Diary relating to service of Major Charles Patrick Tracey, 1944 - Part 8

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

SEPTEMBER 26OS Duntoy 12 Camp flat out talking of the lig ball game tomorrlow Tl yout offes have been betting very leavily at 5-1 the yanks. should be a fett even mater We have not side. Have a sore fings and will play sut field uless our rew pitttes weaks down. 49a 13 The beig bace game came off indecided sall after a se o a geodt game. The yanks lived up to their usule adition of bad spontsmest The yank uupine disactowy two suns to us. one a a pass ball that had been agreedt by both capts & umperes before e Goof &fs speckcas show in the Grave. Serremer Tuesday 14 Geo Polam & I now clearing up busial record of the Anit &0 2 6ch. Prepased to to home any time ho Great shory round of a safte dowe the beach who insisted on renarking Bunya muchan to a lifh and distinguished 15A offices taking a shall in inaress uniform reducdes 1o still persevening lasking after my ourchs Hough the results have been far from encauraging many & the laas sweas they will keep poultry after the show - I neae want to see one in the uneached form again - As far snails
SEPTEMBER 2803 Feday 16 spend the morning wih Bonce Hunt aswn the pedical quarters the called in to see pusss Cookie wts both look in the fink despite their malania. Keeping well aread o nax with the ctess. In yourt place a the ad laader lday 17 rens ancks laying well an Lerg has a si of clees Looks like an e9g Onlete sinctine saon whas a meat even though it will only be 493 each Gad knows what a man will do when be sees a full meal including about a faind of steak. SEPTEMBER 2803 Saunday 1o Dreffed down the hospital and saw russs Reg & efean up battle cosualties burial spots. 26o stoed have had this shuff cleared up this years ago. Bing away from Chargi so shuch has restricted te his efforts a lot my leasy auchs stel benen sails vr searce sang after a day se somer at Rell Event to Coroat Cnsue sor a licture by the sale Bart sprviva from Borg Panis Escafe step 26 day ino life boad without wate Orequally 136 d iit His exferienas inbelievable Hugh since been togedar again coming from sunata Goh one egg today!
& Pedes Benjo SEPIEHBER 2509 Hosay A wood on food- our Laps & the hips catch eat any stray dogo or cats they can get teil Lands & Pleny of will but very litte flea what there is is only doied fish, many feoft catch mails& flage for the same popes Lodby one y rons auchs died so in the fat he wert - He was not very rife Tasted N01 Fuesday 21 Just leard on against Pde se off train despite or des nit arrived. Pede said Benss hip Grued O Benjo: Pede frefared for action under te hips eye but could do so good while saill squarig the hip started to smalk ho face repearing On Beno Ox Berjo Serrmer m Wednesday 22 Sail in one fron Jesor on from may ges inluded a beaut mat of ste Lyne Lynse looks as though she will be as fretty as he matter. It has been installed in my pame and las had te effect of making me very mpatient I was to get tade more the eve egoi&e b Tareday 23 Drcks impoving got thee tday still seogging into the recoraswith John Seys fa brewed a great fees trigh cat of half th e 7 abee wit sone nice we savid from tee mixedii some snouled towgay faild te let with red pab arl (dugs saitail and lad it with a eggo afitrr
SEPTEMBER 2803 Fday 21 Declared a Latt Rolidy a recoss reading withford Tais 9marquant 13A issuing o7 y wile tobaced s ma fe week. I gave mine to a lad for same bananc leaves for the ducks spend about two Lews a day now losting after them results dan good. Got your tday. and some to my enas cospital seel ver vishon saturde 2 still th mail arives andthe son yess with a saa & Buse. Gas working at PSs Cau understand it sdd sape she is not stert of casp. always seped I cauld support he without he having to wese Surter what Laffers & Gyrad Serremer Cunday 2 Giving 35 / e9gs t the cospital sed a loh & the day at 2 Ech Binds proong seggs fa day but I shill oly get one myself. Andte tove at theng y the smorth locks as teugn & Gerg& I may be scarated- we e- I pixed it good Mondoy 2 Shill doing a bit of recording Rnky works in singyone daily ard despite all efforts of camp palice prove a great avenue for the camp radeteers wpo send in evenything they get their sands on for sale to the native same swine shell succeed in selling redical supplies.
SEPTEMBER 2800 L 20 Duchs still on six eggs to day. Hospital get say muse which leaves me2 and ge fer Terg. Rosbie has bee in Hspital with frmary maland and the had a relapse with flav paisoring Wil have a for the day & two in yet Retince D sown to see Bonle Hut is moming & paid alch a final witit to clear up the deaths. Sont the amo made it too hugh a the truct, so, after a bet of tobying I got BT t see Glymn white and get hi changed for Frank batell. Scrrmoen ocroan m thiea D On the nove again after displacing Robbie & Russ to N0rE aid suping sadwe to the gunrers Lergy I icold in with Rupert and Bent. Wen asand to te Cocoant losve for a tria but get wasted sut half way through Enday Declared a lay Sonday and played some ass Barket with Large Rupert thereby wvening a cigat Gave bat shafe three eggs for ane of his lads at Hrane (as if I savit got enelign of my own witout getting better by other sent comas
