70 years ago: Hong Kong's wartime diaries

((More about moving the bulk IRC rations into camp:)) Though these sacks were twice as heavy as the 50 lb boxes of bully beef that followed, they were soft and much easier to carry (across the back of our neck and shoulders) than the cases. We finished up that day with the cases of bully beef and tins of meat and vegetables. Our block store was filled high to the ceiling that night. There was still the tea and surplus parcels to come. However, that night, news went round that Yamashita was in a great rage and had stormed down to see Gimson. Apparently he had allowed two days for the removal of the stuff and on the first day he had stated the fruit, sugar and cocoa were to be removed. Owing however, to the efficient organization of our coolie labour gangs and the willingness of the coolies, we moved out the tinned meat as well (which amounted to about 33 tons! Some 9 of which, came to our blocks).

This mistake (if mistake it can be called) was made in all innocence – in fact gendarme officers were present the whole time and saw the meat being taken. I suppose Yamashita felt he had not been implicitly obeyed and so was all on his dignity. This fear of ‘losing face’ is sometimes useful and sometimes an awful curse in the East. At all events our block stores had to be sealed up and no more stuff was allowed out from the godowns and we were made to wait for one whole week before we were allowed to collect the remainder of the goods. That is typical of Japanese officialdom.

So on Tuesday 24th we removed the remainder of the stores – tea (Indian tea!) and the balance of all parcels. There is still the clothing to be released – that yet remains in the godowns, though samples of all the articles of clothing have now been in view so that we can see what has been sent! Last Thursday permission was given to issue the stuff! Almost 4 weeks after it arrived in camp! All the raisins and dried fruit salad, all the cocoa, 4 lbs of sugar each, 2 x 12 oz and 2 x 8 oz tins of bully beef and 1 x 16 oz tin of meat and vegetables each. The next day the tea was issued, 2 lbs each. We have had an almighty job finding large and suitable tins for the stuff – 8 lbs sugar, 3 lbs cocoa and 4 lbs tea. The dried pears have not yet been issued. It has been simply marvellous to open a tin of bully beef with a clear conscience and not feel you are robbing your own rations. Also, to have a bowl of rich and sweet cocoa at night, instead of our previous wishy washy stuff. The tea will last us for at least a year I think – we have 14 lbs of tea in our room! We periodically open a tin of bully beef and curry it with the morning mince for a community curry; we contribute the tinned meat in turn. One thing we notice immediately is how tasteless is the food we have been eating all these months. Rice, rice, rice! Well, I suppose it has kept us going.

The Japanese have agreed to 2 lbs of sugar and 6 tins of meat per head per month instead of the 3 lbs sugar and 8 tins meat. The BCC has protested and is hoping to have it revised. (The bully beef came from the Argentine: the sugar and parcels from England and the rest from South Africa. None from Australia! How rumours get about!).

On Nov 21st the Married Quarters gave its long deferred concert. Concerts have never been officially sanctioned since our V for Victory effort, but when our bathing season came to an end on October 31st (having been extended from September 30th) Mr Gimson took the opportunity to ask again for the resumption of concerts as a kind of compensation for the cessation of bathing. This request was evidently viewed with sympathy by the Japanese, for though concerts have not been officially sanctioned again, yet we held them and no one interferes. We are not allowed to advertise them on the notice boards, but the news gets around all right. It is rather like the Sino-Japanese war – not officially recognised – apparently another peculiarity of Japanese officialdom!

Anyway, in spite of the production, our concert was really an extremely good show. George Sewell was our more or less self appointed producer and though I have nothing against him personally I must say I consider his methods of production are somewhat haphazard or happy go lucky. His idea was that the concert should be a series of individually produced and presented items, the production of which he proposed to leave to the individual stars. This was all very well up to a point but when he heard he was not proposing to have a complete run through, rehearsing entrances, exits and curtains etc. the large cast began to put its several feet down. Finally we had a full run through on the Saturday morning; had a matinee performance from 2.30 to 4.15 and an evening performance from 6.00 to 7.45. Quite a hectic day in all, and most enjoyable.

Tim was compere and took part in a very good sketch he had written. Yvonne, Elsie and Isa were three of a chorus of eight ravishing beauties in a very Viennese waltz number that Mrs Corra had produced. They all managed to get hold of evening dresses (every one of the eight borrowed!) and I really think it was the prettiest turn I have seen at a Stanley concert.  During the act, Bridget Armstrong and Dorothy Morley (as a boy) danced a Viennese waltz and Azalia Reynolds (Miss Hogwash!) performed a very good solo dance. Harold was property manager and also appeared in a short motoring sketch during Wilcox’s act – music hall impersonations etc. I had produced and took the part of the hero in ‘A little Spanish Tragedy’ with Sheila Mackinley as the heroine and Harry Fantham as the villain. People seemed to enjoy the mime. Fantham had kindly lent me a pair of (newly soled) black shoes and on the polished platform, I had the greatest difficulty in keeping my feet while careering up and down the stairs – which all added to the fun.

Heasman gave a very fine violin solo; the indefatigable Betty Drown, and Miss Bichino played some catchy duets; there was a harmony quartet; four small boys gave vocal and mouthorgan numbers and Nina Valentine sang, ending with the whole cast singing, “Land of Hope and Glory”. Also Dinnie Dodwell, Sheila Mackinlay, Vivienne Blackburn and Joan Critchet danced an attractive ‘Danse Moderne’ arranged and produced by Carol Bateman. George Sewell gave an impersonation of a Chinese singing girl and then recited Kiplings ‘If’. Both well done, but an incongruous mixture. Anyway, it went down pretty well. Everyone in our room took a part except Marjorie and she, bless her heart, the little Cinderella, having seen the afternoon performance, stayed at home in the evening and produced a wonderful supper for us. She made us salmon pie, pineapple and custard and cocoa and we had quite a green room binge. Isa had had a bottle of ‘Sam Shui’ sent in (rice wine) and we all had a sip!

Last Saturday there was a St Andrews Day concert. It was very Scottish with bagpipes, sword dancing, Scottish songs, and a one act Scottish play and it was most enjoyable. The afternoon performances were given for the benefit of those who have to go to the jail at 6.30 and also because the hall cannot accommodate more than about 600 (about 700 get in!).