Sent our $50 note into town via Miss Jeffery ((a young nursing sister with T.B., one of a few selected for x-ray in town as there were no x-ray facilities in camp.
All 'lucky' patients were plied with money and lists from camp friends; they usually stayed overnight under Jap. supervision at the French Hospital; they got friendly staff there to shop frantically for them, and returned to camp loaded with goods.))
((David: Were there any restrictions on bringing cash into Stanley?
It's announced in camp that an Informal Welfare Group/Committee has been set up in town. This is another initiative of Dr. Selwyn-Clarke, and it seems it alrready has a scheme to get supplies into Stanley - but it's stipulated first there must be a survey to establish the needs of every internee, adult and child.
John Stericker considers that this group did some 'very excellent work' but its activities were limited and it wasn't allowed to carry on for long.
Source:
Japs lost 2 Aircraft C’s, 17 transports, 1 s/m, 16 planes 2 Heavy & 1 Light cruiser & other vessels in Coral Sea. Their paper reports our losses, “2 Battleships, 1 Aircraft C, 1 cruiser & 1 Battleship damaged.
Italy finished?
11oz flour. 1 egg. $75 goods being ordered.
Dull & chilly.
Concert with ‘Antonio’, about to commence, but refused by gendarmes again.
Chester Bennett goes into Hong Kong to make arrangements for food to be purchased with the loan money. On his return he announces he's got married (to Elsa Soares).
Source:
Maryknoll Diary, May 10
Cinema show given by Japanese in St Stevens Hotel. Cartoons, travelogue, news prop !
Stage 4: Preparing to Go
Meanwhile I make all possible preparations for the trip. I visit ((Carl)) Neprud the American, several times in the French Hospital and get all the information about the area I will be travelling to in South China.
News of Churchill's speech 'on the up and up'. Sea battle with Japs ensuing.
Fine day.
Nothing authentic re Churchill’s speech yet.
Sir A. Mc. gave a talk on “Wild Life in Africa” & hinted about the British lion doing its’ stuff shortly. He knows the substance of Churchill’s speech perhaps & told us that to buck us up.
I weigh 108 lbs (was 101 and half on 25th March)
Canada repatriation signatures at C.S.O.
Concert party (B. Pasco) called at Camp. ((Probably Boris Pasco. This is the first and only mention I've seen of an external concert party being allowed to visit the camp.))
Rained.
Cookhouse all day.
Putting on weight.
News so confusing that it isn’t worth recording yet.
Some syrup and fruits and seven sweets came in, the rest of our £50 of goods will come later. Olive not well.
Mum not getting up yet, but OK.
Meal hours changed to 11 a.m. & 5.30 p.m.
My outburst about Cressal, on reading it later, seems somewhat unworthy and perhaps uncalled for; I am not usually given to back-biting or derogatory imputations but as this is a private diary and is not written for publication I will let it stand. Perhaps I am becoming somewhat irritable and morose and this may account for my hard words!
El. supply failed again.
Coral Sea Battle still in progress 600 mls from original position & much in our favour. Burma situation not so good for us.
Rained.
El. supply OK 3PM.
No good news.
It is well over a month Honey since I have written - I find it almost impossible to write and I think I'll leave this alone for a while. I think of you every day and regret so much that has gone before but we must try and make up for that when we are all together again. AMLAML. BB
Russel Engdahl, a member of the American Consular staff, dies at the age of 34 after falling in his quarters in the Preparatory School.
Source:
Geoffrey Emerson, Hong Kong Internment, 1973, 165
Note: Engdahl worked in Shanghai but was trapped in Hong Kong while on courier duty.
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