Diary of a Girl in Changi, 1941-1945

Book excerpt: Diary of a Girl in Changi is the moving personal account of a young girl living in the midst of hardship and adversity. Written on scraps of paper which were kept hidden in her quarters, Sheila Allan's diary is a record of the daily lives of those interned in Changi. On the one hand, these were years of wasted youth; on the other, they provided a rich learning experience in a community of close comradeship. Tolerance, humour and creativity, and above all, an undying hope for the future, colour her memories of this period.This third edition includes a new Preface and Conclusion, which tie up the 'loose ends' of the original Diary of a Girl in Changi. Also included is information on the Changi quilts. These embroidered squares, individually created and signed by the women internees, were sewn together into three separate quilts, and can be seen at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia