Diary of Robert Russell Walker, 1941-1945 - Part 3
38
On the 8th we suffered our first systematic shelling
and it was not very pleasant they were falling in and around
us most of the day and we were glad when night fall came. Meals
now were becoming scarer because "B" Echelon was only allowed
to come in at night time. Fortunately we had no one wounded
at this time and it was just the day or at least the night before
that I get 30 reinforcements [[vx]] who had no experience at all and
they ran into a pretty hot time.
It was decided Coy Div or M.C. at this time
to build up the [[...]] Coy to four Pls so these men found
the nucleus of 15A with N.C.O.'s taken from the Coy and Sgt
Coleman was put in command which command be maintained
to the P.O.W camp.
Another day Capt Fox was called away on an unfiring
[[...]] which he wasn't very pleased about and fortunately it did not come off.
The 9th was another day of shelling very very heavy on our fwd Coys causing
alot of casualties, all casualties were successfully evacuated . In the late
afternoon firing ceased and about 2000 hors Nips landed orders to hold on
until oil tanks went up approx 0430 - 10th. Withdrew to B PANJANG
left there 0930 - 11th went to G.B.D. Saw Chas went to TYERSAL PALACE
to FARRAR ROAD stayed there till capitulation.
39
On the morning of the 12th Feb we awoke still
very tired & weary, no sooner had I awakened than Capt F arrived
ad told us the Bn were now at Tyersal Palace near Tanglin
Barracks and that he had arranged for transport to take themselves
and some of the 'A' Coy who were now at G.B.D. areas to join
the Bn where we were to have a 24 hr rest. It was no time
before our transport arrived so I sent Capt Fox away with the Coy
whilst I went to G.B.D. to tell Lt Col Jeater we were leaving and to
thank him for his treatment. I was travelling in a nice big
Humber and that was my last ride in a car.
By the time we had found the Bn, after we
were stopped by an air raid. I found the Bn had more or less
dispersed in the Tyersal Palace gardens and already had begun
to dig themselves in amongst the beautiful flower when I arrived
so I had a good feed and made a recce for a bath and found
one in a house only a few yds away so I shaved & bathed
and though very tired, i felt much better.
I was called to Bn later on with the other
Coy Cmds to discuss our situation & ration question the latter
being underway and even then some trucks laden had arrived
and it looked as though we would have heaps of food for the
next few meals anyhow. Whilst we were having our confab there
was a number of enemy swipes abut and billets were whizzing
arrived so we took shelter for a time. Some Englishmen came
on the scene with cocked Tommy Guns looking for the snipers
and we also had some patrols out nit they could not locate
them.
After conference I went back down to Coy
and had a short rest and in the meantime Capt Fox had arranged
to get the rations down and also we managed to get a few
40
clothes from some dumped Indian Officer's gear and these were very
handy indeed, About 1200hr I was called to Bn to another confer
and it was here we learnt our rest was at an end and we
were to move up to the front line almost immediately and
fill in a gap between BUKIT TIMAH Rd on the right and the 22 Bde group
on our left time to start was set at 1235 so we had to bustle
the men were given as many rations as possible to carry and
the rations we couldn't carry we had to leave behind.
My Coy was the advanced guard for the move
and we were to protect 'D' Coy into thier position which was
on the right of our position so I arranged with two Pls to
go to their position which was a bill feature on our right
and when 'D' had got into position to come back over to us.
We moved away on time and advanced across country in open
formation we were very wary because we did not know anything
of the enemy and the country was totally new to all.
However we did not strike and trouble on the way and the first
sight of our position surprised us it was a hill feature and was
dotted with lots of expensive & massive new home and we thought
"Well this will do us".
- We moved forward and I spaced the Pls out
as best I could under the circumstances, dive bombers were thick
and we were under their observation whenever they wished to
look. Whilst I placed the {Pls} Capt Fox chose a very
suitable spot for Coy HQs it was in the servants quarters
of a new home and was protected by the house on the bill
above and was admirably protected.
