11 Mar 1943, W J Carrie's wartime diary

I haven't tried to write for sometime. The last few days the Camp has been buzzing with rumours of repatriation. The Japs have asked for a list of Canadians and also those with near relatives in Canada and so it is thought that possibly a boat is going to Canada. I hope others will be allowed to go as well - some perhaps to Australia and some home. We might yet be together for our Silver wedding - I have been building castles in the air! We must get some food soon - they have cut our rations again. We used to get 6oz of flour daily - that is now down to 2. We have a small reserve which enables us to have 3 1/2 oz but that will only last a couple of months. We are getting no meat - only a little fish, so if it wasn't for our Red Cross store of bully we'd be in a very bad way. And while we got through a period of serious starvation in Feb and March last year we haven't made up for what we lost in 9 months of low fare last year. - with our "Comfort" parcels and the Red Cross bulk goods we have made up something but we are all less able to stand privation now than we were a year ago. We hope relief will come - I am sure it will - or else repatriation. So we keep cheerful. No money just now.  B.