Diary relating to service of Major Charles Patrick Tracey, 1944 - Part 9

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

OCTOBER 2OS Friday 22 All the Ilalian officers mast move into Gasl with no sutside confacts and not even batner. This is expecued as a recunity measure - so are can see cot. Feags I spen the ving building a bath fo the seas littl anchs wh are still layinng very well Sacurday 23 Played cricket yesterday Comband Offees loud ORs Set 2:12 off Strrel overs and 3o odd s.0 In a Hell of a stew. Repert & teaden abet tried to selt watchs through Pedws o gd who was arreated Cal hewey Sahatasti kicking of a Hello a naw nam i is bying to assease bat Galligin who is talking sever action against the Orwern mr Dandey 24 83 leard clarged in Beine Abe fo tading Rivingshore as agan. Is recording a repunad In first two and taking a summay of eviduce reganed Pedro. Iold me in conidence that unless they becone further involved will nor proceed with the chare as recording after our release. Londey 2 Callaies ops basball sear against yes Wo wnafte easing up a los to nate a game of it Had ray maneon dswr to mess as night. Planes constanly suetead deg figg They filsh snow low to Laidl their places habe quik a dena asatien very nterestay to wateh
OCTOBER 2503 Tuesday 28 Having great difficulty with our Hespital soheme to selp the lads at Krain Restrction are placed in ous way in all directions. The latest Affficulty is so conespadence being allowed back fort. all the receipts she sent in this week were destreyed by te 17A cap cand Heaneeday 2 On our third day o ivery wet weather. Have grown sene accunbers tonat plants in a seed hos + new Ferg. Bet & I are having great from planting thm sut a bedy mases are put spanting ss are by thse days we hope to imposve an longy mertan a bit owern Ms Thurodoy 28 suchs still going well laying 5-6 daily. The tonble is we have so many sick eaas I seldom get any myself. shill it wont he long +It is for a good cause. Ped seed me ben aucklings that should be about half grow for kmas of we are shill her will make at least one gaso fas endos & Have instituted a compulsory insurance seleme in the wnck back man pays in1 days pay t mand (425) previdin be eases I a sael. In the evas of lim gaing sick o of work be hs his pay made up to 33.In additi gits extra canten purchases with onces maney
OrDErR M Sacurdar 80 Sor some sime Camp office has been trying &o devise mean o lating sve all privately awned pauetry bach sine thy have tries we have been able to feet up camtssdon He lalest is ty are gan to witharaw all the were settig His will set te fave swneds but fortunately the andca be peased withou were Sunday 31 sid a gaod deal with a yark off with fax more cas than sende Tharasly lis dad is may wealk and he mase a stack on the alas mare in china. Hav taken his pp for $1000 for the load of $100 malay. she andes should Lay fr teselves I have coverd my sove be wa finse bets t about 8125 WoVEmarn MN Monday misfortune A great t as befallen Pide sd same sivine lifter 1500 precious sails from one and you somas fiay but they cast 1150 fet 100 and no suails means is ego. We are scratehing said now to get the any at all. That was a he nex aupply Fardy want to a lecture last night by Pilet off MPleasn who is a cordon samile. He talkes on the loss of the famous Tetis subnasme. It appeared to be a case7f mercing muddling when it shaned have been quite easy to save t whate seow. i saved from 103 (Davisgea)
NoVEMerR MS Hetresday 3 Have jst remembered that the linet has a birttday late this month and mus ce let it go mncheced. back off las agreed to conilents sne doleal & Ian going to get Beg sawson to lake up a cake of son sow so we aan sit soud tgett sux a cup oric cosse Marsdoy This hel sewey is a swire He openly talks of lis 15A backing. Dorason th pali that his is not a militory cay & we are you unde military law sives offenders aclitary confin on lighe food and despite all pholishs runs the go witlew t refresatation Tut the will be solid referussies after we get sut norenven w Endays After 994 days sow we have ald a visit from an own sonee. a large flight of 3295 were one ty wer slanl visable sough I missed the a ten of lamles o pix and till wole a inexploded 37 landed in the carp. as for as we can ascertain so bents wee a effed & to seland caturdoy o of course there is only one tofie of conversation ou the camp today. Have just leard tat Lomoy Haham from Lesmore and late A lay ion has been brough in from Outran ond Sadl in feby bad conaition was no allowed to see him tnight
Noremern r SundayI organising some sort 17 a eed for the whele Be for & mas sach nam will contribut D1 and Dawsen can do a leet of saving. we lefe at least to put a a sas puidding and all eat togeth. Ie laas have received the sugestion very well dill be il last tget we hope nthers another nisit from th aid we orly saw one place & leard on stick of bonbs go over singafore. Others sweat bhy saw nae very hand up for suches cigars the sige of organtes are now ageach Wide world magagine at Cocvanat Grove NOVEMBER 280S FOaS bol sarris, &/c offer Et is tryng to persuade the hips to allow us to sell any our raluables in singafore to obtan same casl put in ane belties Have meatened and feet my hame down to alll my watch with a reserve o $500 on it suppose some one wil make a frofet a tadial Wodnesday 10 en saito did a tem of the lines which aid het have as exacting as dne would expect the anchs beconing a worry as anaits availabl and egg are diopping off in both nembe - sige. sell set allowed to see Somny Graham,
