Collection: tin with broken primrose pieces from Doulton bowl, Far East Civilian Internee

Cylindrical cigarette tin and lid labelled 'THE GARRICK CIGARETTE VIRGINIA BLEND - LAMBERT & BUTLER ENGLAND' containing twenty-nine broken pieces of pottery from a Doulton bowl, the pieces comprise broken primrose flowers and leaves glazed yellow and green, there are nine yellow primrose flowers and bud pieces and ten pieces of green-glazed stem and leaves, there are additionally ten green-glazed fragments.

Tin of broken ceramic primroses from a Doulton bowl that Day Joyce (née Sage) took with her to La Salle College (Hong Kong) and kept by her throughout her internment during the Second World War. In her memoir, 'The Sheet' held in Documents she recalled: 'I had to work very quickly I remember. I hid the jewellery for the girls, left a note with instructions, looked round the room to see what to take with me and , of all things, crammed a little Doulton bowl of Doulton primroses into that flat pocket of mine. It seemed, at that moment, most inportant not to leave it behind. I poured a great deal of the whiskey Mac had left down my throat and for a split second, I believe, I knelt in prayer. Since the Chinese man with master key was still at my door I did not attempt to lock it as I left. Got to a window I knew of - under many pairs of narrow eyes unlatched the shutter and pulled it back. I can still recall that sort of quiet roar from outside as it opened. As I was halfway out, I remember, a Portuguese man helped to lower me and break my fall. The primroses must have smashed then.' (p. 28)

Photograph of Day Joyce holding the sheet in file and stencil for embroidery of the nurse on the sheet and other related notes.