Notebook of Avon Reah Smith-Ryan, 1942-1945

last January leaving there on July 12 for England. His ship was captured
& taken to Penang. He is now at Changi. The news he sent of conditions
in Australia while some months old was most interesting and a
breath of home is always good.
Wed 4 Nov 42  Last evening there was a great bit of fun. We had a Melbourne
Cup Race. Proceeds in aid of Christmas Comforts for children in Changi Gaol.
Ownership of frogs is cheap and entries were limited to 36 (6 heats & a prize
for winners only). A good course was prepared and suitable buildings
for Grand Stand, seats 5c, & judges, saddling paddock etc. Frogs wore coloured
jackets & started from under a tin raised by remote control which rang a
bell. Horses were named after well known Aust horses. Race was won
by Triggerman owned by Capt Bill Dixon & trained by his batman Dernelly.
- a very fast frog. The Cup was two half coconut shells, one inverted &
joined by a rod - two handles attached & suitably inscribed. It should be
a good [[antic?]] and welcome to the V.R.C.
Sat 21 Nov 42  We have moved camp again and have come into 102 Camp to that
portion recently vacated by 54 Bde. It was a blow to lose our comfy houses.
The whole show was in typical fashion. We were ordered to move by
Friday night so naturally got our advance parties over Thursday & commenced
moving cookhouses etc and on return of working parties quite a number of men
commenced moving their beds and gear. Then the bomb-shell. Tsume got
in a towering rage and said that he had ordered the shift to be made on Friday,
& that there & then we had to start carrying it all back, & to get it all back if
it took all night & then start taking it over again on Friday their way.
We were allowed to take only what we could carry & march past a
checking time - and then go back & bring our beds - and then a general
scranage. We got practiclly all the furniture etc required for our comfort.
Most of the huts we are to occupy are only burnt out hut sites at present &
our Bn has temporary huts - quite good but too few & they are on opposite sides of
the Bde area. It means a tremendous amount of walking about.
Sunday 22 Nov 42  Still sorting things out. We have been allowed to send parties to
Adam Park & are getting most of what we want.
Monday 23 Nov 42  A repetition of yesterday and as working parties are very small
we have all we need to make life reasonable once we finally settle in our
allotted huts. It is very crowded at present. This evening as the Bde Comd. &
Unit C.Os were discussing the construction scheme & hut allotment the Staff 

indefinite time and are quite happy and content to be
under our control. One man said his nerves were getting
rather taut after some seven days of wondering what
their fate was to be - Whenever the door opened, was it
to be a slapping, removal to gaol or worse? Yes, I can
well believe that they'll have their first real rest tonight
under our jurisdiction.
Wed 16 Dec 42  Many Happy Returns, Grace. Today makes two of
your birthdays, since we were last together. May God grant
that neither of us shall celebrate another apart.
In accordance with my usual custom I celebrated
the occasion by consuming an apricot pie. Apricot jam had to
take the place of the usual ingredients but my trusty Cpl Cook,
Cpl. G. Smith was equal to the occasion and did me proud.
I had a few friends into my room to help me consume
it. Don Lee was only ^the one who was at the last similar
function that time at Adelaide River. Tom Bunning is at
Changi, Graham MacKinnon in Changi Hospital and
Pen Dean in Singapore Gaol.
Friday 18 Dec 42.  A new Japanese Major General has arrived
to take over the running of POWs around Syonan-to. His
name is Arimura. We were paraded on the Golf Links off
Syme Road near the Guard Room where he took the salute &
then moved in to inspect the camp area. We were ordered to
be on parade for his arrival at 1100 hrs but as he arrived
punctually at 1200 hrs. I suspect that Tsume making sure
that his prisoners would be on time advanced the time 1 hour 

