Diary of Alexander Roland Campbell Johnstone, 1942-1943 - Part 7

130
NOTES
5.7.42    SUNDAY    140th DAY P.O.W
Reveille 0800
Showered and before breakfast put my
washing on to boil. Breakfast 0930
consisted of rice meal (semi burnt)(and
in small quantities), pea meal, one (1) biscuit
and tea, I grated some coconut, so that
added to our meagre meal improved things
After breakfast I rinsed my washing out
and hung it together with my bed
clothes on the prison barbed wire to dry.
Oh mine own, I will be a great husband
around our house, being able to wash,
sweep and cook and mend clothes,
gee noodle these days of separation
cannot last much longer, I do hope
and pray that by now you have at
least received news from the Army
that I am a p.ow and that my
letter card has arrived, oh how I
hope it has, it will ease your
mind a lot.
Auditing again this morning with a A G de L
until 1300. Rained during the morning
and I had to tear out and grab the
bed clothes
Dinner at 1330 consisted of rice (small
issue again), greens, gravy (what out of nobody
knows), biscuit and tea, it is hard to
visualise a good sunday dinner
 131
NOTES
5.7.42    SUNDAY    140th DAY P.O.W
without getting a pain in the Tummy.
Strict full dress parades are to be held shortly,
we believe and such things as units saluting
themselves in "mirrors" and "hats on sticks"
for practice, leads one to believe that some
of us over here must be "going tropical."
up to date our unit has not participated
but understand it is to take place in
the ensuing week.
Played solo in the afternoon until 1800.
Afternoon tea at 1600 and yeast parade
at 1700. Tea at 1800 consisted of rice
meal, pineapple juice, grated coco-nut, tea,
two (2) garlic cakes, and tea, we all agreed
that it was a stout effort.
Played solo again after tea and at
2030 Cec and self went for our usual
stroll. Nothing else to relate mine
own. My prayers for you as usual
then shut eye. 

OUR 3rd PAY DAY AS. P.O.W.
132
NOTES
6.7.42    MONDAY    141st DAY P.O.W     
Revielli 0800.
Shaved and showered and then breakfast
at 0900 consisting of rice meal, pea-meal
tea and one (1) biscuit and our grated
coconut.
Auditing again with AG de L this morning,
checking Canteen a/cs as at 30.6.42
Another force of A.I.F are to go overseas
tomorrow (B Force), where to nobody knows,
the other force (A Force) is rumoured to be
in Burma.
Dinner 1300 (early on a/c of second
innoculation for cholera men) consisted
of rice, greens, gravy, one (1) biscuit
and tea, our pepper assisted things.
Three of audit staff have been detailed
to stand by for B Force, Bob Sader, Clarrie
O'Neill and Wally Cripps, my OC informed
me that I cannot go, even if I want to, so
thats that. Cec was given the opportunity
but says we will stick together.
Auditing again this afternoon with
AG de L after he came back from having
his cholera injection. After dinner I
popped down to see Stan W and
to say goodbye to Brian B who is
standing by on B Force.
Pay parade at 1530 and I received
my $1.50 for another 10 days as a

133
NOTES 
6.7.42    MONDAY (CONTINUED)   141st DAY P.O.W
Japanese Prisoners of War, I feel like a
bloated millionaire, Cec and I have put
an order in to the canteen today and
my pay will disappear in its entirety
if the canteen supplies the goods as ordered.
Played solo from 1645 until 1800. Tea
parade at 1600 and yeast parade at 1700
Our canteen order arrived at 1700 and
we purchased the following, 1 lb of coconut
oil (about 2/3rd of a beer bottle) (for hair and
food use), 1 bottle soya sauce, 1 bottle chillii
sauce, ¼ lb pkt cocoa, 1 lb raisins and
2/3 rd lb of garlic for flavouring (even though
it has a strong smell it assists when
chopped up in giving the rice a flavour).
so we are will set up for a while.
Tea 1800 consisted of rice meal, hot
grated coconut in its own milk, two (2)
biscuits and 1 rice pattie and tea, we
added a few raisins and our own
grated coco-nut.
After tea we called in on Stan and
went over to the concert at R.A.A .A
darned good show too. Walked back to
our building. Nothing else to relate
mine own. All my prayers for you
as usual then shut eye; 

