RE Jones Diary Part 4 1.11.1944 – 27.10.1945 (End)
Wed 1st November
Fine. E wind. New kitchen taken over by A1-4. Demolishing old kitchen & woodchopping. With Steve pm. Hertogenbosch captured 28th Nov. Japs have confusing details re their attacks on Leyte air-fields.
Tues 2nd
Fine, warmer, showery am, light variable breeze. Old kitchen & woodchopping. Oil, sugar & remainder of jam .9oz issued. Hands healing but leg not so good. North of Scheldt evacuated by Germany, 100 tons of bombs per min. dropped on Cologne in biggest raid against that city. Japs admit in their own paper that situation in Leyte is serious.
Frid 3rd
Cloudy & drizzly. E wind. Old kitchen & woodchopping. Lorry arrived with veg. 2pm no papers due to Jap holiday, wood arrived later. Dug potatoes up (20lbs). With Steve pm. Flushing captured. Convoys in Pacific perhaps destined for China Coast. (Camp to revert to Civil Administration).
Sat 4th
Cloudy, E wind. Old kitchen & woodchopping. Canadians landed Walcheren Isle 29th. Oct. Baccarat entered by French 29th. Japs report sinking of 1 battleship & 3 cruisers off Leyte 2nd. Steve to Concert.
Sun 5th
Dull, drizzly E wind, cooler. Chopped wood & repaired toy wheelbarrow. With Steve pm. Mary gave me Y40. Much debate re Stilwell’s recall to Washington. Lorry arrived 11.30am with fresh fish.
Mon 6th
Dull, drizzly, E wind. Cookhouse construction & wood chopping. Lorry with wood & fresh fish 4pm. Rumania severed dip. relations with Japan as from 31st Oct. With Steve pm (Parcels in town?)
Tues 7th
Showery, warmer. E wind. Cookhouse & woodchopping. The proposed suspension of water supply causing some trouble. Singapore bombed 5th. Soviets nearing Budapest. With Steve pm. Protest re proposed site of Dutch latrine. Sat with the Minnetts for a while tonight. Emergency alarm 9.15pm. Single plane raid over Taipo way.
Wed 8th
Fine, cloudy, E wind. Wells being sunk & latrines dug. Ground rice for Mary am. Col Takanada arrived re water question. Digging our latrine trench & wood chopping. With Steve pm. They gave me 6 cigs. Formosa bombed 10 times since 2nd. Americans in Camp rec. parcels through Zindel. Soap issued from Welfare, seems to be good stuff too.
Thurs 9th
Better weather, E wind. Trench digging & woodchopping. All districts doing what they can to provide against the coming water shortage. Co. Tak. expected but he did not arrive. Allies 28 S.W. of Cologne. Walcheren Is. occupied. With Steve pm. (Minshall complains to Tresise re double rations)
Frid 10th
Fine dry day. Washed my sheets, dressing gown& overall & filled up as many old bottles I could find with water. Finished latrine trench. Much ado re water suspension. Burma offensive opened. Mountbatten assumes some other post not yet clearly defined. Production of planes in U.S. 8,000 per month. 6pm roll call instituted so seeing Steve nightly is finished.
Sat 11th
Fine, dry. S.W.Wind. Store partition walls & wood chopping. Water situation so far well in hand. Water supply suspended 9am. Autumn Off. started in France (Gen. Patton) Stalin shows where he thinks Japan stands in his estimation. The Japs have no doubt acquired a headache through his speech. Roosevelt returned for 4th term by overwhelming majority against Dewey. Went to Mary’s Birthday party. Very nice. V.2s “Flying Telegraph Poles” being use [sic] against London. Editorial again quotes the saying, “He who laughs last laughs the longest” in a derisive article on the China based US Airforce.
Sun 12th
Colder. SW wind, cloudy pm. Water & wood. North’s notes contain more details of Stalin’s speech. Germnay & Japan are certainly due for their deserts after the war is cleared up. No lorry. District Chairmen etc received overcoats from Col Takanada.
Mon 13th
Overcast, NE wind. Store partition & wood. Water on at 7am. Lorry at 1pm with veg & papers. Patton’s Army advance 10mls on 55ml front. Cross Moselle N of Metz. Kyushu bombed 9th. 80.B.292. Kweilin occupied by Japs 10th. Concern re Wangs condition 11th. Forli occupied 9th. With Steve aft.
Tues 14th
Overcast, NE wind, gusty. Lorry with wood & canteen stuff 2pm. No Euro or Burma news. Wang Ching Wei died 10th. Rumours persist re Germanys capitulation & Russia’s participation in war against Japs.
Wed 15th
Overcast, NE wind, damp. Water on. Canteen back orders filled. Lorry with wood & veg. US 3rd Army occupy Theonville. More vessels sunk by Kamikaze Units around the Phillipines. Saw Steve at noon & had nice cup of coffee.
