Death of Mr. A.E. Bush, 48.
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BBC 22-9-42. 5 dest. 3 cruisers 14 transports sunk in one attack on Solomons, & they lost 20,000 men in 48 hrs. troops have forged ahead N & S. Tobruk recaptured & our [?] Germans driven from Stalingrad. 1,500 tanks crossed Volga & are cutting up retreating Germans. Stalin in speech given on 2nd Anniversary of 1st bombing of Britain said “You (Germany) knew that after 1st raid they could not maintain air superiority over R.A.F. The R.A.F. have now superiority in every field & Germans know that Russia would soon pass them in production.
Delicious frothy dumpling. No more flour ration.
Benediction in evening in grotto, then Catholic Action meeting.
A. Bush (48) died last night of blood poisoning.
Concerts have been stopped until further notice because of our 'V's last Saturday!
Dorothy Jenner ('Andrea') writes in her diary that there's been 'the most awful thieving and racketeerring among ladies' working in the kitchen.
Source:
Christina Twomey, Australia's Forgotten Prisoners, 2007, 72
At 5:30 (or thereabouts) we have our evening meal. This generally consists of rice, half a sweet potato, one or two vegetables, a small cup full of soup and meat. The meat, usually a piece about 1½” x 2” is served in various ways: broiled and sliced into individual small pieces and served in gravy; cut up into small pieces and stewed; minced; mixed with rice and fried as hamburger steaks, minced and baked in pastry as sausage rolls or pasties. These last two are easily the most popular meals. The pasties are really quite large and we have only half the usual quantity of rice with them.
Fanling bombed?
1st day of Autumn.
No news.
On the 25th September 1942, after days of standing by, we were all paraded and addressed by a Lieutenant Wada through his interpreter, Niimori: "You are going to a pleasant land, where you will be well looked after. I will be in charge of you. Remember my face."
Mum received $15 from the Relief Committee on account of herself and Mabel, principally to buy sugar.
Rumour that the troops from Shamshuipo are coming into the Prison; that the Germans on the Stalingrad front are in a chaotic state; that British (or Allies) have got into Caucausus via Iran.
The Japanese are sending a second 'draft' of POWs from Shamshuipo to work in Japan:
At four in the morning of 25 September, with the weather still warm and humid, the draftees hastily swallowed a rushed breakfast of rice and fish, and were issued with two small sugarloaves as emergency rations. Then they made their way to the Jubilee parade ground of Sham Shui Po camp for assembly.
Bread issued in p.m.
Allies fighting in Caucasus. Guam attacked by U.S. All seems to be coming our way gradually.
Japs fortifying and preparing HK for attack.
Mr Kelly said rumour is that within 4 days we shall hear something favourable about repatriation.
Irish Red Cross has donated money to Irish internees, who have handed it over to be devoted to Hospital deserving cases. Got dates and sugar, boiled same and result was some quite respectable jam.
Olive has an idea that we make bookmarks for all the patients who are in hospital on Christmas Day. Nice idea.
The labour drafts have created enough room in Shamshuipo (most of the 2,500 men sent to Japan have been from this camp) to accommodate the POWs left in North Point.
They move to Kowloon today, and North Point POW camp is closed.
Source:
Tony Banham, We Shall Suffer There, 2009, September 1942 (Location 1368)
MB concert postponed ("V")
After the evening meal there are several alternatives which Y and I adopt – we walk to ‘C’ bungalow at about 7:00 p.m. and sit and chat with Maudie for an hour. She generally spoils us with some sweets or a cigarette which Sophie O’Dell has sent in by parcel or some biscuits she has made. Maudie is very generous to people in these ways.
No news.
Chinese wine & corned beef for supper.
Wonderful rumour - that BBC (not BCC which is British Communal Council) announced that all British civilian internees are to be repatriated soon - but the rumour isn't yet very strong. Trouble over notices on Board, not seen by Superintendents. We are still very much in disgrace over the 'V's' at concert.
The Lisbon Maru has been waiting for 778 Japanese soldiers who are to be carried back to Japan. They're on board and at 8 a.m. the ship finally leaves Hong Kong.
The POWs are crammed into three filthy and unhygienic holds, but they're allowed on deck for an hour as the ship steams away.
Robert Wright, of the Middlesex Regiment, recalls:
The next alternative ((for what to do after the evening meal)) is to go and listen to a lecture or to Betty Drown and Heath giving their Monday night piano recital at St Stephen’s Hall. We have been to one lecture only (that was on the history of surgery by Dr I. Newton) but have been several times to listen to the music. These two are awfully good: they play on two pianos, either duets or solos, one carrying on from the other.