Diary relating to service of Major Charles Patrick Tracey, 1942 - Part 1

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
  • Prisoner of War
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
AWM2019.22.139
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 11

Iannar commenced wiking in 19/7/43 shims lakwar. Harland. can self companing cncution living like caslies- o almost N01 To pess atteers mes & day studyng mak to soop tomorrow. &Army issue 1 battle of bee f man Rasks like having to mese in a burry to was coast JANARY, 14 1 Dr Frday race with Got malaer vig Johon Balson Ay Hitam mear sar nel at reat couse Town blacked out orasteat can no carualties nsaturacy on again by ydu to Labis Gemas Compen Segamat home. saw bome damage recce at muats rompl. guntees cands contacted& sunday r Fromfess nice quit day mostly on my back trying to get rid of a decentd aose of prickly Leat that persisa denvery reooganicing weafon tng and firing tomory gues with hall amoe io test and cteck. Very poorly constructed guus Ganey
TANARY, 1941 Marn Triesday mtanaged to get hem a set & ellpoarts from Rota Linggs Tt a batch of reinforcements fabe lass night. only with is for a thort sine toexperiece Wasneda shewing the creinforceeds vng the defensive pordion ad conducted H wifle trachice at moving langeds 4025 Jess of ho oegrMa Have reang the gaps have infictated to rade of pences b no aots as though wel mateup sa sifficulty is that we are the only ls tat bated the bast Coak new pateling fon read to Ceast and have shonng patrels on the beaches IANARY 1941 Saday Received a wasing arde that the On is to goint action. Possibly mave to segaonat tomana. Segamal and slightly HORE on our way wid tnuchs, Jemaluang-Kluang Ayer Hitam. some enemy planes seen or insute. Bive Cheneee in inubber of Paloah. wetful S On again to Bukit SIPUT a very Killy Aegolate spot Did a reace and linked up with Cly No chance & getting tt of noad veny difpeouch come or with Bn 2millo away nor signing in though I doubt it we will shal here long. A) I moving farth N0a4 Hell of a day wek and cold Eneny recce planes over area
IAMARY, 194 We5. 12 daining lits Hell yon coedangroabedto the stin This cold is a new exenience sawivolnteer Thy in who lave had a graashi wD away we go again have just seen 1 Lia Didge ac is a terible mes w go forward to Teyes Lang b state Asrived P.L, 1F.FR loe railwa un glenk sta C. 0 cary laft 1204 tat THORG Blac Jacks shew hasmade coad with the Jap Arly have ased out 3 tanks Nepogar sirst letter for nearly three weeks and I damd nice one to Lynce is getting a way of a child Tatraltng with no contact. sutch ts in suyle No 3 to KSSANARY 194 n 30 had a grodetow 12 and have now with to on left plank one evy to oue arca Tey say they could have veaten the Jap back miles with air suxpect. A4 Have been shelled prety constayply teday ho pap inpetration as satidid on B5t Ladaivery in atdows sgieat white contacting a bag && Reouing left sartt Sok Li dark moved to left fwo live. Had dive bom bessandarty fine going all day. no gear Except what we saand lx in Will be good when is rains. Teynies Budday Mon Pulledout 2 am on the word mard I have done Tack ip as position seganat. night Cvery bodys feet bliseres
344 from deas TUES 0Deggiig slit trendes Horny Segrma River Evayone very weary ap plances over all the sime will be ludly to get out y have Lept last to ceve on the Bnow Mevedator not& raassmiles wis japs through bock sides Embussed arrived Gong Teng430 this motg Nelding cras rads to leb 2/29 Bn sut from Muas arca. 2/192/29 badly hanted by a on Jat Dutision Toks off again. This sine Qmiles ws ayes Hitam Hada Brites uns out im front but they (ardong have cedout au catess orders are to stay put We have blown a briage in from and are now sitting wadting for the Jap JAR 10402 3 Tron First battle cell tap snipers get Caffin while a patal Every ae seems to be with drawing but us Got 10 remforens 3n 2 shill setting fat. Plenly nice Cap bomear thertane t baih Plaves Nofhy doing a graat or wid rations - sin issue asmfess 2s sewnor Hte Bombed from nis sholled by Arty & nles tide Pulled out at night long march to bt an t 4640 Sup augan. Arrived about naught NoN 28 CTEDINE ANNNERSORY Day started with the worst ait onber we have exercesed Gordons in part legag & by patures and cleased octnitortig Canasuatus d dt to have had 12
TAWARY, 10442 vanger sileoumad 2 t puving ages all wit falled out but us arveyy lonely feeling Probably go back Lonight W 100 Jap attached a uskn ges outnt fire woro onDet was last as aau Nande Tact of ses pasit 41mO ESTATE were attacked by in as soon as we arrived save tha bax time Pulled out to 30/ n8 apart 28 VCONESDAY fE Tenas 730 always sabe Had by far our best show lee killeg about 250 pps and capsured 3 no a distroyed 4 more a cay Leavely due somber lasualties now have us down to about half shrongth. Widns to so no no tea &s hat food for a while sobear a feet log. Eleven letter from Aussie JANARYFEBRUARY, 1944 T0 AFRI. Factly quiet. I tiik the Pap is likking his wounds moved by ap 6 singsonislaid son a rach foonc cig to Dr stellig or way while SI ESAT settled on Island in a Lutter canp with cotain Too good to last Tommies evacuates in on buty leaving us plenty o conforts sum a faily nestful day for the extarshed lads. Dambers over in batches of 27 conceuating on the City quit night Rec manny for Mc Carried our patiols on the sshore straids by launch and did a peace o KRANTIt No5 to Jess + 16 mam
TEBRUARY, 1944✓ Ques anice aays boating Dida verce of staange inter the paps noses on oh bank (300yas Arty being now stelling phore Balou 706 ulited bay up to fullsnengd again Bombed bt your banp with Incaday oth Roved bad 150ydy to Reavil sat sandy in tiber ad He Thon hurs stelled allday very leavily Headore hadly hit some ccades ho like a net wigh have renew med by aur stores from the busaing caup Even got a boace alls a Lead caup setting As out. Blown out of bed wern camp bombed FEDRUARY, 1ONE Monon Fred still in poin. Have done all the digging we interd to do only worr in ow is wntas ac steeling e amistagvery down sat e7tes Pance from Jaess on by tasted about an hous. Hear the old man is giing to Dis Pessibly get Geogge Rosag MSOR Bdo dive bombed 3 Billed 15 wouas gaps have got a footing on Illad on our ltt flank seld by sBdi mohias gaod. bho n pasingia lept mor Witdrad t B3MP Constally stelled & bomber poon nea busing ait at YENTE all losk like higgers
no an supfor a an and Asty swsodyo 14 t 10 uor WasantBoar Panane tume selles dive bombed all the way back sitting on a kill now watching Indigrs oneleft getting thait share " MED. Pulleg back to race Cousse Ambusted 12orsuates side slifed then to Bokio OROWH. Pindes &8 andomalage boud for orders 17 m HHSRS Moveglyn sais Lyensall Park Camp gavr mostly burned out. Have froomed a perinctes wit 32 Box and adas+ sedo from rarisus snct. Jap flane very active with bombing nason to have vereale for igorit, Doubt geary it ade TEDRUARY, 19H2 VINA is Mnn FRI. Fromcted mgges kenjorat pi printes hes much Caase sid think the Jap is fety weas hove & ary (aft t Bn 40 yesterday x& se his by a great day of actuidy Went bund area with c eld by papse aus ours Brik Arty so magany lindly bit sagive kinmud charede lavy 1so Sum Tergie St. sa task ane old cende leavy anlys markd fire he He baaly pasted Gx a sligh wound on stalde spu have wond of capitulation think we could pey going 10o sene t yet chucked it Kyewinothing Ferms Jush nope for the sheat Bombing g owrlians prced on Land. Yesteday 1500 out incity aver aloLand
t io so far to good spert day in Raffles College gouds verycas syate manoaps treatued good to feet aussus 10 sid lo march to Gordons Banacs caniigall gean hew plat out cllanng in as how wasath e gtudint g fosimad is memoura boys setled aswon with bdracks tray tilling bont nets ty greatest wer a lac 4 came t awnie Ifonly I cauld ae pees f kiow Iwould be reasuly cosur sav get to lee lsts well be spublished by seftp stoaght att DH mary negres takely with hove FEBRUARY, 1941 to AnnFRI. Still more or len uninelessedyon to thes bousing wadd tya abenden aru it w pap inspection greasar et chack for sux <p o o mext though Retonalas mail Will have to wnite tobe peed as soon as possible Sin22Jbale aul Kenson back in the fild six mertion I have been ree for Oser wa geas get hes shil if it sames off ma only topie conversition food a little the nomnight wal small besenth for unch feel half starved
FEBRUARY, 1941 Round hespital a meat deprising jot young be taganys orchar (wil one pansone behavig badl aa so sot ausig shew et f s full paeg alt u by p 806 Dian't go the sa saliding fat test da m d as ap the tan a be sea argat 20 manon Mytatins Have starked on wations 1t sea 4023 lo nex for nan be day Have a sot 9 aiffecultis postered of severy with dis act Haveno lighsard as pop sime is 1t has fast we are in bed at opm te last &f news is faetly tough Japs publich apapu Eighst which ts havt believe FEBRUARY-MARCH, 1941 CFRI Conference at Div. Jnly 2 nts ford left are going to estatlish fim she wall no teols i Will heas biga muddieas the canpaig 20mn SANT Kenky caue enough pish to supply the rospital which is in an awful mes Cops yes beadine foads. Sgn after carch te held by Geo Polain & sergres Iwet over and saw son begany who is progresing favourably may not an use his ave orchard coig frre tersone reg Fenen a let gevying oe food read a aqutation from the raas begt inpety well seafe raafiextt s made all ope the dowe badgesgsant all other wea are abot
MARCH, 1041 WS Bll have very little else bes ricefrom nese, Have started farming as thereis on wntho supply o rice in nabya supe de reacres get by soon neaw have devioped a louse face wash this last wak will it is something amusion fw oncanion Great enemy naval activity on an craft cances, 6 cruising and 20 other steamed up stroits Hear rumoursg a naval battle. Dt a wel of a life with no news of the cutside world MARCH 1941 TR Nations have inproved segusyy Had a se ca & be estract te tax tomoving 14000 Britie wrayst t canp SotanPlayed A Avy arclos made o sope Tunished one all Iam party tumed out of billet < t SUNtapioc al seits of rrsa round about staly churcking it in Goo Solan arrives & ealecing wit efdi my Geat sosuble with t feas rations seny litl else bu rice which is lard to make rashy three times a day

JANUARY, 1941  1942

 

Commenced inking in 10/7/43

Shino Sankurai, Thailand.

Can't help comparing conditions.

Living like coolies - or almost.

 

No 1 To. Jess

1 WEDNESDAY Thurs  New Year's Day

Most of day studying map

for trip tomorrow.

Army issue 1 bottle of beer

per man.

Looks like having to move

in a hurry to West Coast.

 

JANUARY, 1941 1942

2 THURSDAY Friday

Recce with c/o to Malacca

via Johore Bahru - Ayer Hitam

Merar. Spent night at rest

house. Town blacked out.

Crashed the car. no casualties

3 FRIDAY Saturday

On again by 7am to Labis

Gemas - Rompin - Segamat -

home. Saw bomb damage.

Recce at Muat & Rompa.

Contacted volunteer comds.

4 SATURDAY Sunday

NOT From Jess  nice quiet day

mostly on my back trying

to get rid of a decent

dose of prickly heat that

has been very persistant.

5 SUNDAY  Monday.

reorganising weapon tng

and firing tommy guns

with ball amn to test

and check. Very poorly

constructed guns. - [?]

 

JANUARY,  1941

6 MONDAY Tuesday

Managed to get Mum a set

of elephants from Kota Tinggi

Got a batch of reinforcements

late. last night. Only with us

for a short time for experience.

7 TUESDAY Wednesday

Showing the reinforcements

round the defensive position

and conducted A/TK rifle

practice at moving targets

No 2 to Jess.  No. 1 home

8 WEDNESDAY Thurs

Have heard the Japs have

infiltrated to rear of forces

up north. Looks as though

A.I.F. will move up soon.

Difficulty is that we are the

only tps that know the East Coast.

now patrolling from road to

coast and have standing

patrols on the beaches.

 

JANUARY  1941

9 THURSDAY Friday   Received a warning

order that the Bn is to go into

action. Possibly move to

Segamak tomorrow -

Segamak and slightly NORTH.

 

SAT  10 FRIDAY

On our way with 17

trucks. Jemaluang - Kluang

-Ayer Hitam. Some enemy

flares seen on route. Bwd

in inubber st Paloah- Chinese very helpful.

 

SUN 11 SATURDAY

On again to Bukit

SIPUT. - a very hilly desolate

spot. Did a recce and linked up

with C.Coy. No chance of getting

tpt off road. Very difficult comm

with Bn 2 miles away.

 

12 MON. SUNDAY 

Digging in though I

doubt if we will stay here

long. A.I.F. moving farther NORTH

Hell of a day. Wet and cold.

Enemy recce planes over area.

 

3 & 4 from Jess

JANUARY, 1941  42

TUES

20 MONDAY  Digging slit trenches

SOUTH of Segamat River. Everyone

very weary. Jap planes over

all the time. Will be lucky

to get out of here. Left last to cover

WED 21 TUESDAY the Bn out. Moved along

road 5miles with Japs through

both sides. Embussed arrived Yong

Jeng 0430 this morning. Holding cross

roads to let 2/29 Bn out from Muar

Area. 2/19 & 2/29 badly handled by a

Jap Division.

 

22

THURS WEDNESDAY

Off again. This time

2 miles. WEST  Ayer-Hitam

Had a British unit out

in front but they (Gordons)

have cleared out. Our latest

orders are to stay put.

We have blown a bridge

in front and are now

sitting waiting for the Jap.

 

JANUARY, 1941 42

23 FRI  THURSDAY  First battle casualty.

Jap snipers got Laffin while on

patrol. Every one seems to

be withdrawing but us.

Got 10 reinforcements

 

24 SAT FRIDAY

Still sitting pat. Plenty

nice Jap bombers & mortars.

No Brit Planes. Happy doing a great 

job with rations - Rum issue

 

25 SATURDAY  SUN 

No 4 & 6 from Jess

Bombed from air shelled by Arty

& mtrs today. Pulled out at night

long march to Tpt at 1546 MP. Simpan

Rengan. Arrived about midnight.

 

26 SUNDAY  MON.  WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Day started with the

worst air bombing we have

experienced Gordons in front

engaged by patrols and cleared

out. Reporting heavy casualties

turned out to have had 12 !

 

                              JANUARY, 1941 42

27 MONDAY TUES  Vaughn killed 8 wounded.

During night all units pulled out but us. A very

lonely feeling. Probably go back

tonight. WE HOPE. Jap attacked

at dusk. Bn got out under fire.

 

WED 28 TUESDAY D Coy was last as usual.

Took up new posits 41 MP. NAMAZI ESTATE &

were attacked by inf as soon

as we arrived. Gave them a bad

time. Pulled out to 30½ M.P. Apart

from Gemas 2/30 always reserve.

Had by far our best [[Aaf?]] show

here. Killed about 250 Japs and

captured 3 MG & destroyed 4

more. A Coy heavily dive-

bombed. Casualties now have

us down to about half

strength. Withdrew to 20

MP. No tea or hot food for

a while & a beard a foot long.

