Diary relating to service of Major Charles Patrick Tracey, 1944 - Part 2

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
  • Prisoner of War
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2019.22.142
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

TM Read a plont Peped Red Cress message from lss & mum pott 12 wth bed. As they mentioned my frondhide it looks as though the carss are hene at last suchs going fine Cllebrated by fealking some spoing oione Played give sets of deck Lensis with Coe Harris at Malaya bend & pla morns Saturday 16 Spen most of the day with kay Barker on init Ereconds Ih between simes read my messages one a couple of simes, like a big said and tied to work out Jess Carlwood address a Bee d at night to lishen to As7 Concent Hinly orchestar who gave a delightful to agramne of musie JANUARY 2603 Cona 11 Put in te morning on to rell most depreasing harking ao many geod lads sted in afterneon went anes to alt and saws Frank, John Meckey & Rupent. They are all doing well though Rup has been very siek & can only to terroud very stawly Monday 18 Had a loap hething asing. We have two sutch offir ate Osca who have anacted theme to our mess. They are dawn fractically every night fo briage & lear dice and preve a welciene awersion.
TANUARY 2603 Fuosday 13 Col Gallighan did an inspection and seemed quite satisfied. Invited to Dw de for tress as night and yeslizzed to find our ols a siggi friend tr an Gootch sitting up in He wess with Ferg, son Dedn Fity Joh Crll missed kem Though he will be back again Hodneeady 20 still getting a great deal o sickness in the area. severally only have about 67 opprs fit out of 24 and are scratehing all the time for men to essutial duties. Mho mentin of starig on the acrassone Have plarked a course JANUARY 203 trdoy 21 of sil sulthew to ty& saift this confoinded ihch. sholl times a day which weans wander rod in an old white shirts uppaints atle then un by few decast rag I have rep sall y more mail being in at the soal will take seeks to censo. Sar Friday 22 Here is great injunity hen used in the wea now. they make blade nazors machinseedles calon etc. The die standar is reached with cadkng Tashes some cfeese today made o fingasanau on saga neaas hot too had eitter Roman bade wit Col Legess, ne.
IANUNRY 2663 Son saag was first clas He shawlast adeiced by Shelid, Aussils, Dutch yarbs concluded with the sa Cargees Banns shas athe that was most impressive. He sane aigmenney shimestie No a felormage to the Cemeber as a shenerial service to t Porce camalties. I afterion t SAna bad gave a delightful consert SundeN Spent mest of the day checking Ofor dcaries. a long yet as mosht these lads have written salumes on their experiences sesty uso got a couple oy mmeasages today saying his fiance was dead & his imathe danguourty it. Bett eperned at staughar. TAAUANRO Mondar 25 Pay Hanion has been disclage tou Hospital a fromptly elecked to come to 2/2630 hade him veay welcome & is a good las the coud down apkes messr for a coupte of games of chess Had a TAB neidle yesterday and an awe dypsalery oue today that has given re a beaut don t the wots LD and so anather Widding Anvsi dawes must stage & mild cllebration. Will boweover a duch and shill have a dreg & the beal fixe water Key has contailiited an electore sase to the messr Starting to wek like the landed gentry. Heard an excellent lecuse from a cpe manne off the Prence of Wales
JANUARY 2603 Wednoeday 27 received a letter from Many that is undated though susfect that it is abbut July aug 42 as she mentions the nove back from uralla. sespite the age smth) it is shis atlrill to bee from hane Nent Sahurday a recording y a concer is being made and all gos get a pention on he ay soo we rope Tareday B addition to the sid mail will beng consered at the Gast for + force fifteen bog of later shuff Labe arrived Wear said tat it is only absut six months sed which is a ell y a impoomement. To date all lektes received have been at least twelve mond old on riceipt JANUARY 2603 Fror 29 the baead cast came off Ot Cas were invites ove while the Buit aussies ead made thee reconds of so mins each. at the sact the an sincer gave the sames y the osas fresentin the audiea It was a good shows the I/e said the recors will be broadear vry seon. Hacl ducks pencted ausin the night sime so camp wassed Ealand by fo Japan So Saturday 30 Gergs I invited to Bay sl fol crry tiffin which was first class Rargety due to to ap nating 2 suall fes nlat issue. At night we las bal savis & bysil wild dawn to nexs and lad a gane yy Camerions to feet in the evening
JANUARY- FPRRUARY 2609 Sunday 31 A few days ago & lp tad to Hodnce 255 ven for half day work in the gardenss start filll-time pddy. However t wits sent tem some again at med-day. Tey seen to he daying it ack accendly new Gosbably to nake up fo suc regett tough sime up shorth standay Greatly inconveninced by a badly swoll el slow ta came up to se apparen Treason & has to be Lightly bound I think old Garg has te bug again. In any case leis bury & I want let him put hscloths near wire. Have hat had any lice yet nice stought rrenun N Fuesdar Arother Aysetey Needle today fos Ray- Change 322 CRo 13dead Af CME 115.00 wa 220 72.00 41.00 245 $25020 Nov 85 11.00 2/T 7083 20 5.83 134 say I am work 170 bucks p not dreeive 15 sed for sufternday gent Wednesday I I think the ling is catching up with me again. Am shill having a lot of fim with squitters. slawly becoming a complite bysical wreekdy Powel whe is acting Rik had a caule & grues y cter with we is a basterate betake & I would tike to see somt of him when we get back
