Unit diaries relating to service of Geoffrey W. Fennell - Wallet 2 - Part 9

On Feb 18th the Chief Commandant came to inspect. We spent the morning "cleaning
the inside of the huts but it did not take very long! When the great man arrived,
he went straight to the Camp Office. The chief feature of the morning was that
the Goons did their own water fatigue complete with poles and buckets!! This was
surely a sign of the times as a few months ago they would have thought nothing about
ordering a fatigue out from 9 & 10 Squads. Things are certainly happening elsewhere,
did we but know it. Also we owe a good deal to Hecki, who, having lived for
some time in America, understands the Western mentality much better than his
predecessors. He may also be all out to make friends with "the Mammon of Unrighteousness"
so that . . . . . !
In the afternoon, the Goons were inspected on Bayonet fighting and there was an
ARP practice. We all fell in about 1630 on the padang where a small platform had
been erected, but we were soon dismissed as apparently he had nothing to say!
Very significant! There was also no Conference. Had there been,one of the points
for discussion would have been (1) Absence of barley for which extra rice does not
compensate. Shortage of fruit issues. Anomalies in working rice whereby some
Administrative folks in Camp draw it twice a day. (2) More drugs required for the
Hospital. (3) Urgent need for Clothing, towels and soap. (4) What about Red Cross
(5) At the same time Hecki was to be given a food chit for his help in many ways.
Hope-Johnson of 155 was summoned to the rice store to demonstrate his patent rat-trap.
Apparently they expected an enormous contrivance and when he produced his
snares made of wire, they were greatly surprised! He didn't even get a "Presents
banana"! However the Colonel was very generous to the hospital as they received
fresh fish, oranges and bananas.
On the last Saturday of the Month, there was a Concert, and apparently it is to be
a monthly event. Windy Forbes produced a further Arthurian Broadcast Adventure
entitled "Merlin Mucks it". Lancelot (Traherne) having snaffled Guinevere from
Galahad (Forbes), buys a Dragon from Merlin. Merlin spills the beans to Galahad
and gives him the potion to kill the Dragon. There is a mix up and Guinevere falls
in love with the dragon instead! It was a very amusing effort. Q Horner played
in the Band on a mandolin and gave a joint turn with Scobie in R Signals. There
was a very amusing Boxing Broadcast by the Americans, turns by British, American
and Dutch choirs and some individual turns. Traherne was a very hard working and
competent compere complete with Red Nose and moustache which made him look exactly
like our old friend Groucher! So ends February, the only other item of interest
being that all mattress covers and 1 sheet per POW have been withdrawn as they are
required for a Military Hospital. All to the good!!!

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March commenced with an issue of tomatoes from the farm. They were large and very
tasty. It also produced another edition of the Camp Magazine. Pearson, Forbes
and Firth were all actively employed as illustrators on the editorial staff and
Browne and Beecroft contibuted two stories,andBrowne is running a Hints to
Hostesses column. Traherne is the Mrs Beeton and produces very tantalising dishes
every month! In this number there were articles on "The Record Flight from England
to Walfisch Bay" by Nicholelles, who was the navigator: Poaching in Ireland:
American Football: Army Boxing: Show Jumping in America: Mahseer(?) Fishing:
Tiger Shooting: The Great Fire of London 1940: Stamps: Library Notes: How to
become a Golf Club Secretary: Bridge Problem: Crossword: Acrostic: General Knowledge:
Quizzes and the Adventures of Algernon Bogworthy, who wanted to go on the
Stage!
March 4th saw the arrival of a "Film Unit" who set about the usual propaganda stunts.
Generals picking tomatoes, at ease in Yasmai Park, Enlisted men playing Basket Ball,
Concert rehearsal by Camp Band etc. Beecroft was filmed giving a Gramophone Concert
in the Hospital. He started off with the first movement of Beethoven's Victory
Symphony, but was politely told that it was not suitable! On the Sunday they took
pictures of the morning Service. The Padre had been promised that they would keep
well away and the official camera men kept their word.They got round it however
by the Camp photographer and 2 Stooges with Leicas messing round and trying to get
close-ups of prominent people.
The latest arrivals on the farm have been 6 quite respectable looking Cows of
somewhat Friesian aspect. The daily output of milk is said to be going to be about
160 bottles. They will be given out in the following priority (1) TB Patients
(2) Hospital (3) Nipponese (4) Each squad in turn. The milk is said to be very good.
It is pasteurised in the Cook-house before issue. Incidentally, most of the Regiment
have not had fresh milk since leaving Nowshera.
The night of Friday 10th was the coldest we have had to date, but not as bad as
at Taihoku as the cold did not whistle up through the floor! The air was very
clear during the afternoon, and a completely new range of mountains appeared in
the distance, with one very high snow clad peak. This was said to be Mount Morrison,
14,000 feet high.
On Monday March 13th a Big Shot arrived from Tokyo. He had just taken up the
Prisoners Information Bureau and although he held a Conference, he was out to
obtain information rather than give it. He produced no War news and said that
Red Cross Stores were still at a Neutral Port. Not very pleasant news particularly
for the Working Camps, where the last consignment was definitely the cause of saving
life. They must certainly be given priority when it comes, pleasant though it
would be to have it here. However, in honour of his visit (a) the Sugar issue was
made on Sunday instead of Tuesday and (b) 65 ducks from the Farm went into the
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evening stew and produced, together with carrots and tomatoes, a ragout of such
excellence that the nightly visits to the benjo were in most cases halved! When
we get some solid food in us we shall sleep like logs!
The same day some form of Artillery unit made its appearance in the camp outside
our fences, and once more we heard the neigh of horses a feeding time. They

