Remembering the Fall of Singapore - papers of Corporal Alexander Johnstone Diary 1942-43 part 2










SOLO Scores (continued)
B J A C JB
1934 - 1335 -1065 +1014 +452
+112 + 72 +76 . -260 21.5.42
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+187 -97 -129 . +39 22.5.42
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+378 +54 -622. +190 23.5.42
+1611 -1306 -1740 + 1014 +421
+134 -314 +542 -362 24.5.42
+1745 -1620 -1198 +1014 +59
+91 -359. -205. +105. +368. 26.5.42
+1836 -1979 -1403 +1119 +427
+40 -264 +538 -370 +56 26.5.42
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-58 +152 +41 +59 -194 27.5.42
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-124 +164 +92 +96 -228 28.5.42
+1694 -1927 -732 +904 +61
-14 -470 -790 +865 +409 30.5.42
+1680 -2397 -1522 +1769 +470
-334 -90 -240 +360 +304. 31.5.42
+1346 -2487 -1762 +2129 +774
-47. +425. +225. -603 2.6.42
+1299 -2062 -1537 +2129 +171 160ea [[ex?]] centre
see August/Sept pages at back
Diary on and from
15.2.42 on which
date the AIF together
with other allied forces
in Malaya laid
down their arms after
perhaps the worst week
in the course of the
Malayan campaign
8.2.42 - 15.2.42.
Friday 13th, Saturday 14th
Sunday 15th.
The blackest of black days
15.2.42. to 21.4.42
Singapore capitulated 15.2.42
I was at No 2 Convalescent Hospital
after being in 10 AGH with dengue fever.
Spent another ten days in the Con
Depot then drafted out to Changi
Prison Camp situated on the south
east coast of Singapore Island. Our
buildings are those previously
occupied by English Garrison
troops, AIF are on one side of
the road, British on the other.
For about one week we were on
our own AIF rations then came
three meals of rice each and
every day.
During the period 20.2.42 to 21.4.42
several events occurred. I commenced
a course in Italian, lessons given
by Padre [[Corry?]] a Catholic padre.
lessons twice weekly, monday and
thursday 2.45pm to 3.45 pm,
the other four week days, I attend
the Education centre at the same
hours and do private study.
Our daily routine is reveille 8.00
am (Japanese time, two hours and a half
ahead of ours), breakfast 9.30, fatigues
10.15 to 12.30, dinner 13.30 parade
1430, 1430 to 1830 ( tea) classes etc
22
15.2.42 to 21.4.42
Each and every night my prayers
are said with all my heart and soul.
Every friday night the available
Yass chaps meet and have a
yarn or a game of cards. Bert
[[Mudge?]], Jim Leonard, Harry Longley,
Tony Taylor, Stan Weatherby, Winkie
Wade, Harry Nicholas.
A concert is held in our particular
area each thursday night and
up to date they are 100% and
have put on some very good
shows.
Alex McBean and Doug Shannon
are still in hospital. Alex's arm
is nearly OK again and should
be out at any time now, the
hospital is in our area.
Poor young Doug, his right leg
is off above the knee, but his
pluck has pulled him through,
he is very cheerful.
Have been to the coast a
couple of times at first for a
swim and again to collect salt
water for cooking purposes.
Cec and I managed to scrounge
a couple of coco-nuts (what a break)
Managed to procure an
23
15.2.42 to 21.4.42
excellent copy of San Michele,
(Brian Badgery is now reading it)
it has some beautiful plates in
it so am going to hang on to it
for grim death to bring it home
to you. We have a small unit
library (about 60 books) so we are
very lucky in that respect.
I see Brian B nearly every day
over at classes and we have a yarn.
Tony Clive was camped near us
for a while and I saw quite a
lot of him, had a game of bridge
on the grass one night, you can
imagine what our conversation
was about.
I had an attack of dysentary
and I hope and pray that I
have never to go through it
again, one feels hopeless.
Cec and self were appointed
woodchoppers, a job we held
for about three weeks and then
asked for a transfer to the
garden fatigue, we are still
on it.
There is an extensive garden
but one can only work for
about an hour in the morning
24
15.2.42 to 21.4.42
and one then feels done. I hope
that we are not Prisoners of War
long enough to see them ready
for eating.