FEBRUARY 2803 Fatedary all greatly concerned at the amioint & theeving that ha develeped in the camp It has been going on a a small sedle consistate aiminatong in the seft H00 from the canteen la night. all efforts t rail the calport have froved abotioe he will ast leep Fors Gergvery much down with malasia. The lads feet an over Pedas Kinysh seld sem his was appled legh Police Fdro got his own back by anding them all off to bed at light oat Gedre Fergr sas a anc suffer. Nos! FEBRUARY 260S Sacurdays Hag a nevy lazy day. Playe a bit of cess toll a roack up to see Andy sella and kinded at Ede on a rery well cerroy-liffen. At night saidy Pawell & I walked ove to con sepst to leas ad7 conce orchesha. Ferg went to hespital &eg swat has re a from Bde Stap faied be Sunday 1sa lave requested that all Wanks write 150- word essays on an experience during the Malayan Can paign. Nave spen mest o the day reading sone beart shonies save may lave bee tove tough I think some have given full reign tvely vivid inaginasions.
PEBRUARY 2DS Monsay8 a reaynice, theugh ellegal brew is on the market that cames from the Baites & Dutts lives at $1.50 he betle and is remenicent of sweet sheroy was a had bly and bought a cauple of bassees whilh has breken a very long drenged Doweve it was well work it tough franges will not farnnt huth a toe bes went to Rosp to see Lerg The fegery has done its 2d killing since our return we were issued with 37 fer naw had young stattac from the ars Highladen doi t meas lt up hill all hours young Sill buvily checking Isays for 15a. FEBRUARY MA Netresday 19 Altes a every quiet day I went at night with Lloya Cahill s was a Boath to a concatio the little Theate. It was put on by Cyril Witcerley who is an accomplished fianst He slayd hrdon light Lode and th Palaaisse. Hte shen was entirely classical a greatly afficiated T 11 Seem to have muchs round all day with Rewny playing Russian Banker and late sone sury pong (brek the last ball) 139 are taying to coan the civil ppulatio from the salad & be manland a fee 77 £500 ss Ru is charges for eressngt canseway Reaact a locomad that costs &yat JB. costs A45 at charge
FEBRUARY 260S Fnday 12 Renarkable sow the least little seratch seons scetie under present coctions have a acratch on a antile that as same to an cles and has me out of comansin Hax a Kelly a day Treatme with hos water & then Phil Bayley fiched the cesse out with twefers. sune me up Have had moe amptations from alles than was wound Saturday 13 Had bast wood down for Mess Wasiracing with the A.C Ieam in England and te continect for years. Naeas t 15,000 mill recorg sed up in France as an average & 92.1 mp. Joa was also over. Falg pretty lensy with this uller Hofe don't have a nt cut off FEBRUARY 2803 Sontor 14 in early this month swomene fais have been permitted under guard & laas lave gone dawn daily to the beach for a ait and retus with escoart and weos for the sittlens Hte wood is particularly acceptable as the isque is only 2 lbose ma ba day Have been wassed that 900 ts may be expected back here month Hife to see Rabbi skussel Monar 15 What a party lave a decent dose of l analces on the feet, some queen swelling toh requires strapping Fell like pated death. a btshe gave an amazing Cature last night a the wingal Force. This shew gerahed in Butna
FEBRUARY 2603 tatay 10 The lousiest day I have eve feet in with a raging firce and a sotal lack of inceesh in food getting ahabou toeatment that after our nenter referience is no good especially when then is plenty &s quinine tat wil bresk t five Heanessoy 17 Cels Leggetts Gallighan ove to ascuss a monea te louses area bot Galleghan expressed the sealimest tat it was sime the infantry gos a sam of a list & comfort tat tey had not had in the last two years FERRUARY 2803 Mardday 18 tuch better tough still laid up Targi has became a much administered area seo mn any faol staff offor wit too litte to do save started a notunencus fill with 11I because col Galligia Las ardered ore y his sent to get out assed fo a lp 4736B but im at playing tran 10 Feelig 1807 and or last day of Lreasment now 14day ino duty Like Hell Shell aont have much lave for my bed Cit's too lovely a horrible tobacco shouge on ad all we can get to seve fave ratue Rbacco soaked in red pal oll
FEBRUARY 280S sag Completed a Bo has yi re write of all en wa steniesrequired by 15A Hong completed the uet they deciaed to have bee all byted Sady Powell waves make a great colke in paorate life Kep to get sim a compa befor I finish wl tis army. Gus Kappe sar to wead. n moving word of the acc th road on 16t inst boe Galleghan ald me be th res the inf have lad the worst of things here and now he is going to give them a bet & como a course as usual mas gelustone & 8 both want to same area. Want & a37 concert. Judy Eealand (san does tws first clas danced FERRUARY 2OS greing Alent te onds te rewara which is nuch were pleasestha Ts hauses, two heels, a earge seed some tents The lawns are lavely, grase gadens in gead vertie seven a putting green pck has sawe balls & clubs sould get mest of the puntuce tedday 2 Pat in a most inpleaser noring with Bill scallor t dentest sat our first auch egg tay made Pedis a presents adcald bathir an Hum Hyse aow to rass Has a fewgaves of chess fired dem up with a bit & bridge Reggie had a look at te new area

