Tonight we have been told the black-out restrictions have been lifted and that the men need no longer sleep in gaol. A Japanese Major General has been here today and we wonder if these latest orders are the result of his visit. The imprisoning of civilians by an enemy power is a contravention of the Geneva Pact, though I believe they are quite within their rights to insist on a total blackout. The camp perimeter lights must have been erected, therefore, to prevent escapes and not in order to comply with the Geneva Convention as we thought.
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Men suddenly excused from going into gaol tonight, and we don't have to blackout.
Each got 1 and half lbs. dried pears, a spoonful of cocoa and of tea, and 2 lbs sugar. Seconds in sweet potatoes at meal!
Went to Retreat Talk in afternoon.
Windy & cooler.
Tel. cables being laid.
((G.))
Bottle of wine & tin of M & V. Good sleep but tummy upset.
Out of gaol.
Lights out 11 p.m.
Issue of hats and clothing.
Feeling very full up, having eaten 4 slices of toast ((probably rice bread)) and honey, and 3 oz corned beef, and half a little basinful of ground rice choc pudding, and a cup of cocoa.
News everywhere good.
Japs say we may have lights on until 11 at night, but must put them off if we hear air raid alarm.
In evening, Rosary led by Fr Murphy.
A Tasmanian newspaper (the Hobart Mercury) reports that a list of Hong Kong civilian internees can be inspected at the Red Cross Information Bureau in Hobart. It also cites a report to the London Colonial Office from the Red Cross delegate in Hong Kong ((Rudolf Zindel)) saying that he visits Stanley regularly and conditions are 'satisfactory.'
Much colder.
2 Cardigans & a hat (I.R.C.) served out.
Guitar at Steve’s.
Lights extended to 11P.M.
((G.))
Concert at S.S.
OBJECTIVE: Reconnaissance flight over Canton and Hong Kong
TIME OVER TARGET: ~10:30 a.m.
AMERICAN UNITS AND AIRCRAFT: One F-4 (photographic reconnaissance version of P-38 Lightning) from Flight A of the 9th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (attached to China Air Task Force, 10th Air Force)
AMERICAN PILOTS AND AIRCREW: Major Dale L. Swartz
ORDNANCE EXPENDED: None
RESULTS: Unknown
JAPANESE UNITS, AIRCRAFT, AND PILOTS: None
AIRCRAFT LOSSES: None
Dreadfully cold.
Concert in evening - best I've seen here. Compered by Danny Wilson. Barton girls and others in colourful Spanish dance, and 4 girls in white, blue-bodiced dresses. H. Mundy gave a good 'Albert' poem ((a Stanley Holloway piece)), and 'Hong Kong' - words by Alec Kidd ((probably the 'Alexander Kidd' on the Stanley list, I didn't know him at all)). V Garton was good.
Cold.
Turkey in the war?
((G.))
So cold.
We're having M & V tonight – 2 tins between us 4.
Jap newspaper says British have a setback in Africa.
(Rose – “Spirit is willing but flesh is weak”)/ Spence.
Felt rotten all day. Evening much better.
((G.))
((Major)) J D Clague wrote: "A nominal roll of internees arrived at AHQ from 99 ((Agent #99, Raymond Wong)) on 3.12.42. A copy is attached".
((The nominal roll, a list of names of the internees in Stanley Camp, can be viewed at: http://gwulo.com/node/28555))
Every one has been saying 'This time last year, I was..' - ((remembering what they did the day before the Jap attack))
Lovely day, had tiffin outside in the sun on the grass (hospital.)
On way back from library I heard distant bangs I thought might be gunfire – but it was only someone kicking a box down the steps to the Indian Quarters.
Father Moore sent us another parcel bless him - cornmeal, a tin of loganberries, and of pineapple and olives, and some wong tong.
(Macnamara – “Criminal procedure”).
Dearest - A year ago today our world tumbled about our ears and we are still waiting.
To Mass - ((In Prison Officers' Club - aka 'American Club')) - Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Japs have asked us what we want for Christmas! And we are to have 1 lb flour per head.
Today is the first anniversary of the Japanese attack on Hong Kong.
On Mount Cameron Governor Isogai lays the foundation stone of what will become a war memorial to those Japanese who died in the battle, as well as 'the centre of spiritual life of Nipponese here'. Colonel Noma Kennosuke takes the first swing with a pickaxe.
Source:
http://gwulo.com/japanese-war-memorial
See also December 8, 1943