Diary relating to service of Hector Alexander McIntyre - Part 2
17. 2 .42 We moved out & marched to the Gordon Highlanders
TUESDAY Barracks Changi which was a 15 mile march &
(CONTINUED) found a biscuit & a hot cup of tea waiting for us.
18. 2. 42 Pooled all out tucker & have been living on Rice
WEDNESDAY flavoured with Stew, Jam Milk & Syrup. Plenty
of fatigues & 1 working party for Singapore in
the last month.
RATION SCALE
| RICE 17 oz | MEAT 1 4/5 oz | FLOUR 2oz (16 Baker) | |
| VEGETABLE NIL | SUGAR 9/10 oz | SALT 1/5 oz | TEA 1/5 oz |
| MILK 1/2 oz | FRYING OIL 1/5 oz |
TO
1 4/5 oz Meat consists of tinned fruit, Vegetable , fish or
anything in that line.
One meat Ration was 16 lbs meat for 900 men.
17. 3. 42 on the 15. 3. 42 Church Parade in memory
TUESDAY of the fallen & exactly 1 month since Armistice
17. 3. 42 Wiring ourselves in a Perimeter
1 Line Apron 1 Line Concertina & then
1 Line Apron (3 rows altogether). Put unde.
open arrest for telling CpTN xxxx DYER, I'd like
to meet him in Australia. Got timber
for Company Cookhouse.
18. 3. 42 Nothing happened about the Trial. On
WEDNESDAY. digging fatigue. Bed early Jap time 9.0 PM
Malay time 7.30PM 1½ hrs difference. They
have our Cookhouse nearly completed
19. 3. 42 Digging Fatigue from 1200 hrs - 1500hrs. Duty
THURSDAY Coy. Standby for Singapore. Afternoon
off as on Light Duty because of Diarhea.
Rained all day.
20. 3. 42 Light Duty again today & have got a good
FRIDAY book to read. Issued 1 Cake of Kero Soap Very handy
21. 3. 42 No job, Duty Coy. Mouse Dwyer came back
SATURDAY from Singapore Working Party. Says they had
a grand time time. Brigade Concert on tonight & think
I'll go. Have pain in small of back but
21. 3. 42 otherwise OK. Talking to a Pommy he says Aircraft
SATURDAY like a Policeman, never there when the row starts. Saw
(CONTINUED) planes today (Japs). The saying now is "We're theirs". Saw
SGT. RAY. FORD today. He seems to be out of Razor Blades
like everyone else. Heard today the Indian Soldier
slashed open our Kit Bags. Hope mine is still intact.
22. 3.4 2 Church Parade & then duty for rest of day. 5th Week
SUNDAY P.O.W. They are making ovens & cookhouses everywhere
must be here for a long stay. Had a look at our
vegetable gardens & have started to sprout everywhere. They
are talking now of opening canteens. I wonder how long
we are here for. Got off duty today so just read, Mouse
Dwyer was telling us the Jap asked one of the lads by
pointing to Meat Extract if it was good for sores & the lad
answered "Yes" for a joke, also noticed one of them putting
O'Cedar Polish to his mouth to find out if it is any
good for drinking, but the lads stopped him.
Going over to the AASC with BILL PASCOE to see Sgt
Roy FORD tonight.
23. 3. 42 Fatigues this morning filling in Pits. Educational
MONDAY. schools starting today. 2 men were given 14 days
detention for refusing to work & are on ½ ration
per day & locked up in a bathroom. Had a
look at a cricket match in the evening between
C&D Coys & resulting in a win for Don Coy. D. Coy
made 77 & C Coy 44. Pommeys appear to be
getting good tucker Rice Biscuits, Buns, Pasties etc.
24. 3. 42 Duty Coy for C & D Coys & I have a digging job. In
TUESDAY the evening I am going to a Business class. See
Boongs selling army tucker over the fence. Bully
Beef $1 tin Cigarettes 50 cts while our lads have
been selling Bully Beef at $3 Cigarettes $1 pkt.
1 lb tin flour $4 Milk $3 Cheese $3 Camp Pie & Stew $3.
Have caught a few lads who got detention & if the Jap
catches him he may get shot. 2 dressed chickens
24 3. 42 for $3 pr by the Boongs. Japs are going to be strict
TUESDAY about Aussies leaving perimeter. Cigarette
(CONTINUED) Issue & received 1 Pkt Cigarettes. Will give
them away gradually.