 

Eleven letters from Aussie

JANUARY-FEBRUARY , 1941 42

30 THURSDAY FRI.    Fairly quiet.

I think the Jap is licking his

wounds. Moved by M/T to

Singapore Island. Got a scratch

from some shelling on way while

marching to RV.

31 FRIDAY SAT.

Settled on Island in a hutted camp

with canteen. Too good to last.

Tommies evacuated in a hurry

leaving us plenty of comforts.

1 SATURDAY    Sun    A fairly

restful day for the exhausted

lads. Bombers over in batches

of 27. Concentrating on the City.

Quiet night. Rev Magarry for M.C.

2 SUNDAY  Mon

Carried out patrols on the

Johore Straits by launch

and did a recce of KRANJI.

No 5 to Jess & 1 to Mum

 

 

FEBRUARY, 1941 42

3 MONDAY  Tues.  A nice 

days boating. Dis a recce of

Kranji under the Japs noses

on opp bank. (500 yds) Arty busy

now shelling Johore Bahru,

No 6 to Jess

4 TUESDAY Wed Coy up to

full strength again. Bombed

out of our camp with Incendiary

& HE. Moved back 150 yds to

slit trenches in timber. Heavily shelled.

No 7 from Jess

5 WEDNESDAY Thurs

Shelled all day very heavily.

Theodore badly hit. Some  [[?]]

Looks like a wet night.

Have removed most of our

stores from the burning

camp. Even got a bottle

of beer a head. Camp netting

burnt out. Blown out of bed

when camp bombed.

FEBRUARY 1941 2

6  THURSDAY Frid

Still in posn. Have done

all the digging we intend to do.

Only worry now is constant arty

shelling. Jerry Armstrong very down

7 FRIDAY  Sat     No7 to Jess

Parcel from Jess. Only lasted

about an hour. Hear the

old man is going to Div

Possibly get George Ramsay (2/30)

8 SATURDAY Sun BnHO

dive bombed 3 killed 15 wounded

Japs have got a footing on Island

on our left flank. held by

22 Bde. Not so good. OKxxx

left out by Jerry not passing order.

9   SUNDAY  MON  Withdraw to

13MP. Constantly shelled & bombed

posn near burning oil at YEWTEE

all look like niggers.

 

no air support at all and

bloody little arty.

FEBRUARY, 1941 2

10 MONDAY Tues Withdrew to BUKIT PANJANG

at 11MP. Shelled & dive bombed

all the way back. Sitting on

a hill now watching Indians

on left getting their share.

11 TUESDAY WED  Pulled back

to Race Course. Ambushed.

2 casualties. Side-slipped them

to BUKIT BROWN. Pinched V8

and b Malayan Comd for orders.

12 WEDNESDAY  THURS  Moved by M/T

to Tyers all Park Camp (Brig Paris)

mostly burned out. Have

formed a perimeter with

22 Bde and odds & sods

from various units. Jap

flares very active with

bombing and M.Gs.

Have been nec for

majority. Doubt getting it.

Code VINA     FEBRUARY 1941 2

13 THURSDAY  FRI   Promoted

Major. Reinforcements joining

perimeter - not much (AASG & Sigs)

think the Jap id pretty near home

& dry (Appt to Bn HO yesterday

14   FRIDAY   SAT  Fergie has D Coy.

A great day of activity. Went

round area with CO. Shelled by

Japs & our own Brit Arty. Ron

Magarry badly hit. Dont give

him much chance. Casualties  heavy

15  SATURDAY   SUN  Fergie hit. Fox

took over the old Coy. Under

heavy Arty & Mortar fire. Bn

Hit badly bashed. Got a slight

wound in shoulder. 3 pm have

word of capitulation. Think we

16   SUNDAY   MON  could keep going

some time yet.

Chucked it. Know nothing of

terms. Just hope for the best.

Bombing of civilians forced our

hand. Yesterday 15,000 casualties

in city area alone.

 

 

Had the job of superintending the

collection of our arms. Worst job

FEBRUARY,  1941

I have ever had

17 MONDAY  TUES 

So far so good.

