Diary Jack Lusby Burns - July - Nov -1942 - Part 2

Tuesday 4th August 1942.
The orderlies  have been trained to bring us a cup
of tea in bed. -(?) The morning routine for them is
as soon as reveille (0500hrs) has sounded is for
them to come o, lower ^ & fold up the 4 big mosquito nets in the room by 0520 in time for "muster". The majority of us are so dopey after sleeping under a mosquito net that it takes the tea to wake us. Had my hair cut during the morning - we are allowed 2 haircuts in a month. - I also
shave once every two days.
Played bridge morn., aft. & even.- was
"towelled-up" each time.
Gave one of my Aust. shaving blades to one
of the yanks ("Woodie") he was quite appreciative.
these J. blades sure pull your face.
Walked off with somebody's tooth powder while
at the ablution bench in the morning. I
put my own in my pocket - forgot it was
there so took another from the shelf
as I was walking away. - Must try & find the owner.
Had my blankets aired today for about 4 hrs.
and a good "lurk" of a night time - between muster (2000hrs) & "lights out" (2100hrs) go for a walk up & down the "measured" - 100yds"- it helps one sleep much better.
 

Wednesday 5th August 1942
Used a new tooth brush this morning - the old one
lasted me about 3 mths at RABAUL. - R.I.P.
For some unknown reason the rations are getting
shorter - still today's rations were offset by milk
The milk comes in spilt "split" size bottles approx. 150 to 200 each day so that about twice in 5 days we have a bottle of milk. Yesterday some one worked a "swifty" by giving the Number of our room to the Canteen & walking off with our milk. Our orderly told us about this so a Lieut. R.F Allen & self went down ^to the canteen & had the matter adjusted.
For medical attention we attend a parade at 0815-0845 each day. - It is run by an American doctor under the J's. As we are short on ^ medicines, bandages etc, we have dressings done every 2 days. Even our old bandages are rewashed.
The water position seems to be getting acute - notices were promulgated by the orderly officer about conservation.
Getting a bit fed up with bridge, played 3 times y'day. Rumours seem to be pretty prevalent here.
All the books here were sent down from the American Embassy (Mr. Green]. The new batch of prisoners (10) include Englishmen, Americans and Dutch. Had formal mess at 1100 night meal. 

Thursday 6th August 1942
Today it rained for the first time since
we came here. It is the first time for over
12 months according to the locals.
After breakfast we had to spruce ourselves
up (those with beards had to have them
removed) so as our photographs could be
taken. We were taken in groups of 4 &
the copies of the print will be 20 sen. Will
try & get one.
Gave £3 in single notes to 3 Yanks as
souvenirs so far have 2 dollars & a
long pair of trousers in return.
Cigarettes are at a premium now-there
has been some rumour to the effect that
NO more cigs. are to be retailed at the
Canteen. - Anyhow one is now unable
to purchase them.
In the evening after the meal (1810 hrs) we went
for a walk around ZENTUSI & its environs,
unfortunately I was caught horribly short
on the trip - Did a kangaroo on the banks
of some dam. Felt the hungriest yesterday
since I've been here.
 

Friday 7th August 1942
Shaved this morning - each room is allotted with
a razor blade sharpener (hone) - by this means
I believe an English or American blade will
last 2 months & a J. blade 2-3 shaves.
Was sitting down at the table for breakfast, when
something bit me on the leg, I explored under
the table - the damn thing was riddled with
"bed-bugs"– Golly, the damn things can nip.
During the morning took up the time by going
over a proposed trip of U.S.A after this
war. I intend to go approx 2 years after
the war & base my allowance on £1000. If
I can manage it should be a damn good
trip.
In the aft. the clothes etc we were forced
to leave behind in YOKOHAMA arrived. In
the quickest time that everanything has been
done by them to date (1 hr), the J.'s had laid the
goods out for issue. I manage to supplement
my "trousseau" by 2 shirts, 1 shorts & 1 spoon.
also, we received as an issue in the aft a cake
of washing soap (3"x 2"x 3/4"). this is to last us a
month. - Guess I'll use it up on my additional
new clothes. - Last 1/2 cakes of toilet soap plus box. 

