1-6-44

My dear Freda:

How remiss of you - or is it Local Censor to be blamed. On Monday I received 3 p.c.s one from David (Jones, brother), one from Vera (Dutoff) & the other from Father Z. (Ziggenhorn) who congratulates me on the birth of a child. Never heard of anything more fantastic.

A locally fabricated rumour says that the ultimatum to Hitler was up on Friday and that he would not capitulate, we invaded Germany via Skagermak.(?)

Although today, via Chinese sources so it is said reports that Rome HAS FALLEN I am afraid we have become somewhat skeptical.

Made 2 pairs shorts for Peter - a new style - elastic at the back, and plain front with patch pockets and one button for side opening.

It is good.

Today made myself shorts. Betty Peach’s pattern and it is good.

Had a dramatic incident yesterday. A long time ago, Eileen Avery finished a garment of Goyas and as it is the custom of the sewing room, delivered it. Goyas thanked her etc. and told her that if she ever wanted to have a good time she was to call upon him and he’d guarantee it. Eileen, burst into laughter when she left, and as a joke she told it to her colleagues in the sewing room. Mrs Potter was furious and reported the matter to General Affairs i.e. John Stewart. J.S. was furious and summoned Goyas and as punishment forbade him the use of the sewing room. Recently, Goyas has been telling people that he will knife J.S. one day. This got to the ears of J.S. who met him at No 2 pump, where J.S. is stoker and Goyas pumper, who broke the pump and put the well out of commission. J.S. ticked him off and Goyas brought out his knife so J.S. punched him a couple of times, returned to the stoking with the threat that he’d look him up. He did and gave him another beating up. Goyas made a fearful noise. He went to Kogo and complained about the treatment. The Japanese had a trial and told them that it was purely a private matter between 2 individuals and they couldn’t intervene. So that was that.

I think we will have to sell our investment ring. Johnny Pearson says we would get $500 for it. So we will close the deal.

Cheers, Ida

June 6, 1944 ...

6-6-44

My dear Freda

We are much excited as for the last week, since the 1st that the Invasion had started, had landed on 2 places, Calais, Boulogne, Dunkerque & Cap Finistere, under an aerial umbrella of 25,000 planes. That our losses are very heavy.

Today (?)Balliany & Louis Ladow were told by Gold Teeth that “good news for you, the invasion has started”. Then he later tried to laugh it off. Kogo then informed some internee that we had landed at Dunkerque, Calais, Boulogne, & St Nazaire.

Received a p.c. from David about the 8 honey cakes, which unfortunately had to be thrown away.

Carmen & Michael Jones were christened yesterday. Hear that Olaf s is in hospital in Tongshan.

Captain Parker died, or rather, stopped living yesterday. He was buried today. Blessings! Went to Robert Samarcq’s (?) memorial service this a.m.

Love Ida

June 8, 1944 ...

8-6-44

My dear Freda:

Received the balance of $200 of the $500 which I got for my investment ring. Have already spent $95 on 71/2 tins salmon & 1 sardine, purchased from Eva Welch.

Bought 2 lbs honey, for $40 - a birthday present of a hairbrush for Gay for $20.

It is rumoured that Rome has fallen, seen in Japanese paper by Sabanwal and landing at Marseilles by Free French.

Received letter from Mother that everything quite O.K. Joerg fixed for further financial support for three months commencing May.

Thank God.

Love, Ida.

June 10, 1944 ...

10 – 6 - 44

My dear Freda:

We have had much excitement today, in fact an outstanding day. The day before yesterday it was seen in the Japanese papers that the invasion had started, the 1st landing at Caen.

Old man Kelly hearing this toddled off to the Japanese and asked Kogo whether it was true that the invasion had started. Kogo was reported to have been furious and put Voyce and Sabanwal on the mat.

Today, as I was going to fetch Christine’s food from the hospital, met Sid and Christine, he whispered “Hummel andTipton” gone. I twigged immediately in a flash I remembered seeing them together with Father D. the evening previous. And later they were together, moving about restlessly, around No I Kitchen. We expected some heavy retaliation on the part of the authorities, but apparently even the guards think it is a joke on their New Police Captain, who is a tough baby.

Yesterday too, have had another heart ache. Cherry came to borrow a saucepan as they and the Robinsons were celebrating Invasion Day!

The realisation that we had been relegated to ‘Discarded Wife’ hurt. However we had out own invasion day supper with the kids. Opened tin of salmon, made a mayonnaise sauce, sliced radishes and chopped up bits of young cabbage leaves. It was quite enjoyable, but it would have been more had we had it all together. This afternoon we heard that all Hummel’s and Tipton’s roommates were questioned and locked in the Assembly where they are held in communicado. I had a peep in, and saw them each seated at desks quite well separated, looking like naughty boys doing lines. I wonder what the Japanese think they will achieve. Duncan Bar, Jimmy Pike, Dr A.Porter, Dr Lehi, Ramage, Porter and 2 others. Some informant gave away the names of the girls who were with them, Diana Candlin, Origer Cameron, & Sheila Black. Diana when she heard Arthur Hummel had left, wept all day, as apparently he had gone without saying good-bye. Have been convinced that they are safe.