Spent day in Raffles College

grounds. Very lax system

of guards. Japs treatment good

so far to Aussies.

18  TUESDAY  WED Did long march

to Gordons Barracks carrying all

gear. Now flat out cleaning up

Hell of a mess. Warned that food

on Island only enough for 3 months.

19  WEDNESDAY  THURS

Boys settled down with

barracks tidy. Filling bomb

craters etc. My greatest worry

is lack of comn to Aussie.

If only I could let Jess &

mum know I would be reasonably

contented. Have got to hope

lists will be published by

Japs. Slept 24 hrs straight after

many nights lately with none

20   THURSDAY  FRI  Still more

or less unmolested. Had a yarn

to Chas Cousins who has just made

a broadcast record for Aussies saying

13000 are safe. Doubt whether it works.

SAT   21   FRIDAY  Jap inspection of

area one. Kit check for surplus

food. Went through Jack

McDonalds mail. Will have to write

to his people as soon as possible.

SUN    22   SATURDAY  John Eales & Basil

Ransome back in the fold. Did I

mention I have been rec for 

DSO?  Wont Jess get her tail

up if it comes off.

MON   23    SUNDAY  Only topic of

conversation food. A little

stew mornings & night with 3

small biscuits for lunch

Feel half starved.

 

FEBRUARY   1941

TUES

24 MONDAY  Round hospital a

most depressing job. Found

Ron Magarry & orchard (with

one leg off) Ransome behaving badly.

Did a poor job during show & wont face his troops.

25   TUESDAY  WED  Full pde of all

POWs by Jap GOC. Didn't go

off too bad. Hand saluting Jap

offrs. Few dead men near our spot

that laughed a bit. Soon on Jap rations.

26   WEDNESDAY  THURS

Have started on rations.

1 lb Rice 4023 lb meat per man

per day. Have a lot of difficulties

frightened of scurvy with this

diet. Have no lights and as

Jap time is 1½ hrs fast we

are in bed at 8pm. The lack of

news is pretty tough. Japs publish

a paper in English which is hard to 

believe.

FEBRUARY-MARCH,  1941

27 THURSDAY  FRI   Conference

at Div. Only 2 mths food left

are going to establish farms

etc with no tools etc  Will

be as big a muddle as the campaign.

28   FRIDAY   SAT   2/10Fd Arty

caught enough fish to

supply the hospital which is

in an awful mess. Lots of cases

with no bedding or decent foods.

SUN   1   SATURDAY  After church Pde held

by Geo Polain, he, Fergie & I went

over and saw Ron Magarry who

is progressing favouraably. May not

regain use of hisarm. Orchard coming

on fine less one leg.

MON   2   SUNDAY

A lot of crying over food. Had a

deputation from the lads but

pacified them pretty well I hope.

Jap has made all offrs take down

badges of rank. All offrs wear one star.

 

TUES  3  MONDAY   Will have very little 

else but rice from now on. Have

started farming as there is only 2

mths supply of rice in Malaya

Hope the Red Cross gets busy soon.

WED   4   TUESDAY  

Have developed a lousy 

face rash this last week.

Still it is something amusing.

THURS   5  WEDNESDAY  Great enemy

naval activity. One Air-craft

carrier, 6 cruisers and 20

others steamed up the straits

Hear rumours of a

Naval Battle. Its a Hell

of a life with no news

of the outside world

FRI  6   THURSDAY  Rations have

improved slightly. Had a

cup of beef extract. Hear

the Jap is moving 14,000

British troops to this camp

SAT   7   FRIDAY  Played A Coy

arclos, made of rope.

Finished one-all. Farming

party turned out of billets

at Chinese School. Clearing to

plant tapioca.

SUN   8   SATURDAY  

All sorts of rumours round

about Italy chucking it in.

Geo Polain arrived & sleeping

with me. Saved room for Fergie.

MON   9   SUNDAY   Great trouble

with the food rations.

Very little else but rice

which is hard to make 

tasty three times a day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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