Of course it was no time before the boys
did their bit of settling in and scrounging parties were sent
out or went out amongst the houses, they were not looting
valuables, as strict orders had been issued about this, but merely
- meeting of 2/4 MG officers
[* Trip to Bn with runners who lost us *]
41
on a scrounge for food and they could never have come to
a better place the houses were well stocked with food and in
most they looked as though the owners had just packed a few
personal belongings and fled. Refrigeraters were even still
running and laden with food & drinks, cupboards were full
of wines & all the necessary cooking groceries etc and we
felt now very secure about our food, previous to this we had
been warned that food may be hard to get through and we
were to conserve it as much as possible.
Capt Fox and I noticed a car at one house so
we went across and found the owner who had just returned
from town with a servant and he insisted on us having a
cup of tea which we did and we also had a very interesting
conversation. He gave me half a box of beautiful cigars and these
I sent down to Capt Tracey. He also took cables from us to send home.
We could not stay long and at this time
Capt Ferg of "D" Coy came across to check up on positions and
then I finalised the occupation of our position 13 Pl on the right
then 14 & 15 Pl on the front & left respectfully. The frontage
was more or less a half circle. I posted snipers in the top
floors of some houses which served well as observation posts
as well.
We then went back to Coy HQs where I
had a look at the house we were using and found it full
of gear clothing, food an electric stove, refrigerator and even
an electric razor, phone was on and we also found a hot bath
which we very soon took advantage of. The boys
meanwhile but prepared some food & tea and we had a fist
class hot meal.
One house was found to have 300 cases of
Champagne & wines and with this and the beer also we had to
42
issue very strict orders re drinking. Fortunately I only had one case
of drunkeness and he was hard to handle but we kept him under
observation and dealt with him in the morning. I then decided to
order the breaking of all bottled liquor.
Late in the afternoon the remaining Pls arrived
and they were soon in position and now I had 15A in reserve. One
in and when opportunities arose the men dug in as mush as possible
for we did not know when the enemy would shell or attack us, but
nothing happened this first day only the rounds of heavy fighting
well over to our right & left flanks.
(13 Feb 42) Next day dawned and no sooner was
the dive bombers were over and they totally disregarded our AA fire which no doubt was poor , and the planes just idled round and
round flying at only 2-300'feet up and many times we saw sticks
of bombs dropped but non in our area fortunately.
We were now disposed as a Bn with D right
front "C" left front with the Gordons on our left, part of "A"
filling a gap between D Coy & Farrar Rd with 'B' in reserve
and HQ Coy and B HQ's in the rear. Bn HQs later moved forward
to a position just in rear of Farrar Rd and about 6-700 x behind
the fwd Coys.
Most of this day was spent in checking up
and seeing where everyone was. There was an odd Pl of
Gordon's in my area during a Mortar blitz a bomb landed
in a slit trench killing the Pl Cmdr & Pl Sgt. We now
had a few stray men with us too. [[//??]] from the 2/29, some
from each the 2/30 Sherwood Foresters, Gordons & Manchesters I
kept them because I was a few even short and they did
not appear to want to leave us.
At a confence in the afternoon the CO.
explained the position to us and it appeared the A.I.F. wee making
43
a perimeter stand in this area and there we were to stay, should the
enemy attack we would fight, if thy went around our flanks we
were not to worry about then as that was someone else's job.
Things here were fairly quiet we had some
difficulties in getting rations through, one ration party sent down
after dark to the R.V. was fired on by the Gordons so they came
back empty handed but still we had plenty of food and we
were not in the least worried. Usually about four in the evenings
the enemy would start a blitz on certain areas and at times
there were quite good Arty deals. It was during on of these
period "D" Coy were being shelled by our own Arty, so they
sent an urgent message over to get in touch with Bn but we
thought of the phone in the house and by use of this we got
in touch with Div (we had no intercom with Bn other than runners)
and they managed to have it stopped, but unfortunately it
occurred two or three more times and resulted in Lt McGarry
being seriously wounded and also some of the men.
The nights were fairly quiet now but
the snipers seemed to be busy but actually we had very little to worry us and we managed to sleep well and eat and
catch up a bit on general tiredness.
On the 14th we began the day again
being welcomed by our own dive bonbers. In the morning B HQ
with the CO came around to have a look and was
very impressed by our HQ's and the morning tea which
was served up by the boys he went around the area and
also had managed to scrounge in the house. Whilst
he was here the 'D' Coy area was being shelled again and
we had to ring through again without avail as they said
at DIV "It must be enemy fire".
