Diary relating to service of Major Charles Patrick Tracey, 1942 - Part 2

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

Page 1 / 10

MARCH 1041 asoabe go called for bey history making aBn got stan bee to be alike for a week these leave little resedue hm ag p las y ot Bigworking party (500 oad from 2/29 to surgapose Hope they can do a bis o purchasing. Toot se yeg t Interesting array & some made hals and clottes must day and save a bet for yess sobably get a whole outfit if ever we get mean of ye Wender y jess is very wooried or will she know the Tracey luck would sold paod MARCH, 1OAFL 1 en Took wising farly to beac Got about ston to were ssulors in ciolige af acrial activing meney vomver sace will bad bad on the parof writing on Destday to be oversually brigaded nave sunk low enauge to start peaving briage Aae concert. Sin Inpressive curch ser meneae, all killed as names read out Bugters flayed ser& last Post Service at 1715 Must work on Sundays mer vay soon first heat of sugo was have started writing bey Historys mess being formed for benefitt of sles Ottro sofat 50D
MARCH 1941 MARCH 1941 TUES ERI 20 TTTNSON sroung parries 4 Paida socialcall out offer beg waterial Have 62/2 bngs law to Oane trace Busnis boy Kitder finished pist Trasg boy booking Have wti completions Bakers lt some rece secofies a beara about N long or ind begs no sellig t for sen o t Harted Bu neo Hada burg oar classes Had a go at instucte area with Lawyer sloves Noo,18 stanted on bby Kitchen a & nei Mr Ponols wavell camp Canew of Pomaries Food Bae bit of simber no Lames few narts sy poh sat d as suxtencer at night veay frand ot tonaet weaths set Cay. I have then in veay good in again is emest. Hard wort spirits gespite the saying keeping blokes amused in the cangetions& peot pard confived space & sleeping Hhe sadre gits a great guarters Treat marting up leasing f the ls of t aears certain ta bee Eson our leat of Dug Bayes was silted taking up I was haw the theee a composite buy tey broke finabats are Hacay and Japsan hi Be NA D1 &Dr. The draw gives He the bye
be acses affere evy iookn 14 it estarti DsDa pulled off new betwen Dr s t0 boy smal on ay Dunny the interest taken in te snows s se was able to prro atting herrings whaa fee for four bol Thyer gave a talk to the ofrsaslaigst THIR He knows a Rot o Another inspect by same of the gap Army Great ones Harted a game 9 cricket against sna cay we are 19-220 but rain has wasted it out. start coy cosking stomerraw Have built shoves & put finishing touches on Bitchan and I had to bey a fight to get (all u maffe from bby cocking away to a great start Seas neal ri will a little mills six case fored Great activil wid lade buging ad from natwes Ontabt and retailing it Caussies caughts selt today tayn to get away hs mneu o Crense fighting up mard s usualu Pe Blai & I have been able to by se illlat food milk D3 Bulle see 2 fr87 falloung 8 readle N14 pudes 3050 just had fice for the 120 consccutive meal wer the Tugo was final Porge & to bully between saiw the caas wt a meal
MARCHAPRIL, 1941 APRIL, 1941 ERI Beat Buthe a Crictat Gend Friday DuLiea off am able to get a ciletrates with a near hiscrass few hints for cay Kitthen from ben. Sill the mind reas theee Curs. Toying Lard to t food mcea tofe o angun tese sile meals cansenation Wanfegs have a another day with sa ssamc fox padig as a stares wit 2000 for sugager a asee gap seag. Vation last to arcy square Atg party. With saido a wite i5 haiters and a am kanse accons foor bad ream of chaps to push ma exeusing mand o 30nills like& raes secret feed vry are water at nigt 1000 assebled fo letso bas feet Di Field off again the the house done up an advasage is a good to sick. John Stougen acting eeck found the camp on aa Mrry of whole party met Frea andenong 215 te reg and serig sg o hap dasuatian teb Sin 5 partiee off to Bolf Eiesn of his pasties. What a read bls Jap guards quite thing to tk y-scill it friencly onlyarned willl begond is an exent. Formed our about 1 to 300 sone bread being messr first neal sice and very diluted milk seed by netives a 15 ares
APRIL, 1941 n6 moved over to Troup lines bol ransay tele over adm se gaf treatment gead sa insiin& on nymbersty was parties ofber laid to arang with usky bed feet the parties building nemerial rad sod lake at G04 in sood getng light n one ki a sugar pse ned. toront dtions down to rice only. sid a touor camparca Gat the Padre to work busin a don dead srited treps found all sois o armis ete in bornt out huts. Impossible to glan news or draw any snsite conclusions from movenet liteeai actively net man heys in sight APRIL, 1941 tn signs of itt treament sive laas better will a goll such given egantes. He Jap is a strange bloke Hat a last at idont sll she ana AN Cood Friday sryng to convince Jass we ea caschasses for cartu bull saad save lad se success yet, stough sill nefing 1 Have acquired lvely by minor the was the Treat by hames have been rtedis lear be Thense of lwor of fumiture fy destoyad the cever eye The ineroad is dtrough bate areas ner sead being busied as w go mostly in the steat stage wew He swill wnot to bad
APRIL, 1942 wes yoer undy scatted Gen sercivals labe residece (7 batt wang have a few gaod baoks to study afair o his stealug ets e a csalis 1s wand to change w pandy of sick sugaper being cleanet ip saptl tagh eviances of soe shesensiful to sign huses gat evacuati Got a at falle last bleclin a set wlataday Beong cantere established at Jax g hanse where bread a few as beanue be unaneenal Ellettings tike a fi 4 mitt we work wei in geet sine authontie nete filting thomg have easented tinlary nod bete sifficully will be tak to cay C APRI 194? ty harte new leave at 0900/14 or Jax the ses at aan 2930 and rea: 0f30 & laas gas up quite will conse the dic we face scass signs enew smk sed ipre s or fny tsse make a punsese 790 Javanes teboe at t churse aye with rpers wilh a snoke a day pysuns song produceda pease of cameal asrand son sease oven las ahine oon 9 gast Great sussle aainy ca fot sincer sap Inspection to past shoes but cane you te peasy Hau juss goan as bas mud pind tat looke like th Etpte X n went on sorcunge with fir Treat hot a nise smtion enfecting to be bailed up every step Set 24A stells well make feas nicravs yf I am get the none
APRIL, 19472 1 40 Bussy Reg Jaines Bn. I take over compad & go to capts sause shangs drew prtiti for gavded but ate it instead suposed to be peanytimeat i wared to rethrn to capt sance Ma Stnio relurnst dange today al of the muarry eived his 2001 agan nate, 100 fah pay L a manqy coke HH Egor merea, oach to bakes nouse ma sg to 3edage hew commond the 27 Bde taup 60 came out and is ams a douge I will gct au/e4se oves gey amiwing wil is still out a favour after a fety pas shew in ackoy AFRIL, 1OIF E 2 t dery quist day apte gig wag parties away sd in i absolit confor Ever a bed side lame and a sup o b s angac Day. Ia woued het at us sep men in Have develer a nightly wast with 90. Set a great deal of as anxidece these days e Done little Gnake dan chase therese women away from caue area where thy were pincline beares and feet a prrance iiy next 2 n started Bakery geast from gais past floas part pousd gee 2114 ph confirned by C0 must me none lay Histiry
APRIL, 1942 wes o Jioning Sensure as official teg catcher Have awasped 11 ligs for 5 bogs of race Have tee Dawse insitute as cath here wh ty day again High Captor received 204 per day will consuitute 502 ps pay to coveing frind ps captsat by ggas asews aneeteen. Jap Emperor bisdday Declased public towdy all Lanas save 3 Deleven figs for a feast (3150 srg tt it made a verynin stew all saund bapt House adically asast park and mavy fews the usuall rici MAY 1ONE meron Bo baking under full steame NENS Wasable to get sinned faod back to sick at Chas o maw asi r summond to fat louse to sas phots taken with reat y admis seaff sope if isinet pserecord usfrces sansion alet taod getting searce. Recce with ma Parry for billet &2000 English tneeps sevae about 208 giod backs and an meanal suries peaycdition NO made allosment of quarter o fap like stolew nishecka up at night Greas disause on cansarg & Jap tacties.
M 194 t sented out sone exsellet sern gt bocks have a nic return baind apy of sttes sence to have spent some tie on by Histey at noming at Bde Grauk NA Have bough a silves ase tray with all bus banges engraved in it from as bature for D2 1afenture Iisig of inspection to day extr rcion deliven including percapple, 4000 mone heeps insluding 750 from see mesed into vecinity bal Gallaghan in changce of ore party must by and anact sin Ode Taup is seding tinned food back to charge to very sick y o concesatin sun N. 194 p seaine aoa mrory Junny Frea abtains sene dates, what an event canteen gettg beyond n reach sut up & a7e from 850 p plt Marg o ne pad 300 plt 5 P O6po lt1 saut morning with Bde Traup Dcosted aftencen to ay listery Actually had a breswrice pastie tor supper son sye predice the bemn pathers day what thoughts te sign of some beautiful tranipane on the lesd o ases no pay to thenk too much an these wto that way lies madness. some comforts arrived from change. St oears the pap is cleaving Rebertor Seteray barracls out Five escapees landed ove sate unde rided saying to get then Of
MAV 194X✓ 12 Tall of Japs senang 00asversnsto parties ap enfering black out rego As somiting doing Good rations greatly increased buth ma agd shill ga oo Trip to singaper with perclase larty managed to bey sone cnveg. Aty do nenalew much sig o benting shere practically empty and imo is rconeat of sersed Iale confirmed y 3000 ausiies the everios. They were told thy wend be on a boat for pdas Centy whirl as a result of beying from cense ada fruesaa tneges. e new rates, milk sidaay cnsiderd it wish neting Jo called for lish yo seen Tolaniskely & men at mast teung& a miss MAV 19AF✓ e i m to ger again bought seve bear in balk that are reputedly gavd for bene sane that is startig to offece have to be guminated Teaisus tofter or Gerign mys our ats are on the meste Wirter t bein t eyedand rumou has it of castured asmssamne y beig dumfede habou CMen has gax guards arrives and taken over sents an we go back to dange all wort o the shring has shepper & tiol e bee taken away 10 A te saw has departed after requesting acreference from o Farty busily smalls up teels and greasing them. lyns mest tawalisng