Generally speaking the Japs
have treated us reasonably
well (as we are P'sOW), but we
are behind barbed wire, rice meals
three times a day, ten cigarettes
a week (sometimes we miss out)
Our meals occasionally have
a biscuit, a pasty and odd
vegetables, so on the whole
we could have been a lot
worse off.
I have not diaried my doings
each day up to this point, but
from now on am going to. In
the first place we were told not
to, but now I am going to, so
here's hoping Pug.
Paddy's Market and things
Cec and I bought for ridiculous
prices will ever live in my
memory, but I cannot put
it down now in black and white
so here starts my diary
22.4.42
25
66th Day POW
22.4.42 Wednesday
Reveille 8.00 am
Showered and breakfasted, rice meal
milk, one biscuit and cup of tea
10.00 am. R.A.P, with tinea
transplanted spinach plants to 12.30pm.
Showered and then dinner, rice, stew
one biscuit and tea.
Italian study 2.45 to 3.45 pm.
Played solo 4.15 pm to 6.15 pm
Tea consisted of rice, milk, one biscuit
and cup of tea.
Saw Tony Taylor and Stan Weatherby
at AASC and am trying to get
some smokes (scarce).
Also saw Lieut (Peter Playfair) after tea
during a stroll.
Lights out 10.15 pm
Nothing else to relate.
My prayers for you as usual Peg
and then shut eye.
26
67th Day POW
23.4.42 Thursday
Reveille 8.00 am
Showered and breakfasted rice meal
milk, one biscuit and cup of tea.
10.00 am R.a.P with tinea.
Transplanted spinach plants to 12.30 pm
also experimented with some paw
paw leaves as tobacco, tried a
rolled cigarette (not the best, but
good enough)
Showered and then dinner 13.30 pm
Sighted a Japanese submarine going
up the Straits of Johore about 1300
pm.
Dinner consisted of rice, stew, tea
and one biscuit, managed to get
half a teaspoonful of jam on part
of my rice.
Italian lesson 2.45 pm to 3.45 pm
Incidentally stew = gravy
do milk = nearly water.
Rained cats and dogs mess (tea)
held at 1800 hrs for concert was to be
at 1915 hrs. Tea was rice, tea, milk & two
yeast biscuits.
Concert was 100%. Met Tony and Stan
Nothing else to relate
My prayers for you as usual
Peg and then shut eye.
27
68th Day POW
24.4.42 Friday
Reveille 8.00 am
Reasonably cold night, had to get up
and put a shirt on. Showered
and whilst waiting for breakfast saw
submarine in the Straits again. This
time going out.
Breakfast 9.30 am. Rice, tea, milk & one biscuit
RAP 10.00 am with tinea, not yet cured.
Then hole digging until 1100 and then
digging in the garden with Cec until
1230. Showered and then dinner
1330 pm. Rice, stew, tea, one biscuit
Rained like blazes in the afternoon.
Cec made me a new bed during
my trip to classes.
An issue of one packet of cigarettes
was made. Cec gave me 5 of his
making 15 cigarettes in all to last one
week (whacko). The boys are
smoking every where.
Rumoured two cases of berri-berri
broken out.
Tea was rice, milk, tea, one biscuit
After tea went down to AASC for our
fortnightly and weekly meeting of Yass
chaps. Tony, Stan, Harry, Bill, Winkie, Reg
and self. Nothing else to relate.
My prayers for you as usual Pug
mine own, then shut eye on
my new bed (the best ever)
28
69th Day POW
25.4.42 Anzac Day Saturday
Reveille 6.30 am
Attended Dawn Service on square
in front of 4 A/TK Barracks. Very
impressive service approx 15 wreaths
were laid, all my thoughts are of you
noodle.
Showered, shaved (growing a mow
again). Breakfast consisted of rice
milk, tea and one biscuit. Tinea is
still worrying me so once more to
the RAP. 1000 hrs.
Digging in garden till dinner time
when once more rice, stew, tea
and biscuit was the menu
At 1430 washed very soiled linen
(oh yes).
Struck a chap from Q'land who
is prepared to sell us some tinned
stuff on credit (averageing $8.50 per
tin 7/6, dear but a godsend
Tea was rice, milk, tea and
pasty (yes a rice pasty), something
for the teeth to function on.
Cec, two other chaps and self
spent an hour tonight trying
to buy some stuff on credit
but no luck, prospects are still there.
Nothing else to relate
My prayers for you as usual
mine own, then shut eye
29
26.4.42 70th Day POW Sunday
Reveille 8 am
Showered and breakfasted rice,
tea, milk and one biscuit.