44
About 1900 hrs we had a message from "D"
Coy they were being shelled again and Capt Ferg had been
wounded so as he was the only officer I sent Capt Fox across
to take command and his stay is also included in this history.
Also this afternoon we began to get alot of reinforcement sent
up
including Major Glasgow. Capt Richard another Lieut Gray and about
80 OR's from the A.A.S.C. these men were very welcome and
my final strength was 245 (normal 124) and also in the area
I had a Sec of M.G's and a sec of mortars so we felt very
secure. I spread the new out amongst the Pls and
we managed to get them all in except of course the Offs
who were spare parts of having had any previous Inf experience
of course the OR's were new to this work too but mingled with
the other men they would present a formidable force.
During this day snipers had been busy
and we had one man killed Pte Kenniburgh he was killed
in his trench shot in the back. We constantly had patrols
out but we could never find the enemy in any spot he
must have moved around all the time.
- [1] The 18th Feb opened up the same only
this appeared to be alot more activity on our extreme flanks,
At night we had noticed some huge fires start and at time
when they flared up it was like daylight. We were now
getting rations through alright but unfortunately the power had
been cut off the house the day of 14th and we now had to work
with small kerosine stoves but they were IK and did a
good job. Sgt Baskett cooked or fired some scones & they
were delicious covered in butter.
About 1430 hrs I received word to
report to Bn for orders and it was at this conference we first
learnt of the proposed Armistice and it was to be at 1500 hrs
[*Trip to Bn with runner who lost us*]
- Bn conference & getting lost on the way down
45
that afternoon but it did not come through until much later. We
were told the code word would be "FINISH" with very crest fallen
faces we returned to our Coys to await the order and to pass on
the information to Pl Cmdrs but not yet to the troops,. I passed
it on to the Officers and gave then all the information I had.
During the late afternoon alot of firing stopped
but just before dark the enemy sent over a terrific barrage and
this resulted in some men being killed & wounded but potentially
my men mussed out again.
At approx 1445 hrs this afternoon whilst I
was at the conference the Coy was visited by the G.O.C.
Maj Gen G Bennett and Lieut White (now 2 i/c) showed him
around and the boys again served up a very nice afternoon
tea for him and he went away very pleased.
At 2000 hrs that night we were all anxiously
awaiting the news most of the firing had stopped and during
the afternoon "D" Coy had noticed nos of enemy converging but
they did not fire as we were ordered not to fire unless attacked/
The oys were trying to guess now and after dark we heard
sound of cheering from the enemy's lines and then at last
official word came through of the Armistice we were ordered
to "cease fire" and I was to proceed to Bn HQs for further
orders and particulars of procedure for the next day.
I went down to B HQs and we had to
wait sometime before all the Coy Cmds arrived but they
did arrive and in a dugout where we were away from
outsiders we heard our orders. We were to go back pass on
information to the troops and these orders were very strict
especially discipline towards the enemy and also we would R.V.
at a point near Farrar Rd.
We moved back and I called the Officers
46
into the house, it was now very late and I passed on the
information to them all and they took it all very well and
I believe the med did too.
We had to be up bright & early next morning
and as it was already 0300 hrs on the 16th I had no trouble
in getting to sleep. We did get up early and I assembled the Coy
as previously arranged unloaded rifles and gave out the breakfast
rations then marched down to the assembly. Here we dumped
our Ammo in a dump which was at this time large with
all types of ammo then we dumped our arms and it was
impressive to see the arms of a Bn in one dump.
Whilst we were waiting in this area the CQ
came along and he bailed and we had some breakfast. The
men were cheery though downhearted but no on gave the slightest
trouble probably due to the strict orders & warnings they had
been given.
The Japanese officers soon arrived and we
were sorted out told what gear we could keep and when we
were told we were very sorry we had not brought more with us
from the houses, we had been under the impressions we would
be searched but we weren't and we left many useful things
behind.
The enemy were very good giving the boys
cigarettes and not ill treating anyone at all. One Jap offr saw
a native coming into the area, he called out but the native
did no hear so he drew his pistol, which was a beautiful
:luger" and too aim, fortunately the native saw him in
time and went for his life.