1000 day & POw Life NOVEMBER 2503 Thureday i1 Armishis Day. I a have taken ones ceremny 15A Templ Bugle call relaces last Poot ate so we lave baned the service, 1000 days Pow up teday juse figived out that auaing that feies have built of K.1316.12.4 in the pay book Hap geas has a bit of he L6 h week left will rake a nic shaot if fous are sotimpssible Col Naris has been told we cannot see valuables as it would suety lead to inflation (Cocoaant new I ween they were a10.) infired a basetall match between 1/30 - 2/29 which we wane comfortably 11-7. Kay manon saund at night Noremern ms Sty 18 shew the mddning with some fith offer just catside the were cutting th long gass to at a sieeze drough to their but. I thought it would be a great afetunity to gathe same suails but all I got was a landful of blishers and no suails. Fergcacking up a honitil brew of native sago + cocoant & gula malacca Sunday 14 Io year I have scooled myself net to worry about some or roing the repossible about getg away but now I am guawnly verfireshless and fild it ensessigl hard to be patie partioulaly as I have veen getng some mall lately. 3 from jesse from man.
NOVEMBER 26OS Monday 16 I lote suail wornies are aue We lave organses a feel as tat no one abrued be shot I am not being sugpoticatical in sayg sat the each y eggo fet the respital si lardy the hase for the belly shey are no essential for many g our last said autuna brocus at the Gadl Meake First clasdow Euesday 16 stending a lot of since thiting out plans for after the was Feel sorely tempted to act for teweartle a Toulbur would like to get neare t syany though I dread the bought of working in a big offict said to say wleth I would be capable of auting else muse fo a detili. NOUEMBER 2803 Wednooday 17 Went down to hospital and was allowed to see somoy Gratan from Risindal, Back from Bones with an 18 siths friss sabece Had a fietty bad time and was send sut from autran Ad sase in had conditit io responding to gaod treat ment tough shill has no use of lanas & feet. Thursday 18 received a wreless message from Jess direct. Am told is was send on 8t of ths mont accowed to red a reply. Lynse leasning siane gess working past time at David fares. Well I aupon it keeps be occupies and nears some iin more so hape see is not short y aa she should not be
NOUEMBER 2803 Pray 15 Tood issues getting much smalle and know the tobacn issue fao as it was, has been shofped. The lack of siches lits two ways as it nakes one twice as Lungry and if the food gets much eighte we might just as well sarve and get itt aver. Brace a sand for ness Seturday 20 gg dow to thee food snort and no smokes. Life is becoming really trugh hipe not so bad apt all Had a nisit this afternoo by some more S295. One wen are sead not a bet corcered at the ratte wild and starse AA fir Rormerk Sunday 21 suails beconing inoe pantiful and a rise in egas today to 6. Lst regit Day, Dougles and Baldock shaffed by camp pahe coning in afte light out Denglas sul te ma raw sult bel revey trahers all grav gase inleas culft a i p aftera los of talkI got to ceress andthe shaw daw dodged Monday 22 hae time ago I brugn di day ald duckigs prow Fide and left t in his oeen Am convinced that I wavls not get eggs from them for months so I an swapping with Iam MEgo for two layers so my flock will be back to eigat. Will improve the mcoe a bit
NOVEMBER 2603 NOVEMBER 280S Ay 23 Fueboy 23 appointed wos cant audit He swap was a good one. Set lat 1000 his sasl sbard f arrived at sadl to find that eight eggs & fo seapihal are this pt involves the dick of fie eas Terg I ad three fds our cassens and the camp finances in cake the oue Surday iit daly general. A Baggos, us ais ane afher making suve that a s5r2 Yepe complete th Board Douglas wadled go before helke of them have any idea of Thempson stelling him boots keeping! Have been going up I lave sudded sikewy sas orcered him to affead bamp the het affer lights out for a yar ofice sunday morning has sleeping to good these days. Neseday 21 t organised a team o cleckers and The pettiness of some of the officers gets me down. Rua made a start on the audit. Gx abe planded absus a go for as stacktaking and desking the cash. will settle aswn a the eldzen tomate plants round backs tomorrow. God selp me the side of teit but some whole mess had the evening meat else was interested now together and lates a cp y offee & that the plants tooke like beaing a lot want the the famous cake Col Galligha folsen. Cales, Lake - Lawry thes embodied in a sat garden. toad - wit- cand 1 Ki (in revere ad
NOUEMEER MIS Saturday 27 Put in the day at the Gadl on the camp andit. my tros letfers have not sroved a great success. Had to do all other than sautine checking myself se sufpyy of saya bland is exhaussed and has we will get 15 9m (13) of Burgay Tohal feed to day is now about 239 all told p2 day Strn, N Finished off the carp unait and was able to buy a few agoss a 28 cats and cigoredes a82 p pactll marey is prachically ins use aes. unless something happens soon we will go very close to sharvation. Iving to bed mry, very hungry. NOVEMBER 2803 Manday 23 was recalled to andit the Hosptal & Offer Patients hess Hospital was Ox leact the messr books (o lack oy them) was besody awful could not do other than put old Bill sixn Hhe is an incoptet old soo and has rung on for years as On because the is bee sumon aothein law Mstay 80 shand the morning on reports and having a yar to Le Baggott of USAE tells some great stories of their activities ove Burna & chia Had a most acqueting stonyg that all Find offs are to nere inside the sasl in the sex couple of days.