Tinea a bit worse this morning
foot swollen. Reported RAP, dr
instructed to bathe in hot water for
24 hours and report tomorrow for
diagnosis. Looks septic and have
a swelling in groin. So am
laid up temporarily. Spent the
morning making 30 cigarettes out
of 10 Capstans for a chap (what
days we live in).
Dinner 1330 rice, stew, tea and one
biscuit. Rained again in the afternoon
Today there is a cricket match
between AIF and British P.O.W.
(Prisoners of War).
Played solo from 3.30 to 6.00.
bathed foot (slightly better now)
three times. Tea 6.30 rice, milk
tea, biscuit and small cookie.
Cec and I had jam & condensed
milk as extra (do not ask how
we got it). After tea Cec, Jack
Goldstein & myself discussed
home (aussie). I showed each
and every one of my photos of
you (and proud of them)
Nothing else to relate
my prayers for as usual
mine own & then shut eye
30
General Intermediate Notes
When each night I say so fervently
all my prayers (see back of this
diary), I pour out my heart
and soul.
Oh mine own the days drag on
and one should try not to
complain, but we are shut
up here, rice three times a day,
and all day each and every
day my thoughts are of you,
every minute, I spend counting
the days to when I can give
you all the happiness you
so richly deserve.
I am feeling reasonably fit
and well noodle, very brown
but only weigh 8.12, can you
imagine it.
Cec Farley and self spend all
our time together and I
thank God each day that I
have the privilege of his
friendship, he is certainly
100%, and we are great
cobbers.
We are hearing all sorts of
good news (where from, who
knows) so we are all hoping
it is true.
31
27.4.42 71st Day POW Monday
Reveille 8.00 am
Foot still inflammed, so no walk
to the showers this morning.
Raining cats and dogs. Breakfast
0930. Rice, milk, tea and biscuit
Again to R.AP 1000 hrs with my foot
am to do another day on my back
and continue bathing with hot
water. Oh mine own each and every
minute you are in my mind, all
my thoughts are of you and I am
always wondering where you are,
how you are and just what you
are doing. The day we are released,
relieved or fighting again will be
a godsend from this place
Dinner 1330 rice, stew, tea and
biscuit (very small quantity of rice
so the tummy is doing a suffer.
Spent the afternoon re writing some
Italian notes, sleeping and reading
(trying to read, I cannot concentrate).
A perfect day, cool and sunny
and the Straits of Johore are blue
Tea 1830 rice, tea, milk and
a big pasty (mostly rice). The chap
looking after the sick brings my
meals, Cec does the washing up
Nothing else to relate. My prayers
for you as usual mine own
then shut eye.
[centred] _____________
32
28.4.42 Tuesday 72nd day POW
Reveille 8 am.
Foot is on the mend. Showered
and breakfasted 0930 Rice, tea, milk
scone (first one). R.A.P 1030. Still
to lay up, but foot is definately
on the mend. Spent morning
writing out my Italian notes
then dinner 1330. Rice (a morsel)
stew, tea and one biscuit. Spent
the afternoon mainly resting the
tootsie. In my mind I am
formulating an ode to you Pug.
Am going to assist a Capt Packham
in preparing an Accountancy
Farm Costing Scheme for Returned
Soldiers. A particularly hot afternoon
Tea consisted of rice, pasty (meat)
(find the meat if you can), tea and
milk. After tea Cec and I went
for a slow stroll. Announced
after tea, that tomorrow being
the Emperor of Japan's birthday,
we are to have a holiday, but
it will be the same as every other
day. There is a strong rumour
that negotiations are in progress
for peace, oh Pug how I wish it were
true. Nothing else to relate. Mine
prayers as usual for you mine
own then shut eye.
33
General Intermediate Notes
Odd days I am going to jot down
a few heartfelt feelings and longings
outside my diaried days.
Mine own I ask God each and
every night in my prayers for you,
to grant me the opportunity of
taking you on a holiday just
as soon as it can be arranged
on my return to Australia
I want to have you all to myself
each minute, each hour, each day
each week for three or four months
without ever having to be away
from you for a day. I have it
all planned out, I assume that
when we do return to Australia
it might be months before we are
discharged (if we are on rice much
longer it might be months before
we can eat decent meals again)
and in view of that we both
might have to be patient and
when the holiday (our long post
poned honeymoon) eventuates,
you and I are going to lose
ourselves to the rest of the world
for a few months. Oh mine own
we will love and worship
each other as want to all the
time. Just you and I.
