Stonecutters Island Forum: Re: Military Prison on Stonecutters

Hi, My mate Dave and I spent 28 days (January 72) in the facility reflecting on the 'error of our ways' after an unofficial, midnight visit to the Sek Kong cookhouse in order to satisfy an urgent case of the 'midnight munchies!' I think we might have got away with it but Dave, whilst showing off his footie skills kicked one of our 'liberated' frozen chickens through a window thus drawing unwelcome attention from the guard picket!

One of my most poignant recollections was watching (through our cell window) Queen Elizabeth burn and sink in the harbour.
Even more moving was the morning after, whilst doubling around the island (in full kit + respirator) all the ships/boats sounded off their foghorns in tribute. 'Staff' Lennie very considerately, doubled us on the spot whilst he 'savoured' the moment!
I too lost three days remission after a little altercation with a matelot within the facility. However, what really 'hurt' was the three days 'restricted' diet imposed as a supplementary sanction by the commandant (as he was fondly called), which gave us a small bowl of thin gruel for brekkie, a bowl of consomme for lunch and four slices of bread and marge for tea accompanied by a copious, bromide laden cuppa! Overall calorific intake about 700 calories per day yet we were still expected to do the assault course and other strenuous excersize twice a day. Dave, at considerable risk managed to smuggle me out an apple which I devoured pips and all. It was only years later it dawned on me that the only way he could have smuggled it out was by shoving it down his shorts but what the heck...had I known at the time, I still would have eaten it!
Other memories are of the Chinese barber who came every week and always wore a surgical mask whilst giving us our haircut. I'm not sure if he wore it for reasons of hygiene, or to protect his identity in case we ever saw him again

Also remember having to 'shave' our little wooden stools with our weekly issued Blue Gillette razor blade. Happy days indeed - not!