Diary relating to service of Major Charles Patrick Tracey, 1942 - Part 3

MAY, 19412
19 MONDAY TUES  General holiday.
declared. New Jap guards
taking duties very seriously.,
Say new work experts to
arrive in two days.
20 TUESDAY WED
Still resting and trying
not to get too bored.
Put a blitz on Bde
Cook Houses. A bit of tea

with Reg Swartz
21 WEDNESDAY THURS.
Meeting of all Offrs at
Admn.  Later went through
Coy history that is half
complete with Ferg Sully
John Eales and Butch L
Have framed Jess & Lynne's
photo and put it beside my
bed where I; see it every
night before going to sleep
MAY, 19412
22 THURSDAY FRI
Have hardly left house
All day slogging into Coy
history.  Had a couple of
games of chess with CO. Set
home-made from bamboo.
23 FRIDAY SAT
Put on a unit Parade to
check for wanderers - First
command on parade of a Bde
group of over 700 men
more history writing
24 SATURDAY SUN
A well-attended church Pde
Am advancing with command.
Took the parade of 1300 this go.
Jap Official arrived to start work
again. Don Dyer had two poms
over for a game of bridge.
25 SUNDAY MON
Jap muster parade 84 from this
Camp missing.  All rounded up
and given 7 days CB with plain
rice meals in the old canteen.
They took a trip to Singapore
sight-seeing.

MAY, 19412
26 MONDAY TUES  Work starts tomorrow
The new Admn Jap Party have
taken over. Get to bed pretty
late by the time we had
all figures ready. Forced to
be pretty tough on strays now.
27 TUESDAY WED
Work under way again

conditions vastly improved
once new admn staff gets
going full blast. 65 men
in gaol for AWL.
28 WEDNESDAY THURS
Japs only feeding prisoners
once each three days.  Tea
allowed each day.  they only
have selves to blame
having been warned four
times by Coy Offrs and twice
by Jap.  Missed on my D.S.O.
Ron Magery got M.C. Parker a
DMC. Only hero in battalion.
Further ace put in for MC for me.
MAY-JUNE, 19412
29 THURSDAY FRI Tip to Changi with
sick men returned.  Got a
few photos & snaps & wallets
Still no sign of my gear.
Would need far bigger truck to
bring out the Bdes share.
30 FRIDAY SAT
Trip to Changi again.  Got the
remains of tin trunk (centre)
1 Old drill Jacket. Great coat, 1 shirt (no
collar) Bob Kelsey's trench coat. Boys
got lot more books, Matsazawa gear
31 SATURDAY SUN
Still trotting Trip to Singapore.
Lucky enough to buy some 3rd
grade Javanese tobacco and a
tin of P1 margarine which should
have vitamen A & D
1 SUNDAY MON
Over at Bde Area.  Few O/Rooms.
One lad in confinement. Japs
found news sheet.  Have no
idea of truth of contents. 2
subs sunk. Sydney Harbour.

JUNE, 19412
2 MONDAY TUES
Spent whole day tied
to pay figures for whole area.
Only ¼ hr off for meals. Job
finished 22 30 hrs: News supposed
to be good from Europe..
3 TUESDAY WED
Another trip to Singapore
did a bit of buying.  Bottle of
VITB tablets.  Have been invited to
Jap house for an "At home" on
Monday night.
4 WEDNESDAY THURS
Have a full-time job at
present. Bde Gp. Comd. Pay
expert. (men 10 NCOs 15 Off 25 ₡)
Did 13 hrs straight Off on
pay records. Jap methods.
at least imitating.  Major
Parry has beri-berri and
have taken over BM in
addition to present jobs.
JUNE, 19412
5 THURSDAY FRI  Spent entire day
on pay records.  Different rates
Ptes, Offrs NCOs Wkg and not Wkg
now number of days changed.
from 24 to 11. What a life.
6 FRIDAY SAT  Another trip to Changi
Hear it is being cleared out.
Saw Sgt Orchard & Herrman who
are both getting well.  Brought out
some clothes. Jack Lake better.
7 SATURDAY SUN  Listing essential
Camp personnel new pay
system 5 & 10 Cent bonus to
all wkg men as distinct from
those resting. Day off each month
8 SUNDAY MON  Holiday for all hands.
Mad-house trip to Changi
with 150 mixed troops.  Japs
mucked the show from start
to finish.  Had bayonet pulled
on me.