MARCH, 1941

10 MONDAY TUES C/O (Lt Col. R F. Oakes) called for Coy

history making a Bn. job.

Hav'nt been to the alike for

a week. Rice leave little residue

Won $150 at pontoon.  Cash no good. 
11 TUESDAY WED Big working

party (500 odd) from 2/29

to Singapore. Hope they can

do a bit of purchasing. Tooth

paste etc very low. Smokes gone.
12 WEDNESDAY THURS Interesting array

of home-made hats and

clothes. Must try and

save a kilt for Jess.
Probably get a whole

outfit if ever we get means

of tpt . Wonder if Jess is

very worried or will she

know the Tracey luck

would hold good.

MARCH, 19412
13 THURSDAY FRI Took wiring party

to beach. Got about 1 ton to

wire ourselves in (10' high?) 

Jap aerial activity. Mostly

bombers. Face still bad.

SAT. 14 FRIDAY  Col on the job of

writing Bn history to be

eventually brigaded. Have

sunk low enough to start

playing bridge. Bde Concert.

SUN 15 SATURDAY  Impressive Church 

Service (memorial) All killed

had names read out. Buglers

played Rev & Last Post. Service

at 1715: Must work on Sundays. 

16.  SUNDAY 

MON. Coy won first heat of

Tug-o-war. Have started

writing Coy History. Offrs

Mess being formed for

benefit of new offrs (Total 50 Bn)

 

MARCH, 1941
TUES

17 MONDAY  Scrounging parties

out after blg. materials. Have

hopes of Coy. Cooking. Have

a beard about 1½" long.

Cigs now selling $1 for ten.
18 TUESDAY WED Started Bn NCO 

classes. Had a go at instructing.

Started on Coy kitchen, a 

bit of timber, no hammer, few 

nails. Saw John Walker at CDS.
19 WEDNESDAY THURS Wet weather set

in again in earnest. Hard work

keeping blokes amused in the

confined space of sleeping 

quarters. Great smartening up

of Bn. appears certain. Heard Col

Boyes was killed taking up

a composite Brig. They broke

and Japs overran his Bn HQ
MARCH, 1941

20 THURSDAY  FRI Paid a social call

to 2/12 Engs. Saw Len Bourne, Ernie

Budnick. Coy Kitchen finished just

awaiting completion of Bakers Oven

Will try out some rice recupies.
21 FRIDAY SAT Had a tour of POW

area with Sawyer stoves. Hosps, 18

& 11 Divs, AIF. Poor old Wavell camp

is a mass of Pommies. Good Bde

Concert at night.

