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Now I have to cope with Christine’s food, I have to make cream of heat porridge, etc. and we also have frequent visitors who come for a warm (...) as only families with children under one are receiving stoves.

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From Sunday it started raining and here we are it still is and from Saturday until tonight, there was no electric light. It was dreadful trying to cope with bathing the children, have & clear up supper in semi obscurity. On my birthday there was no light, used 3 peanut oil lights to light the room.

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Mr Joerg’s present of eggs was duly delivered children up to 12 received 2 and 13 upwards to 18-3. So, us parents are having an egg breakfast or two, too.

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The Authorities seem more kindly disposed somehow. The Commandant had a ‘chemise’ made for his wife, and since then, one week he sent into sewing room 5 eggs & a huge mellon. The eggs were given to those with children. The following packets of cigarettes were sent in for everybody.

A couple of days at roll call, one of the guards brought out a packet of cigarettes and asked Voyce to distribute it to the men around. And yet an internee went outside a gap in our wall to look at the new outer wall which is being built, as well as the moat. Before we go, says the Jap. You will all be thrown in there!

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We ran out of yeast by Wednesday. After much delay it arrived on Saturday morning. It is very poor, and makes the heaviest bread. Today, at tiffin

(20-3-44) only school children had 1 slice each.

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We had a family party on the 28th, the 14th wedding anniversary, had pork & beans and excellent custard pies, only the children and ourselves, we had an enjoyable evening.

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Things are much the same excepting that there is a fresh crop of rumours, i.e. that E.J.Nathan, Bill Chilton, Dr & Mrs Bryson & Hyslops & 12 Chefoo children will be among the repatriates. No confirmation of course. Also that Germany has dropped gas bombs over England & 3hrs later we flattened Dusseldorf with Hermite bombs. Perhaps it is wishful thinking.

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Caxap received and distributed. Mary came but left unsatisfied. Christine is now able to get on beds, chairs, etc., quite often to keep her quiet I have to give her a piece of paper and pencil, which will keep her amused for quite some time. Today the children are uncomfortable from surfeit of rich food. [n.d.l.r. = food from the American Red Cross parcels]

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Yesterday I signed for another parcel from you - I am thrilled - especially to get the shoes. I and the children are wearing out our shoes at a terrific speed. Christine’s first birthday was a success despite the fact that she was unwell.

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I cleared the front room & put a board on the floor propped up by 1 layer of bricks. A clean sheet was spread over it, a bowl of yellow cosmos, and cut out newspapers for cushions we had 10 children: Mary Ann Taylorson, Kay Allen, Graham Milne, Astrid Danielson, Michael Jones the 2 Robinsons and our 3. Of parents Jean, Eleanor, Robbie, Marie, Mrs Danielson, Elsie, Mrs Jimmy and myself. Sid was baking so he popped in occasionally. Gay & Wendy looked after the children after tea under the trees. Eleanor was relieved to have Mary Ann, off her hands for a while.

Goyas yarn to the Chief of Police was quite dramatic. That as the others were getting comfort money, and he wouldn’t be getting any, and being hard up for cash, in order to buy some honey, etc. he gave into temptation and sold his watch. As for the 2 rings, and usually worn by him, but owing to pumping he had taken it off. The other was a keepsake from his wife. A 2nd operation for cancer of the breast, etc. shed a couple of tears. Perhaps he will get away with it.

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Xmas Day started with the eve of course.

Jimmy Jamieson came with their gifts for the children, a darkie doll for Christine, pair of reversible mitts for Peter and a silk scarf for Gay. I went along to Jimmy’s later to watch Mary make scones, she decided to go to Midnight Mass. When I returned home, I heard Willy Howell was moribund and Robbie was with him. Elsie came with her gifts and Allen stayed behind to mind Xtine.