turned out to be a sort of pack Battery. The guns were very light field guns
and were pulled either by men or by 2 horses. The ammunition was carried in pack
on horses. Incidentally the horses were of a light draught type and some of them
looked brand new, but others very old. The men seemed to be all NCOs so that it
looked as if a gunnery course was being held. Some of them wore grass camouflage
cloaks which made them look like Maoris or Hungarian peasants.
Our anti-fly campaign started the middle of the month and lasted a fortnight,
the ration of bodies required being 20 per head. The piggery environs provided
the best "shikai" and a certain Major of the Regiment slew 260 one Sunday afternoon!
A bucket covered with a sack provided a very good landing ground and they
very kindly obliged by arriving thick and fast!
The Colonel Commandant paid another visit. He encountered the AVM out on the work
and asked him if he liked it and was given a decided No for an answer, and was
told it was too much like coolie work. That morning the Generals' squad had been
put on cleaning out a drain alongside the main road in view of any passers by.
He also said that the rice issue was not enough, and we were all very hungry.
Hecki broke in and said that he would see the AVM after.
That evening Hecki came to the AVM's hut and had a friendly chat with him for
about 3/4 hr. A bit of a change from the Taihoku days when old Tinwhiskers wouldn''t 

speak to anyone much less go to their quarters! He said that fatigues of this kind 
would cease, and the only work done would be for our own benefit on the farm and 
elsewhere. He also promised that the "Goons" would be kept well out of the way and 
the work would be done under our supervisors.
Regarding the food, he was tied by orders from Tokyo. Shirakawa counted as a 
semi-working camp and the basic ration was 420 grams per head per day. In addition 
to this, all workers redeived another 150 grams and under no circumstances could 

this be altered. To make the rice ration go round more, he suggested that rice 
porridge should be served at breakfast. This would make more rice available for 
lunch and supper. Regarding Canteen stores, he was doing all in his power to keep 
it up to scratch and in this there was a certain amount of opposition from the 
civilian population, who were very severely rationed, and actually got less rice 
than we did. Supplies all round were getting more difficult to get. The AVM 
was most impressed with the attitude he took and was convinced that we should give 

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Hecki or fullest support as he was trying to do his best for us and having been
for some time in America he understood Yanks and us.

Nippon Times from Nov 30th - Dec 16th and Jan 15th - Feb 2nd, arrived about the 
same time. Reading between the lines, we gathered that the Allies were making 
terrific preparations for a Summer Campaign. British and Americans were close to 
Rome, and the Russians almost in Poland. Very little was said about the SW 
Pacific but there was obviously something going on in Burma and very heavy 
fighting in the Gilberts and Marshalls. On March 26th and 27th a tremendous 
event happened. There was an issue of Mail dated mostly June, July and Aug 1942 
from England and up to March 43 from England. Most of the Regiment was lucky. On 
comparing notes, it was broadcasted in June 42 that the Mail for POWs in the Far 
East could be sent. We were still reported Missing, Believed POW. It was not 
until Dec or January 43 that the actual names were available, and we could imagine 
what an anxious 11 months it must have been. We all had such a feeling of 
thankfulness that mails should now arrive with reasonable regularity. We learnt 
that Major Don, Sgt Hartt and Gnr Town had been safely evacuated to India.

