Diary of Alexander Roland Campbell Johnstone, 1942-1943 - Part 4

70

NOTES

A RED, RED ROSE      TO PUG 21.5.42

TO MINE OWN.

Oh my luve is like a red, red rose,

Thats newly sprung in June

My luve is like a melodie

That's sweetly played in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie wife

So deep in luve am I

And I will luve thee still mine own

Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, mine own

And the rocks melt wi' the sun

And I will luve thee still mine own

While the sands of life shall run.

And fare-thee-well, my only Luve,

And fare-thee-well awhile,

And I will return again, my Luve

Though 'twere ten thousand mile

Robert Burns.

with perhaps a slight variation by ALEX

71.

NOTES

22.5.42   FRIDAY   96th day P.O.W.

Reveilli 0800.

Showered and then swept and cleaned up

breakfast 0900 consisted of rice meal, tea,

one biscuit and in lieu of pea-nut meal

we had boiled wheat this morning.

Cec and I missed our gardening duties

this morning and collected some towels

etc for our unit.

Boiled a pair of shorts, so whatever eventuality

crops up now, move or no move, I am

right for clothing.

Dinner 1330 consisted of rice, stew (soup),

one (1) piece of bread and Tea. Received 

our issue of cigarettes, one (1) packet

of ten Woodbine. We have been 

receiving our ten cigarettes nearly

regularly each week thank goodness.

Visited Alex McBean & Doug Shannon

in 10 AGH had a long yarn with

them and am going up again tomorrow.

Showered and played solo from 1700

to 1800. Tea 1800 consisted of rice meal,

milk, tea and one (1) rissole.

After tea Cec and I went for a stroll

and called in on Stan W, had a game

of solo and he turned on a cup of

tea and a piece of bread, came back

to camp about 2145. Nothing else

to relate mine own My prayers

for you as usual, then shut eye.

72 

NOTES

23.5.42   SATURDAY   97th day P.O.W.

Reveille 0800

A beautifully cool morning for a change.

Shaved and showered and then breakfast

at 0900 which consisted of rice meal, tea, 

milk, pea-nut meal and one (1) biscuit.

After breakfast Cec and self went

on a scrounging tour to try and

get a few things for Alex and Doug 

in hospital

Dinner 1330 consisted of rice, stew, 

tea and one (1) piece of bread with

a sniff of jam on it.

A half holiday after dinner so I had

a game of solo, did not go up to

the hospital this afternoon as I have

arranged to go up tomorrow.

Tea 1800 consisted of rice meal, milk, 

tea, two (2) biscuits and a spoonful

of roasted pea-nuts.

Had a bit of an argument with

J.G this afternoon, can no longer

call him a fair minded  individual

After tea finished off a game of

solo, had a tong, made a smoke

and went for a walk with

Cec.

Oh noodle I know you can

understand how I am missing

you, how I am longing to

73

NOTES

23.5.42    SATURDAY (CONTINUED)   97th day POW

take up in my arms , mine own

wife and to hold her and be with

her for ever and ever, never to

be parted again. Pug I am going

through agony, wanting you so very

much at all times, my one and

only consolation is, that I know

that you are being brave out in

Australia and that you will continue

to be that way until "our glorious

re-union", and it cannot be much

longer before it takes place.

Lieut de Little our remaining officer

was taken to hospital today with dengue

fever, also three other chaps with

berri-berri, so things are not the

best. It makes one wonder, when you

walk through our hospital, just how

all the soldier patients over here will

get on if we are here much longer.

Well mine own, nothing else to relate,

my prayers for you as usual, 

then shut eye.

74

NOTES

24.5.42    SUNDAY     98th day P.O.W.

Reveille 0800

Showered and then collected the weekly

lot of clothes for the usual sunday morning

wash. Breakfast 0930 consisted of rice

meal, milk, tea and one (1) biscuit.

Cec and self were taken off gardening fatigue

today and put on to the ration fatigue

Finished at 1200 and then proceeded

to do the usual weekend washing.

Showered and then dinner at 1330

consisting of rice (nosey), stew, tea 

and one (1) piece of bread

It rained cats and dogs during dinner

Pug I am keeping my nails and the quicks

of my fingers in good order, each day

I file and clean my nails and I am

sure you would be pleased, what say you.

