06 Feb 1943, Diary of George Gerrard in Stanley Internment Camp Hong Kong

Yesterday was Chinese New Years Day 'Kung Hei Fah Choy' and a miserable wet day it was too. However as the Chinese say that rain on that special day is a sign of good luck, we look forward to the good signs being fulfilled and our team or incarceration ended and happy days being our lot again and trust our reunion will come soon dear.

The news is again very good from what we hear, it seems hardly possible that the Germans can last out much longer, the Russians seem to be just rolling them up, the faster the better and then look out Mr Nippo.

I received a parcel from Wong Ling (ironworker) on Thursday night containing 2 singlets, 2 pairs of underpants, 1 pair of socks and 1 pair of long stockings, all very useful too and for which I am grateful to him. I spread the things that I don't personally require around the rest of the lads and I often clothing from J.F. for distribution amongst our people who need it most.

On Monday 1st February we made another distribution of food stuff amongst the block residents amounting to 4 tins of meat and vegetables, 2 tins of corned beef and 2lbs of sugar and then yesterday I gave out 3/8lb of tea to everyone so all are more or less happy. The Red Cross food stuff is a real life saver and greatly helps our rations, the sugar especially is necessary to give that amount of energy that we require for our ration of sugar from the Japs only comes to 1.8oz per week.

I am very glad to say that my throat is very much better and my voice is gradually coming back to normal so I should be OK very soon, only I must avoid catching a cold which is slightly difficult to prevent in weather like this.

F and J Willey lost their young son Brian 2 1/2 years on Monday. The wee chap has had a lot of trouble with his tummy it being swollen considerably and was unable to eat rice. It is all so difficult to get proper treatment tho' our medicals do the best that lies in their power, but with a shortage of preparations and drugs it is not easy and the Japs are not very helpful.

I don't know if I mentioned that Prof Digby went through' a serious operation but recovered rapidly and is now going strong again.

There was a meeting in the Prison Officers Club relative to the Union of the Union Churches in Hong Kong and Kowloon with the Methodist Church at Wanchai which is either no more or so badly shelled as to make its rebuilding impossible and undesirable any rate in that spot. J.F. as the oldest trustee present was in the chair and it was unanimously agreed that reunion of the free churches was very desirable. It is now left to the Methodists to agree to this proposal.

Last night D.B.B. and I were invited down to J.F's this is becoming a Friday evening habit and makes for us at any rate a very nice change especially when J.F. gives Davie and I a packet of cigarettes when we come away and for these we are very grateful as we are only able to buy 4 packets one week and 3 the next week which don't last very long. Also he gave us a Teenkin cabbage and some new home side type potatoes  together with a tin of lunch tongue, 1 tin of fish and 1 tin of pickles and jolly nice too.

Today we received M.Y.15 being a gift from the British Government done through the Red Cross so that we are all in funds and feeling considerably very much happier.