Unit diaries relating to service of Geoffrey W. Fennell - Wallet 2 - Part 1

There were two small ships and one large one alongside, but, unfortunately
the large one was a fumigating ship. All our bedding and suitcases were
sprayed with disinfectant on the quay, but the remainder had to be carried on
board, put into bags and fumigated; anything liable to melt being treated on
the quay. We stripped in a large room, and then went into a sort of sheep dip.
It was nicely warmed, and was really very pleasant as the day had become rather
cold. We then waited in another room on mat flooring for our clothes to appear.
There were no tea and cakes as in a Turkish Bath, but a Jap obliged by playing a
gramophone! We then went back to the dockside.

Sgt Langley had made the atta into 10 large biscuits per man. They were really
excellent, and tasted like shortcake, and were a godsend. It was still drizzling,
and about 5 pm we started to go on board the smallest of the three ships, which
was called the England Maru, in batches of 100. 4 holds had originally been
allotted, but at the last moment they decided to put more Japanese soldiers on
board, and gave us only 3; at last everyone was on board - not forgetting the bulk
Red X Stores. As a general rate, the Regiment were mostly in No 3 (63 & 73) and
4 Holds, bottom layers, the Japanese soldiers being on the first floor down.

On descending the ladder, a visitor might well have imagined himself to be on a
Slave Ship in the good old Days! Taking No 4 hold as an example, it was about
50ft x 70ft and had a shelf about 4 feet above the bottom floor. Round the floor
were partitions, each to hold about 12 men, and 393 bodies had to be packed in
this space. Both layers were crammed, the space available being just enough
to lie full length in. The remainder, unfortunately, had to stake out a claim
on the central space under the hatch, OK for fine weather, but no fun in the rain.
Ground sheets were quickly rigged up where possible and the evening meal consisted
of bully and the aforementioned biscuits. As a matter of fact, some rice and very
good stew was produced later, but by that time most people had gone to sleep.
There was a heavy shower of rain during the night, and the unfortunates in the
middle had a miserable time, though most of them managed to find a bolt hole
somewhere, but their kits got thoroughly soaked.

Next morning breakfast was up at 1000 hrs, consisting of well cooked rice and some
quite good potato stew, but not much of it. During the day Col Jephson did what
he could to get the IJA to increase the accommodation, but the only result was that
another wooden latrine was built on the deck to supplement the 4 blocks already
there. During the day, coal and vegetables were taken on board, and on the afternoon
of Oct 27th we left dock, and anchored about a mile away from the waterfront
with its prominent landmarks like Raffles Hotel (now a brothel), the Hong Kong
and Shanghai Bank, and the Supreme Court of Justice. We were joined later by a
Tanker and two small cargo ships full of Japs.

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To compete with the Food situation, the officers and men were divided up into 

Messes of 20, each under a Mess leader. The Messes were subdivided into groups 

of 4 so that Bully could be opened a tin at a time and divided. Any man who 

could not produce his tin when called for, got none. Stock was taken to find out 

who had still got their bully and M&V, so that Black sheep who had wolfed their 

rations were detected at the start.
In the morning of Oct 29th the convoy set off, and it was with mixed feelings
that we passed Changi Point. By now the daily routine worked out as follows:
Reveille 0800 hrs, Rice and stew 0830,  Allowed on deck 0900-1100 and tea could be
drawn from cookhouse. Rice only at 1300 hrs, helped out by Red X Bully. Up on
deck 1400-1600 with hosepipe available for washing at 1500 hrs. Rice & Stew at
1800, Up on deck 1900-2000. Bed down. All quiet at 2200 hrs. Owing to lack of
fresh water, shaving rules were abolished, unless it happened to rain, and one could
collect a cup! In spite of the appalling crowded and insanitary conditions,
everyone kept in excellent spirits, and hoped that the sea would remain calm, as
the hold would be most unpleasant if the inhabitants got seasick!

The "cookhouse" consisted of 4 large metal rice boilers fixed onto the deck, and

was run by a little man just like a monkey! Very soon BOR volunteers inserted

themselves on to the staff and soon Sgt Lidderth(?), Bdr Rathbone, Sgt O'Toole

became permanent members, and helped by cutting up vegetables, washing rice with sea

water, and dishing up. There were two large iceboxes full of fish and vegetables

and meat but we saw little of the contents in our rations! The rice was kept in

bags on the hatch tops and none fell overboard! The bags provided a good place

to sit on.

