Hot, breeze from S.W.
No news.
Cemetery wall.
Pages tagged:
June came and we were told that the U.S. and Japanese governments had worked out a plan. Japanese nationals in the U.S. would be exchanged head for head with Americans in the camp.
We were required to present all books, pictures, etc. for censuring. Very few pictures and only books containing no writing or maps received this approval.
Of extreme importance was the opportunity we were given to go to Hong Kong and open our safety deposit boxes. I was allowed to take some valuable Mission Treasury papers and some personal documents.
Some trunks arrived today from Repulse Bay Hotel. Mrs. Longworth ((in neighbouring room)) got one, and so did the Puckles Makes me think that perhaps some of our trunks at home ((Happy Valley flat)) may be more or less intact. ((They weren't... even the trunks had been taken))
Mrs G borrowed a razor and we all shaved under our arms - wonderful after all this time.
Mum doing fine.
Early in the morning Chinese and Indian policemen, with Japanese supervisors, search the hill behind the Camp. George Wright-Nooth is told that one of the Indian policemen was mauled by a tiger at about 2 a.m.
Two Salesians, Father Haughey and Brother Bernard Tohill, are allowed to leave camp.
Sources:
Tiger: George Wright-Nooth, Prisoner of the Turnip Heads, 1994, 97
Salesians: Maryknoll Diary, June 1
((Following text not dated:))
To Wanchai. Junk everywhere spread out on footpaths for sale. Children's playground a great junk market. Some of the stuff pathetic. Vendors evidently arrived late at scenes of looting.
Fine day.
Prison team won bowls 27-14.
Russians OK. Advance made from Brest? Formosa, China ports & Jap towns bombed.
In view of the coming repatriation and the fact that about 40 Americans are choosing to stay, new officers are elected: Chester Bennett becomes Chairman of the Council, Father Meyer Vice Chairman, Mr. Gregory, Secretary and Mr. Kiley, Treasurer.
The first parcels of the food and other items each internee has chosen to buy with his share of the loan are starting to come in.
Saw M.O. re feet. Vit. B1. ((Probably: "Saw Medical Officer regarding feet. Given vitamin B1"))
3 heavy bombers flew across S, E to W.
To Mr. & Mrs. J.J. Ferguson, a daughter.
One more weary month has passed and we are now preparing to plod through the growing heat of June. How much longer shall we have to lead this futile and utterly boring existence?
Every one got 2 pairs of shorts and 2 shirts from Welfare today. ((The shorts were a peculiar shape, and unisex but adaptable. The shirts were bright colours which did wonders for our morale, in a sort of cotton ribbing. We girls mainly wore our shirts upside down , cutting off the original v-neck which became the bottomt hem; the original bottom hem was then sewn up to go across the shoulders, forming a more circular neck which looked quite stylish - to us.))
James J. Ferguson, a POW who will later be drafted to Japan, and Mrs. P. L. O. Ferguson have a girl, Heather Carol Ogilvie Ferguson.
Dr. Selwyn-Clarke comes to Stanley trying to recruit nurses for Kowloon. It seems that it's still possible to be allowed out of camp.
Commenced German lessons with Scott A/S.P. ((Believed to be Walter Scott - see comments below))
$75 parcels arrived for Americans.
Stage 5: The Escape: Hong Kong to Kwong Chow Wan
June 4, 1942
Tiger still loose.
Mum weighs 150 lbs, Olive 131, me 113 (rice fat).
The crucial day in the Battle of Midway:
Beginning about 9:30, torpedo planes from the U.S. carriers Hornet, Enterprise, and Yorktown made a series of attacks that, despite nearly total losses, made no hits. Then, about 10:25, everything changed. Three squadrons of dive bombers, two from Enterprise and one from Yorktown, almost simultaneously dove on three of the four Japanese carriers, whose decks were crowded with fully armed and fueled planes. By 10:30, Akagi, Kaga, and Soryu were ablaze and out of action.
News good, Germany heavily bombed, Japs ships sunk in China Sea. Russians OK but losing many men.
German lesson.
Internee Paul Oscar Peuster, a market overseer, dies in the French Hospital, Causeway Bay, at the age of 61.
A notice appears to the effect that the Japanese have declared the ongoing erection of latrines and placing of ropes to be 'in abeyance' while the tiger's in the vicinity.
George Wright-Nooth's diary: