14 July 1945
The sirens were on the go again last night.
Bread started again today and automatically it meant a further cut in rice. Where previously breakfast rice was small it was even smaller this morning and the vegetable stew was just like muddy water with no solids in it; this of course is what we have been having for some time now.
Our mid-day meal consisted of a small roll of bread only it was supposed to weigh 150 grams or roughly 5ozs. On this wonderful diet we have to put in a fairly good heavy day's work before the evening meal.
Rice for the evening meal was about twice as much as for breakfast and we had a small portion of Red + meat with it but no stew, still it was a bit more satisfactory to the day's finish. The bread was cut to 150 grams and in addition the camp ration of rice was cut by 18 Kilos, no wonder we are rapidly losing weight.
News has now come through that from the day after tomorrow the bread is to be increased to 190 grams.
The Wing Commander had an interview with the Interpreter on the following points:
Loss in weight owing to the shortage in food and too much work. The Interpreter was sympathetic (which means nothing) and said work could not be decreased as Nippon worked 24 hours in the day. In so far as food was concerned he would stress it strongly with the Camp Commander and bring in about the loss in weight, he mentioned that it was the duty of Nippon to see that Prisoners were sent back to their countries fit and well.
The next point was about the beatings up and he said that should be easy to stop.
Regarding ingoing and outgoing mail he said that he would make enquires but that the monthly 40 word and urgent 10 word telegram could be sent.
He did not appear to have mentioned anything about the theft by the Guard of cigarettes and other things that have been going on for some time.
They are now going to have a campaign against the rats and make flour balls with arsenic in them and put them in the huts etc. I guess that will be a further cause for cutting our rations.