Diary relating to service of Major Charles Patrick Tracey, 1943 - Part 9










OCTOBER 2603
Friday 22
Having a miserable time with
scabies and a tropical itch
All over my body and a thumb
nail infected at the root. The
treatment of the latter consists
of digging very deep to clean
out the mess. Know now why
the Chinese selected this particular
point for the basis of a torture.
Saturday 23
A team down from top Camp
to pick up canteen stores.
Kappi put it over and has got
Maj Johnstone to write down
requesting the retention of George
Polain at the top camp. Said
he prefers to stay there which
is a deliberate lie.
Sunday 24
Maj Wild - Oxford University
The highlight of the day was
Cyril Wild's lecture on Oxford
University.
I am going to Burma with
Col Dillon the next time pay
comes up. Will be a great
chance to see all the lads and
get unit records up to date.
Monday 25
A very high flying plane was
over today and we have a
strong idea it was British.
The lads who have been
through the London blitz all
swear to its identity. So high
it left a white trail in
the sky. At night Ward Booth
put on an excellent concert
for the Offrs with a bit of supper
OCTOBER 2603
Tuesday 26
Col Heuston "Experiences France"
Tackling the scabie problem in
a big way. Each man in camp
gets two days treatment and
then has everything he possesses
boiled for 20 mins. Camp runs
itself now and I have very
little to do. A most interesting
lecture at night by Col Heuston
on his experiences in France
1940 with a Field Ambulance.
Wednesday 27
Col Banns up from Neeki.
Said no move until more men
are "fit" (ie able to walk round
the camp) He promised to try &
improve rations which lately
have been rice & beans only.
We have not one bandage
in the hospital (600 patients). Col
Banns suggested he may be able
to obtain some cotton cloth
OCTOBER 2603
Thursday 28
Col Harris - Rugby Football
if we were prepared to pay
for it. - So much for international
law. Steam trains passing
through both ways regularly
though as yet the line in NOT
linked. Col Dillon off to Neeki
today to try & talk the Japs into
paying our mens working pay
which is usually long overdue.
Lecture by Col Harris on
Rugby Football.
Friday 29th
Another day on the eternal canteen
sheets. Have been getting a bit
of treatment for this scabies
without much relief. Of course
as soon as we started
boiling up for the men rain
started and has beaten us
for three days though it is
much better today. Malaria
still rampant.
[*Wilkins on [[?]]*]
OCTOBER 2603
Saturday 30
Capt Gunning Western Desert
Couple of our lads died for
very little apparent reason.
Pay in and the usual
hectic day completing
records. Large batches of
boongs carrying all their
worldly goods move through
the camp area going north -
Stayed at the kitchen with
Don Dyer wagging with WO Morris
Saturday 31
All ranks turned out of
huts and then a surprise
search put on. Done most
thoroughly. Reading books,
photos, literature of all
sorts, Bibles - all impounded.
Potatoes that had previously
been "presented" to the men were
collected and handed back
to the kitchen.
NOVEMBER 2603
Monday 1
Lieut Eales - Sailing Aust-Eng
Bibles, some books, no photos
returned. I lost all my
snaps and my only book (
which was exchanged regularly
to keep going over) Pushed to
the boards for men for the
roads and have had to dip
on general duties. John Eales
gave an excellent lecture on
the [["Hertsigon Ceceli"?]]
Tuesday 2
George Polain joined us once
more and now that a move
is mooted I will do my
best to hold him here. Ferg
sent to hospital with some
nasty abcesses on his legs
and arms. His hands are
covered with scabies. A
second excellent concert in
the Offrs hut. Pete Hendry
putting on a clever act.
[*Gunning Palestine*]
NOVEMBER 2603
Wednesday 3Lt Wilkins - [[?]]
Have had a reclassification of
the whole camp done in view
of the projected move South.
Spent the afternoon at the
hospital with George. Despite all
care we are still losing men.
Three died today. John Gunning
gave a very interesting talk on
the Palestine Riots, was with
the Manchesters there.
Thursday 4
At Jap instigation the camp
got a further cholera injection.
Am playing a series of two or three
games of chess per day, with
Donald Cathie and to date, after
about 40 games we are breaking
even. Still a worrying
amount of thieving going on
in the lines.
NOVEMBER 2603
Friday 5
Capt Dyer - Shell Coy
A nasty wet day with a
lousy leaking roof. Spent most
of the day playing chess with
John Eales & Russell Wright.
Barney Barnatt to Neeki with
four other officers to try and
relieve the tobacco position
Lecture at night in the hut
by Don Dyer on the shell Coy.
Saturday 6
Wasted the whole day packed &
dressed waiting for a truck
to Burma that did not arrive.
Have a big pile of notes for
delivery and will probably
have a bigger one to bring
back. Tales from the hospital
are not encouraging and I don't
expect the deaths to have eased.
NOVEMBER 2603
Sunday 7
Capt Walker - Guards
Left at 1030 hrs for Burma with a
lorry full of petrol drums. The road
is bad, the truck went fast and
we had a most uncomfortable
trip (Col Heuston with me). The
famous Three Pagodas are a joke
just old mounds, circular and
no more than 10" high. Arrived at
TANBYA at 2100 hrs and got a very
good welcome. Yarned half the night.
Monday 8
Got up bright & early and set off
with Robbie & Russell to get round
the wards. Saw a great number of
the lads though 26 more had died
since we had word a week or
two ago. Generally I formed the
impression that the lads who
missed the trip were the best off.
Food very poor. Bean stews &
plain rice three times daily.
Slept like a log.
NOVEMBER 2603
Baxter Tuesday 9 CoronationCapt Moody - BB6
After a very scratchy breakfast
we were hurried off to the truck
that had not been able to get rid
of the drums and started back.
The return journey being far
more uncomfortable than the first
one. Picking up stray nips on the
way did not help. Saw Cpl Ken
Mann on the roadside about 105
kilos. Ray Baxter lectured at night
on the Coronation.
Wednesday 10
Col Pond & Ben Barnett up from
Neeki. Had a long yarn with
the Colonel who had Fergie's
bed. Told officially 400 to
move on 16th. March to Neeki
and entrain there. Col Dillon
& Maj Cathie to Burma tomorrow
sending Russell up an
additional $50 for the lads.
Too sore in the tail to attend
concert at night.
[*Col Hingston Palestine*]
NOVEMBER 2603
[*Col DillonLt Baxter Coronation*]
Thursday 11
Move of 400 South on 16th inst
confirmed. 270 Aussies & 130 British
The story is the 1000 from F
Force will concentrate at CAMBURIE
and then move to SINGAPORE ½
by train ½ by boat. Force will
establish HQ at Camburie and
Col Harris go on to SINGAPORE.
Gave a lecture at night on
reliability trials etc.
Friday 12
Must devote this page to
Col Dillon's lecture on the
Official escape party. After
many trials in Singapore
he crossed Sumatra on
foot, stayed a month at
Rengit and eventually
left by junk. After three
weeks at sea and almost
to India was picked
NOVEMBER 2603
[*Maj Tracey Motor Sports
Major Hyde Honk Kong *]
Saturday 13
up by three armed Jap
tankers on the day in
March when the Japanese
navy attacked Colombo.
Much time spent on
nominal rolls and
discussions on train
parties for the move on
the 16th. Have my ulcer
pretty well under control.
Sunday 14
Maj Johnston & Stevens
down from top camp
for a general discussion
on the move back. Word
just received of a "speedo"
all POWs to be cleared
in the next ten days.
Still hanging on to Geo
Polain by a thread.
NOVEMBER 2603
Monday 15
Capt Allen Phospate Islands
Caught up with George. He &
Des Kearney move up to No 3
today. First move tomorrow
held up one day. So will get
a party the Neeki tomorrow to
relieve the tobacco position.
The sick are going to be a solid
problem for the move. (I was
days on train to Camburie)
Fit & sick camps 6 kilos apart
Some elephants arrived (little tobacco)
Tuesday 16
As Katchong braught up sniffles
we did not want sent John
Eales & a party down to Neeki
but the found the place cleaned
out so the camp is just about
out of tobacco though flooded
with gula etc. First party
move tomorrow & entrain at
Neeki. Heavy rain storm at night.
Experiences with Official War party
NOVEMBER 2603
Col Dillon
Wednesday 17Maj Tracey Motoring as a Sport
Col Dillon, Dyer and 2 ORs off
to arrange camp at Camburie,
Departing the paraded at 2000hrs
ready to entrain here. Just at
dark it rained in a decent
downpour and then the first half
moved off down the line. Two
hours later move called off &
every one back to camp. Sold them
some canteen stores & will have
to cook another haversack ration.
Thursday 18
After a doubtful morning
the party suddenly got a
call to move on half an
hours notice. Food had to
be issued, packing done & men
assembled. However they got
away though cooking gear was
left at a picking up point.
