Barbara Anslow's diary: View pages | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Barbara Anslow's diary: View pages

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16 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Mum had card from Mrs Burling (a HK friend now in Australia.) 

Sang tune of "There Are Fairies at the Bottom of our Garden" to Pauline and Marion Beck at the piano in A3 ((so they could get the tune on the piano for the coming concert at which the toddlers would be fairies, and Denise de Vleeschouwer the Queen of the Fairies.))

Bridge in afternoon, with Alec Barton,  Marie (Morrison, nee Barton), and her husband Vincent ((Police, who had escaped from camp early on, was caught and imprisoned in Stanley Gaol then returned to camp.))

Saw Beryl (Goldenberg) re formation of Married Quarters Girls' Club ((non-denominational))

Rumour that European war is over.
17 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Went to see Mrs Ferguson, and Annie and then Pat Cullinan.

Gave a talk on 'What to do when you're grown up' at St Christine's ((younger girls club)) in Harrises room, then to work.

Gave Davitt a pancake in hospital.  ((Father Meyer organised a group of ladies to cook a pancake, with ingredients he supplied, for convalescing hospital patients.))  

Marie and Peggy coming for bridge.
18 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Keith Mackie, and Jacquie Anderson's first banns called; and Annie and Rennie's second.

We rehearsed the tots ((for Easter play)) in Annie's room, in front of the Van Der Lely family and 2 on lookers.

Lovely tinned jam pudding in evening.   Marie brought eye ointment for me - having styes.
19 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Sheila Bruce's banns are up.

Am having styes.  Rehearsed singers with Peggy at 12.30.  Saw Sheila at 1.30 (but no cast appeared)

C.A. Meeting in afternoon.  Peggy and Marie for bridge.
20 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Still styes.

Joan Wilkinson came for shorthand.

Fairies' rehearsal in Annie's room.

Bulletin about emergency arrangements: we must conserve what food we have.

Spent afternoon with Mary (Taylor), nice tea.  

George Davitt still in hospital.

Peggy got caught over here (i.e. in Married Q) for roll call ((she lived in American Quarters))
21 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Jacquie's Shower in afternoon; also Aileen Thirlwell' s 21st birthday, and Betty Twidale's birthday.

Rehearsal with fairies in morning, eyes bad and headache.

Got peach dress from Mrs. Nan Moodie, which only just fits me ((bridesmaid's dress for me)).

Sandberg arrested.  ((Norwegian, probably the elder boy Tony, aged 20)).

U.S. have taken Iwo-jima.

Meeting in our room in evening.   Gladys and I went over to Rosary ((in American Q)) but had to leave just as it started because air raid whistle went  - only an alarm though.
22 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Air raid alarm in afternoon.

Doreen had shorthand lesson. Went to Annie's with dresses, because Angie ((Annie's younger sister, other bridesmaid)) doesn't want Mrs K's.

Tim and Margery Fortescue gave most interesting talk on Life at Cambridge.
23 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Rumours of parcel for Easter, and that invasion (of HK) on 28th!

Rosary started regularly in Grants' room ((Block 2, Married Q)).

Visited Eileen Grant re rehearsals.  Rosaleen lent me dress for Angie, but the Van Der Lelys don't like it much, except for Annie.

Rehearsal in quarry (grotto) with Peggy and children at 1.30, then to Marie's for bridge with her, Vincent and Alec.
24 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Mabel and I went to quarry (aka Grotto) to help make palm crosses - Peggy, Sheila, Linda Marvin, Clara Fisher, Dorothy Wilson, we made about 600 between us.  Then tea on the Fathers' landing (they provided it).

Doreen didn't come for shorthand.

Dancing rehearsal for fairies in a.m. On Bowling Green, complete with singers. All rather chaotic at present.
25 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Palm Sunday.

Went to see Doreen, Aileen Thirlwell and Pauline Beck.

Worked in afternoon, but there was gramophone music in office so I managed to get away to Way of the Cross.

Reading and enjoying 'Now I see.'

Opened creamed rice.  A tin of paste was blown.

Spanish lesson with Irma Mejia.
26 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Men went to town for charcoal.

2 air raid alarms.

Rehearsal in P.O. Club in morning – hopeless!

Lecture on Burma Road by Owen Evans, most interesting, over 2,000 miles long; Evans stayed in a house where Gene Stratton Porter lived and wrote 'Freckles.'
27 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Met a Jap on way to get congee.  I just bowed and so did he.  Rehearsal at 10am on Bowling Green, and 11.30am at St Stephens, but we couldn't get the hall and had to go to the open kitchen.

Dick (Cloake) said there's a rumour that Block 14 in Indian Quarters will be taken over as a gun emplacement - or tunnel!

Rehearsal was pretty awful.  Worked in afternoon.

Saw Frelford today. He may give me his charity story.

Meeting in evening.  Dr Kirk came in evening bringing something he wants me to type.
28 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Doreen didn't come for shorthand.

Visited MacDonalds and Annie.

