Today the repatriated Americans saw the ship "Gripsholm" for the first time.
The web-page http://www.salship.se/mercy.asp describes the repatriation voyages of the Gripsholm and the Drottningholm during WW2, and is a good source of additional information.
The Americans on the Asama Maru arrive at Lourenco Marques – Portuguese territory - and they’re sure for the first time repatriation will be completed.
And they’re thrilled with the welcome too:
The first ship that we saw in the distance was an American oil tanker. There was Old Glory flying from the stern. It was the first time we had seen that in many months….
What an exciting day!
First of all we arrived near our destination at about 9 am. The shore line was beautiful.
After long anxious waiting we saw the ship which is to take us back. The biggest thrill of all was seeing the freighter with the American flag. We all cheered and most cried for excitement.
More $75 parcels collected
Rattan prams & cots brought in to Camp
Better day. More pork.
((I've dated this entry to 22nd July, not the 23rd shown below. The 22nd is the date given in his wife's diary and other records of this journey for the ships' arrival at Lourenco Marques.))
On July 23rd our ships pulled into the inlet leading to the port of Lourenco Marques, Portuguese East Africa. What a beautiful morning - made all the more beautiful by the sight of a little tanker proudly flying the American flag and sounding its fog horn. Believe me, there was great cheering when we saw that flag which we had not seen for more than 6 months.
The Indian Ocean finally ran out of water for us to cross. We were so far south of the equator it was early spring, not summer. Lightweight suits were comfortable again. Just after dawn on the morning of July 23, a Portuguese pilot came aboard to guide us into Lourenco Marques harbor, where we were to be transferred to the Gripsholm for the rest of our journey home. The Gripsholm, which had brought the Japanese who were to be exchanged for us, was already there.
2 years today since Dad died.
9 bombers flew over, and one ship towing another.
Elec. off on our floor.
Nothing in the way of meat.
Shanghai people standing by.
In evening Mabel and I walked to St Stephens in the hope that Elizabeth Drown would be playing, but no. We went to cemetery, and saw body on rocks and bundles on the beach.
Missionaries Robert and Helen Hammond and their family are on board the Asama Maru:
July the twenty-third is another day we shall never forget. The sailors on the Gripsholm, Swedish crew, called to us that they had plenty of good fruit, and to prove it they threw us apples - American apples - also large oranges and pears...
Today started very early, 5:30 for me. Breakfast was early and we were to be all set at 9 o'clock for the exchange. After 23 days we were again to move to different quarters.
Right on the appointed time we were left off the gangplank to go over to the Gripsholm. Arriving there we were directed to the upper deck and told to sit down, that no cabins were to be assigned until evening as they had to clean the room. First the Japs were taken off the lower decks, and turned over to their ship. We found chairs and sat down and talked to the Kleins, Zimmermanns and Thodes.
Went swimming
B.C.C. Resigned – new constitution resolve by blocks 2/5.
Fine day.
Bowls.
Bodies still on Cemetery beach.
New Council formed, Gimson chairman.
Plenty of Jap air activity today. (Canton in flames, Shanghai about to fall to Chinese? 21 ships sunk in Jap. endeavour to evacuate Aleutian Islands?)
I don’t recall how much we slept that night but you can be sure that the next morning ((ie the 23rd)) we did not take very long to pack our few belongings and get to the promenade deck where the orders were given. We Americans would disembark via the bow gangplank and proceed on the left side of some boxcars on the pier; those from the Gripsholm, the Japanese, would walk on the other side of the boxcars and board the ship at the stern gangplank.
The bottom fell out of the HK dollar - now worth only half as much as before.
Madame Le Bon visited camp and was in a great state about it. ((I think she made trusses etc. for hernia cases))
Worried lest the value of our $75 parcels drops ((only a few internees had so far received their parcels.))
People haven't left for Shanghai.
Robert Hammond is sick.
(See entry for July 23)
Sources:
Robert Hammond, Bondservants of the Japanese, 1957 (originally 1942), 79
Up early and we unpacked and found all our baggage today.
This afternoon we had a very pleasant time. Took a bus to the zoo. Met Thodes on the same bus and so had a nice time. The park was most interesting. The trees were so tropical, the fine sandy paths, the crisp air, the rustling of the leaves, all in all it was an afternoon we shall always remember. The children enjoyed it much, too.
We took a taxi back to the ship; saw the native women carrying heavy burdens on their heads. It’s fun to handle the local money, 25 Escutas to U.S. Dollar.
Exchange – 1 Yen = $4 H.K. (Canteen postponed) Hong Kong News 20 cts per copy
Japs de-valued HK$ from $2=M.Y.1 to $4=M.Y.1.
Went for swim. Many memories of previous years.
Bodies on Cemetery beach buried today.
(Canton fallen? Russians in bad way.)
Majority of shops in town closed through Jap. manipulation of $.
Pork.
The next day ((ie the 24th)) we were given the opportunity of going to a certain place in the city where foreign nationals had collected some clothes for us refugees. Ella found a number of items for our family which was sorely needed.
The older children were given an outing by a foreign lady living in the port.
