R. E. Jones Wartime diary: View pages
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38 today. Betty brought a little cake & Mary sent some little pancakes. ((Betty is probably Betty Grindley))
No news. Paper full of Jap tripe.
With Steve pm.
Black-out.
Fine, colder.
Fine, cold.
Uneventful day.
With Steve pm.
Black-out.
Turkey seems to be in the war. Germany asks for peaceful occupation?
Fine, cold.
More rptn details issued.
Dry stores arrived.
Choir practice 5.30pm. With Steve after.
Black-out.
Money arrived?
Attempt on Goure [?] life, Germany capitulated?
Fine, cold.
4Pkts cigs.
Jap paper still full of bombastic claims.
With Steve pm.
No indication anywhere that recent rumours are true.
Black-out.
Dull & some rain pm.
Black-out.
With Steve pm.
Blacked out ex servants lavatory in order to read at night-time.
Lousy day.
Black-out.
Chinese in town on half starch for rations.
Dull, damp & depressing. Nothing happened whatever.
Choir practice 5-6pm. With Steve after.
Black-out.
Fine. Uneventful.
With Steve pm.
Black-out. Black-out apparently connected with Jap local practice manoeuvers.
Fine.
Uneventful. A real period of doldrums this time.
Cig ends & lavatory paper for smokes.
Choir practice 5.30-7pm & the cup of tea with Steve.
Posted card to Marj.
Black-out.
Marj 32. M H Rs sweetheart. [Many Happy Returns?] Next time I’ll say it.
4oz Peanut Oil issued. 2 Pkts cigs.
No news.
With Steve pm.
Flash’s to N 10pm.
Black-out.
Fine, cold.
No news.
Changed oil for lamp.
With Steve pm.
More executions. Jap & 1 Euro?
Aerial activity all day too high to identify.
Ex tennis court staked off for gardens.
Black-out.
Lovely day but cold wind.
2 Pkts Cigs.
Jap paper despite propaganda makes us feel more optimistic, New Britain being attacked & progress being made by us in Italy.
Rumour re cancellation of Repat. denied by circular from Committee.
Rehearsal for Nativity Play at St. Stephens 5.20pm. To Steve’s after.
Black-out cancelled.
Ground pea-nut butter.
Fine, warmer.
Toilet paper & a small piece of soap issued.
No news. Jap paper tells of their loss of islands in Gilbert Group.
Rehearsal of N.P. ((nativity play)) again tonight. With Steve after.
Fine, warm.
Raid over Tai-po way 1pm?
No news.
Lights failed at 7.15pm.
With Steve.
Fine, warm, an English Summer day.
3ozs. Corned beef & Y15 issued.
Stool for Hacketts son. Mrs. H ((Mrs Hackett?)) to write to Marj when able. ((Barbara Anslow: the stool was probably made for the elder Hackett boy Kevin. The younger boy Conner was born in camp.))
Kids had Xmas party in Hall below.
Walk with Steve pm.
Listened to carols for a while.
Story re card having been received by Norw. indicating Germany’s near collapse? Failure of electric current due to cut out from main supply to prevent radios working & listening to Chung King broadcast re Germany’s collapse?
Mrs Hearson’s/Harrison’s [?] bed. ((Probably Mrs Harrison, as she's been mentioned by R E Jones a couple of times before in his diary.))
Canteen tab 62.
Free tea 2oz & Margarine 1.2oz issued. 4 cigs.
Chopped wood for Mary.
Took part in Nativity Play at St. Stephens pm. With Steve after.
Plate of veg & rice balls. OK too.
Significance attached to Jap treatment of Dr. Farr & one patient, the gift of beans etc.
Fine.
Cleaned bathrm’s etc.
Everyone full of seasonal greetings.
Peanuts, soy bean biscuits am with Steve, An ample well cooked mid-day meal. Had some real coffee. Block cake somewhat soggy. Sid gave me 2 Pkts. cigs. Much individual cooking of all sorts of food, cakes etc. With Steve afternoon for pancakes, sandwiches & tea with milk & sugar in it. Had to ease top button by 5pm.
Firewood arrived.
With Steve pm.
To bed with full tummy for once.
(Swatow & Amoy captured, Naval battle off Formosa. Combined army ready to attack Canton?)
Jap flag fell at Prison Gate at 3.30pm.
Fine, a little colder.
All quiet. No rumours today.
Steve to Carol singing, saw him after.
