Barbara Anslow's diary: View pages

Jacquie Anderson & Keith Mackie's wedding day.  They were married before Mass.  Jacquie looked very nice in powder blue dress and white hat. I took Fleur.

Cold, wet and windy. Worked in afternoon.

Had eyelid  scrubbed again in evening, most painful.

Rumour that Germany has capitulated, and that the Japanese cabinet has resigned en masse.

Hospital ship came in bay and out.

Worked in am.  Eye bad.

To C.A. Meeting.

Lecture on Banks, I didn't go.

Getting warmer.

Bridge in afternoon in our room with Gladys, Marie and Vincent.

We had seconds in vegetable balls. Eyes not so bad.

Cigarettes came in today. ((We 4 Redwoods were non-smokers, but aways 'bought' our allotment and sold them at profit to smokers who were always happy to have them - so we covered what we had paid for them and had spare money for canteen purchases))

Americans and Russians supposed to be meeting in Germany in about 1 month.

Another theft from Canteen (6/7th April), valued at about Yen 2,000.

Rumour that 25 Shamshuipo men killed at Kai Tak.

Raid in night - noisy, ended about 2am.  Another raid started about 11 am and went on till 1.30pm when I went to hospital (to work).  Then to Annie's party in Grants' room. Quite a big air raid between 1pm and 3 pm.

Worked in afternoon.  Visited Mrs Grant, de Broekherts, and Burgess.

Rumour says Roosevelt died.

Card from Charles Pike (RAMC, in Shamshuipo Camp)

Went down to the nullah and did a big clothes wash, but lost my soap in nullah ((across which was barbed wire, so I couldn't get at it)).  Someone's fault for taking out the stones which some one else had put there after they too lost their soap.

Air raid alarm just as I finished; apparently a false alarm, but another about noon.

Shigometsu (or some name like that - a Jap Minister) has committed harikari they say.

The camp expected an attack last night:  now expected tonight.  ((Can't remember any details of expected attack... I imagine this means the Allies were expected to attack the Japs.))

We opened our last tin of tomatoes tonight.

Had eyelashes done.

No air raid.  Went to hospital with Mum to have her callosity on finger removed.  Clifton was there with his father who is going blind.

Dick told me off about my bridge, wants me to study it properly – can't be bothered now.

Tea in quarry with Sheila and Pat (Cullinan). They tried to make me agree that we do another play but I don't think it worth while - can't cope with constant air raids, and lack of enthusiasm.

Sheila and I went to funeral of Mr J. Owens (RC) who died yesterday of beriberi heart.

A kitchen squad (under Mr Owen Evans) has done well so far. The main grouse from strikers seems to be that they're not allowed to draw their meals from the kitchen, but may eat them there when on duty. ((Now I can't make sense of that entry, perhaps Mr. Jones' diary might mention this matter?))

Clifton made me a nice small stool (a piece of canvas across two bits of wood).

Terrific wind and storm in night. Thunder like Nimitz ((Admiral, whom we were always expecting to relieve us))

Much groaning of lorries, presumably bound for the Fort, in night.

We all had stew seconds. Had lovely sweet tart and ground rice in afternoon.

Bridge in evening with Marie, Alec and Gladys.

To early Mass after which air raid alarm went. All clear not until second Mass finished.

Worked in afternoon.

Danny Wilson and Mrs Bander won the raffled cakes, and Mrs Wilson (mother of Wendy) the embroidered cushion.

We had vegetable tarts, stew and salad at night – terrific meal.

Went to Open Forum in evening.  I'm to transfer to new Catholic Action group.

Outside roll call.

Yesterday we were able to buy 4 ozs. wong tong at Yen 7.70.

Newspaper says that Russians are advancing along Unter den Linden into the heart of Germany.

Went to play reading of 'Flashing Stream.' June (Cheape) excellent in her part.

Worked in morning.