Diary Jack Lusby Burns - July - Nov -1942 - Part 5
Friday 2nd October 1942
We have quite an amazing number of
personalities mixed amongst the various
races we have here. Some of the
yarns spun by them are very interesting.
We have English, Americans, Dutch &
Aussies here at the moment.
We had "two” buns rescued from the
canteen as an addition to our evening
meal - golly, they were great. - Talk
about the old ^economic axiom - "Money is NOT
wealth" is dashed. Although we are kindly
issued with 50 yen there's damned little
food we can buy in the canteen, although
it's damned easy to go through.
Golly one seems to be becoming "fat" on
the diet - everyone is certainly putting
on condition - some of them are disgustingly
fat.
Went to get a hand-kerchief this morning
and found 6 of them chewed full of holes
by the rats - damn them. The chap next
door Lieut. Stirling had the same thing
happen to him.
Saturday 3rd October 1942
Heard about some of the tales of the
bombing of London from one of the lads
from London - Gee they certainly have
been taking & experiencing a hell of
a time. War has sure reached a
new stage. Started a new German class today.
Inspection day today, the fl. officer
after inspection - said he was
dissatisfied with our shelves.
Charlie & Todd & Geoff Kinler ^each gave ^ea me
a packet of fags - dashed good of them.
I'll have to do something when we get
our new issue so ^as to try & conserve at
the end of the month.
They are selling shirts & things
down at the canteen tonight. These
are for the enlisted men - officers
are asked to go there while the
canteen is open during the morning
& leave the evening for the men who work on
the hill. - There were more officers than
men there last night & senior officers at
that. Hope I can get in light some
tomorrow.
Sunday 4th October 1942
Played bridge practically all day with
Lieut. Lyons against Lieuts. Grant & Bowring.
We won by 400 and this won by one
cigarette.
The concert at night was an
entirely Aussie affair. It went on with
a bang. The yanks reckoned that they
haven't had such fun for ages - at
least I should say since they've been in
Zentsuji.
Two men came down from Osaka (where
there is a party of American enlisted men
working the ships) to collect the winter
clothing etc for the men there as I believe
they are being shifted to Tokyo.
One of the lads had some bug powder
which he put around his bed. It must
have killed about 200 of them.
If you are sitting at a table or on
a bench & feel an itch & "lumps" rise
on your legs or arms or anatomy you
know what is the cause - Bugs. The
table & forms are absolutely riddled with
them. There is some rumour afoot to the effect that
this is going to be an Officers Camp only.
Monday 5th October 1942
Rained today - Beautiful sunshine
for the morning but after lunch
it came onto fairly heavy rain.
Absolutely out of cigarettes - Have to
"bum" my way to next issue day.
Still managed to click onto one
packet through the generosity of one
Lieut. Lyons.
The guards are coming in of a morning
now and rousting people from
bed. - Many are the moans.
An order came around that more
officers had to attend physical
training of a morning for ¼ hour
after muster.
'Tis cold under the showers now-
adays. Most of us have regulated
them to one every two-three days.
Saw the school children marching
in the the school across the way.
The girls marched really well. The
music being supplied by a wireless
through amplifiers.
Tuesday 6th October 1942
Went to physical training this
morning straight after muster.
There was a grand turnup - evidently
yesterday's J. turnup ^ order had some effect.
Tis very chilly nowadays.
Borrowed some bug powder last night
and spread it around my mattress.
This morning there were quite a few
dead -'ans around.
Most of the officers are being issued with
British boots brought from Hong Kong.
Hope I can cotton onto a pair.
Held our second meeting of accountants
last night. It promises to be a success.
The men who are going to Tokyo took our
German ^ grammar book. I wonder how we
will get on in trying to learn the
language. My Spanish is about as
good as my French.
Have great trouble with these blankets
they are only 6 ft. long and every morning
I wake up with frozen feet.
Wednesday 7th October 1942
Had an excellent meal service today.
Breakfast Greens - Vegetable tops - rice
Lunch Gravy - Bread - Rice
Supper (a la American Style) Pork Burgers
rice - all very tasty.
Some enlisting men put in the "Brig"
for pinching canned pineapples
from the place where they worked. In
Japan evidently, you can leave or set
a 'thing down' & come back & find it
there.
The physical training of a morning
is the goods - makes you a bit
stiff but as yesterday was the first
time I went out - guess its only
natural. - hope it soon wears
out.
Some of us where were issued with
G-^heavy Clothes which they had ^here last winter.
Unfortunately, I couldn't get any to
fit me. I understand some British clothing
will be in soon.
