Notebook of Avon Reah Smith-Ryan, 1942-1945

a novelty for me. The kids crowd round each with his little
basket & collect any edible scraps from the drains etc. I believe
the lot of the Chinese is not good at present. A Chinese woman
was mixing cement in the lane. - she carried water from near
at hand but had a long lead with her baskets of sand. She
didn't seem to mind trucks running over her heap but when
hubby came out and criticised her mix she seemed to have the
answers. Another sad faced girl had twin boys slung round her -
she was collecting veg. scraps. I know some one who couldn't
have resisted those 'dear lil twins'  Incidently the ASC depot is
in Clarke Road.
[* x(It seems these were Australians - see 8 Jan 43)*]
Two Englishmen were executed at Changi, a few days fortnight
ago. - escapees. I understand that the firing squad was made
up of Sihks. These Indians are armed guards over us at Changi.
There are four Australians - a Capt and 3 med orderlies 
who are at present under sentence of execution at Changi.
As some time has elapsed we hope it has been waived.
Thurs 29 Sept 42
Pay for Officers is becoming a matter of urgency. Our last
pay day was on 24 Aug. last and for some time now we have been
'broke'. We are still managing to mess fairly well on borrowed
capital but the drawback to that arrangement is that the next
pay when it finally arrives is so heavily mortgaged. Yesterday
we heard that $30 & $25 monthly are officers rates the line probably
being drawn at Field rank. From that Changi will deduct $10
for Hospital & thus do away with the necessity for making deductions
from the men's pay. So far it's only news from a reliable source
so we'll await definite news before commenting.
A Chess craze is sweeping the officers messes lately.
We have had a few nights against 'C' Bn and have won so far
 

I slept the sleep of the just (fed) all
afternoon as did all of us. Tea was another highlight but
none of us could do it justice. We will have to revise our
notions of what we will do to a good meal on our return
because after today I'm sure my stomach is so unacustomed
to quantity and quality that it doesn't function as of yore.
The threat that has been looming up for the
past few days - return to Changi - has increased and tonight
we learn that [[her]] English party, is The Manchesters, are to leave
at 0900 hrs. tomorrow. morn That seems to indicate that even
if our orders aren't already on the way they are coming. Rumour
says on the 28th. To support that is the fact that we only rec'd
3 days dry rations instead of the usual 10 day issue at a time.
Alf Cough has gone down to say 'hello' to xx Col Oakes in hopes
of finding out anything he knows.
[*1943*] 
Tuesday 5 Jan 43
A tremendous amount of water has passed under the bridge since
my last entry. We are now at Changi again. Let me try to put the
matters in sequence.
Christmas Night (Friday) we rec'd orders to return to Changi on
Monday morning, and made plans accordingly. With that much warning
the move was simple to arrange. For Saturday night we arranged a
dinner for all officers from Adam Park Camp in our mess. It was
very successful - some 43 sat down together and the Camp Comd
Lt. Col. Oakes said a few words and was followed by the Unit Comds.
We had to rise at 8 pm as the Commandant had just rec'd word
that our move was put forward 24 hrs and the first Bn would
leave at 0930 next morning (Sunday). Luckily our 'B' Bn was not
first and were due to leave @ 1200 hrs.
 

I have played a few games but am not yet in Purdy's class,
but have picked up some of the jargon and have heard of
Alekhine and Euwe. Also I new now realise that Krause attack
and Slav defence have nothing to do with the Russo-German
battle. Last night Wylie Watts an English Officer from No 2 Camp
came over and played us x blindfold - and won.
Our room was raided by ants two nights ago. They
were the tiny brown Singapore ant and came in their thousands.
It was a perfectly manoeuvre and was completely successful -
we retired in great disorder and spent a sleepless night in
the lounge. We have quite a few bugs in the house despite efforts
at eradication and believe the ants raided them. If so then we
are on their side and feel that we should have been informed of
the impending attack.
The following is just an aide memoire of an incident
8 Coy CSM McDermott had a fracas with Pte Bell Howie
Wings cobber.
Thur Oct 8 42
Officers rec'd pay on the 4th which was most welcome but
the conditions under which the Japs paid us is rather unsatisfactory.
The details of amounts that I have signed for, amounts deducted for oddities
reasons & amount actually rec'd are shown in xx a special page that I
have inserted in my pay book, so I will not duplicate them here.
Lieut Geo Branson has organised the musical and
histrionic talent A.I.F. part of our Camp and their first
concert last Wednesday was amazingly good. Good artists, efficient
production, lighting & management and a compere with quite a
professional touch. They will play also at English lines and at
No 2 Camp and those areas will give us concerts. We are looking
forward to the visiting parties and particularly to our own parties
next performance. Their effort is the more remarkable as some
 