JANUARY 2603
Friday SAT 15

Recd a short typed Red Cross

message from Jess & Mum

both 12 mths old. As they

mentioned my promotion

it looks as though the cards

are home at last. Ducks 

going fine. Celebrated by

planting some Spring onions.

Played five sets of deck tennis

with Col Harris at Malayan

Court v John Morris.

Saturday S 16

Spent most of the day with

Ray Baxter on unit records.

In between times read my

messages over a couple of 

times, like a big kid and

tried to work out Jess'

Earlwood address. Up to

Bde HQ at night to listen

to AIF Concert Party Orchestra

who gave a delightful

programme of music.

JANUARY 2603

Sunday M 17

Put in the morning on the roll.

Most depressing marking so

many good lads "Died..."

In afternoon went over to

AGH and saw Frank, John

Mickey & Rupert. They are

all doing well though Rup

has been very sick & can

only totter around very slowly.

Monday T 18

Had a loaf. Nothing doing.

We have two Dutch Offrs

Oscar & Peter

who have attached themselves

to our Mess. They are down

practically every night

for bridge or liar dice

and prove a welcome

diversion.

 

JANUARY 2603

Tuesday W 19

Col Galleghan did an

inspection and seemed

quite satisfied. Invited to

Div HQ for Mess at night

and returned to find our

old Kota Tinggi friend Van

der Gootch sitting up in

the mess with Ferg, Ron

& Pedro. Pity John Bales

missed him. Though he

will be back again.

Wednesday 20

Still getting a great deal

of sickness in the area.

Generally only have about

6-7 Offrs fit out of 24

and are scratching all

the time for men for

essential duties. No mention

of starting on the aerodrome.

Have started a course

JANUARY 2603

Thursday F 21

of oil & sulphur to try &

shift this confounded

itch. Three times a day

which means wandering

round in an old white

shirt & u/pants rather than

ruin the few decent rags

I have left. Talk of more

mail being in at the Goal.

Will take weeks to censor.

Friday SAT 22

There is great ingenuity being

used in the area now.

They make blade razors,

machine-needles, cotton

etc. The same standard 

is reached with cooking.

Tasted some cheese today

made from fungus grown

on soya beans. Not too

bad either. "Roman Crackers"

with Col Leggett, MC.

 

JANUARY 2603

Saturday SUN 23

The show last night was first class.

Attended by British, Aussies, Dutch

& Yanks. Concluded with the "Star

Spangled Banner" & Nat Anthem

that was most impressive. The

Yank airmen very optimistic. Had

a pilgrimage to the Cemetery as

a memorial service to F Force

casualties. In afternoon the S Area

band gave a delightful concert

Sunday M 24

Spent most of the day checking

Offrs diaries. A long job as

most of these lads have

written volumes on their 

experiences. Scotty Moss got a

couple of messages today saying

his fiance was dead & his

mother dangerously ill. Both

interned at Shanghai.

JANUARY 2603

Monday T 25

Roy Manion has been discharged

from Hospital & promptly elected

to come to 2/26 Bn. Made him

very welcome he is a good lad.

