10 May 1945

Rumour has it that Roosevelt, in his New Years speech, (also a speech by the new President Truman) reiterated that all Prisoners in the Far East will be home before Christmas. We are not only hoping that this will be, but we are fully expecting it to be the case.

The Alarm went at 6.25 and the All Clear at 11.10. During the time there were quite a number of thuds and bangs in the distance, this is the longest raid we've had so far and all we hope is that a few places have been really and truly blotted out.

We did not get food until 11.45 when we had breakfast and midday meals together, I must say I felt more satisfied after this double meal than I've felt for many a long day.

Two small calves have been killed, so that, after the Japanese have had their pick, we may look forward, if not to a little meat, then to a tasty stew.

Got issued with 10 cigarettes.

At 1.30 we got a sudden order to fall in for a speech by the new Camp Commandant which was interpreted by a new Interpreter.

The speech told us that we must work hard and be good diligent workers, also that we must buck ourselves up, be active, alive, like dynamite and not walk about the Camp as if we were half dead, even although they know there were many amongst us who were sick; by being active and working hard we would gain bodily strength (I'm sure we would on the starvation diet we get) and, in return, the Camp Commandant will look after our welfare and thinks he will treat us kindly, generously and leniently.

After this we were made to sit down where we were whilst an organised search of the rooms was carried out. Contrary to all expectations we lost very little. One Officer was found to have some raw potatoes in his possession which he had pilfered from the gardens. He was first of all put into the Guard Room but after being given a good talking to and made to kneel down in front of the whole Parade, and a general warning issued to all of us, he was let off, and, we were also let off at roughly 3.50.

We came back to earth with our evening meal and found that the calves had not been carved for us, but we live in hopes for tomorrow.