Diary relating to the service of Major Charles Patrick Tracey, 1945 - Part 1

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
  • Prisoner of War
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
AWM2019.22.143
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

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THE POCKET DIARY r0e 2603
MAMS AMIRSE Wolohe AVOIRDUPOIS WEIGHT 1oar 10 Drn 18 Ow000 Prood S100e 14 Povod Auedredrelght 8 8100 1700 20 om oitira 1113 or w 111310 S Tabih 1E £123 43100 100 Kaih -1 Pity 20 PituR DI RoyaA -533S 11S 1 OOLDSMITHS WEIGHT oe Orain -I Maran 1280 1020 Ase Oraio -1 Boagta Todes Or 12 Boogt1- 1 Katt 1118 ox 10 on1 OFIUM WEIGHT 1 am 10 r00 10nc 10 Hoor 1 Tohi 10 000 Sol or Catte Mearar 17e8 Cuble Ioche- 1 Cobie Poot 21 Cobie Fect - 1 Cubto Pard A Lood of Roagh Timber - 10 Cobts Root A Laed of Squarod Cimber - S0 Cable Rest A To0 of SPi- t0 Cobi0 Pool intde A Tou of Shpplg S A Cublo Pret MMaders EINEAL 1 Foot t 1 lard 1 Pots or Porch 54 Pards Poles Of Parcan LLuroaS Purtoges SUPERFICIAL MEASURE Ht Seare InchO F I Square Paot 1 Sau P Square Feet TI Square Poto 30H SquaR Raed I Road Squar Potes en Roods 1ago 13530 Equer Peet Corectt DRY MEASURE T IPan or O Ca s0m 1 Pot or Holl Chupat 2 Pea 1 ouace or Chapat 2 Pint 1 Caltor or Overaog A Qnarto Pat 2Oa100 1 Bond Pecto 1ou LIOUID MEASURE iea g t 201 1 Piat or Hall Coupat 2 PaN Ovart or Courat & rioes 1 Callon or Ororeag wade 1 Hozibead O Calland 1Pi & Hogeat E FO 1PP
REESOAN MISEEN Dan CMT. BBIANFEAEAN Addrae 120DE BRy STAN.DA Colephono N0 MY. 6148B Motor No Bicycto No Bant Paw Book No. See in Sertrage Sixe io Hate Sine in Boots Woight Dato Roight Date Enoorance Ealls dae OA To Poro (Frowrom Train Service 1 11 81013 1n100 Monen same and ae
101 5012 av 51 123 CMOTEAN tare 1.13 snd 81320 2 PRoEg 3.5 sun 1945 TELEPNONE NUMEERS VANE M Hhe rew year sharts with the camp setting with runaus y forces benn sent away again secently 1260 left by boat song of tem where toed that sey will be asembarbeg a saigon to work on the vlrua as de natives waid stay on the jst with our constant ben kings Food is the plannest and ca seen pains are heyad us (ovedannts 2150) any day the seniel offe expect to be maved inside the sast to the Eigean Block which is very lot and rxied wih most space take of with atap Luts.
MEMORANDA Despite our traubles morale is very high and posh people confidently expect to be sut of here in six months at the latest, will money so little use a great number & bets are made on the date of ultimate irclease. I am shill classed as aftimise nor but I thit it is aet a bad reputation much better than the s0 Hoper type Rack & food means no food for ducks, eggs for me or hospital clais to one a day now so my soure & socke money is alosed a grea thought to be starting my lase diary after the neve again The lease that conlaid bowl, JANUARY 2603 Fay1 Had meals slightly bette tran nornally as the kitche last saved & like me ait as I have sharked off the year with malaria I did not take a great interest in the food Have had a steady you censoning the Offs dearies The greatest lat & cock any man could be exfected t read Saturday2 Had my eyes epaed when I get an ols paid y said sices back refaired. They are imalin subbe from eatex, aduse and alay Put on a gasd abte and pateled the exfers as well. There seems to le so and to wshal can be tuored out here