Bde Comd down after Mess

for a couple of games of chess.

Had a TAB needle yesterday

and an anti-dysentery one

today that has given me a 

beaut dose of the trots.

Tuesday W 26

And so another Wedding Aniversary

dawns. Must stage a mild

celebration. Will bowl over

a duck and still have a dreg

of the local fire-water. Roy

has contributed an electric iron

to the Mess. Starting to look

like the landed gentry. Heard

an excellent lecture from a Cpl

Marine off the Prince of Wales.

 

JANUARY 2603

Wednesday T 27

Received a letter from Marj

that is undated though I

suspect that it is about July-

Aug 42 as she mentions the

move back from Uralla.

Despite the age (18mths) it is still

a thrill to hear from home. Next

Saturday a recording of a concert

is being made and all C/Os

get a mention. On the air soon

we hope.

Thursday F 28

In addition to the old mail

still being censored at the

Gaol for F Force fifteen bags

of later stuff have arrived

We are told that it is only

about six months old which

is a Hell of an improvement.

To date all letters received have

been at least twelve months

old on receipt

JANUARY 2603

Friday S 29

The broadcast came off OK.

C/os were invited over while the

Brit & Aussies each made three

records of 20 mins each. At the

start the announcer gave the names

of the C/os as present in the audience.

It was a good show & the IJA said 

the records will be broadcast very

soon. Three ducks pinched during

the night. Sime Rd Camp warned

to stand by for Japan.

Saturday SUN 30

Ferg & I invited to Bde HQ

for curry tiffin which was

first class largely due to

the Jap making a small fresh

meat issue. At night we

had Col Harris & Cyril

Wild down to Mess and

had a game of Cameroons

to fill in the evening.

 

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2603

Sunday M 31

A few days ago E Gp had to

produce 250 men for half-day 
work in the gardens & start

full-time today. However the

Nips sent them home again

at mid-day. They seem to

be trying to act decently

now probably to make up

for our recent tough time

up North.

Monday T 1

Greatly inconvenienced by a

badly swollen envelop elbow

that came up for no apparent

reason & has to be tightly

bound. I think old Ferg has

the bug again. In any case

he is lousy & I wont let

him put his clothes near

mine. Have not had any

lice yet! Nice thought.

FEBRUARY 2603

Tuesday W 2

Another dysentery needle today.

Offrs Pay - Changi.
  GROSS. IJA deduct BANK CMF BAL.
Col

310

20

115.00

160

15.
LtCol

220

20

72.00

113

15.
MAJ

170

20

48.00

87

15.
CAPT

122.50

20

24.50

63

15.
LIEUT

85.

20

11.00

39

15.
2/LT.

70.83

20

5.83

30.

15.

IJA say I am worth 170 bucks per mth

I receive 15. Rest for supplimentary grub.

Wednesday T 3

I think the bug is catching up

with me again. Am still having

a lot of fun with squitters.

Slowly becoming a complete

physical wreck. Sandy Powell

who is acting RSM had a 

couple of games of chess with

me. He is a first-rate bloke

& I would like to see something

of him when we get back.

 

FEBRUARY 2603

Thursday F 4

All greatly concerned at the

amount of thieving that has

developed in the Camp.

It has been going on on

a small scale consistently

culminating in the theft of

$100 from the canteen last

night. All efforts to nail the

culprits have proved abortive.

The men will not help.

Friday S 5

Ferg very much down

with Malaria. The lads

put one over Pedro Livingstone

Told him his was appted

Regt Police. Pedro got his

own back by sending

them all off to bed at lights-out.

Pedro, Ferg & I had

a duck supper. No 1!

FEBRUARY 2603

Saturday S 6

Had a very lazy day. Played

a bit of chess, took a walk up

to see Andy Aielon and

lunched at Bde on a very

nice curry-tiffin. At night

Sandy Powell & I walked over

to Con Depot to hear AIF

concert orchestra. Ferg went to

hospital & Reg Swartz has rejoined 
the Bn from Bde Staff.

Sunday M 7

IJA have requested that all

ranks write 150-word essays

on an experience during the

Malayan Campaign. Have

spent most of the day reading

some beaut stories. Some

may have been true though

I think some have given

full reign to very vivid

imaginations.

 

FEBRUARY 2603

Monday T 8

A very nice, though illegal

brew is on the market that

comes from the British & Dutch

lines at $1.50 per bottle and

is reminiscent of sweet sherry.

Was a bad boy and bought

a couple of bottles which

has broken a very long

drought. However it was well

worth it though finances will

not permit much on those lines.

