Diary relating to the service of Major Charles Patrick Tracey, 1945 - Part 5

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

MNIMN Recddy 10 Stagged out today and just ag pusmphly totaggeed Aback to beg afte anthort beautiful plack out. feag is shill trying to tew invand youd en of sudarations with out mugh success, tough I did not in to his sid day stew. Mhursaay 20 After being told the drome wel was finished the men are all out at work again. Stony now is ferest &n 25th. In the eae every avalable ye is out for up to 12 hos po day doing sutile seveling. The psicke standarders very wI matarg gotng neer nore MAV 2003 Baay 21 The great increase in malasia io able to the 130 restricting & antimitarial squad to a very snall area and areeding gdis close to camp ae know reglected. Mos say that in t months the arep will be as bad as any in the country duinine becames searcer. cousses dow from 12 to 5 day. Twe pe day insted of thee Saturday 22 Back on the t as a duck fasmer. Doig a cousse an atabon that should let me have my inext dose & fever midst the pays of a consalicent hospital, pobably in India Gasking in gaob converted from weed to fuelloil. Story is 150 lost abad a bit. They don'tt like the idea & pulling wood trailers
Bushef telling facts of life MAI MIS Sunday 23 At least we place ever the drsne and simc incedary canbs anapped hove of our work parties were within 2000yds & the targets. Jimmy Kinit in in the gase worksteps and is making me a leater for £30 It is well worth it as pas sea Gorg boses 2 gallons & swear eaily oue the open fire matea 20 Played off fials of AIF Dast Saudney ad afhe finishing nd wedh two more played o and finished up 30 t fm Gade & Claud Galffin Falk & 500 mere imen gos No2 area & theng to sowe as a work party some work due to finlsh tomonow. Tramp with ladies bock to trade. MNME Tuesday 25 Only 20 2/26 Bn 90 to N02area a party of 350 Dutth arrived from Falamhang and the tale is that there are still 1000 to come. Ges & stain is one of four fandres selecked to meve out. Have done my best to black it without sudess It is a shame when beshes like Barak who has never been Heenestay 2 out y change and perfectly fit are codered up thy the sen AIF Chaplain. Ken Gege off and was able to frests $20 which will help him along a bit I hope. Geo & Belfy have g to the by truck while tthe rest indl 500 ths Lw mone to No2 aea.
MAY 2003 Tutedo 2 Have finished with the home new Had a long you with Hsrry Barton, laks has casted it at x1670 a lot & cam but I think well word it. All that has to be decided is gas & plectricity for cosking, repy and Leating. Beautiful fille imen thall would do gess te wold to see. Enday 28 Had an interview with 39 wto is lessing his funch camp office asked for say Barte to go, to No2 drea &B was son because it appeated that Bill neleeve mush have pt an ocer for him. Any how the fact remain Ray have out temorow to goin Bill MNE cang2 hewey Lag issued a warning Oral that Frank Lowry and thee British Hon. Ds Omust more into the gave to make room in the aps area for the 100, ofs expectedin at any ture staed anoth maan so e a says in the ad ouble is sicaam staff lacks gute Sundor 30 Jshning Morris has been Osepld as missng of at last and had h reod has taken cue and is deing a great 7eh. One wided almost thing we were, on a fas bet natye ocalo. Ter shill makes up our grat all over again each meal
after fo leave - my wife ts yux as some to actue Awar, Oe 2603 Monday 31 last night my but received a batch 77 75a3 navy Offor wels have just sme from Flemgailg in sunatn myknow nothing veny dinty traid anad poont turned ou Nuch Finlay gr 4 A67 Inter fasthall anog batch mday another team under Geo Deneney standing by to go. Iaht are taking unfit out to working camps to do the chares to release more were for wonk Have had planes sue the last two days tho no bombs daapped been made a sexjny n the my expes amlt Wetnesday2 Esty to Town suspended Instead te paos Dutch why have just areived, have bo supply 705. Another lad killed in tow excavatig Hey drive eight feet they tember four lnd on the whole & the Ialand us sands clay these accidet will aanlnne Marsday Am going to plans with my house pland again today and gee what I am, going to be up for wit saaditionas Sonita and fittings. Am apraid there work be much of my axcumetated pay left by the time it is complete
all men three paces forward who canot march a firthe 15 will - all but oue sut I can tase the thee paces TONE 26OS JUNE 2DOS Sayo Flday With the shortage of eggs Red Crass supplies are Gergs I will sea be going coming to an end, only a stane. I sell googs a960 three ynse days on aly and by tapeon nloh and 6dgs. shink we will be in exsuble them ap the 154 aad stalf from te causeen is supplying practically to put a, bit of wlk in nothing but nice, which is put besic retur o 800 suptinased with greens pnice terday ow I long for some of yeas eyilisso from our swe garden. Sail goodcewith our scarce eggs diminshing gai Lands Monday Saturday As prices nive more stuff e more camp tragedy to sell on the Black parket enached a sutch wp. who has just asived from becomes greatly sought afke Ferg pulled out a goed glembig cut lesth his filling for kay manin waists throat and homsay fegged aut. It the Ote dray who then sold said filling to ypears that his party is over 3100 Oad deaths not particularly put such securing again mastly b be about it, he was a faize nackeheer
Hiblers aid "napalia wore a bloso wouldet ed tunie Foe 203 show Fresday sarlan paices all apeas 1944 1944 $14.40 Blackng £3:20 fer lb 16.70 1.80 Gla big Sobacco 24.80 70.00 Clevanto 3:20 doead as against this so increase has seen made in 154 pay. offes shill get 830 pr month 3o & which gres to messing and contributios take put 12 Hedyesday I Analysis of Leasonael 1 June 45 British 3843 (Anal all Malayan) Austn 3006 Bzeeks saadian 5 afrreans Indians1 NGealudes 8 Ialian 19 Qmericans 47 French Hollandes 1963 sussion t Sanish horwegios will we get some germans! Gackeny bra pai to JUNE 2603 Turday 10 I sent other moan but the manotoly of this life since the tps have been separated from the Efos is getting ime asw. afher years to gether we know one and the down to the last degree. In fagh I oppen think 30 tancis wh at people are geing to say before they spen ltter mouths. Aay I Sakahashi is relaxing some of his restrictions on the Epro Swimmug parades for 200 daily have started today which is a great leep as wate bosees cal be filled with salt water and lates bsiled dawn. salt is the dear to buy, reay scarce + fear quality.
clants Clark - In a Tark Sentry who challenged Pof Pops Swist JUNE 2803 JUNE 2603 Mombay 14 Saturday 12 Gerg went down for salt last nights concel a Lawlig wate while I went out to success after messing thm so so long fust te fact of being the disproal area to gath some able to hear sone musie dlove word so much for the occupatios o see major & cleered us all a great aleal a serios captain. A third & if any deesing should be Ireceasary there days & the 83 our meage will issue has been replased with very old & had parcels & Mmedical stores clange sotn which promptly gave us got 8.& tese t n Landid all had aacks of the Brote sax to go returnn the rest yeaday Sundar 13 Days great josse? 1The Rev ble ushe cauget sading After month of crestrictions hs watsh Bt fined him the Cacount. Grave comes One smonths pay 28 days wt action again. Thee restrection and copincated days ago Pears was let out He sail on good behaviou. the 3750l got fo st Dutot He wooks extremly well paties away today & tomorrow and many shades lighte hearly 4000 to go within a wek a lad and today on hls 5t and hospital Offs to move inside the walls -new Querl annuversary of joining the AJ.J. for depence of Island wantg BAw It it - sant blane him
ord off It is tofeelly good onis be tea -oaerly afpears: any boo JUNE Dechenly 16 Anoth batch off today to Singapore 450 more Palenbarg Lelsonel arowed in very bad stafe. most stretche cases and suffering with a sixid variety & deseases including inabritition Takalashi agrees that after morday farty goes it well not be possible by raise the required 2509 valance Thureday 17 The last of our red cross crasions cosumed today. We have never had more than 1207 per man week and the walia has been nothing more than as a flavening agent for sic our the whole pawed we have averagid 25 cigareres. Hope the but enjoyed them. ascp yes as lest itis supposed to cowa want mee JUNE 2603 Fray 18 Thirky undre of my lads have left and I think thus have a veny good chance & linking upr with Regr Swaitz. May Palines was included though I have been able to kinng on to guning Grose so far. One Ioigh spot is swimoing as westet tave or again Satuday 19 Todays fengaftn party of lettle fion Jou Tayle Russ well though 70 his party 7200 lais up Werting gslone Balaer sully up before Bs yeste day lfhis being caught in area Geo off wwith a £5 fare which paid sang le was after auck food.
I wonde how that dog knew IUNE 2603 Bondoy 20 I think I see a great wave i pesimisin through the caut is, course, we all realise that the day may come when kings may be, mmade very sticky for hs aut no point canbe gained by setting reund contemplating a hasky finish to our long tern ye captivy Monday 21 more panties are being denanded for singapor and bat sewey camp Represent Hie off) does not seem to be puting of much of a case tep. Hecely some& en basser caqualties with leg injuries have been passed as pit for work- They had not been but of the convilint Depct before we were 2/25 JONEN Tuertoy 2 Went for a morning sum. was delightful, full ty time- hat too much seen and the wate, cold. Was amused at the ing muchan men gattering sea slugs and seaweed to make bup some extra yoe Granted we are all kingly can't understand the point Blniew that wll make extangt Manstn 23 Taing swinsning daily from now on as ofte as the lide ponits Iasuble is the beash is very flat muddy and at low tide one goes out 200 you to get waist deep where the wate is fairly let and the beston mud. However we always get a bag of fine wood
IUNE 2603 Mardar land trust a savl tese days. Rey Palier aold me a rage for 335 the paid 220) and assued ime it was a gaod are At is a useless and. Then before departing for surgapan state the stone from the barters sep and seed it for 310. we new have no means & keeping the yuit sagas in over and dey i about wt staves daily endey t Discouved a saring in my trunk where it has laid you years. Paid St forut. One o bus big traders lad a lock a pch and has given me £100 a0 a deposit on a prospecting sale? Won up for a cup of cofper with so ald Dyes Huc Finlay, ex ntenatioat fastban Capt and ing & 429 stati a very nice bloke yfoor Palenborg. JUNE 2803 Saturday 26 our last big fanty to singafore s been casfelled which leaves the repulation sere at 7800 ve lears Russ and party are on the mave though as idea where they are beig for ho was yet grom any saving sadet. Sandoy 21 Takahashi is leaving sere and wous give an incation hi successor is so greet is the specularion. He comfort and feeding o the camp depenas very largely on the 15A Camp boine and we may do a great dea worse.

May 2603

5 
Wednesday 19

Staggered out today and
just as promptly staggered
back to bed after another
beautiful black out.

Ferg is still trying to
brew invalid food out
of our rations without
much success though I
did hop in to his midday
stew.

S
Thursday  20

After being told the drome work
was finished the men are all
out at work again. Story now
is "finish on 25th". In the
meantime every available O/R
is out for up to 12 hrs per day
doing futile leveling. The
physical standard is very
low and malaria getting much
worse.
MAY 2603

M

Friday 21

The great increase in malaria
is due to the IJA restricting
the anti-malarial squad to a
very small area and breeding
grounds close to camp and
now neglected. M/OS say that
in two months the area will
be as bad as any in the country.
Quinine becomes scarcer.
courses down from 12 to 5 day,,
two per day instead of three.
T

Saturday 22

Back on the job as a duck
farmer. Doing a course on
atabrin that should let me
have my next dose of fever
midst the joys of a convalecent
hospital probably in India.
Cooking in gaol converted from
wood to fuel oil. Story is IJA looks
ahead a bit. They don't like the 
idea of pulling wood trailers

 

[*Bishop telling facts of life*]

May 2603 
W
Sunday 23

At least one flare over the drome
and the same including bombs
dropped. None of our work parties
were within 2,000 yds of the 
targets. Jimmy Smith is in
the gaol workshop and is
making me a heater for $30.
It is well worth it as poor
old Ferg looses 2 gallons of
sweat daily over the open fire
T

Monday 24

Played off finals of AIF Dart
Tourney and after finishing
2nd with two more played
off and finished up 3rd. to
Jim Brown & Claude Griffin

Talk of 500 more men for
No 2 area & thence to Town
as a work party. Drome
work due to finish tomorrow.

[* Tramp with ladies boots to trade.]

May 2603

F

Tuesday 25
Only 20 2/26 Bn go to No 2 area.

A party of 350 Dutch arrived
from Palambang and the tale
is that there are still 1000
to come. Geo Polain is one
of four pardres selected to
move out. Have done my best
to block it without success.
It is a shame when blokes like
Barratt who has never been
S

Wednesday26

out of Changi and perfectly

fit are covered up by the
Sen AIF chaplain. Saw
George off and was able to 
presento $20 which will
help him along a bit I
hope. Geo & Benjy have gone
to town by truck while the 

rest incl 500 tps have moved 

to No 2 area.

 

May 2603

S

Thursday    27
Have finished with the home
now. Had a long yarn with
Henry Barton who has
costed it at £1670. a lot of
coin but I think well worth
it. All that has to be decided is
gas V Electricity for cooking refrig
and heating. Beautiful full
moon that would do Jess the 
world to see.
M

Friday 28
Had an interview with B J
who is loosing his punch.

Camp office asked for Ray
Barcher to go to No 2 area & B J
was sour because it appeared
that Bill McGeever must have
put in an order for him.

