1-3-44

My dear Freda:

Much has happened these days. Bill & Clemmie announced their engagement yesterday, Sid & I went to go to Clemmie’s and found Bill there- so were able to kill 2 birds with one stone.

We hear that Peace Preservation Corps in Weihsien mutinied today - which probably accounts for the machine guns we heard this morning.

That there are food riots in Tientsin & Peking & Tsingtao. And Incendiarism in Tientsin & Peking. Supposed to have been given in the French paper.

That Singapore has been retaken. That there will be no Japanese in this part of China after 2 months. Who knows what will happen. I find my mind will neither accept nor refute any new rumour, it is merely indifferent.

The dogs outside seem to be barking furiously, I wonder who are doing black market. Hear too, that Mrs Pander, Emma are expecting this summer. Seems wrong to me somehow that women should be compelled to go through with this child bearing here. If a faux - pas has been made I feel that the Medical Committee should be able to cope with the matter in cases which are not first babies.

Sid & Marie won a tin of condensed milk each in the Camp draw, at the cost of $18 - per. On Monday night we played bridge with Marie & Robbie. I made such stupid blunders due to lack of concentration that I made a major scene and convinced Sid that we must get together & play some other tough pair to knock the spots out of me. I must regain my former standard , at least.

Laurie Tipton & confederates had a party going on after midnight, The Authorities raided the room, put Ramage to bed and took the men to the Guard Room for questioning, because they saw 3 empty PaiKal bottles. After Tipton admitted that he got them over the wall 3 months previously they were released. So far no repercussions.

Do hope I’l hear from you soon.

Love Ida.

March 5, 1944 ...

5-3-44

My dear Freda:

The mail day has again come and gone-and with the same monotonous result nothing from you. Elsie Henning had her big operation today, so far everything’s okay. Robbie says she is under some strain, as she is rather an elderly person to have pan-utera operation. Pray God she’ll get through it.

There has been tremendous activity on the part of the Authorities to nab black marketers. They nabbed one. He is a missionary, Helshy by name. He was waving a white flag to the Chinese outside, when the white flag was spotted by a Jap. Meanwhile Helshy stuffs the offending white kerchief into his pocket, with a corner hanging out - down main street .The Jap jumped the wall and spotted him right away. He apparently told 2 yarns, and eventually broke down & confessed to his guilt. All row No 14 was searched and I believe some sugar & rice were found in Helshy’s which the Authorities donated to the hospital. Helshy was sentenced to solitary confinement for 2 weeks.

The day before yesterday Porter & Ramage were sentenced to one week. They were given 2 adjoining rooms. Jo Kemball, Madeleine Grant & 5 others were posted & sentenced to one month suspension of camp privileges:

Canteen,
Hot water
hair cut
shoe repairs

Bill was very much against drinking. He thought it should all stop. I did not see him refusing our hospitalty. I expect he was peeved about Jo being caught.

Goyas had a shipment, of sugar - 11 bags being delivered over the wall in the Japanese compound only a Jap passing saw the stuff, and took it. Goya was helplessly to watch $2310 worth falling into the wrong hands, but he was lucky not to have been caught. He was also warned by Discipline regarding the import of Pai Kel.

Played bridge with Robbie & Marie last night & lost $20 - but they had a little spiritual comfort. The game was lively.

Christine won a tin of Rehn's milk powder -21b tin at $35 - I took the stuff and as Mrs Wright had deplored the fact that she hadn’t won one, I immediately took it over to her. She was pleased.

I got 4oz nice blue wool for ½ lb of tea, at the Elephant Bell. Was tickled at the result.

Was godmother to Voyce’s little girl, Christine Evelyn.

Father Rutherford was half an hour late.

There were no flowers nothing. We are invited to tea tomorrow.

Much love, Ida

March 9, 1944 ...

9-3-44

My dear Freda:

Yesterday, Cyril Greenland complete with family and others arrived here. Their arrival took everyone by complete surprise, even the Commandant. Cyril tells most dreadful stories about Hong Kong, I will only recall these the two I can remember.

That they were sheltering in a ditch behind the Repulse Bay Hotel for 36hrs. They saw amongst others, British Tommies being pushed along by the Japs, with their hands tied behind them, and then mowed down by machine gun fire.

Another, that when the Allied Air raids took place, the Stanley Camp internees were marched to an air raid shelter in the Waterworks, but on this occasion the internees were taken along another route, via a field, and here they saw thousands of corpses of British tommies, they looked as though the Japanese had had bayonet practice with them.

Hunger was the feeling in Camp Stanley. The internees never had enough to eat. 24hrs out of 24 they were hungry.

