Diary relating to the service of Major Charles Patrick Tracey, 1945 - Part 3

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

Page 1 / 10

Ereno n Wednesday 24 A lousy malaris feeling dispelled by a visis by about 100 planes which turned on fireworks. a lavely sight dingapose appeass to save same deard fines going Labe appenod san Tignation played was ar of the best change pays I have seen. In all a most enteraining day same t fever Thursday 25 Setting plenty & duch ford and suails and sixandion is going up fast. setting 5re daynew bat as we lave to pay off same & Hands commitments we never see mare tren one a day each Have to rake up 10 for sus slafe Feonney ner Fruty 20 many laas save this daily sugh issue of one small staanful until they get Ray a poind which they then sell so four lucks to be som sunches Low hewely has brugh out an are that any lad caught doing this will be pronished bysin the cells Santy 2 Inieidihewey is getting were than over. a l & his aamin staff are walking out as the cant stiek him & lis metheds ting land Rewelt, Gon synce man swadaling, bagge Banne, John Alley all leave at it and of the mant. sill getting daily nisct
Ecamm narcnin a 2 kimens has itthat parky &800 is required in wark at Sellta Drame. De bsongs wont wark there for sbous reasons tho vait is heavy duty rations and a dollar a day pay gaps an changug bi gaod ecen alhast bag sen for us to Monday eat ice cut a further 107 that parte us a to 108 he day caneen prises getting beyond ys Cocvantnow $2.40. Sapises rest up to spp lt salk of a Red ross ship in Get an issue of frest fish which was caake on the spit mene was as fell yamenia I could not eat it what a blow app ourapati moorn n Bigrard fou m2 let in ovr depet by au caft fire Don our first darts match sommy team which all goes to stal thy can't compete with the colonials in anything for very long. Set 7eggs from leve hs our y ducks today not paid out 5fo Pedres dbts would fiel quite happy about it Food ship las arrived alrigit saig in patiany o disblluted Weansgay 3 Heard of Russell's party Lone of P Harky met Harry Biggs in town They have been thld they will be back the and of the month. Tus are not very Lappy. Singaptre heavily ben bed three days ago. We are now issued wih the burnt aid waterlogged rece from the combeof grdowns. Very intresting your with Capt Hill Agan from oil tanker sink in Ildran srean last yea
MARCH 2603 tureday Sakahasti informd Camp office that 13A cong at singapos and Admin Dow figring save the Red bioss sufflies said we would be ucky to get any by tmas with 150 sations art to a minimen they would do with hepe more so than the 1942 spip wen our rosts too about a dird of the bed gootors an charge camp dayd we auecany the desisr wood sportage today by taking t door of our glarkers and cutting it up. The caok (Farg) says it is and does not bli hin with smake. This afternoon a hurried call for 150 men sent off a forty for all night work impaking & stanking the Red X rations at a dumpin serengaon Rd, surgapore MARCH 20S Caturday 6 He paty returned apper 17 hours wort and reperted a grealy supply of shupp. The paps une tearing Hell But of the cigo. se pist four cased in packed were empty Ceclas as dough addat saigen gog his le themselves. at a particillarly eausy appencen in te kende Lands of say manion, filting abadlygin tat Sunday Have just seen te camp ration figues fo the last mont Rice 100 p day Lish 189 al lugas, sea were so small that they cauldinet be calculated i go feman. Work party shil going to sungapore who on the Red cross shares.
