Notebook of Avon Reah Smith-Ryan, 1942-1945

Wed 17 Jun 42 Fraser was off colour yesterday with a touch
of fever (dengue) so I did his day for him. He's doing today &

tomorrow. and in future we will work on those lines. Friday

is now the weekly holiday & I'll go out Sat. Mon. & Tues. & 
have Sun. Wed & Thur in - & Friday of course. Two days out

in a row is about enough too because we cover a lot of

country & the first hour of interpreting Japanese orders and

then getting 1000 men to work & trying to fix the individual

worries of the Coy Comds. is a bit exhausting. Our hours

were amended again. Hirro meshi is now 1230 - 1330 and

sagyo yarmay 1730. They have beaten us for the extra

hour but if we have to "put in" 7 hours actually out there

these present times are perhaps the best. I wasn't too

pleased at Sato Shoee giving our siren to the Shonan

party. Hang it all we fixed it up and took it out there

for our convenience in synchronsing rest periods etc & now

in the new location, while it may suit the Shonan and

Hashi parties but for on our doro job some parties at 

the far end can't here it. - particularly with cement mixers

and diesel rollers in action.
It seems pretty right that on Friday next

out the second at 0430 hrs & [[lines?]] finished at Rev 0630 & Brekka 0700
with Parade 0745 hrs - well & truly dark. And still raining.
Still they got dressed and fed and on parade O.K. and the Bde
set off for the Padang being turned back halfway with order that
parade was off. We are warned again for tomorrow.
Monday 15 Feb 43  Its' one calender year today since Singapore fell and
we were placed at Sajo's convenience. Yesterday, Sunday was the 15th last
year and this Unit was lucky in that xxxxour application for a pilgrimage
to the Cemetery to remember our dead was granted for that day. It was
quite a simple ceremony. The Unit paraded @ 1400 hrs and marched out
to the Cemetery. Major Saggers and Lieut Frank Huddlestone and some 20 [[?]]
of 1 & 2 Coys AASC paraded also. They fought with Bert Saggers 'composite
Bn of those Coys & our reinforcements and lost a number of men. At the
Cemetery the Unit formed in mass & Major Alf Cough spoke briefly, one
wreath for each Unit was laid, the Padre said a prayer and Buglers
sounded 'Last Post' & Reveille. Simple, short and nice. The Cemetery
is well laid out and well tended. It is a credit to who ever has the
duty of its maintenance. There are some 50 graves in the AIF area
and many more in the British site further north.
At last the Jap parade is over. We were up early again Thursday
& Friday mornings but rain cancelled the parades. At last Saturday
looked fine. We had the early start but parade was postponed &
at 1150 hrs rec'd orders for Bde Pde 1215hrs. As lunch was ready this Unit
had it first & just made the parade. We were the only ones to have
lunch and were very glad we did so. The parade xxxwas steady, all
15000 of them on the Hospital Padang by 1300 hrs. and marched around
there till 1700 hrs. The Japs mounted a camera several times &
had to rush it away again on account of rain squalls. We marched
round a bit but don't really know whether we were photographed. 
 

we will be able to go out to Mandai.

Thursday 18 Jun 42

So much for arrangements made with the Japanese.

The permission for burial parties to go out tomorrow has

been withdrawn. Reason given is that the [[Siee?]] Nekamoto is

away and Chue Matzuawa has no knowledge of the arrangement.

So we will not be going to Mandai tomorrow. The lads have

made 4 really neat crosses and Badock & McMaster inscribed

the no. name, rank, unit & date really well in Old English

characters & Hindle has stamped out 4 zinc plates to attach

at ground level. They are naturally neatly done. Well I hope 

we can get out in the near future.

MacK. was down to return to Changi x 3 days ago.

but didn't & is now off the list to go. He is still a mass of

pimply eruptions but in that regard, he was always afflicted

that way. Still he parades sick and the M.O says L.D & N.D.

Bob L. seems fully over his hernia now and should be able 

to give uninterrupted service as permanent Ord. Off. His clerical 

training helps him in keeping such detailed records as are

necessary.

Don L. is a Britain and is most reliable at this sort

of routine work he is easily my best man. Not always appreciated

by the men but always by me.

Speculation as to our destination if we are moved is rather

futile but I record a guess at Taiwan (Formosa).

I am going to Southern Area tomorrow to see Lt Col Andre to try

to get a statement confirming Pen Dean's 7 Pl movements with

his 1 Bn Malayan Regt. I'll also try to meet a RAAF

Officer recently arrived there having been shot down over Timor

on 22 Dec last. We are told he has fairly up to date news

of Australian conditions.

