Diary relating to service of Major Charles Patrick Tracey, 1943 - Part 3

FEBRUARY 2603

Wednesday 24

Japs have cut our wood

supply from 3 to 2 lbs per

day per man. This means

that utensils can no longer

be sterilised and that

the ways and means of

disguising rice will be

reduced a great deal.

Incidently the Offrs miss out

on our nightly cup of tea.

Thursday 25

Lecture by Mike Hunt (Major)

on Middle East. He was in

Africa, Syria, Greece and

then flown out here just

in nice time to become a

POW. Today I got the 3^rd

school of special PT

through and now have a

fair batch of instructors.

FEBRUARY 2603

Friday 26

Completed narratives for

Jan 42 War Diary and have

them safely lodged. Paraded

friend Field who looks like

becoming a pte. In afternoon

helped Bde beat AASC

outright at cricket. Harry

Gibson of 2/18 Bn gave the

lads a lecture on the

Repatriation Dept.

Saturday 27

Spent afternoon with Bde

cricket team beating

AASC outright. At night

Reg Swartz & I invited to

2/60 Bn Mess. Missed out

badly as we had a 

reasonable feed at home.

Still it will make a

good breakfast. Played a 

bit of lousy bridge.

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2603

Sunday 28

A Bn meeting with the

view of forming this 26 Assn.

The general view seems to

be that the RSSILA will

do all that is necessary.

POW conditions make

these lads very selfish and

I don't think they are very

interested in widows and

kids.

Monday 1

Syndicate discussions

with Col Leggett on tactical

problems that may yet

occur. Bde concert at

night that was a very

boring show. Reading

Bruce Lockharts "Return

to Malaya" which is

particularly good. Must

buy a copy for Jess when the

chance offers.

MARCH  2603

Tuesday 2

The crews off a German

commerce raiders victims

have been dumped here

as the ship cannot get

back to Germany. The

stories are not very

encouraging, though

any amount of worry on

my part won't do much

good.

Wednesday 3

Jap check parades on

Wed & Sundays are to be

discontinued thank God.

Have instituted inter-mess

visiting within the Bde 2 Offrs

each Wed to the 29 & 30 & 1 to Bde.

A wave of selling of clothing

going on. These lads are

absolutely devoid of training. If

we go north many will have

nothing but shorts and boots.

MARCH 2603

Thursday 4

Lecture by Capt Kinder of

Colonial Police on his 20 years

in Malaya.

Bn Casualties to date

                                             Offrs       ORs

Killed in Action                    -            40

Died of wounds                   1             11

Accidentally killed                              1

           "        drowned                           2

Died of wounds accidetly                 2

   "     other causes                               9

Missing believed killed        2           10
Friday 5

Missing                                    1            30

Wounded in action              6          128

                                               _____________

                                                  10           233

243 of Bn strength 809

Recorded at 1 Mar 43

Sgt. Gibson has been at

2 Ech for Bn statistics

MARCH 2603

Saturday 6

Warned of 5000 (2500) tps

going north. All we know

is that it is a wkg party

and in a malarial area.

B Bde supply 1000, Arty 800

Tech Bde 500 & 27 Bde 200.

Bn allotment 1 Capt 1 Lieut

and 60 ORs with up to 90

probables if other units can't

fill quota with fit men. 

Sunday 7

Just received word that 40,000

letters from Australia are at

the goal. Japs say they intend

to censor them all. That will

take at least two months.

Had a lecture by a lad

put ashore from the German

raider. His boat sunk

and 34 of crew killed by

intensive shelling and MG

fire. Survivors reasonably

well treated.

MARCH  2603

Monday 8

Postal Sgt has been at

the gaol all day sorting

letters and spotted one for

me. Trying hard to quell

my excitement I put on

a tactical discussion for

the Offrs. Cooking oil has been

reduced 2/3 so it looks like

a lot of boiled rice in

future. Hope I get that letter

to read during meals soon.

Tuesday 9

Have heard that there are

four letters now. At least

one from Jess & one from

Marj. Have a horrible

presentiment and in a way

am not anxious to get

them. Worried about Mum

and don't quite trust

the tone of some by Jess. If

they were lousy would

have months of added

worry.

MARCH  2603

Wednesday 10

Another discussion with Lt-Col

Leggett, Maj Johnstone & Capt

Morgan. Capt Walker of the

4 Suffolks over to mess with a

Capt Wise who gave a very

good lecture on the British

Press. He has been on a London

paper for years and covered the

Spanish Civil War. Has also

spent many years in Germany.

Have invited them back again.

Thursday 11

We do get some good jobs

from the Japs. Mich Moore

took 11 carpenters over to the

gaol and one of the first jobs

was to make a nice big bed

for a harlot. By way of reward 

she and her boy-friend gave

him afternoon tea! The first

600 letters have arrived. I did

not collect. At present rate

it will be 6 mths before they

are all censored.

MARCH 2603

Friday 12

Just finished a nice book "To

beg I be ashamed" The autobiography 
of a London prostitute.

Largely concerned organising

the take over of duties now

so many of 22 Bde are

rodded and vaccinated

and injected. Offrs are

being allowed to take tin

trunks and heavy gear.

Saturday 13

Lt. Col. Oakes has NOT

been given comd of 2/26

Bn as he requested.

As only 25 Offrs go north

a home is being formed

for the surplus Offrs

under Col Oakes who

will provide Offs

duties.  Don't envy him

his job by any means.

MARCH 2603

Sunday 14

Pte Hoare died with

dysentery and in the afternoon

the whole Bn turned out

for his funeral. The IJA

insists on cremation of

all dysentery casualties.

Had a most impressive

service with a decent wreath

and five buglers. First batch

of 22 Bde moved out for

Bankok (we think).

Monday 15

More conferences on the

reallotments of duties with the

D force on its way. It appears

they are going to Bankok

and that our turn will not

be long. Each morning and

noon a line of trucks turn

up and away go a big batch.

Jim Phinemore over for a meal.

He leaves tomorrow with Allan 

Hazelton.

MARCH 2603

Tuesday 16

Only 1 Offr to 100 men going.

18 Div put on a wonderful

Symphony concert. A choir

of 40 beautifully trained

and an orchestra of 20.

Three world famous performers

including John Foster the 

famous English tenor, was

able to scribble down the

complete programme. Will have

more of these joys at Bankok.

Wednesday 17

Reg Newton was one of the

party to go off. We have had

some strange meetings and

partings in our day. He

came down here with the

last KL party after having

been given up for dead

after the MUAR show.

Phil Millard my RMs is

booked to leave tomorrow.

[*Great pandar*]

MARCH 2603

Thursday 18

Reg Swartz and I invited

to dinner with 2/29.

Malayan Comd represented

by Maj Sheehan (of Lloyds

Bank Pall Mall, London)

Maj Wilde (Jap Interpreter)

of Oxford, and Col Gallaghan

Col Kappé Maj Johnstone

of 2/30. Possibly the most

representative gathering ever

held in Changi.

(Maj Sheehan's tale of the great
Friday 19

pander and the Jap Cholera

& care is worth remembering).

Put in the whole night

day with George compiling

notes on the campaign

2/29 have had a stack 

of letters and our first

batch is promised for

delivery in the next few 

days.

MARCH 2603

Saturday 20

After a morning on Col

Kappé's notes with Geo

Polain went to 11 Div

padang to play 2/29

Offrs cricket we lost

7-159 to 7-150. Great to get

away from the tps for a 

while. Spent the night on the

roof by myself in a full

moon. Thinking of all it

has implied with Jess & I.

Sunday  21

Couple of games of chess with

Bob Meldrum that lasted

all afternoon. After church

Pde at night most of the 

the Concert Party put on

an impromptu show in

the NAAFI building for

the Bn who now get little

other than constant trailer

parties.

