October 1943

2 – X - 43

My dear Freda:

I don’t seem to have much time to write nowadays, although writing once a week certainly gives me more to write about.

Johnny, on Tuesday, came home in the morning very unhappy, weeping his eyes out. As Marie was at the Kitchen doing "veg", I sent for her. When Robbie came home for lunch he diagnosed it as Scarlet Fever. Consternation was general, as we were all anxious about Christine. However ours weeks quarantine will be up on the 4th and we feel that we are O.K. Although Astrid Danielson, a baby of 3, living next door, our only neighbours in this courtyard went down with it on Wednesday.

This morning at 3a.m. Coogee Ladow came for Dr Robinson, as Meta had started with her pains. He, Robbie, put on his clothes leisurely, and when he got on the bakery, he saw Percy dashing up and could hear Meta shouting away, he hadn't time to wash his hands, still less time to take her to hospital when the baby was born. The cotton snapped and there was no hot water to bath the baby. Robbie then dashed off to the hospital, awoke Luiznow Smith who is the orderly, and got the night nurse to awaken Mrs Ball. The carrying chair was hurriedly brought to Percy's, and the baby, unwashed was wrapped in a towel, and then in a blanket, and Meta carried her in her arms.

Coogee & Luiznow carried Meta & baby to hospital.

I believe the double bed of Meta's was in a dreadful mess, but in the light of daytime, these seem inconsequential, the greatest thing being that Meta is all right and the baby a girl.

Probably will get more details today or tomorrow. Received Vera's parcel, minus 2 small tins salmon & 1 tin jam.

Love Ida.

October 08, 1943 ...

8-X-43 Christine weighs 21 lbs. & has walked her 1st 3 steps in Hospital.

October 11, 1943 ...

11-X-43

My dear Freda:

As time goes by I find it harder and harder to keep this up- perhaps I am not making any great effort to keep this up as I have seen how the American luggage was examined, the only book admissible was the bible, and only if there were no writings. I think of you often, and hope to have news of you from Gracie Hill Murray. The 4 girls arrived Sunday morning quite well, and it was amazing how little time it took for them to familiarize themselves with the ins and outs if the place.

Sent yesterday a postcard to you, Father Z. We were told that letters written in September hadn't as yet gone.

The coal shortage here is becoming acute. About the middle of last month we were allowed to take 1 bucket of coal per family. After about a fortnight all the stock was gone and since then no new supplies have come in. So people have been scrounging the bakery stocks, and kitchen stocks, consequently these places now find themselves without coal & having to use wood.

Carol Corkey was put into hospital this morning with Scarlet Fever. Gay hasn't been feeling well since yesterday, sore throat and fever, I hope she isn't down with it. The Medical Authorities are trying very hard to localise it.

At our bi-monthly Catholic Women's meeting, the subject of Xmas decorations was brought up - it seems that we can, given time, get used to any idea. When we first came here we thought that we'd rather die than have to face Xmas here, and now, six months later, we are calmly making plans for Xmas Tree decorations.

Hope to hear from you this mail day,

Love Ida

October 16, 1943 ...

16-10-43

My dear Freda:

Again much has happened. But very unusual and soul stirring events. On Thursday 14th., the gent suddenly threw a couple of pebbles which nearly hit me and unloaded – 2 x 10 lbs of sugar. Robbie came to join me in my conversation with the chappie. He wanted some brandy & thought that that afternoon would be quite safe as the Japanese were holding a field day. He promised he would.

In the afternoon, after Robbie had just gone to a violin practice, Marie to veg, a stone came over and the gent popped his head suddenly & said quick, quick and handed 10 bottles brandy. The 1st 4 I took and hid under the pillow, and Sid, who I shouted for took the rest and hid them in the hamper, then he came in and took away the bundle I had, but just as he was concealing then in the hamper, the guards were heard clattering down the alley, unfortunately facing the lean-to where Sid was busy. Whatever transpired, Sid dashed (unfortunately) out and accompanied the guards in their search around the house, they did not find anything, but one gent remembered the lean-to, and when he was there Sid handed out the stuff, seeing, as he thought the game was up. He called out to me, I was busy with Christine, and asked me to tell what had happened that the gent handed the stuff, which he had not ordered. The gent became quite cross and wanted to know why we should have hidden it. Because, said I, we were frightened of them. He then demanded a basket, and started marching off with “if there is any trouble your husband may have to explain.” I thought the matter was shelved, but Sid, wanting to cut his losses, dashed off ahead and said “I’ll go to the guard room,” on the way he popped into Discipline and informed, Mr MacLaren who got the interpreter, Mr Sabouval and went to the guardroom. Meanwhile all the alleys up to 11 were searched thoroughly. Mrs Hares had to explain her stock of sugar- she had 30 lbs. Many people were trembling in their boots, as there were blackmarket eggs, condensed milk, etc.

