28 August 1945

The last few days have been very stormy as we have been getting the tail end of a typhoon and that was the reason put forward by the C.C. for the non-appearance of aircraft. He said he fully expects them to come over and drop foodstuffs and messages if it is a fine day tomorrow (meaning today).

For quite some time now the Wing Commander who is the Senior Officer in the Camp has been having rice (which he alleges he obtained in dry form from the Japanese through trading) cooked in the Cookhouse and trading it, not only with Officers but with Other Ranks at the rate of 5/- a bowl. Meanwhile, the W.C. issued an order about 3 days ago that no private cooking what-so-ever would be done for anyone in the Cookhouse, yet he continues to have rice cooked there. Yesterday evening he received six bowls of rice as some men went without.

Things are beginning to get ugly, in that owing to the stormy weather, quite a lot of the fencing surrounding the Camp has been blown down, and, not only are the troops going out at night raiding the gardens for vegetables but three Americans were caught breaking into the food store last night.

One might say, in view of the W.C.'s conduct - who can blame them?

Twenty rabbits were killed yesterday for the midday meal today with bread. The rabbits will at least flavour the stew as they won't go far between nearly 800.

The W.C. had the British and American Other Ranks on parade this morning and stressed upon them to play the game. He said he knew there were rackets going on in the Camp but they should have been cleared up some time back, forgetting of course that he is the biggest racketeer in the Camp.

I hear the W.C. tried the Americans who were caught last night and they refused his punishment and, naturally he could do nothing about it.

Rumour is that a delegation of 12 people are visiting the Camp tomorrow and meals are being prepared for them, the delegation includes three Europeans, so this may well be the Allied Red + representative that we have been so patiently waiting for.

It has now been confirmed that the delegation is to is to arrive tomorrow as the Cookhouse have been given instructions to prepare a European meal for them.

Great excitement this afternoon with some very large four engined planes circling round about the Camp, but they did not come near enough to drop anything, as a matter of fact it would be very difficult to drop anything in the Camp itself, but there may be a possibility that they may have dropped something on an aerodrome in the nearby locality.

Late rumour has it that the last plane dropped a small parachute with a small package attached. A later rumour alleged to come from the Japanese Interpreter is to the effect that British ships are congregating at Moji. If such is the case then it should not be long before we are away. Cheers !

It is official that the parachute dropped on the big farm and burst open, the contents have been collected in bags and a party of 10 are now going out (5.45 pm) to bring the bags as far as Mine 5 where they will brought into Camp by horse and cart.

The parachute did not open and the container crashed. Roughly 200 tins of meat were saved. Another container was dropped in a place fairly inaccessible and others were dropped in the direction of an aerodrome so we live in hope for tomorrow.

Three lorries came in tonight containing lashings of rice and fish powder and two more lorries of special foods are expected tonight.