Diary relating to service of Hector Alexander McIntyre - Part 3
7.5.42
THURSDAY
(continued)
pineapple & may be paid tomorrow.
Worked till 1 PM & had lunch Rice
(Plain) with some pineapple (Scrounged) &
then marched back home again.
They say the (SCHRINE) Monumental
stone was for all men (BRITISH. AUSTRALIAN
INDIAN MALAY & JAPANESE) who fell in the
Malayan Campaign. They are
laying the foundation Stone this
evening & I don't think anyone
but Japanese will attend. Our New
Food Ration which has been 4/5/42
is as follows :- RICE. 20 ozs. MILK. NIL. SUGAR. 6 oz
BAKED. BEANS. 75 oz SALT. .2 ozs TEA. .2 ozs FLOUR. 2 ozs
FRYING OIL..15 ozs ONIONS.4 ozs
3½ ozs FRESH MEAT issued every 5 DAYS
For today . 65 ozs Meat & Vegetable Rations
were the issue. We were informed that
5 Australians (2. AASC - 3 SIGNALLERS) have gone
through trying to get away to home
& so far they haven't been caught.
Went out getting Sweet Potatoes &
a leaf like a Lily for cooking to
stop Bury Bury & had a feed
with toasted Bread & Pineapples
8.5.42
FRIDAY
Breakfast. Rice & Stew & Some of the
Green Weed Out to work at the Big
Quarry. Kept fairly busy during
the morning. Lunch Rice (Pln) & ½
tin Pineapple given by the Japs which
made a tasty meal. Went scrounging
Pineapples. Knocked off work 5.30 PM
but didn't get home as ^till late as no trucks
to take us. Tea. Rice & Stew & was
good finished off with a Pineapple
8.5.42
FRIDAY
(CONTINUED)
Rumour today is that 10 Japanese
Ships were sunk by an USA
Submarine near the Celebris Islands
No Pay from the Japs to day but
may turn up tomorrow. Supper
Toasted Bread & Pineapple which
was very tasty also cooked some
green weed.49.5.42
SATURDAY
Breakfast Rice & Soup Out to work
in the Indian Quarry & had a good
day. Lunch Rice (Plain) with Pineapple
Knocked off work 4.30 PM as we
completed our loads. Talking to the
Bengallies & the Syanon Paper says
Burma is theirs & that they will take
India in 2 months. The Sieks are
manning the a/c a/c guns for the
Japs in Singapore. Tea Rice &
Soup & 1 Bread Roll from our Bakery.
Rumour to be in the Syanon Times the
Jap claims to have sunk the HMAS.
"Canberra" damaged others. Pay $1 bought a cup of Coffee.
10.5.42
SUNDAY
Breakfast. Rice & Soup. Out to work
to the wharf to cart Bitumen & had a good
day. Lunch Rice (Plain) with Pineapple.
The Jap driver knocked a Tamil off
a bike & then Backed his truck back on
the body to put him out of misery.
Tea. Rice & Soup. Bought some flour
& Frying Oil & made some Rice Cakes
which were not a success. Bought Bread
& toasted it. News about a big any NAVAL
Battle & Canberra injured done good work
& is still fighting outside Townsville
in the Coral Sea. Credit goes to the RAAF in Bombing
1211.5.42
MONDAY
Breakfast Rice and soup & have been
informed we have to stay in our
huts till after 8.45 AM for some
reason or another. Last night was
told that the 5 men who tried to get
away returned back to camp after
being away 1 week. One of their
mates took ill & delirious. ERIC NIELSON
8th DIV. SIGS from Cairns was one of
the 5 men. Went out to the big Quarry
& arrived on the job at 12.30 PM. Lunch
1PM & had Rice & Sugar Boiled & a pineapple
Went and got some Pineapples. Knocked
off work early. Tea. Rice & Soup
& 1 Bread Roll. Supper we baked
Some Rice Fritters & decided to
buy flour & Oil. Also had Grated
Pineapple & toasted our Bread Roll.
12.5.42
TUESDAY
Breakfast:- Rice & Fresh Meat Stew. Off to
work and looked as if we were going on to
road work. We marched out to the road
job & marched back again & went out
to the Quarry arriving there 12.O N. Went
& got more pineapples. Lunch Rice &
Boiled Sugar & 1 Pineapple. Worked in
evening. Jap driver knocked a Chinaman
down & killed him. 2 deaths in 3 days.
