Another raid last night with plenty of aircraft passing over for some considerable time so I guess they got it thick and heavy somewhere. There is an interesting rumour going around to the effect that there has been a big naval battle and that the Japanese fleet is practically non-est.
The rice shortage is sure noticeable and the vegetable stews are really wicked, absolutely tasteless. The rumour is that the Japanese Interpreter from Headquarters at FUKUOKA has given it as his opinion that we would be free men within a month. Planting rice on the Farm today. Got issued with
Another black out last night. Meals today have been short as we have gone back to camp workers ration again.
Yasume today so it looks as if the Sunday Yasume is coming true. Had another fire practice this morning, it went off much better and quicker than last time, starting at 8 o/c and finishing just before 9 o/c. This is the great day for writing our essay,
Another alarm last night. Not too good on the farm as it rained most of the morning, so got a good soaking as we were made to work in the rain. Fortunately the sun came out in the afternoon and we dried out. The rumour has cropped up again that
Alarm last night. Sweetened coffee for breakfast. Some of the new Officers were out on the farm today. Got small portion of Red+ meat in celebration of Prince Bernhard's birthday.
Another Alarm last night. Yamma has left us but even so some of the Officers have had smaller beatings up from other guards.
The latest rumours are that both France and Russia have declared war on Japan, also that a combined French and Italian fleet are operating in these waters under our control. We are geting potatoes cooked in with our rice now and it is much more filling than rice alone, of
Another BLACK OUT last night and quite a number of planes. Bread with scraping of butter for breakfast. 45 British Officers have arrived from a camp at SONSUJI - a show camp where they had a Red+ parcel each, every fortnight and saluted nobody below the Commandant. What a rude
Very hot on the farm today. Two of us got caught by one of the guards, the other chap with an onion, myself with a daikon (Chinese Radish). He came searching our pockets, he let us off in the end with a bribe of 10 American cigarettes each plus what
Got packet American cigarettes. Rumour has it that there is a possibility of every Sunday being a Yasume day during the hot weather .
Harry's Story
Yasume today. Was speaking to one of the new arrivals who said that NAGASAKI, during the big raid and bombardment, was practically levelled to the ground, especially the Docks and that it was now useless as a Port, also that a large Task Force was landed at the time. He