MAAcH 2OS MARCH 2603 some3 Wertnesttor 10 The 15t have unnounces that selicted as one 9 feur DsI to from tomarrow were will be play ty Pams dants but or breduced by 407 which well leaving the match is to be player fet us on bops which the aves beforeas andience at the Eveat say is not though to keep Ihave I declined gracefully. I think as going in addition the I will rest on ny rep Londurs seneral has ordved that ous at aricket Baseball. Fot a concedt sate be pulled hate from Buss who is doing devn because & said we have quite well in Town io stary froouces ahows peannal to 132 This when yet. ideas: udo Manttay 11 Acticle in the shimition peints 15 demand anther set of now aut the prosperity 7f Malaga escape declorations that are under the British all that back dated to ma i ie think could be got for a convannt this is due to one lad beng was s cents - haw inde caught in digapon and not the Japanen they are wort P25I. eclinted because the 130 cauld Have the Old squitters back agiin not gid his original form. The new rise isive is fretty a duck add today fol $130. lusy and He belt came in another Don't think I will sell any has hall. food is so sbort
MARCH 2603 Fnday 15 The 134 have recided the ordes to full aswe the theate After laving the sa tans lated and the play pt &c for a critical 1s4 audiece it was aecided to at the stas coduve new sewey is usin the hcide to disband the Ocld Farby because ten are too vay aurts in it. will be allowed off homal duties as they are required for a show. It has caused a sill of a lot gresentment and a cauple of the prosucers have tasur in the sass. all toed it has cause a great deat & undaffiness to all concerved particularly as th Avt Concet Garty is a jotmed and crecsquised uit MARCH 2503 Sunday 14 Had a gaie of Carctat A1t offes &Poms. starting to feel the effeets & the meauces ratiee -t such an enter that I dosd think I will bake about any more seat. Have bee sonsible enough not to play ganes for the last thee manth. Io beceare grave & see a brenin pay gupiter Langet a dane gavd sew fe by afcaa mondey 15 Food pasition reaching the cartical stage. Io breakfor 314 ps pp which is a least 752 wate lunch green shew lacd with pefft and 13 pt bailed rice since 1p greet stew again Bpt sice a fish deaves ad a soveet Ise of this we save eeugh to have a ligh before we gok bed
maacn m Fuckoy 16 Harping back to faod. It is a stame the way the poultry is being billed off o comnI suppose thy would died y starvation Otherwise but I can't help thinking of all the valuable eggs the hospital is Casing sold one duck for £100 ald les it to seo blan beg swart a 250 fo 420 each Hetsday 17 The party has returned from shoring the Red cress rations with veay distusting reforts By all accounts, after nearles three years wait we will get ihe mere than a flavour in our peor food. There wnot very much faod stuff and a lh & people will get a go at it MARCH 2603 Manday 2 a bonbshell in the camp. 3500 to go to lingafere for a work party. Cal Banns goes in and is taking Coll Harns Dillon & byrel Hild. Isuppose sd will belost once none after my longest stay of 15 months fur chalge Con't say I came very much one way at the other thery the snk will ally be able to rair about 200 fit Tuesday 23 Selections made for the farty and I have meszed out Bs has seeft all C0s back to some reason a ctt Too parties t 1354 700 each under at Garke and And Have selicted Reg Swart and Bill McGeebe to take our lads in Bot have seen Ba Digs are &
MARCH 2OS maning 2 after a quick morning playing cans with Barry Walker get a sudden order that Tte Larty well mave in tamoras so while Reg & Bill are dasting roied ating theit ow amange I have chean fear out with the ORs Working aut a big feed to stark with Thureday 25 Othes all the must s lussle the saip is pospened. Units quota fualised at 20fps 1974 Terg made up a beautifuul stew (all things considerd out us 86 each (sully, Reg Sergs I but we got about a quart eadh which gave us the fist full belty for many days. MARCH 2603 Frttay 20 Shill backing & filling with the rew camp arangements lategt abory is NoDAna to because a base canp for Ingaler work parties It wet be wired off from us and function as an enterily separae camp our unit was not been effected by the nevenen as yet Sarey 2 Watred 300 off tomestow Tahalash has said they will inot leave the Island a great pity of they a0 9 away now as noired cress shols have been received yet though see work parties Ihave shored it all in sugaper. will bet be issued shill tres parties are settled I suthere.