Saturday 8^th August 1942
At present, each officer sleeps on a straw mattress
with 2 blankets in a space of (7'x5') with
7,8 & 9 to a room - so we are not pushed for
room - Every Saturday, the space occupied by
the beds etc have to be swabbed down; as, on
that day an inspection is made by the J.
duty officer.
We were woken up by a service at the Shrine
(just across the way from our window) erected
in honour of the J. fallen. It is the custom
to do this every month on the 8th:
another curious feature noted was that every
person performed physical exercises taking
the time from a radio.- This is the custom
I believe over all J.
Where these people (-as one officer so aptly
put it – "That is where these people bloody well
have it over us" -) score is the fact that when
twilight falls they are still working on their
assignments - No 484 hour week for them.
Some of the Yanks have received letters today.
Golly would be great to hear from home, I felt
sorry for those, for whom there were no letters. Those who received them are still walking on air & answer vaguely when spoken to.
 

Sunday 9^th August 1942
Sunday - a day of rest. - Round about 0915 we
have a talk for ¼-½ hr on various subjects then
church at 1015 hrs. Again thought of home during the service. 'Tis good to "beef" the songs out.
Becoming hungry once again i.e. I am looking
forward to my meals - was dashed near starving
for my breakfast.
Received another issue of 21 cigarette packets for
10 sen each. - these to last to the end of the month.
Worked out my ^credit in my pay ^book to the end of 1943. Came to £742.4.0. This total includes the ^total charge made by the Japanese for our stay in ZENTUSI. With this money as a basis invested for 2 years plus what I can save in this period I should
be able to have enough to go U.S.A-worked
it out yesterday again at a cost of 8,000 dollars for
2 men. If NOT have to sell some shares.
One of the U.S. marine captains who hasn't seen his
baby daughter at all (she being born during his stay
in ZENTUSI) let me read his letter po from home.
Gosh, I was homesick. Bloody decent of him (Charles. S. Todd) at night we again had our Sunday night concert.
Bed bugs are getting very bad. - killed about 5
while lying on my bed after lunch. 

Monday 10^th August 1942
Woke up this morning feeling like a washed
out rag - reason being that the fleas & bed-
bugs were usually active - also there was
quite a lot of activity during that night.
Resolved never to play cards (bridge) for
cigarettes (1 cig. a100) after winning 4 pkts.
Felt quite a cad.
After the Bus. adm. lecture had to have
our fingerprints taken - both hands
all fingers-each separately and then
collectively - also, all particulars taken
re scars on the legs & arms also I think
colour of eyes & noticeably facial disfigurements
Peculiarity of the J. race - the women
always follow 2-3 paces in the rear
of the men folk. - Quite a good idea?
At night-time had on issue of 2
doughnuts coated with sugar. Golly
they were good - just a toothsome
mouthful - costt 9 sens for 2.
The meals of late have been exceptionally
good- but gosh, I'm getting sick of rice.
I'd love to have a feed of steak & eggs. Still make
up for everything missing after the cessation of hostilities.
 

Tuesday 11th August 1942
Have a champion "snorer" sleeping next to me; - as,
he has a most distressing case of "tinea" (he must
go through hell), I have NOT the heart to wake him.
Tried to get a new pair of shoes or boots off the
J.'s but without any luck- was told to go to the
carpenter & get a pair of wooden sandals
made - Saw him & was told to come back in
two - three days.
Today was the first day I have not played
contract since I've been at ZENTUSI.
Had a long talk today with a Lieut Jim Bowring.
on past reminiscences at Wesley - he was there
in 1934.
'Twas very funny - one of the officers is engaged
& he was getting some dope off the married officer's
re the cost of living, furniture i.e. How much
cash is necessary to get married on & how much
it costs to live per week. - Talk about revelations
Outside our window (on the 2nd storey) there are
a couple of "Blue Gums" - they remind me of
Gippsland.
'Tis amazing how many officers have never seen
their offspring as they have been born since they left Aust. 

Wednesday 12th August 1942.
My ankle does not seem to be making any
progress. - Gave the "shell-bandage" I
carried with me from YOKOHAMA. - the yankee
doctor was quite intrigued.
There are some J professors here who are
studying sweat glands. So far they have
taken 3 persons. These persons have
to walk up & down in sweat suits, have
hot baths etc. They are here for a fortnight.
Played poker during the morning- first
game for quite a while - didn't do so
good.
My soap supply is getting quite serious -
we are issued with a cake of toilet &
washing soap once per month.
Tonight, there were air-raid precautions-
we had to draw curtains across the
windows making it extremely humid.
If one happens to squash a flea or a bed

bug you have a big red mark of your
own blood.
The 10 new prisoners were released from
quarantine today - some yanks have moved
next door.
 

