7-X-44

My Dear,

There having been 2 birthdays this past week, we had a couple of celebrations Robbie & Alan Henning celebrated theirs together on Sunday by a joint buffet supper in the Kitchen I. Ernest Bourne , 2 MacLaren, 2 Calverts, 2 Billinghursts, 2 Averys, Bill Chilton ourselves were the guests. We had soya bean & beef-mock pork & beans, cold sliced tongue, potato salad, fruit salad & delicious custard sauce & birthday cake. It was indeed a feast. Unfortunately immediately after washing up the party broke up as it was 9.45. I was disappointed. Then on Thursday, Oct.5th being Robbie’s birthday, Marie had a little tea party to which the Hennings & ourselves were invited. And later at 8.30 we were again invited with the Averys to have a little hooch. I enjoyed it too.

On Monday night we invited the Turners & Robinsons in for nineses - We spent a cheerful evening.

Played mahjong on Wed. night with Vi Jenkinson, Elsie & Marie, just managed to hold my head, lost 40c

The big fictitious rumour is that the men of military age are being sent to Korea, the women & children back to Tientsin, Tsingtao etc. All Americans to be evacuated and Italians to be moved elsewhere.

Love Ida.

October 15, 1944 ...

15-X-44

My dear

More than a week has passed since wrote the last entry. The papers last week were full of the annihilation of the Parachute brigade which landed in Holland. I am sure that this is a gross exaggeration but nevertheless have a lurking fear that our losses there must have been quite large. So I am depressed.

Went to lotto on Thursday, Marie won a share in jackpot of $100 - $35 her share, Elsie Henning won 2 lines at $20 each. Alice Gerber sitting opposite won a line too. Elsie, much to everyone’s amusement shouted mahjong each time. Marie shouted ‘me’ Margaret Bishop sitting at the same table was looking unapprovingly at the noise made by the 2 latter.

Friday night, went to play bridge with the Wulfshan’s, cost $6.20.Their little room is quite nice. I liked their idea of the double decker, draped as tho’ the old fashioned be curtained bed, in heavy bois de rose silk curtaining.

This a.m. Mrs L. Mina died. She had a most impressive death. Sister Eustelu, 2 fathers, the husband & son were by her bedside and she responded to the death prayers. Suddenly a trickle of blood came down from her nostril. Mrs Warmsley went to attend to this when she expired. Poor husband. Poor children. What a loss.

I dreamt about you too. That we had returned to CWT nno, but waited to receive a message from you. Eventually couldn’t wait any longer, so went across to your house with Christine. Qdd hardly welcomed me and as for you, you were colder that ice. I hope that this won’ be so.

Gay has just bought 5 exercise books at the cost of $20 - each. And during the week we paid $10 for a lb of apples. Understand the price outside is $17.

Mr Egger came in on Monday bringing a large number of parcels. T. Wade’s man sent in a parcel of 10 lbs sugar, but unfortunately he had included 10 sheets of black market wrapping paper. When the Commandant saw this he twigged. So the sugar was confiscated: he also objected to the large number of parcels. No more parcels says the Commandant, which means no more butter, no bacon for those lucky folk who are under the sponsorship of Joerg.

The electrician who has been bringing things for us - Goyas & co. was caught going into Weihsien Gates with $4000 on his person. When questioned he stated it was an accumulation of his salary. He was brought to camp, and upon investigation of his premises $1400 –was found as well as a letter from Goyas to his wife. The letter was dated June. Goyas was called up for questioning and told that he had broken his promise not to commune with Chinese or doing anything contrary to Japanese Military regulations. He said he was sorry etc. but he had not broken any promise as the letter was written in June and he had made the promise in August! We feel he has something over King Kong our Police Chief. As he was sentenced to apologise to him for having written the letter.

Father Unden put his elbow out playing football. He is Sid’s bakery shift and it means the shift will have to work for about 2 weeks short one man.

Also since Wednesday have started exchange reading with Mrs Dreggs. We read French during morning roll call & Russian evening roll call.

Love Ida.

October 18, 1944 ...

18 – X - 44

My dear:

What a lot of luck & pleasure came our way. Our parcel from David was intact. But were disappointed that there was no jam. We are now very poorly for bread spread, just 1/3 of presto jar of peanut butter. Obermesser’s parcel, out of which we received a delicious honey cake, tin of tea & bag of rice - although understand should have had a tin of rice & gallettes.