34
29.4.42 Wednesday 73rd day POW
Reveille 8.00 am.
A particularly windy and cold night
last night. Shaved and showered
this morning, my foot is practically
OK again. Breakfast 930 rice,
milk, tea and one biscuit.
Holiday today so no fatigues.
Reported to dr re my foot,
now OK.
Dinner 1330 rice, stew, tea
and one tin of pineapple
between two men (must have
been on account of the Emperor's
holiday).
Spent the afternoon lazing
around, Cec got a coconut
given to him, so had a
drink of coco-nut milk and
a fair sized peice of coco
nut whacko.
Tea consisted of rice, milk, tea
and two biscuits (again due to the
Emperor I guess). After tea Cec, Jack
and I sold cigarettes in Paddy's
Market (too funny to relate), made
$4.15 cash and 37 cigarettes.
Nothing else to relate. My prayers
as usual for you mine own
then shut eye.
35
30.4.42 Thursday 74th day POW
Reveille 8.00 am.
Fit and well this morning, showered
and tidied up. I am to spend the
morning with a Capt. Packham
perusing a Farming Scheme for
Returned Soldiers (The Accounting
side of it, I mentioned it previously).
Breakfast 0930. Rice, milk, tea and
biscuit, also small amount of
pea nut meal (fowl food)
Spent the morning with Capt
Packham. Dinner 1330 Rice,
gravy and tea.
Attended Italian lecture, am
afraid my mind is all of you
and our future doings mine
own, so I guess that accounts
for my lack of concentration.
Oh Pug when I get back, I am
getting a job that will enable
me to spend a tremendous
amount of my time with you,
I have one or two in mind.
Tea consisted of rice, milk,
tea and two fish cakes (find
the fish). Concert after tea, a good
show. After that Cec, Jack and I went
for a stroll, a full moon and palm trees
what was I thinking? Nothing else to
relate. My prayers as usual for
you mine own then shut eye.
36
1.5.42 Friday 75th day POW
1st of May. Reveille 8.00am.
Shaved and showered, a very warm morning
speaks well for a very hot day.
Breakfast 0930hrs. Rice, tea milk and one
biscuit.
Finished my book "San Michele" and am
now reading "The Jade of Destiny" Jeffery
Farnol.
RAP to have tinea treated, then spent
the rest of the morning, trying to
make a pair of clogs (wooden slippers)
Dinner 1330. Rice, milk (very much
water, 1 tin condensed milk to 80 men)
tea, one biscuit and one tin of
pineapple between two men.
Cec and I got twelve cubes each,
cubes as big as a shilling. [[GOC?]]
in addressing troops inferred that
we should be proud of being members
of 8th Div.?
With Captain Packham in afternoon
on Farming project.
Yass meeting tonight. Stan, Tony, Winkie
Harry, Bill, [[Ollie?]] Reg and self. Stan
as usual turned up trumps with
supper. Cec gave me his issue of packet
cigarettes today, so am a millionaire
19 cigs I now have. Tea consisted of rice
stew (a good one) tea & biscuit. Nothing else
to relate. My prayers for you as
usual mine own then shut eye.
37
2.5.42 Saturday 76th day POW
Reveille 8.00am
Showered and then breakfast at
0930. Am feeling fit and well
but must be very light in weight
about 8 stone. The disease berri-
berri seems to be increasing, our
authorities are trying to combat it
with a yeast preparation, one
spoon per day (yeast in supposed
to have the necessary vitamin B1 in it
Breakfast consisted of rice, milk,
ground wheat (flour), tea and one biscuit
plus desertspoonful of yeast (stale
champagne). RAP to have tinea painted
with iodine, made myself a pair
of clogs. Tony gave me a pair of
L.H boots whacko.
Dinner consisted of rice, tea, stew,
two pieces of bread and we noted it
a good meal. Latest furphy is that
we are going to a neutral island.
Attended education centre for my
Italian class, guess I am too homesick
mine own. I want you ever so much
God alone knows Pug, the sacrifice you
are making will be repaid a
thousandfold. Tea consisted of rice,
milk, tea and one biscuit. After
tea I guess I am feeling a wee bit
miserable. All my thoughts are of
you mine own. Nothing else to relate.
My prayers for you as usual mine
own then shut eye.

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