19 Aug 1945, Diary of George Gerrard in Stanley Internment Camp Hong Kong

Everyday is now Momentous and thrilling. Yesterday (Saturday) D.B.B. and I were at J.F's and were arranging our programme for an immediate survey of the yard when we are allowed to go to town. A priority list of the staff here was made out with D.B.B and G.G. and so on.

As we were discussing things a wave of planes came over and dropped pamphlets signed by Wadeneger. One of the most remarkable reactions in this camp is the reaction of everyone's stomach to rice. Most internees could until recently could eat all the rice they could lay their hands on, now people have taken a scunner to rice. Rice is being wasted and now today extra rations of rice are being given but the people can't eat more.

Today's lightner was the allowing of visitors to visit the camp and in comes Yatchumen and his two sons what a thrill J.F. and I got. We went to J.F's place and got all the news of the Dockyard which I recorded. The details I have left with J.F and will record the particulars later. He brought us bananas, sugar, tea, cooked meat and buns which I divided out to our lads here in the room.

((This is the last entry in the diary. Following the relief of Hong Kong in 1945 he was repatriated on a hospital ship which docked in Liverpool towards the end of 1945. He weighed approximately 6.5 stone, a loss of 10 stone over the internment period. After recuperation he returned to Hong Kong and retired in 1951. He returned to Glasgow and was employed by RB Stirling and Co Ltd. He was made redundant in 1962 and moved shortly afterwards to Whitley Bay. He died around 1970.

You will see from the diary that he did not keep in good health in the camp and he lost more than half his bodyweight. This despite being quartermaster for his block so he does not seem to have taken advantage of this position. You will also see from the entries his love for his wife and it is very poignant that having survived the war he was not reunited with her. I do not know the reason or anything beyond the barest of facts. Nell was evacuated to Australia before the invasion and then back to Scotland. She later moved to Canada and that is the last I know of her. The diary indicates that she wrote to him and certainly at the time of liberation he gives no indication that he did not expect to be going back to him.))