when they arrived and made our meals palatable for some
two months, apart from restoring lost vitamin reserves in
our bodies. It is certain that they played a big part in
restoring the Vit B xxx deficiency and cured the Scrotal dermatitis.
To withhold the quantity for today was an excellent
idea and will assist many men to have a better day.
There is still a tin of Bully to each man as an Iron
ration against a day of possible move.
Christmas Day 25 Dec 42.
Greetings have been exchanged between the 8
officers' messes in the Camp. Most have regarded the term
'A Merry Xmas' a bit fatuous under the circumstances, and
have held to 'Greetings' and 'Compliments'. However the
day has been pleasant enough.
Church Parade this morning and the Padre.
(Capt Andrews) conducted a jolly fine service.
A modicum of forgathering this morning and
we consumed the remainder of the Samsu with various
of our officers. The popular greeting is 'A Jappy Christmas
and American New Year'. We all hope the New Year
part develops early. We would prefer relief by British Forces
but would not be stuffy about it if the Yanks did the job.
True enough not an extra came from the
Japs to aid our feast but so far as the mess is concerned
our dinner was splendid. I have my souvenir Menu in this
book and it speaks for itself - in Malay time, but when it
tells of good food even the Malay language can be beautiful.
All of the mens' messes did fairly well and Coys
did their best to make an occasion of the day.
 

of the instruments are home made. Hawaian Guitars, steel guitars,
banjolins and a violin. The band comprises some 16 players and is
conducted in the best Harry Ray manner. It's amazing where the
props. have come from too. - well cut white slacks, fancy shirts, ladies'
clothes and top hat and tails for the compere. The back drop is a well
painted scene & the curtains have the Coy name and a couple of
faces painted on them.
Rackets are causing quite some trouble again. Like the
poor they are always with us but only so often come to a head.
Next Camp, are marching back to Changi today. It appears that
some of the men were down at Figden & Brisbane's works pinching
cement & the Sihk Guards caught them. There was a fracas, one
of our men being badly beaten up. That camp under Major Tracey
is the old 27 Bde crowd from here and is a hot bed of rackets.
There are a few go on here petrol, food, cigarettes, tobacco, brass,
clothing, cement & no doubt a host of others. Trading with the
Boongs is taboo and some risk attends the rackets, but the
lads have them well organised. Lack of honour among thieves
causes occasional flare ups. e.g. the other night a representative
party of chums came over to 8 Coy and beat up an Aussie partner
who was holding out on them. It was well organised, a ring formed
& a clean fight. They just took it out of his hide. I must find
out a few more details of the rackets as a matter of interest.
The River Valley Road camp we hear is rather bloody in the way
of living conditions - but they make up for it in the way of rackets. Everyone
is in the business of some sort. Outstanding are the men who deal in permanent
wares and the man who through one of the guards can arrange you
a night
out. You must pay for a girl for the guard who takes you out as well as
 your own.
Wed 21 Oct 42  One of the petrol rackets xx was worked this way. A drum is sunk underground &
petrol stolen from vehicles is stored in it. A pipe line is laid down through the grass to
a point outside the wire. The Chinaman comes as arranged & by a system of waves 

