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Gorgeous bacon and egg tonight.

Mum having her leg dressed, they think it might be malnutrition that made her leg weak.

Have decided to make mittens to send to Arthur ((Alsey, in Shamshuipo. Wool from unravelled garments.))

Mabel and I to Retreat Conference at Maryknoll room – Father Meyer. To Benediction in evening, and another conference – composed principally of Bartons.

Issue of 1lb. of flour each.

(Cyril Brown – “Chorister Memories”).

((Following text not dated:))

Hear people now leaving by junk from Taipo to East River.

Street sleepers and destitutes being rounded up.

Searching at ferry requires people take off shoes and socks. 

Prices published as at 30th November:

Fine day.

Yamashita took G & Bs photograph.

((G.))

Police on Rds to see people in their areas by 8PM?

Drop of wine.

Coolies no longer come in on the lorry.

Retreat in morning, and choir practice.

Mum and Mabel won eggs in the Welfare.

Fine & warm.

Cookhouse all day.

((G.))

Mittens rather a botch. ((of course we didn't know then that Arthur & Sid were no longer in Hong Kong.))

'Blitz' ((some one's dog)) has to spend the night in the gaol with the Medleys' dog for mating reasons, Japs say.

Retreat finished this evening.

Fine & cooler.

Retrieved 160 .303. ((".303" was the calibre of the British rifle in use at the time. Sounds like he was collecting bullets from somewhere.))

Bonnie having picture done.

((G.))

But Japs didn't come for Blitz after all.

Police concert, I didn't go.

So busy -  passage cleaning ((we took turns at this)), choir practice, washing and packing mittens, sending them in my name; and vest and mending outfit in Mr. Kelly's name.

Margaret Lillian McDermott born today, 8 lbs.

Mr. E. McDermott, a photographer, and Mrs. M. McDermott have a girl, Margaret Lilian.

Rosamund Judah (Block A2 Room 24) sends combined birthday and Christmas greetings to a friend in Shamshuipo:

To Pte Philip Samuel (British)

Prisoner of War

Shamshuipo Camp

Seasons Greetings!

Many happier returns of December 23rd.

Love from

To Mr. & Mrs. J.E.D. McDermott – a daughter.

JAIL Concert SS Hall.

Another wasted year gone dearest but I wish you Many Happy Returns pal.

Fine & warm.

Too late for concert at St Stephens.

((G.))

Pd for Bonnie’s picture which was not so good.

Wearing tartan skirt and green jumper and scarlet jacket. ((the winter clothes I was wearing throughout the battle for Hong Kong))

Confession in afternoon.

JAIL Concert SS Hall.

Cookhouse all day.

2nd nt. of Concert at St Stephens.

Felt somewhat fed up all day.

((G.))

No news about the parcels and cards we sent in yesterday for despatch to Shamshuipo.

(Wittenbach)/Spence.

Nice day, mostly with G.

Walk with Steve.

((G.))

Drop of wine.

Shanghai people vaccinated this afternoon, but whether or not they will be going soon is in question because now a case of diphtheria is in camp - Mrs. Williams, who was in our room on Friday visiting Mrs. K.   Good work for Dr Y-E to diagnose right away.  Consternation and panic as soon as the Jap authorities knew.  Mrs Drown's concert cancelled, or postponed, and presumably all gatherings will be banned - Nativity plays etc. - another strange Christmas.

The International Committee of the Red Cross is allowed to visit Shamshuipo POW Camp and Bowen Road Military Hospital. Delegate C. A. Kengelbacher - down from Tokyo - is careful not to criticise the Japanese too severely in his report to Geneva - with good reason, as all Red Cross reports were read by the authorities and outright condemnation would have led to the cessation of contact.