Sunday November 1st proved a fine sunny day, and during the up on deck period

various bathing dresses and sarongs made their appearance; and sun bathing was

the order of the day, provided one could find a perch on the rice sacks to bathe 

on! The "England Maru" was a very good sea boat, and one felt that the old ship

was sorry for us, and was trying to do her best to keep steady. She had the name

of a Kobe shipbuilding firm on a plate dated 1919, but judging from the rusty

deck, and chains and bollard, she was years older than that. The Engineers quarters

still had the English nameplates over the doors leading to the engine room and

cabins. She had obviously been an old City Line ship, which had been sold to Japan

after the last war, as not being A1 at Lloyds. We shall be interested to look her

up in Lloyds Register to find her previous history. The steering gear was an

antiquated form of direct steering, with chain and rod controlled from the bridge,

and was English pattern. The gauges in the engine room and bridge instruments

were American. Her tonnage was about 5000 tons. As the speed of the convoy was

very slow, there was very little vibration in No 4.

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Padre Pugh held a short service in each hold about 5 o'clock and had "Family
Prayers" each evening commencing at 8. He had offered to divide the holds

between himself and Father Kennedy, but as usual, Father Kennedy refused to
co-operate, and it was quite evident that men of denominations other than RC

could have died under his nose for all he cared. Truly the bigotted Roman 

Catholic is a strange form of animal life! We heard later that he refused even

to take funerals at the Camp, which had the misfortune to have him, as their

Padre, and for 9 months no-one could have Holy Communion. However we are going

too fast!

After supper, it was really quite pleasant up on deck, particularly in the fore

part of the ship. Friends in other holds were looked up. Just before it got dark,

"The Commodore", a sinister looking individual with a large black beard, indulged

in a little driving drill with his flock with the aid of some tattered signalling

flags, and an ape standing on the wheelhouse. The convoy then used to get itself

into a square about 2 miles each side, and then a sort of metal waste-paper basket

would be hoisted half mast, indicating probably what the speed was to be.

Next day was much cooler, and during the morning, we passed through hordes of

jelly-fish. About 1400 hrs, a small island was sighted, and a rush was made for

an atlas. It was identified as one of the Pulau Kondor group, which

originally belonged to the French, and was about 100 miles from Saigon.

On Nov 3rd, there was land ahead, when we came up at 9, but it looked a real

squally day. The land turned out to be a large green promontory, with a white

lighthouse on top of it, and we eventually dropped anchor close under it in a  

small bay. It was the entrance to the Saigon river, Saigon itself being some

30 miles up it. Ahead was a rather pleasant looking beach, with some bright

bungalows among the trees.

A queer-looking launch came alongside with a Japanese Naval officer in it with an

armband of vivid green, but he had great difficulty in negotiating the Jacob's

ladder nevertheless! Another item of interest was a Vichy gunboat, which came
down the river, went out to sea a short distance, and then returned; and it was

with mixed feelings that we saw a large tricolour flying at the stern, and we 

wondered what our late Allies were thinking of when they saw us.

The convoy set off again at 1545 being preceded by a Red Cross ship, which quickly

left us behind. We had collected another ship, which now became No 1, and the 1

on our funnel was changed to 2. We started going South, and were still going

South when we came up at 7. However, we expected to make a Northern turn soon,

and sure enough the sun next morning showed that we were going NNE. A sort of

cormorant appeared to be following the ship. At 1000 hrs, the sun was "shot" by

the ships staff, first by a little dark man, and then by "Noah Beery" the

Commodore.

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The stew for lunch changed from vegetables only to a "Chinese Stew" in addition.

This consisted of some brown sauce and some slices of yellow stuff which might

have been anything between bamboo or a slice of packing case! The sauce tasted

like some liquid plum pudding but we quite got to like it later! The weather 

appeared to be getting colder.

Nov 6th was the anniversary of our landing in Singapore. All we had to celebrate

it with was a somewhat longer session with the hosepipe in the afternoon. It

was a dull day with frequent squalls of heavy rain, which made the centre of the 

hold very unpleasant. Cpl Cowe of the Signal section had been very ill with

typhoid fever ever since we came aboard, and we had done all we could to get him

special accomodation but, as said before "Bushido" has no dealings with the

sick, though quite prepared to go to any lengths to celebrate a funeral! He got

very weak, and could not walk to the lavatory, and so had to do everything in a

tin in the crowded bay, where he was sleeping.

Eventually, O/C Troops said that he would move some of the Japanese soldiers out

to make more room. This sounded too good to be true, and it was. His final

answer was that we  should put more men in the middle!  Finally Div HQ offered to

move out into a small hold below the Japanese officers quarters, which had been

used for spare coal, and was now empty; it was not at all too bad. This was a

great help, and 19 men were taken out of the middle space, and Cowe's bay was used

as a Hospital. He appeared to be slightly better, and enjoyed his first smoke for 

some days. Cpl Tuffrey had been acting as nurse to him and done splendid work.

The sea was very rough during the day, and the ship appeared to be doing about

half a knot as the waves were agin us.