Played bridge with J. Hylburn & Gerry Ducker last night. It was good fun and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Heard yesterday too that Peter is make his 1st Communion on the 19th. Haven’t had it confirmed by Sister Eustella. Father Rutherford says that he has the reasoning powers of a lad of 8 or 9. Well & good.

Alan Henning had a postcard from McBain and it seems to imply that they will be with us very shortly. Hople apparently is no longer paying out relief.

We are expecting big changes on the 19th the anniversary of the installation of the camp.

7/8th of Burma is already in our hands.

The Hayes missionary came here each with a name, the person to whom is allocated.

March 13, 1944 ...

13-3-44

My dear:

A few days ago Dorothy came to tell me that you had been safely delivered of a baby girl and that she was named Christine. Jo Greenland saw the announcement in a Shai paper; I was very pleased indeed.

However today we received a p.c. from Vera of 25-2-43(?) telling us that you had a little girl on 10-2-43(?), weighing 8 lbs & called Elaine Christine. I wish I were there with you.

Went to see Kathleen Frost for the 1st time yesterday. Had the urge to, and was glad. She seems to be very pally with Mrs Cockburn.

Egger is in. He has brought us the news that there will be no “comfort money” and that Joerg, who was arriving tomorrow will explain. We are unhappy, as our comfort money has certainly helped to make things easier for us. At the time of writing we are paying $1 for an egg in the hospital and $0.9 for milk for the older children. So out of $700 comfort money we have to commence paying $103.50 to the hospital.

Things are going up. Understand a lady received a pair of shoes from Tientsin at $I500 ? A ton of coal costing $900. Poor mother I wonder how she is doing. I am anxious on her account.

We are still quite comfortable.

Am reading a rather interesting autobiography; Diplomatically speaking by L.C. Griscon. It is very absorbing and I’d recommend you to read it. Travers Smith came today and has brought me six nice sheets of nice rough painting paper. I am thrilled about it.

We are receiving 3 parcels this week, and Robinsons 2. 1 containing pig brawn. Our kitchen food has been on the retrograde, so we are grateful for this present and hope that they will all arrive safely.

God bless you, Ida.

March 14, 1944 ...

14-3-44

My dear Freda:

Joerg and the Swiss Consul have been. They infomed us that no comfort money would be forthcoming as there is a dispute between respective governments regarding exchange.

However we have heard that

I) Uncle Frans is so sick and will not last 6 weeks (F. Clede Fonce)
2) United States pounding Guam, which is expected to fall momentarily
3) That the Russians are well in Rumania
4) That the Russians have taken 0dessa.
5) the United States are now making for the Phillipines.

If complete evacuation, there will be more Japanese in the States. (Joerg)

Played bridge with Gerry Lucker & J Hilburn. Won 14 pts. Robbie starting his - all game. Hope everything will be fine as anticipated. Heard too that K.M.A. comfort parcels are here - hams, bacons, peanut butter but no jam. Got 51b.s rice at $36 -

Prices in Tientsin are supposed to be $1500 for pr shoes $900 for ton coal $200 with food for servant

‘Tis late. Long past roll call.

Ida

March 19, 1944 ...

19 -3 - 44

My dear Freda:

Today has certainly been a full day. Peter made his 1st Comunion. He didn’t wear a special outfit but he wore a white silken arm band which I had made for him. The morning was cold and frightfully windy. I was cold in church. When I got there there was much consternation as the 2 servers hadn’t turned up. Dennis Carter was hurriedly called, and Francis Cole was asked. The singing dragged. But the Church was full of people. The Italians occupied a few pews. Johnny Baden(son of the Belgian spy?) Francis de Jongh, Manuel Roccocucci (Rosso- Cuzzi), Peter, an Italian girl and 2 flower girls. Sister Eustella was rather late in marshalling the kids to the sanctuary, Father Rutherford was already starting on the altar steps, awaiting with the Host in his fingers. The little flower girls had much difficulty in marshalling the communicants, the children, uncertain, going hither thither, like a bunch of crabs. Finally the procession was ready to depart. then lo, one of the flower girls, a Roccocuccio(Rosso-Cuzzi), decided she wanted to receive the Blessed Host, so she turned back from the steps, and knelt, at the altar steps, Father Rutherford, gave her the Host.

Then after Mass the “Faith of our Fathers” was sung, it started off in full swing, when at the second line, there was faltering and finally the male voices ceased. It was a fiasco – But Marie had a delightful breakfast ready for us, bacon, eggs, fried sweet potatoes and pancakes. I had my black woollen frock on, white Turban/bandeau, white scarf, my black jacket and black suede, high heeled shoes.