Thursday 13^th August 1942
Tonight we went for another walk. Through
the paddy fields - 'Twas a very interesting
walk - to see all the local irrigation
channels & the irrigated fields - the more I
see of it, the more one realises how little
land is wasted. Kids - there were young
nipponese everywhere -J. should have no fear
re decrease of population. The houses here are
jammed up one against the other. We returned
via a by-way running parallel to the main
street.- We seemed to be very much an objects
of interest & oh boy were there grand aromas.
prooss proofs of our photos (taken on 6th Aug. '42)
arrived - I look like a hobo. Two proofs
have been ordered per man.
The "sweat-test students" hiked up & down
yester again today. The must have walked
8 miles.
There have been a very interesting talks (re
cost of living & price of houses - for married men
- 9 out of 17 in this room.) Very heated have been
some of these arguments. Some of the single lads
are engaged & they were getting the dope. 

Friday 14^th August 1942
The married "bucks" in this room (No 22.) have
been delving into cost of cars, fowls  vegetables
etc. to try &  reduce their cost of living.
Also, they have turned into budding
architects as many are the weird & varied
sketches produced by them. Even I tried it.
Started an "ideas" book ie. I will jot down
any original ideas let drop by these "bucks"
from experiences of this married life.
Since I've been here & have given as
Souvenirs various £ 1 notes to the Yankee's.
They in turn have given me as souvenirs
dollars etc. If we wanted to exchange our
money for J. money, we would get 2 yen
for each pound.
The J. have called in all J. money issued at
KABAUL. - This was paper money substituted in
place of our "mark".
Passed on a "minora" razor blade to one of
the yanks - he was deeply appreciative.
Late at night after lights out, approx. 2,000
troops paid a visit, to the shrine opposite &
Judging by the cheering of the populas they embarked on a train.
 

Saturday 15^th August 1942
Had a chat with one of the Yanks, who is
an engineer by trade & has built a few houses
re the design of the place I drew - he
picked it to pieces - consequently I tried
another but he ended up by practically
"selling" me on the idea of double Storied places.
One thing of interest - they couldn't understand
why we did NOT have central heating for
our houses particularly the bedrooms in Aust
Today was a very "black" day in the
history of Burns as I was soundly
"whopped" in every game of bridge I
played. Consequently, am somewhat "down" in
my cigarettes.
Started to copy out the rules of Contract
Bridge a la Culbertson. They have a
tournament here in winter.
The J. propaganda papers are full of
bad news - so bad in fact, that I think
1/2 of it cannot be true - Still Quien Sabe.
Had to buy some more "Pel Mel" (insect ointment)
these b- insects sure interrupt one's sleep.
 

Sunday 16th August 1942

The official day of rest for this camp i.e.

the enlisted men do NOT [?] work up on the

"hill" where they are terracing part of the

hillside - Sunday is NO day of rest for the

J.'s as they work all the same.

We received permission to write 6 letters a

year home - one to be in today - each

letter can be 350 - 5 letter words long. They

go in for censoring to the "office" where they are

typed & signed by us. It was great to write home.

If you have to have anything done to your

teeth you are sent to the J. hospital. If

it is a complicated job (eg."capping") you

are further forwarded to an old dentist in

the town where you have to pay for it.

One of the New officers (who last came in) has

developed typhus and has been isolated.

We had 2 doughnuts for tea.

Had the worst sleep I've ever had since

I've been in this camp - just a mass of

insect bites. Had my revenge in the morning.

-went over my blankets & mattress inch by

inch & squashed 16 bed bugs. Each went off with a

dull plop & a stream of good red blood came forth.-Ugh.

 

Monday 17th August. 1942.

Awoke this morning to the sound of rain

I guess the spell of hot sultry weather is

nearing its close. The water on the paddy

fields is practically drained off. This rice

sure grows quickly.

Sleeping much better of a night now that the

nights are cooler.

Lost a book on Bus. Admn. - full of notes

hope I can find it as it is full of the "good guts".

They always clean the "banjos" out just on a

meal time & the aroma is simply delightful

-sort of gives a snap to your appetite.

These "banjos" are open rectangular holes approx.

6 ft. deep.- When one does a "kangaroo" over

them for the first time 'tis no good for a

weak support. & stomach.

The rats have a regular "Melbourne Cup" in

the ceiling above us each night. - Their

scampering is terrific.

All books had to be returned to the library

so as they could be repaired & to make out a list

of the new books that came from YOKOHAMA (bought by us from RABAUL.)

