Fall of Singapore - papers of Sergeant Jack Warren Corey part 4

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