25 . 3. 42 Water carrying fatigue in morning. Still buying
WEDNESDAY food out of area & don't seem afraid of being
caught. Have got a cold & starting of the Flu. NO
duty in evening so done washing. Officers Mess
had risoles for tea & one of A. Coy took one & took
it to Brigade. Salmon was supposed to be in it.
26. 3. 42 On check Parade MAJOR. TRACEY spoke to the Coy
THURSDAY with regards to the risoles or RIce Cakes & said there
was no salmon in them, just plain Rice Cakes
made out of Rice Flour & Frying Oil. Who ate
the 11 tins of salmon opened on the 25th.
Breakfast earlier as a parade for a Jap General is
on. The Parade finished at 12. N. I have another
touch of Diarhea & expect to have the evening off
After every parade now the Colonel of the 2/29 Bn
receives a "Boo" from his men, as he is very
unpopular. 2/29th BN appear to be getting good
tucker. Plenty of Pastry. We get 1 piece of Bread
a day. They get 3 Articles Bread Bun &
Rice Cakes (Good Luck to them). On account of
receiving bad bags of rice our Battn have to
make do what they got & after tonights meal
I'm still as hungry as ever. While in action
rumours went around that Kingsford Smithare is training the Japenese Pilots in Japan.
I am trying to buy some curry to make
the meal tastier & only hope I can get some
27 3. 42 Company cooking starts today & C & D coy
FRIDAY have a rice grinder given them which will
make things much better in respect to
making different sweet biscuits. Rumours
27. 3. 42 going about are pretty favourable & appears that
FRIDAY something favourable is going to happen on the 29th
(CONTINUED) BN Barber Shop opened today & I'm getting my
hair clipped. On Water-Carrying fatigue today
OK again from diarhea. Phil Hall came back
today having been in the hospital since 11.2.42
till 25.3.42 & looks pretty thin on it. A bullet
went through the edge of his lung giving him
slight Pneumonia & then he hot Disentry. Breakfast
was lousy & I didn't have any rice as it wasn't
cooked properly, so all I had was 1 small cream tin
full of Soup (Stew). Dinner was Coy Cooking &
the rice was very well cooked but not enough
as on account of having to make up the loss in
the bad bags of Rice. Phil Hall was telling
me of his voyage to hospital. The Ambulance had
2 Indian drivers & they could hear the sand hitting
the sides of the Ambulance from the Shellbursts &
all of a sudden they pulled the Ambulance up
with a Jerk & left the Ambulance & the Patients
to look after themselves. After being there a
½ hour they managed to hail an ambulance
driven by Australians who had a spare
driver & took them to the Hospital. Found
some Pepper today & when I get curry will
make things O.K. A good 8th Division Concert
on tonight so I cant miss it. May get a fair
bit of meat tomorrow as 280 lbs came in & is
supposed to last 4 days which means
Meat or Stew all day tomorrow & Rice Pln.
for the next 3 days. More rumours about
Musso fleeing from Italy & also Germany
surrendering.
28. 3. 42 Met BILL ELDER from the Provo. Corps. &
SATURDAY he just told me MAJOR. JOSE from the 10th AGH.
28 3 42 passed away yesterday from Dissentry
SATURDAY The Jap is now going to supply timber if
(CONTINUED) we want to make beds. Still talking of
starting a canteen, but all they do is talk.
Carting soil for oven & tomorrow we
start Baking. Gunfire this morning is very
clear & close & beleive the Natives are carrying
their gear back across the Causeway to
Singaporfe (SYONAN). Rice light on for lunch
& may be better for tea, Trying to get curry
tonight my mate was chased by Indians
on guard of the AIF. P.OW. Camp (SIEKS). Rice
light on for tea & no bread. Germanys' Surrender
supposed to be confirmed. On an all night
water Cart pushing Party from 8 PM till 8 AM.
Fighting is supposed to be on the other side of
the Causeway (I wonder). Noticed a mob
of 60 - 2/26 BN Personal waiting for the 2/20 Bn
surplus Rations of Rice that they couldn't eat &
we arent getting enough.
29. 3. 42 Today is the day of interest as told by an Englishman
SUNDAY who picked the day for the Surrender of Singapore.