134 NOTES
7.7.42    TUESDAY  142nd DAY P.O.W
Revielle 0800
Showered and grated some coconut
for breakfast (I forgot to mention 6.7.42
that we purchased another nine (9)
coconuts, so we have now twenty one
(21) in all, so if there is a food blockade
we certainly will not starve.
Breakfast at 0900 consisted of rice meal, pea
meal, tea, powdered milk made up and
our grated coconut.
Had a Benghazi Derby with a huge
spider after breakfast, it was behind my
box, it must have measured six(6)
inches across, managed to flay it with
a cricket bat.
Auditing at canteen again this morning
and then back to our building and I there
and then attempted to construct an Audit
Report (oh yes you will laugh).
Dinner at 1330 consisted of (nosey)  rice,
greens, stew, one (1) biscuit and tea
Cec and I bought 2/3rd of a 2(two) lb
tin of dripping this morning, tin costs
$1.05, so I am indebted to Cec for 35 cents.
Got same garlic for lunch to tone down
the nosey rice; and this together with, pepper,
and chili sauce nearly made the
meal palatable.
Auditing until 1500 and then
NOTES 135
7.7.42    TUESDAY (CONTINUED)  142nd DAY P.O.W
played solo until 1800. Afternoon tea 1600
and yeast parade 1700. Tea 1800 consisted
of rice meal, tea, one (1) biscuit, and
a turned pastry pie. our condiments
in tins and bottles consisted of
soya sauce, raisins, dripping, grated
coconut and pepper and we thoroughly
enjoyed our tea.
all our building is abuzz on account
of the move tomorrow morning, I am
NCO in charge of baggage party and
reveilli for us is 0600 can you imagine
it.
Went over and said goodbye Brian
and then back to see Stan, Cec and I
took our cocoa, dripping and one (1)
coconut down and whacko for a
farewell supper it consisted of rich hot
cocoa with condensed milk and sugar,
biscuits and some of Stan's meat pie,
toasted bread loaf, dripping and pepper.
Gee Peg we felt like lords, one certainly
will appreciate little extras after this.
Came back to our building at 2230
feeling very full. Saw the most beautiful
sunset tonight between two (2) palms.
Nothing else to relate mine own.
All my prayers for you as usual
then shut eye. 

136 
NOTES
8.7.42    WEDNESDAY   143rd DAY P.O.W
Reveille 0600 for baggage party. We moved
off from our building at 0625 with eighteen
(18) kits on our trailer, picked up ten (10)
more at Divvy and then rushed and
pulled the lot up the "Big Hill" to Barrack
Square, ten of us on the party.
Unloaded our lot and brought the
empty trailer back to our building.
at 0740, had a cup of tea and a shower
and then breakfast at 0845 consisting
of rice meal, dripping, one (1) biscuit; pea
meal, grated coconut, pepper and
cocoa also some dried milk.
After breakfast Cec and I tore down
to see Stan picked up a hammer,
nails, stool, a book and a few
odds and ends.
Our party of eighteen (18) men moved
off at 0930, shook hands all round
and in one way we all feel lousey
at seeing them go, we know not
where they are going and it is a
break among us. Well mine own
I hope and pray it is a move for
the better and nearer and closer
to our dear ones, gee mine own,
it surely cannot be long before
we are re-united and then our
lifelong happiness begins.
137 

NOTES 
8.7.42    WEDNESDAY   143rd DAY P.O.W
Auditing again this morning with AG de L
until dinner at 1330 consisting of rice, greens,
gravy, one(1) biscuit and tea. We added soya
sauce, garlic and pepper.
Auditing again this afternoon with AG de L
until 1600 afternoon tea, yeast parade at
1700 watched Cec in a solo four and
grated some coconut.
Tea at 1800 consisted of rice meal grated
coco-nut and its milk heated up, sultanas,
pepper, dripping and two (2) biscuits and
one (1) garlic cake and tea.
Played solo after tea until 2030 and
then went for a stroll. Received our
issue of paper (one sheet of newspaper).
Cec and I had a shower about 2130
and then to bed. Changi gaol looked
like New York last night
Nothing else to relate mine own. All
my prayers for you as usual, then
shut eye. 

