Diary of Alexander Roland Campbell Johnstone, 1942-1943 - Part 1

ARC Johnstone
Left Australia 29.7.41
Returned  do 17.10.45
Photograph - see original document
 

18-7-41.
TO.
Dearest Alex
with all the
love of your
wife, Peg.
"Greater love hath
no man ..... !" 
 NX20572. BDK. A.R.C. JOHNSTONE
R.H.Q.
2/15 the Pd Regt A.I.F.
ABROAD
Cpl. A.R Johnstone
NX20572.
AUDIT STAFF
COMMAND PAY OFFICE. A.I.F
MALAYA.

 

CALENDAR, 1941
[*THE B C DAY*]

[*31
30
31+
92
85*]

CALENDAR, 1940

CALENDAR, 1942

NOTES
Solo scores commenced 8.4.42

NOTES
SOLO scores (continued)

see August/Sept pages at back

NOTES
Diary on and from
15.2.42 on which
date the A.I.F. 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
 

NOTES
21
15.2.42. to 21.4.42
Singapore capitulated 15.2.42.
I was at no 21 Convalescent Hospital
after being in 10 AGH with dengue fever.
Spent another ten days in the Bon
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, A I F are on one side of
the road, British on the other.
For about one week we were on
our own A.I.F. rations then came
three meals of rice each and
every day. 
During the period 30.2.42 to 21.4.42
several events occurred. I commenced
a course in Italian, lessons given
by Padre Carry a Catholic padre,
lessons twice weekly, Monday and
Thursday 2.45 pm 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, fatiques
10.15 to 12.30, dinner 13.30 parade
14.30, 1430 to 1830 (tea) classes etc.
 

22
NOTES
5.2.42. 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, Vin Leonard, Harry Langley,
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
NOTES
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 dysentery
and I hope and pray that I
have never to go through it
again, one feels hopeless.
Cec and self were appointed
wood choppers, 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
NOTES
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 Pr'OW), but we
are behind barbed wire, rice meal
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
heres hoping Peg.
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

66th day P OW

NOTES

25
22.4.42 Wednesday
Reiville 8.00 am
Showered and breakfasted, rice meal

milk, one biscuit and cup of tea
10.00 am. Pv. A.P with tinea
transplanted spinach plants to 12.30 pm.
Showered and then dinner, rice, stew
one biscuit and tea.
Italian study 2.45 to 3.45 pm
Played solo 4.15pm 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
NOTES
23.4.42 Thursday
Revillee 8.00 am
Showered and breakfasted, rice meal

milk, one biscuit and cup of tea.
10.00 am RaP with tinea.
Transplanted spinach plants to 12.30pm
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 Strait 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
NOTES
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 1000 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 cigs in all to last one
week (whacko). The Roys are
smoking every where.
Rumored 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 Peg
mine ever, then shut eye on
my new bed (the best ever) 

28
69th day P.O.W
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 biscuits was the menu
at 1430 washed my soiled linen
(oh yes).
Struck a chap from Q'land who
is prepared to sell us some tinned
stuff on credit (averaging $2.50 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 to night 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
NOTES
26.4.42 70th day POW Sunday
Reveille  8.00 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
Goldstine & 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 you as usual
mine own & then shut eye.