Thurs 16th
Raid early am despite low cloud & rain. Fine, cloudy. [L.a.?] Lorry with wood 2pm. Coffee with Steve noon. US 3rd Army making more headway. “Von Tripitz” sunk of [sic] N. coast Norway by 29 Lancaster bombers. Water on all day. Finished partition wall. Alarm 10pm but nothing happened.
Frid 17th
Fine, warmer. E. wind. Bran in congee. Bootmakers shop table. 1oz Suk yin issued Y6. Took saw back to Steve, coffee & Y100. Lorry with veg. No Euro or Burma news.
Sat 18th
Fine, SW wind. Bootmakers shop. Took lamp-glass to Steve. Lorry with wood. Practically no news in paper. US 3rd Army make headway over the Moselle. Finished toy rifle for J.S. Y36 Canteen. Many rumours re parcels, & Germany capitulating Air-raid alarm 9.45pm.
Sun 19th
Practice attack on H.Qs early am woke everyone up with the Japs yelling & bawling. Fine, NE wind, woodchopping & trench digging. Saw Steve noon with bit of firewood, coffee & cigs. Water on, bathed & cleaned up aft.
Mon 20th
Fine, dry, variable wind. Bootmakers shop & trench-digging. Workers’ oil & sugar issued. Matches (2) issued. Rec. letter 3-1-43 from Marj. Saw Steve noon with oil lamp, coffee & cigs. Lorry 4pm with wood & salt fish. US troops advanced to 7mls of Julich 15th. French troops crossed Doubs river. Russians captured Godollo 10mls E of Budapest & advanced to 5 [mls of?] Miskolo. Cup of tea with V & E 6pm & showed them snaps.
Tues 21st
Fine, dry. Started on Tinsmiths’ shop, wood chopping & grass cutting. Lamp glass & hammer to Steve. Oil & sugar issued. Convoy arrived. Lorry with veg 6.30pm. Roosevelt promises something good before New Year. Metz entered 19th & other advances made on Western Front. US troops now 7mls inside German border. Japs claim many more sinkings around Leyte & 6 s/ms in waters around Japan.
Wed 22nd
Fine, dry, NE wind. Tinsmiths shop & wood-choppping. Water on. Lorry with salt fish & cigs. 4 pkts issued. Fed up day today. US troops one third the way into Metz 37 mls from Strasburg & De Gaullists advance to the Rhine. Four of six passages thro’ Vosges to Rhine captured. Postcard from Shanghai reports receipt of Aust. parcels. (Chungking & New Delhi have radioed HK conditions re electric & water?)
Thurs 23rd
Fine, dry, SW wind. Started on Sewing shop, & bricked in a drain. Saw Mary re brooch. Today’s paper full of absolute bunk. (1 Jap fighter breaking up a formation of B29s & shooting one down and so on) Kyushu raided 21st. 6 more cigs issued. News re British Fleet & task force off Malaya. Jap Harvest [?] Festival.
Frid 24th
Fine, dry, overcast, SW wind. Sewing shop, & wood lorry with veg & fish 2pm. Meyer beat Olsen 12-21 in Bowls Singles. Hauled up before guard for cutting grass out of bounds. Canteen gear arrived 6pm. No paper. Air-raid practice alarm 8 to 8.30pm.
Sat 25th
Overcast, mist, drizzly. NE wind. Sewing shop & wood. Water on so had nice bath, rather cold now. Jewelry fetching enormous prices, any gold, even teeth fillings fetch good money. Lorry with wood 5.20pm. Paper has nothing whatever about other fronts except Japanese. Raid on Tokyo 80 planes [22nd crossed out, looks like 24] for 2 hrs.
Sun 26th
Overcast & muggy. NE wind. Did no work today. Y600 to Mrs Brown for brooch. Transpires later that brooch was practically worthless, so Mary is Y600 out. According to yesterdays Chinese newspaper Allies have made much progress on Western front & Chinese troops on Burma Rd.
Mon 27th
Overcast, mist, muggy, warmer. Sewing shop wall & wood chopping. French occupy Belmont & Strassburg. Firewood arrived 6pm. Machines & troops being concentrated in India.
Tues 28th
Overcast thin mist, a little drier, E ground wind. Sewing shop. Water on. Paper has no E. news whatever but plenty of tripe about Leyte. Rumours re receipt of Parcels on 13th Dec & repatriation of women & childrens [sic] have grown stronger. Planes over W to E & E to W about midn’t. Heavy stuff dropped to the W.
Wed 29th
Overcast, E wind. Canteen No.20. Lorry 5pm with fish. Paper has no E news again, Japan raided 27th by 40 B29s & according to paper hit nothing but churches hospitals, shrines & residential quarters. Mrs Brown’s teeth fillings Y260. More bombs dropped 11.15pm to the NW.
