Diary relating to the service of Major Charles Patrick Tracey, 1945 - Part 4

APRIL  2603
M

Friday 9

Still hanging on like grim

death to the ducks. Sully

gets a bit of swill from an

O/R pal in the hospital area.

The hospital farms admit

now that they don't need

all the swill. Poor satisfaction

to the owners who have

killed off their birds. Playing

Bill McGeever a lot of chess.
T

Saturday 10

230 more have left for

Singapore, nearly all 2/29 Bn

under Bowring & McKibbin.

Capt Patterson is easily the

greatest doover - king of all time.

He has his little cooking

fire going day and night &

shares with Max Swaddling,

who is almost as bad. Think

I would be very hungry if I had

to do so much fiddling.

APRIL 2603
W

Sunday 11

Got our bi-weekly issue of 4 oz

Red Cross food. It is a terrible

farce. Hospital rations (and "no

duty") are cut to a starvation

scale. Morning 35 gms (1¼oz) rice.

Lunch - 45 gms. of greens only and

evening 145 gms rice. In all about

7 oz of rice & greens. Warned to

move the duck yards tomorrow to

make room for a church.
T

Monday 12

Spent the day removing and

re-erecting duck runs. The

last hundred of the unit for

Singapore has been marched

out to No 2 area where they will

form a reserve for the parties

already in town. Complete segregation

from this camp and even

under a different IJA comd.

APRIL 2603
F

Tuesday 13

More woes! Red Cross Rations

have been suspended. There are

two stories. (1) A Korean told an

Admin offr that the Red Cross ship

was sunk on its way back &

Tokyo had ordered the suspension

of issues (2) Takahashi asked Col

Lowey to sign receipts for all the

supplies when we only have 10%

and of course he refused.
S

Wednesday 14

Stoppage of Red Cross stores

definite we drew none for

tomorrows usual taste.

Big day in the lives of Sully

& I we bought 500 snails

at $4 for 100. Might yet

squeeze a few eggs from the

ducks. Had Claude Griffin

& Norm Dean down for a 

game of darts.

APRIL 2603
S

Thursday 15

Bill McGeever and his 100 are

being treated very well out in

the new area. They have 500 gms

rice & 300 of greens plus a good

issue of fish. After lights out

the IJA put on a sudden call

for check parade. Lights were

all put on and there was a Hell

of a flap for a while. Then we

were broken none the wiser.
M

Friday 16

Well this place is a mad-house

After last nights effort then the

Red X trouble we today got our

usual issue to kitchens of

1 parcel to 20 men came off. It

still only makes a good flavour

for a couple of doovers. Roy

Manion out of hospital again

his leg pretty right at last.

APRIL 2603
T

Saturday 17

The whole camp is seething

about the Red Cross swindle.

After all it was a food ship

sent to relieve distress which

is quite genuine and we get

the food content from one

"individual" parcel between 23

of us twice a week which all

told does not average 1 oz of all

forms of food per day.
W

Sunday 18

The hut of 40 had the following 

issue for the whole hut from

our famous "relief ship".

6 shaving soap, 3 tooth paste, 5

boot polish, 5 Tooth brushes, 7

razor blades, 5 pencils, 5 rolls of

toilet paper (used for cigarettes)

4 combes. It is quite obvious

our hosts have pinched 90% at

least.

APRIL 2603
T

Monday  19

For the last three mornings we

have been given an issue of

fresh fish. The embrace every

family of fish that ever was,

stingrays, shark, catfish etc,

mostly bad, in fact some

falling apart, and an average

of about 1½ oz before it is cleaned.

I wonder when I will be able to

think of food in terms of pounds.

Roy Herrman missing.
F

Tuesday 20

Depart Changi  0430 hrs

     "      Singapore  0700 "

Tea Gemas  1745

must preserve the above notes. Ferg

made them two years ago. Much

water has flown under the bridge

since then. Much that cannot be

recorded must be remembered.

Roy Herrman found down borehole.

Buried in afternoon.

APRIL 2603
S

Wednesday 21

Bkfst  K.L. 0350 hr

No doubt that Roy committed

suicide. Found naked head -

first down the hole. Was

implicated in theft of Ron Magaray's

watch and I think being caught

turned his brain a bit. Got weighed

159 lbs - 11st 13 (Lightest since I was

about 15) &c.
S

Thursday 22

Red Cross rations again today

still on the ridiculously low

scale. No one will benefit from

them Enough clothing was stacked

in Singapore to equip 8,000 men.

