16 Sep 1943, John Charter's wartime journal

Well, it looks like the Canadians really are going on the 23rd; lucky beggars. They were told about a month or so ago that a ship would be leaving Tokyo or some Japanese port on Sept. 15th and after calling at Shanghai would call at HK on Sept. 22nd or 23rd.  Now they have been told to have their heavy luggage (if any!) ready by tomorrow so that it can be inspected and stored, ready for shipping. Fancy actually packing up to go!!

Frances Dodds has promised to write to Mother and Father to say we are well and to ask them if they can make the necessary arrangements to send some money to Goa for Yvonne when the British women and children get there in December. The ship will exchange the Canadian and American subjects for the Japanese nationals that will be arriving on the American ship, it will return with them to Japan (calling, we fervently hope, at HK with some more IRC food for us) and will then make a second voyage, arriving at HK during the latter part of November to take the British women and children away to Goa where they will again be exchanged for Japanese nationals. This first ship will call at the Philippines, then Singapore before finally proceeding to India. It is taking some 30 Americans or so from town as well, though the Americans left behind here, having declined one chance of repatriation are not having a second chance – at least, not in this ship. The ship is the Teia Maru.