Nothing doing today. Shared out Club Funds $15 per member. How much longer Marj darling. ($210 left)
Pages tagged:
Mum's 47th birthday. Had note from her ((via some one who'd been at Queen Mary Hospital where Mum now was with the other nurses who had been in the Jockey Club Hospital.))
Saw Amah, she said she had seen Olive in Nanking Hotel.
We have been having bread these last 3 days.
Phyllis Harrop goes to Rosary Hill Military Hospital to see if she can get a note through to the POW Camp (Shamshuipo):
{This hospital} is a large building in a compound of many acres and normally is a Spanish Dominican Monastery, but had been requisitioned as an emergency hospital.
While she's there she's taken to see the grave of her friend Brenda Morgan, 'with whom I'd arranged to spend the Christmas holidays':
After today 20% gone! I am quite all right again and we are comfortable enough but it is not as we are accustomed to. News from outside is still fairly good and we are as hopeful as ever. B
Cigs up to 70cts per pkt. Rumour re Churchill saying he will invade Japan.
Now I am beginning to worry horribly about you for if K.L. has gone they are coming much nearer - but I hope on. You must be terribly worried but stick it out Dear. We are o.k. just waiting for the blow to fall - we'll all be interned some time - probably soon. But we carry on. I'm really feeling quite well again which is a godsend. For I felt very low for days. It can't be long now however - they are biting off much more than they can chew and I am sure the collapse will be sudden and complete.
Shifted all gear from D Block to old Printing Shop.
Is Jap news re Singapore correct?
My radio has been taken.
On the 15th January, the Japanese ordered all patients who could walk to parade. We were then herded together and transported across the harbour in lighters and marched to Sham Shui Po Barracks, which had been converted into a POW camp. It consisted of a married quarters called Jubilee Buildings and a large number of wooden huts.
The only thing that could be said in its favour was that it was spacious, and also possessed a parade ground. The food was worse than at North Point and consisted of a small bowl of rice twice a day, without meat or vegetables, or even salt.
Stanley looms again, chance of family getting together. Washed hair.
A meeting is held between the Japanese and internee representatives at the Asia Hotel, one of the largest of the hotel-brothels.
At this meeting it is announced that the internees will be moved to a camp on the Stanley Peninsula consisting of the buildings of St. Stephen's College and the outbuildings of Stanley Prison (but not the prison itself).
One of the internee representatives is Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke, the Medical Director, whose idea it was to intern the Allied civilians at Stanley.
Japs slowly getting accustomed to Prison routine. No one allowed out any more. (Euros) Few planes knocking about. Turkey for dinner.
((Staff-Sergeant Sheridan’s ‘Memoir’ gives the only detailed account I know of life inside the Exchange Building in January 1942 – for more on this see - https://jonmarkgreville2.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/sheridan-exchange-bui…))
The Allied civilians (Lane, Crawford staff, Telephone Company personnel and people who ended up in the Exchange Building due to the fortunes of war) are well-treated:
Many Happy Returns! Next year will be happy for we shall all be together. I am beginning to think you must have left Singapore and I am wondering where you are likely to be - Australia or Dacca?
More yarns re future. Peninsula to be Internment area?
Cold again but lovely porridge in morning, and much later, much bread. We are supposed to be bound for Stanley tomorrow.
170 Rmds taken away. Special job.
Stanley postponed, thanks to D.M.S. (Dr P.S. Selwyn-Clarke). Froggish throat.
Really grand filling meal tonight - liver; then jam sauce pudding.
Arthur's birthday, therefore bread and jam from Tony.
Letter from Mum - she has been ill, but better now. ((This was probably reaction to the ordeal at the Jockey Club Hospital.))
Things change for the nurses at Bowen Road Military Hospital:
Up until about Jan. 18th, we were allowed to go out into the town provided we got permission from the matron and had one of our two men escort us. We ((presumably the writer Anna Waters and the other Canadian nurse, Kay Christie)) only went out once. On Sunday, Jan. 11th, we walked up to the War Memorial Hospital to visit one of our officers.
I went up the Peak today to contact the No.1 in the B.A.T. ((British American Tobacco)) - I got some cigarettes for my men. Players are 60 cents for 10 now and I want them to keep such little money as they still have for food. I heard some cigs were sent to the internees (civilians) and I considered that my men who are still working deserved them much more. Our house is still all right - not into the hot room yet - but 4 people are living in it. Miss Kelly!!