Played solo from 1400 till 1800 then

tea which consisted of rice meal, 

ground wheat, two (2) biscuits, tea and

one tin of pineapple cubes between

four (4) men (approx 8 each.)

I did not go up to the hospital on 

account of the weather, but will

try and get there to-morrow. Played

solo after tea until 2030 then Cec and I

went for a stroll. Nothing else to relate

mine own. My prayers for you

as usual then shut eye.

75

NOTES

25.5.42     MONDAY      99th day POW

Reveille 0800.

Rained all night Thank goodness we

needed it badly. Cec is not the best this

morning has a headache and pains in 

the back.

Showered and then breakfasted at 0900

consisting of rice meal, ground wheat,

milk and tea also one (1) biscuit. Cec

could not eat his breakfast so I gave

him my biscuit and traded a cigarette

for another one so he had three biscuits

and a cup of tea (not enough to keep a

fly alive).

Had a hair cut during the morning, no

fatigue till this afternoon then it is to be

rice grinding. Cec reported to RAP, they 

rubbed him down and wrapped him 

up and he is spending the day resting

Dinner 1330 consisted of rice (nosey) stew,

tea and one piece of bread. Cec could

not eat at all, so I had half ^ his rice and

stew.

Did the rice grinding job from 1415 to 1515 and 

then had a well earned shower. Missed the 

hospital trip again so will try to-morrow.

Played solo from 1700 to 1800 then tea which

consisted of rice meal, soup, tea and one (1) biscuit,

Played solo again from 1830 till 1915 then listened

to Capt Barnett lecture on his S'African tour.

Nothing else to relate mine own. My 

prayers for you as usual, then shut eye.

76

NOTES

26.5.42      TUESDAY     100th DAY. P.O.W.

Reveille 0800

Another extremely oppressive night very very

hot, it cooled off towards morning and it

commenced to rain. Cec seems a bit

better this morning, at least he us up

and about.

Showered and then breakfast at 0900

consisting of rice meal, milk, tea, ground

wheat (one desertspoonful) and one (1) biscuit.

Today 26.5.42 is our 100th day as Prisoners

of War, and mine own each one of 

those days has seemed an eternity to me,

as you can understand. Oh Pug it cannot 

go on much longer, so now more than

ever "chin up and smile" for we want you,

we will soon be re-united " For I will

return again, my luve. Though 'twere

ten thousand mile".

Cec could not eat his breakfast again 

and has reported to the RAP again,

the result to remain on his back for

another day.

I was put on the ration fatigue this morning,

but no rations are available until 1600 this

afternoon, so spent the morning reading

and dozing. I reported to the RAP this

morning for tinea and guess that I have

scorched feet with iodine. Dinner 1330

consisted of rice meal, milk, tea and one (1)

piece of bread.

77

NOTES

26.5.42     TUESDAY.  (CONTINUED) 100th DAY P.O.W

Pug I am keeping these records of my daily

doings, but guess that they are not very

interesting, some how one begins to feel

very miserable at times, try as one may

to keep bright, the spasms come and go

so if my diaried doings appear disjointed

at times, put it down to our existence,

in any case from this diary, I will be

able to refresh my mind (if it ever

needs refreshing) as to my doings 

whilst a prisoner of war (some thing I

hoped and prayed I would never be).

in Japanese hands.

I am very proud of my copied (very sincerely)

verse on page 70 and are sure you

will agree that it is an excellent

expression of a "husband's luve" for

"his own wife).

When we are together again, Pug, you 

will always get a verse from me,

a verse depicting the love of a man,

for his wife. Oh mine own how very

often, your hair, your lips, your

eyes and you yourself come vividly

before me, as I write in this diary

each day. I live and long only for

the day when we can give one

another all our love in all its

entirity, culminating in "joyful

78

NOTES

26.5.42      TUESDAY  (.CONTINUED)     100th DAY P.O.W.

wedded bliss" and what it may bring.
This diary at present is beautifully scented 
with frangipani, how long it will remain
I cannot say.
Spent from 1430 until 1600 on the wood
fatigue (Volga Boatman) then after afternoon
tea had a tong and played solo
from 1700 until 1800.
Tea 1800 consisted of rice, stew,  tea and
one (1) biscuit.

After tea played solo again until 2030,

incidentally playing solo occupies the time

and we have a good four , Lieut Fraser, Cps

Fraser, Chute and Johnstone, we play on

the slate, settle up first pay-day (? when)

Strong furphy that we are shortly leaving

to be interned on a neutral island, I 

wonder.

Nothing else to relate mine own, my prayers

for you as usual, then shut eye.

79

NOTES

27.5.42      WEDNESDAY       101st day P.O.W

Reveille 0800

Shaved and showered and then breakfast

at 0900 consisting of rice meal, milk, tea, p'meal

and one (1) biscuit. Cec is still off his tucker.

Ration fatigue this morning finished about

1200 showered and then dinner at 

1330 consisting of rice (nosey), stew, tea and

one (1) piece of bread.

Went to the hospital, saw Alex and Doug,

Lt de Little and a few other chaps. I took

Alex and Doug over a pair of sand

shoes, a razor, steel mirror, tooth brush, shaving

brush and a shirt between them, also

gave them two (2) cigarettes each.

Came back to our building at 1600 and

played solo until 1800. Tea consisted 

of rice meal, ground wheat, tea and two (2)

biscuits. We were told tonight that tomorrow

morning sees our last issue

of milk, even though it was mainly

water we will miss it when we have 

to eat plain rice, still we can take

it, there are others worse off than us,

especially those chaps in hospital over

here.

There was a lecture in our area tonight

by Sgt Blaine (M.H.R NTHN. TERRITORY) on R.S.L

and its benefits. Nothing else to relate

mine own, my prayers for you as usual

then shut eye.

80 

NOTES

23.5.42    THURSDAY   102ND DAY  P.O.W

Reveille 0800.

Showered and then breakfast at 0900

consisting of rice meal, milk (our last), tea

pea-meal and one biscuit.

List night was very oppressive again

and sleep came slowly. Saved two (2)

biscuits for Cec and this morning

discovered that a rat had practically

eaten them all, so that's that.

Reported to RAP that I had a tightness

in the calf of my left leg. Diagnosis is

early berri-berri, I am under observation

for two days during which time I am

to stay on my back taking eighteen

(18) yeast tablets per day and one 

bottle of yeast per day so again that's

that.

There has been a continual deluge of

rain since 0900, we want it badly,

it may improve things from a health

view point.

Dinner consisted of rice (nosey) stew,

one (1) piece of bread and tea.

Played solo in the afternoon on

my bed, am feeling OK, but of

course have the numbness in the

legs.

Tea consisted of rice meal, ground

wheat, tea and two (2) biscuits.

81

NOTES

28.5.42    THURSDAY   102ND DAY P.O.W

The yeast in the bottle tastes like flat

champagne or apple cider, you know

how I like both don't you mine

own (oh yes)

Cec is still not 100% but is on the 

mend, he thinks that he may be in

for an attack of berri-berri I 

think it is brought on by lack of

Vitamin B which is mainly found

in fruit and vegetables of which we

get neither.

Concert in our area after tea so Cec and

I stood on the balcony and watched it.

Nothing else to relate mine own my

prayers for you as usual then shut eye.

82

NOTES

29.5.42     FRIDAY   103rd day P.O.W.

Reveille 0800

Shaved and washed up in the house, it

is a bit far to walk for a shower when

one is supposed to be laid up Am

feeling lots better this morning.

Breakfast 0900 consisted of rice meal,

pea-meal, tea and one biscuit.

Spent the morning on my back

as ordered, unable to smoke This 

morning (out of smokes), so heres

hoping that the issue comes to light

at dinner-time. Dinner 1330 consisted

of rice, ground wheat, tea and one (1)

piece of bread, believe we are to get some

form of a stew or something tonight.

Our cigarette issue came good to day.

Snails have been cooked in some

units and I believe we are to try some.

Logans' ghost can you imagine, but we

will wait and see, perhaps a snail

has vitamin B. Played solo in the 

afternoon, until 1800 then had tea

consisting of rice meal, cut up fruit (small) 

tea, two (2) biscuits, and one (1) curried

rissole, it was our best meal for some

time (must be on account of the snails

to come.) After tea played Cec German 

whist (the two invalids). Nothing else

to relate mine own. Lt de Little came

back from hospital to-night. All my 

prayers for you as usual then shut eye.