MOrM Salutday Welltheres been a day of activeny teday Cbl Oakes seciaed to pistest about the punshnent two & our lass have been given by the repopp& attlrugh s av iff ave I ame want hs interferice ad said as wel te result that I cupoet & be left in peace for a while sueeys Jess birthday lere- He last have away from her I am ouse Dack yea I save been able to clhate am geting cabe made Rlice, gula 188 uts sugar, coanut troufd to the sweet lase nas lommay t amonstases can manage a cup sprice copee& weoa silt too OCTORER 280S Moman son Dyer, seog, Jou Cales, Geo Palanss had a great feea of a very Loggys net very tasky cake in kenow of Jess. I lid to coninue each year as many 9 us tat can gltter with our respective wives tracked my 37t year and put on a mild fees for se, max, Bent, Rupert, Ferg Russ aowe fo a year at nigit. tae Cal Gallighan called a meetng & sares 1s2 opps to awuis e99 We save 23 lade a trange and as many res who ar sick and dying soo wat o goa food. We can pay 35-40 ces for eggs sor then but the s Opet Izeasr senetto seen. If auch ownes wit play the whca bessay lo would be cafascated I thit
OCTOBER 2AS Meang& He old audes still chu aut 1009 eggs. I give the oap at Eeast 507 and sell a few attrs to by suails so all tols 3 dos save too man ane This exerces weved cure we for all fi & any ixeas 9 venning Lally ende nomal circumstances Many The sead weo isa Baisbane jouralish is saving a crack at a beek o the Be and I spent mest of the day getting him up to date an the was dear a. am afraid figue out & propertion in it due to sem apiai be has gatted from the ads on gth sen offes OCTOBER 2803 Enday 8 My rell is away being bound so I can ao ao work. Have no bads to nead Have feet the ducks and Teog hs nalaria Hire is a calts bactall gave on Will fiet up say Bante go serenand look and any foomerig saan an pasisfied it is time Derchegd from active t Saturday I Tunth eggmeeting latest conactertions to be 5070 and 100 2p each day the tauch leaves for tranp. the a your times for noth aaph Col newey and his orders I am gieng to casinal suugging my raughty bays tough Bn OR
OCTDETR MS Dunday 10 Put the final touches a my wnts secorde. Hank God tats doe Heard sday Brigranly to be left for Japar sone sine ago is sew in gava, Don't place any reliane on these shories tat cisculate without fou dakeon sa far eggo to our sick a Lrangis Mongoy Rations goug to sell Rice full y weavels, maggets, and guubo dish small sheres. Hhe fress fire (2B57 pd man p day) is days i and stirks to High Heaven. Daies fire is a old it is literally falling apar. Ait is as low we go only enaugh to fry one amalt aadoe se day sa ma ony other gad is the casteliss greens OCTOBER 2603 Tueeday 12 givon in se ow gardens. Byan is not as bad it has he taste amerint is foul tasting and as a let is mixed with crice it yfoits eayting Hhe litte tea we get is infirely stalk & dust. Toby was able to buy a fand of tafiseo and rushed it with m ears back Bailed placs it will set be so giee Hodneeday 13 174 issued orders that all enseranmonts autsioe the Gaol must cease, poshable acce to the lighing The reason given was that kave Paw was heard inging God save the King in a rebals nane The satided times out frety good with the cocsannt ad sone gula aaded
ROerRM Thurdday 14 Hhe Fows as a wtale ase fast bosing a sense o propertio was called before bal prakes because sane fool flind the remak in his reaiig that th bols were gettn more rice the the atter ys I had t carry out on enquires in my sut a vas paspention man of then will finish up trenaties if they dout getout ste Pridan 15 154 restrictions have been tightesed up more. No corcerto, se gatterings, so gramophores, & musical inatrumes to be played. all white clothing to be dyed darkes (to vesible from the aid Lergs I played a bit of Russian Bankel. OCTOBER 280S Stehday 16 Att taking faionty ot all else. It lleks as though someg oue flares may be expected any time. What a seo aa if a nan get aasched aut newlly are gous owr bonbs! Had a black out abou 2rohos for an Low but I think was only a pactice Sunday 17 Ten Saito waited to shully sue ARRarangements so a alow was put on The fomaple attaction was wass saoth gruing his celebrated imitation o a bemb my let has dispersed sutcide the wire so the ancks will benefit by sore freshly cut banana leaves. Brg feed a Pedne, Bully sexsself
no OTORER 2803 Monday 18 Just received a dece slock weiges for some is4 regirte cara and paled 167 Ebs 1133l00! Cauld not believe my weight was down that nach gust your stons lighter than whon I on bakedt Yeas is going to have a sacces ou in frox t he fabiing me ip again wesdoy 10 Had a Jap round the peas after & tade in aucks. Have talked him into a swap of two was savy ancs or one o my beg layess. If is comes of I will have nango fash fe twas Day if we are stit enough to still be see OrDEER MS Wednesday 20 th work is being take very seviously by our guaas conltad sow outs black out sigrals aigt & day the touble id that we avery concetated and if bonts doffed casnalties weald be serifie dnly are small tagusn pace Marsday 21 Heavy conference at Enre a colttee to sen te thit Laurar is schems. much as I distike thes semaunal shaws I thing I will save fermit it on this occasee lefte all I will te lads to hap souch with the sish in resptal sere,

