Went to hosp. early - Mabel in cock-eyed bed with wooden poles across the top, and her left leg extended and held taut with a dangling flat-iron. That day Dr Myasaka visited the hospital, but though requests were made, nothing was done about x-ray then. ((Her spine was broken but we didn't know it then.)) She had fractured heel, rib probably cracked, and fractured left wrist.
I started to learn German from Mr R. Lederhofer.
Denis Anthony Clarke was born (the 2nd to that family in camp, the first died.)
((Other births about this time: Eunice Jean Nance (American); Christine Stevens; Barry Clarke Tanner.))
Mrs Doris Groves died during childbirth, also the baby Arthur, leaving a husband and 3-year old Joyce in camp. (In 1942 Mrs Groves had also had a son who had died at birth). ((In the 1990s Joyce phoned me out of the blue to ask about Stanley memories.))
Dr. Myasaka took over the medical side of the camp and introduced a clinic system.
((This resulted in much more paper work in hospital office. Japs supplied forms for the decentralised clinics through the camp, and each patient became the subject of a form; records of these were made in the hospital office, we also card-indexed and cross-referenced all hospital patients.))
I suddenly developed mild dysentery, through fish poisoning, and was taken to hospital by Clifton. I was followed by more hospital staff victims - Dr. Barwell, Dr. Yaroogsky-Erooga, Mr. E. Hopkinson, Bill Ream.
((Bread and meat had stopped during January , but a little loaf (more like a roll) was made and the sick and convalescing had one now and again. I had several of these while getting better. Mabel hobbled down on crutches to visit me. While convalescing, planned idea of putting on 'Peter Pan.'))
I left hospital on 4th March.
Mabel going about on crutches with heel in plaster. Once heel was out of plaster, they put wrist in plaster.
'A Bill of Divorcement' put on by Bill Colledge, very well done, with Norah Witchell, Nina Valentine (Dr's wife), R. Hughes.
Father Meyer busy with Easter play - hectic rehearsals. I had a walking-on part. Hans Lourenz had chief part of Dismus, the good thief, but he was taken ill at last minute so Father Meyer himself took the part.
Catholic Action for youth groups and adults now under way.
At last Mabel (and many other) taken into town for x-ray, it was discovered that her spine really was fractured; back in camp, a plan to make a truss, or put her in plaster. Truss was made but it wasn't any good.
Alexander Ramsey born.
Nobody in camp died in March.
No births during April.
Mabel had a truss fitted (for back injury) but it wouldn't work, so in hospital again, to be put in a plaster jacket. ((This plaster wouldn't set though, so she came home on 27th and the workshop started to make her a steel jacket out of old ceiling fan blades. She wore this very patiently for about 6 months and it helped)).
Still getting no meat and no bread - and not very much of anything.
Robert Mitchell born. Parents married at start of camp, daughter Rosemary born Oct. 1942.
Mrs R. G. Rose (Chinese) died, leaving British husband in Kowloon camp, and Dawn 12 and Gerald 8 in Stanley. Both children cared for by Mrs H Aitken, mother of Eddie, until the end of internment.
Little Brian Gill drowned at the beach. (Saw his pathetic little body brought to the hospital on a stretcher. His mother, Billie Gill, was playing bridge with friends while another friend took Brian for an afternoon at the beach to give Mum a break.)
To Brian's funeral. Father Meyer made him a coffin out of the drawer from a chest-of-drawers, lining it with bunched-up white satin. Children sang 'Heaven is the Prize' - unforgettable.
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