Diary relating to service of Major Charles Patrick Tracey, 1944 - Part 5

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

Page 1 / 10

MAYMS Saturday 15 Latest organication afterthe heve will be 22Bs 6or Depat staff, Saucation Crtre and concent pasky. The bad feature of this grauping is the mumber of and wor heas we will get and so eise sinished my malanal treatment and saw gang a to some atation to dall it pd a while Sunday 10 15A Ration heo sald a most extravcnting sbory to our lass that has afread like wild fire Place no reliance in it myself and try to discount these wild stories wene to 2/29 tess for bel Dubeis Cature on invasion o bpe (o series) Mor 200 Mondar 17 27 more bags of mail at the Continence sduse Held up recause Poms have not yes completed their sand & the last lst searding butth bogi competion on our little pittig green. Visites san was well be going off with the Nox next week to stranzi expect andiclance conser be wa Tuesday 18 hew that so many lave maved to the Gasl we are badly pirshed for mas 130 will not lt the Gt Party be reduces so naw we are using to duty men &o essuxcat camp work mps lave also failed cupply the farmised material fo mens hute yet insist all must move by eng 3 month
Tramp with ladys boots hot very passinate MAV 2603 Dea 16 X Yarks like wonen over 50 sare tell, dont yell, dot swell and are grateful kuss, Rooie& I wentt Inca fut to riew the wtnils for the AJs Memorial sone first class jebs prices at 15,000 there mail in bt had no pick. still was accoued to read hussells saes pas work or not? nou does the banks balance 901 Thursday 20 sten a lot of day censoning oes aiaries. Hmlkaale tthe absstute not some of of these lads writ Reing fo whs aid not see a shot ffired are writing Bu and cam paign Rishonies Ray Bansers I getting out a comflese casnalty list Piopsneto baty witlh stiff an shaw a wak wesangi miswepes Frtay 21 A further conference at lang sd Happeais tct &1 have eut my presfective assistant offor down from I to 2 So I have chosen Russ & Robbie have a feeling that the majonity of fffor may be maved away from the sps Hada yar to bee Oakes at night di final Bn arange arelease Saturday 2I Had a busymorning finishing offoffes didaies nd same was records for bol sakes (wks is suddenly taking an abls on the Box that he has raraly seen for two years o course I take his adview will my tongue on my ceek Sual Mess
MME Sunday 23 bamp a liae of ackivity Failer seat out moving gear to sut new Lame Hict's being pullest down and wne erected by the wren 154 not very helpful Thomised makeslal Tas not eneeated wat to respital wid rally sakes as saw in 77 our wors cases madge museat. HI sis Bld there Salvage Wna e Engon apace The buildily doe gradually becauiig bere and mort our canences have repaned Greaters tauble is trying to strike a bolan betweeen treeping enough Bitche gea for the Br lettersenai go to establish si sew hore MAY 2503 3 extention 150 refuse 9 sime despite shontage accomodation psedoly 3000 men for whs were fe cubicle are congling up to 7 which will hause abou hdl that sem be but still leave at East 1300 out in the rain. Padie Duckworth leatured or a continensal but wath the 1925 Canbridge eight Nrere & wartig out steleton stap to self to te going on th parts. one salf ands me here & the otters at Gaol save out a faste 65 imps today& get 75 aBc in their place: suffose I could at the little digges go to sell & have sone mede ean the I am apaid I cannt develof the sabit.