22  SATURDAY SUN Very proud of the

Coy. I have them in very good 

spirits despite the trying

conditions & poor food.

The Padre gets a great 

hearing from the lads.

23 SUNDAY MON

Won our heat of Tug-of-war.

Now the three

finalists are HQ Coy

D1 & D2. The draw gives 

HQ the bye.

 

[*Col Oakes apposed Coy cooking and I had to bring a fight to get
it established. All Coys much happier.*]
MARCH, 1941
24 MONDAY TUES D1 & D2 pulled

off. Now between D2 

& HQ Coy. Final on 

Friday. Funny the interest

taken in these little shows
25 TUESDAY WED Was able to purchase 

a tin of herrings. What a feed

for four. Col Thyer gave a

talk to the offrs at night.

He knows a lot.

26 WEDNESDAY THURS Another inspect 

by some of the Jap Army

Great ones. Started a 

game of cricket against 

HQ Coy we are 9-120

but rain has washed it 

out. Start Coy cooking

tomorrow. Have built

stoves and put finishing

touches on kitchen.
27 THURSDAY FRI
Coy cooking away to a great

start. First meal rice with

a little milk & rice cake fried.

Great activity with lads 

buying food from natives
28 FRIDAY SAT

and retailing it. 6 aussies

caught & shot today trying

to get away. Hear rumours

of Chinese fighting up
north.

29 SATURDAY SUN

Usual Church Pde. Geo Polain

& I have been able to buy some

illicit food. Milk $3 Bully

beef 2 for $17 ¼ lb curry

powder $8 Treacle $11.

30 SUNDAY MON
Just had rice for the 120th

consecutive meal. Won the

Tug-o war final. Prize 2 tins of

bully between 8 men & the

coach - what a meal. 

 

MARCH-APRIL, 1941
31 MONDAY TUES Beat Bn HQ at Cricket.

Div Field Offr. Am able to get a

few hints for Coy Kitchen from

these tours. Trying hard to

disguise these rice meals. 
1 TUESDAY  WED Another day with

a little Jap Flag. ration

party to Arty Square

with 15 trailers and a 

team of chaps to push

like horses. Secret feed 

at night.

2 WEDNESDAY THURS

Div Field Offr again the

advantage is a good 

look round the camp.

Met Fred Anderson of

2/15 Fd Regt and scrounged

one of his pasties. What a

thing to talk of - Still it

is an event. Formed our

mess. First meal - rice 

and very diluted milk

APRIL, 1941
3 THURSDAY  FRI Good-Friday.

Celebrated with a real hot cross

bun. Still the mind reverts

to food. Principal topic of

conversation. Wont Jess have
some fun feeding me up.

SAT 4  FRIDAY   

Started with 2000 for Singapore

Wkg party. With Bde HQ in shell-torn
house. Accom - food bad.

Most exhausting march of 20 miles

very little water.
5 SATURDAY SUN

1000 assembled for job, lots of bad feet.

Having the house done up. Am admin

Bn. CO. sick. John Stringer acting

BM. Maj Parry O/C whole party. No

sign of Jap evacuation.

6 SUNDAY MON

Wkg parties off to Golf links on

road blg. Jap guards quite

friendly. Only armed with bayonet

about 1 to 300. Some bread being

sold by natives @ 15 cents.

 

APRIL, 1941
7 MONDAY TUES

Moved over to Group lines

Col Ramsay taken over admin

HQ. Jap treatment good though

insistent on numbers of wkg

parties. Often hard to arrange

with sick & bad feet.
8 TUESDAY WED

Wkg parties building memorial

road round lake at Golf

Links. Food getting light now.

Only issue Rice, Tea, Sugar, 

Some fresh meat.
9 WEDNESDAY THURS

Rations down to rice only.

Did a tour of camp area.

Got the Padre to work burying

a dozen dead British troops.