Great news break from an unimpeachable source:
1) that a break through in Arnheim
2) taking of Aachen.
And rumoured that a task force landing in Formosa was effected.

John Ladlow was twice caught pinching bricks. Once, after which, Bashing Teh, the fat sergeant, went to his house & told him that were it not for the fact that the stove was built he'd tear it down. But if he did so, says John it wouldn’t be fair to only tear down his when there are so many in camp. The sergeant agreed. Now after the second time, when he was pinching bricks for Stelle’s stove, the contractor & his men came and broke his stove & took all the bricks away. Mrs Ladow threatens to go to Discipline & insist that all the other stoves in the camp. (sic)

We were also delighted to see persimmons come our way. Bought 5 lbs at $4- they are delicious & so sweet. Got our canteen soap at $12.50 per cake.

Played mahjong, with Elsie Henning, V. Jenkinson, & Marie. Was quite enjoyable. Gay’s dress rehearsal went off very well. The play will be on tomorrow & the day after.

It is raining again today.

Old Captain Johansson died at 5.30a.m. on Sunday. It wasn’t a surprise. Robbie was called up to tend to him. His widow - a real madam - is not broken hearted - she doesn’t look it any way.

Drew 2 pkts baking powder, thank goodness. Jimmy Jamieson spontaneously lent me $200 - which he said could be repaid $100 at a time.

Peter said that John Moyler has gone up to Squirrel Class, he couldn’t help it, he didn’t try to, but he can’t help working well!

Love Ida.

October 19, 1944 ...

19-X-44

My dear:

This will be continued in Vol.III. Seem to have filled up a lot of paper.

A Jap.guard is supposed to have made a special visit to an Italian, Poletti, and told him of a special J.victory at Formosa, where 31 Americans vessels were sunk & three landings were foiled. This spells the end of the U.S. Navy! We are looking forward to seeing what the papers will tell us tomorrow.

To our great surprise the wall at the bottom of our alley was pulled down by the Authorities, revealing
1) a beautifully laden vine which Marie promptly appropriated,
2) a new nice high wall with electrified barbed wiring atop. The children were like mad as now they have a short cut to our alley, No 1.

It was announced at roll call today that tomorrow we will be allowed to draw one bucket of slack, and the Authorities are permitting us to obtain clay from out of bounds. Thus admitting the existence of stoves.

Yesterday a thorough ? search was made of all the rooms, they were looking for pipes. Apparently 50 disappeared from their storage on Wednesday night, and with the assistance of the squealer, they endeavoured to recover these. But the searchers were ordered back to No 6 alley for a second search - as it was known that there were many pipes in this alley. Rose squealled perhaps on Louis as he had 15 lengths but had been warned in time and was able to have concealed them.

Gay is acting in the Lad of Stratford tonight. Sid will go tonight and I will tomorrow.

We scrounged one length which I am having to use,
1) to renovate the bottom of my pail
2) to make a square pie tin, which Mihailoff promised to make for me or perhaps I’ll make it myself.

Had Bridy McPherson & Eileen Calvert in to elevevses. Eventually had L.Ladow & Robbie in too - so had quite an enjoyable morning.

Love Ida.

October 23, 1944 ...

23rd-X-44

My dear:

Been having a heavy load on my heart I since heard yesterday, 22-X-44, from Meta who heard from Margaret Bishop who had a letter from Olaf that Costain and the family (meaning yours I presume) were going to Yangchow on the 15th. My heart is heavy as I was looking forward to seeing you in C.W. Tao when we returned. That yours would be the first face I’d see. But today at the water queue Kay Hall tells me that it may not be yours after all, as the Kelseys were there, he recuperating from an illness. So even on so slim a chance I am feeling lighter hearted. Big rumours that Formosa has been taken, That Nimitz had said that America had fought her last naval battle with Japanese as her navy was mortally crippled in the Battle of Formosa. That Japan lost 60 ships, U.S.A.75. These figures in Japanese papers, also Japan lost over 1,000 planes.

Donald Hope Gill posted and all canteen privileges suspended for one month for stealing coal balls. As precedent has been created the stokers will not be so reluctant to report others - such as if caught Robbie & co.

Bought 5 portions dates at $6 .they are beautiful, fat things.

Became apprehensive when I saw Chronicle last week that sugar ration is now 6 oz per head. It will be dreadful if we get ours cut too. So far the kitchen uses 6 oz of our 12oz for 2 cakes a week & kitchen use, and uses our 6oz to us for our personal use.