MAonM Sunday 28 After waiting from, 8900 sill labe ofternagt the party got away by much apter being teld that thei dectiation was Jhore Barre. some. sr seuthe declary that Ttey are going to spot still what gelds wher it is a party o 300 exfected back fore Kang Andth 0 noto now of e ye Monday 20 Very weary after being up part of the night with a said on sa ny shees half- soled with local camp rubby made from later, cloy and saw tust hot a bad jet either. A funth 1003 (406A10) standing by to go Geo K raughlin going Rly Palmes sent back t Eines so le can go on G.D. despite files so basts. nrnme Tneeday 80 awake again last night with another hard - wish they would make less neise, it is very lard to alect Mich Connorhas offered te 3200 fo wateh but am helding out for 8250. The yreachion to Gorce, left is a Lmble dislikse & sosptals. motrce Iox is in with mr malaria and I could havely shey long enough to bay great day Wanerday 31 Well the fist issue of ked cross rasions have arrived and we are being issued with one sre- man parcel to 23 tommnow. The hital buck will avorage out 5/28 p man for one day. Sill I suppose it will feaven our stimpy meals ginicequen still what a blow apte hearly three weeks waiting
APRIL 2608 Red Cressparcels to Etchers 1 to 23 worked out at 5/1 pe man Breakyash rice porsidg, stining mitt and four subanas Deak ooffec lund gree stew 2rice faied with butter sice case with meat flavous since green att meat tunnever. half one biscuit with fine cleese eadriccu tea pea jam, 1 pame and a cowoa feavous and we will talk of it for days Fnday2 hohice pasted today that, siving to stortage of swill frivate owners will get no more for their biras show that the hospital has its own farm established they ao not nee sur egg contributin so we can now all quietly go to Dell. suppose we will have to eat then and get no more eggs WMM Saturday 3 advance fanty left change to an inprsive Po bank li surgapore. Balance 3800 to moue very soon. Falk of red cress nationg being badly satted in the subgapsoe store sunau has it that the bulk (milk, bully, butter) has been purt to oue side by the 10 ho explanation given Suntoy Iavd is terribly light and canteen parces shill nising like rackets. Reg, supert. Ang and I hav up our mid. day meal, add a little cilmy blachang and tapises rash and cohvince anseve we have a nice filling cony. Half- an how we are as kingry as ever.
APRIL 2603 Monday 5 Anothe warning tat 100 of our Be well go t will seally be glad wter they do at presersevery oog is anxious to get ane this muching isse and be yf. It is said that these tarties are helding up the issue & the ned & ahdres cap day Patterson living with its. Fday 6 At last Reg is away. Lot uup at 0708 fed t duchs and went down to say groabye to the lads of to Taa, afteforading they sat at the Gast gahes Gudil 1130 waiting Apt. Eversually three traoks came with red & stones aboard and back loaden the tps APRIL 280S Hedresday Tabahashi is pow again We get another parcel for surday. This time One to 20 all the cigarettes and milk have been withwawe so this weekly seed will be aone to abdit 40 all told so same unladice reasor we are as long allowed ou staws in the devanet gow Thureday 8 Food position becoming mone accute. The peor devils in hospital to are down to 180 gms you per day (60) with very littl else. of course it can't be bettered by camp admn as the leavy anty workers ges leas that 500 gms and they incluse the Eoomies

