Fall of Singapore - papers of Sergeant Jack Warren Corey part 4
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Sub Park at this stage split in to differant parties.
Thoughts often of home. Wish we knew whether word is home
or not. Nothing to be gained by worrying but at times
we can't help thinking deeply of the position
Friday Aug 14th
Last night per return truck from Changi my shaving
& toilet outfit + 2 wallets arrived. No doubt one does not know
what joy is in store even in these times. Wallets have
photoes of home in them. VX43942 SSgt Wheelan 2/10 Field Coy
was finder. After expressed wish to secure outfit as it is a
present from my beloved wife.
Jack Gilding in Changi detention barracks for allegedly allowing
men to sleep whilst on job. Sunday a free day. Lets hope it
is to be a regular occurrance. Slightly injured my right hand
someone dropped a 12ft length of 6x2 and I stopped it on my
chest & hand turning back fingers. Much improved now.
Added to my clothing by 1 pair of shorts. Departing member
dumped them in account of a tear. No wonder these chaps
get short of clothing. One pair of my shorts absolutely worn through
but tairs tears can be patched. Fortunate in that a minimum
of clothing does all weathers. Work varies from road
cutting at Fords, carting gravel and scrap when on the list
Concreting. In general - contracting.
Large Indian demonstration last Wednesday. Flags flying
alongside Japanese. Indian troop marching. Something
to do with Independance of India; (Perhaps) Many times
we see evidence of British supporters on Native side. The thumbs
up, a salute, a smile and a nod etc. When it turns Im
sure there will be much genuine rejoycing. Land being cleared
everywhere for blocks for tenants. Much vegetable growing
being done. Food is dear and scarce as all tinned foods
with the exception of some sardines are English & USA.
Unless Japan has canning industries the country will
need to produce its own food. Meat is all Australian chilled
beef. Not many cattle in the country and pork isn't on a
large controlled scale. Meat prices very high - what is available
Syoan Times admits offensive on Americas part but says all
attempts abortive. At least the offensive is admitted.
Sunday 23rd
More news in papers of heavy losses by allies in
Pacific also failure of invasion of continent. Naturally
Axis viewpoint so we wait a while and see how
time irons out these reports.
Sunday Aug 23rd
Work very easy. Understand why A Coy (we are B Coy) were
not keen to exchange jobs and ours is nothing to what
it was. Heavy lifting and scrap finished. JAPanese have
settled down at Ford works to a steady job of overhauling
equipment, trucks, cars etc and assembling new vehicles.
For 1st time was in the Ford Buildings. Saw "Capitulation Room"
This room is where terms were arranged. All seats are named
according to who occupied them. shrine road nearing
completion and Shrine itself being erected. At Jahore Bahru
there is a huge map set in a garden showing positions
of attacking forces and particulars of who led them etc.
I think Shrines & memorials are being erected at all
points at which something important happened such as
heavy fighting, landings etc. Many small "Posts" where
I take it Officers & NCOs fell.
A.I.F. & ENGLISH have cemeteries at Changi. There is also
a combined cemetery on Reformatory Road. Unfortunately
the majority of our dead will be in unknown graves
as we moved back all the time and no chance would
be available to give them a respectfull internment.
Last Sunday Sgts beat Offices at cricket.
Read book called "All this & Heaven too" by Rachel Field
An excellant book and everyone who reads it gives it the same
report. "Nankin Road" by Vicki Baum another good
book. Am at present reading "The Life of a Regiment"
The Gordon Highlanders VOL 1. Good books are a blessing.
Sunday Sept 6th
Last week end B Coy shifted across road to A Coy Huts.
Tommies have been in this week rebuilding our old
huts & erecting conveniences/showers (Houses etc)
to accomodate 400 men. Yesterday they extended
the wire to about double the camp area. Makes
the place look more like freedom. Most of the Sgts
settled into the Hut originally assigned to them.
Signaller OHlmeyer took Church services last Sunday
morning. His lesson "Deliverance' was very appropriate.
He has been asked to take services each Sunday
as we have no Padre attached. Yesterday was a
day off for us. Wrestling & firing practice for the Nips.
Peters birthday last Friday. My thoughts were
more at home that day than ever. Bless his little
being. Changi informs us that casualty list has
been announced in Australia. Why it should
take so long beats me. In a way it will be a
relief to people at home but they will wonder what
our condition is after 7 months. I wonder if the war
will see another anniversary. That it won't and
"be our way" is our natural thought. The Syonan
Times this week warns all wireless listener (owners)
to have sets adjusted for non - receipt of "short-wave"
Why at this stage? "Australia House" has been moved
twice this week. Now on a commanding hill position
at Glass works. They talk of "Interference" in A.I.F. this
crowd also have much of the same ."F." The house
was shifted twice in 2 days. Its Rumored there are Red Cross
comforts at Changi for us. The Chinese tell us the food
position is not too good. Low wages and high prices.
Shrine Hill looks the part. Road surface is complete
and "Needle" erected. Many newly assembled chassis in
Park at Reformatory Road. Nip. evidently sorting out his
types. At work jobs have been very easy except "Hurries"
who bashed about 8 men this week. Activities around
locality quite normal. Nothing out of ordinary
happened Parole Papers & Changi Incident
Sept. 9th
Red letter day for us. Received Red Cross issue of
1 LB of jam & 16 sweets. Soup & Mealy flour went to
cook house. Our first real contact with our own
peoples organization.
Sept. 20 13th Parole signed. Barrack square incident
shifted quarters again. All our BTN. now in
2 huts. Readjustment of cook houses & messes.
During week Shrine was opened. British also
had a service on Shrine Hill. Japanese erected
a large Cross for our fallen. Work normal.
Sept. 20th
Last Sunday B Coy beat Sgts at cricket.
Jim Ohlmeyer conducts Church service each
Sunday morning also a Bible Class Tues. &
Friday nights. I attend these to learn more
of the facts of the Bible.
We have fitted Sgts mess so that we have
a lounge besides eating tables
Tommies (500 odd) moved in a fortnight ago;
they have fitted their camp up very well with
Showers etc. Every night we have the Mess crowded
This week we held a Quizz, sing songs, & last
night a spelling Bee. Electric light now through-
out our Kitchens & Huts. Wired fittings by courtesy
of Nip & our noble removers. Today Big Inter-
national Cricket Match against Tommies.
Rebuilt my bed Friday. Reason "Bugs". Red Cross
food issue excellant. Hope they can get more
of it if we are to be here much longer as it is
full of Vitamins. Such things we need badly. Up till
present I have not had any complaints due to
food deficiency. Some camps have suffered from
Beri Beri. Perhaps our purchases help a lot
Lost cricket by several wickets. Got in trouble
with Indian guard over ball being outside wire
and I getting through wire
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