We have six parcels to our name and the Robinsons five. I hope that some will not be disappointingly badly broken.

The papers came in, and although the official date of the invasion is given as 6th June, I feel sure that it started earlier. The news is good all round. We are fighting series of offensive battles in Burma etc.

Am longing for red cross letters from abroad, probably when Eggers comes. He hasn’t been for a long time. We are hoping for comfort money to be paid, as with fruit coming and possibly eggs, we will be hard pushed for cash.

Today Mass was heard in the Isolation ward. We were a little crowded but it was quite cool.

It is very hot again. Fortunately for us the nights are still quite breezy.

We are anxiously awaiting rain, but old man Davis says it is not customary for rain to fall at this time of the year.

Ida.

June 12, 1944 ...

12-6-44

My dear.

The chappies are still imprisoned, but taken out for their constitutional daily, and get questioned, Duncan Bar was interrogated for 11/2 hrs. Do you know what’ll happen if those 2 are caught? Yes, court marshalled of course.’ Then what? Shot I suppose’. No only given a term of imprisonment for one or two years. But as they have not headed for neither Tsingtao nor Tientsin, but are probably heading for the guerrillas then they’re liable to be executed! - Slice it where you like it’s still bologney (baloney).

Talati died this evening. After he had been operated on for hernia and started worsening his brother informed Grice that Dr Char, who performed a major operation on him five years ago warned him not to have another. That he had a relapse and with 5 blood tranfusions recovered. He was given 3 today, but unsuccessfully. Grice would never have operated had he known his previous case history.

It was rumoured yesterday that Trieste has fallen and today they entered Paris. The fat sergeant shoed everyone non Italian off the ball field. Mrs Fantica went around shouting ‘they're trying to create more ill feeling between Italians and the others’

The Jap Commandant for Italians want Monday & Tuesday for 6.30 to 8~30 p.m. for the Italians and out of bounds to us! Can you beat that.

It is said that on Thursday night, 8th - 2 uniform, riding 2 beautiful ponies were seen, they strode up and down for quite a time and galloped away.

It is also said that 3C.K. officers were there one of whom became guide for the escapees. It is said that the whole of Weihsien knows that 1 American & 1 British had escaped and that all’s well. The Japanese have sent their spies in an endeavour to discover a plot.

The Commandant & Chief of Police have not been on view. It is thought that perhaps they are under open arrest, Iso seems to be the cheese.

We have supposedly 1 parcel from Mother, 2 from Vassanx and 3 from Heyman. I do hope we’ll have a bit of luck. Robbie is trying to negotiate a £10 cheque through Louis - in exchange for $500. A deal pleasing to both parties.

Gay didn’t go to school today, nor is it likely she’ll go tomorrow as the Assembly House is the jail.

All the bachelors & spinsters living in rooms above the hospital ate to be moved to No23 where the Chefoo children are and they will have to go there. Iso say this is conformity with the commandant’s regulations wherein he stated that in the event of person or persons whose identity is not established residing in certain blocks having communicated with Chinese, the entire residents of that alley will be removed!

Miss Monihan (Monaghan), Peter’s teacher had a Union Jack in her room, the Japanese made her take it down.

Love Ida.

June 12, 1944 ...

15-6-44

My dear Freda:

As a reprisal for the escape of Hummel who lived in the attic of the hospital, all the people who live above the hospital, that is, the 2 stories including the attic have to be moved today into building No 23, which until the present was housing most of the Chefoo boys. Unfortunately it is a wet day and those who are assisting are having a damp time of it. It is a camp assignment and every one not on duty this morning have to assist at the moving over. Marie says that if everyone able bodied, man woman or child went, they’d be overcrowded, so she isn’t assisting. I am not there because

I) Christine, due to rain, has no school and has to be looked after.
II) my arm hurts badly.
III) I am, or should be on duty on veg.

otherwise. Last night’s rumour was that Paris and Genoa had fallen.

Egger came in yesterday and has been able to make us understand that we are pouring troups into France & Italy.

8 cart loads of postal parcels have come in. Out of which are 188 K.M.A. pool parcels. 27 parcels are broken and 50 pilfered. The parcels are not being given out today but tomorrow.

Yesterday too Duncan Bar & Dempster were freed from the Assembly hall. Expect the rest will be freed tonight at 4 p.m.

The Italians are now not allowed to move freely into our compound. They were given Monday & Tuesday from 6.30 to 8 the baseball field, where it would have been out of bounds to us. This the Italians refused. They wanted to be allowed to come on the baseball field and mingle with us. Only one Italian is to come for the hospital diet food for their children. I haven’t heard how they are coping with the schooling as their kids attend our schools. In order to prevent them from spending money in our camp, they have to account for every penny spent when drawing their bank balance.