mr 2003 Marbany M Have reed twe more letters fom Gas one you may's are pou Dad Browred of baaly today dve to John Cales Enecting back adjs jb as save because it lshed as tough concusions may be better with the ste fr ater seeplerng ten so long I daught te was one last I could bely a fe loyalty Endes & 10 B to mave to hospital reflaiing Caigi personel wke departed very Raraidly when 86 trucks suddenly arawved in the aquare John Eales and a sheleton aam Party moved sut to Gasl Swr of the duess have been sheln destike Peaes sully NAY 2003 Catenday 2 Ather getting same more ofars ons away had a general scout aind at night lad a pp in with calyle & frrsoners caught out o bouas Look Scasse du to theis guard house and afsed an unleasan y hous get them ofd Will I take it aeth y them at y tomere sunday so Great day & conferences We all mone tomorrow & causse being last one we get the word and y t stiak Tailers arive at 1400 hos & must to loades & returnd to equare by 1500 1 soaily to 25 yps shill ad get the someton still weg at lights oct sixces my greens stealess (45 days pay fine
MAV- WUNE 2603 Aay 31 After mecn mebulatin wave was accompliste However qua hers ae semporary ad mest well were agad in about a portnight. Raso Bert, says self have a native warders fear. will just sold three heds and allany small iable. Having a ses sepig am yarley Plate over saaminsted to Beages tuesday Sper & day sonig out bodie and acting littkensasathe siss& sd took a walk shere t give and saw a at of our laas who were inside General schem is that we will inegreat a week a two whe new huts completed 1sA guar a Insublisome 2 mer letter from Leass may IUNE 2608 Wednesdoy2 Ansthe day getting orders & cousendes Gaas made to hold 800 prisoners & 200 warder hew housing 10,000. The strai a the waht, sersce ste very hard show have fews heds the room (12x1017 inal 2 deor ways because Iu Saitar will wt allow beds on the lide far recuahs an settled & Bdonaugh now to study the reachion of nearly 1000 mixed, Bactiil, aust, Dule Anerccan Italian ffes boig in a cogeled area so man Colo all paying to be important on silly little jabs. 2 calst run or os library & a pew see wor packs, & colst un Baire garden. Each one putingin the bast when he can
IUNE 280S a ty interests are Plank Gos still with the man. They lave developed int a caying thank hss let but at least thy don't seem to lave gone quie as nets as some s. east negt did save Duty ofs ad sat of uselessly in state- a big office. Onr offor are being fulled it frepetly by mma split Pin Wugh te hew hos sard Inflatio gus apace a fe finscafied from our carteen board Cocoaats O0C cigan 14 sugat 3.50 note bocks relagent & stavng seaf 350 matches 60 162 Slent 1.50 peanects 4.00 Blades 50 firafers 35/2 lt many odersre uniposmely lives which arive us mad considering the variety & gead. IUNE 2803 paa Kena Runcurs rese staid woter the all compons all ffor to repair by 15t his mont, Relerang hosptal to be in this area b 15th atc ct am sanding out the offesto see weat be can pessible do for this Boyes affe & atde as ever the stauato up against it a bit. Locup &11 bissages bing received massd Monday Officers Paq BANK C90 32 we Bon 230 80l 220 AA) 170 Cat 122 4 NB3 27 383 Getting fit from Fast to keep at our work fines as Luts become available
