05 Aug 1943, John Charter's wartime journal

On July 29th Mr Lammert developed a temperature and after examining him Dr Thomlinson announced that he had malaria and ordered him off to the hospital. Harold and I wheeled him down on the stretcher. His temperature shot up that night but he has improved steadily since then and is coming back tonight – just in time for Yvonne’s birthday. Harold had some good bug-hunting in Mr Lammert’s bed while he was away.

Mrs Wilmer is also in hospital. She had a bad heart attack and is still very shaky. Mr Wilmer says she is to remain there now until the ship arrives to repatriate the women, for their small servants room is too cramped and noisy and makes her nervy.

Kitty Hackett too is in hospital, suffering from a fairly mild attack of dysentery, poor thing. She is recovering now. There is one small girl, Mary Fincher, who is in with malaria. She developed the some what alarming temperature of 107’ the other night; but she too is on the mend.

I am now 141¼ lbs! That means I have actually put on 3 pounds during the last 6 weeks. I am very pleased. It must be due to the lard and eggs we get through the canteen and also the cocoa we are given on the days on which we work. I hope Y hasn’t lost weight over her teeth extraction.

The Japanese have issued an order forbidding Chinese in Jap Government employ to resign! They are also warned that all those who are dismissed for inefficiency or misconduct will not be allowed employment in the Colony for one whole year and anyone employing such a person will also be liable to prosecution! All very interesting. One imagines when the bombs come raining down on the dry docks, Naval Yard, Police Station etc., wily John Chinaman said, “This is no place for me,” and tendered his resignation by the score!  Well, poor blighters, I’m sorry for them; they seem to get it in the neck whoever is governing the Colony.