To Mr. & Mrs. D.R. Fyffe, a daughter
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After about a week a reply was received from the B.C.C. and also placed upon the notice board. It condemned our committee for making their attack public before enquiring what steps the Communal Council had taken to clear up the matter; the reply stated that our committee would have been acquainted with the fact that a thorough investigation was being conducted by the Canteen Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Newbigging; that no signature by the chairman of the B.C.C.
More rain.
Good news confirmed but a rumour is knocking about re Russians being in a bad way. However they seem to know what they are doing.
Dearest, Another month started and we can't see the end yet - it may be a long time yet but still we hope on. I've started to write separately a synopsis* of our first 6 months (*insert [I never got on with this] above line) - it can only be headings as it's quite impossible to write here - lack of privacy and really I'm not able to sit up at table for very long at a time. Glover's going has made things more comfortable here but it has made me much more lonely - if I start to think too much then I can't s
Canteen (Yen prices).
Callum Macleod injured by “explosion”.
List closed for internees' decisions ((sp?)) of return to N. China other than Shanghai?
Rained off & on all day.
Meeting at noon. Usual tripe. Mrs Kelly & her bridge etc. ((Possibly E M Kelly))
Olive and I went to tea with Mary and Peggy Taylor and Sheila Bruce. ((Peggy's husband Alex Taylor - not in Stanley - being Mary's brother)). Jim Johnson (Police) there too. He thinks, another 2 years of this - he isn't usually wrong about politics etc.
My weight about 122 now. Started having thyroid tablets as well as oil (treatment for K). An old lady, Mrs Mary Williamson died this afternoon.
Death of Mary Williamson, aged 75 (also given as 74). Mrs. Williamson's grandson, Douglas Harvey Collins-Taylor, was killed in action at Stanley Village while fighting with the HKVDC on December 25, 1941. They are memorialised on the same post-war grave stone in the Military Cemetery.
Even before they’ve arrived back home, the Americans are bringing news of events in Hong Kong to the outside world.
Today is Grandpa Buuck’s birthday.
We had private communion service this a.m. in Thode’s cabin and children’s service this p.m.
There is a movie this evening but I don’t like them and it’s so cold everybody is shivering. It’s 43 out on aft deck. And do we ever dip up and down! Many are sick, we are still doing all right but Lenny complains at times and my head gets heavy as lead at times.
(Johnstone) / M. Dow ((Does anyone know who Johnstone refers to?))
Death of Mrs. Mary Williamson (75)
Rained.
Plenty of news which confirms that received last week.
Last night we ate our last tin - it was of sausages - and this afteroon, our parcels arrived! Grand, tins of corned beef, salmon; bovril, cod liver oil and malt, chocolate, cheese, crystallised ginger, oats, biscuits, oxo, and toilet paper and soap.
In morning Mrs. K, Olive, Mabel and I went swimming. Dr Loan was there, looking after the kids - he is 'Uncle John' to them, such a grand, earnest man and wonderful with children.
Birth of Jonathan Goforth Nance to Elizabeth and Ancil Nance, an American missionary couple who chose not to be repatriated:
On August 3, 1942, we welcomed Jonathan Goforth Nance. He was 14 months younger than his brother, Ancil. Jonathan was a happy little boy, named after Rev. Jonathan Goforth, whose story Ancil and I had read on the way across the ocean to China. Dr. Loan used to call our Jonathan the “family ambassador,” because he was so friendly.
Another rough and cold day.
Lorenz is busy writing up his report on the past 8 months. Also we must get mail ready for Rio as we hope to go ashore there.
We sat out on aft deck last night after the children were asleep. We found a warm corner and after covering with the robe were quite warm.
Rained.
No news beyond a re-hash of that received last week.
Jap civilians preparing to leave HK?
Heard that two or three married women with husbands away are pregnant. Human nature being what it is, several of us debated on & wondered how lucky we shall be in that direction.
Rumours that Kai Tak was bombed and working party of our men killed or wounded (down to the name of the officer in charge! - later discounted.)
Professor Robert Cecil Robertson of the Hong Kong University Medical Department is found dead at the foot of a balcony.
He had not been sent to Stanley in January 1942 but kept in university premises and forced to continue his bacteriological research under Japanese supervision. Although his work benefitted the Chinese population as well as the Japanese, he had become depressed by his situation, and suicide is a possibility.