On April 2nd there was a Handicrafts Exhibition. Traherne produced an excellent 
model of a tramp steamer complete with cargo, and all fittings. Pearson won the 
Arts Competition with a very realistic crayon drawing of pairs of mules somewhere 
on a Frontier Road. To finish this volume on a humorous note, on Good 
Friday there was to be a great Medical Inspection by a Doctor from Tokyo. There 
was the usual "policing" and much stir in the Hospital. The Commander went to 
the station to meet him, and found "the Great Man" was only a Medical Student! 
He was so disgusted that he got back into his car and the wretched Student had 
to walk!! And now to celebrate Easter.

EASTER 1944

The faithful Relief Nib has eventually worn out after nearly a year's service 
and the record will be continued with a J nib kindly presented by Major Pedley 
of 80 Anti Tank Regt! The Easter Holiday started on Saturday April 8th by a 
surprise Roll Call at 0530 hrs! Judging by the sounds of blank, the guns were 
practicing anti-parachutist drill. This was followed later on by work as usual 
and in the afternoon the Canteen justified itself with Cigarettes, cigars, 
Wakamots and "Worcester" Sauce. Each officer had 9 packets of a new brand of 
cigs called Kurosio which are the nearest approach to English cigarettes we have 
had. For Easter Sunday a pig had been killed, and buns and candy made their 

appearance, also sweet potatoes for supper, the rations being a large one each. 

What a luxury!
Holy Communion was celebrated on Easter Sunday by Padre Binderman and at the 

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ordinary morning Service, by special request from Major Fennell, a special prayer 
was read for the men in the Working Camps, with special reference to the Mining 
Camp at Kinkasaki, where it is thought that the majority of the Regiment will now 
be, as we understood from the new RSM who arrived that Taihoku is now being used 
as a convalescent Camp for Kinkasaki.

A large consignment of Mail had arrived and was all ready censored and sorted 
by Good Friday and we all expected it would be issued. It was dated '42 and 
early '43 and was from England and India. We were disappointed though. The 
rumour was that the Interpreter issued the previous lot without reference to Hecki, 
apparently he was expected to extract juicy bits for "Intelligence and Propaganda" 
purposes and the Interpreter did not give him the chance! What use such old stuff 
would be, no man can say! However, "Pasadena Pete", the Interpreter, having 
received a rocket, put a brake on any future issues!
On Sunday there was an Art Exhibition in the Library and some real good drawings, 
paintings and crayon sketches were shown. Capt Pearson won the First Prize, for a 
very realistic sketch of some pairs of Mules, looking very tired at the end of a 
march on a Frontier Road, with Hlls and Sangars in the background. Lt Knights 
showed one of this copies of Buildings with infinite details.

On Easter Monday, we could not help thinking of past Easter Mondays. Point-to-Point 

Races and Football Matches in England, and Pagal Sports and Troop Dances in India. 

Let them Roll on for next year. As a matter of fact, some of us hd a treat. The 
work consisted of going over the hill behind the Camp and culling turf in a 
little valley. What a treat to see a new view from the top! Still, our time will 
come before very long we feel. Regarding Red Cross Stores there was a tale that 
Hecki had said that they were on the island, but the issue was being held up until 
the Monsoon had broken as at the time vegetables would be difficult to get, and 
the rations would require supplementing. Probably a complete lie but we do 
wish...

Sorry dear reader, I must stop as the Mail list has just come in, and I am on it!! 

Capt Archer and Lt Cooper have broken their "duck eggs" at last so that now 
Capt Hunt and Capt Firth are the only unlucky ones------ (next line illegible)....
that they would get a move on issuing out to Working Camps as the stores are 
badly needed there, and were definitely the means of saving life.........(illegible)... 

On April 12th, we received another issue of Nippon Times arrived, bringing us up 
to February 25th. They took a certain amount of digesting, but after applying 
the Propaganda Factor, the news was crystallised to the following:

1. Europe. Russians now on the Polish Border with their line running Narva-Kholna- 

Veliluki-Vivelok-Olsha-Luk- then curving back to Odessa - a decided advance on the 

last bulletin. Account of Battles at Methuno and Cassino.

2. Heavy fighting in Burma started about December, 2nd Indian Brigade, 5 British Divs.

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Mayu Mountains. Jap Counter Offensive started Feb 5th.