Tuesday W 9

Went to Hosp to see Ferg.

The pigery has done its 2nd

killing since our return &

we were issued with 3 ozs

per man. Had young

Strathairn from the A & S

Highlanders down to Mess.

Sat up till all hours.

Yarning. Still busily

checking essays for IJA.

FEBRUARY 2603

Wednesday T 10

After a very quiet day

I went at night with

Lloyd Cahill & Ward Booth

to a concert in the Ritta 

Theatre. It was put on by

Cyril Witcherley who is

an accomplished pianist.

He played Moonlight Sonata

and the Polanaisse. The show

was entirely classical and

greatly appreciated.

Thursday F 11

Seem to have mucked round

all day with Lowry playing

Russian Banker and later some

ping pong (broke the last ball). IJA

are trying to coax the civil

population from the Island to the

mainland. A fee of $500 per truck

is charged for crossing the

causeway. Result a cocoanut that

costs ₡4 at JB. costs ₡45 at

Changi.

 

FEBRUARY 2603

Friday S 12

Remarkable how the least

little scratch turns sceptic

under present conditions.

Have a scratch on an ankle

that has turned to an ulcer

and has me out of commission.

Had a Hell of a days treatment

with hot water & then Phil

Bayley picked the centre out with

tweezers. Turned me up. Have

had more amputations from ulcers

than war wounds.

Saturday S 13

Had Capt Wood down for

Mess. Was racing with the

A.C. Team in England and

the Continent for years.

Holds the 15.000 mile record

set up in France at an

average of 92.6 mph. Jonno

was also over. Feeling pretty

lousy with this ulcer. Hope I

don't have a bit cut off.

FEBRUARY 2603

Sunday M 14

From early this month swimming

pdes have been permitted.

Under guard the lads have gone

down daily to the beach for

a dip and return with cocoanuts

and wood for the kitchens. The

wood is particularly acceptable

as the issue is only 2 lbs per man

per day. Have been warned that

900 tps may be expected back

next month. Hope to see Robbie

& Russell.

Monday T 15

What a party! have a decent

dose of malaria, an ulcer on 

the foot, some queer swelling

that requires strapping.

Feel like potted death.

A bloke gave an amazing

lecture last night on

the Wingate Force. This

show operated in Burma

 

FEBRUARY 2603

Tuesday W 16

The lousiest day I have

ever put in with a raging

fever and a total lack

of interest in food.

Getting atabrin treatment

that after our northern

experience is no good

especially when there is

plenty of quinine that will

break the fever.

Wednesday T 17

Cols Leggett & Galleghan

over to discuss a move to

the "houses" area. Col

Galleghan expressed the

sentiment that it was

time the infantry got a

turn of a bit of comfort

(that they had not had in

the last two years)

FEBRUARY 2603

Thursday F 8

Much better though still

laid up. Changi has become

a much-administered area.

Too many fool staff offrs

with too little to do. Have

started a voluminous file

with HQ AIF because Col

Galleghan has ordered one of his

Unit to "get out". Applied for a tfr

to 2/26 Bn but I'm not playing.

Friday S 19

Feeling 100% and on last day

of treatment. Now 14 days

"no duty". Like Hell. Still

don't have much love

for my bed (it's too lonely)

a horrible tobacco shortage

on and all we can get is

some foul native tobacco

soaked in red palm oil!

 

FEBRUARY 2603

Saturday S 20

Bn has just completed a

re-write of all our war

stories required by IJA.

Having compared the lot they

decided to have them all typed.

Sandy Powell would make a

great cobber in private life. Hope

to get him a commn before I finish

with this army. Gus Kappe

over to Mess.

Sunday M 21

Word of this Bn moving

over the road on 16th inst.

Col Galleghan told me

he thinks the inf have had

the worst of things here

and now he is going to

give them a bit of comfort.

Of course as usual Maj.

Johnstone & I both want the

same area. Went to AIF

concert. Judy Garland (Stan)

does two first-class dances.

FEBRUARY 2603

Monday T 22

Spent the morning round

the new area which is much

more pleasant than here.

Two houses, two huts, a

large shed & some tents.

The lawns are lovely, grass

& gardens in good condition

even a putting green. Jock

has some balls & clubs.

Should get most of the

furniture.

Tuesday W 23

Put in a most unpleasant

morning with Bill Scollan the

dentist. Got our first duck

egg today. Made Pedro a

presento. Donald Cathie and

Herm Hyde down to Mess.

Had a few games of chess &

fixed Herm up with a bit

of bridge. Reggie had a look at

the new area.

 

 

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