ar
rout,
17
get hold of an overcoat of sort a. Actually, there wa nothing wrong with the overcoat, but rather with the man, was far too big for it. It was little more than a long tunic, and how Gerry get into it Heaven knows, but one refused nothing not 'even a bent and rusty nail, should anyone be so stupid ́as to give you me.
Things were got going, the place more or less cleaned up, buildings patched as far as possible, langunge classes started, a choir, and games to a lesser extent because of the lack of equipment. one could learn every language under the ma, except Japanese, the Volunteers being full of different nationalitáno. being
uite suddenly orders came that we were to join the main body of Volunteers who had been captured in the astern ector of the island; large barracks at Shanshuipe, Kowloon, were the arders of the day. Feelings were mixed, certainly, these three weeks had been very uncomfortable, but one was getting used to it, eud also expected it, but the food had been quite good (smpellert as we were to find oột later), and this inde up for a lot. the other hand, the flies wore a problem, and the thought of what they might bring in the hot weather was distinctly warying. Anyhow, there was no choice, and it didn't matter what se felt.
Ve arrived after an uneventful journeys and were hunged in anywhere for the first night until units were sorted out the next day.
I shall go back a little to try and tell of the dcnditions in Shenhuis broke we served I rather gather that the march through Kowloon, for tho ɑestern Command, was n me too pleasant as can be imaɣánou. then they arrive i at hanshuipo, it was found that literally everything ramomuibile had been renover Buildings had been stripped of windows, doors, and in many ORDES window-frumes, all electric light fittings, parts, of the roofing had been torn away in order to remove the wiring, in fact the buildings wore little more than empty shells, our Chinese friends having made hay boforɑ "the rising sun`.
Food had been shoɑicing, just plain badly cooked rice twice a day, tho' I think the Japa brougić in vegetables to the camp two days during that time, but the quantity was insufficient, and what they did bring was little better than pig-food. hose three weeks most osrtainly maat have been hell, but some of the more fortunate, who haŭ a little money, were able to get tinned food, for quite exorbitant prices, over the wire fenoe, but the Japa sentries did not allow this to go on for very long, about ten days. However, friends not interned were sallowed to bring food parcels, but I am afraid, the lucky ones were very much in the minority. Soon after we arrived food conditions improved slightly, but they could hardly be called good. Gradual improvements would be made, then these improvements would drop off again, but generally speaking by the time I left the oazy food was tolerable, tho' not erastly body buildings
Once again everyone got down to fixing up the buildings, in which they were going to live, and to do this, certain others were pulled down and the materials utilised. Those she vore enterprising and good with their hands made themselves really quite comfortable, and providing a typhoon does not hit Hongkong, I think the conditions under which they are existing might be far far worse. Life of source was monotonous, tho' I ald. not find it so, as I thought of nothing but escaping and preparationa took a lot of time.
spite the monotony, thore was plenty to do in keeping the camp clean, and all the ordinary fatigues that go with army life. Besides these, there were clothes to wish and mend, or should
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