Woods, H. (Police)
Mrs C. Wood
Mstr. J. Woods
Mstr. C. Woods
Mstr. J. Woods
REPATRIATION NOTICE No. 9
S.S. “HIGHLAND MONARCH”
Those who have asked for repatriation to AUSTRALIA are informed that it is possible that some accommodation for passengers for Australia may be available on the above named ship which is expected to leave on the 3rd October. They would probably be transhipped at Singapore or Colombo. The earliest possible notice will be given in the Press of the names of any persons for whom such accommodation can be found and they should watch for Press notice's.
((Following text dated from other accounts of arriving at Colombo:))
As for yesterday. Nil sighted. Noon distance 321 mls. 3 Pkts Camel issued & some odds & ends of clothing.
Out on deck early to see hazy coastline of Ceylon, lots of small catamarans bobbing up and down. The harbour choc-a-block with ships. We're anchored rather far out.
Clifton got one of officers to signal Block House re 'Empress of Australia', to find it is due here tonight or tomorrow - but whether or not the original passengers from HK (including Mum and Mabel) have been dumped elsewhere we don't know.
The clock on the Kowloon-Canton Railway Tower, the only public timepiece on the Peninsula, starts to tell the time again after almost 4 years.
REPATRIATION NOTICE No. 11.
S.S. “HIGHLAND MONARCH”
With reference to Repratiation ((sic.)) Notice No. 9: No accommodation will be available in this ship for passengers for Australia.
REPATRIATION OFFICE.
1st Floor, Hong Kong &
Shanghai Sank Bldg.
1.10.45.
Published on p.2 of SCMP for 2 Oct 1945.
((An extension to the original Notice No. 8))
REPATRIATION LIST No. 8 (CONTINUED)
S.S. “HIGHLAND MONARCH”
Mr L. Guy,
Mr C. Dworjack,
Mr G. B. Shotton.
Mrs E. Westergaard,
Mr C. W. Tresise,
Mr and Mrs J. R. L. Stanton and Child,
Mrs F. C. Allison,
Miss P. A. Ayrton,
Miss D. M. Baker,
Miss M. N. Baxter,
Mrs M. C. Barber,
Mr W. D. Barker,
Mrs M. V. Blake,
Mr and Mrs F. E. E. Booker and daughter,
Miss M. L. Botelho,
Mrs C. Burgess and daughter,