Capt came in with news that Lt Col Robertson and 23 officers with 650 all ranks
from 'C' Bn were to prepare to move in a few days. As the recent parties of
Englishmen going North were all 650 strong it seems that they are headed
that way. We are wondering if we are to follow them. Rumour has it that
this is a clearing camp & this seems to bear that fact out. Some rumours
War news is good lately & we hope that this evacuation of P.O.W.s means that
Singapore is not regarded as a safe prison area.
Wed Dec 2, 42  It appears that we are to stay here for a while - at least Tsume
says we may regard this as our home. There is considerable shuffling about
between huts and we haven't reached our 'final' abode yet. I have the
officers settled in the mess and may regard this as OK. We are comfy &
have plenty of room. I am sharing a room with Alf Cough.
Bert Saggers' Unit has moved in to the vacant huts left by 'C' Bn. Our
old 9 Coy under Bill Dixon has gone over to him and they are 'A' Bn.
We have retained our title of 'B' Bn. Each Bn has four Coys so
John Hills 13 Coy is now 5 Coy, Geo Horders 10 Coy & Don Lee's 14 Coy are
combined & are 6 Coy, 7 & 8 Coys under Frank Hiddlestone and Les Rickard
remain unchanged. - 12 men from Don Lee's old Coy went to John
Hill to put all Coys of fairly even strength. It's bad luck for Don
to lose his Coy Command but as we had to drop one Coy it was obvious
that the two small ones should be blended. I was not in favour
of transferring fxx 12 men of the Guns A & B Coy. away from their mates
but Alf Cough deemed it expedient to do so and certainly had some
grounds for so doing.
There are no Japanese working parties going out at present as
Tamura Batai have moved and there is no one to control work parties.
Still we have plenty to do building huts and cleaning up our areas.
The lalang is rather high and there are cookhouses etc to be built.
It is definitely as well that there should always be something to keep 

officers were told to report again after lunch and the
message also called for an officer and escort to go and
collect the men. Lieut Branson was sent over but came
back with the information that we had got the wrong message
and that Tsume had not decided yet what to do with the men.
Today The three officers however went over and were rou^ndly
reprimanded and had to assure Tsume through the interpreter
that they would in future run their respective commands
'very good'. Today the matter was finalised when Maj Cough
& Capt Hill were sent for again to report to Doe Shoe. He
spoke a few words of wisdom to them and then took them
outside where the prisoners were handed over. The Sihk N.C.O.
in charge on being ordered to hand over to the Australian officer
saluted Alf Cough by coming to the Japanese present and
reporting 'your prisoners, Sir.' The men reported that
this Sihk treated them as well as he xxx was able and in
fact the Sihks as a whole carried out their orders as gaolers

but inflicted no indignities of their own in addition. The

whole three of them, however admit that the game is too serious
and that nocturnal wanderings outside the wire are quite
definitely not worth the candle.  They are extremely frightened.
Their treatment was on the first night when captured to have
their hands tied behind their backs, receive a few slaps and
be locked up.  At the end of 60 hours they had a meal of plain
rice, the next coming after a further 59 hours and, the next
today at their Coy.  They did not have a wash or brush up
during the time and looked thoroughly miserable.  At
present they are in our own detention barracks for an

both the officers and men occupied not frantically but enough to
prevent us from going nuts through boredom.  Also I would hate a
repitition of the Changi business of trying to make work out of nothing
and the ghastly education schemes.
Thur 3 Dec 42  This evening I went over to Col Newy's mess to
see Capt Symons.  He is going to copy a portrait of the King for me
to hang in my mess.
Today Gen Fukue called to say 'Goodbye' to Col Oakes.
He left three parting instructions. 1. To afford his successor full
support & cooperation - 2  To do his best to ensure that all ranks
are maintained in good health and spirits & 3.  To punish any men
who attempted to escape.  The last is funny surely. It would
really appear that the duty of preventing escape devolves on the I.J.A.
Bert Saggers has been over to see Alf. Cough and remarked on
Bill Dixon.  I think Bert is just the man to handle Bill and
his really callosed hide and should put him in his place quite
efficiently.
Sun. 6 Dec 42  I have just come from Church Service which was held
in our mess.  All day it has rained and as a result Padre's chapel
site was imposs. so I gave him our mess room to use.
We had the usual Friday night lecture last night and
again we made our mess room available.  The lecturer was Cpl. 
[[Strain?]] of the S.S.V.F.  In private life he is an Inspector of Schools
and gave us a most interesting talk on the history of Malaya over
the past 1000 years.  The S.S.V.F., M.V.F. & M.D.F. are queer units
and some amazing situations arise.  For instance one man who
is glad to have a job as a plumbers mate, thereby qualifying as
a tradesman is earning a bonus on his pay is or was a High Court

