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

Last Sunday afternoon J.F. and I set off to report at the C.S.O. and just as we had started the rain came down in lumps. There was quite a crowd at the offices and we formed a queue. Mr Gearson ((Gimson)), the Col. Secretary asked the questions, wife's name and address and if repatriated could I keep myself. So it all looks very hopeful. Evidently the Japs had to have the information on Monday morning.

Another notice asking those with relatives such as father, mother, brother and sister in Canada to call at the C.S.O. so the number has increased. It is said that there is room for 200 on the food ships when it arrives, when that will be we do not know.

On Sunday forenoon when in church I was called out as the Chinese Supervisor wanted to see me. I was standing near the door at the back so it was easy to slip out. He presented me with M.Y.50 from Hoo Cheong Wo which was jolly good and welcome too. However I was quite concerned about it and wondered too if it wasn't a present from some of the lads in the Dockyard. At any rate I told J.F. about it and asked if he wanted it so as to divide it up amongst the others. It later transpired that he also got 50Yen from H.C.W. and he said I should just keep the money and use it as I required it.

On Monday I went to see Dr Dean Smith about my tongue which is very raw and he gave me acid nicotine tablets to take. The rawness is due to a lack of vitamin B and caused by the lack of other nourishment that we require. I told him about my throat and voice and he gave me a chit to Prof Digby relative to the same. I saw Digby on Tuesday at the Tweed Bay Hospital and got an examination from him but owing to the lack of a proper mirror he wasn't able to do all that he hoped to be able to do. I also got him to lance a suppurating finger on my left hand caused by a fish jag.

I received a postcard from Dewar from Argyle Street Camp Kowloon saying he was fit and well and so were all the Dock lads who were left. He asks me to excuse the scribble as his eyesight is not as good as it was. We know that some of the lads have been shipped to Japan, McColgan, Kew, Johnson, Paterson, Elliot, Clark (TSR). I went to see the football this afternoon, the club beat the Police 3-1.