He also said he wouldn't live to hear the news of
today & he died the other day. Breakfast. Polished
Rice & Milk & was very nice. Battn is starting to bung
on Battn Parades for each meal. Lunch consisted
of a Bun from our new oven which was very nice
also Rice & Milk. A fight started in the ground
showing discontentment of the mess as we are
still not getting enough food. Finished Water
Fatigue at 2 AM & now have the day off. Have to
mount duty tonight. Inlaying Picquet which
means an early tea. Tea Soup Rice & 2 Flapjacks
which were nice & to make it better I bought curry to add
to the pepper. Thunder or Shellfire near Causeway. Ceremonial
Parade finished & then a game of 500 & then to bed.
30. 3. 42 Duty Coy today so must expect duties. Rice not so
MONDAY hot for Breakfast. Wood scrounging fatigue outside the
perimeter. Lunch Bun, Curried Soup & Rice. Watched
Cricket Match between D Coy & Bn HQ & ended in a win
for Don Coy. Duty Coy again tomorrow & so far have
no duties. Tea. Sweet Rice & 2 flapjacks & a good cup of tea.
SGT. TOM GOGGIN has Malaria & had gone to hospital.
31. 3. 42 200 out of the 2/26 Bn are supposed to be going to Singapore
TUESDAY from HQ Coy & A Coy & C & D have to do duties. Fence Picquet
till 2 PM & Breakfast consisted of Rice & milk with help
of 3 Guavers & 1 overripe Coconut made an enjoyable meal
Bought some cakes over fence & were very nice. School
has been cancelled on account of the working Party
going in & we are on reserve. Started to rain
& broke party off & later on took 100 away by truck
Still going over the top Wire for food & Sieks sentry
dont seem to worry them. Sieks are still
guarding the Perimeter. The Jap got 500 Volunteer
from the SIEK REGIMENT to guard P.OW Perimeter
& other jobs. Rumours around that Thailand
had been retaken. We have been winning the war
since being P.O.W.'S. Tea Rice & Mince was very
nice but not enough.
1. 4. 42 April Fools Day & I see a notice on the board
WEDNESDAY to catch anyone. Norma Kennedys' Birthday
& I haven't forgotten it. On Digging Fatigue
today but didn't work. Breakfast. Mince
& Rice & 1 Rice Cake. Very nice but short Ration
Lunch Rice & Milk & 1 Bun & still hungry
Done nothing in evening only read a book
& had Parade Practice for the G.O.C's Visit.
Tea Rice & Milk & pretty light on. Supposed
to mount duty but I think it is too
wet. Mounted duties under the Verandah
& then off to bed.
2. 4 42 G.O.C's visit to the 27th Brigade & also an
THURSDAY. address by him. Congratulated the 27th Brigade
on the fine show displayed & also the first Brigade
to go into action. Breakfast. Rice & Milk
but Rice had lime in it & could not be
eaten enjoyably & some of mine away
Lunch:- Rice (tinned) & Curried with vegetables.
School so missed out on Salt Water Party
& just as well it rained all evening. Tea
Rice & Milk with a Pastry Rice Cake. Very
nice & filling & enabled us to milk our tea.
Rumours about which are supposed to be
in the SYANON TIMES that the Japs have
vacuated Java & Sumatra on account
of disease (Lead)
3. 4. 42 Good Friday & a Hot Cross Bun Curried
FRIDAY Stew & Rice for Breakfast & feeling pretty full
No Duties. Lunch Curried Stew & Rice &
feel satisfied. Burial Party for PTE
FRED GRABNER a Reinforcement. A dummy
Mortar took his kneecap off & they tried to
save his leg but had to take his leg off above
the knee 3 days ago. Since then he got dissentry
& passed away 9.30 last night. Had the Burial
under best circumstances & at 2 30. PM the
body started to smell & we carried the body
(wrapped up in a xxxxxx Blanket.) on a
stretcher about 3 miles & was very heavy. Talk
of working party for Singapore for tomorrow
& am supposed to go
4. 4 42 10.0.AM. Packed ready for a Working Party
SATURDAY & had early Breakfast & were given 2 Buns
to carry for Lunch with Meat & Jam on them &
then off for a 20 miles march to Bucketiema.
On the way out the first thing I noticed on
4. 4. 42 the front of a house was a Jap Flag & a Nazi Flag.
SATURDAY Pulled up for lunch & bought Bread Rolls 7 CTs each
& same as the ones $1 in camp. Marching through
the streets we were lucky to buy more Rolls at 5 cts
each & also Biscuits & Cakes & some bought Jam at
50 CTs. Arrive at destination at 6 PM. Got gear
from dump & had tea which was Rice & Stew (Light)
5. 4. 42 Working Party on: Had Breakfast & took Rice
SUNDAY with us to cook on the Job. 3000 on the Job altogether.
Lunch Rice & Stew & didn't start work till after
lunch. Building roads & found Truck overturned
& managed to get a few tins of Bacon which went
well with the Rice & stew. Tea was Rice & Stew. Lads
went on a scrounging party & found cases of tea &
tinned food & stored them in our Company area.
Some found Army Biscuits & shared them amongst
their Platoons.
6. 4 42 Out on Road Work again & has started to rain
MONDAY but stopped before we left to go out to the Job. Trying
to get extra rations but I don't know how lucky we
are going to be. Working ½ hour on & ½ hour off. Leave
camp 9.15 AM & get back 6. PM. Have had fairly
bad rice lately & hope it improves. Jap General
inspected A.I.F at work & has started to speed the
Job up as every available man out working
in the evening. Saw Snow Marsh & haven't
had a yarn to him yet.
7. 4. 42 Revielle now at 7. 30AM Breakfast 8. 0AM. Went
TUESDAY. & bought some Bread Rolls & Bread Sticks x 2 cts each
& came back late for Breakfast. The Boongs
are trying to seel Bread for 15 cts but the lads
won't pay any more than 10 cts. Every available
man has to go on working Party Cooks & Orderly Room.
Jap in charge gave us an easy day & is keen to
learn English. Got wet on the way home.
8. 4. 42 Tasty cakes bought for Breakfast with
WEDNESDAY soup & Unpolished rice was filling. Went out on
Road making & noticed AI.F men picking up
dumpers off the road also saw them waiting
for the Jap to throw his dumper down & clout
on it & smoke it . Started raining about 2PM
& rained all evening & night & we lit a fire in
the Hut & done a bit of cooking & dried some
clothes. Cut my finger on a tin. Only a scratch
9. 4. 42 Diarhea again & on Light Duty. Bread Sticks &
THURSDAY Bacon with Rice & veg soup for breakfast. Wasnt too
bad. Lunch Rice & Milk was light on. PTE. JIM SHIVAS
got 8 tins of unsweetened milk given him & he gave
me one. Went out scrounging & found 1 Tin
Meat & Vegetable Stew. Working Party came back.
Japs threw dozens of Packets of Jap Cigarettes
over the fence to the lads as they were knocking
off work. Tea Crook Rice & Soup. Done a
bit of frying Rice Cakes. Gastric trouble & not
too good.
10. 4. 42 Went on Sick Report & have to report to Hospital
FRIDAY Opened the Meat & Veg for Breakfast & also the
milk. Have to lay on floor at Hospital & have
to go on a diet 3-4 Cups of tea & 1-½ Cup of
Cocoa per day. Have no more pains & feel
OK. Some of the lads went back to Changi
25 al told & managed to get a mattress so
things won't be too bad
11. 4. 42 Breakfast ½ Cup of tea & saw the MO & am
SATURDAY going to the Con Depot. Played 500 all
morning & am looking forward to a good lunch
Just heard another good Rumour from one
of the Colonels. That should the Japanese
have to clear out from the Island in a hurry
the commanders of the AIF. have to take
11. 4 42 charge & stop all looting. Dinner consisted of
SATURDAY Rice & Stew & wasn't bad but not enough. Went
(CONTINUED) down to the Boong Market supervised by the Japanese
& had a look at the foodstuffs they were selling
& the articles look very nice. Just made some
Red Ink out of a Powder. Just heard a bit of shellfire
& sounded like Naval Guns. Tea Rice & Stew
& added some curry which made it better.
The Japs gave some of the lads a pretty
rough spin hitting them with a Golf
Stick. The Japs strung up a Boong forxxxx cha overchargeing for Tucker. They
have started to undercut & will get bread
for next to nothing soon.
