Fall of Singapore - papers of Sergeant Jack Warren Corey part 9

April 16th Friday. 
Wed & Thursday we had needles & glass Rod. (cholera & plague).  
The speed & method of the MOs performing the job reminds  
me of Dad pumping brine into beef. Every fit man  
less 3-4 hundred for supply - plus many Group 11s being  
taken to get the numbers. 60 odd Sub Park  to go. I've been  
posted to house 34 platoon. No Sub/K officers going.  
Have covered 50-60 miles in last few days on T. Parties. A movie  
of the parties would look well. Lectures on Muar & Indies  
Concert Party have a play running [written by Mjr. Gunter (MO)] 
also Greece by Mjr. Hunt.   
Wed. 28th. Last Friday morning [[C?]] Coy left Changi  
and entrained in Rice trucks at Singapore. 26 to a  
truck. Unlimited personnel gear made things a bit  
crushed. No '1' to 1 private in our truck. Japs fed us at  
Gemas in afternoon and Kuala Lumpur in night (early Morn.) 
Purchases on rail stops. Frequent halts for train  
passing and hygiene. Next meal at Prai about 18 hrs  
later. The next was Sunday about 36 hrs later and then  
at Rail head Ban Pong (staging camp.) Much clothing  
had to be discarded for road as remainder of journey  
is by foot. After working for a couple of hrs on

storing 18th Div. gear. I found myself knocked up and  
ill - Too much rich food. Eggs, bananas & veges. By march  
out time I was nearly out to it and so went to R.A.P.  
to my relief. 
May 7th Friday. Dates & days have to be worked out as time  
is just 2nd  place. Left Ban Pong Night of 1st. Left No 1 camp night 3rd 
Stayed No 2 night of 4th Left 2 on 5th. Left No 3 night of 6th. Stayed No 3  
on 7th. Marches a nightmare, men collapsing and have to be  
carried. Gear being sold & discarded. Thais not to be trusted  
nearly lost all my kit last night. My feet sore and R knee swollen  
results of stampede 2nd night out. Road follows river and we have  
been able to swim. Sleep in open. Rain does not improve comfort. 
Nug left here last night. He's having a tough time. [[50c couple?]] 
of traders 
May 25th Tuesday. Twelve months ago we started at Serangoon Road.  
Today we are in Thailand about 180 odd miles NW of  
Ban pong in a railway construction camp. The camp is  
incomplete, huts not yet roofed have collapsed floors have  
fallen and generally things are very bad. It has rained  
for 3 days and weve worked 4. The first day was fine . 
Yesterday was too bad for making embankments so 
we were put on road maintenance. Arrived on

the morning of the 22nd and slept a bit during the day. 
started work on the 23rd exhausted. 13 nights of marching 
took it out of us. Twice we have worked till dark. Ive made 
no accurate record of the trip up. It has been a series of 
marches by night (some short) and a bush bivouac by 
day when not doing fatigues. Acting as ISM gave me  
a lot of broken rest. Might as well called myself CQMS as 
well. Tommies caused strife at every camp. Last night  
I was admitted to Hospital with Beri Beri. My legs gave 
out on the last lap and 4 days work blew them up like 
footballs. Stomach troubles prevalent, worst of all Cholera  
very serious. We are barred from the creek all water has to be 
boiled, containers are few, time is limited to us consequently  
personal toilet is light. Many men working without boots 
the soles of mine are being pulled off by the mud.  Clothes  
are wet. Elephants at work. Thais with bullock carts, stock 
bought in for our consumption (very poor condition). We are 
living on rice & very little else. God be with us. 
Sat 29th. May Sunday  30th 
Still in Hospital feeling much better. Legs have lost swelling 
& [[?]] still not better. Major Hunt managed to keep all men in 
camp yesterday for camp reconstruction. Today they are all out again 
it is not very helpfull. Cholera is grave. Bob Owens

Syd Sawyers and Mc Mahon are sufferers. Bob Donnelly died 2 days ago 
over 30 deaths so far. Hospital has been sorted of dysentery & 
others. Conditions very bad & very serious. Rations. Plenty of rice  
& the remainder is beans (several types) fish dried & fresh  
meat when a yak is slaughtered. Actually the remainder  
is very light. Weather has fined up and everybodies spirits 
with it. Weve all had needles for Cholera and the MOs  hope the  
effects of these will soon take hold. Syd Sawyers died last 
night: First known SUBPK casualty. All men in camp today 
as our people put a very strong case to the Japs. Huts & camp in  
much better shape. 
Wed. June 2nd. Bob Owens died Monday night. Mc Mahon improving.  
Actually remembered wifes birthday yesterday Hope you had a pleasant 
day darling. Turned out of [[Pin?]] dept yesterday and now in 3 depts . 
fit for duty, Fever Block and Dysentery Block. Nug in G Duty branch. Party  
went out for Japs today. Camp has had a good going over new latrines  
etc. 52 cholera deaths so far. Rains every day. Slush everywhere. Oh  
for Changi days. Jap Troops pass along this road often going Nth. 
Sat 5th Hear of H force being returned to Changi from Ban pong as cholera  
is reported to be abbating [[truck?]] (3rd) worked on road carrying gravel  
200yds from creek through paddy fields. Yesterday I was No 1 in same job  
long days 8[start] to 8 Fortunate these [[light?]] [[boots?]] broken & no rain  
[[cape?]] today we do not go out as [[reflects as??]] if we have a few weeks 

