70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries
3 Feb 1943, R. E. Jones Wartime diary
Submitted by Admin on Fri, 2013-02-01 20:27Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 3 Feb 194303 Feb 1943, Chronology of Events Related to Stanley Civilian Internment Camp
Submitted by brian edgar on Sat, 2014-12-06 19:22Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 3 Feb 1943A reshaping of the camp's welfare system has been decided on, and camp secretary John Stericker posts a notice on the board to inform James Ivor Barnes, who's in charge of the storeroom, of the new division of responsibilities and to assure him his work continues to be required and appreciated:
Mr. Bradley has been appointed to receive the Camp stores (i.e., kitchen utensils etc. etc.) and will arrange for distribution of same. Should they arrive late in the evening they will be stored overnight in Dr. Macleod's store. He ((Bradley)) will also be responsible for signing the receiving sheets. It is, of course, necessary to define his duties in order that they in no way clash with yours ((Barnes's)) which you have carried out so well and so tirelessly since the formation of the International Welfare Committee.
War is full of intended and unforeseeable consequences, many of them grim. This reorganisation of duties will cost Frederick William Bradley his life.
Source:
J. I. Barnes, Hong Kong World War Two and Other Stories, 2005, 25
Note: Mr. Barnes, the Assistant Secretary of the Medical Department, played an important role in the smooth running of medical services during the hostilities. He remained in town and assisted Selwyn-Clarke in the first two months of the occupation. His duties included driving some of the late-comers into Stanley. He entered camp himself - with Douglas and Nina Valentine - in late February 1942 and soon took over the storeroom, sleeping there at nights to act as guard.
He deposited his account of his wartime experinces with the Imperial War Museum soon after his hundreth birthday.
03 Feb 1943, W J Carrie's wartime diary
Submitted by billagee on Tue, 2019-09-17 09:47Book / Document:Date(s) of events described:Wed, 3 Feb 1943Naturally I am thinking of Joy's birthday tomorrow. My "programme of thinks" is as follows: - I'm always awake and up by 7 or a little past - that is 10pm the night before with you and I think of you sitting by the fireside or getting off to bed. Then I usually try for 40 winks after our midday meal - I always rest a little but rarely fall off - so I think of you then - that is 12.30 - 1.30 or so - the middle of the night with you. Then I start thinking again at 4 (7am with you) when you will be getting up I expect and I can continue thinking of you till I go to bed. I usually turn in at 10, read a little and lights out at 11 - that is 1-2 with you so I think of you at tiffin. Of course my thoughts are tinged with memories of McLaren Road - I wish I knew the layout of 9 Nile Grove and could really picture you properly.
(my last sheet of this paper) - I've never had a pad for so long in all my life!
Mrs Cock (Teeny) said to me today when I happened to meet her that I was looking very well but very thin. I am very well but there is not an ounce of fat on me now - I weighed myself again a few days ago and with winter clothes on I was 138lbs - a little under what I should be. I remember in the '20s when I used to weigh myself in the Club I fluctuated between 140 and 146 - then of course after 1929 and my illness I put on fat. I never played tennis much after that.
The Japs claim another naval victory in the Solomons - we haven't heard any other story. I suppose we must have lost some ships but I hope the Yanks weren't caught napping again.
I'm very busy these days with all sorts of Committees and Discussion Groups - planning. It's good mental exercise if nothing more. So Cheero again Darling. Billie.
