Swim a.m.
Good news about.
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Swimming with Mabel. At last she's got a pair of shoes – a swop with some one, black patent, for white rubber-heeled. I had second injection. Got a little paper from Kelly.
Felt honoured because Elizabeth Drown invited me to sit beside her on a wooden crate in the pantry, and think of ideas for a sketch she and Ian Heath are doing in the next concert!
Re-started ((writing in shorthand)).
Clothing exchanged at WElfare
Name chipped off HK Prison
Canteen a.m., Jam $5.60/LC syrup $37.20
Tramlines being taken up & other iron being collected by Japs?
Rice being removed from godowns by lighter. ((Possibly the south and north godowns near Stanley Camp))
Russians advancing on all fronts. Rommell sent to France, Solomons in hands of U.S.?
Eighteen thousand miles of travel, three continents and four oceans were behind us early the morning of August 25, when we arrived in the Lower Bay off New York. The fourth continent, North America, was so close we would be able to see the shore lights in a short time. We had crossed the equator twice. It was summer when we left Yokohama. Then we drooped in the heat of the tropics. After that we enjoyed the mild weather of Lourenco Marques, followed by cold around the Cape of Good Hope. It was spring in Rio, and the equator off South America was just as hot as it had been at Singapore.
Lecture on 'Tea' by P.E. Witham in evening.
The Gripsholm docks at Jersey City, New Jersey. The Americans are home.
The brethren of Cathay (Feemasonry) Lodge 1734 hold their first meeting in the quarry, 13 people attending. The purpose is to trace the whereabouts of brethren, and the Worshipful Master suggests that members take the opportunity of studying while in camp.
Sources:
Geoffrey Emerson, Hong Kong Internment, 1973, 64
Ella reports that on 25th Aug, "suspects" were taken off to Ellis Island, and that the rest of the people excepting diplomats did not get sent ashore until the next day. The "suspects" included 9 year old me and my parents. The absurdity was clarified without spending a night on Ellis Island. So, it seems, we got into NY City BEFORE the rest of those on board - my waiting brother and sister then had not been made to wait extra time for us. We entrained to Chicago and on to Kalb Illinois soon enough thereafter. I have no memory of the ride.
((From here, Ella's writing changed from a diary format to notes that were probably written later. Laura has divided them by date, based on other records of the time.))
We docked on Tuesday morning. ((August 25)) That day only the Diplomats and some suspects got off. We all were a little put out when we saw some of our friends get off the first afternoon already and wondered why they got a break, but soon we knew why. They were being sent to Ellis Island for questioning. Hearing that, we were only too glad they had not called on us.
Americans arrived in New York
Silver wedding - on 25th Aug 1917 at St. Ninian's Church, Golders Green, London, Major David Drummond, Canadian Forces, to Nursing Sister Mary McLean Clark, B.E.F.
Special roll call
Special Roll Call being made by Japs.
No news.
((Date approximate. On a map of the voyage there's the note "Docked at Jersey City August 25, 1942"))
On Wednesday ((August 26)) morning at 9 o’clock the “B’s were told to get off and have their baggage inspected by customs. This took almost two hours but they were very kind. After that we had to go back on the ship and be questioned by the F.B.I. That took fully two more hours. Finally, we had to get a certain card signed yet and then we were free to get off.
Lovely meat cake at tiffin.
Did more writing during the rest hour. ((Camp concensus decided that the hours between noon and 2pm should be kept as far as possible as 'quiet hours', i.e. the time immediately after the 11am meal finished)).
Went to see Mary (Taylor) in hospital, she's not to come out for about a week.
Vaughn Meisling, former Associated Press Correspondent in Hong Kong, and Stanley repatriate, has an article in the Billings Gazette (page 2) today. It’s about the bad treatment meted out to the American bankers.
European news very good.
Battle going on 70 mls away.
Lined up on deck the next morning ((ie the 26th)), our belongings were checked by customs officials. After taking our passport, they also took a résumé or diary which they returned to us some months later. I think they were looking for helpful information such as maps, etc.
Leaving the ship was a frightening experience, especially for the children. Dr. Brand and Rev. Kleps were there which helped a bit, but the news and camera men almost pulled us apart. When we later saw our pictures in the New York paper, we looked like frightened rabbits.
Dorothy has given me some blue lined paper to make next year's diary.
Good walk round after hearing duets at St Stephens by Elizabeth Drown and Miss Bicheno.
To French lesson, Jimmy didn't come, but Dr Barwell was there.
Swiming late afternoon.
Paper says that Duke of Kent has been killed in a flying accident.
Notice posted notifying threat by authorities to close gate at bottom of S.S. at 6 p.m. & bring lights out to earlier hour