83

NOTES

30.5.42    SATURDAY       104th DAY P.O W

Reveille 0800.

Walked very slowly down to have a tong

as I did not have a shower yesterday. Am

feeling a good deal better this morning,

the rest must have done some good

am to report to the R.AP again this morning

Breakfast 0900 consisted of rice meal, milk

(yes again), pea-meal, tea and one (1)

biscuit.

Dr gave me more yeast tablets and ordered

me to stay on my back again for another

two days, then another examination.

Dinner consisted of rice, vegetable

stew, tea and one (1) piece of bread.

Rested after dinner and played solo

until 1800.

Tea 1800 consisted of rice meal, ground

wheat, two (2) biscuits, tea and two 

desertspoonful of pineapple juice.

Cec is still not 100%. I am feeling

a bit stiffish and today my eyes

are very sticky. I will let the

M.O know tomorrow.

After tea Cec went down to the RAP

to get his treatment (aspros) and I finished

the book I am reading belonging to AG de L

"Why Britain is at War", the book even

has not made my mind up for me.

Nothing else to relate mine own. All my

prayers for you as usual, then shut eye.

84

NOTES

31.5.42    SUNDAY    105th DAY P.OW

Reveille 0800. Shaved and washed

Breakfast 0930 (Sunday morning time)

consisted of rice meal, pea meal, one (1)

biscuit and milk and tea

Spent the morning on my back, reading

and then yarning to a Jack Betts

who lives at Double Bay, we talked

about fishing and what not in 

and around Sydney, you can

guess how interested I was. I brought

out all my photos (as usual) and we

had a great old yarn, you can

just imagine how homesick I felt.

More cases of berri-berri so goodness

only knows where it is all going to end.

Dinner 1330 consisted of rice, ground

wheat, tea and one piece of bread.

Played solo from 1445 until 1800.

Tea consisted of rice meal, soup, one (1)

biscuit, tea and one (1) rice pasty.

During the meal, the worst electric

storm I have ever witnessed came 

upon us. The building was flooded

out and a huge tree which had

previously been damaged by

bombs, blew down on top of our

building, bedlam broke loose.

Retired early mine own. Nothing else to

relate. My prayers for you as usual

then shut eye.

85

NOTES

1.6.42     MONDAY     106th DAY P.O.W

Reveille 0800.

Showered (I walked down to the tong this morning

and feel much better for it) and tidied up.

Trees and fences are everywhere after our

storm and a half. I am feeling much

better this morning, so will see what the

doctor has to say.

Breakfast 0900 consisted of rice meal, milk,

tea, pea-meal, and one biscuit.

Reported to M.O, given three days more

on my back, more yeast tablets (eighteen 
(18) and to continue on a bottle of yeast 
per day, so your hubby cannot be 
100% yet. 
They removed the tree from the roof of the 
building this morning. 
Dinner 1330 consisted of rice, vegetable stew 
(wi a few snails), one (1) piece of bread and 
tea. I never thought I would eat snails, 
but then again I never thought I would be  
a P.O.W. 
Rested until 1700 then played solo till 
1800. Tea consisted of rice meal, tea 
two (2) biscuits, soya sauce (a newy on 
me). There was a concert in our area 
again tonight attended by our G.O.C 
(Maj. Gen Callaghan) and the Malayan 
Command G.O.C. (Gen Percival). Nothing 
else to relate mine own. My prayers 
for you as usual, then shut eye.

