19 August 1945
Had bowl and half of pap with stew for breakfast, this, with a little butter and milk was quite satisfactory. No bread as the yeast has given out again.
Rumour has it that a cow has come into the Camp for slaughter also that they are killing two pigs.
Rumour is strong that we will be leaving on the 21st, that we will be going to Moji where we will be examined by a Japanese M.D. and that American and Japanese are waiting there to take us away. Transport has been laid on to take 20 sick to the station.
For the mid-day meal we had a meat muck-about made up of flour, rice, water and tinned meat and looked like a big rissole weighing near a pound, anyway it was very filling.
The Camp Commander has now told the Dutch Interpreter that we can now smoke all day and every day and let our hair grow as long as we like.
The cattle on the Camp farm with the exception of chickens and rabbits are to be used up for the benefit to the P.O.W.s. Incidentally a pig has really been killed for tomorrow.
We are to be allowed to draw our heavy baggage tomorrow, such as it is.
Also that fighting has ceased and that the war is definitely over.
A Japanese plane passed in the vicinity of the Camp about lo/c and dropped pamphlets , this was seen by some of the Officers.
At 2.30 the guard who is on duty turned out all Officers and 25 men for work in the Camp, beating over the head with a bamboo pole all those who were late. We had to cover over air raid shelters etc. These two points coupled with the fact that the guards with him did a bit of bashing with sticks here and there, started alarmist rumours on the go. One was to the effect that hostilities had broken out again.
The other was that the Military Party has revolted and were trying to make a rising, but personally I think it more on the cards that the staff may be leaving shortly and that this particular guard was determined to have his last fling in putting the wind up us, it was he who started the epidemic rumour and tried to tell us that the war was not over and that we would probably be having a fire drill the other night. I must say he has certainly put the wind up pretty well everybody, and, although the majority have cooled down and think it was a bit more hate upon his part, there are still a number who are dubious and I guess we won't heave a sigh of relief until we are definitely on the boat.
Had a fair portion of rice and tinned meat and a good stew for the evening meal. Sgt Penn i/c Cookhouse has been issued with rice for tomorrow without reduction and said the civilian who issues the rations is leaving tomorrow and not coming back and also that he thought the Guard was leaving tonight.
One of the better guards who has been reasonable throughout has just been talking to the people in the next room and he is quoted as saying the war is over and been finished a few days, is over today and will be over tomorrow. Asked if the Staff were leaving, he said, not yet but that the Military Police would be coming shortly.
There was no work tomorrow. Asked if we would soon be leaving, he said, Yes, any time up to 10 days. This is definite.
The Tailors and Shoemakers are working on the Guard's equipment and have to have it completed by 80/c as the Guard are leaving at midnight and a new Guard coming in the morning. I wonder what the Nationality of the new Guard will be?.