SEPTEMBER 2603
T
Sunday 12
Camp flat-out talking of the 
big ball game tomorrow.

The Yank Offrs have been 
betting very heavily at 5-1
the Yanks. Should be a 
pretty even match - We have 
a hot side. Have a sore 
finger and will play outfield
unless our new pitcher
breaks down.
W
Monday 13
The big ball game came off 
undecided 3 all after a Hell 
of a good game. The Yanks
lived up to their usual
traditional of bad sportsmanship.
The Yank Umpire disallowed 
two runs to us. One on a pass
ball that had been agreed to
by both Capts & Umpires before
the game. Good Offrs “Speak easy”
show in the Grove. 
SEPTEMBER 2603
T
Tuesday 14
Geo Polain & I now cleaning
up burial records of the
Unit for 2 Bch. Prepared to
go home any time now.
Great story round of a 
sapper down the beach
who insisted on remarking
"Bunya muckan" Is a high
and distinguished IJA
Officer taking a stroll in
undress uniform.
F
Wednesday 15
Still persevering looking 
after my ducks though
the results have been far
from encouraging. Many
of the lads swear they
will keep poultry after
the show - I never want to
see one in the uncooked
form again - as for
snails -

 

SEPTEMBER 2603
S
Thursday 16
Spent the morning with
Bruce Hunt down the
Medical quarters then
called in to see Russ &
Cookie who both look
in the pink despite their
malaria. Keeping well
ahead of Max with the
chess. In fourth place on
the AI.F ladder.
S
Friday 17
Rons ducks laying well
and Ferg has a tin of cheese.
Looks like an egg omlete
sometime soon. What a meal
even though it will only
be 4 oz each! God knows
what a man will do when
he sees a full meal including
about a pound of steak.
 SEPTEMBER 2603
M
 Saturday 18
Dropped down the hospital
and saw Russ & Reg to
clean up battle casualties
burial spots. 2 Bch should
have had this stuff cleared
up two years ago. Being
away from Changi so much
has restricted the Bns efforts
a lot. My lousy ducks still
barren & snails very scarce.
T
Sunday 19
After a day on nominal Roll
went to Cocoanut Grove for
a lecture by the sole Brit
survivor from Brig Paris'
"Escape Ship" 26 days in a
life-boat without water.
Originally 136 on it. His
experiences unbelievably
tough. Since been torpedoed
again coming from Sumatra.
Got One egg today!