Rumour has it and very strongly too that we are to
return to Changi and today names the date as the 28^th
We have had no intimation from the Japanese but straws
in the wind are that River Valley Road and other camps
have returned, Changi area is reported to have flood lighting
preparations in progress and Tazumi has called from for
a return of camp strength by Unit. Anyway today I thought
it wise to anticipate and calculate the amount of transport
necessary to move 'B' Bn to Changi.
The usual Christmas Eve festivities are missing
tonight. We drank a few shouts in coffee at the canteen and
I had a few nips with Alf from my bottle of Samsu.
We were not permitted any latitude for singing or suchlike
by the Japanese but tho' the camp so as quiet as usual at
nights but small groups could be met all over the place. The
moon is almost full and xxx are not conducive to early bed
ordinarily, leave alone Christmas Eve.
So far despite our pressing requests for extra
rations, particularly meat, nothing has arrived apart from the
eternal rice and useless watery vegetables. It appears that the men's
meals will not be bolstered up much. All Coys. have small funds
in the kitchens but the Japanese owe them two 10 day periods now
and it is well into the third period already so such stuff as the
Canteen and Purchasing Commission may produce for [[sale?]]
be almost beyond their capacity to buy.
Withheld from the Red Cross Comforts for today are,
for each man 1 tin of Bully Beef, 1 tin Condensed (Sweetened) milk and
12 ozs of very nice biscuits as well as cook house issues of cooking
ingredients @ so many ozs per man. These were a great boon
 

the troops indicate the number of gallons for sale. He agrees to take it & a pump is fitted
to the drum & away she goes. The Chinaman then fastens the dollars to the pipe & 
it is withdrawn. There was another receiving point off Jurong Road.
There are more troop movements afoot. No 2 Camp and all of our
Englishmen are warned for a 2 day train trip & then some marching. They are
going in parties of 650. The first draft (Suffolks from 2 Camp) left 3 days ago
but the remainder have been postponed. They left in metal bogey cattle trucks,
organised as 25 to a truck but were actually 29. They have a xx hole cut in the
floor for convenience. There are some food arrangements en route. The troops
ordered to move here had the remainder of their comforts issued to them and
are living well at the moment. They will have a few tins of M. & V or bully for
the trip too.
The Red Cross Comforts were excellent - sweetened condensed milk,
Bully, M & V., biscuits, & types of flour, cocoa and a breakfast food. They are good.
The Japanese have reduced our ration scale at present. They have also
appropriated some of the comforts for themselves - e.g. Vegemite & some of the
cigarettes. There were also some hats & clothing. & boots. Our comforts seemed
to have all come from South Africa no doubt because the Japanese evacuation ships
have been travelling to and from Lorenco Marquees on the Portuguese East
African Coast.
Our new Guards are Koreans and there seems a hearty mutual
dislike between the Tamura Butai soldiers and the Koreans. A peculiarity
about the Jap soldier is that he seems to ignore units other than his own.
They are using Sihk Guards more around these parts lately and it is very galling
to be obliged to salute these fellows. If one doesn't do so  they chase him &
demand it - ridiculous.
Today I authorised the purchase of some ducks for the mess Xmas  
Dinner. I hope we aren't here to eat them.
Thursday 2 Nov 42.
Considerable movement of PoW. has taken place over the last fortnight.
The general scheme appears to be to move all British troops up country and
keep A.I.F. here. Our friends of 'A' Bn and from No 2 Camp have gone & we
understand British from Changi also. They went in parties of 650 all ranks.
Marched in to Singapore Rly Station carrying all their gear (personal). Each party
was allowed 2/ 3 ton trucks for medical stores some comfort rations, and officers
 

 
had the difficult task of defending a hopeless cause but
debated very effectively. The Adjudicator gave the debate
to the opposition and the Speaker selected a Select
Committee to draft Amendments or a New Bill to present.
on 8 Jan 43. I must record Norm Couch's effort. In
discussing the rehousing and Soldiers' Homes Schemes, he
emphasised the necessity of assistance in this regard. Our
declining Birth Rate has him worried and he considers that,
to facilitate the setting up of Returned Soldiers in homes, will
have an effect in stemming the decline. He finished up 'However
whether it be done in the old way or the new it must be done.'
This almost lost him the cause because the feeling of the
meeting was unanimously in favour of the old way.
Wed 23 Dec 42.  Our wedding day Grace. This is the second out of
three anniversarys of this day in 1939 that we have been apart.
It is a comfort to know that you are waiting at home for me
and as I wrote recently - may all of our future celebrations be
together.
Today was spent in moving 8 Coy out of the
Western Area. They were took some watching tho as their idea of
a. Coy move seemed to be to leave nothing behind but a terrible
mess.
Thurs 24 Dec 42  We finally vacated Western Area today by bringing
7 Coy over, and hope that the new allocation of huts will prove
fairly stable. The three big huts from W. Area are dismantled
and construction on various sites over here has commenced.
 

