Grand concert on Bowling Green. Good new song - 'We're going to sail away, sail away etc
((
'We know internment here will end one day; we want to go; we've got to go, for we're longing to see the land that we love so....
There'll be happy hearts and free, when we're going out to sea, Afloat on a boat on the way to Lourenco Marques.'
- rumoured to be our destination for exchange if ever we were repatriated))
I had a row with a man over my programme (I one of the lucky ones who had one.)
Stanley Herbert Marvin, a prison officer, marries Clementie Maria Fernandes, a nurse with the Volunteers.
The Optimists present Stalling Stanley at the Stanley Empire - the bowling green outside the former American club.
It's described as A Non Stop Revue in Sixteen Shocks & Spasms. Entry is free, it starts at 7 p.m., and the Maryknoll Diary considers it a 'good show'.
Sources:
This morning I was busy getting settled in our new cabin.
After dinner and rest Leonard and I went downtown. I bought a birthday cake for Elaine. Then I also went to the place where they gave out clothing for the Hong Kong folks which had been collected by Mrs. Preston of the local U.S. Consul. The children received some things and I a nice dress.
Wedding – Mr. S.H. Marvin & Miss C. Fernandez
Excellent concert = Stalling Stanley “The Optimist” (produced and presented by Carol Bateman), Gimson spoke (Cast. Reed, Gomerall, Leslie, Duncan, Sir A. + Lady Blackburn, Mrs. Boyd, Miss Palmer, Hewitt, Hill, Hayes)
Planes allegedly over Hongkong in a.m. causing much rumouring. Australian radio says Hongkong bombed four times. Hadn't noticed it.
My birthday has come and gone and I have now joined the ranks of the S.O.B.’s (Silly Old Buffers). A most enjoyable day it was too. The weather cleared up and we had quite a fine day for a change. Y told me I was not to get up until she told me to. When she had prepared breakfast she called me and I popped up, on the table I found sliced banana on cornflakes, which we ate with milk and sugar! Bread and marmalade and coffee. It was really luscious! My usual peacetime weekday breakfast, except that Y could not conjur butter out of air nor fresh milk out of a packet of powder!
Shanghailanders warned of for 8AM, 10AM & then delayed until tomorrow.
Concert on Bowling green.
Cloudy, cool & a little rain.
(Beef)
Marvin married.
The Shanghailanders really left this afternoon.
I'm still getting fatter, 120 and a half lbs.
About 50 internees with links to Shanghai are sent to that city. Some of the more senior manage to get themselves repatriated there on a ship taking off Allied Consular Officials.
'The worst stories of atrocities come from Hong Kong,' writes the (Glasgow) Sunday Post on page 1, picking up a story on the American repatriates. They note, however, that Stanley Camp's children are relatively well-treated and seem 'healthy and happy.'
Rain.
10 Jap bombers flew over W-E this forenoon.
Shanghailanders went at 1PM.
The 23rd has come and gone - I thought of you all day - next year we must be all together. Glover has at last got away to Shanghai - I hope he arrives safely. I shall miss him terribly here - I may try and change my room. AIAW. B.B.
We all went to town this a.m. and I was lucky enough to find a pair of white shoes. All passes had to be turned in at 1 o’clock and no more shore leave after that. We were told that we would sail at 7 a.m.
After supper we sat and talked to the Thodes.
Silver wedding – Alexandre Edgard Garondal & Mary Robertson Jack, in London. ((Was this couple in Stanley?))
A fine day at last. I crept away this morning while Yvonne was busy washing, collected the paint box etc. and stole off to my selected point. Incidentally, this spot is just opposite a sentry box on the cliff side and I am just a little anxious that the sentry may take it upon himself to come over and see what I am up to. A rock screens me from his direct view so I daresay he thinks I have gone there just to read (if he thinks at all!) and in any case there is no rule so far as I know against making landscape paintings of the local views.
More fanatical rumours knocking about. (Jap. Premier commits Hare-Kare & the Japs intend to withdraw from some of their captured territory. Aleutian Isles evacuated & 10,000 Axis troops sunk en route to Lybia)
Musical evening in 31 St. Stevens. OK too.
Fine hot day.
Paper says the Americans have arrived at Lourenco Marques, transhipped and are on their way to America.
John Stericker presents Franklin Gimson with a Union Jack at an emotional moment in the meeting of the British Community Council. It was found hidden in a water tank on a roof and was believed to be the only one in camp. ((It wasn't: http://gwulo.com/node/16146))
(W)ith one long blast on the whistle, we bade farewell to Lourenco Marques..our next stop would be Rio de Janeiro. We all felt a great let down in the tension. We were out from under the Japanese.
We did pull anchor at 7 but only left the wharf and actually sailed at 2:30 this afternoon.