[*Radio quizz- First thing said

after marriage*]

MARCH 2603

Monday 22

Little girl buying chocolate soldiers

young lad buying beer. "Can't

serve you". The fancy billiard

table - Three taps on the bed-room

wall at hotel.

Battery has been away

for some time so

the place is in darkness

Put in the evening with

Russell and Frank Lowry

talking of Lismore.

Tuesday 23

Stayed all day glued

to the typewriter.

Geo Polain and I

working hard on

notes of Malayan

Campaign. Duties

becoming unbearable 

every fit man out

all day and on these

lousy rations I don't

MARCH 2603

Wednesday 24

think we will have

many fit men soon.

Everyone round the

place is getting mail

but me. Am starting

to feel like the ugly

duckling. Had a most

vivid nightmare about

Mum and am more

anxious than ever. First

time I have had this

experience.

Thursday 25

Spent the morning with Maj

Johnstone CO 2/30 Bn

working out a tactical

problem and to my

disgrace spent most of

 the afternoon sound

asleep. First time

for ages. Spent another

night in solitary

communion on the roof.

MARCH 2603

Friday 26

Another decent batch of mail

in and still none for

me. The Doc (Frank Cahill)

is up to 13, never mind I

will have the last laugh.

Col Pond, Fred Hoare of 2/19

Majs Johnstone & Anderson

from 2/30, over to Mess

we put up quite a show

despite shortage of grub.

Saturday 27

Every Offr in Bn now have

letters after todays batch

except Russell & I so

we have a grouch with 

the world in general. Will

slug into my notes on

Malaya. Rumour has it

another force to go North

(500) by boat. Formosa

expected to be destination

MARCH 2603

Sunday 28

Played the concert Party

baseball and were beaten

by 1 run. Russ has just

got two letters though I

have just found out

that there are still three

of we unfortunates.

Rup Baitre, Sully & self.

Jess appears to have been

at Uralla - This has me

completely beaten.

Monday 29

Spent all day at the

typewriter on Kappe's

notes. Am well back

on the Island now and

hope to finish the job

this week. Still no 

mail - speculating hard

on Jess' whereabouts.  If

at Kentucky how does

Joe Lake fit in the picture?

MARCH 2603

Tuesday 30

Busiest day for a long time.

Maj Johnstone & I finished

our solution to the problem

we were working on. Then

a trip to Div HQ Col

Galleghan told me that

2/26 are next to move so

expect to be off before

very long. Change will be

as good as a feast.

Wednesday 31

Cracked it for a letter at

last. Got one from Bill Tresise

dated 17/7/42 which put my

mind at rest about Jess & Lynne

and the family. Have great

hopes of one from Jess now.

Finished my typing

and will have a mental

rest for a day or two.

Reading a stack of letters 

I hope!

APRIL 2603

Thursday 1

Letter from Mum who is also

at Uralla - Still can't work it

out. Finished the Senr Offrs

TEWT and played 2/30 Offrs

cricket in afternoon.

Bill Methven over at night.

He was captured at Muar

after weeks of adventure

and finished up in KL

gaol for some months.

Must get a letter from Jess

soon.

Friday 2

Nice work two beaut letters

from Jess with plenty of

good news and hopes.

Hopes I retain a sense 

of humour. I have to or

pass out under these

conditions. Celebrated

with a bottle of home

brew we have saved for

the occasion. Heading

the chess ladder.

APRIL 2603

Saturday 3

Had another read of my mail

and feel like a new man

now I know they are all safe

and Jess keeping her chin up.

Played 2/29 Offrs baseball

and won 13-4 which squares

our defeat at cricket. Have

acquired a second battery

so now we have a faint

light in the mess. Don't think

we will be here long.

Sunday 4

Heard from D force who are

outside Bankok. Had a 

tough four days trip with

little food and water. Expect

we will follow the same

route before very long.

Played concert Party baseball 
and won which makes

it 2-all. Church Pde at

night.