70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

Leaving hospital today.

Fishing boats bobbing up and down, close enough to barter their fish through the barbed wire on hospital embankment.

Mr F. Kelly sent me 2 hot baked sweet potatoes which I ate and hope I won't regret.

Messrs. F. Gimson, H. R. Butters, D. Sloss, R Minitt have gone to town today to confab. in Mr Zindel's office (Red Cross official).

All sorts of rumours about what happened to our U.S. parcels, but it seems that the Japs saved the food in tunnels. Rumour that milk, butter and flour being sent in today.

Visitors from men's camps came. (Among them) Charles Pike RAMC. He looked quite well, though pale and hair rather moth-eaten. He brought us (in small paper pokes) sugar & salt; and soup and oil, and writing paper! We had tea of fried sweet potatoes.

We had news of deaths of Naval Dockyard friends in Shamshuipo: Mr Sutton, Mr. Lee, Mr. Egan and son, and Mr. Peckham. Mr Peckham had died just two days ago.

After the meal of fried sweet potatoes, we went to gates to see visitors off, saw Major Grieve (at one time pre-war Mabel had worked for him), and Mr. Harper (Naval Dockyard).

General issue of siege biscuits, and matches and soy sauce.

In evening Peggy Barton & I went to dance at St. Stephens ((the Japs had prohibited dancing in the camp)) to look on from the gallery, but soon went downstairs and had a wonderful time dancing with Dick and Philip Appleyard ((Peggy's friend)). There was a big Union Jack with V through it at the back of the stage, Reg Jenner's band, and Bill Hewitt as M.C. A lot of hot tea available. Radio there, we heard it for first time.

An American announcer who hummed and hawed told us the news summary was for pows and internees in Pacific. Rather depressing.. delays in signing Peace, envoy plane held up....which to our suspicious minds sounds like the Japs up to their old tricks.