138
NOTES
9.7.42    THURSDAY   144th DAY P.O.W
Reveille 080.
Showered and shaved and then breakfast
at 0900 consisting of rice meal, pea meal one (1)
biscuit and tea our own dripping, pepper and coconut.
Cec did the coconut grating this morning.
There are only a few hundred outside
hospital patients and staff left in the
camp now, so it is definitely a deserted
village. Yesterday a flight of forty eight
Japanese bombers went over, they
were escorted by fifteen fighters and
also four huge flying boats, so there
must be some activity reasonably
close at hand.
Auditing with AG de L again this
morning, a trip was on today to the
mainland collecting pineapples with
the Japs, I would like to have gone, but
perhaps next time I may be lucky.
Dinner 1330 consisted of rice, greens, gravy
one (1) biscuit, and tea, we added pepper
soya sauce and dripping.
Auditing again in the afternoon with
AG de L until 1700. Played solo till
1800 and then tea consisting of
rice meal, tea, two (2) biscuits and a
coconut slice, we added grated
coconut, pepper and dripping.
Played solo after tea until 1900.
139 

NOTES  
9.7.42    THURSDAY (CONTINUED)    144th DAY P.O.W
Cec and I did some cooking, biscuits
consisting of ground burnt rice, and its
flour and grated coco-nut, cooked
in coconut oil, borrowed a frying
pan and did the job. We found
the rice in a tin in Stan's old garage.
Made about ten (10) cakes.
There was a concert on our stage
but we had already seen it on
Monday, so after our cooking, went
down and had a shower about 2030.
Returned in time to replace tables and
forms and then went for a stroll.
Discovered four (4) iron beds, so
promptly brought them back to
our building, whacko, all we need
now is a mattress.
Well mine own there is nothing else
to relate. all my prayers for you
as usual then shut eye.
 

140
NOTES
10.7.42    FRIDAY    145th DAY P.O.W
Reveille 0800.
Carted our beds upstairs and made it
look like home. Showered and then
breakfast at 0910 consisting of rice
meal, pea-meal, one (1) biscuit and tea
We added grated coco-nut, pepper and dripping.
Only worked for a few minues and then
the rest of the morning to myself. Went
for a stroll by myself and then shaved
and read till dinner at 1330 consisting
of rice, greens, gravy, tea and one (1) biscuit.
added soya sauce, pepper and garlic.
Afternoon off again, the life must be good
mustn't it, oh mine own it is only nineteen
days to go (29th July) since I last saw you,
left you and said goodbye, to me, it
has been a life's span and to you
I Know only too well what it has
meant, gee Peg, I am so very confident
that we will be re- united by Xmas
1942 and then we will start all
over again as I say in my nightly
prayers ' you and I and our Kiddies
if we are so blessed.
Grated some coco-nut and mixed
cocoa with it for tea. Played solo
from 1600 until 1800, afternoon tea
at 1600, yeast parade at 1700 Cec and
two others were collecting wood
 141
NOTES
10.7.42    FRIDAY (CONTINUED)    145th DAY P.O.W
this afternoon.
Tea at 1800 consisted of rice meal (watery),
tea, one (1) biscuit and pie in tin, we
added grated coconut in cocoa, pepper,
soya sauce and dripping and had
quite a good tea
Played solo after tea until 2030 and
then by means of a broken down
hurricane lamp and a [[squirto?]] cream
lamp tried to play until 2100, but it
was a failure, the light falls very
quickly at night over here, one minute
it is light and literally the next is
dark.
Went for our nightly stroll, the place
is practically deserted came back to
our building and then to bed.
Nothing else to relate mine own. All
my prayers for you as usual, then
shut eye.
 