IUNE 2603 Dow Kitcher bating from how and weals infroving He anchs are settling &ou & I can nearly nety & two to day now that selp a lot sette from Gerg He and bb are dog well and any case selvang must mave awr leve by th 15th ont to mave to this ow area i statted says ass regg tday. Andth eeting Tay laugh Tedro out on an eggiracet went oies to te yay get five eggs. Previously have seve get better the two On enquiry find te said made a contrct to suppl a yont with $30 fe month will have to have a siow down with lim. 1d Russr Ray on eggs JUNE 2603 M Paleting and After mach enquiry an ferfectly satisfie that I did old Pde are injustio is all fairs above bobed Took his pate for £53 for an advance of 350, Dreplaa ons for E75 le lad given to Bell warry so to same amount duch have asad daist a steady fair for day Kature teribly for iglt Enad i uep early to see the work parties away and the daa to the ancks for the usual fow eggs on fo Russs Rays two for me. It is a great temptation to be leusyo have a gaod fees aeg thes days Osuss s I got on to ooe & sus Limore talks till all Lews
13d Serger Egqs IUNE 2803 Sotrdar 12 Peacs roing bright and early with seve eggs out gaine ducks! Had a great feed to celebrate pias well oue neals &c pated and tday ous meat ration was waited makes ore Cry very cheerfel atadof Ove rbind wnas the days eveyse settlin in Sunday 13 Ferg out of hosptal an sending him to the Offes g rup for a complte redt for a month. suchs still doing thir stuff (7 more) Pat Leagon the e9g cortrack Russs I wen to gase for a bad concent by the lan Orch. Sact, Aust Anexon sich playes JONE 2003 Monday 11 up to eigh eggs out of nine seasting them send to som 7our sick. At right aJ3 Ceak Hely gave a roadstow Was a fiost class show tough a sew & the odd tres made we very temerick, siell I suppose it woul be long ettng veay feet up and blul Fsday 15 Tho time t feel blue today Have had to mave all the laas to a new ared beling A Gase. Shupidity to be for onty half the Ruts reaay b the Bitchen not finishes East man has 23 pr his bed geas! can only pipe the REE will see of a bit 7 Eggs today save five away
stof that Mills ipo sis which IUNE 2803 way did it go Faeaday 16 Started Htudying Balay inder Jemoy Grose with Rirss & Ray Fet the fir nuncration off fat and Low setting out to leave twenty words f any sind it a Bell of a sat concutrati tese days wonder ron for I will get Candeln banging swarng of bees the dont and to onr compte Thursday 17 pare Malay lessons though I doubt if I can leave very much in the time available for the subject. Toked roind the lines where He men are ressibly Jamued rep to 02 fe small but refused to give up 139 a but for a library. JUNE 280S ay 18 Camp ordering fow men tark for caup Police Can't gct ableaseers and me very resentful at beig detailed The rabbit ownad loat very leavily owng to the activing &a dog wes pleased up half te number Ducks are leaving only faw today Bung seails for anc sasd D.73C pe 100! Sacurgay 10 Instection of lines by camp bud. Cankeen prices still chaiking up making some padgress with Malay ous toll to say in a timeted way at Penercise tat froved almoan as funay as the was wa that san thoee the lines midst great glee from assembled Offes
sobbie a exq IUNE 2603 Sunay 20 Reorganises th Malay sctol Lag son are sosning a beginen clais wl rablie puss ay arack on aread with theis geates vocab Put soobie on to the egg racket slack ont olsion ands pat in farce. Monday 21 Frightful duings. For each wbd not least are get one swipe with a haze stef across the belly. Segg 9ot 5, Ron 4, Ray 5, na1 causes a lot amusans and certainly makes us concentrate o till 0130 bes with Cyne wild after a watch trading epucade JUNE 2803 Fuoeday 22 Sired after my nights unangaend wet 154 guardt then to guard Ret Geo Polain & adre suchward in fo a yain at night roblice, Ruls, Bay say orson, Serg & rad a gave of naseaice ses a grod night and had the hess laugh for a logsme Restde 23 Anoths idoe completed andnow Rave 3009 the unit daused in your Ruts in the final oea meang ill ous own kitches tank bod lasks as thaugh we will not get any abre neat. matie sadgsdied at srange Caspital.