The issue from the IJA will

run to One article to seven men.

No where near enough, for even

immediate requirements. 10% rice

cut being restored tomorrow.

APRIL 2603
M

Friday 23

Since work parties went to

Singapore conditions have become 

worse for the unfit. Seven of the 

lads collapsed on the drome

yesterday owing to their poor

state. Further Red Cross issue 

of four housewives and three

single sticks of chewing gum

to the hut (42 Offrs) 10% rice

cut restorations in effect

from today.
T

Saturday 24

About three weeks ago Roy Manion

filled a tooth but as usual

supplies are poor. The amalgam was

made from the pewter Selangor

Race Cup and of course the filling

promptly collapsed. Went back

today and had to suffer all over

again getting the old filling out.

He dug up a bit of good stuff

this time and says it should

see the rest of our time out.

APRIL 2603
W

Sunday 25

Anzac Day here again. Time

goes fast when one looks back.

It is two years today that

we left Bam Pong on our little

200 mile march with F Force.

5 oz Red Cross rations in today.

Have been able to sell some eggs

and have paid Donald Dyer $50 

in lieu of the £15 bet I lost to

him. Am more than covered on

cash losses & wins now.
T

Monday 26

Got hold of some byam

plants from Ron Magarny

and Ferg & I have planted

them to replace our tomatos

that have proved duds again.

Dug up a small bed round

the duck run and have put

in Byam, bringle, chinese

spinach. Will like gardening

even less when I get home.

APRIL 2603
F

Tuesday 27

Have had a long session

with Harry Barton working

out costs on this home of mine.

We are allowing for first-class 
materials & fittings right

throughout. If my scheme

works Jess & I will have a

place to be very proud of.

If we go back to Lismore will

dump the scheme just buy a home.
S

Wednesday 28

Had another tooth filled by Roy.

Sandy Powell sold my watch

for $300 which is not too bad

as I bought it up north for $25.

Intend giving Jimmy Grose $50 to

wipe off the £10 I owe him and will

make Roy Manion a gift of $50.

The remaining $200 will not go

far at present canteen prices.

Sandy is bringing in a batti of

whitebait for $40!

APRIL 2603
S

Thursday 29

Have word back from the

Singapore parties who are being

fed at about twice our rate

and are very satisfied. Bill

McGeever over from No 2 area

with good reports of our lads

over there. Though I don't record

it much my thoughts turn

more and more to home and

great is the planning though I am

prepared for greatly changed conditions.
M

Friday  30

After much discussion I have

been issued with 3 towels 13

socks, 13 handkerchiefs to fill

the requirements of 42 Offrs of whome

17 have nothing but odd bits

of rag for towels. Local AIF

dart tournament completed today

Jim Brown of 2/29 won with

three of us in second place

one game behind him.

MAY 2603
T

Saturday 1

A word on finance. Got $300 for

my watch. Gave John Eales, Geo

Polain & Roy Manion 50 each, Jim

Grose 20 and [[Shewie?]] Lane $10.

Then ordered 1 batti of whitebait @

$40. Could not bring myself to lend

it as a lot do at the present rate of

2 dollars to the pound. However at

that rate I have just paid £20

for 1 1/3 lbs of stinking little fish to

give the eternal rice a flavour.
W

Sunday 2

Mail coming in in small lots

everyone seems to have got some

but me. Turns the thoughts to

home very longingly. Still one has

learnt to control one's patience

pretty well these days. A few

Red Cross comforts in again

though a lot of articles

were perfectly useless. (Safety

razors with NO blades etc.

MAY 2603
T

Monday 3

IJA have rigged up an alarm

bell which is to be rung

when an allied landing on

the Island takes place! We

must all return to our

quarters and stand by to

move into the Gaol. By that

time I think the move might be

a little late. Everyone seems

quite bright these days.
F

Tuesday 4

The mail is all distributed

and for the first time I missed

out though I can't say I am

particularly upset as my

mail appears to be just as

up-to-date as the blokes who got

letters in this last bunch. Gave

Rupert my last $50 from the

watch sale for £10. That made the

sale worth £65 which is fair

on present camp prices.