142
NOTES
11.7.42    SATURDAY    146th DAY P.O.W
Reveille 0800.
Showered and then breakfast at 0900 consisting
of burnt rice meal, pea meal, tea and one (1)
biscuit, we added grated coconut and dripping.
Cec did the grating this morning our beds
were the goods last night and we slept
like tops.
No work again this morning so boiled
all the soiled clothes (Cec's and mine) as
well as my two sheets. Mrs Harris over
the wash tub was not in it. Had a
shower and then dinner at 1330
consisting of rice, greens, gravy, tea and one (1) biscuit.
Added garlic, soya sauce, dripping and pepper
This morning the usual four (41 large
Jap flying boats were over and over
our camp again towing their white
sausages and once on their return
trip, one of the sausages was just
about blown to bits, they must have
been practicing up on the mainland
To the A.I.F cemetery this afternoon to
pick up three(3) butts on our trailer
for firewood our cemetary is in excellant
order, there are about fifty graves and
among them are three (3) 2/115th chaps,
I only knew two of them.
Arrived back with our load at
1615. had a cup of tea and then a
143
11.7.42    SATURDAY (CONTD)    146th DAY P.O.W
tong.
Played solo until 1800. Yeast parade at
1700 (yeast was not the best).
Tea 1800 (excellant) consisted of
rice meal, soup, two (2) fish cakes
and one (1) biscuit and tea we added
coconut, raisins, dripping and pepper
Played solo after tea until dusk, then
donned our long pants and shirts
and went for our nightly stroll.
It was the first time for ages since
I have worn long pants, really, since
I was last at Seminyeh.
Came back to our building and
then to bed.
Nothing else to relate mine own.
All my prayers for you as usual
then shut eye.
 

144
NOTES
12.7.42    SUNDAY    147th DAY P.O.W
Reveille 0800.
Shaved and showered, cleaned my boots,
made a hat band as there is a full church
parade this morning at 1015.
Breakfast 0930 consisted of rice meal (roasted)
pea meal, one (1) biscuit and tea, we
added grated coconut, pepper and
dripping.
At 1015. we fell in and after an inspection
by our OC attended the church parade
under the coconut palms until 1100.
During the service, planes were over
head.
Returned to building at 1115, made
two tier lamps, one out of wax and
another out of sqirto cream. Rained
like blazes before dinner 1330 which
consisted of rice, greens, fish sauce,
tea and one (1) biscuit, we added
pepper, chili sauce and dripping.
Full again after dinner and we
played solo. until tea at 1800.
Afternoon tea at 1600 and yeast
parade at 1700 (more like beer every
day.
Tea 1800 consisted of rice meal, soup, tea
and one and one half pasties (pastry, sugar
rice and coconut), we added grated coconut,
dripping, raisins and pepper.
145
NOTES
12.7.42   SUNDAY (CONTD)     147th DAY P.O.W
Went for a scrounging stroll after tea, Cec,
Bob Leslie and self, collected a shirt, two
(2) pairs of shorts, a pair of long pants, a
walking stick, a hurricane lamp glass
and some cricket gear.
Returned to building, had a tong (in the
dark), lit our lamps, they functioned
100%. and then to bed
Nothing else to relate mine own. All
my prayers for you as usual, then.
shut eye.
 

146

NOTES

13.7.42           MONDAY           148th DAY P.O.W

Reveille 0800

Showered and then breakfast at 0900

consisting of rice meal, pea meal, tea

and one (1) biscuit.

No office work this morning, Cec put some

clothes on the boil and was called

away on a special fatique, so I took

his place on the rice grinding squad.

Finished about 12 and then went

and scrounged a stand and a 

table for our two (2) boxes. Tonged 

and then dinner at 1330 consisting 

of burnt ghee rice, greens, fish sauce,

and tea (NB. no biscuit), added pepper,

soya sauce and garlic.