[*Note: Compare 11th June with 11 June 1943.*]
JUNE, 19412
9 MONDAY Tues  Again to Changi.
Got all my own back on
lousy little Jap.  Head-man
Okasaki towelled Matsazawa
up  by proxy.
10 TUESDAY Wed
Meals at Capts house
getting excellent for ₡50
per 10 days. Jimmy Grose
doing some good buying
from boongs. tobacco & dates.
11 WEDNESDAY Thurs
No doubt about POW life -
The Japs treat us well.
Have the hot water system
working and am turning
in after hot bath and
supper of soup, bread roll
margerine & dates.  fresh
pineapple and coffee. What
chance has berri-berri got?
JUNE, 19412
12 THURSDAY Frid  Big check parade
by Jap. A farce - They were
working on returns a week
old.  Did a Bde inspection
with Area Comd. Very good.
13 FRIDAY Sat  Have started cricket
practice on law tennis court.
Nothing of note other than formal
Mess established to continue
each Saturday night on paper
the menu looks like a hotel.
14 SATURDAY Sun
Establishing own canteen to
counteract native high prices.
Permitted to buy in Singapore
once a week.  Good in shops
getting very scarce.
15 SUNDAY Mon
A hurried trip to
Changi with Pte Vine who got
his leg crushed in Singapore
Still slugging into Coy
history. Nearly finished 2nd book

JUNE, 19412
16 MONDAY TUES  Had a fairly free
day.  Went to Bde at night &
invited to Supper with D Coy
Offrs.  Like old times.  Bread -
rice cakes & Tea - no sugar or
milk.  Fergie carrying on well.
17 TUESDAY W  CO, Col Madden & I
did an inspection of Hinheide's
Quarry.  Men treated well and
not overworking themselves.
Got a lot of boots away for
repair by Japs.
18 WEDNESDAY T
An illustration of the
general kindness of the
Chinese was given today.
All the Chinese harlots
in a famous Waterloo St
clubbed in $500 to a fund.
As opportunity offers they
distribute food & money to
the Singapore working
parties of Ps.O.W.
[*CARDS? to Australia*]
JUNE, 19412
19 THURSDAY F  Have been nursing
a nasty sore on leg and kept
my sock off all day.  Japs.,
say they are going to permit
post cards to Aussie. Must
check day of delivery
20 FRIDAY S
What a treat for Jess if
she has not had any word
yet.  Formal Mess and
then to Bde for O/Room
What a job the Japanese made
of our boot repairs!
21 SATURDAY SUN
Usual routine - A bit
more done to Coy history.
Hoping to get letters for lads.
rec for decorations
22 SUNDAY M
Spent most of the day at,
Bde.  The lads have started
planting flower gardens!
Hope to get some of the surplus
rations from Changi.

JUNE, 19412
23 MONDAY T  A nightmare trip to
Changi for med supplies.
Pommy M/Os held up trucks
for three hours.  Looks as
though we will be hard
pressed to get out again.
W 24 TUESDAY   Saw WR WAg army
Wkg party of 240 at quarry
now split between Jap. HQ
Johore Bahru and both
quarries. News lousy..
T 25 WEDNESDAY
Still no headway with
cards home.  Webb tells
me that Div appointed a
combatant storeman as
Red Cross rep and of course
he's not recognised by Jap
and Col Serham will not
admit the error.  Thus 15,000
men are penalised.  What
a stink when we get back.
JUNE, 19412
26 THURSDAY F  Holiday
Big Cricket Match
on Tennis court.  Offrs v Batmen,
Offrs won by 4 wkts & 2 runs.
Tobacco & Dates bought in
bulk from Singapore.
S. 27 FRIDAY
Spent the morning sorting
said dates & Tobacco.  Was
dining Pres at Mess, Brigadier
Backhouse & Col Toosie down
from No 2 Camp as guests
S 28 SATURDAY
Played three games of
Chess that took half the
day with Alexander, Capt
Pickford's batman, Bought
a fresh egg for 10 Cts..
M 29 SUNDAY
Matasazawa gave warning
order of probable change in Admin
Bde group to become No8
Camp under a new Jap Coy.

JUNE-JULY, 19412
T 30 MONDAY  Scheme to be effective
from tomorrow.
Camp Supervisor. Lt NATTAMATA
O/c works Lt KAWABATA
Rations.  Cpl KONO

PAY  Sgt IWASAKA
W 1 TUESDAY
Interpreter. Pt OKAMOTO (YANK)
No 2 Coy Comd  CAPT ODA
Scheme working well.  Have
interviewed all the above
and have the game by the
throat.  Made Eales Adj.
T. 2 WEDNESDAY  Cards to send
home have arrived.  Hope
poor old Jess has not too long
to wait before delivery.
Warned that No 4 Camp
will move to a new
destination.  Mostly tents.
A very full day on organis.
switching to one day off
in five for each Corp Robbin
coming with us.  CO. Bert Dyer
remaining with No 1 Camp
[*Probably loth to give up the
comforts of Adam Park.*]

FOR over 50 years, the Annual
Bonus Certificates have been
issued simultaneously from the
offices of the Society in Australia,
New Zealand, London and Fiji at
the end of June.
On 29 June last year over 635,000
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The certificates represented
Reversionary Additions to
policies of £3,444,000.  The cash
surplus distributed for the year
1939, represented by these
reversionary additions, was
£1,996,492; in addition to which
the special reserves for contingencies
were increased to £3,800,000.
Have you safeguarded your
family and estate by
A.M.P. Life Assurance?

