03 Jun 1942, John Charter's wartime journal

One more weary month has passed and we are now preparing to plod through the growing heat of June. How much longer shall we have to lead this futile and utterly boring existence?

There is much twittering and excitement amongst the Americans because they are due to embark for repatriation on the 16th of this month. Arrangements have evidently been completed between America and Japan for the exchange of Nationals residing in territory occupied by their respective enemies, and the latest information is that the Americans are to be ready on the 14th with a view of embarking on the 15th and setting sail on June 16th at 10:30 a.m. They are to travel, (according to the report) on the Asama Maru. This is the ship that was stopped by HMS Liverpool, within sight of the Japanese coast, (when the then Pay Comdr Crowley was in the Liverpool) and male German passengers of military age taken off.

Well, good luck to the Americans; we all wish we were in their shoes just now. I wonder if they really will go. They are each to be allowed to take 5 suitcases and their destination is Lorenzo Marques in Portuguese East Africa, via Singapore (re-named “SHONAN” by the Japanese) where they will pick up a few more Americans.

The Colonial Secretary’s Office has sent round a list asking all British subjects whether or not they wished to be repatriated and if so where they would choose to go if given a choice. The notice warned us that this list had not been instigated by the Japanese and it did not mean necessarily, that there was any likelihood of our repatriation! But that the list was being compiled for C.S.O. record purposes. I stated for Yvonne and myself that we would like to be repatriated to England or Australia unless we were required to remain here by our local Government. It would be marvellous to get out of this place.