All the Austn. & English Officers decided against
Broadcasting as in contravention to A.M.R&O.
Thursday 8th October 1942
Went for a long walk today. The
same as we went three ^two weeks ago.
We took a go-cart along with us
and collected some cigarettes. Had
a sleep whilst we waited for the
cigarettes. Hope they are issued
tomorrow.
Re this broadcasting - As it is in
contravention to order we all decided
NOT to broadcast.
Feeling very tired tonight - The
water is sure cold to wash in
of a morning.
Missed Spanish & Costing this
morning.
Today is the 10th Rescript Day - ie
the 10th month since Japan declared
war. A Service was held by the
J. in our lecture room this morning.
so missed shorthand.
Most of the rooms are doing away
with their mosquito nets now. The
5 of my side decided to still have ours
up.
Friday 9th October 1942
Issued with cigarettes today - 21
packets - A notice was up to
say that the issue for October was 25
packets. They came as a Godsend.
Won two packets off of Lieuts. Allan
& Stirling.
There was a long queue working at the
canteen for these fags as there were
also quite a number of other things
obtainable there.
Managed to click onto some 5B
pencils for shorthand - also a
ruler and a pair of scissors.
Rabbits are kept here by the
Officers - the idea was to have our
own supply of meat - the idea was
sound in theory but in practice
- alack! There are less rabbits
now that when we first started.
A dog got amongst them last
night and polished off three. The
rabbits are incarcerated in wooden
boxes ^just covered with bamboo sticks so would not offer
much opposition to a dog.
Saturday 10th October 1942
Tis beginning to get really cold of a
night-time now - The whole trouble
is that these blankets are a bit too
small & your feet become frozen.
As or due to the rice diet many of
the boys have to relieve the pressure
on the bladder ^ once or twice every night. 'Tis usual
to be woken up once or twice a
night.
Now that the cold weather has come, we
are being issued with British
Tommies clothes from Hong Kong. These
clothes are branded 1917 and are very
warm. Hope I click within the next
two or three days.
My total lectures now consist of
Spanish Bus Admin. - Costing
Amer. Finance
Talks.
Shorthand Navigation
German English Grammar.
They keep the mind active & help to
pass the time of day away.
My partner Lieut. Kilner & I were taken
to town last night at Contract.
The bugs are active again.
Sunday 11th October 1942
Promised 2 yen (signed a certificate)
a month ie per pay to buy records.
We have a good good-music (classical
& semi - ) performance every Saturday
night. for about 1 ½ hrs. Every night
there is music in the canteen for
the enlisted men - jazz etc.
Played cricket today - was dashed
good.
Our church service and and our
evening concert were broadcast
tonight - both were good performances.
None of the Aust. or English officers
are broadcasting as against
Regs. Capt. Millican was asked why
we didn't broadcast - he told the
authorities that is was against the
Regs. It was 12° above freezing last night.
Tis funny to see some of the boys
sleeping on benches & tables of a
night-time to avoid the bugs.
An order came round tonight that P.T
of a morning is from now onwards
compulsory for every officer.
Monday 12th October 1942
Participated in my first game of
cricket today. - the Yanks were
sure interested Charlie Todd turned
out a fine bowler.
As we now have to go for a walk
between the hours of 0900 - 1000 & 1500
& 1600 hrs. it has slightly interfered
with our lectures.
After lunch we had a rebroadcast
of our concert.
I believe we have placed the J.
Colonel in a stew through NOT
broadcasting.
A request came round asking all those
who could sing, dance, recite play
music instruments broadcast etc. to
go to the J. office.
There is rumours of more ^men officers coming
here. Time will tell.
Twas funny to see us doing our
Spanish lesson in the open walking
around. el maestro leading the field
with his book in his hand.
Tuesday 13th October 1942
Slipping up on my diary am
writing todays notes on Wednesday
night.
Was issued with an English Tommy's
clothes supposed to have come from
Hong Kong - one of the dates on my
singlet woollen was July 1931.
We got a tunic, pants, 2 woollen
singlets 4 sizes too large and 2
prs of pyjamas in lieu of
underpants. Thank heaven for
some woollen clothes at least.
Practically all the buttons on the fly
came off so I became very
industrious with a needle and thread.
Bush tailoring but it will do.
There are rumours of a change
Hope I still stay in this room.
Slept last night without a mosquito
net - the J.'s are recalling all
nets - It went all right as there
are now no mosquitoes around.
Wednesday 14th October 1942
The promised change has come to
pass. There have been 7 officers
allotted to each room - Our room
(which is really 2 rooms in one), now has
only 14 officers instead of 22
presents a fairly forlorn scene.