12. 4. 42. Breakfast. Porridge & Milk & very light on.
SUNDAY. Discharged from Con Depot. to go back to
unit & have 3 days Light Duty. Lunch:- Rice
& milk & was just filling. Am going on a
food search this evening & hope I get some.
The Jap has cut our Rations by only giving
us Rice & Tea & nothing to go with it. Tea
consisted of Rice & Lentil Soup & wasn't
so hot. Cigarette Issue consisted of 7
London Cigarettes per man. A bit of
cooking in the hut I I didn't do any
13. 4 42. 95 Men out of No 4 Groop (Day) to go to work
MONDAY. to day & may have to go. Meat (Fresh)
came in yesterday evening & we may get
some Stew. Stayed in Camp & dug
Latrines & have evening off. Milk &
Rice for Lunch & 2 Oat meal Biscuits.
with Rice & Soup for Tea. 2,000 Pommey
soldiers marched past to go to the Job. Put
a glass in my watch today made out
of Celluloid. Cooking again in the hut.
Explosions towards Johore Barhur. E.R. MADDISON. 22ND BIRTHDAY
14. 4. 42 Reveille now ½ hour earlier 7.15 AM & Breakfast
TUESDAY consisted of Rice & Soup. Light Duty
& have to dig Latrines. Noticed Jap trucks
& Bren Carriers fully loaded moving
towards Singapore. Lunch Rice &
Arrowroot. Very tasty but could have
eaten much more. Have the evening
off. Went out scrounging but found nothing
Tea - Rice & Stew & Baked Roll.
15. 4. 42 Off to Working Party. Breakfast. Rice & Stew
WEDNESDAY Have begun to build a Bridge across the
Reservoir & have started to build Platform
for the Shrine. Lunch Rice & Milk with some
sultanas that were scrounged. Knocked off
work at 4. PM & on way home done scrounging
E.R. Maddison found a tin Pineapple which gave
us a good tea of Pineapple & a sultana Pasty
which was ve very tasty. Vomited at lunch
time & haven't been too good. Found a
tin China Tea
16 4 42 Breakfast Rice & Stew. On Light Duty today
THURSDAY & have been washing Clothes. Lunch:- Rice
& milk with Sultanas made it an enjoyable
meal. Went scrounging but found nothing
Tea. Rice & Stew with a frit cake. & bread I
bought. Noticed the Jap give a china man
a belting & then torture him with a Bayonet
bleeding pretty ficely & after a few hours
let go. At 11. PM Jap wanted a Muster
parade & we all had to go on parade & be
counted by the Japanese.
17. 4. 42 On Guard to day & met Snow Marsh
FRIDAY going out on working Party. Breakfast
Rice & Stew. Lunch Rice & Milk & then
have to do 4 hrs guard. Saw 5 of the 8 Div Sigs
17. 4. 42 paraded up before the Japanese. Heads for
FRIDAY being missing off the 11. PM Parade the night
(CONTINUED) of Thursday 16/4/42. They told me that they would
get off with a caution. Had no Tea but
made up for it later on by having Toasted
Bread with Milk & Marmite.
18. 4. 42. Breakfast. Rice & Veg. Soup & off to work
SATURDAY at the Quarry breaking Rocks with Sledge
Hammer. Noticed 5 Japanese Graves
with writing & a Diagram - see original document Box with the
German Swastica on the front of the
boxes. Lunch Rice & Milk & Some Sultanas
which made things tasty. Arrived home
late & the Canteen had no bread left
as the Pommeys bought all of it. They
will have their own canteen tomorrow
Tea Rice & Stew with a meat Fritter
with very little rice MEAT, in it. Had a nice
Supper Potato Chips Toasted Bread with
Milk & Marmite. Some more sweet cake
to eat & off to bed. Have been living too high
19. 4. 42 Breakfast Rice & Stew & went & bought Bread from
SUNDAY the Canteen. Quarry Work today crushing
Stones with a hammer. Noticed Quarry
Owner with the Swastica in front of his car
driving the Jap Heads about. Didn't get out
to Job till late as we had to wait for a
Head to pass. Jap Navy in Town in trucks.