FEBRUARY 2603
S
Wednesday  24
A lousy malaria feeling
dispelled by a visit by about
100 planes which turned on
fireworks. A lovely sight.
Singapore appears to have some
decent fires going. Late afternoon
saw "Pigmaleon" played. It
was one of the best Changi
plays I have seen. In all a
most entertaining day. Damn the 
fever!
S
Thursday 25
Getting plenty of duck food
and snails and production
is going up fast. Getting
5 per day now but as
we have to pay off some
of Pedro's commitments we
never see more than one
a day each. Have to rake
up 18 for Gus Kaffe'

FEBRUARY 2603
M
Friday 26
Many lads save their daily
sugar issue of one small
spoonful until they get
half a pound which they
then sell for four bucks
to buy some smokes. Now
Newey has brought out an
order that any lad caught
doing this will be punished
by a stretch in the cells.
T
Saturday 27
Friend Newey is getting worse
than ever. A lot of his admin
staff are walking out as they
can't stick him & his methods.
Wing Comd Howelt, Gen Grynar
Max Swaddling, Baggs 
Bourne, John Olley all leave
at the end of the month. Still
getting daily visits.

 

FEBRUARY - MARCH 2603
W
Sunday 28
Rumour has it that a
party of 800 is required
for work at Seletar
Drome. The boongs wont
work there for obvious
reasons. The bait is 
heavy duty rations and
a dollar a day pay.
Japs are changing our good
rice for mouldy stuff thats
almost too bad even for us to
eat.
T
Monday 1
Rice cut a further 10% that
puts us down to 10oz per day.
Canteen prices getting beyond
us. Cocoanuts now $2.40.
Tapioca root up to $1.70 lb.
Talk of a Red Cross ship in.
Got an issue of fresh fish
which was cooked on the spot
Mine was as full of amonia 
I could not eat it - what a
blow after hours of anticipation.

MARCH 2603
F
Big raid. 7 POWS TUESDAY 2
hit in Con depot by air craft fire.
Won our first darts match v
Pommy team which all goes
to shew they can't compete with
the colonials in anything for
very long. Got 7 eggs from
our 7 ducks today. If we had
not paid out 5 for Pedro's debts
would feel quite happy about it.
Food ship has arrived alright
Waiting impatiently for distribution.
S
Wednesday 3
Heard of Russell's party. Some of
P Party met Harry Biggs in town.
They have been told they will be
back the end of the month. They
are not very happy. Singapore
heavily bombed three days ago.
We are now issued with the burnt
and waterlogged rice from the
bombed [[gredowns?]]. Very interesting
yarn with Capt Hill-Regan from
oil tanker sunk in Indian
Ocean last year 

 

MARCH 2603
S
Thursday 4
Takahashi informed Camp Office
that IJA Comd at Singapore and
Admin POW fighting over the
Red Cross supplies. Said we
would be lucky to get any by
Xmas. With IJA rations cut to
a minimum they would do with
these more so than the 1942 ship
when our hosts too about a
third of the total 900 tons due
M   to Changi camp.
Friday  5
We overcame the "doover" wood
shortage today by taking the
door off our quarters and cutting
it up. The cook (Ferg) says it
is A1 and does not blind him
with smoke. This afternoon
a hurried call for 150 men sent
off a party for all night work
unpaking & stacking the Red X
rations at a dump in
Serengoon Rd, Singapore.

MARCH 2603
T
Saturday 6
The party returned after 17 hours
work and reported a goodly
supply of stuff. The Japs are
tearing Hell out of the cigs.
The first four cased unpacked
were empty! Looks as though
AIF at  Saigon got a bit for 
themselves. Had a particularly
lousy afternoon in the tender
hands of Roy Manion, filling
a badly gone tooth.
W
Sunday 7
Have just seen the Camp
ration figures for the last
month.
Rice 10 oz per day. Fish 1 oz
Oil, Sugar, tea were so small
that they could not be calculated
in ozs per man. Work party
still going to Singapore wkg
on the Red Cross shores. 

 

MARCH 2603
T
Monday 8
The IJA have announced that
from tomorrow rice will be

reduced by 40% which will

put us on 6 ozs which the [[?]]

say is not enough to keep

us going. In addition the

General has ordered that our

Concert Theatre be pulled

down because he said we have

produced shows preducial to IJA

ideas!

F

Tuesday F 9

Article in the Shimbun points
out the prosperity of Malaya.
Under the British all that
could be got for a coconut
was 5 cents - now under

the Japanese they are worth $2.50.
Have the Old squitters back again

The new rice issue is pretty
lousy and the belt came in another
hole. 