The Mass was beautiful, enhanced by the brilliant and flickering candlelight. Lights were out. But the sermon was too long and also found that they were crowding far too many hymns. Mina sang beautifully but his pronunciation was foul, he killed Minuit Chretiens.

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The Talbots awoke this morning with gusto - with a feeling of suppressed excitement hanging over us. It was due to Christine’s first day at School - the beginning of many years of instruction. It was extremely warm again, all day yesterday we left our front door open, the flies buzzing indoors was not so pleasant, but it was indeed pleasant to hear them buzzing out of doors.

The school is a largish wall enclosed playground. Miss Clarke was in charge, Lucy Attree & Christiane Chatham are helpers. Today being the 1st day there was much crying. The helpers were continually having to chase the little ‘uns. But Christine who, at home is toy-less, became immediately absorbed in the various toys and much to Gay’s and my expectation were able to leave her there without trouble. But apparently she cried when the other children had their “lunch” as she didn’t have any. So tomorrow I’ll have to take lunch for her.

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The Chefoo children arrived here and are not mixing, they will remain a C.I.M. School consequently, Mr Pryor, at the instigation of Mr Foxlee, has established a Weihsien Camp School, without inviting the Sisters to the discussions. The result is that an American School is being established under Miss Moore, our children are going to it as the Sisters & Fathers will be on the staff.

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Christine is now trying to get on her feet, she hauls herself up as far as her knees by holding on to the side of her cot. I am unable to do any communal work as she is still a handful. Even have to rise at 6p.m. to cope with the washing. Peter is a handful too – poor children they are completely out of hand and the poor parents their temper is frayed to a frazzle. You’d be surprised to see the number of children who are getting their long waited for spanks.

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We have heard that no letters have left Camp. I don’t think the authorities would allow any letters to reach the outside world until each and everyone is incarcerated.

22 Peking people arrived on the 13th morning at 6.30 they had to walk here from the station. I think women and children came in rickshaws. They have brought fantastic news – fantastic as they are they seemed to be too good to be true. That Norvorissish, Kharkov and Smolensk have been retaken. That the North African campaign was over, that the Italian Government was endeavouring to sue for peace, that the German people were demanding peace at any price.

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We are hoping to receive our allowance soon, although we have today signed a petition requesting an increase for the allowance for children. We received last month $80. per couple and $30 thereafter for each child.

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On Friday, March 31st, I went to A “red hot and blue” Variety show given by Winnie Tipper & Gerald Thomas. It was extremely good and vulgar. Betty Lambert danced the “Hula” well - I preferred it to the French Can-can. Jacqueline de St. Hubert & Geoff Gardner did the Rhumba extremely well. The costumes were little short of gorgeous, and the music “hot”. References to Public School, brought the house down- implied I think that most of the audience did not have it and envious.

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Christine goes to Nursery School tomorrow I am apprehensive as I feel that she’ll create a scene and won’t stay I hope to goodness she’ll take to it, as it means that for seven days of the week from 9.30 to 12.30 she’ll be off our hands.

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We rearranged our room to the pre-winter style, and thanks to the space restored by the stove, we feel a little more roomy. Christine wasn’t very tractable at school.

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The Italians are now not allowed to move freely into our compound. They were given Monday & Tuesday from 6.30 to 8 the baseball field, where it would have been out of bounds to us. This the Italians refused. They wanted to be allowed to come on the baseball field and mingle with us. Only one Italian is to come for the hospital diet food for their children. I haven’t heard how they are coping with the schooling as their kids attend our schools. In order to prevent them from spending money in our camp, they have to account for every penny spent when drawing their bank balance.

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Had Mrs Cullen in to tea and for the occasion I baked 2 date tarts. Father Rutherford dropped in too. Discussing schools, he thought the Chefoo C.I.M. much too narrow advised me to take Gay to England. Talked about Siberian Route, etc. my knowledge of Russian will serve me in good stead me seems.