were permitted a 20 lb package of personal effects. They entrained in bogey cattle
truck type waggons & were warned for 2 days train and some marching. The
Japanese hinted that the two days would be complete & some odd hours extra.
There is much speculation re their destination, Alor Star Victoria Point Siam,
etc. The most likely is that they are going to some railway construction
work in Thailand. Before leaving, the Japanese assured themselves that each man
had good sox & boots & graciously handed out the South African comforts boots to
attain this result. It is understood that when an objection was raised re the
rolling stock the Japanese pointed out that these were the vehicles in which Jap
internees were brought down to Singapore. Moving troops were instructed to bring
a food container for 25 men - cooked food would be provided en route. Cooking
utensils were NOT to be taken - they said they would be available at destination.
The sanitary arrangement for the trip was a hole cut in the truck floor.
Major Lees commanded the first 650 from here, the remainder of the fit men (80 odd)
following next day. Lt Col Madden, Major Elliott & some 12 spare officers and
unfit men then returned to Changi. We are sorry to see the last of these chaps, &
those we were getting to know from N^o 2 Camp as well.
Troops are commencing to come in to the vacated camps and the
first to No 2 Camp (2 days ago) was Serangoon Road Camp personnel under
Major Bert Saggers - W.O. Snow Hewby and CQMS Campbell are with him
and some of our 'B' Coy men. I walked across this morning and had a couple 
of hours with Bert and a talk with Hewby. They are quite fit and their
treatment has apparently been generally a parallel to ours.
Tomorrow is to be a holiday. As Alf Cough explained at today's conference,
it is for the Melbourne Cup. The Japanese Emperor's Grandfather or Somebody is
also having a birthday.
A new sport has developed - frog racing. There is a circle about 10 ft
across and starters are placed under a tin in the centre - the tin is raised and
first frog out is the winner. The frogs have colours like jockeys pedigrees
& the stage is set with starter, judge & bookies. One owner has been rubbed
out for life for fixing a wire to his frog's hind leg so that when he sat down
he got a prick in the seat.
Another new pay arrangement for O/Rs commences as from 1 Nov. There
seems not to be any fixed policy for pay - only at the whim of the Jap. PoW
Comd. @ Changi. The Officers have not yet rec'd pay for Oct and we have
all been more or less broke for two weeks past.
Today I read a letter from a R.A.F. Sgt who went from here to Australia
 

One interesting item I have not mentioned is
the Race Track in this camp which provides a lot of amusing
evenings. It is on a hut site, has a very carefully marked out
track in the accepted manner with starting straight, finishing
straight & a hurdle track with obstacles named after famous ones
on English Courses. The track is marked off in yards and
each line numbered. The horses advance so many as their
numbers are drawn from one box and distances from another.
The whole is very adequately lighted on the Trotting Ground
idea and the enclosure etc are all complete. Judges and
other officials, stewards etc. are all catered for - and last but
not least the paying public. There are no bookies but a
tote xxx operates and is well handled and laid out - Progress
boards & so on to give a lead on public fancy. A percentage
of the tote money goes to the Camp Hospital.
Tonight the Officers Friday evening lecture night
took the form of a debate. The thing was run as a Parliament
with the Hospital Team, Majors Rogers and Hazelton and Capt
Phenimore as the P.M. and Govt and Camp H.Q. led by Capt
Dyer with Lt Col Oakes at Lieut Couch as the Opposition.
Major Cough was Speaker and Adjudicators from a purely
debate view point were Capts Horder, & Richards and Lieut Walton
The Opposition considering the present Repatriation Act to be
most inadequate to cover the needs after this war attacked it
strongly and demanded certain reforms. The poor old Govt