East Asia's been swept by a tidal wave of emotion since the Japanese surrender, and it's not over yet. Today sees a reunion in circumstances that would be considered improbable in a Hollywood film.
Pages tagged:
My Wedding Day.
When I awoke on my Wedding Day in 1945, I was on board the Empress of Australia, in Colombo Harbour, and thought my fiance was miles away, in Hong Kong.
In 1941 I was a Prisoner of War in Stanley Civilian Internment Camp in Hong Kong and there I met Clifton.
Bird's Eye View: The Balance Sheet (1)The Dark Side of Stanley: Selfishness, Bullying, Fighting, Theft and Informing
The Camp Runs Down
Went onshore 9am & contacted G 10.20 Womens Services Hosp. Sat on front for while & then to Galle Face Hotel. Did some shopping Cagills Green shoes & came on board again 3pm. Sent note onshore by R.C.
((Jones likely went shopping at the Cargills Department store, still standing in Colombo today:
Am aboard the Empress!
Up at crack of dawn (to find officials who would give me Mabel's berth); set off Jawattea Road, a lorry stopped and Indian driver offered me a lift and dropped me at 'Slave Island'. Saw very few Europeans, but Indians were helpful. Found 'Sub-Area HQ, junction of Parsons Road and Malay Street'; a Col. Johnston proved helpful, and said OK.
Underway 7.30am. “Khedive” arrived. Boat drill.
Clock retarded 1 hr. This makes 2 ½ since Manilla.
((Diary very sketchy, having such a good time on ship: film shows, dances, bridge - and new boyfriend. Called briefly at Aden))
The Highland Monarch sails carrying 450 internees and 350 Indian POWs.
Among them is journalist Eric Macnider. He takes with him one of the most substantional collections of camp memorabilia known to me. As well as a diary, it contains lists of rumours, accounts of camp 'trials', daily menus, details of rations, copies of notices, statistics copied from the Hong Kong News....At some point the collection will be deposited in the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
Sources:
REPATRIATION NOTICE No. 13
Accommodation for MEN only for Australia, New Zealand, United States of America and Canada will be available on a ship leaving on Saturday, 6th October. Lists will be published in Friday evening’s paper.
Applications for passages will be received in this office up to 11.00 a.m. to-morrow, Friday.
The undermentioned ore listed for the ship.—
Mr F. W. Shaftain (Police)
Mr F. H. Weare (Police)
Mr F. J. Clarke (Police)
Mr N. A. Elberg (Police)
Pastor J. Neilsen
Mr D. L. Newbigging
((Kathie finishes her account with a look back over the war years:))
Doctors who were prisoners of war themselves, stated that "in all camps the individuals who kept fittest were those who worked hard, and kept themselves cheerful and occupied, while those who sat around grumbling and pitying themselves lost weight and condition rapidly".
A letter on page 2 of the China Mail refers to the 'frayed state of the nerves of the majority of bona-fide residents and hard-worked officials' and calls for forbearance, kindness and consideration.
They need it because they've hardly had time to recover from the rigours of the occupation and the situation is still very difficult:
The Japanese left no appreciable stocks of...food. Peanut oil, fish, beef, vegetables, sugar and salt are in seriously short supply....As to firewood, Hong Kong is iving off floors and doors.
Lovely day, smooth sea. Movies, “Forever & day”. Clock back ½ hr. (2 ½ since Col) Run.357.
Shocked to learn that Norman Hellevick died on board a few days out of Hong Kong ((a Dutch diabetic from Stanley, he was 15 years old.))
Drizzly & overcast until 11pm then fine.
Measured for clothing to be issued at P. Said. 17 – 40 – 34.
New moon. Clock ½ hr back
REPATRIATION NOTICE No. 14.
H.M. ESCORT CARRIER “SLINGER"
1. Stanley passengers assemble at Stanley at 9.15 a.m. on Sunday, 7th October.
2. Hong Kong passengers assemble at Queen’s Pier at 10.00 a.m.; or if residents of Kowloon assemble at Holt’s Wharf at 11.00 a.m.
3. Passengers must not board the vessel without first obtaining their embarkation card.
The undermentioned are listed for this ship:—
Mr F. H. Weare.
Mr F. J. Clarke.
Mr N. A. Elberg.
Pastor J. Nielsen.
Dr H. L. Clift.
Mr F. W. Van der Sleesen.
Radio news said the p.o.ws liberated who arrived in the s.s. Corfu at Southampton were giving a roaring welcome and taken into camp, given roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, and are going to their homes today. 600 more are arriving at Liverpool, so impatient for it to be us.
This afternoon we are in sight of the island of Socotra, off Somaliland.
Lovely all day, cooler evening. Shirts being worn once more.
Socotra abeam 6pm. Beautiful sunset, sea like a mirror.
Rec. £3.
Fine day. Breeze died until evening.
Reduced speed. Days run 319.
Clock ½ hr back (3 ½ )
In town there's a day of celebrations, starting with a Victory Parade - Admiral Harcourt takes the salute from a dais outside the Des Voeux Road entrance of the HKSBC - followed by a Chinese parade, a band concert on the pitch of the Hong Kong Cricket Club and an evening dispaly of searchlights and fireworks. At the close of the day Harcourt makes a radio broacast admitting material shortages and a legacy of 'hatred, bitterness and tragic sorrow' to be overcome, but calling on hard-work, inititiative and kindness to transform the life of the Colony