 

[*Pede's Banjo.*]
SEPTEMBER 2603
W
Monday 20
A word on food - Our chaps
& the Nips catch & eat any stray
dogs or cats they can get their
hands on. Plenty of rice but
very little flesh. What there is
is only dried fish. Many
people catch snails & frogs
for the same purpose. Today
one of Ron's ducks died so
in the pot he went - He was
not very ripe. Tasted No 1.
T
Tuesday 21
Just heard one against Pede.
Got off train despite orders.
nip arrived. Pede said
"Benjo". Nip grunted "OK
Benjo." Pede prepared for
action under the Nips eye
but could do no good.
While still squatting the
Nip started to smack his
face repeating "OK Benjo"
"OK Benjo"
SEPTEMBER 2603
F
Wednesday 22
Mail in. One from Jess & One from
Mum. Jess' included a beaut
snap of she & Lynne. Lynne
looks as though she will be
as pretty as her mother. It has
been installed in my frame
and has had the effect of making
me very impatient - I want to
get back more than ever.
Eggs up to 2 today.
S
Thursday 23
Ducks improving got three eggs
today. Still slogging into the
records with John. Ferg &
Ron brewed a great feed tonight.
Cut of half the tin of cheese
with some rice we saved from
tea mixed in some sprouted
tourgay & fried the lot with
red palm oil (Fergs hair oil)
and had it with 2 eggs apiece.

 

SEPTEMBER 2603
S
Friday 24
Declared a half-holiday on
records. Reading "Wikford Point"
(J.P. Marquand). IJA issuing
1 oz of vile tobacco per man per
week. I gave min to a lad for
some banana leaves for the
ducks. Spend about two hours
a day now looking after them
results damn good. Got four
today. Send some to my lads
in hospital. Feel - very virtuous
M
Saturday 25
Still the mail arrives.
Another from Jess with a snap
of Lynne. Jess working at
DJs. Can't understand it
I do hope she is not
short of cash. Always
hoped I could support her
without her having to work.
Further what happens to Lynne?
SEPTEMBER 2603
T
Sunday 26
Giving 35% eggs to the 
hospital. Spend a lot of
the day at 2 Bch. Birds
producing 5 eggs per day
but I still only get One
myself. Another move at
the end of the month, looks
as though f Ferg & I
may be separated. - No
we won't - I fixed it good.
W
Monday 27
Still doing a bit of recording.
"P" Party works in Singapore
daily and despite all efforts
of camp police prove a
great avenue for the camp
racketeers who send in
everything they get their hands
on for sale to the natives.
Some swine still succeed
in selling medical supplies.

 

SEPTEMBER 2603
T
Tuesday 28
Ducks still on six eggs per
day. Hospital get half
mine which leaves me 2
and One for Ferg. Robbie
has been in hospital with
primary malaria and then
had a relapse with plas.
poisoning. Will have a
further day or two in yet.
F
Wednesday 29
Down to see Bruce Hunt
in morning & paid 2 bch a
final visit to clean up
the deaths. Smith, the RMO
made it too tough on the
Unit, so after a bit of
lobying I got B J to see
Glynn White and got him
changed for Frank Cahill.
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2603
S
Thursday 30
On the move again. After
displacing Robbie & Ross to
HUT E1. and Supine Brown
to the gunners Ferg & I
moved in with Rupert and
Bart. Went round to the
Cocoanut Grove for a trial
but got washed out half
way through.
S
Friday 1 
Declared a half holiday
and played some chess &
Banker with Ferg & Rupert
thereby winning a cigar.
Gave Col Kappe three eggs
for One of his lads at
Kranji (as if I haven't got
enough of my own without
getting bitten by other Unit
Comds)

 

OCTOBER 2603
M
Saturday 2
Well there's been a day of
activity today. Col Oakes
decided to protest about
the punishment two of our
lads have been given by
the nip offr & although I don't
approve I don't want his
interference and said so with
the result that I expect to
be left in peace for a while.
T
Sunday 3
Jess' birthday here - The last
one away from her I am
sure. Each year I have been
able to celebrate. Am getting
a cake made. Rice, gula, eggs,
peanuts, sugar, cocoanut.
Should to the sweet last
sufficient honour under the
circumstances. Can manage
a cup of rice coffee & cocoanut
milk too.
OCTOBER 2603
W
Monday 4
Don Dyer, Ferg, John Eales,
Geo Polain & I had a great feed
of a very soggy & not very
tasty cake in honour of Jess.
Intend to continue each year
as many of us that can gather
with our respective wives.
Cracked my 37th year and put
on a mild feed for Ron, Max,
Bert, Rupert, Ferg. Russ down
for a yarn at night.
T
Tuesday 5
Col Gallighan called a meeting
of senior AIF Offrs to discuss eggs.
We have 23 lads at Kranji
and as many here who are
sick and dying for want of good
food. We can pay 35-40 cents
for eggs for them, but the Yanks
offer $2 cash. - Results to be
seen. If duck owners won't
play the whole bloody lot
should be confiscated - I think

 