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Gay being unmercifulIy ragged in school. CaIled ‘swotter’, because she enjoys learning & wants to get on. During break the other girls hid her books in various desks. Most unhappy as feels all class plotting against her. Told her had to take it.

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As the schools note books are costing $20. The whole of the lower school has resorted to slates. But I believe the C.I.M. school are worried for the older children!

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Hiawatha and all sports were cancelled -but not by the Nine Committee. In the morning MacLaren went into his office and there, Pander, his assistant told him that the sports had been cancelled. MacLaren thought that at least John Stewart should have consulted with him. Pander said that Stewart was not responsible, but Martin, a teacher of the C.I.M. School. I think Howard Smith cancelled Hiawartha. We are waiting to see if Martin & H.Smith will be asked to explain themselves, or will the Nine Committees take this lying down. God bless Roosevelt.

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P.S. All children in Upper School received 2 writing books each and in Lower School three. There would have cost the parents $250 - Heard that a garden broom - will cost $600 - and a coolie hat $250 - Bought 6 yards French Lingerie Ribbon, pink, $10 per yard. I couldn’t resist. Two weeks ago I bought a ‘Horner’ mouth organ for $200 for Gay’s birthday - I wonder whether she’ll be pleased with. [excerpt]

Am now busy obtaining data regarding Bridge School for youths. Seems the most popular activity amongst the youth of the camp. [excerpt]

2 Guard were boozing in the Italian Cons. one of whom was the constant object of Soapy Sam’s venom. The other his friend had a loaded mauser, and proclaimed that ‘this is for Soapy Sam’

The hosts became alarmed and ordered the pair home as they had had too much to drink. When they reached the main road they decided to look for Soapy Sam, so they rolled up to his house but could not get in. They then fired at his windows (which accounts of the splintering of windows heard by people living close by) Meanwhile Soapy Sam decided to look for a safer spot, so in his carpet slippers and pyjamas he dashed out of the back window, threading his way in and out of alleys.(This accounts for Jimmy Windsor thinking he had seen a Chinese amah about.) However the 2 guards found Soapy Sam in the Guard Room. He was thrown on to the floor, and as one guard had raised his sword with which to slay him when in enters King Kong and his satellites which put an end to a game of ‘evens’. We hear King Kong, Soapy Sam and Bushing deh will be leaving shortly.

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It occurs to me that we are taking the end of the European war too nonchalantly, but it reveals the state of our mental attitude resulting from this long incarceration and the lack of vitamins contained in green veg. & fruit. I have been feeling below par for some time and my headaches intense, but last Wednesday consequent upon a very badly played bridge game on Tuesday night and the examination thereof that I started taking special vitamin B tablets. My headaches have lessened in intensity and generally I think there is an improvement in my system as a whole. But today I am suffering from nausea & diarrhoea due to a very excellent - too excellent supper at Marie’s. She celebrated her birthday yesterday, and gave us pork & beans, baked potatoes, tangshi & raisin tart and a birthday cake - it was too rich and I am suffering therefore.We gave Marie, a pair of panties which I made especially for the occasion, a packet of cigarettes and a hanger. Now I am making a tea cosy cover in blue Angora woollen cloth for Elsie, her birthday is tomorrow.

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Today has ended up being a pukka wet Wednesday, the much anticipated ball game ‘camp versus army’ was cancelled due to wet weather. Our No. 1 kitchen boiler for the first time has not been able to produce boiling water for tea - so had to stand in the rain at Ladies’ Shower to make tea for the Homes Committee meeting at which Mrs Hubbard & self were hostesses.

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August 17, 1945 ...

Well, my dear, our most thrilling day materialised today. As I was taking Christine to her nursery school, the plane zoomed very low overhead, crowds who were awaiting the return of passports cheered & cheered.

Presently it came back, and again, then on my way home I saw the parachutists.

[further reading] ...
http://www.weihsien-paintings.org/ChSancton/diary/Diary/calendar.htm

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