3. Attacks on Marianas, Gilberts, and capture of Jap Base at Truk.

4. Eden and Hulls raise question of ill treatment of POWson Jan 20th.

5. Heavy Bombing of London, and Sinking of Scharnhorst off North Cape. Altogether 
much ground for optimism. Montgomery now DCGS Europe Invasion and Oliver Leese 
now with 8th Army. Tojo has sacked Military and Navy Staff Officers and has taken 
over their jobs himself.

Sunday April 25th was the anniversary of St Geroge's Day, Zeebrugge Day and Anzac 
Sunday. A special service was held in the BORs Hut. Kipling's Recessional was 
sung to the tune of Eternal Father, Strong to Save, and Land of Hope and Glory 
was sung as an Anthem. In the afternoon all the Australians went and laid wreaths 
on the Graves of Australians in the Cemetery. There was a strong rumour that 
Hitler had invaded England with no success, to give a little extra spice to the 
day, also a Naval Battle South of Taiwan.

An RAF officer, who had been in Hospital a Taihoku, suddenly turned up, and who 
should be his escort but "Plug Ugly" the Taihoku Corporal! We were really quite 
pleased to see him as he had certainly tried to do his best for us, even in the 
very bad old days. He said that all was well there.

On April 30th, there was an inspection by Col Suzaki. General Audo was to have 
come, but did not. We trust he has other things to think about! It poured with 
rain all day. After lunch we all crowded into 12 Squad Hut and he made a speech. 
He said he was proud to see us again and was very pleased with the progress on 
the farm, crops and fishpond. He was pleased with the increased weights and 
produced statistics of average weights: Dec 62 Kg, Jan 63.2, Feb 63.5, March 64.3 
an April 65.1. Malaria was down 35-15 but diarrhoea was up. He then read a 
letter which had been sent to a Major Hughes USA saying that they were very confused 
as at one time they heard that we were working like Slaves on the roads, and 
the next moment that we were treated like Kings! He read another for L/Bdr 
Tooley, 146 Field Regt from "Dad", who was evidently very Jap-happy and had gone 
about telling everybody how well we were being treated. I hope his son will agree 
with him as I think he went up country on the Burma railway. He said that all 
prisoners were being treated in accordance wth the spirit of Bushido involving warm 
blood and warm heart towards opponents. He wanted us to keep a quite spirit and 
not be critical, and not be dispirited but take enough exercise to be healthy. 
He touched on the question of Working Rice, and quoted a Jap proverb whos literal 
translation is "Pride before Hunger". We know plenty about both! His policy was 

1. Make the day short for us. 2. Keep health. 3. Don't be impatient and make 
rumours. 4. Our families need not worry. 5. Avoid boredom. 6. Uncle Ito will 
look after you. Red Cross Stores and Mail were at his HQ in Taihoku and would be 
issued shortly. God only knew when the War would end, and who would win, but he 
had an idea that there would be Peace soon. Inside the fence was a quite Paradise

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if we chose to make it so, while outside all was danger and turmoil. There was no 
war news.  Very significant. Moonface and Groucher were among the hangers-on. 
Moonface was at the General's camp, and Groucher was now Commandant at Taihoku and 
said all were well.

On Saturday May 5th was a Concert arranged by Forbes and Traherne. It was short and 
snappy and a great improvement on previous ones. Peter Piper is now blossoming out 
as Leading Lady! Though very skinny, "she" looked quite attractive.

On May 5th,Capt Hunt was taken into Kagi to have some bladder trouble examined at 
the Military Hospital. "Grumpy" made all the arrangements and was altogether very 
helpful. A great change to the Old Days at Taihoku where they would do nothing 
except put flowers and fruit on a corpse when it was actually dead!

On May 9th, Brigadier Macbride, an American "Gunner", died in his sleep. He had been 
out working the previous day, but had not been feeling too well. General Funk, the 
senior American, put in a letter asking that all those over 50 should be excused 
work on the farm now that it was getting hot. Hecki called a Squad leaders conference 
which was conducted in a very friendly manner.

He asked how many would be involved and a rough check up revealed that about half the 
camp were over 50. He said that w/e June 1st, the siesta period between 1 and 
3 would be in force. He wanted the work on the Farm kept up as it was the only way 
the standard of food could be improved. He had plans to increase the pigs as they 
were best for us. The fish pond would shortly produce fish. He was asked if civilian 
labour could be hired, but he said it was impossible as there was already a shortage 
and money meant nothing to them as there was nothing they could buy! Food was very 
short. When the Camp Staff went on weekend leave, they had to take their own rice 

with them. Here the Interpreter chipped in and said that the War Lords had abolished 

Geishas for economy's sake. This we had seen in the papers. Hecki with a perfectly 
straight face said "War is a terrible thing!" and went on to say that lists should 
be made of people who thought they should be let off work. When the dykes and fish 
pond were finished, fewer workers would be required each day and as soon as he was 
satisfied that from the technical farming point of view we could run the farm, he 
would hand it over.