off to try and improve health of camp. Only about 3:400 fit out of  
1800. Asked for job helping in hospital in response to call.
June 10th Back in hospital from yesterday ulcers on the  
legs.  Worked 2 days as clerk in ward. Legs swelled up & ulcers  
spread so it means resting them and treatment Over 2/3 of  
camp in hospital, about 800 malaria cases Heavy rain  
most troubles with supplies. Boys take bullock carts for 
supplies.   Slater died 3 nights ago (malaria)  
July 1st Thursday Still [[listed?]] with sores on legs hurting.  
Last night we were fed on light rations.  For over a week [[Hesft?]] 
was on about [[Nigs & Japs??]]. Now it 10 &[[soup?]] It's very weakening 
working party gets a bit more. Carrying parties go to [[sects??]] camp 
for rations & bring them back in packs etc. A lot of deaths 
to date 114. 105 of which were cholera. The cholera has abated  
Ulcers on increase & Malaria prevalent Have news of A force 
[[S at section lines 50 miles??]] Thieving & profiteering rife in camp. 
Inspection of camp by J Medical official. Talks of establishing base 
Hospital 50 miles Nth H [[Selgan?]] has cardiac Beri Beri 
Bob [[Broadbent?]] ruptured remainder of Sub Pk various complaints 
July 3rd Sick incident & Yak killing comes to [[head?]] 
Starvation treatment for all others than incapacitated

workers 4 oclock in afternoon sees cessation of [[labour??]] 
Sunday July 18 Still in hospital. Ulcers [[?]]   
out [[?]] Two Con Defs now in operation to enable men to be worked 
out Hosp. Ration was 12oz & 15oz (in def 18oz Workers 23oz & Beans 
split peas fish ration increased. Dried Yak meat replacing fresh meat
Tension has been on over numbers for work. Malaria relapses very 
persistent ulcers & skin complaints on increase Men suffer with 
feet (lack of footwear) Working parties badly treated Have been returning 
as late as midnight Heavy work and no physical stamina take toll 
New guards J instead of Koreans more of men being in earlier consequently
last few nights parties in by dark. Two parties from this camp & one 
from next, No2  have escaped - Lt. Col amongst Tommy party
Repercussions at all camp concerned Plenty of rain. Special mention for  
Major Hunt 
Friday 23rd check on blankets nets & tents. Hunt & Johnston 
receive bashing over shortages Hopeful movement on again 
after postponement. New list being prepared. Work resumed on  
line. Our section of road in workable order. [[perching?]] on 
parts 15 [[joh?]] bought in for ration. 2/29 back about 70 kilos on good 
ration Party of 30 from this camp back starting depot camp unloading  
stores (on J Ration) Legs improving gradually, Plenty of rain 
camp hygiene good. 
29th Details of a [[Hosp site Pahert?]] detailed (glass rod) 300 
commence move to No 3 camp yesterday Contracted fever 4 days ago

Aug 5th Monday 200 from Hospital and a few fit moved to [[?]] 
No 2 130 start with first day [[since after most of Neckie??]] have 
moved in. Tommies to No 3. 300 of No1 also at No 3 Congestion back in 
the area 15 in some boys & then under huts quite a number of Sub 
Pk here.  This camp is now HQ Native labor to take over work in lower 
areas along hard from Malaya Bridge [[at front??]] all important No1 Plenty 
of food except ration [[A cut for Hosp??]] makes meals light. Mud & slush everywhere 
Elephants [[?]] used extensively. Road frightful 
Sept 2nd moved to a staging camp 20  Kils Nth (Kandor) 
3rd stayed at camp to give hand with odd jobs but have been 
ordered on by tomorrows party on account of ulcer on leg breaking 
out again stay at No1 in hospital all the time trying to heal leg. 
back on my legs OK for 3 weeks doing light jobs collect 
permanent duty at No 8 ward [[(dysentry ward?)]] Bridge finished on 3 Aug 
to relief of everyone. Rain eased off considerably during Aug but  
there was sufficient to make condit. Bad.  Food from supply route 
difficult 5th. Natives employed on embankments and they are slowing 
progress. So far 1 out of 3 Tommies of original camp have died. 
[[Pourma??]] hospital move well in progress Lime was laid through this 
camp today like laying out a carpet. Reported to be closing gap at 
nite of 3 Kilos per day & gap [[in offset of?]] 50 kilos 
Sept 20th At Hosp. 55 Kilos left Kandor on 11th. Malaria & heavy 
cold did not improve my stay there. [[Tuf??]] by truck very rough 
I completed journey by train. Over 200 deaths here so far. Ulcers 
cause many amputations. Tommies show very poor spirit 
will not eat. Men die from starvation.