Tuesday 18th August 1942.

A new batch of prisoners (12) came in at

1400 hrs. - They came from outside YOKOHAMA

& are supposed to include English and Yanks.

from the JAVA SEA and the ALEUTIAN ISLES.

The canteen got in new stocks of "sandals"

slippers & white shorts. Unfortunately by the

time I heard about it the queue was about

40 long & after waiting in it for 10 mins.-

the canteen had cleared its stocks.

Having a pretty disastrous time at bridge of

late - doing all my fags.

The library opened again. Today - as a result

of the new books there was a queue about 30

long waiting for it to open at 0900 hrs.

The ankle seems to be slowly on the mend. Have

it dressed twice each day.

I sleep near the passage way (as per

diagram.) People getting up during the

night, guards, picquets, etc. clump up the

stairs just outside our room. Consequently

some nights one gets a very broken

sleep. Also, 'tis funny sometimes the way 

some people still half asleep grapple with their

mosquito net as they get up.  

[See Diag. of Room 22  17 men assigned.]

Thursday 20th August 1942

Were issued with a basket, containing 6 prs

of various types, of shoes per room. Those

in the most necessitous circumstances were issued.

A ^naval. commander came around enquiring re our cards. There were some sent down from

the Amer. Embassy. The ones you buy at the

canteen swell to twice their thickness &

flay at the edges, in 3 weeks.

Attended our first casting lesson today. It

promises to be an interesting subject.

In the evening attended a lecture on "Nicuargua"

by a"major" of the U.S.M. Corps. It

consisted mainly of reminiscences & bandits.

The nights have become unaccountably colder

and as they have changed our ^new blankets for

"horse stall" ones its damned cold.

Ran out of my months issue of Cigs. last

night. so shall have to "starve" till the

end of the month.

Just woke up to the fact that morning

exercises are conducted for the officers

the whole trouble is that one is unable to

shower afterwards.

 

Friday 21st August 1942

Our room received 2 new packs of cards - linen

finished - It was resolved that a covering

would always be on the table when they were

used.

Have lost a bit of weight - now go 11 stone

10 lbs stripped. I think this is due to lack of

work. One gets corns on his rump

sitting around.

The proofs & photos ^taken & ordered by us on the 6 Aug. arrived today. Two snaps were allowed per

man - lost 10 yen each. They measure 2" - 1¼".

I hope I can send them home in my real letter.

Must have killed about 20 bed bugs on the passage way ridge about 2ft. to the left of my 

bed. - Was sitting on this ridge when I

felt something bite my leg - I looked down

& the pine boards were swarming with insects

I cleaned up quite a few with matches.

The signal for meals is the ringing of a

bell - always a welcome sound.

For eating each man is allowed one (each) spoon

fork, basin, bowl & drinking bowl. The spoons are made of some alloy which bend at any provication.

Saturday 22nd August. 1942.

Inspected the "galley" today for the first time.

There a 4 huge rice boilers - I guess

they'd need them for the crowd that is here.

'Tis interesting to see the effect that the U.S.N. &

V.S. M.C. have on the termology of the various

articles round here.- eg. sleeping quarters

are called deck boards; cookhouse-galley; table top-

deck etc.

Again we have to change around so as

to make room in senority for the various

new officers who have just come in. The J.'s

request the change & the senior american

works it out according to seniority. He

puts this list out then people see it &

immediately begin to "swap" round. At last,

the final result will be reached, the

original list amended & the final result handed

to the Japanese.

Had a good game of bridge in the afternoon.

-started the day approx 3000 pts behind &

finished up about 300 ahead.

The bridge has developed into a permanent

fixture every afternoon. Lt. Hoffman & self v.[?] yanks.

Buck Henshaw & Bill Sterling.

 

Sunday 23rd August 1942.

Pay day received 50 yen so now

am in a position to buy quite a

few clothes etc from the canteen if

the supply lasts. We all received

5-10 year notes. As none of us had

change there was quite a lot of

running around to try & pay small

debts booked up since last pay.

We managed finally to get "change" from

the "office".

Payed 5 yen each to the secretary

of the Mess of this room. This 5 yen

allays such expenses as buns, toilet

paper, tea etc used by everyone in

general.

Missed church service for the first

time since we've been P.O.W.'s 

Attended concert at night these are jolly

good. The Aussie officers have put a

few turns over.

'Tis cool of a night time now. The

mosquitoes are quite conspicuous by their

absence. Wish the bed-bugs etc. were the same.