When we were sorted out we were to move
to the road and form up/ I was leading the Coy our when just
near the road an interpreter grabbed and demanded I take him to
47
Div HQs to contact the man (Brig Taylor) who was previously
talking to him in this area. I had no idea where to go, but
they grabbed my "tin" bat put me into a car and after much
chasing about I was able to find it and I was very relieved
when I did. I led them up several blind Alleys but they did
not seem to mind. They gave me cigs & biscuits and even a
drink of water and treated me well. Once when asking some offrs for directions a drunken came and made a nuisance of
himself and I was afraid he would cause some trouble but
fortunately he didn't. They returned me when I located the
Div Cmdr Brig Gallagan and I rejoined the unit now
marching to Raffles Village area.
Just as we were nearing our destination I
saw a car with Capt White in it and he later sent in some
bags which had some smokes & clothes in and he later
joined us. On the march we ran several tanks "Whippet" less
also lots of Indians etc, who had joined the enemy also noticed
alot of damage done during the fighting.
We were marched on to a Padang and were
herded very close together. It was very hot we had no cover and
they boys were soon busy trying to erect small shelters. We
managed to bail up too we still had some rations and the tea
and eats were very welcome. We saw many enemy troops here
also their trucks and big tanks travelling down the road.
The guards were very few and they boys were soon fraternising
with them and even pulling rifles to pieces. The Jap soldiers
carried huge loads and very little could have been carried
on transports as they appeared to be more or less self contained.
We had a little trouble with looting but this was mainly due
to some Indians and Pommies in the area, we soon had our
men under control and we experienced nothing serious
48
That night we moved into a perimeter and slept
in contentment in the open. Capt Fox was still with "D" Coy and
I made successful endeavours to get him back. In this area
men were continually returning from the "Con" depot and some
POW's Cpl Mulvena & Pte _-- were also returned to the Unit
and told very interesting stories of the enemy; they had been treated
very well and could bot say anything against them.
We remained in this area until the move out
to our P.O.W camp at 1630 hrs on the 17th. The first intonation
of where we were going we received at at 1430 hrs and it
appeared ironical to us we should be returning to an area
to our original training area and our barracks were to
Gordon Highlanders whom we had previously visited whilst we
were stationed at Changi.
One incident which intrigued the men was
the fact that one lot of Jap marched into an area took off
the gear and after a short rest indulged in some strenuous P.T.
March to Changi.
49
LEFT BLANK
(50 Not marked)
------ A POW's DAY ----------
No doubt we were bunnies'
To swallow all their talk
Of Yankees at Fort Dickson
And Pommy Air Support
They marched us out to change
Ten Thousand men and more
The fallen by the roadside
Made us yearn for no more war
We're planting beans by no's
We're sloping arms no more
We're through with bloody fighting
For Tojo topped the score
We live in shell torn barracks
Minus water roof and tile
The N.C.O's & pippers
Eat with the rank and file
Our clothes are very scanty
Our trousers ripped and torn
We're bloody near as naked
As the day that we were born
Our Charboys have been taken
We sleep on then no more
There's nothing left for us to do
But doss down on the floor
We rise at seven thirty
And creep down to the tongs
We think of old Rexona
And hope it wont be long
We fall in on the A parade
And answer to our name
Then "Stand at Ease" - "Stand Easy"
And the C.O. shouts again
Tales of Japanese violence
Tales of Change Goal
A long trek through the Jungle
And God help those who fail.
Then next we have our breakfast
Our appetite to sate
On single file we get it
Serve rice upon our plate
Next we are duty Coy
Work to make us hard
Collecting meagre rations
Or sweeping up the yard
Our afternoon siesta
Is spent in many ways
With dreams of steak & onions
We knew in better days
We're wakened from our slumber
By a voice that loud and harsh
Come grab your dirty washing
And to the Tongs will march.
[[51 not marked]]
With the shades of evening falling
There are visits we must pay
To Dave & Bill and Harry
Who live across the way
There are pals from other Units
And mates will never see
Then we think of dear old Aussie
And our home Across the sea
The gool old two-ups going
We brought it to this land
We haven't got much money
But I guess we'll take a hand
There go the pennies sailing
We hear the loser holler
Bad luck is dead against us
and we've lost our only dollar
Lights out will soon be sounded
And though we are all broke
We know that one amongst us
Will have to bite smoke.
