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










MARCH, 1941
TUES (Lt Col. R F. Oakes)
10 MONDAY C/O called for Coy
history making a Bn. job.
Havn't been to the dike for
a week. Rice leave little residue
Won $150 at pontoon cash no
WED good.
11 TUESDAY 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.
THURS
12 WEDNESDAY 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 tps . Wonder if Jess is
very worried or will she
know the Tracey luck
would hold good.
MARCH, 1941
FRI
13 THURSDAY 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 St. Patrick's Day
Scrounging parties
out after blg. materials. Have
hopes of Coy. Cooking. Have
a beard about 1½ " long.
Cigs now selling $1 for ten.
WED
18 TUESDAY 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.
THURS
19 WEDNESDAY 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 Bn. They broke
and Japs overran his Bn HQ
FRI
20 THURSDAY 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.
SAT
21 FRIDAY 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
SUN Concert at night.
22 SATURDAY Very proud of the
Coy. I have them in very good
spirits despite the trying
conditions & poor food.
The Padre gets a great
MON hearing from the lads.
23 SUNDAY
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 buy a fight to get it established. All Coys much happier.*]
MARCH, 1941
Tues
24 MONDAY D1 & D2 pulled
off. Now between D2
& HQ Coy. Final on
Friday. Funny the interest
taken in these little shows
WED
25 TUESDAY Was able to purchase
a tin of herrings. What a feed
for four. Col Thyer gave a
talk to the Offrs at night.
THURS He knows a lot.
26 WEDNESDAY 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.
FRI
27 THURSDAY
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
SAT
28 FRIDAY
and retailing it. 6 aussies
caught & shot today trying
to get away. Hear rumours
of Chinese fighting up
SUN North.
29 SATURDAY
Usual Church Pde. Geo Golain
& I have been able to buy some
illicit food. Milk $3 Bully
beef 2 for $17, ¼ lb curry
powder MON $8 Treacle $11.
30 SUNDAY
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
TUES
31 MONDAY 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.
WED
1 TUESDAY 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
THURS at night.
2 WEDNESDAY
Div Field Offr again the
advantage is a good
look around 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
FRI
3 THURSDAY Good-Friday.
Celebrated with a real hot cross
bun. Still the mind reverts
to food. Principal topic of
conversation. Wont Jess have
SAT 4 FRIDAY some fun feeding me up.
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.
SUN
5 SATURDAY
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 Palm Sunday
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
TUES
7 MONDAY
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
WED
8 TUESDAY
Wkg parties building memorial
road round lake at Golf
Links. Food getting light now.
Only issue Rice, Tea, Sugar,
Some fresh meat.
THURS
9 WEDNESDAY
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
FRI
10 THURSDAY 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.
SAT
11 FRIDAY Good Friday.
Trying to convince Japs we
need a car chassis for carting
bulk food. Have had no
success yet though still
hoping.
SUN
12 SATURDAY 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.
MON
13 SUNDAY Easter Sunday
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, 1941 2
TUES
14 MONDAY Easter Monday.
Ratted Gen Percivals lake
residence (& bathrooms) have
a few good books to study,
a pair of his stockings & shorts
feel like a capitalist.
WED
15 TUESDAY Went to Changi
with party of sick. Singapore
being cleaned up rapidly
though evidences of bombing
still plentiful. No sign of
expected Jap evacuation.
THURS
16 WEDNESDAY
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, 1941 2
FRI
17 THURSDAY 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.
SAT
18 FRIDAY Jimmy Grose made a
purchase of 1oz Javanese tobacco
together with pkt of Chinese
papers - What a smoke. A day
of rejoicing. Fergy produced a
plate of Oatmeal. A Grand
SUN Feast. Even had a pinch
19 SATURDAY of salt.
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.
MON
20 SUNDAY
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, 1941 2
TUES
21 MONDAY 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.
WED
22 TUESDAY Warned to return
to Capts House. Maj Stringer
returned to Changi. Today a boong
up at the quarry received his 30¢
pay. 10¢ Malayan note, 10¢ Jap
and a $1 monopoly token!
THURS THURS
23 WEDNESDAY St. George's Day
Moved back to Capts House
Maj Stringer to 22Bde 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, 1941 2
FRI
24 THURSDAY Very quiet day after
getting wkg parties away.
Settled in in absolute comfort.
Even a bed, side lamp and a
nice supply of books.
SET
25 FRIDAY 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.
SUN
26 SATURDAY Done little of note
other than chase Chinese women
away from camp area where
they were pinching bottles
and put a pugaree in my
hat.
MON
27 SUNDAY 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, 1941 2
TUES
28 MONDAY Jimmy Grose as
official pig catcher. Have
swapped 11 pigs for 5 bags
of rice. Have Reg Dawson
instituted as cook here.
WED
WED 29 TUESDAY Pay day again.
"High Capts" received 20¢ per
day. Will contribute 50¢ per
day to cooking fund for
Capts House. Eating grass stews.
THURS
29 30 WEDNESDAY
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, 1941 FRI
1 THURSDAY Bn baking under
full steam. NEWS. Was able
to get tinned food back
to sick at Changi. Must
away for an Orderly Room.
SAT
2 FRIDAY Summoned to Jap
house to have photo taken
with rest of Admin Staff.
Hope it is not for record
purposes. Canteen shut
SUN food getting scarce.
3 SATURDAY
Recce with Maj Parry for billets
for 2000 English troops. Scrounged
about 200 good books and
some medical supplies.
Houses in filthy condition.
MON
4 SUNDAY
Made allotment of quarters. Had
Jap bike stolen. Nishitka up
at night. Great discussion on
campaign & Jap tactics.
MAY, 1941 2
TUES
5 MONDAY 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
FRIDAY
8 THURSDAY 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/- lb!)
SAT
9 FRIDAY Spent morning with 27
Bde Group. Devoted afternoon
to Coy history. Actually had
a bacon rice pastie for supper
Don Dyer produced the bacon.
SUN
10 SATURDAY 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.
MON
11 SUNDAY 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, 1941 2
TUES
12 MONDAY 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.
WED
13 TUESDAY
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
THURS in hospital.
14 WEDNESDAY
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, 1941 2
FRI
15 THURSDAY To Singapore again
bought some beans in bulk
that are reportedly good for
beri-beri that is starting to
appear. Have to be germinated.
SAT
16 FRIDAY
Mysterious happenings going on.
Our Japs are on the move. Wireless
sets being destroyed and rumour
has it of captured arms & ammo
SUN being dumped in harbour.
17 SATURDAY
New Jap guards arrived and
taken over. Reports are we go
back to Changi. All work on
the shrine has stopped & tools
MON have been taken away.
18 SUNDAY
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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