Anyhow the fact remains Ray
moves out tomorrow to join
Bill.
May 2603

T 

Saturday  29
Newey has issued a warning
order that Frank Lowry and 
three British Hon. Lts must
move into the gaol to make
room in the offrs area for
the 100 Offrs expected in at
any time. Have started
another moon &  so for Frank
stays in the Hut. Trouble is

our admin staff lacks guts.
W

Sunday 30
Johnny Hornis has been
sacked as messing offr

at last and Rod Mcleod
has taken over and is
doing a great job. One
would almost think we 
were on a far better
ration scale. Ferg still
makes up our grub all
over again each meal.

 

[*Appn for leave- My wife has just been made a Serj-Maj in
AIS- want to go home to achieve my lifes ambition.]
May-June 2603
T
Monday 31

Last night my hut received
a batch of 7 RAF v navy

offrs who have just come
from Palembang in
Sumatra. They know
nothing. Very dirty, tired
and poorly 
turned out. Huck
Finlay Mgr 4 QGY Inter
footballer among batch.

F

Tuesday 1

Another team under Geo
Deveney standing by to
go. Japs are taking unfit
out to working camps to
do the chores to release
more men for work.

Have had planes over 

the last two days tho
no bombs dropped.
JUNE 2603

S

Wednesday 2

Party to Town suspended.

Instead the poor Dutch who
have just arrived have to
supply 70 u. Another lad

killed in the town excavating.
They drive eight feet then
timber four and on the
whole of the Island is
sand & clay these accidents
will continue.
S

Thursday 3

Am going to play with
my house plans again
today and see what I
am going to be up for
with additional furniture
and fittings. Am afraid
there won't be much of
my accumulated  pay left
by the time it is complete.

 


[*All men three paces forward who cannot march a further
15 miles- All but one out "I can't take the three paces.]
JUNE 2603
M

Friday 4

Red Cross supplies are
coming to an end. Only
three more days on our
[[6 ops?]]. Think we will be in
trouble then as the IJA
is supplying practically
nothing but rice which is
suplimented with greens
from our own garden. Snails
scarce & eggs diminishing.

T
Saturday 5

One more camp tragedy
enacted. A Dutch info
who has just arrived from
Palembang cut both his
wrists & throat and
promptly pegged out. It
appears that his party is
not particularly put out
about it, he was a prize
racketeer.
W

Sunday 6
With the shortage of eggs
Ferg & I will soon be doing
a starve. I sell googs @ $6
and my tapioca root and
odd stuff from the canteen
to put a bit of bulk in
our basic ration of 8 ozs
of rice per day. How I long
for some of Jess' civilised
food cooked with her own
fair hands.

T

Monday 7
As prices rise more stuff
to sell on the Black Market
becomes greatly sought after.
Ferg pulled out a gold
filling for Roy Manion
the other day who then
sold said filling for
over $100. Odd deaths
occuring again, mostly b-beri

 

[*Hitler's aide "Napolion wore a
red tunic so the blood wouldn't show"*]

F

Tuesday 8

Canteen prices Apl 44 - Apl 45

.                           1944                           1944
Blachang          $3.20 per lb                $14.40
Gula                      1.80  "     "                    16.70
big Tobacco       24.80"     "                    70.00
Coconuts.                .80 each                    3.20
As against this NO increase
has been made in IJA pay.
Offrs still get $30 per month $10

of which goes to messing and
other contributions take further $2
S

Wednesday 9

Analysis of personnel 1 June 45

British 3843 (Incl all Malayans)
Austn    3006

Canadians       9    Czechs 1
S Africans        2    Indians 1
N Zealanders  8    Italians 19
Americans.     47   French  1
Hollanders   1963  Russian 2
Danish               3
Norwegians      2

Will we get some germans?
[*Pack my Brown pants.*]

JUNE 2603

Thursday 10
I don't often moan but the

monotony of this life since
the tps have been separated
from the offrs is getting me
down. After years together we
know one another down to the
last degree. In fact I often
think I know what people are
going to say before they open
their mouths.

M 

Friday 11
Takahashi is relaxing some
of his restrictions on the offrs.

Swimming parades for 200
daily have started today
which is a great help as water
bottles can be filled with
salt water and later boiled
down. Salt is too dear to buy,
very scarce & poor quality.

 

[* Sentry who challenged "Pop-pop" Swish-clank blank- I'm a Yank*]
JUNE 2603
Saturday  12
Ferg went down for salt
water while I went out to
the dispersal area to gather some
doover wood - so much for
the occupation of one major &
a senior captain. A third of
our meager rice issue has been
replaced with very old & hard
corn which promptly gave us
all bad attacks of the trots.
W

Sunday 13
After months of restrictions
the Coconut. Grove comes
into action again. Three
days ago Pedro was let out
of the Gaol on good behaviour.
He looks extremely well
and many shades lighter.