Thurs 30th
Warmer, dry, cloudy. E wind. Finished on Sewing shop. Lorry arrived with wood & veg. U.S.9th reach Roer river, the last natural fortification before the Rhine. Allies have massed troops etc on Western front & are waiting for drier weather in Poland & it seems that a general double offensive will take place from E to W. Frazer rejoins his fleet from London probably with orders etc for Pacific offensive. Workers oil & sugar issued. Saw Himsworth re another job. Full Moon.
Frid.1st December
Heavy rain early am. Another new officer arrived. Supposed to be an ex R.C.Padre. Roll-call 8.30am weather cleared, colder & overcast. Paper up to 80sen. Tokyo raided early 30th Nov. No Euro news. Pork 88Y per catty in town. 2 oz Suk yin issued Y7. Painted name on Mary’s suitcase aft. Oil 4oz & sugar 1.09oz issued. Water on. North’s notes tell us that air-borne troops landed in Baden in the Black Forest & that at some points our troops are about 60mls inside Germany. The pipeline from India to China is now in operation. Lorry arrived with fresh fish & canteen gear.
Sat 2nd
Awakened about midn’t by heavy detonations. A plane flying E to W dropped its load very near (Taitam Bay) despite heavy cloud & rain. In Pengelly’s store & shifting rubble. News in Chinese paper from Axis sources tellsus that Churchill in a speech warned against over-optimism adding that next Summer might see the end of the war in Europe & that he could not tell when the war in the East would finish. Cold N wind & overcast but cleared up somewhat pm.
Sun 3rd
Cold, overcast, NE wind. Cleared up Pengelly’s store. Saw Steve noon with wood. No lorry, no paper. Rumours persist re parcels & repatriation. Black market cigs getting scarce. Due to internees buying Chinese wine through the wire around Bung.E & F the authorities ordered them closed. Camp authorities have appealed so the decision of the Col. is awaited. Plane over 11pm.
Mon 4th
Cold, overcast, NE wind. Cleared up & sun came out forenoon. Water on. Cleaned bricks, woodchopping. “Normandie” being converted to A/C carrier & will then serve in Pacific. Played crib with Mrs Brown aft. Lorry arrived 7.15pm with canteen gear. US 9th & 1st Army connect in France & make advances around Linnich, Julich & Duren. Leyte news as usual, nothing but defeats, setbacks & sinkings, sez them! Planes around again pm. Reconnaissance no doubt. Tokyo & Yokohama bombed 3rd Dec. Handed in rubber shoes for exchange.
Tues 5th
Overcast. NE wind. Brick cleaning. Lorry with veg. 1.30pm. Some gains made on Western Front, Japs claim all manner of successes in Leyte. Played crib with Browns & Gandy. Showery S wind. Planes over before midn’t. Bombs dropped?
Wed 6th
Overcast, NE wind. Brick cleaning. Dr.Selwyn-Clark released from Gaol & he, his wife & child went in to HK. Lorry with wood 3pm. Worlds biggest battleship to be launched in Britain shortly & she may appear in the Pacific. No European news. Usual claims re Leyte area. Germans report proposed use of Y3s against New York. Played crib with Mrs Brown aft. Exercise of British fleet in Indian Ocean reported.
Thurs 7th
Colder, drizzly & miserable all day. Worked in Pengelly’s shop. Coffee with Steve, noon. Lorry with nothing 5pm. No E news in paper. Making crib board for Mrs Brown.
Frid 8th
39 today & cold & miserable it is. Temp 50’. Air-raid by low-flying dive bombers at 9.30am & another one at 4pm. The am raid no doubt messed up the Jap Rescript reading & the crowd that attended the Sports ground top hear it. Tiffin with Mrs Brown & she gave me a rice bowl. V. & G. gave me some tobacco. Lorry very late with veg 7pm. No wood or paper. Temp 50’. Suk yin issued. 1 box matches.
Sat 9th
Cold but fine. Cleaned bricks. Lorry with wood 6.30pm. Papers arrived but nothing in them except Jap tripe. Played crib with Mrs Brown aft. Cigs are from 2/4 to 2/8 each. To bed early.
Sun 10th
Cold, fine. Water on. Chopped wood. Took a little tea down to Steve’s. Mary gave me a white overall. Had bath in parts. Allied troops on Cologne Plain & Russians 35mls from Hungarian border. Workers oil & sugar issued. Plane over at 9.45pm.
Mon 11th
Warmer. overcast. Sorting rubble. Mrs Brown Y700. Steve gave me Chinese sausage. Lorry with veg. 1.15pm. Nothing worth while in paper. Played crib aft. Made milk mixer for G.F. Early to bed. Rumour re rice & parcels 15th.