At the resulting squad conferences there was a lot of argument as to whether the lists 

were confined to those over 50, or whether anyone could say they did not want to work, 
and a lot of hot air was talked by some although it was quite obvious that the exercise 
we now took was beneficial and not excessive; including rests, the actual hours of 
working were only 2 hours per day. General Funk asked for further details and was 
asked to get the following particulars.

List A. Those who, through Age or Health, do not think they should work. These would 
be examined by "Grumpy", and if passed, would be excused, but would go into a special

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squad and only receive the Basic Ration. Those not passed would rejoin their 
Squads.

List B. Those who merely did not want to work. These would be put in a special 

Squad called the Physical non-working Squad, and would come under Nipponese Army 
Regulations a regards Smoking, reading, Lying on beds, playing cards etc. They 
would get the Basic Ration only, no PX or farm produce and be debarred using 
the Camp Library. The old joke that the work was purely voluntary was finally 
killed. In addition to the Regulations mentioned there were 1001 others most of 
which we came upon from time to time at Taihoku in the Bad Old Days.

On Monday May 15th, the Red Cross Stores really started to arrive. A lorry turned 
up in the morning laden with cases labelled:

USA Prisoners of War Invalid Parcels (4) Weight 47 lbs. There had been a proposal 
that they should be administered by a small committee of Britisher, Yank and a 
Dutchman, but the Commandant would not agree, and the cases were put into store 
to be dealt with by Col Lawrence, the Camp Commodity Officer, a Yank, who had the 
confidence of all. The Contents will be dealt with later, when they are actually 
issued. Enough arrived to make an issue of 1½ parcels each and the contents sound 
very good!

Col Stringer, the Chief Medical Officer at once asked that 1/5 of the Milk, 1/5 of the 
Bully, 110 of the Butter, 1/20 Sugar and 1/2 soap should be given up and put 
into a Reserve for the Hospital. Times have changed and there was a lot of 
opposition to the scheme. The Hospital at present got eggs and milk from the farm 

and a good share of what milk there is. On the other hand, there are a number of 
officers who might be classed as "Walking Wounded" who have not been ill enough to 
go to Hospital, but yet require all they can get in the way of increased vitamins. 
In fact the full amount would not do anyone any harm. At the same time a lot of 
officers would certainly contribute something athough they felt very strongly 
against the "Walking Wounded" being made to contribute. A vote was taken through 
the camp and the proposal was turned down by a majority vote, in which there were 
considerable differences of opinion among the Doctors themselves as to whether the 
Reserve was necessary.

On Thursday May 18th 1½ parcels a head were issued. The only restrictions were 
that any wrappers were to be burnt at once, the reason being that they might 
contain messages. There were two types of Parcels, ordinary and Invalid, and they 
contained the following items:

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Ordinary                                                       Invalid

1 lb Klim Milk                                                1 lb tin Milko

2 12 oz tins Spam Ham                                3 x 3.3/4 Corned Pork Loaf

2 4 oz tins Kup Kafay Coffee                        2 4 oz Kup Kafay Coffee

1 15 oz packet Raisins                                  1 lb Prunes

3 12 oz tins Bully                                           1 12 oz tin Bully

1 8 oz tin Salmon                                           1 12 oz tin Prem.Loaf

4 4 oz tins Butter Kraft                                    3 4 oz tin Butter Kraft

1 6 oz tin Milk Pate                                         1 6 oz Meat & Milk Pate

1 6 oz tin Jam                                                 1 6 oz Jam

½ lb Kraft Cheese                                           ½ lb Kraft Cheese

2 cases Swan Soap                                        2 cans Swan Soap

2 4 oz slabs Chocolate                                    2 4 oz slabs Chocolate                                       

½ lb Sugar Lumps                                           ½ lb Sugar lumps

140 Cigarettes                                                 2 x 3½ ozs Chopped Ham & Egg

     Old Gold, Lucky Strike, Camel,                  8 Packets Soup

     Chesterfield                                                10 packets Chesterfield

                                                                          1 pkt Vitamin C Tablets

It was arranged that each pair should have at least a half share in each kind. 