S

Wednesday 10

Selected as one of the four AIF to 
play the Poms darts but on
learning the match is to be played
before an audience at the Coconut
Grove I declined gracefully. I think
I will rest on my rep honours
at cricket & Baseball. Got a
note from Russ who is doing
quite well in Town. No story
of his return yet.
S
Thursday 11

IJA demand another set of non-
escape declorations (that are

back . dated to Mar 44) We think

this is due to one lad being

caught in Singapore and not

executed because the IJA could
not find his original form. 

A duck sold today for $130.
Don't think I will sell any now
food is so short.

 

MARCH 2603
M
Friday 12
The IJA have recinded the order
to pull down the theatre.
After having the scrip translated
and the play put on for
a critical IJA audience it was
decided to let the shows continue.
Now. Newey is using the incident
to disband the Concert Party
because there are too many Austs
in it. Will be allowed off normal
T

Saturday 13
duties as they are required
for a show. It has caused a Hell
of a lot of resentment and a
couple of the producers have
thrown in their hands. All
told it has caused a great deal
of unhappiness to all concerned
particularly as the AIF Concert
Party is a formed and
recognised unit.

MARCH 2603
W
Sunday  14
Had a game of cricket. AIF Offrs
v Poms. Starting to feel the
effects & the reduced rations.
- to such an extent that I don't
think I will bother about any
more sport. Have been sensible
enough not to play games for
the last three months. To Cocoanut
Grove to see a A J Cronins play
"Jupiter Laughd" a damn good
show put on by offrs area.
T
Monday  15
Food position reaching
the critical stage. For breakfast
¾ pt pap which is at least
75% Water. Lunch green stew
laced with pepper and 1/3 pt
boiled rice. Dinner. 1 pt green
stew again ½ pt rice a fish
doover and a sweet one.
Of this we save enough to
have a bight before we go to
bed.

 

MARCH 2603
F
Tuesday  16
Harping back to food. It is a
shame the way the poultry is
being killed off. Of course I
suppose they would died of
starvation otherwise but I
can't help thinking of all the
valuable eggs the hospital is
loosing. Sold one duck for
$100 and lent it to Geo Polain &
Reg Swartz @ $50 for £20 each.
S
Wednesday  17
The party has returned from
storing the Red Cross rations
with very disturbing reports.
By all accounts, after nearly
three years wait we will
get no more than a flavour
in our poor food. There is not
very much food-stuff and a
lot of people will get a go at it!

MARCH 2603
T
Monday  22
A bombshell in the camp.
3500 to go to Singapore for a
work party. Col Banno goes
in and is taking Col Harris,
Dillon & Cyril Wild. I suppose
I will be off once more after
my longest stay of 15 months
in Changi. Can't say I care very
much one way at the other though
the Unit will only be able to raise
about 200 fit.
F
Tuesday 23
Selections made for the
party and I have missed out.
BJ has kept all C0s back
for some reason or other. Two
parties of AIF 700 each
under Pat Garde and Andy.
Have selected Reg Swartz
and Bill McGeever to take
our lads in. Both have seen
Bob Dick & are OK.

 

MARCH 2603
S
Wednesday  24
After a quiet morning playing
darts with Barry Walker
got a sudden order that
the party will move in
tomorrow. So while Reg &
Bill are dashing round
making their own arrangements
I have been flat out with
the ORs. Working out a big
feed to start Reg off with
S
Thursday 25
After all the rush & bussle

the trip is posponed. Unit's
quota finalised at 2 Offrs & 197 OR.
Ferg made up a beautiful
stew (all things considered) cost
us $6 each (Sully, Reg Fergs & I)
but we got about a quart
each which gave us the first
full belly for many days.

MARCH 2603
M
Friday 26
Still backing & filling with
the new camp arangements.
Latest story is No2 Area
to become a base camp for
Singapore work parties. It
will be wired off from
us and function as an
entirely separate camp. Our
unit has not been effected
by the movement as yet.
T
Saturday 27
Warned 300 off tomorrow.
Takahashi has said they
will not leave the Island.
A great pity of they do go
away now as no red Cross
stores have been received
yet though our work parties
have stored it all in
Singapore. Will not be issued
till these parties are settled
I suppose.

