3 Oct 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Am aboard the Empress!

Up at crack of dawn (to find officials who would give me Mabel's berth); set off Jawattea Road, a lorry stopped and Indian driver offered me a lift and dropped me at 'Slave Island'.  Saw very few Europeans, but Indians were helpful.  Found 'Sub-Area HQ, junction of Parsons Road and Malay Street'; a Col. Johnston proved helpful, and said OK.

Another lorry gave me a lift to Echelon Barracks.  Busloads of internees from E. of Australia coming in (to get their clothing); met up with Mum, and Olive and Nan, and also the Bests.  We lost Mum for hours - even broadcast for her - she eventually re-appeared, having had to go elsewhere to get her glasses fixed.

Colombo is lovely.  The town is busy, the traffic alarming; their rickshaws are higher than Hong Kong's.  Petrol and whisky are rationed, and clothing is going to be.  Mrs Best told us the services are still mobilised, but gradually being demobbed.  The place is teeming with WRNS and FANY, in plain but very snappy uniforms, cute hats.  Loads of Europeans cycle all over the place, which seems very clean. Straight roads and many avenues.  Houses nearly all bungalows, with big grounds; beautiful big open spaces, gorgeous flowers and trees and lake.  They only had one air raid – Whitsun 1942.

I left Echelon in a taxi at 3pm to pick up my belongings from Bests, then take me to Melbourne Jetty (but taxi not allowed into Naval area, so transferred to a rickshaw as a long hot walk to the jetty.)  W. Kinlock (Police) also waiting on jetty and some Nursing Sisters I knew, all for the Empress. We were taken by launch to the Empress.

((I was delighted with Mabel's berth, a top bunk with porthole beside it.  There were about 7 of us in the cabin which was reported to have been part of the accommodation the King and Queen had occupied on their pre-war trip to Canada.)) All the other passengers were ex Stanley.