Rice & Milk for Lunch but didn't feel
like any. On carting Gravel to Job in
evening & noticed the Jap Guard wearing
a respirator. Knocked off the Job early
& have had a feed of buns & am waiting
for Tea. Tea Rice & Stew. Baked Toasted more
Bread for Supper & with Cakes was very NICE
20. 4. 42 Breakfast. Rice & Soup & then went to the
MONDAY Canteen & bought some Peanut Toffee which
was tasty. Working at the Quarry & didn't
get back to work till late as we had to wait
for trucks Lunch Rice & Milk. Went to
get some pineapples but found all of
them green so went without. Tea Rice
& Soup with a Meat Pasty. Notice an
A.I.F Chap from the Base tied up in
front of the Jap Head Quarters. It is
beleived that one of the Japs went for him
with an axe so he took the axe off the
Jap & started to go for the Jap but was
stopped. Supper Bread toasted with
Condensed Milk & Marmite Very tasty.
21. 4. 42 Noticed A.IF Soldier still tied up to the
TUESDAY. post & has been there all night. Breakfast
Rice & Soup. Went to work on quarry job -
carried more rocks. Lunch Rice & Milk.
Went out scrounging Pineapples from the
back of the Quarry & now have a sore
Mouth from eating them. Just got back
at Tea (Afternoon) time & were knocked
off for the rest of the evening. 2 of the lads
had to walk home about 5 miles. Pay
day today from the Jap Army 10 cts
per day & as I have been in the hospital
& only received 70 cts while most of them
were paid $1 Japanese note. You cannot
buy anything at the Canteen as everyone
is over there having just been paid.
Have just repaired my boots with leather
I scrounged with burnt Flat Head Nails
which served the purpose. Tea, Rice &
Soup & no pastry. Bread (Toasted) with milk
& Marmite for Supper. Also Issue of 9½ Cigarettes
2.2. 4. 42 Breakfast:- Rice & Soup. Tried to buy bread
WEDNESDAY from the Canteen but could not buy
any. Out to the quarry to-day & had
a quiet day Lunch :- Rice & Milk. Rained
in the evening & knocked off 2.30 PM. Tried
to buy bread & found none had been
in the Canteen all evening owing to
the beltings the Boongs had received they
have taken the bread to the Pommy Canteen
Tea. Rice & Stew with a Meat & Vegetable fritter
which was very enjoyable. Supper consisted
of Toasted Bread & Milk. ER. Maddison Went to Hospital
23. 4. 42 Breakfast. Rice & Soup & off to the quarry again
THURSDAY No Bread on Sale at the Canteen. A few of
the Japs were Drunk on the Job & were
very amusing. Lunch. Rice & Milk
with Sultanas proved Tasty. Rumour
again, Germany surrendered Rain
stopped work & finished the Job at 5. PM.
Bought Buns from Canteen @ 5 cts each
Tea Rice & Stew with a Rice Pasty which
was very tasty. Supper:- Buns & Milk with
Pineapple.
24. 4. 42. Breakfast. Rice & Soup. Bought 4 Buns 5 cts ea
FRIDAY Quarry Work again. Bread hard to buy
& the Boong has put up the price of a 8 cts
loaf to 10 cts. Lunch Rice & Milk with the
last few Sultanas & was very tasty. Rained
all evening & we were repairing the
road for the trucks. Home early again
at 5.30 PM & dry for once. Tea Rice &
Stew & a Rice Cake. Very tasty with 3
Buns & Pineapple Sliced & now feel very
satisfied. No Bread on sale at the
Canteen. Report Tokio has been bombed
3 Times. We have Electric Light on the hut
tonight
25. 4. 42 Anzac Day Informed that the 9 Missing
SATURDAY Pioneers bodies were found & buried by
the Padre yesterday SGT. PAT NEAL. PTE ALF WEST
PTE BILL BAKER. were amongst the 9 & looks
as if they were dis-armed & each of them
were put up in a row & shot as they all
had a bullet wound through the head
Work today was at Singapore for a
few of us & done very well. Pulled up
in town & was given 1 pkt (10) Boong
Cigars & 1 Box Matches by a Malay who
made certain he let me know he wasn't
a chinese. Working we were first given
1 pkt Pirates & 1 pkt Flag Cigarettes & then
the same chinese gave us a parcel of
7 loaves Bread & Parcel of cut up
Bread & 2 tins Sardines. Then they
gave us a batch of Coffee which
was beautiful & then they gave me
a 4 oz Packet of Boong tobacco & 2 pkt
papers (Boong) Then the Jap gave us
1 pot of tea (not so hot). Breakfast
Rice & Soup. Breakfast Rice & Milk
adding a few Peanuts with a few
Sardines & the fresh Bread was
filling. Tea Rice & Soup & a
Meat Fritter which was very nice.