Apparently the interview was very pleasant, with Mr MacLaren refusing to budge unless Sid was restored safely in the bosom of his family.

All day Friday, he was jittery, having a premonition that something was befalling, the stupid gent popped his head over at the usual, and was quite incensed when told to go away. I felt very unhappy too, feeling the impending doom. This morning Sid woke me, at with the dog barking in the village and we were prepared for the gent’s reception - he was going to get a ticking off. Sid said at about 10.30, that if nothing happened this morning that all would be well.

At 10.45 3 Japanese came, and my heart dropped, I promised the Virgin Mary a novena of Masses if Sid were O.K. At about 11.30 Sid returned, I was glad but my joy turned to sorrow when I heard that he was sentenced to 7 days. All sorts of wild ideas passed through my head, retaliations, splitting to the guards etc. I wept buckets and poor Sid had no time to feel sorry for himself - perhaps it was all to the good.

Before 2, Bill, Harry Faulkner, Robbie and Father Rutherford helped carry his things to the guardroom, but again Sid was inopportunely anxious to do the right and suggested search of his suitcase and person. But he refused to allow them to take his braces, which they wanted to do. His shaving tackle was extracted as well as cigarettes. However all is well, Bill Chilton has organised a programme, whereby a K.M.A. individual carries Sid's food to him from the Hospital Diet Kitchen. Actually if Sid were not in jail he would be a hospital case as he is with dysentery.

The 1st Japanese baby boy was born on Wednesday night. The Father wanted him, to be born at the Hospital - but he was politely discouraged from inforcing such ideas.

Friends in need are friends indeed - Bill, Girlie, Faulkner rallied round but no sign of Jamieson - No mail from you today, only Mother's.

Cheeerioh.

October 24, 1943 ...

24-10-43

Dear Freda:

Again no mail from you. However yesterday was a red letter day, because Sid was released from jug, he was given a week for being caught with the goods.

Typically the Japanese, as on the Friday, the day after the incident, McLaren, head of Discipline, told Robbie that he thought the matter had been dropped.

Not so Sid, he kept on reiterating that if he got over Saturday without summons he would be O.K. But on Saturday at 10.30 3 gendarmes came to ask for Sid to go to the gendarmerie. He soon returned with the news that he had been given 7 days. I didn't believe it at first, but eventually I was convinced I broke down. After a sad tiffin, Bill Chilton, Robbie and Father Rutherford and Harry Faulkner helped to carry bedding, pail etc.eto.Bill arranged that he and Harry would take turns in bringing his food from the Hospital Diet Kitchen, as Sid had dysentery.

Daily at 8.30 a.m, 12.30 and 6.45, either Bill or Harry would come for the luncheon carrier and tea etc.

His dysentery improved, as he said that he recommended it for dysentery patients as they could pop out off bed on to the thunder box. At first on the face of things it looked as though he would have to go into hospital immediately upon his release, but as the days rolled by the necessity of such a step became remoter and remonter. Till by Friday he was practically cured. We all expected to see him home on Thursday, but Friday went by too and it dawned upon us that he was having to work out his full sentence. Saturday morning, suddenly a procession arrived in the courtyard, Alan Henning, Harry, Kim with odd articles and followed by Sid himself. He did look "worn out”, and Christine did not quite recognise him. However as the day wore on, he seemed to improve, like a bud opening. I am sorry that he had had this experience, I would have given anything to have avoided it.

That Friday all accounts were settled. The Robinsons and ourselves put all our allotments into the Community Chest. That Saturday morning I received 6 condensed milk.

Also on Saturday I received a postcard from Father Ziggenhorn.

Love Ida.

21-X-43 red letter day.

October 28, 1943 ...

28-X-43

My dear Freda:

Thousand thanks for your lovely parcel. The box even was in excellent condition with which I was able to turn my wool box, after I had affixd hinges. Porter tells us that BBl (?) says that given the Russians a week of fine weather the German Army would be broken. That the Americans had landed north of Rome. Yelta had been retaken, and that Kelvergrad had been retaken too. That a Pacific convoy of about 30 ships had been sighted, 20 ships sunk or damaged & 120 planes brought down.

We also received a letter from Father Scanlon. The chappie offered sugar which I refused.

We are becoming very short of coal. It has already affected the hot water issuing boilers, as for our little stove we have the devil's own job to keep going on slack made into lumps. If these are the difficulties regarding coal now, what will happen this winter. It is already quite chilly in the evenings.

We have had to put on our padded coats to sit around in. You see our supper is fetched at about 6.-6.15 at about 6.45 we take the dishes, knives & forks back to the dining hall to be washed, then when they are brought back, we have to dry them. At about 7.15, we are all clear, we sit around the table and study, or read- for on hour or so, then the tea is made, and a little snack is indulged in then the kids are sent to bed.

Much love Ida