So homeward to our billets
We wend our weary way
to lie upon the concrete
So ends a prisoners day
_________________________
ADAM PARK P.O.W. CAMP
We used to belong to old Aussie
We joined the Australian Corps
And now we belong to old Tojo
Bloody well Prisoners of War
We're building a road round the Golf Links
With progress remarkably slow
It's no bloody good on the surface
And a bloody sight worse down below
We go out to work with the Chungkiels
And if I'm any sort of a judge
We do bugger all in the morning
And the rest of the day is a bludge
They feed us on rice for our breakfast
We gobble it down with great glee
They feed us on rice for our dinner
Then yeast and more rice for out tea.
Now Tojo he tries to explain things
He grunts, he stutters, he swears
But nobody bloody well cares.
Then Tojo he gets very angry
And knocks off a bit of you hide
But we'll pay him back in the finish
And a little more besides
For One day the Yanks will relieve us
arriving in all sorts of craft
In a ricksha I'll ride round our roadway
With a bloody young Jap in the shafts
_____________________
52 (Not marked)
Left blank
1
INCIDENTS - 1944-5
JAN 1 Very nice breakfast 3 3gg & cheese Omelet, Kidney & gravy, sweet porridge.
3 Trouble with B/Marketing. Nips fire shot. Deputation by men, very high feelings in camp. Injections of TAB & Dys.
6 No rush or excitement, Game "SHIT & SHANKERS" played by the men. Food fair, plenty of eggs
7 Creek quickly drying up. No news,.
8 "Craven A" returns very little news if move, no letter from Stan, No pay Offr coming about 15 - 18th
10 [xxxxxxxxxxx ]Deaths eased off considerably.
11 Very large convoys and train loads of vegs going to N the last week or two
13 Word of [[Tam Basiat]] being bombed. "I Bring" calls for pass. Food ration getting poorer (Veg's).
15 Paymaster arrived Pay mostly in THAI. Pay $50. Bombs in distance at night? Started Marlaria
18 Nothing of any interest still waiting for Nip Offr to arrive to arrange our departure.
21 Small pox in Araquin. Nothing to buy in village. Wells getting very low. HAD VACCINATION. No one at 55 Kilo.
28 Word of move being cancelled maybe till 4 - 5 FEB.
29 Move on again killed all the Yaks.
30 Wait for train did not come. Got wet men in open.
31 Arrangements made for another train and everything O.K. Maj Barker & I in with Nips
Good trip down only one death, loaded train in 10 minutes. Swims on the way. "Pirate" cigs.
Wonderful to see old friends again. Stan O.K. and everyone will but a fair bit of
Cardiac B/B. Had 10 eggs first two meals, tomatoes, sugar everything that is good is here.
FEB 2 Arrived on 2 FEB, Good camp, Electric light and comfortable huts
4 Good Canteen. Went for swim. Settled down O.K. Saw first A.A. fire.
8 Life very easy eating, plenty of eggs & milk etc. Rumours of movement unfortunately. Patients
Doing very well.
10 Still no job, Camp life very easy. Go for swims & eat chief occupations, Prices going up!
14 Trip to Kanburi with buying party. Old walled town, long street. 25% Sales tax.
Weighed myself 11st 11lbs heaviest since becoming a P.O.W. "SNAK BAR" in camp.
16 Another air Raid. Weather terrifically hot & trying. Boongs who spoke to Ben Barnett "Won't
be long now". Rations very feeble, water & wood scarce, Received JAN pay $35
2
FEB 18 Things very quiet. Doing some reading in the Wards. Lots of wild rumours. No weather
20 Digging slit trenches. Stan saw Athol White. Swimming each day. Thai girls
in the river men undressing and then diving in & around them.
Stan birthday cake for his wife.
22 No word or anything happening.
23 Maj Hunt's Birthday Party, Soup, Fish, Chicken & boiled vegs gravy etc. Fruit Salad. Brew, Coffee, Cake.
26 Dust storm, Stan & Robin bring back plenty for Canteen. Men all moved out of tents
huts now very crowded Rice polishings pooh! Received pay for Feb $35
27 Part time policeman etc now odd jobs not much good.
28 Things very quiet XXXXXXX Yesterday's swimming carnival very good, won an egg.
Demonstration by men at public thrashing of Dutton.
29 Meeting of 2/26 Boys apology to Col Huston.
MAR 1 Performed in concert with Robin (MAR 3) Started Malaria treatment. Visiting Nip police.