In the afternoon, I was sponsor at the Confirmation- Mrs Tchoo, Mrs Dr Chang (Chan), Hazel Hoch.

Peter was confirmed too, his sponsor was Henriques of the National City Bank. Peter’s confirmation name is “John”, after Robbie as I had thought that he would be a sponsor. Bill& Alan Henning came to our Sunday evening. We argued hotly pro & con the points No 2 kitchen.

Finished “Diplomatically speaking” by Lloyd Griscom, at last. It was most enjoyable and I am sorry that it is over.

The K.M.A. Pool Gifts were given out and we had 1 tongue, 2lbs.bacon, 4 lbs ham and 33 lbs peanut butter.

We ran out of yeast by Wednesday. After much delay it arrived on Saturday morning. It is very poor, and makes the heaviest bread. Today, at tiffin (20-3-44) only school children had 1 slice each.

A year ago today we arrived here. After extremely weather it is now just as cold as it was when we first came. We do miss the wonderful sisters and the magnificent Fathers.

Why are you not writing?

Love Ida.

March 20, 1944 ...

20-3-44

My dear Freda:

I forgot to set down the rumour that the German resistance in Italy had broken. Does it mean that War is over?

Some Chinese emphatically told someone that the Germans were no longer fighting he had to be convinced that it was not so without success.

We all sent in the imprints of our feet to the Red Cross who apparently will give those in dire need a pair of shoes. Our plans were No 115 to 119. Poor Sid is going around in a very badly worn pair of shoes. He lost his good pair in the courtyard one day last year, which we never traced.

Joery has agreed to send in regular supplies of sugar in to the hospital. Despite what Kojo forbade any extra rations of sugar to go onto the hospital, that our patients should have the same amount of sugar as the Japanese in Japan.

Ida.

March 25, 1944 ...

25-3-44

My dear Freda:

Saturday has come round again, and today I hope that they will release letters which will include a letter from you. Hear that 350 letters are awaiting to be censored. Mrs Walravens sent about 20 sets of clothes to Mrs Jamieson, but she doesn’t know how to dispose of them as she has had no letter. Bill has an equal number of biscuits & candied peanuts, equally awaiting advice of disposal.

Understand that F.R. should be disposed of, that the reds are in Uncle Carl’s front yard. That St Luke, 2-10, I bring you great tidings of great joy.....So much longer.

Marie has baked from 9 to 12, for Johnny’s birthday.

I have been up since 7.30, and now at 12.30 feel completely fagged out.

March 31, 1944 ...

31st March.

My dear Freda:

We had a family party on the 28th, the 14 th wedding anniversary, had pork & beans and excellent custard pies, only the children and ourselves, we had an enjoyable evening.

Last night the Vios came to tea. Marie contrived to make 2 delicious peach/orange pies and cookies. Mrs Vio is Australian and her name is Vi. They have a very shy little boy, Tony. Father de.Jaergers brought me a letter from Ziggy dated 12th March which he had had to translate to the Authorities. It was full of sweet sentiments.

Bloom & Kojo rejected 400 lbs of horseflesh. Kojo thought that it wasn’t necessary yet to give the internees horseflesh. The contractor had to take them back.

We drew 7 yds of white cloth for $15 we were lucky, as apparently the yard now costs over $50 - in the village.

It is rumoured today that between the 1st & 5th of April about 20 Italians are expected to come. There is talk of alien wives too.

Donald H-G is in hospital. The menage is doing well. It openly said that after this Camp she will not return to him. Her steady is Ernie Schmidt. She has lost quite a lot of weight and would look resplendent but for her discontented expression.

Mrs de Jongh is expecting another. She apparently wants 12 children.

Bill & Cemmie are being spliced on Easter Monday. They are taking Jo’s room in K.M.A. Row. Wonder how this will turn out.

I spent the whole of Monday in bed, as I felt very ill. Back aching & head aching and leaking. I enjoyed the rest, I must say, although I was sorry to see Sid doing all the hard work of having to cope with the kids.

It is supposed to be given out in the Japanese papers that they have taken Calcutta. We feel that this has been given out in retaliation for the rumour yesterday that we had retaken Rangoon.

Circular from Engineering that all iron stoves have to be returned beginning April 10 addendum put in by J.S.Turner that all pipes etc have to be cleaned. What next! We do nothing else but placate the authorities.

Lawless came round today to tell us to hide the coal dust & balls and tidy up the alleys. Why, in the name of heaven? We are behaving as though we are losing the war, not winning it. You ought to see the people busily cleaning their alleys in a terrific dust storm!

Love Ida