MAY 2603
S

Wednesday 5

Got my letter from Jess and though

only 24 words the cheerful sentiment

expressed bucked me up a

great deal. Under these repressing

circumstances it is worth a

lot to know the home folks are

bright & cheerful and expecting

a reasonably early return home.

Though I try not to my thoughts

stray in that direction more & 
more.
S

Thursday 6

The usual red cross few ozs

of food to make us wish

for one decent feed instead

of this occasional tickle of

the palate. I wonder if it is

a carefully thought out plan

of the Nip or whether it is a

visitation of sorts so that

we will never forget and have

a finer appreciation of the simple

things of life.

MAY 2603
M

Friday 7

Made up my pay - book to

the end of last month and

was astonished to see a

credit of £1670 which is

some compensation even if

there have been no increases 

since we have been in

the bag. Am sure now that

I will build in Sydney if

I can wangle it to stay there

for some years.
T

Saturday 8

Still attending conferences

for the dishing out of a few

odd bits of clothing that

could be adequately done by

a Pte storeman. Barry

Walker round for a yarn,

at night. Ducks laying fairly

well these days and eggs

selling at $6 each.

MAY 2603
W

Sunday 9

Paid Harry Jessup off the £10 

I lost to him with $50 IJA. 

5 -1 is considered a very

liberal rate these days and

only represents 8 eggs to me.

Ron Magarny, Max Swaddling,

Ferg, Ron Patterson, Sully & I

had a meeting to decide on a

spread tomorrow it includes a

duck and a lot of odd muck.
T

Monday 10

Great days cooking. Paddy

Chief Cook & Max & Ferg were

appointed his off-siders.

Soup, stew made with duck meat,

towgay, tapioca flour, greens, root.

Next course fried rice, cocoanut,

paw-paw, artichokes, M & V doovers

made with root, and an egg.

Finished off with coffee with

santan.

MAY 2603
F

Tuesday 11

Yesterday received a very

cheery 24 worder from Jess

& one from Marj. Jess was

betting on me being home for

Lynne's 7^th birthday. Think I 

will crack it well before

here 8^th. Have reached the

stage of talking fittings for the

new home with Harry Barton.

Hope the Bank agrees to the scheme.
S

Wednesday 12

Did a final sort of Red X

clothing. Actually it was only

a drop in the ocean. Managed

to get a pair of shorts and

a shirt that will do fine

to poke round in when I

get back if the bloody war

finishes before I wear them

out.

MAY 2603
S

Thursday 13

Owing to all our fit being away on

parties we have been forced to

discontinue the Insurance Scheme

I invented nearly 18 mths ago.

The most we can do now is to 

make our small balance go as

far as possible on suplementry

diets. Have been amusing myself,

trying to think out what economic

conditions will be like when we 

get out of the bag.
M

Friday 14

Cracked my 17^th dose of

malaria yesterday afternoon

which was very sad as

it was a Red X [[musteran?]]

day and I couldn't eat my

nicely flavoured doovers.

That will be an extra 1 lb

of steak I will owe myself

when we get out.

MAY 2603
T

Saturday  15

After several very light doses

of fever I am making up for

them this go - it is a beauty.

Havnt been able to keep a

mouthful of food down. Our

present poor condition is

reflected when a few meals are

missed. Would say I have

dropped lbs in weight in the

last couple of days.
W

Sunday 16

Discovered a good way of

taking the powdered quinine

Pluck a spinach leaf and

carefully wrap up the quinine

which makes a pretty big

pill. Takes some swallowing

but a great improvement 

on the old method of downing

it in water. Paid Allan Cook

$50 for half the £20 I owed him

MAY 2603
T

Monday 17

Still getting a bad belting with

the bug. Old Ferg will make

somebody a grand wife. He spends

half the day over the fire trying to

re-hash the lousy food to try and

make it attractive enough for me

to get a bit down. Afraid I have

not been able to respond to his

efforts very much. Still "it is an ill

wind" - he fills up on both lots!
F

Tuesday 18

A further comforts issue though

more lousy than most. After

getting a pair of shoe laces

last time I drew one razor

blade. We also had an issue

of .43 of an "Old Gold" cigarette

per man. In our quarters

we tossed out and I did NOT

get one. Still it would only

be a taste for two minutes.