Got home 6.30 pm & Tea. Rice & Stew
& a Rice Pastry which was very tasty.
Cooked Rice Fritters with Flour and Cocoanut
oil which we bought and were very Nice.
Reports that the 5 chaps who tried
to get off the Island will be shot. Rumours
that the Yanks are shelling mersing
from the sea & reports that they have moved
AIF troops off the island.
13.5.42
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast Rice & Soup. Went out to
the Quarry & was on carting Gravel
& had a busy day. Lunch Rice
& sugared juice & also a pineapple.
The Jap gave us some of their rice
which is far better cooked than our
own & better to eat. After doing 4
loads we were on filling up the
road & got home 6 PM. A new
10 day ration came in Pumpkins
Spuds & Carrots & also fresh meat
for tomorrow. Tea Rice & Soup
& a bread Roll. New food rations
are:- RICE 27ozs SUGAR. 6ozs FLOUR 1.6ozs TEA. 2ozs
OIL.15ozs SALT. 25ozs VEGS. 3ozs (PUMPKIN CARROTS & SPUDS) TOILET
PAPER 3 SHEETS. The Battalian have cut
out the Bakery & are going to give the men
1 Tea Spoon Yeast per week & the flour to
go to company cooking. 13 Cigarettes per
man was tonights issue. Singapore
has a complete Blackout at 8.30 PM
& the Jap Trucks have their lights Blacked
out. 3,000 troops left Changi Camp
& beleived to have been shipped to
Saigon (capital Indochina) to do work.
Cooking again tonight with fried
Bread was very tasty for supper
14.5.42
THURSDAY
Breakfast Rice & Stew. Out to work at
the big Quarry & noticed a a/c a/c Gun
on top of the Jap Half Way house
& was later on camouflaged. Had a
pretty busy day on filling Trucks &
trolleys. Lunch Rice & 1 teaspoon of
Sugar (a Luxury) Went out Pineapple
scrounging & got back in time to start work
14.5.42
THURSDAY
(CONTINUED)
Went out on Lorry to the road & road job
going on smoothly. Put out 350 trolley
for the day & left job to get home 6. pm
Tea Rice & Stew ( Minced meat & Vegetables.
Plenty of Rice & done more cooking
& grated pineapple & was very nice.
Received comforts scrounged from Kit
bags. Talk that the wounded & sick
have been shipped away today.
Rumour to the effect the Japs lost
26 Warships etc in the Coral Sea
Battle & the rest of the fleet on the
run. An unidentified plane flew
over Singapore yesterday dropping
pamplets & Now the Japs have been
putting a/c a/c Guns up everywhere
15.5.42
FRIDAY
Breakfast Rice and soup Went out to the
big Quarry & was below the crusher &
had a busy day Lunch Rice/Plain
with pineapple. Japs guarding the
Pineapple Patch but the lads are
still getting Pineapples. Got boards
for a stretcher & will build it later.
Tea Rice & Veg Soup & a (Rice Pineapple)
Fritter. Cooked again Rice Fritter
& went very well with a cup of tea.
Noticed ships outside today & 7 ships
came in yesterday. Also the Japs
have moved the sentry from the
road Blocks & now have a Malay
guarding the traffic
16.5.42
SATURDAY
Breakfast Rice & Soup (Veg) Out to work
in the big Quarry & was on the truck
carting Gravel. Taking bigger
loads as if they are wanting
16.5.42
SATURDAY
(CONTINUED)
to get the metal to the road job as
soon as possible. Lunch Rice &
Boiled Brown Sugar. On my own
on the truck in the evening & saw
a person who reminded me of home.
Home 6 pm. Tea Rice & Veg Soup. Got
wood for the cookhouse after tea &
also made Fritters for supper with
Grated Pineapple went well. a/c a/c
guns are being manned all over
Singapore as if the Jap expects trouble
Rumour to the effect that if no
Ships can get out of Singapore
for 14 days the Japs are going to
leave here.
17.5.42
SUNDAY
Breakfast. Rice & Stew (Fresh Meat) Out
to big Quarry & had a good day
Lunch. Rice (Pln) with Pineapple.
Went out after Pineapples & brought
home some ripe ones. Knocked
off work 3 PM. The Chinese who
drill also wf were knocked off
& they took all their hammers &
our own. They knocked off all
the road men & brought all the bags
& tools back & collected all the
spare tools back from this camp.