86 
NOTES 
2.6.42         TUESDAY         107th DAY P.O.W 
Reveille 0800. 
No parade this morning we witnessed 
another tropical downpour. I showered 
under a drain pipe in our building. 
Shaved etc (growing a mow again for fun) 
and then breakfast at 0900 consisting of 
Rice meal, pea-meal, tea and one (1) biscuit. 
Cec goes back on duty to day, he says he 
is feeling fit again, he does not look the  
best. Heard this morning that three (3) Jap 
submarines had got into Sydney Harbour  
and sunk a ferry (another furphy I guess). 
I guess rice is getting me down, I can 
hardly eat it at times, but when there 
is nothing else, what can one do. 
Two more cases of berri-berri to hospital  
from our building making 15 in all. 
Played crib with JW until dinner 1330 
which consisted of rice, stew, greens and tea. 
Had a few hands of solo after dinner as there 
was a centre and Bill F is off at 1500 to 
hospital with berri- berri. 
Read, played J.W crib, then had a tong
with Cec, played solo from 1645 until 
tea 1800, Cec is now in the four. 
Tea consisted of rice, stew, tea and a  
M & V pasty. Played solo after tea until 
dusk. Nothing else to relate mine own, 
my prayers for you as usual then shut eye. 
87 
NOTES 
3.6.42        WEDNESDAY     108th DAY P.O.W 
Reveille 0800 
Washed and then breakfast at 0900. 
consisting of rice meal, pea-meal, tea 
and two (2) biscuits. 
Am to see the M.O. tomorrow again, so will know 
then whether I am progressing. There is case 
after case of berri-berri in our building, but 
you will notice from our meals that greens are 
coming to the fore, so heres hoping it checks 
the disease, it leaves one with a peculiar 
feeling in the limbs. 
Six (6) more cases of berri-berri to hospital 
today, making twentyone (21) to date you  
can guess how we are viewing it, and these 
numbers are only from our building. 
Perhaps the cost of feeding us $5 p.m is too  
high (oh yes). 
Dinner 1330 consisted of rice, pumpkin gravy, 
one (1) piece of bread and tea 
Played solo in the sun until tea 1800 
which consisted of rice meal, greens 
gravy, tea and two (2) biscuits. 
Played solo after tea until 2030. 
I hope that you never serve me up a 
rice meal in any form in our own 
home noodle, but I would eat rice 
for another ten years if it meant 
being with mine own. 
Nothing else to relate mine own. My 
prayers for you as usual, then shut eye. 

88 
NOTES 
4.6.42          THURSDAY          109th DAY P.O.W 
Reveille 0800. 
Beautiful cool morning, had a tong about 
0730, shaved and cleaned my nails. 
Am to see the M.O this morning. 
Breakfast 0900 consisted of rice meal, 
pea-meal, tea and one (1) biscuit 
M.O. has given me more yeast tablets, 
yeast and ten (10) more days on my  
back for observation, says I am 
slightly improved and I myself feel 
much better. Two (2) more of our chaps 
to hospital with berri-berri making 
a total now of somewhere near twenty 
one (21). 
Spent the morning reading, had a  
long chat with AG de L and then 
dinner at 1330 which consisted of 
rice, green stew, tea, ground wheat 
and one (1) piece of bread. 
Read and talked in the afternoon. 
Ken Shambler came over and yarned. 
Played JW two games of crib. 
Tea consisted of rice meal, pineapple 
juice, tea, ground wheat, two (2) 
biscuits. 
Played solo after tea until 1915 (lost another 
player today (JC to hospital, b-berri). 
Concert in our area and nothing  
else to relate mine own. My 
prayers for you as usual, then 
shut eye. 
89 
NOTES 
5.6.42          FRIDAY         110th DAY P.O.W 
Reveille 0800 
Washed and then breakfast at 0900 
which consisted of rice meal, pea-meal 
tea and one (1) biscuit. 
Am feeling quite OK in myself but the 
legs feel a bit useless still. 
Spent the morning reading on my 
back  Lt AG de L informed me that 
today we are having our three 
hundredth (300th) meal of successive 
rice, just imagine it mine own, and 
I for one never ever did like it. 
Tea with sugar or milk in it will 
be strange and smoking a complete 
cigarette will be stranger still. 
Dinner 1330 consisted of rice, green 
stew, bread one (1) piece and tea 
Cigarette issue today whacko, ten (10) cigarettes. 
Lt AG de L informed me that I would be 
doing some quiet auditing work next 
week. Spent the afternoon, thinking, 
longing and planning. 
Cec returned from the salt water fatigue 
1600. We had a shower and played solo 
until 1800 tea consisted of rice meal, ground 
wheat, tea, one (1) rissole, two (2) biscuits. 
Played solo again till dusk 2030. 
Nothing else to relate mine own. My 
prayers for you as usual. Then shut eye.