Did some tin crushing after dinner until

1500 then rain. Played solo from 1645 until

1800, afternoon tea at 1600, yeast parade at

1700.

Tea 1800 consisted of rice meal, one and

one half pasties, pineapple juice, one

(1) biscuit and tea, we added raisins,

dripping, pepper and grated coconut.

Went for a stroll at 2030 after playing solo

and got Robert Leslie a bed. Returned

to building at 2130. Nothing else

to relate mine own. All my

prayers or you as usual then

shut eye.
147

NOTES

14.7.42       TUESDAY         149th DAY P.O.W

Reveille 0800

Showered and then breakfast at 0900 consisting

of rice meal, pea meal, two (2) biscuits and

tea we added dripping, pepper and

grated coconut.

I was on ration fatique this morning

left our building at 1100 and returned

from supply depot at 1245, perspire, gee

I was like a wet rag. Had a shower and

then dinner at 1330 consisting of rice,

gravy, greens, one (1) biscuit, and tea we

added garlic, pepper and dripping. 

After dinner we went over to ordnance

to pick up a long pair of pants

for Cec and a pair of boots for

myself, before leaving the outhouse

at Divvy caught alight and did it

crackle. Came back  to our building

at 1600 had afternoon tea and played

solo until 1800, Yeast parade at

1700.

Tea 1800 consisted of rice meal, meat

pie, one (1) biscuit and tea we added

grated coconut, dripping, raisins

and pepper and soya sauce

Played solo after tea until 2030, went

for our usual stroll (now have to 

wear long pants and shirts (sleeves

turned down) Nothing else to relate

mine own, all my prayers for you

as usual, then shut eye.

148  NOTES

15.7.42            WEDNESDAY.                150th DAY P.O.W

Reveille 0800

Shaved and then showered, breakfast

at 0900 consisted of rice meal (burnt), pea

meal, tea and one (1) biscuit, we added

grated coconut, dripping and pepper.

I am playing cricket this afternoon for

our building against Divvy.

Picking greens this morning until 1200 than

back to our building, had a tong, rested

until dinner at 1330 which consisted of

rice, greens, fish gravy, tea and one (1)

biscuit and tea, we added dripping,

soya sauce and pepper also garlic.

Played cricket this afternoon, very

hot, we won by 40 runs, I made

5 N.O. Came back to our building

about 1730 thoroughly burnt (I have

become soft through being in the

office) had a shower and then

tea at 1800 consisting of rice meal,

pineapple juice, two fat cakes, yeast

and tea, we added grated coconut,

dripping, pepper and raisins

all told we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Played solo after tea until dusk and then

for our usual stroll, had a look at a

building we are supposed to be moving 

into 17.7.42. Nothing else to relate

mine own. All my prayers for you

as usual then shut eye.

149
NOTES

16.7.42           THURSDAY               151st DAY P.O.W

Reveille 0800.

Raining cats and dogs, showered and then

breakfast at 0900 consisting of rice meal,

pea meal, one (1) biscuit and tea we added

dripping, coconut and pepper.

On wood fatigue after breakfast, three

trailer loads and finished at 1200,

given a cup of tea and then went

down for a shower.

Dinner 1330 consisted of rice, greens,

gravy, one (1) biscuit and tea, we

added garlic, pepper soya sauce and

dripping.

Auditing in the afternoon with AG de L

until 1700 (yeast parade), afternoon

tea parade at 1600. Watched a solo

four until 1800 then tea consisting

of rice meal, pineapple juice, tea

and two (2) pineapple pasties, we

added raisins and grated coconut

and once again had a grand

tea. Cec this afternoon cooked some

rice meal with grated coconut, but

I was not too impressed with it.

Concert in our area tonight, it is

rumoured that we leave for Japan

on 22.7.42 (I wonder). Went for a

stroll after a good concert then to 

bed. Nothing else to relate mine own.

All my prayers for you as usual

then shut eye.