JANUARY 2803 Sunday Still feeling ivery coury with malario Half the Craws we aeft recenvly are goated wad in saide st aspears that the boats a having some difficulty in gexing hosk. Sack of our fasbly to town being male fasbably due to bexe rase beng availabl se wit again A.B. L Ake Ca Capt Of H Lake 8 Water Lo Everorn sydney ah See Rons Boot no eggs now - as snails. JANUARY 2603 Fsd5 sending a deal of sime wih yohn coindly on the plans for a were two stanied same. With land will psbably aost £2000 leat will be well worth is & I stay in sydne I pofe to be lible to build on a newestate be speaks 7 that ane looks th Spit Meanesday6 Had a bad day again today with fine& fle Lerg looking after ducks Gettlinng a few snails and frin thee in to thee ber so that we occasionally et one a two eggs. seeg Iwart sick and may so be avle to take party to tawn
sanner 2013 Thursday BI sent me a message that sen ad better stand by to take reg's place Went Lown and talked him out of ut Sawe Lerg to much for his loyalty to part with him nlw. Think I have talked BFinto sending Bort dabe though he is such happy an wanked to sen duss. ay8 Whel sent is safe I staongly suspect a bit of wangong Firstly an sure Bg to not as sick as he makes out and I thit Bent organised a pistest from the musis people. Result is see Russ is taking the party. He is afact leaving the show but there is nothing hore I can do B29 our JANUARY 2AS Caturday 8 F. ThanksLaw 318 Waltle thee REd. E.malvern Well SE.5 09026 still laid up Mamacialt feeling lette $51 moora b shid catswoed deat wesl Syey Sundar 10 Feeling very sour I went drwer at 0900 to pay good leye to Rass and the 100 & my ficed blokes who sparter for manaar Fes Stan is like a lost dog with his fal leaving him ant 329 paid us a ninchle rcaih and not wories by the sparse & inaccurate A1A fre
TANUARY 2803 Monday 11 ot word back of Russ & party Ah JB. working in Sultans Batracks on a daily ration o meat and a weeky one tobacco. Great enxcitement about 20 planes ove wid 150 fighters up waiting for the The bembers seemed quite casnal Heard some bonks and saw a couple of fighter downed tusay 12 many caflicting stonies yestedays raid. It would Cappeas certain that one & an was shat down by D/ fine while six fightes were los banteen pres coninue to vise at an alarming rate. ligars are now &45550 ead se fay is shill 830 p marth JANUARY 2603 Hetrec 13 After a quist day was to te Gase to a concert As bave oreleston (Brasse wind) aid the first half and Sit Kitse Lipry seraders did the sesond It is remarkable the very high standard that has bee atained a lat y musis has been written and the arranging is find class. Mrsary 19 Lerg & Janages a couple y sales that braugon us- monge cam to west in five saif grown arakes at 15. In a menk& in they will be ready to eat and should be work at as 825 each will alebat my weading annierary with a shew in wheck wid be one yong doake smeth rais