Some thing going on as they closed
down the Quarry altogether. Noticed
a balloon very high in the air
today & moved across the Sky very
quickly. Might have been a plane.
Today is the day Roosefeldt says
for the Japs to be off the Island by &
he may be taking the hint.
18.5.42
MONDAY
Breakfast Rice & Soup. Only 10 men
from No 4 Group out to work today & the
rest of us have been resting in our hut.
Looks as if there is a move on for Tojo as they
are packing up over at the Guard Hut. Home
all day & no working party. Lunch
Rice (Plain) with grated Pineapple. Played
Bridge all evening. Report from Platoon
Commander that the Japs in charge have
gone & that they have some of their Front
Line Troops here guarding us for a spell &
they are armed to the teeth with Rifles
& Machine Guns. OTold that we will not
be at work for 4 or 5 days. Tea Rice & Soup.
Cooked Supper Rice Fritters & went well
All a/c a/c Guns in Singapore have
been removed. Rumours tonight is
that the Yanks have taken an Island
off Malaya & have bombed Malacca.
Bought more flour & Cocoanut oil
today. Was given a Cocoanut Ice
Block by a Chinese. Snow Theodore from
Gomvic was with me.
19.5.42
TUESDAY
Breakfast. Rice & Soup No work again
today so I made a table for my bed.
Grated a few (6) Pineapples as we have
14 to clean up today as they have gone
bad. Lunch Rice (Pln) with Grated
pineapples. Made a Boong Pipe &
had a read & a sleep. Rumours that
the Chinese & Tamils rioted in Singapore
owing to food shortage. 3 Jap Tanks
passed by here this morning. Tea, Rice &
Bean Soup with a Pineapple Pasty, which
was very tasty. Cooked tonight &
19.5.42
TUESDAY
(CONTINUED)
had Rice Fritters which were very
enjoyable with grated Pineapple.
A Party of 30 Pommeys marched
into the area this evening. A Jap
ship with Rice & Flour etc on, left
Singapore & returned again with
a hole in the side also rumoured
that the ship (with 3,000 Aussie Troops
who left Changi Camp) is in Singapore
Harbour anchored out. For the
days we are not working we are
not getting paid for & looks like the
$1-10cts owing us by the Jap will not
be paid to us.
20.5.42
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast. Rice & Soup. Holiday
again today & read a book & then
went out & got a Kerosene Tin of Coal
for our fire at night. Grated pineapples
for Lunch which is Rice (Plain) ^& Sugar 1 Tea Spoon They
have cut down our rice issue down
to 20 ozs which isn't enough these days
for us. The Guard we have over us is
Front Line Troops bigger than the average
type. The Captain in Charge of the Japs
could not get over us not being wired
in for just as well as it saves climbing
through wire. Went & got wood for our
night Cooking. One of the lads has
been away all day & lets hope he
brings back good News. Tea, Rice &
Soup & a Fritter. Had supper & cooked
Fritters. Rumours that Chinese are dropping
dead in Singapore as they cannot pay for
the Rice as the price has risen from 3 to 11 $.
A.IF & Yanks landed in Java & troops are fighting
300 mile up Malaya & a Blockade is in
Singapore waters.
21.5.42
THURSDAY
Breakfast Rice & Soup - on duty to clean
the canteen up but was an easy job.
Washed out our hut & grated our
last 3 pineapples for Lunch. The Japs
are patroling the roads & searching houses
along the streets. Planes have been flying
around pretty consistently the last few
days. Lunch. Rice & Sugar grated pines
which was very nice. Water is cut off
from 12.0N till 4.0pm. Rumoured
that the Yanks have taken Penangxxxxx shelled Malacca. Tea. Rice &
Soup. Supper had Rice Fritters.
SYANON TIMES describes the soldiers in
the Campaign as English. Very Good
men, Scottish Good men but more Savage
Indian Very Timid. Aussie, Best Liar
Best Bludger, Best Scrounger but Best
Soldier in the field. Rumor Troops
landed at Pt Dixon & Mersing & opperating
from Andaman Islands which they
took in 5 days. SYANON TIMES. says that
the RAAF bombed the Yankee Fleet
near in the Harbour at Java.
