Mrs. Davies (Block 3, Room 14) writes to her brother-in-law, the Rev Jock Davies, in New Zealand:
Internment Camp, Stanley, Hong Kong, May 20th 1942.
Dear Jock,
Pages tagged:
Lunch. 1 tin of pork & beans (1lb.) for 6; 1 tin lobster (7 oz) for 3.
Cheese canteen.
Nutrition supply children 3-5.
Feet much improved.
5oz flour issued.
Rained.
Germans retiring on Russian front & their rear threatened in Kercharee(?). Sabotage in enemy occupied countries in Europe & Germany itself.
Results of Coral Sea battle still confused. 33, 67, 100, + 29 are the numbers of units lost by the Japs that have been given to us since the battle began.
Issue of 4pkts. Golden Dragon cigarettes at 20c each per person.
Clothing issued by Int’l Wel. Cttee. (see p.45) 2 Khaki shirts, shorts, toothbrush, toilet p., soap, h’chieves.
Fair day.
40 cigs for 80cts issued.
Communal meeting & Auction sale held.
USA bombed Shanghai & Tientsin?
Father Allie (see May 20) returns from the French Hospital with such 'disconcerting' news of the conditions in town that five of those Maryknollers who had previously opted to decline repatriation change their minds.
Source:
Maryknoll Diary, May 22
We managed to get into the canteen a week ago………at long last……on one ticket. In the old days the canteen opened about once in three days on average. People often started queueing at 7:30 a.m. to get a place which would enable them to buy (what few things were available) at the canteen which opened at 1 p.m. and closed at 4:30. It was quite useless to queue at all unless you took your place before 8 a.m. and even then many people waited all day and yet did not get in, either before 4:30 or before the scanty stocks were exhausted.
Guerilla warfare in New Territories.
King of Italy in London.
Chinese in HK turned cannibals due to lack of food?
USA launch 1 war vessel per week.
Two oil tankers blown up in HK harbour?
Forgot to do diary lately. We have suddenly been presented with $17.40 each via the Japs, and will send ours via Mrs G on Monday when she goes into town for xray. Always feel rather wary of parting with so much money with period of waiting. Mum doing fine.
Mr Mezger ((an Australian neighbour)) gave us jam - so kind of him.
New Reps. for Bl. 2-5 elected.
Issue of $17.40 per person.
Nothing new in the news. $17.50 issued to all internees.
The Rev. Frank Short preaches against 'our insolent national arrogance'. He instances the use of insulting terms for black people and the Chinese.
Next Sunday the Rev. Mackenzie Dow will deplore the 'lack of moral fibre' in pre-war Hong Kong, and suggest that they were living on the 'submerged' nine tenths of the population. He will claim that the community has been brought low to be 'chastened' and call on his congregation to 'repent' - to adopt new ways of thinking, a different view.
Short./ (Higgins 4p.m.)
Whit Sunday. – Very warm.
Cookhouse all day.
Fine.
Heard the complete review of the BBC news & it is all very heartening. ((Someone inside or outside of camp has a radio and is listening to the BBC.))
Whit Monday. Finished writing 'School Magazine' poem. Mum now slouches about in the hospital ward. She has gone much thinner and has no tummy.
The $17.40 ((see previous diary entry)) is the balance of the $105 which wasn't spent on kitchen requirement. ((The earlier mentioned prospective gift of $75 each had it seems originally been $100 which was then reduced to $75 so that the communal kitchens could buy basics for all with $25 from every one.)).
A crowd gathers to see off Bishop Valtorta and Father Chaye (Belgian) who have got permission to leave camp.
Life Magazine publishes a letter by a 'reputable American businessman' who escaped from Hong Kong in mid-February and is indignant at accounts of the good treatment of Japanese diplomats in the USA. He describes conditions in the waterfront hotels at length, and also those at Stanley. He contrasts the fate of the American consular staff with that of their Japanese counterparts at the Homestead (Hotel):
Canteen – cheese $6lb., sugar $1.30 ½ lb., tea (China $1.20 ½ lb, Ceylon $2.50 ½ lb.), 10 biscuits $1.
Drs. Canaval resigned from Clinic. New Baby Clinic under Mrs. Carruthers (former Matron of War Mem Nursing Home).
No news.
Received shorts, shirts, soap etc from Welfare Committee.
Sugar $2.50 per lb. Cigs much cheaper.
Rumours that some of regular army are at the Fort ((Stanley)) to do some work.
Mum came downstairs from ward for the first time, groggy at the knees. We got salt, raisins, cornflakes at canteen today; and an enamel mug, basin, hanks and toilet paper from Welfare!
Mrs G had to shed most of her orders before she went yesterday – most probably ours was amongst them.
Policeman I. Jack and Mrs. A. Jack have a boy, David Ross Jack.
Bishop Cuthbert O'Gara is allowed to leave Stanley.
Sources:
Birth: China Mail, September 15, 1945, page 3; Stanley Roll
O'Gara: MacNider Diary, May 26, 20