News in paper today of fall of Tobruk. All very depressed.
Source:
Diary of H. W. Johnston, IWM/H. W. Johnston/96/19/1
Pages tagged:
Return farewell softball match (Am. 15 V. Br. 2)
Very hot
Tobruk fallen, per local paper. Makes us feel rather down.
Rained.
Japs carried out AA gun practice from fort.
More rain.
AA gun practice.
Feel awfully sad & lonely today Marj darling, hungry too.
News may not be so bad as it seems re Tobruk.
Today's reported rumour is that Eden is again talking repatriation for us.
Mabel much brighter today. Military Hospital question has arisen again, but I don't think I should go, even if I had the chance, but I mean to read up Home Nursing and First Aid just in case. Mabel agrees that we wait and see who arrives ((from the Hosp., in case her friends come to Stanley on transfer))
Canteen - we've restocked the larder on Mabel's $17.40.
An American, Mr. Gunn, and seven others, British and Portuguese, are told they can leave the camp tomorrow.
Source:
Maryknoll Diary, June 25
Alleged two U.S. planes flew over at noon and dropped pamphlets. Another version of story that Japanese planes went up and dropped reassuring pamphlets. Omar says plane story all hooey, seems was cinema stunt, but rumourists insist.
Finer day.
Repatriation yarn revived.
Very hot
12 people left camp (Mrs. Compton, Mrs. Jefford, Mr. ????? ((unclear, looks like Gunn” ?)), Mrs. T. Bolt) ((probably Mr T Bolt, see the note on his page))
Asked Hill to pay his 1938-39 debts but he denies them now, What a Pal! Marj dear you sure were right about these “friends” of mine. ((Probably F. N. Hill))
Fine.
10 Jap transports sunk?
Today sees the first visit by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Edouard Egle and Rudolf Zindel. Egle arrived from Shanghai yesterday to help Zindel set up a Hong Kong Delegation.
Egle's report is controversial:
Issue of 19 Pirates, 19 Royal Leaf at $1.52
ZBW concert {Wynne-Jones, Talbot, A.T. Lay, A. Hirst, J. Graham-Burrow, T.V.N. Fortescue + others}
Americans receive instr re embarkation.
38 cigs issued $1.52.
Better news.
Showery.
Looks as if the Americans are really going away tomorrow.
Rumours that rations cut by 10% - and we will be repatriated next.
Highbrow concert tonight, Arthur Lay at the piano. Tim Fortescue was good in a play.
Started writing new story 'Balancing Jean' - but only put the title and 'Chapter 1'.
The Kempeitai come to search the Americans' luggage - 'and it was a particularly feverish time for those of us who had concealed anything'. The luggage is placed in the roadway for inspection. Some bags are chalk marked to show they've been inspected but then left unlocked; the owners add any forbidden papers they haven't yet destroyed.
It was a queer last night. We sat on the steps of the house in the moonlight, listening to the beat of the surf which was so near, yet so unreachable, and sang songs of home.
Source:
(Rose) / Brown
Am. baggage searched + sent on lorries.
Americans all ready to go. Vaccinated & tested for typhoid & heavy luggage in lighters.
Many rumours re moves for the British.
Welfare parcels arriving.
Re-inforcements arrived for Egypt. Second front opened?
US Red Cross re-presentatives arrived.
Our spirits soared when on the 28th of June, 1942, we were told that a Japanese ship, the Asama Maru, would pick us up the next morning.
Americans are on board the 'Asama Maru' and it's lying off the bay but no lights so far.
Notice on Dutch Q. notice board that 4 relief ships now loading at New York, and that 2 are bound for Europe and 2 for the Far East, and that all civilian foreign nationals will probably be compulsorily evacuated thereon when the ships have unloaded.
Had 3 more teeth stopped today, that makes 5 fillings done since Sunday before last.