In the evening we went again
to carry Sand & on the way was
informed by a chinese that
Churchill says we will be out of
Malaya by June. Then we
pulled up in town & was given 4
loaves Bread & I got 1 Tin Melon
& Lemon Jam given me & we
25. 4. 42 had a very nice snack. One
SATURDAY of the lads were given 1 Tin of 20
(CONTINUED) DeRioke Cigarettes. Then back
to the Job & were given a cup of Coffee
which was delicious & before leaving
one of the lads were given 1 pkt
Pirate Cigarettes which he kept to
himself. Then got rid of our load
& came back to another place &
had a cake each & a cup of Coffee
& then I was given 2 Craven A Cigarettes.
I was Bargaining with a Chinese
for a Red Paw Paw & in the end when
I walked away another Chinese bough
it & gave it away to one of the lads
We didn't get any although it was
really meant for me. Another lad
got 1 pkt (20) Boong Cigarettes & we didn't
see any. Rained in evening.
26. 4 42 Breakfast. Rice & Soup Went out to the
SUNDAY Quarry Near the Punjabi's Camp & they
are getting very poor tucker 6 oz Rice per day.
Lunch Rice & Milk. Found 2 Kerosene
Tins Fat which will make things tasty
in future. News Tojo is out of Power
Now & xxxxxx Prince Konoye has now taken
over. Also an unsuccessful Invasion
at Darwin by the Japanese. Germanys
Peace Terms. Britain has left everything
to Russia. Tea: Rice & Soup & 1 Pasty
27. 4 42 Breakfast. Rice & Soup. Went out again
MONDAY. to the Quarry & some of the lads found
some Fat which will go well for cooking
at night in the Huts . The lads have
been scrounging Electric Light Bulbs
27. 4. 42 which will be handy. Lunch. Rice & Milk
MONDAY Worked till 4 PM in the quarry & then we all
(CONTINUED) went out to the Golf Links to carry stone but
we only worked x4 hour & knocked off 5PM
& had to walk home but luckily enough
some of us jumped in a truck & saved
walking. SYD FULLER went to the Hospital with
temp 103° . Tea. Rice & Soup & a Fritter fried
with scrounged Fat. Got issued with 1 Pr
socks taken from Kit Bags. Japanese
reported to have shot 4 Australians for
straying from the Perimeter. Japs have
been carting Rice & Flour towards JohoreBamhxx Bahru also troops moved up North
again today. The last few days the
Jap has been buisy moving all
the Broken down trucks & Vehicles from
the streets & dumps moving them to
the boats. Yesterday 2 Hospital ships
brought Wounded (Jap) to Singapore.
Ken Taylor brought home a few
Pineapples which weren't too bad.
28. 4. 42 Talk of extra Rations for 29/4/42 Meat
TUESDAY Bread & Vegetables & a Pay on account of
Prince Konoye's Birthday 29/4/42. Breakfast
Rice & Soup. Went out again to the same
Quarry & had an easy day. Lunch. Rice
& Milk with Pineapple that I scrounged
Brought home American Newspapers
so will know all about Yankee Land
Knocked off early. Tea Rice & Soup &
a Tart with Sugared Butter in it. Making
it very tasty. The Pay Money is over
at the orderly Room & may get Paid.
Fried some Bread & was tasty
29. 4. 42 Prince Konoyes Birthday. Field
WEDNESDAY Bakery is going to operate so we may
have bread for tea. Breakfast Rice &
Soup. Went & got meat issue. 55 lbs
Pork for 500 meals Tried cooking Leaves
& turned out not so bad. Lunch
Rice & Milk with Cocoanut & Boiled
Pineapple in it & was very tasty. Pay
day today $1 for 10 days work @ 10 cts per
day. Went out & bought salt &
also 1 tin unknown for 20 cts & it
turned out to be Beetroot which made
the evening meal Rice & Pork Soup
& 1 bun (Small) our own cooking
very tasty. The A.I.F. are giving a
concert tonight for the Japs from
7. PM to 9.0 PM. which wasn't bad
30. 4 42 Breakfast. Rice & Soup & then off to the
THURSDAY Quarry near the RAAF. Bought Buns on
the road but they didnt last long as
they were very tasty. Lunch. Rice &
Milk & went scrounging for Pineapples
& had a great feed of Ripe ones, Home
early as worked it with the Pommey driver.