It was generally considered that it made an excellent selection and would do all 
the good in the world in the Working Camps - not to mention ourselves!

It was understood that Bulk Bully, Cocoa and Sugar would be coming along later, 
aso individual medical comfort parcels. What a pleasure it is being able to eat 
them in peace in our own time, instead of having to gallop through them as we had 
to in Taihoku.

A fresh batch of papers arrived up to April 5th, the highlights being 1. Russians 
well into Rumania, 2. Japs near Ompal in Marpin State. 3. Aerial invasion of 
Irrawaddy area by us to threaten Mandalay. 4. Churchill sent a congratulation to 
Mountbatten congratulating him on Arakan operations, from which we gather that 
there was more in them than met the eye of the Nippon Times!

On May 26th, the monthly weighing took place and most people showed a small increase 
but we are most of us conscious that we had a long way to go yet, tough the fats 
in the Red Cross will help.

At a meeting between Hecki and the 3 senior British, American and Dutch officers, 
a long letter was discussed giving the difference between the treatment under 
International Law and what we had received in the past. A statement was also 
produced from Col Hennessey showing details of the treatment of Italian Officers in 
India. He had been in charge of a camp so knew what he was talking about.

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On May 27th more Red Cross Stores arrived. Spies reported that the boxes contained 
Medical stores, socks, trousers, shoes, tobacco, pipes, cigarettes, and some 
unknowns, but details will be given later. 300 LETTERS were also reported to be 
on "The Hill".

The Mail was delivered on May 28th much more quickly than usual. John Firth and 
Byng Hunt broke their ducks so that only leaves Jacky Cooper, who has not received 

any. On comparing notes, England and India both seem to be in a pretty good state. 
In '43 we blew a big dam in the Ruhr and put half the Valley out of action. The War 
Office had informed people that Officers were being made to work hard on very 
little food. POW pay had been increased which may mean that the amount deducted 
for food had been decreased for the above reasons. Some of our postcards had been 
received, but owing to enormous gaps between dates of letters received, all could not 
check up on this. Hugh Lang, late of 63/81, wrote to Hunt and said that David Laird 
also late of 63/81 was a POW somewhere.

May 31st, the Red Cross Comforts were issued. A Ballot was held except for articles

which could be divided. No 9 Squad containing 50 officers received the following: 
29 Shoe polish (1 to 2), 29 Housewives (1 to 2), 29 Williams toothpowder, 
58 Soap (1 each), 29 Shoelaces, 29 Pencils, 29 Gillette Razors, 29 Toothbrushes 
29 Shaving Cream (1 to 2), 29 Combs, 297 Razor Blades, 6 each less 3 unlucky ones 
with 5, 14 Toilet Rolls, 2 Razor Blade Sharpeners, 29 1/4 lb packets tobacco, 
6 pipes, 50 pkts Old Gold Cigarettes. The remaining articles to be dealt with are 
Socks, Coats, Trousers and Towels, all of which have to be pro-rata'ed. What a joy 
it is to be able to be positively prodigal wth soap as everyone now has 3 Red 
Cross and 2 Nip pieces of soap and at least half a shaving cream. Incidentally 
Messrs Brown, Beecroft, and Capt Firth have forsaken their beards and Capts Pearson 
and Forbes have removed their moustaches so as to keep them Company!! May went out 
with very heavy rain and thunder, and the cry of the malaria mosquito is heard in 
the land.

On Saturday June 3rd, we had or monthly concert. The Band is now conducted by a 
Col Lane of the Punjabis and consists o 3 Piano Accordions, 3 Mandolins, 3 Guitars, 
a clarinet, 6 mouth organs, a trumpet, and a trombone. They played 3 selections. 
Van Alison played his piano accordion, Ensign Levit USN of "The Houston" did 
conjuring, sponsored by Brig Selby, ad Brian France of the Lanarkshire Yeomanry 
wrote and produced a most amusing skit on Hamlet in 5 Scenes. Capt Forbes was 
Polonius, Traherne the wicked King, and Peter Piper Laertes. Ivor Burton, 11 Div 
HQ, looked like a Blonde German opera singer as Ophelia, while Mackenzie of the 
Lanarkshires was a Queen built on decidedly generous lines! True to the original, 

the stage was heaped with corpses at the end, deaths being due to Poison, a 
poisoned dagger and a golf club! Most amusing and original.

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