MAY 2603
M

Saturday 15
Latest organisation after the
move will be 2/26 Bn, Con
Depot Staff, Education Centre
and Concert party. The bad
feature of this grouping is
the number of dud WO &
NCO's we will get and NOT
use. Finished my malarial
treatment and now going on
to some atabrin to stall
it off for a while. 
T

Sunday 16
IJA Ration NCO told a
most extraordinary story
to our lads that has
spread like wild - fire. 
Place no reliance in it
myself and try to discount
these wild stories. Went
to 2/29 Mess for Col Dubois'
lecture on invasion of Europe.
(2nd of series)
MAY 2603
W
Monday 17
27 more bags of mail at the
Conference house. Held up
because Poms have not yet
completed their sort of the 
last lot! Starting another
bogey competition on our letter
putting green. Visited Ferg
who will be going off with the
Hosp next week to Kranji.
Expect ambulance commn bi-weekly
T
Tuesday 18
Now that so many have moved
to the Gaol we are badly

pushed for men. IJA will not
let the GL Party be reduced
so now we are using no-duty
men for essential camp
work. Nips have also failed to
supply the promised material
for mens huts yet insist all

must move by end of month.

 

[*Tramp with lady's boots. 

Not very passionate.*]

X  MAY 2603
F
Wednesday 19
X  Yanks like women over 50 -
don't tell, don't yell, don't swell
and are grateful. 
Russ, Robbie & I went to
YMCA hut to view the entries
for the AIF Memorial - Some
first class jobs priced at £

5,000. More mail in but
had no luck. Still was
allowed to read Russell's.
Does Jess work or not? How
does the bank balance go?
S
Thursday 20
Spent a lot of day censoring
Offrs diaries. Remarkable
the absolute rot some of
of these lads write. Reinf
Offrs who did not see a shot
fired are writing Bn and
campaign histories. Ray
Baxter & I getting out a
complete casualty list. 
[*Pickpockets baby with stiff arms.
Shown a water midwifes
wedding ring*]
MAY 2603
S
Friday 21
A further conference at Camp
HQ. It appears that the IJA
have cut my prospective
assistant Offrs down from 5
to 2. So I have chosen Russ
& Robbie. Have a feeling that 
the majority of Offrs may be
moved away from the tps.
Had a yarn to Col Oakes at
night on final Bn arrangements
after release. 
M
Saturday 22
Had a busy morning
finishing off Offrs diaries
and some war records
for Col Oakes (who is
suddenly taking an interest
in the Bn that he has
hardly seen for two years.
Of course I take his advice
with my tongue in my
cheek. Formal Mess

 

MAY 2603
T
Sunday 23
Camp a hive of activity. Trailers
flat out moving gear to our
new home. Huts being pulled
down and re-erected by the
dozen. IJA not very helpful.
Promised material has not
eventuated. Went to hospital
with Rolly Oakes and saw some
of our worst cases. Madge, &
Muspratt. WOII Sid Blee there. 
W
Monday 24
Salvaging going on apace.
The buildings are gradually
becoming bare and most
of our conveniences have
departed. Greatest trouble
is trying to strike a balance 
between keeping enough
kitchen gear for the Bn and
letting enough go to
establish our new home.
MAY 2603
T
Tuesday 25
IJA refuse any extention
of time despite shortage
of accomodation for nearly
3000 men. Offrs who were
4 per cubicle are crushing up
to 7 which will house about
half that number but still
leave at least 1300 out in the
rain. Padre Duckworth
lectured on a continental tour
with the 1935 Cambridge eight.
F
Wednesday 26
Working out. Skeleton staffs
to keep the Bn going in two
parts. One half under me
here & the others at Gaol. 
Move out a further 65 unfit
today & get 75 AASC in their
place! Suppose I could
let the little Digger go to Hell &
have some mental ease tho
I am afraid I cannot develop
the habit. 

 

MAY 2603
S
Thursday 27
Have recd two more letters from
Jess, One from Marj & One from Dad.
Browned off badly today due
to John Eales knocking back
adj's job at Gaol because it
looked as through conditions
may be better with the other
Offrs. After shepherding him so
long I thought he was one lad
I could rely on for loyalty. 
S

Friday 28
40 BIII to move to hospital
replacing Kranji personnel
who departed very
hurridly when 80 trucks
suddenly arrived in the
square. John Eales and
a skeleton Adm Party
moved out to Gaol. Two
of the ducks have been
stolen despite Pede & Sully.
MAY 2603
M
Saturday 29
After getting some more
Offrs & ORs away had a
general scout round. At
night had a Jap in with a 
couple of prisoners caught
out of bounds. Took Scottie
over to their guard house
and after an unpleasant ½
hour got them off. - Will I take
it out of them at O/R tomorrow
T
Sunday 30
Great day of conferences. We
all move tomorrow. Of course
being last out we get the worst
end of the stick. Trailers arrive 
at 1400 hrs & must be loaded
& returned to square by 1500!
1 Trailer to 25 Offrs! Still we'll
get there somehow. Still wkg
at lights out. Fixed my greens
stealers. (45 days pay fine!)

 

MAY-JUNE 2603
W
Monday 31
After much tribulation
the move was accomplished.
However quarters are temporary
and most will move again
in about a fortnight. Russ
Bert, Ray & Self have a native
warders flat. Will just hold
three beds and a very small
table. Having a job keeping
Jim Yaxley. Place over-administered
to Blazes.
T
Tuesday 1
Spent day sorting out bodies
and getting kitchens established.
Russ & I took a walk thru
the gaol and saw a lot
of our lads who were
inside. General scheme is
that we will re-group in
a week or two when new huts
completed. IJA guards are not
troublesome. 2 more letters
from Jess & Marj.
JUNE 2603
F
Wednesday 2
Another day getting orders & 
counterorders. Gaol made to
hold 800 prisoners & 200 warders -
now housing 10,000. The strain
on the water service, etc very
hard. Now have four beds in
the room (12 x 10') incl 2 door-ways
because Gen Saito will
not allow beds on the little
front verandahs!
S
Thursday 3
Am settled down enough now
to study the reaction of nearly
1000 mixed, British, Aust, Dutch,
American & Italian Offrs living
in a congested area. So many
Cols all trying to be important
on silly little jobs. 2 Cols to run
an Offrs library of a few old worn
books, 4 Cols to run ½ acre of
garden. Each one putting in
the boot where he can. 

 

JUNE 2603
S
Friday 4
Thank God my interests are
still with the men. They have
developed into a crying, thankless 
lot but at least they
don't seem to have gone quite
as nuts as some Offrs. Last
night did Gaol Duty Offr and
sat up uselessly in state in
a big office. Our Offrs are being
pulled up frequently by Maj
"Split Pin" Wright their new boss.
M
Saturday 5
Inflation goes on apace. A few
prices copied from our canteen
board: cocoanuts .80c cigars .14
sugar 3.50 note books (20 pages) 1.05
shaving soap 3.50 matches .65 1 box
Flint 1.50 peanuts 4.00
Blades .50 pineapples .35 per lb.
Many orders re uniformity of
lines which drive us mad
considering the variety of gear. 
JUNE 2603
T
Sunday 6
Rumours rife. Hard to understand 
where they all came from:-
All offrs to Japan by 15th this
month, Selerang hospital to be
in this area by 15th etc etc.
Am sounding out the Offrs to
see what we can possibly 
do for Mrs Boyes after the show
is over. She should be up
against it a bit. Group W/T
messages being received.
MAY 44
W
Monday 7
Officers Pay.
                                IJA
              GROSS    DEDUCT     BANK      COMD.     NET.    
Col         310            30                230           20              30
Lt.Col     220           30                140           20              30 
MAJ       170            30                90             20              30
Capt       122            27                45             20              30
Lt            85             27                18               16              24

2/Lt         70.83       27                3.83           16               24
Getting fit from Gaol to keep up
our work figures as huts
become available.

 

JUNE 2603
T
Tuesday 8
Eating from our own kitchen
now and meals improving.
The ducks are settling down
I can nearly rely on two
per day now that help a lot
Letter from Ferg. He and
Robbie are doing well and in
any case Selerang must move
over here by the 15th. Our tps
move to their own area. 
X  Started Ray & Russ on 1 egg per day.
F
Wednesday 9
Another upsetting day. Caught
Pedro out on an egg racket.
Went over to the yard & got
five eggs. Previously have
never got better than two.
On enquiry find he had
made a contract to supply
a Yank with $30 per month. 
Will have to have a showdown 
with him.
[*11th  Russ & Ray on eggs*]
JUNE 2603
S
Thursday 10
After much searching and
enquiry am perfectly satisfied
that I did old Pede an injustice
is all fair & above-board.
Took his note for £50 for an
advance of $50, to replace One
for £75 he had given to Bill
Warry for the same amount.
Ducks have settled down to
a steady four per day.
Rations terribly poor & light.
SUN
Friday 11
Up early to see the work
parties away and then down
to the ducks for the usual four
eggs. One for Russ & Ray & two
for me. It is a great
temptation to be lousy and
have a good feed one of these
days. Russ & I got on to one
of our "Lismore" talks till all
hours. 

 

[*13th Ferg on eggs*]
JUNE 2603
M
Saturday 12
Pedro - round bright and
early with seven eggs out
of nine ducks! Had a great
feed to celebrate. Just as
well our meals are putrid
and today our meat ration
was wasted. Makes one cry.
Very cheerful atmosphere
round lines these days.
Everyone settling in.
T
Sunday 13
Ferg out of hospital. Am
sending him to the Offrs
group for a complete rest
for a month. Ducks
still doing their stuff (7 more)
Put Ferg on the egg contract.
Russ & I went to gaol for a 
band concert by the Camp Orch.
Brit, Aust, American & Dutch players.
JUNE 2603
W
Monday 14
Up to eight eggs out of nine.
Splashing them round to some
of our sick. At night AIF
Concert Party gave a road show
Was a first class show though
a few of the old tunes made
me very homesick. Still I
suppose it won't be long.
Getting very fed up and blue. 
T
Tuesday 15
No time to feel blue today.
Have had to move all the
lads to a new area behind
the Gaol. Stupidity to the fore.
Only half the huts ready and
the kitchen not finished. Each
man has 2'3" for his bed &
gear! Can only hope the RE's
will speed up a bit.
7 Eggs today. Gave five away.

 

[*"Stop that Miles" "Yes, Sir which
 way did it go"*]
JUNE 2603
F

Wednesday 16
Started studying Malay
under Jimmy Grose with
Russ & Ray. Got the pronunciation 
off pat and
now setting out to learn
twenty words per day. Find
it a Hell of a job concentrating
these days. Wonder how far
I will get? Canteen bringing
swarms of  bees that don't add
to our comfort.
S

Thursday 17
More Malay lessons though
I doubt if I can learn
very much in the time
available for the subject.
Poked round the lines, where
the men are terribly Jammed
up to 82 per small hut.
Refused to give up 1/3 of
a hut for a library.
JUNE 2603
S

Friday 18
Camp ordering four men
per Unit for Camp Police. Can't
get volunteers and men very
resentful at being detailed.
The rabbit owners lost very
heavily owing to the activities
of a dog who cleaned up
half the number. Ducks are
loafing, only four today.
Buying snails for duck
food @ .75c per 100!
M
Saturday 19
Inspection of lines by
camp comd. Canteen
prices still climbing up.
Making some progress
with Malay can talk to
Ray in a limited way.
ARP exercise that proved
almost as funny as the
wa-wa that ran thru
the lines midst great
glee from assembled Offrs

 

[*Robbie on eggs*]
JUNE 2603
T
Sunday 20
Reorganised the Malay
school. Ferg, Ron & I
are forming a beginners
class while Robbie, Russ 
& Ray crack on ahead
with their greater vocab.
Put Robbie on to the
egg racket. Black out &
brown outs put in force. 
W
Monday 21
Frightful doings. For each
word not learnt we get
one swipe with a razor
strap across the belly.
Ferg got 5, Ron 4, Ray 3, me 1.
Causes a lot of amusement
and certainly makes us
concentrate. Up till 0130
hrs with Cyril Wild. After
a watch-trading episode
JUNE 2603
T
Tuesday 22
Tired after my nights
running round with IJA
guard & then to guard-hut.
Geo Polain & Padre
Duckworth in for a yarn
at night Robbie, Russ, Roy,
Ray, Ron, Ferg & I had a 
game of liar dice. Spent a
good night and had the
best laugh for a long time.
F
Wednesday 23
Another move completed
and now have 300 of
the Unit housed in.
four huts in the final
area. Moving into our
own kitchen thank God..
Looks as though we will
not get any more meat.
Matie Madge died at
Kranji hospital.

 
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