27 Aug 1944, Diary of George Gerrard in Stanley Internment Camp Hong Kong

Well, Well, Boy oh Boy this has been a week and no mistake, Not ‘arf. The news is great all over and the Allies appear to be on a Cooks tour in France and just going where and as they like. Romania has packed in and from Germany's position generally east and west she is on the 'spot' and it would appear that the end is in sight and the last chapter about to be written. Well we are ready and full of hope.

Things locally have become brighter for us and the period is known as the week of P's, Pheasants, Partridges, Parcels, Paris and Perhaps Peace. On Monday instead of the eternal fish that is sprats, we've been getting for the last six months we got pheasant and again on Wednesday. This is of course due to the electric current being completely shut off all over and as these birds have legs in cold storage at the Dairy Farm's place at East Point since 1941 the Authorities must have thought there was a danger of them going off. Then on Friday we got Partridges what a delicious table the most delectable chow we've had for years. It is difficult to describe how our palates reacted to meat again, but by jove it was good and has done the people in camp a power of good already.

Then on Saturday we received the news that our parcels had either arrived or been found and I understand the allocation is to be 2 parcels to grown ups and 1 parcel to children under 10 years. There are also some other foods such as cream, powdered milk , orange juice also shoe material and clothing or material for nurses uniforms. The total parcels number 617 bales of 8 parcels each amounting to 4936 parcels. 

Also last evening we heard that a large quantity of mail had arrived. What does all this portend. Is it a voile face on the part of the Jap Authorities. Do they see the writing on the wall and are they endeavouring to strengthen their position locally by trying to improve our conditions in Stanley. We understand conditions in town are deplorable and the Authorities freely admit that Hong Kong is tightly blockaded. No coal arriving, no electricity, small quantities of vegetables from up country, no transport in town, in other words the place is at a standstill.

Thankful to say that the weather is trying to keep fine at last, but it really has been a dreadful time of rain, with everything soaking and small prospects of getting anything washed and dried. Also the water was off for several days and this made conditions very bad, the water is now on but only intermittent.

Our Block Committee election was held last Wednesday and I was again second top with 161 votes, J.Cooper 1st with 176, Price 145, Kidd, DeVille and a new man Collins, so I've now been a committee member for about 21/2years. I have again been appointed Q.M. for the blocks and when the parcels arrive I'll have the job of distributing.