22.5.42
FRIDAY
Breakfast:- Rice & Soup. The lads say they saw
Artillery Flashes & heard Gun roar last night & some
say it was Lightning & thunder. The rice that came
in yesterday had worms & weavels in as we
often get rice that way. Men went to Singapore
to draw more rations for A.I.F. POMMEYS - GORDONS &
4 men went in from our hut. CPl. ERNIE. R. MADDISON. PTE. HARRY -
BOSTON PTE. BILL VERITZ. PTE. ARCHIE. DIXON. Nothing to do again
today but play cards, Read & Sleep. Wrote out
more Poetry in the back of the diary. Lunch
Rice (Unpolished) (Plain) which was fairly
22.5.42
FRIDAY
(CONTINUED)
musty. Rained in evening & water
was turned off. Working Party came
back & the party working in Singapore
is doing very well. They Pay Privates
15 cts NCO's 25 cts & Officers 30 cents. They
get plenty tobacco & cannot get eat enough
as they are getting plenty of food. 2 Jap
Hospital Ships are in docks & cannot
get out again. They dumped our
men back on land again as they
cant get the boats out. Over 30,000
carcases out at the Cold Storage, Fresh
meat came out again. 2 Aussies got
a kicking out here today for being in
the P village. One of our lads brought
out a small quantity of Sugar. ERM.
was lucky enough to get a fair bit
of Flour which is an asset. The
Chinese are collapsing & dropping dead
from want of food as they get only 9ozs
Rice per day. Sewing Machine Needles
are very dear in Singapore & the lads
are selling them at $1.80 each & buying
what they want with the money. Tea. Rice
& Soup ^& 1 Pasty Cooked Fritters for Supper &
were very nice. Had to get ready for
Guard tomorrow but was called off
it. Another Cigarette issue on Tonight
or Tomorrow.
23.5.42
SATURDAY
Breakfast. Rice & Soup. No work again
today. The boys have been scrounging
Bottles & selling them to the Boongs. SMALL 1ct
LARGE 2cts which enables them to buy tobacco
& other necessities. Some of the lads got on
a Petrol Tank & got altogether about 24 Glns
23.5.42
SATURDAY
(CONTINUED)
& selling it for $4 per gallon. The price
of Petrol in Singapore is $8 per gallon which
is 23/- Aussie money. Rain is threatening again
today. Noticed 2- 2/30 Bn Chaps coming back
all wet yesterday with 2 Bunches Bananas &
2 Bags of Pineapples which evidently
came from the Pineapple Patch near the
Quarry. The boys in Singapore have noted
no change in their work as they have the
same guard over them. They are very
fortunate as they are allowed to roam
Singapore when they like. Lunch Rice
(Pln Unpolished). Nothing to do all evening
Received a small portion of Pumpkin which
I cooked. Made a fireplace out of Bricks. Tea
Rice & Stew (Fresh Meat) Cooked Fritters with
the Pumpkin for supper & they were very tasty.
Cigarette Issue from Tojo 4 London Cigarettes.
A few explosions occured today. 2. A.I.F. lads
were caught in the village by Japs & were given
a public belting & then taken back to their
Group & released & then the group was called
out & these 2 lads received another belting
with a belt with a buckle on & used the
buckle across their faces. New 3 days
Ration is :- RICE 27oz SUGAR .7oz FLOUR 2oz SALT .2oz
TEA .2oz MEAT 5.1oz (including Fat & Bones) Oil .2oz VEG 17.6oz (ENGLISH &
SWEET SPUDS PUMPKIN MARROW ETC)
24.5.42
SUNDAY
Breakfast Rice (Moist) & STEW (fresh Meat) Whitsunday & off
to Church Parade. A.B. (SNOW) Theodores' Birthday. 24 years
Church lasted till 12.0N Lunch Rice (Plain)
Nothing to do all evening but slept. Tea
Rice & Stew (Fresh Meat) & a Rice Cake which was
very tasty. Cooked Rice Fritters which
were very nice for Supper. Had a Battn
24.5.42
SUNDAY
(CONTINUED)
Tattoo as reports that the Japs have
100 Prisoners locked up who were
caught walking Singapore, but lucky
enough none of them were from
the 27th Brigade Troops. Were told that
the new working guards were here &
expect to start work on Wednesday & our
groups have been given the Quarry Job.
They are going to work us ½ in Camp
resting & the other half working & may
get paid for both days. Our back pay
will be paid to us in the next few days.
Rumours that 2 American Submarines
patroling near Singapore & reported
to have sunk 2 Jap vessels in the Harbour.
Also the Chinese (2 Divisions) landed
behind the Japs in Burma & anhialated
them. Few more explosions were
heard today & Jap Aircraft have been
patrolling around Singapore all day.
25.5.42
MONDAY
Breakfast. Rice & Soup. Nothing to do
again today. Went & bought Oil from
a Boong Shop & bought Cocoanut (Palm)
Oil & just as we had got outside 2 Japs
passed on a Bikes & we didn't wait
to ask questions as we (SNOW) & MYSELF) were
out of Bounds. The boys are making
stretchers for comfort. Lunch. Rice (Plain)
Parade 2PM & talk by Jap High Officer
warning troops that if they are caught
outside the Perimeter they would be
classed as deserters & shot. Tea -
Rice & Soup & a Rice Pastry which
was very tasty. The Japs brought
out over 100 AIF & Pommeys who were
25.5.42
MONDAY
(CONTINUED)
Caught in Singapore & are up before
the Japs under Fixed Bayonets. Done
more Cooking Fritters & were very
nice with a cup of tea. In the Japs
speech which was translated to
us he said it would not be long
before we would be released & I
sure hope he is right with things
in our favour.
26.5.42
TUESDAY
Breakfast Rice & Soup in our huts as
has been raining all morning. Detailed
for working Party & stood in the rain till
10.0AM & broken off as too wet to work & have
to stand by until rain stops. Made
myself a table & also helped Syd Fuller
in erecting a Stretcher. Lunch. Rice
& 1 spoon of Sugar. Out to the road Job with
the New Japs & seemed very quiet. Knocked
off work 6 pm. Tea Rice & Veg Soup, & a
Fritter was very tasty. Done more
Cooking Fritters & were pretty good.
The Singapore AWLers are still in front
of the Jap Guard House & are not allowed
to sit down even at night. Cigarette
Issue - 4 London Cigarettes
27.5.42
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast Rice & Soup. Out on working
Party to the Quarry & had an easy day.
never worked till after lunch. Lunch. Rice
(Plain) Some of the lads went scrounging
Pineapples & were caught by our officers
& have to hand the Pineapples in to the Kitchen
Loaded 10 Trucks after lunch & 3.30pm had
to march home about 6 miles. The
8th Div Sigs. have not heard what became
of the 5 lads who tried to get off the Island
27.5.42
WEDNESDAY
(CONTINUED)
as they are in the hands of the Japanese
Military Police. 4 of our lads are still
at the Pineapple Patch as we knocked off
early & I expect they are still at the Pineapple
Patch. Tea. Rice & Soup. Done more
cooking Fritters which were very nice.
A. Coy cut up the pineapples & put them on
the tables for the men & they filed through &
made the cut up Pineapples Black & I
beleive they sent the Pineapples to the
Hospital. No News. The treatment
the Singapore AWLers are getting
is No Muckun for 2 days & then 1
feed the Next. Can't lay down from
Revielle to Retreat & can sit down
but upright. No Cigarettes. No cards.
28.5.42
THURSDAY
Breakfast Limed Rice & Fish (Dried) Soup.
Not on Quarry & Volunteered for the
Ration Party which may go to
Singapore. Had to wait outside
the AASC & unload the truck. Lunch
Rice (Plain). Fresh meat for tomorrow
also Issue of 6 London Cigarettes. Saw
the Battn Cart painted up with wit
written all over it. Some of the writing.
^"What a Shame We ate the Horse" "Too Bad it wasn't
in the Rice. 'Its Beri Beri Bad" Phone No
disconnected'. Ox.303. Tea Rice &
Soup & a Pineapple Fritter. Done more
cooking & went well with a cup of
tea. A shot was fired at approx 8.30
last Night & one of our Group were
shot in the shoulder by a Jap Guard.
Have to go on working Party again tomorrow
& may get Guard tomorrow night
29.5.42
FRIDAY
Breakfast Rice & Soup (Fresh Meat) Out to work
to the Quarry & had an easy day. Instead of having
lunch I went & scrounged Pineapples & had some
Ripe Pines for lunch. Home at 5.30PM. Tea
Rice & Soup (Minced Meat) a Fritter & 1 Slice of
Pineapple which was very enjoyable. Rumour
is that Stalin says he doesn't want any more
support from Britain or USA as he has the
Huns where he wants them advancing
75 miles a day. Done more cooking fritters
which were tasty. Today is supposed to
be Churchill day for the Japs to be off
the Island of Singapore by. Jap Planes
Were flying about a fair bit today. Some
of the lads have to go on Guard tonight
but I missed out. Out of the 3 Decorations
given so far, 2 of them went to the
2/26 Bn & both to Don Coy. Pte Terry
Parker a D.C.M. Lieut R Magarry a MC
who fired 10 Rds from his Rifle, Emptied
his Revolver & then used the Butt &
Bayonet getting the total of 13. He &
Terry Parker mobbed a Machine Gun
Nest & captured 4 Jap Machine Guns.