Found all sorts of arms

etc in burnt out huts.

Impossible to get any news

or draw any sensible 

conclusions from movement

Little air activity.  Not many 

troops in sight.
APRIL, 1941
10 THURSDAY FRI First signs of

ill treatment.  Several lads

belted with golf sticks then

given cigarettes. The Jap is a 

strange bloke. Had a look at 

a MG but don't think she will 
work.
11 FRIDAY SAT

Trying to convince Japs we

need a car chassis for carting

bulk food. Have had no

success yet though still 
hoping.
12 SATURDAY SUN Have acquired a 

lovely big mirror. The way

the local big homes have

been ratted is heart-breaking.

Thousands of £ worth of furniture

etc wantonly destroyed.
13 SUNDAY MON

The new road is through battle

areas now. Dead being buried

as we go. Mostly in the skeleton

stage now. The smell is not

too bad.

 

APRIL, 19412
14 MONDAY  TUES

Ratted Gen Percivals lake

residence (& bathrooms) have

a few good books to study,

a pair of his stockings & shorts

feel like a capitalist.
15 TUESDAY WED Went to Changi

with party of sick. Singapore

being cleaned up rapidly

though evidences of bombing

still plentiful. No sign of

expected Jap evacuation.
16 WEDNESDAY THURS

Got a tooth filled & had Elec Light

on feet - what a day. Boong canteen

established at Jap guard house

where bread & a few odd Groceries

can be purchased reasonably.

Little things like a tin of milk

are worth weight in gold. Some

authentic news filtering through.

Have established library,

some good books. Difficulty

will be tpt to Changi.

APRIL, 19412
17 THURSDAY FRI Wkg parties now

leave at 0900 (1½ on Jap time)

really means we go to bed at 

2030 and rise at 0530. The lads

bear up quite well considering

the diet. The face shows signs 

of improvement thank God.
18 FRIDAY SAT Jimmy Grose made a

purchase of 1 oz Javanese tobacco

together with pkt of Chinese 

papers - What a smoke. A day

of rejoicing. Fergy produced a

plate of Oatmeal. A Grand

Feast. Even had a pinch
of salt.

19 SATURDAY  SUN

Great bussle preparing camp for

Senior Jap Inspection. Almost decided

to polish shoes, but can't afford the

polish. Have just got an arm-band

that looks 
like this
Diagram - see original document

Must find
an interpreter. 
20 SUNDAY MON

Went on scrounge  with Jim Grose

not a nice sensation expecting to be

bailed up every step. Got 2 A/A 

shells. Will make Jess nice vases if 

I can get them home.

 

APRIL, 19412
21 MONDAY TUES C/O, Russ & Reg

joined Bn. I take over command

& go to Capts House. Changi

drew fertilizer for gardens but

ate it instead. Supposed to be

peanut meal.
22 TUESDAY WED Warned to return

to Capts House. Maj Stringer

returns to Changi. Today a boong

at the quarry received his 30¢ 

pay. 10¢ Malayan note, 10¢ Jap

and a $1 monopoly token!
THURS

23 WEDNESDAY THURS

Moved back to Capts House

Maj Stringer to 22 Bde Changi

Now Command the 27 Bde

Group. CO came out and 

it looks as though I will

get 2 I/C of Bn over Jerry

Armstrong who is still out

of favour after a pretty poor 

show in action.

APRIL, 19412
24  THURSDAY FRI Very quiet day after

getting wkg parties away.

Settled in in absolute comfort.

Even a bed-side lamp and a

nice supply of books.
25  FRIDAY SAT Anzac Day. Jap would 

not let us keep men in. Have

developed a nightly walk

with C/O. Get a great deal of

his confidence these days.
26 SATURDAY SUN Done little of note

other than chase Chinese women

away from camp area where

they were pinching bottles

and put a pugaree on my

hat.
27 SUNDAY MON Started Bn Bn Bakery

yeast from yams, part flour

part ground rice. 2 I/C job

confirmed by C.O. Must write

some more Coy History

 

APRIL, 19412
28 MONDAY TUES Jimmy Grose as 

official pig catcher. Have

swapped 11 pigs for 5 bags 

of rice. Have Reg Dawson

instituted as cook here.
WED 29 TUESDAY WED  Pay day again.

