HOSPITAL SUNDAY: Montgomery / Ponting
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Dakar falls to U.S. troops & 2 islands in Phillipines Group in their hands. 3 point landing on Continent. Eire breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany.
Gusty day.
Norah Witchell's 20th birthday, we made her a card - lettering by Olive, verse by me, drawing by Dorothy. ((Norah had recently joined us 3 in the hospital office as a stenographer. Tragically In 1950, as Norah Stutchbury, she was murdered in Malaya by terrorists.))
Cloudy & cooler.
Chinese guard left us with cigs & wine to sell for him at 2a.m.
Road closed 10am to 1PM but nothing happened.
Poor Mr. Kershaw ((William, aged 45)) died today, such a shame, as he almost got better and actually went out of hospital for a time.
Pat Cullinan ((Police, he had TB)) came back from x-ray yesterday, said he saw Father Moore who asked to be remembered to us.
Did a bit of 'Catholic Action' in evening, by speaking to Elizabeth (Betty) Aslett about coming to choir practice tomorrow.
Death of William Kershaw, aged 45. He was a medical storekeeper.
Sources:
Geoffrey Emerson, Hong Kong Internment, 1973, 271
Tony Banham: http://www.hongkongwardiary.com/searchgarrison/nonuniformedcivilians.html#_Toc43367490
Death of W. Kershaw (45).
Poker & wine.
Tues Well I was chucked out of hospital last Thursday - I'd been in 3 weeks and a day. I didn't feel quite ready to go but they need the beds badly. I had another blood count on Saturday - good - count up to 3,050,000 and Haemoglobin 70%. Then I had an injection of Parnaemon - a very fine Dutch liver extract stuff so I hope to show excellent results next Monday or so. I have been promised another bottle of Hepetex too so that should do me good. I got an International Red Cross letter form today and have sent it to Jimmie Blair to try and get n
Just finished writing Chapter 12.
Prof. Digby had an operation today - suddenly.
Mabel fed up, because she hasnt been put in the ward with babies.
Many happy returns of the day, Father. I see in the ‘HK News’ that the Viceroy of India has advised all British women and children who can possibly manage to do so, to leave India as soon as possible. I heard a story some time ago that women and children had been evacuated from Ceylon, but do not know if this is true or not. It makes it difficult about the occasional Red Cross messages we have been able to send as I am not sure where to address them. So I suppose it is possible that Mother and Father may now be separated, though I think this is improbable.
News apparently good.
2 Bank people escaped last Sun. ((See notes for 18 Oct 1942 for more about the escape))
Mrs Denton is in next bed to Mabel. (Ivy Denton, nee Thirlwell - Eurasian). She says a Chinese said the men who went from HK ((on 'Lisbon Maru')) were mostly Wavy Navy (HKRNVR), and that the regulars are working at Kai Tak with shaved heads.
Death of Alfred Charles Septimus Pike, aged 59. He was married in 1918 and worked as a master mariner.
His widow, Sarah Ann, was later to state he died of pneumonia, dysentery and beri-beri - adding 'from starvation' (underlined). She herself was treated for colitis and high blood pressure while in Stanley. In the 1950s she received grants from Australian funds set up to help former internees on account of heart and blood pressure problems and other health issues - her physician believed that internment was a factor.
Death of A.C.S. Pike (59).
U.S. & Jap fleet in action in South Pacific. Burma bombed. Tokyo bombed? Stalingrad battle expected to reach climax today.
Great news - we are to get parcels from Red Cross. Notice says they are 'beautifully packed', each contains 12 tins of assorted food. Also clothes have come - 500 trilby hats; cocoa, tea etc., dried fruits - absolutely wonderful.. will help so much with this winter and relieves my mind about Mum and Mabel.
Roast meat and lovely baked potato. We drew 2 canteen tickets.
Y40 each for Jardine's staff.
Japs lost 56 transports in Sol.battle.
Wind backed to N so it is colder.
Stye coming on the other eye now. Dr Hargreaves is going to take out my lower lashes.
Visited Frieda Salmon today.