Pages tagged:

I was weighed  again on the 15th - 134 lbs which is better but I have been terribly "down" the last little while and am also suffering  from what I had operated on in Vict. Hosp in Feb 1933.  I had a letter from Glover and he can't get in touch with Alice.  I'm trying again the International Red Cross.

There is an official silence period from 12:30 to 2:30 during which time everyone is supposed to pursue quiet occupations and not make a noise, as the majority of people lie down for a mid-day rest. This is normally a good rule for a tropical climate, but here it is additionally advisable as our food (though reasonably good now) is not as well balanced and as good as in normal times, and a rest at mid-day conserves one’s strength considerably. We mostly lie on our beds and read for some time and then perhaps have a nap.

Naval engagements in S. Pacific & Atlantic? Tobruk recaptured?

Chinese in town not having such a good time.

We are to receive Y70 per month?

Crisped burnt rice is ruining my teeth..  I keep meaning not to eat it, but never succeed. ((A lining of burnt rice collected on the rice boilers each day; it was prised off and distributed to a 'burnt rice queue' after the meals.))

'Gymkhana Water Sports' but I was too tired to go, also it was during hospital visiting hours.

Swimming sports

Concerts

'V'

Much cooler at night. OK for sleep.

No news.

Concert tonight and Japs took many flashlight photographs. ((Has anyone seen any copies of these?))

Rumours that bread ration is going down, that money we sent to Shamshuipo has been returned.

Started Patients' Card Index system at office.

Dr says Mabel is progressing all right.

Nan Grady was 22 on the 18th.

Since coming into Stanley, Matron E.M. Dyson has arranged to receive smuggled messages keeping her in touch with conditions at Bowen Road Military Hospital. Today she gets one telling her that after a long 'lean' period, things are improving. They'd been short of drugs but now they have a supply - Dyson thinks this is due to Rudolf Zindel of the Swiss Red Cross.

Source:

(Prof. GW Sewell)

Spence

Dinsdale

Mrs Raymond 

((As it's a Sunday, probably J R L Spence the Missionary, not W Spence the Marine Engineer. Not sure which Mrs Raymond he is referring to.)))

Lovely day weather.

Went for swim.

Japs have taken turbines from Kowloon power station so they have no lights over there.

I should have been in hospital tonight - the blood count was bad and Smalley's certificate describes me as having "acute anaemia"   I saw Greaves' certificate too - Haemoglobin 52%. Red Corpuscles 2,270,000 in place of the usual 5 million.  I fixed up a bed yesterday and got all ready but I heard at 11 that they had to admit an emergency case - poor old Bellamy has a septic foot  and is threatened with general septicaemia.

First day of my 5 days' holiday.

Mabel looks very pale ((still in hospital)).  She vomited all her tiffin today, it was pork. Dr said her blood pressure was better today.

Delightful piano recital at St Stephens - Mrs Drown and Ian Heath.

Dorothy Jenner notes in her diary that there's been a strike of vegetable cutters and wood cutters, who came out when their extra rations were cut due to camp shortages. In spite of the ringing slogan 'A matter of principle' the strikers meet with little sympathy, and section leader ('blockhead') Jenner soon fills their places with willing workers.

Source:

Jenner: Christina Twomey, Australia's Forgotten Prisoners, 2007, 64

Checking Inds. duty hours. ((Indians?))

Fine, cooler & dry.

Chines troops at Shum Chun. ((ie the village just across the border in China. It's a city today, now known as Shenzhen.))

Notice says International Red Cross are sponsoring a moving picture to be taken of life in the camp.

It was said that some planes which came over today (I'd heard them) made a 'V' formation, and that they exhaust-piped a 'V' in the sky, and that they dropped pamphlets.  ((I hadn't seen any))

Spent rest of our money on tomato ketchup and sugar.  I got rubber sandals from Welfare.

Mabel snowed under with re-knitting (unravelled) baby clothes ((for new camp babies.))

Dr. Macleod "African Memories"

(X) Medical repatriation list for signatures.

9 planes flew over during the afternoon E to W & a string of floaters was released was release (sic) from one of them that formed the letter “V”.

Drs making out petition re repatriation.

TIME OVER TARGET: ~1:00 p.m.

OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance over Hong Kong and Canton

AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One P-43A Lancer on loan to the 23^rd Fighter Group from the Chinese Air Force

AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Major Bruce K. Holloway

ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None

RESULTS: Aerial photographs taken during mission show many small vessels and one large vessel in Victoria Harbor, plus two large vessels under repair at the HK & Whampoa dockyard

JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None

AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None

My heart is so tired, dragging feeling most of today.

Mabel much better.  Kind Mrs K took her a little wong tong.

Mr. ((Jimmy, PWD)) Bendall in hospital with septic foot, and Mr Skinner (Wally) with dysentery.

Death of A. E. Bush, aged 48. Before being sent to Stanley he was held in room 127 of the Tung Fong Hotel.

Sourcs:

Geoffrey Emerson, Hong Kong Internment, 1973, page 271

http://www.hongkongwardiary.com/searchgarrison/nonuniformedcivilians.html#_Toc43367486