Am now in command with
a mass of sick and few fit
men. Bert Rabin lectured
at night.
NOVEMBER 2603
[*Powell ReutersCol Hughes Palestine 1918*]
Friday 19
Party of 450 moved in on the
[[??]] to feed and see off
tomorrow for Neeki for boot.
They are alleged fit and were
in very poor condition. We
could only give them plain rice
Rations now consist of boxed
yak in small quantity & rice.
Vegetables are right out. Had a
long & interesting yarn with Cyril
Wild until late into the night
Saturday 20
Top party away less three nearly
dead left on our hands and
after their departure I was
warned to send another 100 for
boot to Neeki tomorrow. Drew
them all from Com Depot. If we
all have to march I haven't
enough fit to handle the stretcher
cases. Sending Capt Lloyd (2/29)
Fred Wilkins (1 H BTY) & Leo Garvie.
NOVEMBER 2603
Sunday 21
Padre Polain Panama Canal
100 off bright & early. WAKABYASHI
arrived with the news that all men
must march to NEEKI. Present
figures : Lying sick 51. Sitting sick 126
Fit med 20 Unfit 17. Offrs fit 4 unfit 17
Excused [[?]] (probably march without
packs) 152. Fit 84. Have not enough
men to even to carry lying sick. Have
packed off 21 sitting sick on WAKA'S
ambulance. Solomo now is to stop full
trains & pack more on. They are already
coming through 33 to a rice truck.
Monday 22
Camp quite normal, killed three
yaks. at 1600 hrs an order all
camp entrain at 1800 hrs. After
a mad dash round the stow
was dismantled and all gear
moved to the cutting. Hells delight
moving the sick down. It was
dark when the train arrived and
we moved to Neeki - very very crowded
Checked at Neeki and 140 detached
and marched off.
NOVEMBER 2603
Tuesday 23
[*Maj Hyde Mekong*]
On again in what was eventually
a hospital train. 257 in nine
rice trucks and only 54 fit on
board. Carried one 6 gall container
to two trucks, constituting two
rice meals. CONCOYDA at 1030 hrs.
Three deaths on train and had to
bury one by the side of the track.
In all six died on the trip.
Spent most of night in a cutting.
Derailed twice & one collision no
fatal results.
Wednesday 24Arrived CA Just another monotonous
day travelling very slowly in
extreme discomfort & heat. No
room to even sit comfortably.
Sight IJA aboard too. Were given all
the consideration it was possible
to be given by the guards. Allowed
to purchase cigarettes, fruit etc.
Arrived CAMBURIE in the dark.
NOVEMBER 2603[[?]] Thursday 25 Reuters,
Detained and assembled for some
time till about 1100 hrs able to
buy boiled eggs. fresh fruit etc.
and then moved to the camp. By
lorry after getting all the sick
away to hospital. The camp a
land of milk & honey. Tons of eggs
& fruit. Making a pig of myself
cleaned up 23 eggs today plus
paw-paw, bananas etc.
Friday 26
Col Oakes here in Comd H Force.
Fergie & I invited in for an omlete
with him. Have been given the
job of organising a Bn out of
a batch of odds & sodds that are
being added to daily. 2 batches
of 500 already standing by to
move South under Col Keppi
Part British though mostly Aussie
Don Cathie with the Brit section
NOVEMBER 2603
Saturday 27
More batches moving in faster
than I can record them. Had
all Offrs medically vetted with
a view of posting. At mid-day
told to hand over as I am to
command the Aussies of the
first 1000. Had a heart-to-heart
yarn to Col Kappi on the subject.
Told that the contentious Court
Of Inquiry file is to be destroyed.
Sunday 28
Have switched Ferg, John,
McKinston, Lawry, Barratt &
Norm White over to my new
comd & chucked out some
duds. It appears that the first
500 go any time. All glass-rodded
today. Rells constantly
adhering [[?]]
Col Dillon very appologetic re
my change-over.
NOVEMBER 2603
Monday 29
Browsing round the camp
trying to pick up a few loose
ends to get some gear
together for the move (rumour
has that it will be by boat).
Raining many men in the
open, mud a foot deep.
Latrines in an awful mess
& most people very miserable
still giving fruit & eggs and
awful bashing.
Tuesday 30
Weather cleared a bit and mud
drying. Another train - Wad in -
from Burma (16 deaths en route)
First party of 500 issued with
boots of sorts. Some off our old
dump others old worn IJA issue.
Had a quiet day finished " The
soul of Yugoslavia" that has
given me a further yen for
travel.

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