 

MARCH 2603
W
Sunday 28
After waiting from 0900 till
late afternoon the party got
away by truck after being
told that their destination
was Johore Bahru. Some
of the sluthes declare that
they are going to Ipoh - still
what odds where it is. A
party of 300 expected back from
Kranji. Another 1000 off tomorrow

none of the 8/86 Bn yet.
T
Monday 29
Very weary after being up
part of the night with a raid
on. Got my shoes half- soled
with local camp rubber made
from latex, clay and sawdust.
Not a bad job either.
A further 1000 (400AIF) standing
by to go. Geo McLaughlin  going
Roy Palmer sent back to lines
so he can go on G.L. despite
piles & NO boots.

MARCH 2603
F
Tuesday 30
Awake again last night with
another raid - Wish they would
make less noise. - it is very
hard to sleep. Mick Connors has
offered me $200 for watch but
am holding out for $250. The
only reaction to F Force left is a
terrible dislike of hospitals. Morrie
Fox is in with M/T malaria and I
could barely stay long enough to say
"Good-day"
S
Wednesday  31
Well the first issue of Red Cross
rations have arrived and we
are being issued with one Oneman
parcel to 23 tomorrow.
The total bulk will average out
5½ oz per man for one day. Still
I suppose it will flavour our
skimpy meals of rice & greens.
Still what a blow after nearly
three weeks waiting.

 

APRIL 2603
S

Thursday  1
Red Cross parcels to kitchens.  1 to 23 men
worked out at 5½ oz per man.
Breakfast - rice porridge, skimmed
milk and four sultanas. Weak coffee.
Lunch green stew 2 oz rice fried with
butter. Rice cake with meat flavour.
Dinner green stew. meat turnover.
half one biscuit with fine cheese
spread, rice cup (½ tea-spoon of

jam, 1 prune and a cocoa flavour)
and we will talk of it for days!
M
Friday  2
Notice posted today that, owing
to shortage of swill private
owners will get no more for
their birds. Now that the
hospital has its own farm
established they do not need
our egg contributions so we
can now all quietly go to Hell.
Suppose we will have to eat
then and get no more eggs

APRIL 2603
T
Saturday 3
Advance party left Changi for
an unknown POW Camp in
Singapore. Balance of 800 to
move very soon. Talk of
Red Cross rations being
badly rotted in the Singapore
Store. Rumour has it that the
bulk (milk, bully, butter)
has been put to one side by
the IJA. No explanation given.
W
Sunday  4
Food is terribly light and
canteen prices still rising
like rockets. Reg, Rupert, Ferg
and I boil up our midday
meal, add a little
curry, blachang and tapioca
root and convince ourselves
we have a nice filling
curry. Half-an-hour we are
as hungry as ever. 

 

APRIL 2603
T
Monday   5
Another warning that 100
of our Bn will go Windrow.
Will really be glad when
they do. At present everyone
is anxious to get over
this mucking round and
be off. It is said that these
parties are holding up
the issue of the Red X stores.
Capt Roy Patterson living
with us.
F
Tuesday  6
At last Reg is away. Got
up at 0700 fed the ducks
and went down to say
goodbye to the lads off
to Town. After parading
they sat at the Gaol gates
until 1130 waiting Apt.
Eventually three trucks came
with Red X stores aboard
and back-loaded the tps

APRIL 2806
S
Wednesday  7
Takahashi is sour again.
We get another parcel for
Sunday. This time One to 20,
All the cigarettes and milk
have been withdrawn so
this weekly feed will be
down to about 4 oz all told.
For some unknown reason
we are no longer allowed our
shows in the Cocoanut Grove.
S
Thursday  8
Food position becoming more
accute. The poor devils in hospital
is are down to 180 gms of rice
per day (6 ozs) with very little
else. Of course it can't be
bettered by camp admin as
the heavy - duty workers get
less than 500 gms and they
include the dromies.
 

 
Last edited by:
Doug WhitfieldDoug Whitfield
Last edited on:

Last updated: