Notebook of Avon Reah Smith-Ryan, 1942-1945

Wed 20 May 42  We are still idle and its a good rest. Yesterday

I only asked the Coy to have morning roll call & daily cleaning

of house & grounds. Every body had a good [[?]] and they

certainly needed it. I was quite content to [[? ?]] about

and read or talk. Laddy again is the same but Im not

yet afraid that Satan will find work for their idle hands
 maybe in a day or two a spot of restlessness will creep

in. A few of our B Coy over from the Thompson [[?]] camp

came over and were pumped dry of news. It seems that

quite a smell surrounds the Kit Bag business and [[?]]

seems no doubt that our own men handling them did as

dirt. They tell us that wallets, watches, fountain pens and

such articles were actually enclosed. It is stated that as

the [[?range]] developed it was 'all in' and one comment was

that Chicago had [[?cashing]] in change at that stage. To effect

on the mortality of such hysteria and the amount of staff

that I personally have lost is sickening.

There is still no explanation of the present

situation, our secret 'overseers' here certainly departed a in

a hurry too and our present guards are guards only.

The conflict [[removed?]] of two boats etc makes it

hard to see how more [[second?]] work can be combined.

 

 

well attended. There are about 100 AIF officers at

present here & I think they all attended British

officers can go on invitation. The place is nicely

laid out & arranged of flowers. [[Jack?]] [[Counnard's?]]

orchestra play for us - they are all professional and the

guest artist & 'artistes' are well [[?]] and good.

Smokey Joe's (a band was officially [[?gnised]] and

managed by an officer from each of AIF, 18 Div

Southern Area & Dutch [[soldiers]] for the boys needs for

a command div. They too have music & artists

Smokey Joe's was originally a seal dive on the main

Changi Road - 18 Div run by a Dutchman with business

acumen. When. after H Force they all came to [[Solarang?]]

he had gone but the business was set up again in

the Square. Now as a big concern they have the RAAFF

blg. & fill a real need I like their soup @ 1200 hts.

Pay was in[[in?ed]] by about 33^1/3%for May. As from

1 Jan Red Cross are taking over Hospital [[rations?]] & thus

we got our raise. Capts. pay increased from $15 to $20

It makes a big difference.

Friday 18 Jan 43. Bev's birthday. Many happy returns Bev.

I wonder how life in the Bank goes these days. Plenty to

harrass I should imagine. possibly Bev has a branch by

now.

Sunday 27 Jan 43. There isnt much to vary the even tenor of

our ways, but as we have now 320 troops in our group

[[?e's]] enough to keep us jogging and time doesnt drag over

much. A good measure [[debating?]] at the club each Saturday,

an entertaining concert at A.I.F. or Palladina Theatre's

about weekly - a game of cards or chess and most messages are

 

what would we give for a constant supply of real quarantine

news.

over the past few days I have spent most of my

few remaining dollars on honey and marmalade. The honey

is some Australian with [[ca?]] in it & some Californian Sage

[[?]]. Both jolly good and the marmalade is [[honest to God?]]

Paisley and a dream. So my suppliers could hardly [[?]]

[[?]]. A fresh loaf of bread (too) toasted with butter & marmalade.

All three the best. - flour is [[beaut ? ?]] butter

[with?]] toast and the marmalade. It could only be bettered

by the company in which it is eaten. Thats not meant to

be [[made?]] to men [[?]] but I'll bet that we'd [[?]] [[?]]

enough my company for his fiance's

Thurs 21 May 42 An amazing thing last night at tea. Some of

the lads had a poultry stew. The main ingredient was a

couple of sparrows & those that who had some rated it a huge

success. They certainly were entitled to be at least a little [[?]]

in its [[?]] because they had shot them down with a shanghai -

no mean performance. Result today several shooting parties

are out.

The [[?Bol]] is [[?perturbed]]  and now, charging

out of our house which are this house over and so

 

it is thought that Malayan Comd. [[?]] and

as a result the party is indefinitely postponed.

Before the date [[?ed]] for H. Force, J force into

an [[?]] gas including 300 AIF (10 off [[?]])

& they left yesterday afternoon for [[overseas?]] It is

said that their destination is Japan.

I am gaining on the [[eye?]] merchant and am [[?]]

&a classification on perhaps Comd. ordered a [[?]]

to get more officers available for work. I mean

 work for me pull