30.5.42
SATURDAY
Breakfast Rice & Soup (Fresh Meat) Still off the
Working Party & done some washing &
got my Boots repaired. Lunch. Rice &
Fish (Dried) & grated some Pineapples which
made a tasty meal. Working Party
came home early 3.30AM still
carting Monumental Stones & haven't
worked the Quarry yet. Tea Rice &
Soup (Fresh Meat) & a Rice Cake. Done some
more Cooking fritters which were
very tasty. Finished our Oil
31.5.42
SUNDAY
Breakfast Rice & Soup (Fresh Meat) Out to
work at the Quarry & had an easy day.
Went out Scrounging Pineapple. Lunch
Rice & Grated Pineapple & also had a Ripe
Pine. Started the Quarry Engines so looks
as if work starts tomorrow. Took us
out to the Road Job & made us march
home. Raining & will have meals in
the Hut. Tea Rice & Minced Meat Soup.
Kitbags came yesterday with some
Personal Gear. No oil left so grated
Pines for Supper.
1.6.42
MONDAY
Breakfast Rice & Veg Soup. Japanese holiday
today so we have nothing to do. Was an
escort for Ken Taylor who was charged for
being out of the Quarry Area after Pines
& he brought 10 cents. Fixed myself this
new Pen. Have a good book to read &
also some sewing to do. Lunch
Rice & Tablespoon Pineapple. Slept
in the evening. Tea. Rice & Veg Soup
& a Pineapple Pasty. Had to go to
a compulsory concert & came home
early. Done cooking & had them
for Supper.
2.6.42
TUESDAY
Breakfast Rice & Soup. A day off for
me today so I collected wood for the
Cookhouse & had a sleep. Lunch
Rice (Pln) Nothing to do in the evening
& had a Read. Men knocked off early
4.0PM. Japs supposed to have an Island
300 mile off Cooktown. Tea. Rice & Veg
Soup & a Rice Fritter which was very
tasty. Done some cooking fritters
& had them for supper.
3.6.42
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast Rice & Soup (Fr Meat) Went to
Johore Quarry (Indians) & loaded. Big Stone.
Had an easy day Lunch Rice & 1 Table
Spoon Pineapple. Knocked off work
early. Found a Cocoanut on the way
home. Tea. Rice & Soup (F. Meat) & 1 Rice
Cake which was very tasty. A Few
rounds of Gunfire heard towards
Johore Bahur tonight. The Japs have
Guards at the Road Block at Bukit
Timah Village. Done some cooking
fritters with grated Cocoanut in
& they went well. A Cig Issue tonight
12 London Cigarettes for 10 days.
4.6.42
THURSDAY
Breakfast Rice & Veg Soup. Went out on No 3
Job to the halfway House & pulled grass & cut
the hedge. Scrounged 1 dzn Spuds from one of
the Jap Cookhouses. One of my mates Ernie
Maddison was caught looking through a
box & got a hit across the shoulder with
a Pick Handle. The Japs bunged on a tune
& said he was taking a bit of milk out of
the box only when they sang out he dropped
it & went for his life. There was no milk
in the box. Lunch Rice (Pln) with a Pineapple
we scrounged also a piece of cocoanut.
Had a bad day as the Jap in charge was
on our tail all day. Knocked off late
Tea. Rice & Veg Soup. done no cooking.
Air Raid Siren & put out our lights
but was only Practice.
5.6.42
FRIDAY
Breakfast. Rice & Veg Soup. On Guard
today & on 1-5 PM Shift. Lunch Rice (Pln)
Tea Rice & Veg Soup. Had a yarn to
Snow Marsh. Rumours today in
5.6.42
FRIDAY
CONTINUED
the Japs say we are going home in
August (which one). The Yanks Navy are
supposed to have sunk 2 Jap transports
full of troops off the NE Coast of Aussie.
also Germany has had 1000 RAF Planes
over bombing towns at Night. One town
at a time. Ernie Maddison cooked
the fritters tonight & were very nice.
6.6.42
SATURDAY
Breakfast Rice & Soup (Fr Meat) Out on the
road waiting to go to work til 12.30PM & then
as the trucks didn't turn up we had our
lunch in Camp & had to stand by.
Lunch. Rice (Plain) with a Pineapple Ernie
scrounged on Friday. We were not called
out in the evening & had the day off. Had
a sleep till 4 PM. Tea Rice & Soup (Fresh
Meat) & a Fritter. Cooked some more
Fritters with Grated Cocoanut in them
& were very tasty.
7.6.42
SUNDAY
Breakfast - Rice & Soup (Veg). Having a day
off & have done washing on a wet day
& then had a sleep till lunch. Lunch
Rice & Fish & with a Pineapple (scrounged)
was pretty good. Made a sink in our
hut which took most of the evening.
Payday $1 - 10ct & that 10ct was held
back for a canteen. We still have 10 day
owing & may get paid again on
Wednesday. Tea Rice & Veg Soup &
1 Rice Cake very nice. Done more cooking
Fritters which were pretty good. Gave 5cts
for sick men in Hospital. Rumours Bombing
Java & Samatra from Aussie with Flying
Fortresses. Russia took 3 important towns from
Germany. Yanks doing well up North.
Received Soap issue.
8.6.42
MONDAY
A holiday for all and a Church Parade
on. Breakfast Rice - Veg Soup. Had a
sleep. Lunch Rice & Sun dried fish which
smells terribly & also cut a pineapple. Went
to get some salt but could not buy any.
Had a read & a sleep. Tea. Rice & Veg Soup
Done more cooking fritters which went
well. B ought more frying oil.
9.6.42
TUESDAY
Breakfast. Rice & Soup (Fr Fish & Meat) out
to a Garage Job which was at the half
way House & pulled grass all day.
Lunch Rice & 6fish Cake also 1 Pineapple.
Marched home arriving home 6.pm.
Pay Day again (Back money) $1 which
nearly makes us Millionaires over here.
Tea Rice & Fr Meat Soup & a Meat Pasty.
Fresh Fish came in today but not enough
for 3 & 4 Groups so they cooked them in
a batter & gave them to the lads in
the Hospital out of the groups. Done
more cooking tonight & went well
Rumours. Jap Submarines shelled
Sydney & Newcastle & Aussie Sank
8 Submarines of the Japs. Big
Naval Battle on at Midway Island
& is beleived the Japs lost 2 complete
Aircraft Carriers. Mexico has
joined in with the Allies. Russia
is doing very well forcing the Huns
back 90 mile in a day. America
has 1,000,000 Troops overseas. The
British have landed the biggest
Convoy of troops since the war in
India. Talk of Padre taking parties
out to bury the fallen on the island.
10.6.42
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast Rice & Soup (Fr Meat). Out to the
Quarry. Went on the Company scrounging
party for Pineapples & got a few Ripe ones.
Lunch Rice & 1 Slice Pineapple. Got my haversack
home with the cookhouse. On the trolleys
carting stone to the crusher. A Jap out the
Quarry has been in America for 20 years &
talks the Yankee Slang. Had to march
home & got home at 6.45pm. Tea Rice &
Soup (Fr Meat) & a Rice Cake. Too tired to cook
tonight. Rained all morning.
11.6.42
THURSDAY
Breakfast Rice & Veg Soup. Out with No2
Group to the Race Course pulling weeds
Lunch Rice Grated Pineapples. Had 2hrs
for lunch & then rain came down.
Knocked off 6 PM & was driven home.
Pinched some 2" FH nails from the Jap
truck. Muster Parade 7PM for the Japs
& finished 8.30PM. Tea Rice & Veg Soup
& 1 Fritter & was nice. Syanon times
says Japs are willing to shake hands
with Aussie otherwise they will cripple
Aussie. Also Germany will be deciding
Peace Terms instead of Britian.
Heard how the shortage of tools came
about. The lads have been selling
them to the Boongs for $1 & $2 each.
12.6.42
FRIDAY
Breakfast. Rice & (Fr Meat) Soup. Ready for
the Quarry & after waiting in the rain till
11.30PM were given a holiday. Ernie Maddison
bought the Syanon Times & they are sinking
more Naval ships & doing very well without
any losses themselves. Also claimed to
have shelled Sydney & Newcastle. They
have sunk 5 USA Aircraft Carriers & 120 Planes
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