26 Nov 1944, Diary of George Gerrard in Stanley Internment Camp Hong Kong

I was delighted to receive your dear loving letter of 23rd May 1943 on Monday. It was splendid and I am always thrilled at receiving yours. It's great and I am very grateful Nell.

I am still in Tweed Bay Hospital, I've had a little more trouble with red heat spots coming out on my arms and legs like dumb boils, but fortunately they have disappeared. I think it must have been some type of poison coming to the surface. I was ordered calcium lactate but there is none of that medicine available , like other medicines that are so necessary here.

The Professor had a look at my tail yesterday and he proposes snipping it off on Monday or Wednesday. When he comes round today I'll likely get his verdict. I've now been in hospital over seven weeks and will be at least another week unless Nimitz comes round the corner quickly, we always live in hope.

Rumours are of course flying about, but the local rag gives us very little news and we had nothing from Europe for days. I'm longing to be able to send you a telegram Oh Boy. There is not much local news except that we are still without light and only water every third day and the food (if it can be called food) of very poor quality. Congee for breakfast, rice and pakchoy for tiffin and rice and vegetable soup at five o'clock. I was weighed on Friday and was 143 lbs, so I am up a pound.