"High Capts" received 20¢ per

day. Will contribute 50¢ per

day to cooking fund for

Capts House. Eating grass stews.
29 30 WEDNESDAY THURS

Jap Emperor's birthday.

Declared public holiday all

hands. Gave AIF eleven 

pigs for a feast (3150 Troops)

Still it made a very nice 

stew all round. Capt House

actually roast pork and

gravy plus the usual

rice.
MAY, 19412
1 THURSDAY FRI Bn baking under

full steam. NEWS. Was able

to get tinned food back

to sick at Changi. Must 

away for an Orderly Room.
2 FRIDAY SAT Summoned to Jap 

house to have photo taken

with rest of Admin Staff.

Hope it is not for record 

purposes. Canteen shut
food getting scarce.

3 SATURDAY SUN

Recce with Maj Parry for billets

for 2000 English troops. Scrounged

about 200 good books and 

some medical supplies.

Houses in filthy condition.
4 SUNDAY MON

Made allotment of quarters. Had

Jap bike stolen. Nishitka up

at night. Great discussion on

campaign & Jap tactics. 

 

MAY, 19412
5 MONDAY TUES Sorted out some 

excellent scrounged books.

Have a nice return bound

copy of Shakespeares Sonnets

Have spent some time on Coy History

W 6 TUESDAY Spent morning at

Bde Group HQ. Have bought

a silver ash-tray with all our

battles engraved on it from

Gos batman for $2 (a fortune) 
T  7 WEDNESDAY 

Tidings of Jap inspection today.

Extra rations delivered

including pineapple, 4000 more

troops including 750 from

22 Bde moved into vicinity.

Col Gallaghan in charge of

one party. Must try and 

contact him. Bde Group is 

sending tinned food back

to Changi to very sick.

[*Sen Offrs to Golf Links for ceremony

of consecrating ground for shrine.*]

MAY, 1941
8 THURSDAY FRIDAY Jimmy Grose obtained

some dates. What an event.

Canteen prices getting beyond

our reach. Butter up to ¢70

from ¢50 per ½ lb. Heard of Marmite

from $3.50 ½ lb to $12  (36/- a lb!)
9 FRIDAY SAT Spent morning with 27

Bde Group. Devoted afternoon 

to Coy history. Actually had

a bacon rice pastie for supper

Don Dyer produced the bacon.
10 SATURDAY SUN Mothers Day. What

thoughts the sight of some

beautiful frangipani on the 

tables engender. It does not

pay to think too much on these

lines. That way lies madness.
11 SUNDAY MON Some comforts

arrived from Changi. It 

appears the Jap is clearing

Roberts & Selerang barracks out.

Five escapees handed over. Fate

undecided. Trying to get them off.

 

MAY, 19412
12  MONDAY TUES Talk of Japs sending

3000 AIF overseas on wkg parties

Jap enforcing black-out regs

Is something doing? Food

rations greatly increased but

still no vitamins. Man died 
in hospital.
13  TUESDAY WED

Trip to Singapore with purchasing

party. Managed to buy some

green vegs. City does not show

much sign of bombing. Stores

practically empty; another death 
in hospital.
14 WEDNESDAY THURS

Tale confirmed of ^Borneo 3000 Aussies

taken overseas. They were told

they would be on a boat for

7 days. (Possibly Tokio?)

As a result of buying from

Chinese had a fruit salad

tonight. Paw Paw, dates, milk

& sultanas. Considered it worth 

noting. Japs called for lists of Sigs

of men at canteen. Got a Ned Kelly

2 Mickey Mouses & a Miss C.

MAY, 19412
15 THURSDAY FRI  To Singapore again

bought some beans in bulk

that are reportedly good for

beri-beri that is starting to 

appear. Have to be germinated.
16 FRIDAY SAT

Mysterious happenings going on.

Our Japs are on the move. Wireless

sets being destroyed and rumour

has it of captured arms & ammo 

being dumped in harbour.

17 SATURDAY SUN   

New Jap guards arrived and

taken over. Reports are we go 

back to Changi. All work on

the shrine has stopped &  tools

have been taken away.

18 SUNDAY MON

Cpl Sano has departed after

requesting a reference from C/O.

Party busily bundling up

tools and greasing them.

Signs most tantalising.

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