Judge. Recently he was charged to his

Finance is the catch and with prices for such goods as

would be required for Christmas are extremely high in

Singapore. We consider poultry out of the question and are

asking for a small pig and items such as dried fruits, 

wheat flour, raisens, currants and such items as go to make

our normal Xmas fare. For some time Lieut Potter has been

experimenting with a brew and reports having hopes of producing

a concoction. I have my doubts as to results however and

was pleased to agree to the purchase of some bottles of [[Sanisa?]]

to ensure a toast. These are black market products naturally

and the purchase has to be hush hush. The manufacture of

these drinks by Chinese and other natives is prohibited by the

Japanese and of course hard liquor is forbidden to the 

camp. The Malayan Volunteers' mess has ordered three dozen

of Tiger Beer through the special Xmas Mess Buy. I will

be surprised if the Japanese send it to them although they are

such irrational beggars that there is no knowing and to

predict their actions day to day is impossible.

A week ago 3 of John Hills men, Meredith, Nybo

and Schwartz were caught outside the wire by the Japanese

Guard. They were in @ tattoo roll call and then faded.

Their reason for going is believed to regarding the picking

up and sale of an electric fan. However first thing in the

morning their absence was noted and duly reported to our friends

at the Guard House. We could not get them back as the Guard

had already informed Tsume Chue and in any case they

regarded it as a serious offence. Lt Col Oakes, Major Cough &

Capt Hill were sent for but nothing definite happened and 

the Japanese held the men. The day before yesterday these

Coy. Comd. with some minor offence and was fined 30 cents.

Another amusing occasion was when a Unit sounded its' gong

before the official one had sounded & was sent a message saying

they mustn't do this as the Camp gong gave correct time. The reply

stated that they were sorry to have erred but they sounded theirs

by B.B.C. time, obtained from I. J. A. Guard.

Thurs 10 Dec. On Sat last we had formal dinner and I invited

Maj Bert Saggers his Adj. Lieut Evans and Maj. John Parry ([[B.M.?]]) to eat

with us. I have decided that dinner each evening will be semi-

formal with one of the senior officers acting as dining president and

a different junior sub sitting as Mr Vice. We commenced this on

Monday last & I'm sure that the officers prefer the small formality.

Sat evening dinners will be fully formal and Sunday informal

throughout.

At last after 10 months the Japanese have given us

permission to send out small burial parties to neighbouring

battle areas. As regards Mandai and the North West Coast

which are 10 & 20 miles resp. we were told we could have a truck

when some petrol was available. I am pleased to learn that

they are short of petrol but hope that they will have a gallon or two

to spare soon.

So on Monday last Alf Cough and John Hill took some

twenty men out to Hill 200 and the places in that vicinity where

A, C, D and H.Q. Coys lost some men. Their trip was fairly successful

and quite some more information was obtained. They collected about

20 skeletons and buried them in a common grave with the army

service read and placed a cross with zinc tags showing names

numbers & the date of the action. Among the bones were several

discs which were readable but too rotten to pick up. Other

First page of reverse sides 
We are right in the middle of the wet now.
Rain, sometimes very heavy has fallen almost continuously
for four days now and the ground is a quagmire and off
the cement paths the clay is treacherously slippery.
It is testing the atab roofs & in many places finding them
wanting. Likewise the jerry built [[gunyards?]]. The construction
and re-erection of huts is delayed too greatly to our
disadvantage but work outside just cant go on.

I am pleased to say that we can dispense with
all forms of bore-hole and trench latrines. Without oil and
hessian it is impossible to prevent these from becoming fly
breeding grounds. There are ample sewer points in the area
and tho supply of porcelain pans and fittings is insufficient
we are making [[gxx?]] funnels direct into the waste pipes and
providing tongs and buckets for flushing.

The Bn. Ord. Room was found to be built on
a latrine site with 8 seated points. I had it shifted and
re-erected immediately. It gave scope for many vulgar jokes.

Tuesday. 15 Dec 42 Officers' pay to hand again today. It is for the 
Nov. period so we are fairly up to date and feeling financially affluent.
We rather think that Capt Kinder's approach re special times shopping
for Officers' Messes and his reply that the amount available for spending
depended entirely upon the pay factor may have prompted them to send
along the Nov. amount.

We are hopeful that some extra food lwill become
available for the forthcoming Xmas Convivialities. The Camp Comd. has
explained to the Japanese that this is the principal feest day of our
Christian Year and asked that extra rations be issued. Also when
Lt Col Oakes heard of Capt Kinder's approach when re Officers' Messes
he arranged for any purchases for men's messes to be included.

identification was obtained from equipment & personal belongings
The equipment had weathered very well and was still serviceable
Lalang and bracken hampered their work and made searching
difficult. Now only about 5 of H.Q. Coy are still definitely
missing.

On Tuesday Bert Saggers and Frank Hiddlestone
took a party to their 'Composite Bn.' area where they were
caught badly retiring towards Reformatory Road.  Here they
lost about 90 altogether (50 2/4 MG and 40 A.A.S.C.). Their trip
wasn't nearly so satisfactory as they had some trouble
in locating the place and also were hampered by the long
lalang They buried some half dozen remains.

The really disgusting part of the whole business is
that 10 months have passed before the Japanese gave permission
to go out on this work despite repeated applications from us. -
And now when chances are of getting really complete data are
remote they grudgingly grant permission.

At the scenes of action our men found that Japanese
bodies had been carefully collected and buried right in
amongst our men who had been left to rot alongside Japanese
graves. The areas are pitted with slit trenches and it would
have been very little trouble to have placed the bodies in
these and covered them over. Or at least order us out to
do the duty - as we had asked permission to do. This business
has built up a fair sort of hate against our enemy. But
what about the health aspect with all these bodies rotting
on the island. Its remarkable that disease wasn't brought
about by their disgusting action. Even the pigs which form
part of the islands food & ate some of the remains could have
passed on untold disease.

 Average Daily rations (in Grammes) for Weeks Ending    

Commodity		1 Apr 45	6 May 45	3 Jun 45	1 Jul 45	5 Aug 45
I.J.A.	Tea	4.11	3.93	3.83	3.98	3.99
	Salt	14.18	14.24	14.22	13.02	14.19
	Oil	20.02	20.17	19.97	19.35	19.95
	Pepper	.62	1.01	1.	1.
	Sugar	14.8	14.97	16.35	16.17	17.07
	Rice	186.	220.2	264.02	255.91	265.3
	Maize	50.	49.66
	Fish
	Fresh	22.41		17.2
	Dried	8.23	50.06	14.4	26.44	10.46
	Veg.
	Root	38.89	54.2	15.44	17.67	55.74
	Greens	149.26	247.6	192.1	231.	258.23
	Sweet Pot	19.17	14.9
	Brinjal		14.	3.	3.26
	Papaya		31.9		3.13	2.85
C.M.F.
	Oil	28.75	29.3	29.35	29.02	30.02
	Ragi	25.36
	Tapioca chips		21.48	21.19	19.23	15.63
Officers' Gardens
	Greens	241.35	311.7	299.2	241.9	276.17

  

  2/4 MG Bn Casualties

Coy	KIA	Missing	Missing believed killed	Died  of wounds	Missing believed P.O.W	Wounded	Total
A	12			5		31	48
B	2	1	4	1	1	6	14
C	9	2	5	1	1	18	36
D	4	16	9	1		49	79
HQ	20		5	2	4	17	48
E	17	1	30			7	55
		33	10	5
	64	20	53	10	5	128	280

Copy of memo from WX 7777 Cpl. Arthur Draper- undated
(written about Sep 1942)

 8 Pl 2/4 MG Bn.

To whom it may interest

Last Friday I went out to Mandai
with Capt Booth and a party. We buried the remains of
some one unknown and ^on the cross placed a small disk in
memory of 2/30 & 2/4 men killed in that action.

Unfortunately time was very limited,
but I was unable to have a look round. There was no
trace, as far as I could see,  of Dick Sandilands or Doodaa
Day. As luck would have it the man who was alongside
Bob. Smith when he was killed was in the party. He took
me to the spot and a body has been buried, or rather
earth thrown on top of it where he fell. He was the
only man killed in that area and a mess tin of the old
pattern like ours was alongside the mound. I am quite
convinced that it was Bobs, without a doubt.

Back on the hill where Carruthers was
last seen the remains of two men were found, about 3 to 4
hundred yards up from the road. A helmet covered with hessian
and bearing Japp's name and No was alongside also a haversack
bearing McGrath's name 8611 was found nearby. It may be
Carruthers, if so he had a varied collection of gear. It is an
almost hopeless task trying to identify any of the remains.
Sorry I could not find out any thing definite. Trust you
are all well, best of luck.

(Sgd) Arthur Draper.