On Nov 9th a rumour went round that we should reach Takau in Formoso the following

day and stay there for three days. Just as well as the supply of vegetables was

running low judging by the contents of the stew! Still, the Red X stores were

still doing noble work, and we were not unduly worried. It was still fairly

rough, but strange to say, there was no seasickness, for which the Lord be 

thanked! This rough weather continued for 2 days, but the old "England Maru"
dealt kindly with us.

On the evening of Nov 10th, Gunner Miller of 63/81 was brought into the "Hospital"

with very bad dysentery. He died at 2300 hrs. O/C Troop was asked if he could be

buried at sea, and was sympathetic and helpful, and produced some iron bars

to weigh down the blanket in which the body was tied up. A small party of special

friends assembled at the stern of the ship, and the Japanese Commander was also

present. Padre Pugh read the Burial Service, and the body was shot over the

stern. The tragedy was that, given decent conditions and food, he would have been

alive today.

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The ship arrived at Takao in Formosa early on the morning of Nov 11th, and anchored

at the entrance of the Port. To the left was a wooded hill with a road along the

sea shore. Ahead was a spit of land which prevented us from seeing the actual

port itself, but there was a lot of black smoke about. To the right was a small

headland and a lighthouse, on the open sea.

A veritable cloud of Doctors arrived in a launch, and got very excited about the

sick men on board; in spite of the fact that they were asked to take the men off to

Hospital, they would not agree. They were told again by Major Wheeler that the men

were seriously ill, and would probably die, but it had no effect. They said there

was no Hospital in Takao, but this hardly agreed with the statement made when they

came aboard, that they had come from a Military Hospital! They talked vaguely 

about about disinfectant, but nothing else was done. The Hospital bay now contained

3 dysentery cases, and one with typhoid fever (Cpl Cowe); he was still in a very

bad way.

He eventually died at about 2000 hrs that night, after having putting up a very good

fight for it. Obviously he could not be buried so close to the shore, so the O/C

Troops gave permission for the burial to take place that night, after the ship had

sailed. This was only natural, and what we expected. We asked for his body to be

brought up on deck away from other sick men, and a guard of Honour mounted, but

with true Nipponese Courtesy in these matters, the anwer was "NO"! The Ship's

Doctor who had done nothing when the man was actually alive, now became very

efficient, and demanded that all sorts of precautions should be taken - in fact a

typical example of closing the stable door after the horse had bolted.

Major Wheeler and the orderlies assisted by Major Fennell started to disinfect the

body and prepare it for burial, and to spray the bay. Major Fennell came out of

the bay for a moment, and was standing by, when a creature with his face covered

with a medical mask started to grunt something. Thinking it was the Doctor, he

took no notice, but the grunting continued and he gave Major Fennell a shove.

The latter was feeling pretty bloody-minded about the whole of the incidents

connected with Corporal Cowe, and returned the shove with interest. The mask was

removed pretty quickly, and revealed the Japanese Ships Sergeant who hit him four

blows on the face, and tried to seize him by the throat, but was held off gently

but firmly!

The outcome was that the Major was accused of striking a Japanese NCo, had his

hands tied behind him and was pulled on deck, was tied up tightly to the mast near

the Guard Room and after receiving some more blows, the Sgt went off to report. 

The Japanese Guard however proved most sympathetic and loosened the ropes, which

were really rather uncomfortable, particularly the ones around the throat! He was

released later on a good behaviour guarantee being given by Col Jephson, but the

incident was not closed as he was to find out.

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Next morning the ship was found to be alone and was pounding along at full speed

with every girder and rivet groaning under the strain. We were told that we

should be landing the following morning, and were to be divided into two groups

of 650 and 550 respectively. As before Div HQ R Signals, 5 Field Regt formed

Group A, and the Lanarkshire Yeomanry and 80 Anti Tank Regt, Group B.

Early next morning the ship arrived at Keelung, a port at the North end of the

Island of Formosa or Taiwan as it will be called in future. Breakfast proved to

be the best meal we had issued during the voyage. The country looked mountainous 

and there appeared to be a lot of rain about - an unpleasant prospect. Heavy

baggage was stacked on deck, and about 0830 we went ashore with what we could

actually carry, walked along the quay, and were halted opposite a Railway

Station - and the rain started good and hard.

Some form of check then started. We were formed up in fours, 2 deep, threes and

finally in fours again and were counted time and time again. An attempt was made

to check by the Identity cards which had been sent from Singapore, but as a lot
of them referred to men and officers left behind in Changi, this was not a great

success! Those who had mackintoshes or gas capes had good reason to be thankful,

but there were many without, and they were soon soaked to the skin.

At last, we were marched onto the platform, and crammed into a 3rd Class

carriage, and believe me there was some scrum! However, the soaked men speedily

got dry, as the shutters were pulled up as soon as the train started! It did 

not go very fast and stopped frequently. From what could be seen throughs cracks

the country looked pretty agricultural with rice fields and vegetables.