Wong tong and beans and peas in canteen today.

Rehearsal at St Stephens.

Worked in afternoon and studied German.

Attempted landing ((reported)) on Lu Chu's. ((This could refer to the American 77th Infantry Division landing on the Kerama Islands on March 26, 1945. The Kerama Islands are part of the Ryukyu Islands, and the Ryukyu Islands were previously named the Lu Chu Islands.))
29 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Maundy Thursday.

Worked in morning.

Air raid alarm in early afternoon.

At 3pm rehearsal: Ray Forster brought Maureen (6) and Paddy (5) crying their eyes out as they'd had to leave a concert.

Dr Talbot removed my lower lid lashes which were infected.  Got aspirin from him.

Lecture in evening on Proverbs and Aphorisms (Mr G.P. de Martin.)
30 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Good Friday. To service am.  Eyes pretty stuck up.

Went to see Doreen and gave her an impromptu shorthand lesson.

Rumours:  we will get wong tong; and Japs expect hostilities within 4 hours.

To play at 3.15pm, 'Behold Thy Mother'.

Valerie Clark has chicken pox and is in hospital.

Mrs Ashton-Hill has just heard that her husband died in Japan last September.

We had a hot cross bun from hospital.

To Rosary at Grants, then walked round with Marie and Gladys.

Mum and I had remains of Carlton pudding in a fritter. (('Carlton pudding' was the name on one of the tins in the Red Cross parcels but I can't remember its contents!))
31 Mar 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Air raid alarm last night.

Holy Saturday.  An unexpected outside roll call, Japs very bad-tempered during it.

Washed clothes and hair.

Newspaper news very good:  Americans loaning or selling battleships to Russia.

Bulletin has the wonderful news that a decision has been reached in Europe - no details yet.

Rehearsal in afternoon, on Bowling Green, then in grotto.
1 Apr 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

EASTER SUNDAY.

Church in am. 

Went to see Mrs de Vleeschouwer re dresses for her daughters Andree (8) and Denise (3) for show.

((This family, Dutch, had managed to bring many clothes into camp. Mrs de V also lent dresses to other fairies.))  Mrs gave me some sweets.

Benediction in afternoon, then went to see Mrs Maitland in bungalow to get some flowers, then sat in garden and chatted with her.  She told me about Lourdes.

We (Olive and I) had pasty from hospital (as a special concession) and rest of food from Married Quarters, quite a lot of it. Rissoles and pasty. Opened tin of bacon as well.

Eileen Grant came in evening and put my hair in curlers ((for Annie and R.N. Rennie's wedding next day.))
2 Apr 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Eileen came in early and did my hair for me.  Rather severe but very neat.  Then she went over to Annie's with me and helped me dress and made me up.  ((Annie Van Der Lely lived in Dutch Block)).  Miss Hill's shoes ((lent to me)) high-heeled and tight, but looked all right.

Annie was very calm and unexpectedly unexcited.  Livvy ((Olivia Ogley, born in camp)) walked in front.  ((The wedding took place in the Prisoner Officers' Club adjacent to the Duch Block)). Crowds of people.

I have terrible styes.  I had to sign the Marriage Register as a witness, so did Angie ((Angie was Annie's younger sister, also a bridesmaid.))  Mr. W. H. Weare (Police) was Best Man.  Then we had Mass, and Miss B. Bicheno played Wedding March.  Children showered confetti as we entered the Dutch Block, and from the landings as we went upstairs ((to the Van Der Lely family's room))    A little band played as we entered.

Father Hessler made a short speech, so did Mr. Weare.  Heaps of people came in to reception.  The cake was lovely and sweet, they gave me a piece to take home to the family as well.  Danced with Jimmy Bendall, Jumbo (Annie's brother), Rennie, Mr Weare, and Ed. Reed.  ((The Dutch community had come into camp after the British so had been able to prepare better for internment.))

Teresa Cullen caught the bride's bouquet.  Enjoyed a talk with clever (dancer) June Winkelman about her studies.

1.20pm  - air raid on now, and about 40 minutes a few sticks of heavy bombs were dropped.

Air raid alarm lasted till about 3.30pm but only two noisy periods.

Concert had to be postponed.
3 Apr 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Another raid at almost exactly same time as yesterday.

Rehearsed in P.O. Club.

Clifton said he saw a Jap plane brought down yesterday.

Our Concert again postponed.

Mrs McDermott wants to learn shorthand, also Sophie Hardoon and Marie O'Connor.

Had eyelids scrubbed again tonight.
4 Apr 1945, Barbara Anslow's diary

Bombers came again at noon, all clear went just before 3pm so no show possible.

(It's said) two big fires were started - one big explosion South Bay way, and another Taikoo-way - oil fire it's thought.  Saw the planes - large and glinting and silver.

Fritters tonight - nice.

Went to see June (Cheape) re german, and did half an hour for Olive at work while she had hair cut.  Went to see Burgess in afternoon, and Pat C.

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