Standing in the cupboard is an aquarium jar two-thirds full of date and ginger jam - looks lovely. The parcel chocolate, although plain, tastes so milky that it's almost incredible to think there is something better, i.e. milk chocolate.
Had a spoonful of Nestles Milk - absolute heaven!
190,000 Pris’s captured in Lybia. U.S.troops enter Algeria. Burma air attacks unmolested. Russia OK. Jap naval remains left Solomon area.
34 P of W. got away from Kai Tak by aid of guerillas.
Wilcocks & special assignment. ((Is that J L Willcocks, Commissioner of Prisons, or C Willcox, a policeman, or A C Wilcox, an accountant? The special assignment may be explained by tomorrow's diary entry: "Broke out & went to look for revolver"))
((G.))
Received first IRC parcel
11th Nov - but no official silence.
To choir practice. Edith Batley came.
Peggy Sharpe and Robert Minnitt are engaged. ((Robert a Cadet Officer in HK Govt, worked with Mr Gimson in camp)).
Dr Tomlinson's wife suddenly had to have appendix operation. Mabel's bed has been moved again as Mrs. T needed the corner bed.
The men who have been sent to sleep in Stanley Prison (see November 6, 1942) hold a service in memory of the dead of both wars. It's conducted by a medical missionary called Dr. Laurie.
The solemn atmosphere built up by the service is soon dispelled; at 8 p.m. a Chinese electrician who'd been mending lights discovered he'd been accidentally locked in, and for the next hour and a half he can be heard screaming and banging on the gates, while the internees jeer at him.
Source:
TIME OVER TARGET: ~3:30 p.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two P-40E1s from 16th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group, China Air Task Force, 10th Air Force)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: 1st Lt. Robert A. O’Neill and 2nd Lt. George V. Pyles
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
RESULTS: Canton obscured by cloud cover. Pilots observe one destroyer and four medium-sized ships in Victoria Harbor.
Today's rumours: Italy is asking for peace at any price; we have declared war on Spain and landed there; Germany has asked Russia and England for a truce but Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill all say they will fight to the bitter end. The only part people believe is that maybe Italy has capitulated, but we've heard that before.
Another rumour = Tokyo has cabled Japanese to treat internees (British) with every consideration.
Men have been clapped back into gaol again tonight.
Block mtgs abt. Parcels
Out of gaol cell, back in cell at night
Very tired today.
Men to gaol re-started.
More block meetings re bulk I.R.C.
Didn’t walk with Steve this evening, too busy.
((G.))
OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over San Chau and Hong Kong
TIME OVER TARGET: ~7:15 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: Two P-40E1s from 16th Fighter Squadron (23rd Fighter Group, China Air Task Force, 10th Air Force)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Captain Edmund H. Goss; 1st Lt. Robert H. Mooney
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
Headlines that Germans have moved into unoccupied France to forestall Allies, which shows that there is some ground in rumours that we had made landings in Spain and Marseilles.
Tony Sanh has been taken off by Gendarmerie for swearing at one of them who flashed a torch in his face, and hasn't been heard of since. ((But he was OK))
The two Macintyre children, Ailso and Muriel, came into hospital with malaria, arrived on the same stretcher.
My last entry was made on the Armistice Day Anniversary of the last World War. On the previous Sunday, 8th Nov., we had an Armistice Day Sunday Service. It was conducted by Revd E. Sandbach, he being chosen as the only person in camp who fought in the last war as a soldier.
Mabel and I are entitled to a tin of Galantine between us – Olive and Mum have opened one tonight but I'm not partaking, I think it's silly to start on iron rations before we have the promised 8 tins of corned beef per month.
Dr Selwyn-Clarke came in, looking very old and ill - his hair badly in need of cutting.
Rumour that we have re-taken Tobruk.
Hill and Mackie came back ((i.e. from x-ray in town))
Gilbert & Sullivan concert at St Stephens, voices blending beautifully.
HK Bank people rec'd Y200 each
Gilbert & Sullivan gaol concert.
Excellent news re Darlan, French fleet etc. Churchill’s speech OK too, that is if it is all true.
((G.))
Gilbert & Sullivan Show. Excused jail for the night.
Mabel home just for evening ((from hospital)). We shared an apple pudding - delicious but not enough of it.
Peggy Barton and I have been delegated to go to find out who can come to the Study Club ((Church)) and choir. Mrs Drown came in ((our room)) to play bridge later. Mabel and I went back to hospital under one mackintosh, dark, misty, rainy and blowy.