Bonus Distribution:
A bit of A.M.P. History.
UP till 1883 inclusive the valuation of
the Society's policy liabilities and the
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members dying between quinquennial
valuations were adjusted by the payment
of interim bonuses.  But the operations of
the A.M.P. had assumed such magnitude
that it was decided to make the valuation
and distribution annually.
The system of Annual Bonuses was
begun with the year 1884.  From the establishment
of the Society, 1849, to 1939
inclusive, the CASH BONUSES allotted
in both Departments totalled £78,549,875.
This means that further paid-up Assurances
amounting to over Seventy-eight
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A.M.P. policies.
For the one year, 1939, the cash sum
distributed was:  Ordinary Department,
£2,031,712; Industrial Department,
£377,033, a total of £2,408,745.
JULY, 19412
F 3 THURSDAY  Move postponed
for at least 10 days.  We are
now no longer subject to NO 1
Camp Guard. HANK (OKOMOTO)
asked me today if we wanted
one!!  Declined with thanks
S 4 FRIDAY  Therefore no guard:
Spend day at Bde HQ went out
on job with lunch truck
KAWABATA expressed himself
satisfied with the mens
work "Very Good work"
SUN 5 SATURDAY
Inspected Camp and
lunched with D Coy Offrs.  The
Camp is developing a new
spirit due to very good
rations & treatment.
M 6 SUNDAY
Went to Jap Regt HQ to
sing for pay.  Very unimpressed
front of HQ mass of rations,
Met Des Duffy & Ron Caton
from 2/30 Bn. C/Os death confirmed.

JULY, 19412
T 7 MONDAY  Further warning of
move. to new Camp Chinese
Anniversary of War with Japan
Japs ordered all houses to fly
Jap flags.  Seven Chinese heads
displayed round town.
W 8 TUESDAY  Most of day at 2nd
Ave trying to dodge move.
To Regt HQ (Jap) at night
lecture by Col TAMURA &
a feast afterwards.  Then a
T 9 WEDNESDAY  General tactical
discussion: Met all Camp
Comds.  Interview with GOC ↘↘
To Changi 1500 more gone
overseas.  Only 16 of Bde left.
Brought out surplus
rations for a bribe of 2
tins of beans for OKOMOTO
back to 2nd Ave in
afternoon.  Looks as though
move may be postponed
owing to lack of space.
JULY, 19412
10 F THURSDAY  Spent day in Camp
Working out loads in the
event of a move.  Bn Pde to
discuss rations & pay to support
hospital.  65% favourable votes
11 S FRIDAY  Still trying to dodge
move without success.  Went out
to the job. O'Connor got a pick thru
his hand.  NAKAMOTO said ODA
would lose face if move upset.
12 SATURDAY SUN  Jim Yaxleys Birthday
Started erecting tents.  Move
very close now.  In fact as soon
as sufficient tents available.
Met Bevan ( K TINGI. Sig OFFR) British
M 13 SUNDAY  Still erecting tents.
Have a trip arranged to
Changi tomorrow to try and
arrange to establish a hosp
and dental centre.  Have
water problem in hand.

JULY, 19412
T 14 MONDAY  To Changi - Not
much luck though teed
up another trip tomorrow
Saw G.O.C.  Saw Jock Lake who
is well.  Went to 2nd Ave to
see Camp site.
W 15 TUESDAY To Changi - Got
dental unit and plenty of
clothing.  Bill Cousins back
from ArForce.  Going to Japan.
Hospital all fixed.
T 16 WEDNESDAY  What a day.
Whole camp moved to
4th Ave.  Five 3 ton Jap
trucks under command
moved at least 60 tons
of mixed gear.  Bn HQ
established.  Swartz, Eales,
Polain, Bourre, Roberts,
Walker, Ferguson, Lanercroft
JULY, 19412
F 17 THURSDAY  Men permitted to
remaining camp to settle-down.
Invited to Jap pictures at HQ.
Walt Disney Film & Jap propagana.
All opps full Col & above leave
for Japan on 22nd.
S 18 FRIDAY
Wkg party out as usual.
Two trucks to Changi to get
kitchen gear & clothing.  Japs very
helpful providing discipline
maintained.
SUN 19 SATURDAY
Just about settled down
Went to No 1 Camp Heard
55 Off & ORs of 19 & 29 Bn turned
up from K.L. had not been reported. 
M 20 SUNDAY  Japs issuing daily papers!
Rumour has it that the badly
wounded & non-combatants
are to be returned to Aussie
Normal routine today.