Thick low mist all day. Dry.
With Steve pm. Talked about food as usual.
(Americans landed at Mirs Bay & local Japs seem very moody lately?)
Temp. dropped a little.
Oh! for some good news, real stuff that we can believe. Surely next E. Sun? I can look back to this entry in more comfortable & happier surroundings & with a full tummy.
Overcast, dry, cold.
Ground rice for bread.
Raymds ((sic.)) somewhat put out re my refusal to be their servant. ((Not sure who he's referring to.))
With Steve pm.
Rumour re total repat. in 17 days time.
Paper news lousy.
Windig, Kalt, nass und niedige wolke. Fossboden wiederliegten. Mit Steve um die Abend (Heer des Romanians sich ergibt? Zwei shiffe zu kommen um nehmen uns fort? Alle gutes Neues, wenn es wahr ist)
((R E Jones returns to writing in German for the next few days' entries. Jill & Brian translate today's entry as follows:
"Windy, cold, wet and low cloud. Relaid floor. With Steve in the evening. (Romanian army surendered? Two ships coming to take us away?) All good news if it's true."
))
Diche, niedrige Wolke. Starker Wind, und schwerer regen. Etwas sonnescheine n.mt. haben. Mahlte rice für Brot. Tragte essen. Mit Steve um die Abent. Keines neues gehört.
((Translation by Jill & Brian, see comments below:
Thick, low cloud. Strong wind and heavy rain. We had some sunshine this afternoon. Milled rice for bread. Carrying food. With Steve in the evening. Heard nothing new ((i.e. war news.))
))
Schönes tag. Ich musik schrieb. Deutche stonde n.m. Mit Steve abend.
((Jill's translation:
Beautiful day. I wrote music. German lesson in the afternoon. With Steve in the evening.
))
All out offensive everywhere & more repat rumours. There is a feeling in the air that something or other is to take place shortly. Heaven grant that the “feeling” is justified.
Gutes wetter, aber viele wolke. Rice mehl fur brot gemahlen. Singend uben. Nach dem mit Steve. Eve dort auch. Ich schrieb postkarte zu die Mutter des Mariens.
((Jill's translation:
Good weather but a lot of cloud. Ground rice flour for bread. Singing practice. With Steve afterwards. Eve there as well. Wrote postcard to Mary's mother.
))
Wolkenlich aber kein regen. Holz partei. Schwere arbeit und essen nicht genug. Um die Abendszeit mit Steve. Russe und Romania den Frieden abkommen schleissen? Japanosiche leute furchten den Burgerkrieg Ihre Damen und Kinder nach Kowloon kommen haben Sie.
(( Jill Fell writes:
"Cloudy but no rain. Wood party. Hard work and not enough to eat. With Steve around evening time. Russia and Romania make peace pact? The Japanese people fear civil war. Their women and children have come to Kowloon."
I can't make sense of Jones's last sentence without putting a full stop between "Burgerkrieg" and "Ihre." There seem to be two separate statements. Could someone with knowledge of the historical background confirm whether the Japanese were bringing their families to Kowloon in 1944?))
Schöner tag. Mehl fur brot gemahlt. Nmtg.an dem Dach ein wenig Sonn brennen. Abend mit Steve. Catolik Geistlicher spracht “Japan erwasten US troopen hierzokommen durch Mirs Bay
((Jill's translation:
Beautiful day. Ground flour for bread. Got a bit sunburnt on the roof in the afternoon. Evening with Steve. A Catholic priest said that Japan expects US troops to come here through Mirs Bay.
))
Einer schöne Tag. Meine karte gegangen. Ich habe heute nichts getan. Abend mit Steve.
(( Google Translate:
One beautiful day. My card went. I have done nothing today. Evening with Steve.
))
Einer schöne Tag. Mehl für brot gemahlt. Deutche stunde. Sonnbade an dem Dach. Herr Zindel besuchte. Steve ging für Musik üben. Zwer Luft du griffen?
((Jill's translation:
A fine day. Ground flour for bread. German lesson. Sunbathed on the roof. Mr. Zindel visited. Steve went for music practice. Two air attacks?
))
Nice day.
Zindel’s visit left very much to be desired. Parcels in a few weeks, he hopes, (Just a four day trip, why the few weeks). No allowance arrived and when it does it will be devoted to bulk supplies first. What is left, if any will be given to cases of malnutrition & other needs (This should include everyone). No repat. news.
Hungry as hell, down to bread & salt.
With Steve pm.
All fed up.
Lovely day.
Ground rice for bread.
German lesson.
Roll-call.
Air-raid (practice?)
With Steve pm.
Double ration today so felt fairly full for once.
Men who vol. for Comm. gardening passed Med. boards.
Small piece soft soap issued.
Overcast.
Gardening party commenced. (Japs say that this party was organized in order to provide extra work (no discipline) so that they could then issue extra rations.)
2 Jap fighters patrolled all day.
With Steve pm.
Jap paper ridiculous in most of its reports especially re Burma & Mountbatten.
Peanut butter issued.
(Waffen still stand in Deutchland?)
Rained nearly all day.
Cigs, salt, ¾ lb 1.80 & 1.35.
Oil, tea, sugar & curry powder issued.
With Steve pm.
No news.
Rained nearly all day.
Humid.
Became God-father to Christine. The other 4 christened too. Have tea after.
With Steve pm.
Cleared up enough to indicate a fine day tomorrow.
New Moon.
Overcast, drizzly & humid.
Ground rice for bread.
With Steve pm.
Food & repat. rumours still rife.
Overcast. Squally.
Repaired camp bed for I.B. ((Who or what was I.B.?))
Steve to concert pm.
Made out Canteen lists for M.
Cloudy, rained.
Ground rice for bread.
Crutwell gave it up, couldn’t go on. ((Crutwell had been teaching German to Jones, see his diary entry for 11 Jan 1944. This might mark the end of those lessons.))
Camp stores arrived, rice, beans & flour.
Canteen almost sold out (101) [?]
Changed books for Steve. With him pm.
Excellent congee by M tasted like chocolate.
(Drying flour, 20mins)
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