A lad died today on his 5th

anniversary of joining the AIF.
JUNE 2603
T

Monday 14
Last nights concert a howling
success after missing them for
so long. Just the fact of being
able to hear some music
cheered us all a great deal-
if any cheering should be
necessary these days. Of the 80
parcels of medical stores Changi
got 8. Of these the nip handed
over 15% retaining the rest.
F
Tuesday 15
Days great joke. The Rev
Cliff Usher caught trading
his watch. B J fined him

one months pay, 28 days
restrictions and confiscated
the $750 he got for it. Dutch

parties away today & tomorrow.
Nearly 4,000 to go within a week
and hospital Offrs to move
inside the walls.- New General
for defence of Island wants Ps.O.W

off it. - Don't blame him

 

[* ord Offr " It is perfectly good onion soup" yes sir but it's supposed to
be tea - orderly appears " Anybody want more cocoa"*]
JUNE 2603

S

Wednesday 16
Another batch off today to 
Singapore. 450 more Palembang
personnel arrived in very
bad shape. Most stretcher
cases and suffering with a
mixed variety of deseases
including malnutrition.
Takahashi agrees that after
Mondays party goes it will
not be possible to raise the
required 2500 balance.
S

Thursday 17
The last of our red cross

rations consumed today.
We have never had more 
than 12 oz per man per week
and the value has been
nothing more than as a 
flavouring agent for rice.
Over the whole period we
have averaged 25 cigarettes.
Hope the nips enjoyed them.
JUNE 2603

M 
Friday 18
Thirty more of my lads
have left and I think they
have a very good chance
of linking up with Reg

Swartz. Roy Palmer was 

included though I have
been able to hang on to
Jimmy Grose so far. One
bright spot is swimming and 
Coconut Grove on again.

T
Saturday 19
Today Singapore party off.
Letter from John Taylor. Russ
well though 70 of his party
of 200 laid up. Working
at Jehore Bahan. Sully up
before B J yesterday after
being caught in No2 area.
Got off with a $5 fine which
I paid seeing he was after
duck food.

 

[*I wonder how that dog knew we were 2/hts?*]
JUNE 2603

W Sunday 20

I think I see a great wave of
pesimism through the camp.
Of course we all realise that
the day may come when
things may be be made very
sticky for us but no point
can be gained by sitting
round contemplating a
nasty finish to our long
term of captivity
T

Monday 21

More parties are being
demanded for Singapore and
Col Newey ( Camp Representative
Offr) does not seem to be
putting up much of a case
to the nip. Recently some of
our base casualties with
leg injuries have been passed
as fit for work - They have not 
been out of the Convalescent
Depot before!
JUNE 2603

F 
Tuesday  22

Went for a morning swim.
was delightful, full tide -
not too much sun and the 
water cold. Was amused at 
the 'big muckan " men gathering
sea slugs and sea-weed 
to make up some extra food.
Granted we are all hungry I 
can't understand the point of view
that will make men eat anything.
S

Wednesday 23
Going swimming daily from
now on as the tide
permits. Trouble is the beach
is very flat & muddy and 
at low tide one goes out 200
yds to get waist deep where
the water is fairly hot and
the bottom mud. However we
always get a bag of fire wood.

 

JUNE 2603 

S
Thursday 24
Can't trust a soul these days.
Roy Palmer sold me a razor
for $35 (he paid $20) and assured
me it was a good one. It is
a useless dud. Then, before 
departing for Singapore stole
the stone from the barbers
shop and sold it for $10. We
now have no means of keeping
 the unit razors in order and they
do about 100 shaves daily.

M 

Friday 25
Discovered a sarong in my
trunk where it has laid for
years. Paid $5 for it. One of
our big traders had a look at
it and has given me $100 as 
a deposit on a prospective
sale! Went up for a cup of
coffee with Donald Dyer & Nick
Finlay, ex international football
Capt and mgr of 4 Q G station
 - a very nice bloke from Palenbang.
JUNE 2603

T

Saturday 26
Our last big party to
SIngapore has been
cancelled which leaves
the population here at
7800. Have heard Russ
and party re on the 
move though no idea
where they are bound
for. No word yet from
my Sarong trader.
W

Sunday 27
Takahashi is leaving
here and won't give any
indication of who his
successor is so great
is the speculation. The
comfort and feeding of
the camp depends very
largely on the IJA Camp

Comnd and we may do
a great deal worse.

 





















 







 


 


 

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