1945

 
 

THE
POCKET
DIARY
FOR
2603

 
 

WEIGHTS & MEASURES
Table - see original document

 

Name  CAPT. BRIAN FERGUSON.
Address  BODE RD., NUNDAH
Telephone No.  MY 6138, BRIS.
CALENDAR. 2602 - see original document

 

[*PRO3469*]

CALENDAR 2604 - see original document
1945
The new year starts with
the camp seething with
rumours of forces being

sent away again.

Recently 1200 left by

boat. Some of them were 

told that they will be

disembarked at Saigon

to work on the wharves

as the natives won't stay

on the job with our 

constant bombings.

Food is the plainest

and canteen prices are

beyond us (cocoanuts

$1.50) Any day the senior

offrs expect to be moved

inside the Gaol to the

European Block which is

very hot and confined with

most space taken up with

atap huts.

 

Despite our troubles morale

is very high and most

people confidently expect

to be out of here in six

months at the latest. With

money so little use a

great number of bets are

made on the date of

ultimate release. I am

still classed as "optimist
 No 1" but I think it is not

a bad reputation - much 

better than the "No Hoper"

type. Lack of food means

no food for ducks, therefore no

eggs for me or hospital.

Down to one a day now

so my source of pocket

money is closed. A great

thought to be starting my

last diary - after this

never again-

The horse that couldn't bowl.
JANUARY 2603
M

Friday 1

Had meals slightly better than

normally as the kitchen had

saved a little rice & oil. As

I have started off the year

with malaria I did not

take a great interest in the

food. Have had a steady

job censoring the Offrs diaries.

The greatest lot of cock any

man could be expected to read.
T

Saturday 2

Had my eyes opened when I

got an old pair of sandshoes

back repaired. They

are making rubber from

latex, sawdust and clay.

Put on a good sole and

patched the uppers as well.

There seems to be no end

to what can be turned out

here.

 

JANUARY 2603
W
Sunday 3

Still feeling very lousy

with malaria. Half the

crowd who left recently

are reported back in Town.

It appears that the boats are

having some difficulty in

getting north. Talk of our

party to town being cancelled

probably due to these lads

being available for work again.
T  [[DAILY 2 please?]]

Monday 4

A.B. Lake

C/o Capt O.J.W. Lake

8 Waters Rd.

Cremorne

Sydney NSW.

See Phone Book.

no eggs now - no snails.

JANUARY 2603
F
Tuesday 5

Spending a deal of time

with John Brindly on the

plans for a nice two -

storied home. With land

will probably cost £2000

but will be well worth it

If I stay in Sydney I hope

to be able to build on a

new estate he speaks of that

overlooks the Spit.
S

Wednesday 6

Had a bad day again

today with fever & flu.

Ferg looking after ducks.

Getting a few snails and

pump them in to three birds

so that we occasionally

get one or two eggs. Reg

Swartz sick and may not 

be able to take party to

town.

 

JANUARY 2603
S
Thursday 7

BJ sent me a message that

Ferg had better stand by to

take Reg's place. Went down 

and talked him out of it.

I owe Ferg too much for his

loyalty to part with him

now. Think I have talked

BJ into sending Bert Sabin

though he is not happy and

wanted to send Russ.

M
Friday 8

Well Bert is safe. I strongly

suspect a bit of wangling.

Firstly am sure Reg is

not as sick as he makes out

and I think Bert organised

a protest from the music

people. Result is old Russ

is taking the party. He is

upset leaving the show but

there is nothing more I can

do.   B29 over.

JANUARY 2603
T

Saturday 9

J.V. Crankshaw

318A Wattle Tree Rd.

E. Malvern  Melb S.E.5.

U 9026
Still laid up
feeling like

potted
death.

A. Lamacraft     

51 Moola Pde        

West Chatswood       

Sydney.
W

Sunday 10

Feeling very sour I went

down at 0900 to say goodbye

to Russ and the 100 of

my picked blokes who

departed for Mandai. Poor

Stan is like a lost dog

with his pal leaving him.

Another B29 paid us a nonchalant

visit and not worried by

the sparse & inaccurate A/A fire.

 

JANUARY 2603
T
Monday 11

Got word back of Russ & party.

Ah JB. working in Sultan's

Barracks. On a daily ration

of meat and weekly one

of tobacco. Great excitement.

About 20 planes over with

IJA fighters up waiting for

them. The bombers seemed quite

casual. Heard some bombs and

saw a couple of fighters downed.
F

Tuesday  12

Many conflicting stories of

yesterdays raid. It would

appear certain that one of ours

was shot down by A/A fire

while six fighters were lost.

Canteen prices continue to

rise at an alarming rate.

Cigars are now ₡45 & 50 each.

Our pay is still $30 per month.

JANUARY 2603
S
Wednesday 13

After a quiet day went to the

Gaol for a concert. AIF Concert

Orchestra (Brass & Wind) did

the first half and Gil Mitchell

Gipsy Serenaders did the second.

It is remarkable the very 

high standard that has been

attained. A lot of music has

been written and arranging

is first class.
S

Thursday 14

Ferg & I arranged a couple of

sales that brought us in

five half-grown drakes at

$15. In a month or so they will

be ready to eat and should

be worth at least $25 each.

Will celebrate my wedding

anniversary with a stew in

which will be one young drake.

Another raid!

 
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