8 Kogowa returnes from Changi. Stan beaten up, worrying too. Changed $30 into Malayan.
Planes two nights in succession.
10 3 nights of planes, No excitement. Needle for Cholera ½cc + Malaria test. Dutch offrs funeral.
13 Search by Nips for Quinine. Stan & I had a chicken for evening meal. $3
18 Told I will be going on 2nd train with Stan. Very little happening Bev's Birthday! (6)
21 Things very quiet cleaning up camp for General. Two check paraded per day.
23 Signed pay sheets. General who did not come.
24 Received pay for March #=$35. (26) Had lower back tooth filled. Terribly hot days.
30 Nothing new or of interest very quiet month still no news of when we are to move.
31 Memorial service for all troops who died on line etc. Appear to be daylight raids. Jap girls in camp.
APRIL 1 Bought blade razor for $8. Mock Trial.
2 Heavy rainstorm. (3) Big concert. Good show. (4) First hints of a possible move.
5 Bought a "PARKER" pen for $20. Weather becoming stormy.
6 No more news of move. Last consignment of canteen goods arrive. It was a huge order
including about 13,000 eggs. Men are all keyed up for the move. We will say in Changi
"wish I was back in Kanburi" Still getting heavy storms every afternoon. Day raiders went over.
7 Glass Rod for Camp. Trouble over forged $20 Bills. Helped Norm White count eggs.
8 Gave all our patients eggs for trip. Blitz on Black Marketers.
10 Still waiting for a train. Plenty of our planes about. Pamphlets?
3
APRIL 13 Still waiting for word to move. Canteen closed & opened again. Eggs all eaten. Everything quiet.
Lt's birthday. Padre caught with letters going our of camp. Rumours of move was 19 - 20
14 Padre & Wolfe punished by two day confinement. Dope! with dud $20 bill.
18 Still waiting for word to move. Entertainments. Davis East, piano etc. Rain storms.
21 Long wait for news of move. Rumours of pay for April here. Food very poor
22 News for move to start tomorrow. Two trains. Pay for men. None for Offrs.
23 First train gets away O.K. no trouble. We leave tomorrow.
24 Kanburi in afternoon about 1620 had a long trip down 6 days and five nights.
Boys traded safety pins for fruit. Changins Thai money for Malayan 3 for 1.
Very good trip but cramped 27 to a truck. Very little sleep or comfort. Nips good.
31 Trucks to Changi. Food ques in Singapore. Things very tough in Malaya
inflation and scarcity of food. Our rice issue now 9 ozs per day. Big
Hospital in Changi Square. Stan went into Hospital for an operation.
We are now isolated for awhile. We are to move into the goal shortly.
Building huge aerodrome in Changi area. All buildings & houses to
be wrecked for rubble for drome. $500 duty on all trucks crossing
causeway to Singapore. Black market rice $2000 bag. Received letters
from Lil Dad & Mum still none from Fraser, Cooking very good here
and quiet a comfortable little mess but unfortunately going to the
gaol will spoil it all. Chess tournament with a duck for a prize.
All are officers fairly well. Officers will be segregated from men at gaol.
Practically no weather. Some more mail in so I may get some were mail.
MAY 2 Busy taking over & organising "Dawn Country Party" OC of Unit 246 men at present.
Went to a good show last night with Chas "Suspect". Now living in with Chas
9 Went to A.I.F. Theatre to see "I'll Take You" an original production. Stan's
operation over and a success. Quite alot of letters arriving. Goal move still
on and organisation for move progressing. Dozens of tractors of material going over
every day, 4,000 inside 5000 outside. Offrs to be segregated.
10 Kanburi party sent back to Units. Now back officially with unit.
4
11 Went to musical Show in English Offrs lines. 18 Bags of Aust. Mail. Sent card home
13 Farewell mess party Lt Cols Leggett & Kappe present. Very good meal. Gypsy Serenaders
15 Began sorting of Aust mail. Lots of wild stories about. Putting green popular.
18 First deliveries of new mail coming in. Putting competition.
20 Did trailer job to goal and back, look at our future quarters.
22 Receiving some letters. Everything O.K. Move getting close. Rainy days.
23 Did trailer job to goal. Hitched onto truck on way home Col Oakes over for dinner.
25 Moved into goal area. Had first look inside goal - no good. Living in Ohobie lines.
3 of us in little room Mosquitoes bed.
