11 Jun 1944, Diary of George Gerrard in Stanley Internment Camp Hong Kong

Glad to say that I am now all right again. I have seen both Dr Yaroogsky Erooga and Prof Digby. I had thiamine injections for 17 days and feel the better of them. Prof Digby has seen my piles but doesn't wish to operate on me just yet, maybe early July. We'll see.

Never mind anything the news is great and there is great excitement throughout the camp. The fall of Rome, the invasion on the Normandy coast has raised our spirits so that --- is to when we'll get out of here if rife. We feel too that there is still greater news to follow. We live in great hopes.

We have also received 2.50Yen being the balance of the last allowance, just enough to buy some cigarettes which we get on Saturdays.

The weather is atrocious being wild, wintry and heavy rain every day. The most appalling weather for June that I can remember. However it is very cool and that is something to be thankful for.

The position in town must be getting very difficult for the Japs., they have now had to stop the trains from running owing to a shortage of coal and oil. Prices are soaring and generally things must be in a bad way. Electricity is shut off at 10 o'clock and doesn't come on again until next morning. Travel in town is restricted to rickshaws, bicycles, tricycles and hand carts with rubber tyres and as the authorities say this is sufficient for the populace and that they ought to be thankful to the Japs for such great conditions on their part and so on. 

The day our people march into Hong Kong again should and will be a day of great rejoicing for the Chinese who must be suffering badly at present.