Thursday 11 Feb 43. Sunday last I went over to Southern Area and

had a half hour with Lt Col Andre. He told me the story of xxxx his Bn

dispositions, task and action and the arrival and departure of our 7 Pl.

Pen Dean came in to him as the Pl story says and their actions 

tally with his story until the last day. (Sat). Lt. Col Andre says that

when the enemy tanks attacked the carriers they withdrew. The first

carrier stopped at his H.Q., reported and then moved on to Hospital

with Pl & Malayan wounded. The remaining carriers came along

after them and drove straight past and he did not see them again.

He also says that he did not instruct Pen to return to his own

Unit but that they just disappeared.

I have also had a talk with Lt. Col. Pond CO 2/29 Bn re the time on

Tuesday 10 Feb 42 when the Pl left 2/29 Bn. He confirms the Pl story

and says that Pen Dean can be in no way censured for his actions

that night.

There was a big parade ordered for yesterday but was cancelled 

owing to very heavy rain for about 30 hrs. 15000 POW were

ordered to parade on Hospital Padang. - AIF to provide 7000.

Order was rec'd about 2130 hrs Tues and to rearrange duties to get

our quota on parade wasn't easy. Rev. to be 0700 and parade 0715 -0815

which is still dark.  However twice during the night amendments came.

Fraser and I have replanned our week and now

I take Mon & Tues. He has Wed & Thur., Fri is now work and

I have Sat & he Sunday. It is a good scheme & gives a

good period of rest & more continuity of control on the job.
Sunday 21 Jan 42

Don Lee has an attack of that crutch irritation and

had to come home from work yesterday. He is in today

& maybe for a day or so. Bad luck But I'm lucky in 

having Ian Pearson quite up to officer standard, indeed way

ahead of a lot of officers.

The big thing at the moment is postcards to home.

We are to be permitted one card each and they are expected to

be made available in a few days. It is emphasised that it is

not a letter, only a card to say that one is held P.O.W. and in 

such and such a state of health. It has been one of our

main matters for concern that our people at home could

be saved a lot of worry if they could only know that we

are O.K. You see it is extremely doubtful that the casualty

return has ever been dispatched home by the Japanese. When

it is published true a lot of people will hear that their men

are dead or missing which here means dead. But for the 30,000

prisoners it means relief from anxiety for our people..

will take some beating but I'm sure our men won't

disgrace the Bn. or themselves.

Major Gunthers Review put on an amusing concert - Some of 

the jokes were rather more funny than clean but were well rec'd.

Our boys are doing fairly well at sport. - cricket, hockey & 

Baseball - cricket is restricted to Coy matches only - lack of gear. 

A Boxing tournament finished last night. I'm told that the  
M.O's have stopped any more on grounds that men haven't got the

necessary to replace energy expended. 

Things are rather glum at the moment. Ration food is rather

light and the mess is broke. Officers are all broke at present.

Pay is due & hoped for daily. At present I haven't even tobacco

or money to buy any.

Java parties cannot work in the big Garden now so AIF are

filling the demands. Apparently they are going further north.

I don't think we'll make any moves until our innoculations are

completed. There are rumours of further Working Parties into

Singapore. I would sooner go anywhere rather than stay here.

This place is just a gaol to me.

Saturday 6 Feb 43 Soon our first year here will be completed.

Added to the injections now being rec'd. (We had T.A.B.1 today) is

further evidence of a move. The A.IF. is ordered by I.J.A for

dysentery tests in batches of 2000. The investiture of the 'Order of

the Glass Rod' as this test is called usually preludes a move 

overseas. It gets that name from the fact that the test is made by

inserting a glass rod in the place one would expect. A trip on a 

Japanese vessel isn't exactly the ideal trip @ this moment as I

fancy Japanese Master Mariners find it difficult to increase their

Life Policies. Still any place couldn't be glummer than Changi.

Glass rodding is rumoured to be active for us next.

I'm very glad that the cards are coming now when I can

say that I'm as fit as a fiddle. I've had one or two

practice shots at drafting my card. Naturally there are 

many restrictions governing the cards and it is said that

block printed messages of great brevity being easily read at

a glance will pass on first so even at the price of only

saying I'm a P.O.W. and very fit I'll be terse to ensure mine

going in the earliest batch. We are wondering if the arrangement

is reciprical and if cards will come from home to us.

Mail day! What a treat. Hardly bears contemplation in case

it doesn't happen. But I'd love to know that Grace 

was well and happy - mother too wasnt over well and

all of them how are they. Of course it would take weeks to

 write all that needs saying.

Pineapples are quite plentiful lately at 10c. each. 

Beauties too and today Don & I are having a shot at

making some jam. For a lay out of 60c we reckon 

we can make as much jam as would cost Y $3 at canteen.

More about this after the experiment.

Saturday 27 Jan 42

Another week of much the same. Had a letter from Tom

at Changi.  He has only a few out there now and says that 1500

more have been ordered to stand by for overseas but has no knowledge of

who will comprise the party. 

Today was really amazing and this camp must be

truly an unique as a P.O.W. Camp. All day from Reveille
to dusk the barrack square has resounded to the tramp

of marching feet, drums and bagpipes. - (Shades of the Gordon

Highlanders who occupied these Selarang Barracks as garrison

troops). After evening meal the 2/18 & 2/19 Bns held a memorial

service for their men lost at Muar. - 2/29 Bn were also in this

action. A large Union Jack was arranged and wreaths laid.

Really if I were the Japanese Guard Comd. I would feel very

suspicious of all the parades held recently particularly the

big Bde ceremonials. Still, if he doesn't stop them our G.O.C.

will certainly keep up the good work.

The last footer match of the 'season' was played today.

Vic v the Rest - Vic. won by 3 goals. Our Lou Daily won

a trophy for the best man on the ground. 

Wed. 3 Feb 43 The 27 Bde Review came off as arranged - A most

amazing show. The drill, marching & steadiness was a credit to

them and the 'Advance in Review Order' well done. Lt. Col.

Gallaghan took the salute and at his base flew a huge

Union Jack - Truly amazing.

The innocalations are progressing - We've had Dysentery 1 & 2 and
now have to receive T.A.B 1 & 2. The needles are only few and are

becoming rather dull.

Health generally is not good and men knock up very easily.

The eye trouble is, if anything, gaining.  All our troubles are

Vitamin deficiencies.

Tomorrow is the Coy drill competition. Capt. John Hill is Comd.

the 2/4 Coy - which is a drawn from the whole Bn. The Inf. Bns.
 

There is no sign of the post cards for home yet. We

wish that they would turn up so that we can assure 

them of our good health etc.  From Tom's reference to the

cards I fancy that they must have had theirs.

Tom also told me that Pen Dean and Mc Gregor are

doing 2 years in Singapore Gaol and from information rec'd are

till now in solitary - sounds rather a glum prospect.  War news

lately isn't so good with Tobruk said to have fallen. An

increase in aerial activity round here lately seems more encouraging,

and hints that they may be expecting something. From the 23rd we

have been under a blackout. It's a nuisance having brekker 

in the dark and the evenings aren't so good with nothing to do.

Fri 3 July 42 Today's holiday is in name only. Working parties 

of almost normal strength are out on various jobs. For instance

while Sato's road party is reduced to 300, extra parties of 200 &

150 are on special tasks so that the total is the usual 650.

I went out to help Sato by marshalling the Coys and sending

them off as desired and then told him I'd take my holiday.

He seemed grateful to have that part fixed up and had no

objection to my returning.

Yesterday Major Parry sent for me to warn me that 

Capt Roberts would probably move with 27 Bde Party & that

The previous night (Thursday) our Bde Comd and his BM.

(LtCol. Leggett & Major Campbell) dined with us. Both these

Officers are from 2/40 Bn captured in Timor where they went

from Darwin while we were at Adelaide River. 

There is terrific activity on the Barrack Square of late.

The 27 Bde are building up for a ceremonial parade. Coys have

been doing Pl & Coy Drill and then the three Bns 2/26, 2/29 & 2/30 have

rehearsed their Bn Drill. Today they had a Bde rehearsal, which 

is to be repeated tomorrow and the big do on Tuesday.

No doubt our Bde will have a stab at it later. For a week

27 Bde has been relieved of duties which our boys have carried

out. It has meant no men off duty any day but they owe us 
a return for it.

The Java parties have continued their move to Bankok. and that

party which included Capt Jack Hands and our 3 'B' Coy men

from Fremantle., Carter, Hunter & Robinson has gone on. Some

more Dutch troops have come in.

We are to have injections against Dysentery and Typhoid. Our half

of the Coy had their first yesterday - remainder tomorrow. 

There are four injections altogether. I felt absolutely no effects

from my own injection. Serum is supplied by the Japanese.

This seems to point to our ultimate move to French Indo China

or Thailand. One lad today told me that a Japanese had tried

to sell him a greatcoat ($5) saying he'd need it when he went 

to Formosa.

In the way of sport, footer has been ruled out - too many  

accidents & X-Ray plates are scarce as are anaesthetics which

must be conserved for sickness and unavoidable accidents.

Cricket is also out - no gear. We are building up with more

Baseball & Basketball - The latter is very popular.