Love Ida.

June 18, 1944 ...

I8-6-44

My dear:

Another birthday for Gay. She had a nice jolly party, many presents and several courses at tea.

Marie gave a multicoloured wooden bead bag (which Christine commandeered immediately) Robbie a cheque £1-0-0. Wendy a packet of sweets. Christine some scarlet ribbon. Peter a hair brush, Sid a cheque £1-1-0, myself a georgette hankie. Elsie Henning a dress length of blue voile. Betty Lambert a hankie. Helen Costuros, a holdall, Doris Trickey a pinafore, Jessie Andrews a necklace, the latter three were her guests for tea.

We had a lovely layer birthday cake, a chocolate cake, a date loaf, 2 custard & sardine sandwiches. It was scrumptious.

Our parcels, 11 all told arrived in good condition on the I6th. David send us a grand one, I/4 lb tea, 2 marmalade, 1 strawberry, 2 pkts oats, 7cakes soap, 1 tin meat. We were fortunate in getting ours intact, so did the Robbies. Mother’s parcel was o.k. too, wooden alphabet for Peter, shoes for Christine, wollen gloves for Gay and sweets. Pool parcels too, out of which we received tea, oats, beans & soap.Vassaux parcels were much appreciated too, 3 x 1/4 lb tea and another delightful laundry soap, unfortunately, 4 out of 8 were lost. Our first bi-daily roll-call. At 8 a.m.and 7 p.m. the a.m. took 21/2 hrs as they couldn’t get the right count. The p.m. 45 mins. I expect they’ll get fed up & revert to old system.

Love Ida.

June 19, 1944 ...

19-6-44

My dear:

Still no mail from you. Probably censuring them. The ‘others’ were released today. Thank goodness. Improvement in rollcall. Took 1hr this a.m. and 40 mins this p.m.

Rumours, on radio via Gold Tooth & Balliancy that the British Admiral leading landing operations is dead.

People somewhat depressed as the newspapers on Saturday did not have what we had hoped. Although significant that a notice printed in German appeared on that of the 11th that all radio must be turned in by 15th, so……

Gold Tooth asked someone whether if Russia & Japan fought, would Japan win? Balliancy replied, No. Could America beat Japan? - What do you think? reiterates Gold Tooth - Then, no, replies Balliancy. Gold Tooth shakes his head and hesitantly agrees.

Kogo is supposed to be extremely bad tempered & unapproachable.

Love Ida.

June 19, 1944 ...

23-6-4

My dear:

So sorry but so glad to hear that Od is now recovering from his very serious illness. What an anxious time you must have had. Meryl told me about his gall bladder inflammation and Vera write to Marie about his improvement.

We have had a spot of bother here which may have far reaching consequences.

Early at about 5.30 was awakened by Japanese guards talking and running along the roof. Then presently a sergeant and 2 men came along, inspected our cul-de-sac presently they left and others came, they all passed by our open window and could have seen that we were sound asleep. Presently during the course of the day we heard that an old Chinese woman was caught and that she had confessed to black marketing. Two guards one at each lookout tower had seen the activities. Apparently a long bamboo line had been used. Mr MacLaren was called to the Chief of Police, but as he was having a shower did not answer the summons until he had finished. The Chief was in a towering rage as he had had to wait. MacLaren declared that he had as much right as anyone to have a shower. However when he saw the old woman with the bound foot and the story of a line he realised it was ‘trashy’.

Towards evening Sabanwal & the J. Sergeant came to our alley and we were informed that unless anyone confessed to the crime we would all be shifted elsewhere. We laughed at the statement as we were entirely innocent. Granny Turner who had been awake all night. Only heard the rumpus made by the Japs when they nabbed the old lady. She was certain there was no one else in the yard.

The rumour is that Cherbourg has fallen and another landing effected.

Mrs Danielson on the other side says that she is convinced Goyas is in it as she had seen him come and visit Robbie the night previous and nothing would convince her to the contrary. Robbie explained what he had come for, how he had turned the proposition down. We’ll see what happens, I only hope that our men folk will be okay.

Love Ida.

June 24, 1944 ...

24-6-44

My dear:

The camp is agog because

I) Rutherford was told by Father Flesh that he would not be here for very much longer,
2) that the war in Europe would be over soon
3) a rumour that 50 Italians are leaving camp on Monday,
4) Tsingtao Chief of Police is here and all the officers around the vicinity of the Police Office and the Commandant's office are closed until his departure,
5) that we will have to move as the Chief is satisfied with his guards evidence.

It will be a tedious affair, if we have to split up the 2 homes - and so sad. We have had very pleasant times together, and of course at other times strenuous.

Went to lotto with Clemmy, Marie, Elsie. Marie & I each lost $5 - but we had $5 worth of fun out of it - it was worth that.

Wonder if we get mail together, as its Saturday again. Hope to hear from you

Love, Ida.