26 Cleaned out part of our rooms. Had a good look over goal not so good!
Very little to do. Missed out on mail again today. Maybe tomorrow.
27 Finished cleaning out our rooms. Received MAY PAY $30.
28 Moved into permanent quarters. Lt Col Leggett moves in. Now in room
with Bert until Chas & Stan come over. Stan back in Hospital.
30 More of our men marched in today. Rest coming tomorrow. Had scrounged chicken!
JUNE 3 All men except men in Hosp in the goal area. Ron, Ray, Bert Chas & self in flat.
5 Received a group of wireless message dated 1.6.44. Things quiet. Not much work. KRAFT CHEESE Supper
7 Things very quiet. Heard of Stan today still sick. Weight 11st 4 lbs.
10 Rest of Changi moving across by the 15th. Replied to wireless message.
11 Rations very fishy & monotonous. Meat tomorrow. very little doings.
13 Fergy out of Hospital. Went to Orchestral concert inside gaol.
15 Went A.I.F. "Roadshow" very good. Troops move across to permanent area.
Stan called in looking rather thin but O.K. Spent night as D/Offr in Gaol.
16 Finished work on our front garden. Started to learn Malay again.
19 Stan out of Hosp living with Fergy & Rupert, Went to orchestral in gaol.
25 Nothing doing just routing camp life. Rice balls starting again?
26 Practise for I.J.A. Generals inspection tomorrow. Indian shot himself.
27 Very hot. Inspection by I.J.A. General. Holiday for all except drome workers.
28 Arrival of POW's form Sumatra 50 wounded in Hosp. 2 died. Torpedoed on way over.
30 Received pay for June $30, Very little to buy. Monkey running down road.
JULY 2 Guard who made pair of shorts whilst on duty for one of our boys.
Chas experience at to G\House. We do not appreciate protection from outside.
5
4 Mail arrives 28 bags of Aust rest Br. etc. Balls still sore & also have loss of appetite.
6 Duty offr for GP last night. Quiet. Check parades start tonight. First mail delivered of new lot.
9 Still haven't received any mail from the new lot. Went to Orchestral concert
in Gaol. Very much off colour the last week. Still no appetite.
10 Received first letter in new mail from Dad & Mum. Saw Dr, stomach very upset.
Played chess match with another unit.
11 Received 3 more letters from Lil, Dad & Mum.
13 Went to an Offrs concert last night. Good Show. No mail yesterday
14 Still no mail today. Stomach slightly better, balls still sore.
16 Went to band recital in gaol. Very hot days no rain. Still no letters but few for others.
19 Very quiet day. Ray went to Hosp with diarr. Balls still sore. Food very poor in Vit value
21 Change in Camp Command. More mail in!
23 A quiet Sunday. Balls feel slightly better today. No startling changes yet.
24 Went to see Maj Clarke re crutch new on on Marmite & Grass stew. Check pde tonight.
25 Bert Sabin came into our room now in Hosp with Ulc in eye. Balls slowly improving
27 Went to "Road Show" last night. Wet weather. Balls improving.
28 Received pay for July $30. New organisation. Looks as if I am out of a job again.
30 Haven't received any mail from last lor yet. Things are very quiet.
31 Find for Kranji men started. Balls & Tinea improving daily.
AUGUST 1 Will be changing over with Ferg tomorrow or next day. New organisation!!
3 Moved down to new room now with Stan, Bert, Rupert, Brown. Still on hot side!
Crutch still improving.
4 Went to recorded ballet music. Settled down in new home O.K!
5 Received 6 letters from Dad, Mum & Flo all from Java over 2 yrs old.
6 Weighed myself 11st 1lb. Cream from coconuts.
8 Rupert comes into roam on verandah. Went to orchestral show last night.
9 Received 25 word message from Lil. Sent a 25 word message home.
10 Went to "Road Show" average only. Water troubles off for 2 or 3 days. Smokes scarce!
12 " " Classic Music last night
15 Went to Band concert last night. 3½ tons tobacco leaf in camp. CampAnniv Cmdr's weekly letter.
skulls for souvenirs, bones for pen holders.
16 Went to Aust V Eng cricket match. Score Aus 98 Eng 70. Went to Quiz - Rain
Had Dysentery needle
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