24 Apr 1943, Diary of George Gerrard in Stanley Internment Camp Hong Kong

My big news this week is that I have heard about you dearest. On Monday I received a letter from Walter dated 26th June 1942 in which he said they had been in regular and frequent communication with you. He said 'you have been a brave we wife so don't worry, she is keeping her end up' and for these words I am very grateful and greatly heartened. It is really cheery. All I hope now is that a letter will come from you soon.

All of us are very hopeful that the Canadian mail bag is now open as J.F. received one from Mrs F dates April 42 and also Simmons of the Tramways and Harry Butler of the Treasury ((probably H R Butters)) and on Tuesday Bill Buchannan got a cable but no date given. The letters are all in town all right, but the Japs way of censoring is very slow. However there is a new man Lectore ((???)) in charge and he is evidently more interested in us than his predecessor was and is gearing things up a bit so that a small parcel of letters have come in here every day this week.

Craig and I took Hugh Smith to the Tweed Bay Hospital on Saturday. He is suffering fever and tachycardia, he hasn't been well all week, but I think he'll soon recover and be fit again, his girl friend Margaret Black is a Sister at the hospital so that should make his stay in hospital a pleasure.

Then I went to a meeting of the bowlers, we are putting in a team from the rations, Anderson ((not sure which one)) is very keen on it and tho' there are only three old bowlers amongst us and the rest are only novices, all are anxious that the Quarter Masters' staff and rations party should be represented.

At night D.B.B. and I were down at J.F.s' for a cup of instant postain and a biscuit and our usual yarn. J.F., D.B.B. and I most nights have been going for a walk round the camp and a sit on the rocks on hillside near to the Leprosarium. We yarn and watch the parade going round. We have nicknames for a lot of people, the ghost train, the bicycle. 

The school children are on Easter holidays but it has made no difference to the noise for rehearsals go on all the time. John Masefield passion play 'Good Friday' was given on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. J.F. and I went on Thursday night and it was very good and well acted.

We are now able to buy eggs, bananas and oranges in limited quantities and of course as far as our pocket money will go, but a fried egg in place of fish soup is a real treat and a banana on our tongue is OTT.