OCTOBER 2603
S
Friday 22
All the Italian officers
must move into Gaol with 
no outside contacts and
not even batmen. This is
explained as a security
measure - no one can see
why. Ferg & I spent the
morning building a bath
for the dear little ducks who
are still laying very well.
M
Saturday 23
Played cricket yesterday. Combined
Offrs v Comd O/Rs. Got 2-12 off three
overs and 30 odd N.O. In a Hell
of a stew. Rupert & Mahon Abel
tried to sell watches through
Pedro & an O/R who was arrested.
Col Newey & Takahashi kicking up
a Hell of a row. Main job is trying
to appease Col Gallighan who is
talking severe action against the
offrs.
OCTOBER 2603
T

Sunday 24
B J heard charges on Beirne & Abel
for trading & Livingstone as
agent. Is recording a reprimand
on first two and taking a
summary of evidence against
Pedro. Told me in confidence
that unless they become further
involved will NOT proceed with
the charge as recordings after our
release.
W
Monday 25
Captained Offrs baseball team
against O/Rs. Won 14-11 after
easing up a lot to make a
game of it. Had Roy
Manion down to mess at
night. Planes constantly
overhead dog fighting. They
pilots know how to handle
their planes. Make quite a 
demonstration very interesting
to watch.

 

OCTOBER 2603
T
Tuesday 26
Having great difficulty with
our Hospital Scheme to help
the lads at Kranji. Restrictions
are placed in our way in all
directions. The latest difficulty
is No correspondence being
allowed back & forth. All
the receipts etc sent in this
week were destroyed by
the IJA camp comd.
F
Wednesday 27
On our third day of very
wet weather. Have grown
some cucumbers & tomato
plants in a seed box &
now Ferg, Bert & I are having
great fun planting them out.
A bed of radishes are just
sprouting so one of these days
we hope to improve our lousy
muskan a bit.
OCTOBER 2603
S
Thursday 28
Ducks still going well
laying 5-6 daily. The trouble
is we have so many sick
lads I seldom get any
myself. Still it won't be long
& it is for a good cause. Pedro
sold me ten ducklings that
should be about half-grown
for Xmas if we are still here
will make at least one good
feed.
S
Friday 29
Have instituted a compulsory
insurance scheme in the Unit.
Each man pays in 1 days pay
per month (₡25) providing he
earns $4 or over. In the event of
him going sick or off work he
has his pay made up to $3. In
addition gets extra canteen
purchases with excess money.

 

OCTOBER 2603
M
Saturday 30
For some time Camp Office has
been trying to devise means
of taking over all privately
owned poultry. Each time they
have tried we have been
able to put up counter-schemes
The latest is they are going to
withdraw all the wire netting.
This will hit the fowl owners
but fortunately the ducks can
be penned without wire.
T
Sunday 31
Did a good deal with a yank
Offr with far more cash than
sense. Apparently his dad is
very wealthy and he made
a stack on the black market
in China. Have taken his
P/N for $1000 for the loan of
$100 Malay. The ducks should
pay for themselves & I have
covered my "November War finish"
bets for about £120.
NOVEMBER 2603
W
Monday 1
A great tradgedy misfortune
has befallen Pede & I. Some
swine lifted 1500 precious
snails from our duck yard.
Sounds funny but they
cost $1.50 per 100 and no
snails means no eggs.
We are scratching hard now
to get them any at all. That
was a two-month supply.
T
Tuesday 2
Went to a lecture last night
by Pilot Offr McPherson who is
a London Barrister. He talked
on the loss of the famous
"Thetis” submarine. It
appeared to be a case of
mucking & muddling when
it should have been quite
easy to save the whole show.
4 saved from 103. (Davis gear)

 

NOVEMBER 2603
F
Wednesday 3
Have just remembered that
the unit has a birthday
late this month and must
not let it go unnoticed.
Each Offr has agreed to
contribute one dollar & I am
going to get Reg Dawson
to make up a cake of some
sort so we can sit round
together & sup a cup of rice
"coffee"
S
Thursday 4
This Col Newey is a swine.
He openly talks of his IJA
backing. Works on the policy
that this is NOT a military camp
& we are NOT under military law.
Gives offenders solitary confin.
on light food and despite
all protests runs the O/Rs without
offr representation. Think there will
be solid repercussions after we
get out.
NOVEMBER 2603
S

Friday 5
After 994 days POW we have
had a visit from our own
forces. A large flight of B29s
were over. They were plainly
visable though I missed them.
a ton of harmless A/A fire and a
thrill when an unexploded 3.7
landed in the camp. As far as
we can ascertain NO bombs
were a dropped on the Island.
M
Saturday 6
Of course there is only one
topic of conversation round
the camp today. Have just
heard that Tommy Graham
from Lismore and late A Coy
41 Bn has been brought in
from Outram Rd Gaol in
pretty bad condition. Was
not allowed to see him tonight.

 

NOVEMBER 2603
T
Sunday 7
Organising some sort of a
feed for the whole Bn for
Xmas. Each man will
contribute $1 and Dawson
can do a bit of saving.
We hope at least to put on
a Xmas pudding and all
eat together. The lads have
received the sugestion very
well. Will be our last together
we hope.
W
Monday 8
Another visit from the air
we only saw one plane &
heard on stick of bombs
go over Singapore. Others
swear they saw more. Very
hard up for smokes. Cigars
the size of cigarettes are now
₡19 each. "Wide World
Magazine" at Cocoanut Grove.
NOVEMBER 2603
T
Tuesday 9
Col Harris, O/c Offrs GL. is
trying to persuade the Nips
to allow us to sell any of
our valuables in Singapore
to obtain some cash to
put in our bellies. Have
weakened and put  my
name down to sell my
watch with a reserve of
$500 on it. Suppose someone
will make a profit on the deal
F
Wednesday 10
Gen Saito did a tour of
the lines which did not
prove as exacting as one 
would expect. The ducks
becoming a worry. No
snails available and eggs
are dropping off in both
number & size. Still not
allowed to see Tommy Graham.

 

[*1000th day of POW. Life*]
NOVEMBER 2603
S
Thursday 11
Armistice Day. IJA have
taken over ceremony. IJA trumpet
Bugle call replaces Last Post
etc so we have banned the
service. 1000 days POW up
today. Just figured out that
during that period have built
up £1316.12.4 in the pay book.
Hope Jess has a bit of her £6
per week left Will make a nice
start if prices are not impossible.
S
Friday 12
Col Harris has been told
we cannot sell valuables
as it would surely lead
to inflation! (Cocoanuts now
$1 when they were ₡10.)
Umpired a baseball match
between 2/26 & 2/29 which
we won comfortably 11-7.
Roy Manion round at night.
NOVEMBER 2603
M
Saturday 13
Spent the morning with some
of the Offrs just outside the
wire cutting the long grass to
let a breeze through to their
hut. I thought it would be
a great opportunity to gather
some snails but all I got
was a handful of blisters
and no snails. Ferg cooking
up a horrible brew of native
sago & cocoanut & gula malacca.
T
Sunday 14
For years I have schooled myself
not to worry about home or
doing the impossible about getting
away but now I am growing
very restless and find it
increasingly hard to be patient
particularly as I have been
getting some mail lately. 3
from Jess & 1 from Marj.

 

NOVEMBER 26O3
W
Monday 15
I hope snail worries are over.
We have organised a pool so
that no one should be short
I am not being hypoticritical
in saying that the lack of eggs
for the hospital hits harder than
none for the belly. They are so
essential for many of our lads.
Saw "Autumn Crocus" at the
Gaol Theatre. First class show.
T
Tuesday 16
Spending a lot of time thinking
out plans for after the war.
Feel sorely tempted to ask
for Newcastle or Goulburn.
Would like to get nearer to
Sydney though I dread the
thought of working in a big
office. Hard to say whether I
would be capable of anything
else much for a while.
 NOVEMBER 2603
F
Wednesday 17
Went down to hospital and was
allowed to see Tommy Graham
from Lismore. Back from Borneo
with an 18 mths prison sentence.
Had a pretty bad time and
was sent out from Outram
Rd Gaol in bad condition.
Is responding to good treatment
though still has no
use of hands or feet.
S
Thursday 18
Received a wireless message
from Jess direct. Am told it
was sent on 8th of this
month. Allowed to send a
reply. Lynne learning piano
Jess working part time at
David Jones. Well I suppose
it keeps her occupied and
means some pin money Do
hope she is not short of cash -
she should not be

 

NOVEMBER 2603
S
Friday 19
Food issues getting much
smaller and now the tobacco
issue, poor as it was, has
been stopped. The lack of
smokes hits two ways as it
makes one twice as hungry,
and if the food gets much
lighter we might just as well
starve and get it over. Bruce
Hunt round for mess.
M
Saturday 20
Eggs down to three, food
short and no smokes. Life
is becoming really tough.
Life not so bad after all.
Had a visit this afternoon
by some more B29s. One
went overhead not a bit
concerned at the rather wild
and sparse A/A fire.
NOVEMBER 2603
T

Sunday 21
Snails becoming more plentiful
and a rise in eggs today
to 6. Last night Day, Douglas
and Baldock stopped by
camp police coming in after
lights-out. Douglas hit the
MP and ran. Result Col
Newey threatened all group into 
gaol unless culprit owned up.
After a lot of talk I got him to
confess. Another show-down
dodged.
W
Monday 22
Some time ago I brought ten TEN
day old ducklings from Pede
and left them in his run.
Am convinced that I would
not get eggs from them for
months so I am swapping
with Ian McGregor for two
layers so my flock will
be back to eight. Will
improve the income a bit.

 

NOVEMBER 2603
T
Tuesday 23
The swap was a good one. Got
eight eggs. 2  for hospital, one
each Ferg & I and three for our
cake for our Sunday Unit Party.
After making sure that
Douglas would go before
Thompson & (telling him so)
I have thudded. Newey has
ordered him to appear Camp
Office Sunday morning.
F
Wednesday 24
The pettiness of some of the
Officers gets me down. Russ
& Robbie planted about a
dozen tomato plants round
the side of their. hut. Noone
else was interested. Now
that the plants look like
bearing a lot want them
embodied in a Hut garden.
NOVEMBER 2603
S
Thursday 25
Appointed Pres Camp Audit
122 ord. Report 1000 hrs Gaol.
Arrived at Gaol to find that
this job involves the check of five
canteens and the camp finances in
general. Lt. Baggott, USA air Assn. &
a SSVF L/Cpl complete the Board.
Neither of them have any idea of
book keeping! Have been going up
the hut after lights out for a yarn
not sleeping so good these days.
S
Friday 26
Organised a team of checkers and
made a start on the audit. Got
as far as stocktaking and checking
the cash. Will settle down on the
books tomorrow. God help me!
Whole mess had the evening meal
together and later a cup of coffee &
the famous cake. Col Gallighan
present. Eales, Lake & Lowry three
toasts. - Unit - Comd AIF - & King
(in reverse order) 

 

NOVEMBER 2603
M
Saturday 27
Put in the day at the Gaol
on the Camp audit. My two
helpers have not proved a
great success. Had to do
all other than routine checking
myself. Our supply of soya
beans is exhausted and now
we will get 15 gms (½ oz) of
tourgay. Total food per day is
now about 23oz all told per day.
T
Sunday 28
Finished off the camp audit
and was able to buy a few
cigars @ 28 cents and cigarettes
at $2 per packet. Money is
practically no use now.
Unless something happens soon
we will go very close to
starvation. Going to bed
very, very hungry.
NOVEMBER 2603
W
Monday 29
Was recalled to audit the
Hospital & Offrs Patients mess.
Hospital was OK but the mess
books (or lack of them) was
bloody awful. Could not do
other than put old Bill Dixon.
He is an incompetent old sod
and has hung on for years as
QM because he is Col Sumnor's
Brother-in-law.
T
Tuesday 30
Spent the morning on reports
and having a yarn to Lt
Baggott of USAF.  tells some
great stories of their activities
over Burma & China. Had a
most disquieting story that
all Field Offrs are to move
inside the Gaol in the next
couple of days.

 
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