We had been warned by an interpreter that the journey would only be a short one,

and in due course the train stopped at a large station called Taihoku. We were
evidently expected as there was a large crowd waiting outside in the square. We

were formed up in two ranks and presently the cry went up "Inspection of Chief of
Staff" and a much bemedalled officer came along and there was much drawing of

swords. One small bespectacled officer (whom we were to know later as Groucher)
found his sword and scabbard a great trial, and spent most on his time shouting

"Skee" and falling over both!

We marched out onto a grass plot outside the Station, and were told to sit down

by companies, same like at "the Feeding of the 5000"! The cry went round

"Food up", and large baskets were seen approaching full of what appeared to be golden

loaves of bread!! Red 'ot!! When the food arrived it turned out to be rice and a

little pickled vegetable tied up in a golden leaf! We then had lunch in the sunshine,

the rain fortunately having ceased. There were some lorries available, and these

were loaded with heavy kits and those who could not walk.

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Presently we marched off with an officer in a Staff car moving ahead slowly.

The town had evidently been given a holiday, and the route was lined by the

inhabitants for about 1½ miles. There were hordes of school children of various

ages dressed in naval blue, both boys and girls and a navy looking flat cap.

They appeared to be enjoying their holiday, though most of the older inhabitants 

took very little interest and were obviously there by order rather than inclination.

The town seemed pretty modern, and the road was good and wide, with a

grass plot running up the middle.

After about 2 miles, we crossed a river by a suspension bridge, and halted before

a Toin or Shrine looking rather like a part of Stonehenge. This we were told to

salute. We turned off down a lane, and after going through a small park, reached

another where the same process was repeated. After a short distance, some

buildings were seen ahead, and we found ourselves formed up outside some barracks,

at the main gate of which was a sentry armed with a spade!

The officers were separated from the men, and we were all formed up in groups of

20, and the right hand man was given a coloured flag and told he was squad leader.

Some minor adjustments were then made among the squads themselves as it was

obvious that now was the time to get alongside one's friends and "muckers in".

The next excitement was that a blackboard was carried round on which was written 

in block capitals, "Take into Camp only Towel, washing things, combs, pencils and 

tobacco." We were issued out with tickets with a duplicate tear off portion and

everything left behind had to be labelled including our boots, which we had to

take off. In lieu of boots we were given wooden clogs, which made progress somewhat
difficult as the single toe strap was too tight in most cases and broke! We

were then searched, stripped and then allowed to dress again. Any small articles

or papers found were removed, duly ticketted and put in a large basket.

A small white moustached officer with two rows of medals appeared to be in charge.

He turned out to be the Commandant of all Camps and was a full Colonel. Seeing

rain approaching, he hurried up his assistants with blistering invective, and they

quickly got a move on with the result that at dusk we went another half mile in

our clogs and entered a bamboo fenced enclosure, which contained huts. Most of us

thought that we had been put into a quarantine station and would in due course

visit the sheep dip again. This was not to be the case.

On arrival we were marched straight into bungalows. They were huts about 30 yds

long, and were divided into 3 Messes to hold about 20, and one smaller one to

hold 10. On either side was a mat-covered platform about 8 ft deep, and one foot 

from the ground. Long tables ran up the centre of the hut, and under it was a  

bamboo shelf containing a rice bowl, stew bowl and tea bowl each made of light

blue enamel. On each bed space were 4 blankets, 2 sheets, a pillow and a sort of

palliasse cover. They were very clean and of fairly good quality.

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As soon as everyone was settled in, the cry of Mess leaders to the Cookhouse

was heard. They returned with a wooden bucket full of rice, and another full

of a very tasty stew full of cabbage, sweet potatoes and beans and was much

enjoyed. (We heard later that the Lanarkshire Yeomanry got nothing to eat till

the following day - and it was also raining!)
Directly after dinner, Major Fennell was forcibly reminded that he was still

front page news and a criminal of ill repute. He was called out by the Camp

Commander and, after being asked a few questions, was put in the Guard Room

until further details came through! He was left severely alone for two days,

but then the order came that he was sentenced to 27 days Cells for being haughty to

a Japanese NCO. He was allowed bedding and books to read, two cigarettes after

each meal and was well treated by the Japanese officers and Guards. His chief

trouble was that he was only allowed to wash on 3 occasions, and had to grow a

beard of revolting aspect owing to razors being forbidden!

In case anyone else had to suffer a short term of imprisonment, there is a formula

for passing the time. Allow  a day to get settled in, and learn the routine.

Then divide your life into a number of periods corresponding to the number of

days. Each day concentrate on the period for study, and try and remember everything

you can! If musically minded, play all the tunes you can connect with the period

on the table top (if any) as for a piano. The guards will probably think you

batty but what of it! It passes the time!
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