Tues 12th
Warm. Overcast. 100 Concrete bricks from A1 roof. Cleaning broken bricks. Nice cup of tea with Steve, noon. Lorry with wood 1pm. Cards from P of Ws camp create optimism. Paper all Leyte tripe. North’s notes contain news re Russian advance to Austrian border & some American building statistics. Lorry in 5.30pm with Canteen gear. Made out Canteen lists. Wood chopping.
Wed 13th
Colder, overcast. Clay & brick collecting. Canteen buyer No.136. Chopped wood for Steve & chopped my finger too. Lorry with wood 5.15pm. More advances made by US troops thro’ Siegfried Line, 20mls from Cologne. Frazer app’t’d C in C. P.F. Water on.
Thurs 14th
Cold, overcast, NE wind. Cleaning bricks. Lorry in 3pm with wood. North’s notes contain plenty statistics re US forces in Pacific. 23 bttleships, 3 ½ million men many other figures. US forces advance on Western Front & Russians enter Budapest. Nimitz to shift H.Qs. to Guam. Xmas “fare” on view in Canteen window. ½ bttle Syrup(8-75)(6oz). ½ lb rice flour(10-00) ¼ lb Sweet biscuits or Kung [?] So cakes(14-00) ½ lb Noodles(13-45) Sweets (for children only) ¼ lb(11-75),
Frid 15th
Cold & drizzly all day. Brick-cleaning. Made a chatty [a little clay stove] for Mrs Whitfield. Lorry in with fish. Allied advances on Western Front. Japan bombed 13th. Col. out, saw C.S. Posted card to Marj.
Sat 16th
Cold. overcast, brightened pm. Brick-cleaning. Chatty for Mrs Brown. Water on. Lorry in with nothing. Budapest under fierce attack from 3 sides.
Sun 17th
Cold, overcast, better pm. Started filling in Cookhse. wall. Grass burning in lieu of wood for cooking. Novs workers cigs distributed. Chopped wood 6pm. Made saucepan for Mrs Brown. Lorry 6.30pm few potatoes & pak choi. Workers’ cigs for Nov. issued.
Mon 18th
Many Happy Returns Marj darling. Cold but bright. Red earth & brick for Cookhouse wall. Made another chatty for Mrs Winfield. [Entry for 15th is clearly ‘Whitfield’] Lorry in with Canteen gear. Cooking being done with grass. US forces land on Mindora Island [Mindoro?] & enter Ormoc in Leyte. Cooking oil in town costs Y116 per catty & rice 19-50.
Tues 19th
Cold, bright. Cookhse wall. Egg yolk orders filled. Lorry with wood 3pm. Air-raids 2pm & 6.15pm. Another lorry with veg & canteen gear 6.20pm. Chatty & tray for Mrs Winfield.
Wed 20th
Cold, bright & dry. Wind SE. Finished kitchen wall. Workers oil & sugar issued. 5 pkts cigs issued 65 sen each. Won 1 cig in Block raffle for pro rata canteen stuff. Air-raid 1.30pm-3pm. Mary Y100.
Thurs 21st
Cold, bright & dry. Built brick pillar by Hosp. Plenty Jap plane activity & a 4 engined flying boat alighted Taitam Bay entrance. German counter-attack in Belgium progressed. Lorry with wood 3.30pm. Childrens party in Hall. Jap interpreter sang hymn for the kids. Japan raided 19th. Ruttonjee died 20th.
Frid 22nd
Warmer, SW wind, bright & dry. Air-alarm 8.15-8.30am & 1.15-2.45pm. Col. inspected Hosp. Unlucky in Chicken-Raffle. Mary gave me shaving cream. Water on. Built another brick pier to support water pipe. Lorry with wood. Germans seem to be making some headway in their thrust on Belgium. Oil, tea, sugar & block reserve rice issued. Suk Yin & ¼ lb Salt issued. Lorry 7pm with veg etc.
Sat 23rd
Overcast. Window frame in Dentists place. 50 ducks arrived & rice flour etc. Germans still making headway in Belgium, S & W of St.Vith 67mls NE of Sedan. ½ lb W.T & ¼ lb tea from Canteen to all Internees. (Y11-85 & 7.45) Soy Sauce issues.
Sun 24th
Fine & dry. Dentists window. 4 Raids afternoon (Tolo harbour). Down to Steve’s at 4pmfor Chow & port wine. Chicken, corned beef, Chinese pork sausage & tinned meat, rice & veg. Bread issued. Allowed out till 8pm.
Mon 25th
I hope you are having a happy time Marj dearest & Baby Rae & am convinced that our next Xmas will be together. Fine, dry. Water on. Excellent meal pm. Rice, baked sweet potato, stew & savoury pasty. Mrs Willcocks gave me some tobacco. I made them a lamp. Roll call 5pm & allowed out till 8pm. Air-raid alarm 8.15-8.40pm.