21 Pineapples between 2. HARRY COUGHLAN & MYSELF
Tea Rice & Soup & a Pineapple Fritter which
was very tasty with 1 small loaf Bread
with Pineapple Jam in it. Also had for
tea Fresh Pineapple & Bread.
1. 5. 42 Breakfast Rice & Soup & off again to the
FRIDAY Quarry. Went & got another bag of Pineapples
Lunch Rice & Milk & Pineapple. Drove
in the truck in the evening & came home
early. Grated a Pineapple for Tea &
should be nice. Rumour to Germany
1.5. 42 falling is still going strong & we are
FRIDAY only waiting for confirmation. Soap
(CONTINUED) Issue tonight Tea Rice & Soup & a Bun
& Fritter with some grated Pineapple
Cigarette issue also Soap.
2 5. 42 Breakfast. Rice & Stew (Fresh Meat) & off to
SATURDAY the Quarry. Lunch Rice & Milk & Grated
Pineapple. A Japanese Truck overturned
in a creek & one Malay was pinned
under & drowned. Only 3 Malays on the
truck. Went & got Pineapples for the
cookhouse & brought home about 50.
Got wet on way home. Tea Rice & Stew
& Bread from the bakery.
3. 5. 42 Breakfast. Rice & Soup Went to work at
SUNDAY. Jap Head Quarters. Hoeing up Rubbish
Lunch Rice & Milk & Pineapple. Got a hit
with a Bamboo 6 ft & 1¼ diam but fended
it off with my arm. Pulling out grass
on the Lawn. Knocked off work 5.30 PM
& had to wait till 6 PM & then march
home just in time for tea. Tea. Rice &
Soup & 1 Bread Roll from our Bakery. Not
a success yet. Japs have taken over the
Canteen & are selling Bigger Bread Rolls.
& so far a bigger variety of Foodstuffs.
4. 5. 42 Breakfast. Rice & Soup Went to the Indian
MONDAY Quarry & done very little work Lunch
Rice only. Went Scrounging for Pineapples
& got a few small ones also picked
up a respirator & found $1 & 3 cts in
coins in the haversack. Knocked
off work early & went & bought bread.
& have 35 cents left. Tea Rice & Soup
& had some green pineapple.
2000 More P.OW's marched into our Adam
Park Area. Englishmen & 22ND. AIF. Brigade.
4. 5. 42 Rumours are still going abou
MONDAY Jap Germanys' Capitulation & also
USA telling Japs to get out of Malaya
by the end of the month
5. 5. 42 Breakfast. Rice & Soup. Went out to
TUESDAY the Indian Quarry again Lunch. Rice
& Boiled Pineapple (Scrounged) Knocked off
work early & bought Bread. Tea -
Rice & Soup & 1 Bread Roll fron I our
Bakery. The Japs had a Scotchman
tied up in the Sun all day for knocking
down a Jap. I beleive they wanted to hang
him first & then shoot him but the Jap
Office wouldn't allow them. He has
had no water or Food all day &
I think he is still tied up. The food
Ration has changed with Fresh
Meat every 5 days No Milk or Sugar
so we will have to have Dry Rice for
Midday Meal.
6. 5. 42 Breakfast:- Rice & Stew (Fresh Meat) Went out
WEDNESDAY. to work at Big Quarry & on Fine Gravel.
Lunch Rice (Plain) & had a pineapple
making it tasty. Went & scrounged
Pineapples today. Home 6 PM & Tea
Rice & Stew & a Rice Cake with Pineapple
in it. Have been informed that
tomorrow there is a holiday for all.
Later informed that we are to work
in the morning & have the evening off
7. 5. 42 Breakfast. Rice & Soup. Out to the Road
THURSDAY. Job for the change. Carrying sand to
make the road. On parade this morning
& informed that we have to work in
the morning & that every man is to get
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