OCTOBER 2603
F
Wednesday 6
The old ducks still churn
out 100% eggs. I give the
hosp at least 50% and
sell a few others to buy
snails so all told I don't
have too many over. This
experience would cure me
for all time of any ideas
of running poultry under
normal circumstances
S
Thursday 7
The Gerardi who is a
Brisbane journalist is
having a crack at a book
On the Bn and I spent
most of the day getting
him up to date on the
war diary etc. Am afraid
I figure Out of proportion
in it due to some opinions
he has gathered from the
lads or other sen. offrs.
OCTOBER 2603
S
Friday 8
My roll is away being
bound so I can do no
work. Have no books to
read. Have fed the ducks
and Ferg has malaria.
There is a a colts baseball
game on. Will pick up
Ray Baxter & go down and
look over any promising
talent. Am satisfied it is 
time I retired from active 
sports.
M
Saturday 9
Further egg meeting latest
contributions to be 50%
and 100% each day the
truck leaves for Kranji,
three & four times per month.
Despite Col Newey and his
orders I am going to continue!!
slugging my naughty
boys through Bn O/R.

 

OCTOBER 2603
T
Sunday 10
Put the final touches on my
Unit records. Thank God
thats done. Heard today
Brig Varley who left for Japan
some time ago is now in
Java. Don't place any reliance

on these stories that circulate
without foundation. Sent five
eggs to our sick at Kranji
W
Monday 11
Rations going to Hell. Rice full
of weavils, maggots, ants, grubs.
dirt & small stones. The fresh fish
(2/3 oz per man per day) is days old
and stinks to High Heaven. Dried
fish is so old it is literally
falling apart. Oil is as low we get
only enough to fry one small
doover per day per man. Only other
food is the tasheboos greens
OCTOBER 2603
T
Tuesday 12
grown in our own gardens.
Biryan is not as bad - it has
no taste, amerinth is foul -
tasting and as a lot is mixed
with rice it spoils everything.
The little tea we get is entirely
stalk or dust. Today was able
to buy a pound of tapioco and
rushed it with my cart back.
Boiled plain it will not be so good.
F
Wednesday 13
IJA issued orders that all
entertainments outside the
Gaol must cease, probably
due to the lighting. The reason
given was the some P.O.W.
was heard singing "God Save
the King" in a ribald manner!
The tapioco turned out pretty
good with cocoanut and
some gula added.

 

OCTOBER 2603
S
Thursday 14
The POWs as a whole are fast
loosing a sense of proportion.
Was called before Col Jeater
because some fool passed
the remark, in his hearing,
that the Cols were getting
more rice than the other offrs.
I had to carry out an enquiry
in my hut on vast proportions.
Many of them will finish up
lunatics if they don't get out soon.
S
Friday 15
IJA restrictions have been
tightened up more. No
concerts, or gatherings, No
gramophones, or musical
instruments to be played.
All white clothing to be
dyed darker (too visible
from the air). Ferg & I played
a bit of Russian Banker.
OCTOBER 2603
M
Saturday 16
ARP taking priority to all
else. It looks as though
some of our flares may be
expected any time. What a
poor show if a man got
knocked out now by one
of our own bombs! Had
a black out about 2100 hrs
for a hour but I think it
was only a practice.
T
Sunday 17
Gen Saits wanted to study
our ARR arrangements so a
show was put on. The principle
attraction was Ward-Booth
giving his celebrated imitation
of a bomb. My hut has
dispersed outside the wire so
the ducks will benefit by some
freshly cut banana leaves.
Big feed on Pedro, Sully Ferg & self

 

[[*man*]]
OCTOBER 2603
W
Monday 18
Just received a decent shock.
Weighed for some IJA registrars
card and scaled 157 lbs -
11st 3 lbs! Could not believe
my weight was down that
much. Just four stones
lighter than when I embarked.
Jess is going to have a 
decent job in front of her
fattening me up again.
T
Tuesday 19
Had a Jap round the pens
after a trade in ducks.
Have talked him into a 
swap of two muskovy
ducks for one of my big
layers. If it comes off I
will have enough cash
for Xmas Day if we are stiff
enough to still be here.
OCTOBER 2603
F
Wednesday 20
ARP work is being taken 
very seriously by our
guards. Constant brown
out & black-out signals
night & day. The trouble
is that we are very 
concentrated and if bombs
dropped casualties would
be terrific. Only one small
area to disperse & no trenches.
S
Thursday 21
Heavy conference at Bn re
a committee to run the Unit
Insurance Scheme. Much as
I dislike these communal
shows I think I will have
to permit it on this occasion.
After all I will use the
lads to keep touch with
the sick in hospital here.

 


 

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