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 loaf and they

certainly needed it. I was quite content to sit or lie about

and read or talk. Today again is the same but I'm not

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

in.  A few of our 'B' Coy men from the THOMPSON ROAD Camp

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

quite a smell surrounds the Kit Bag business and there

seems no doubt that our own men handling them did us

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

such articles were actually auctioned. It is stated that as

the scrounge developed it was 'all in' and one comment was

that Chicago had nothing on Changi at that stage. To reflect

on the mentality of such hysteria and the amount of stuff

that I personally have lost is sickening.

There is still no explanation of the present

situation, our recent 'overseers' here certainly departed & in

a hurry too and our present guards are guards only.

The complete removal of tools, boats vehicles etc makes it

hard to see how our recent work can be cotinued.

well attended. There are about 100 AIF officers @

present here & I think they all attended. British

Officers can go on invitation. The place is nicely

laid out & arranged w/- flowers. Jack Greenwood's

orchestra play for us - they are all professional and the

guest artists & 'artistes' are well known and good.

Smokey Joe's Cabaret was officially recognised and

managed by an officer from each of AIF, 18 Div

Southern Area & Dutch caters for the boy's needs for

a communal dive. - They too have music & artists

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

Changi Road - 18 Div run by a Dutchman with business

acumen. When, after 'H' Force they all came to Selarang

he had gone but the business was set up again on

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

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

Pay was increased by about 33 1/3% for May. As from

1 Jan Red Cross are taking over Hospital extras & thus

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

It makes a big difference.

Friday 18 Jun 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 Jun 43. There isnt much to vary the even tenor of

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

there's enough to keep us jogging and time doesnt drag over

much. A good musical evening at the club each Saturday,

an entertaining concert at A.I.F. or Palladium Theatres

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

what would we give for a constant supply of real guaranteed

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 comb in it & some Californian Sage

honey. Both jolly good and the marmalade is honest to God

Paisley and a dream. So my suppers could hardly improved

on. A fresh loaf of bread (10c) toasted with butter & marmalade.

All three the best. - flour is Great Southern Mills, butter

North Coast and the marmalade. It could only be bettered

by the company in which it is eaten. That's not meant to

be rude to Don Lee but I'll bet that right now he'd

swop my company for his fiancee's.

Thurs 21 May 42 An amusing 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 biassed

in its favour because they had shot them down with a shanghai :-

no mean performance. Result - today several shooting parties

are out.

The Colonel is perturbed over men straying

out of our houses which are this house area and no

it is thought that Malayan Comd. protested and

as a result the party is indefinitely postponed.

Before the date fixed for 'H' Force, 'J' force was

announced 900 including 300 AIF (10 off & 290 O/Rs)

& they left yesterday afternoon for overseas. It is

said that their destination is Japan.

I am gaining on the eye merchant and am now a

3a Classification - or perhaps Comd. ordered a relaxation

to get more officers available for work. I mean work 

for me now pull wood trailers, cut & cultivate in the

I.J.A Garden as well as do our own Cook house &

hygiene chores.

Sunday 23 May 42 Many happy returns of today to Mina.

I have moved again.  Last Monday I was ordered to

'C' Gp. as no M.G. Officer was there. 'C' Gp contains all

the remnants of 22 & 27 Bdes and 2/4 MG personnel with

a strength of approx 200. They are mainly unfit but

nevertheless provide I.JA Garden working Parties & odd

jobs as well as domestic maintenance & Unit duties.

I have just come off guard on the 'Wood' Gate @ the Malay

School - a Captain's Guard of 1. Capt 1. Cpl & 4 O/Rs -

rather rich.  The Unit Mess occupies the exact position

of our old MG Mess on the Barrack Square but there is

now plenty of room & furniture and we have the light

extended from the Con. Depot Blg next door. I am 

very comfortable.

Monday 7 Jun 43⁠ Life moves along very smoothly and

there is hardly an item worthy of mention. An officers'

Club has been organised at 'A' Gp Mess Blg. We have

had a couple of pleasant musical nights which were

doubt he has some cause for concern. He puts the

onus entirely on the officers. We are doing and will do

our best to keep them steady but as they grow

restless straying will creep in again. It comes hard

on them too, to find that the new camp and the English

camp do not seem to be suffering the same restrictions

to the same extent as our own camp.

Terrific rumours abound these days but

naturally nothing can be substantiated and we can

only bite our fingernails and wait which is the hardest

part of all.

Thursday Friday 22 May 42 As a P.O.W Camp this must be hard

to beat. Our surroundings are really delightful and its

easy to picture the pleasant life led by the occupants of

these houses under the conditions prevailing when Singapore 

was a bright jewel in our crown. They are Departmental

Houses and well built. Take the one I'm occupying at

present for instance - well built and very modern in appearance,

louvre windows which open a room almost entirely, electric fittings

complete electric fan, two bathrooms ^& internal lavatory. The boong quarters

are detached, four rooms in all containing kitchens etc and

2 more boong type latrines. The gardens, now a little

600 AIF 1200 British & 1200 Dutch. Lt Col Humphreys

R.A. is Force Comd. - Lt Col. Oakes is CO. of AIF. party &

also 2 I/c Force. He asked me to go away with him &

I was keen to go but rec'd a firm set back by the

Eye doctor. I've slipped down the scale again, and am

IIIB which is bottom of the scale. The one or two

friends I've made here are going away. Capt Gordon

Butler as Adj, Maj. Arthur Davis & his brother Capt

Owen Davis, Capt. Dick Pockley & Major Bert Saggers

is going as 2 I/c. It seems that this place is to be 

cleared right out & only Hosp. etc left on Singapore.

Saturday 8 May 43 The A.I.F. portion of 'H' Force left last

night & the usual rearrangement following on the 

departure of these parties has taken place. I was not

affected excepting that I've taken up a better position in the

room. Our messing is rearranged. All officers in 'A' Gp

except Lt Col Jeateretas H.Q. mess @ House 160. The mess is

100 strong. Major Wright (Split Pin) is mess President

Last night AIF called for names of Officers who wished

to go away with the next party, if there is one. It hinted

at an officers party but the whole thing is too nebulous

to make a decision. I'm trying to find out more about

it from DAAG Major Head.

Sunday 16 May 43. Things developed. DAAG could not

add any more inf. but 'H' Force to be 68 AIF. officers

& some British were warned & packed up to move north.

At the last minute it was postponed. The reason for their

move was suspected to be an officers working party and

unkempt are very pleasing with lawns and a variety of pretty

shrubs. Garden growth is very prolific as may be imagined.

There are no fences and house grounds are separated by

hibiscus hedges. The area is 'town planned' and the narrow

hedged roads wind round in a most confusing way but it

is soon that you get your bearings and its all very

pleasant. Changi was the same - the houses occupied by

married officers were all much bigger than these - but the

military atmosphere was ever present with the big barracks

dominating the scenery. Here every house has its own lawn

tennis court. From my balcony here I look past my court

across the valley all very green up the slope covered with a

mongrel type of rubber to the atab huts occupied by the

English Coastal Arty people. One of the English officers whose

battery was on Ubin Island told me that after spending 13yrs

lecturing on care of instruments he finally had to destroy

his with a 7 lb hammer. The blowing of their big guns

must have been quite a trial for them too. No more perhaps

than for us to hand over our Vickers. Also I recall being
a bit sorry to hand over my .45 when grunted at by a

little fellow with a bayonet and an unfriendly look.

But I was discussing the houses & grounds and 

rec'd from I.J.A. while officers of Field rank are getting

an increase. The Comd HQ have no doubt quite a job

in running the Camp Finances & I trust they are not

making any mistakes.

Wed 21 Apr 43. Another force is at present moving North by

train. 'F' Force. It is 7000 strong made up of 3700 British &

Java Troops & 3300 Australians. Our party comprises 27 Bde &

remnants of L of C. & Arty Units. Lt Col Cappy is in comd AIF

party. Rumour is divided between Thailand and F.I.C. &

as usual nothing concrete is known. In addition last

night a warning order for 'G' Force was issued - to leave

after 'F' Force is cleaned up. 'G' will have 200 AIF, &, we're

told 2000 from Southern Area. An unpleasant rumour was

about last night that they are to follow D Force to replace

injuries caused by RAF bombing damage in a tunnel

where they were working. These rumours are amazing.

The remainder of Southern Area are coming into

Selarang & opportunity is being taken to shift us. We are

moving, perhaps tomorrow, to houses near H.Q. A.I.F.

Sunday 25 Apr 43. Anzac Day again. There was the usual Dawn

Service this morning. Speaking generally only old Diggers attended.

'G' Force left this morning. Maj. Bob Glasgow as Force Comd. & he

doesn't relish his task as it comprises 200 AIF. 300 British &

1000 Dutch. We believe they are going to xxx Brunei in Borneo.

Monday 3 May 43. Today makes my second birthday in 

Singapore as a P.O.W. - I feel that two is plenty.

Troop movements continue. After 'G' Force left all the

British & Dutch troops from Southern Area and 18 Div were

moved to Selarang - are still pushing trailers in fact and

last Friday H. Force was announced to comprise 3000, -

seem to have lost my place a bit. Ours is a little

backwater but that is the art of this type of planning -

every house seems to be in a sort of seclusion and all

done without any fences or any apparent attempt to do so.

My main impression of Singapore Island had been

and still is an indescribable collection of disgusting

smells and filthy conditions so perhaps its is well

that we finished up prisoners so that I was forced into

occupation of the really palatial Changi houses and

then this European quarter here at Adam Road. Those

who had some time here before the bubble broke enjoyed

some of the life of the City and saw some of the dignified

conditions and pleasures of life on the Island, but we

were not so fortunate & Boong villages, huts and

ground that really stinks are a poor substitute for

wholesome Australian smells. 

There's still neither work or rumours of work

this morning.

Sunday 24 May 42. Our unemployed army still continues

marching on its stomach. Yes the men live only from meal

to meal. Our rice ration fluctuates in quantity, quality and

in variety of preparation and occasionally there's a little

meat for a thin stew, and germinated beans, but so

far there has always been enough to satisfy reasonably

offered the Comd, but did not accept. My Batman

Dutchy' Holland who let most of his cobbers go away

with 'D' Force to stay with me asked me to get him in

this force as his last mate, Pte Edwards was going in it

I managed to do this & am now without a servant until

I can arrange a substitute. The only 2/4 Bn officer

to go away was Lt Brian Walton - 32 O/Rs went

leaving 86 all ranks in the Barracks.

Mail treated 'Dutchy' rather shabbily. To this morning he

had not had any letters and was very flat about it all.

Today a few hrs after his departure 2 letters arrived from

his Mother. Goodness knows when he'll get them now.

Monday 5 Apr 43. Life in the Oakes Cottage is frightfully uninteresting

Slowly but steadily more duties fall our lot. To ease it

a bit on the other Capts I offered to do a turn at some jobs

despite my 'no duty' classification but have now withdrawn

the offer - firstly because it only helps create the impression

that we can absorb duties till further orders and secondly

because I don't think it was helping my treatment

Today's review of my eyes showed the left eye no better in

fact worse & I am to report again on Thursday after

Major Orr has considered my case.

Pay the powers that be have amended the pay rates for officers

& they are now, Lieuts 40c per day ($12) Capts 50c daily ($15).

Majors 60c ($18) & Lt Cols & Unit Comds 70c ($21) There is an

under current of feeling among the Subalterns particularly. Their

rate of drawing from I.J.A. is only $25 monthly. As from

this month Capts & up had their drawings from IJA increased

from $30 to $40 & Capts have had a reduction in pay to be