A seniority list was put into ^the J’s of all
the officers here by the most
senior officer of the Yanks, Aussies
& English.
The other building has been reserved
for officers of Majors etc. upwards.
We expect some new arrivals soon.
There was great confusion during
moving day today. Happily I
am remaining in the same
room.
The bugs gave me hell last night.
They seemed to drop from everywhere.
as we had NO net.
Attended my first English Class
- decided to run them 2 a week.
Took my trousers across to the tailor &
asked him to shorten them.
Thursday 15th October 1942
Shifted quarters today - a seniority
list was published in according
to such we had to shift quarters
am still in the same room but
have shifted places. Now have
Lieut. Tyrrell (who was in the Bank
at Bruthen 1927 - 28 - its a small world)
and Lieut Chandler as sleeping
partners.
Had to have my issue trousers shortened
These clothes are certainly warm.
Am [[stony?]] lent 17.50 of this
month's pay had to borrow some
to buy a few articles at the canteen.
I used to grow a "crop" but I think
my "cowslick" will defeat my plans.
Been playing a fair bit of cricket
of late. Had a bet with our
English Commander that I could
bowl him in 6 balls - managed
to win one cigarette. The Yanks are
intensely intrigued by this game.
Friday 16th October 1942
Decided to change our plans re the
Spanish Class at 1530 hours each
day. We have to take a compulsory
exercise each day between 1500 &
1600 hrs so we are rather goosed as
regards this lesson. Decided to copy
our Vocabulary Grammar etc from
others in another class & just to have
the lesson. 'Tis quite a good idea.
The officers who came from the other
building ^are complaining of the bugs in
this building - Boy they ain't seen
nuthin' yet.? -
There was something going on over at
the 'Shrine' today across the way.
We can see it over the fence from
our window. A lot of soldiers were
there - drums were beaten & bells
rung and there appeared to be a
dragon of some description. A lot of
priests were very much bedecked in
robes hats - very grotesque in appearance
Saturday 17th October 1942
Rained practically all day - miserable
weather - still the atmosphere was
very mild. Went around without a
coat most of the time.
Today, being Saturday, the "decks" were
were "swabbed down" in anticipation
of an inspection at 1400 hrs. It
went off O.K.
Had an Australian blanket given to
me by Lieut. Tyrrell - damned
decent of him. - When our blankets
came down from Yokohama,
everyone hopped in for their two
or supposed two - just like a bun-rush
Unfortunately there weren't enough
blankets for two all round in fact
just enough for one each, so
quite a few of us did not get a
blanket.
The meals yesterday were up the
spout. [[Still Sabe.?]]
I wonder how everyone is at home.
They are often in my thoughts.
Sunday 18th October 1942
'Tis beautiful weather of late very
cold in the evenings and early
morning but P.T circulates the blood
and the sun is super the rest of
the day. The east walls of the building
are always lined with chaps of a
morning, basking in the warmth
of the morning sun.
Again the concert put over at
night-time was super. The Aussies
evidently last week set the standard
upon which future concerts will
be based. From now on, plays
or short skits seem to be the
order of the days. Tonight's show was
an international affair composed of
Aust. Amer. & English officers.
Am breaking down on the showers
now only partaking about 1 every
3 days. They're damned cold.
Bugs are still an annoyance.
Monday 19th October 1942
Today witnessed the start of the
bridge tournament. I drew a
Lieut. J. L. Nestor (U.S.N) as a
partner - he is supposed to be amongst
the two best Americans here.
We played 2 games today and
managed to win both by 1300 &
1100 resp. - Gosh I held some
lousy hands.
There are 74 players in the
tournament. Each partner was
picked by "draw" so we have 37
pairs - each pair must play each
other so there must be 36 games.
Each game must be of 3 rubbers.
so there will be 108 rubbers played
by the time that the match is over.
I guess that we'll all be sick of
bridge by then.
Some of the Americans have received
parcels through the Inter. Red Cross
I hope we get some.
Tuesday 20th October 1942
'Twas intensely cold last night
-climbed under every blanket I
possessed but I was still cold
when I awoke this morning. These
ruddy beds ^ blankets are too short and
my feet shore and do a freeze.
Some rumour hath it that a
shipload of Canadian flour is
on its way here - I wonder?
My cigarettes have just disappeared
tis bloody - my partner in bridge
kindly gave me two packets.
Were taken to town by 2400 today
Golly, 'twas terrible. I had one bid
all the game. I didn't play a hand
and in 5 hands I held 4
picture cards.
The time for Spanish has now been
changed to 1500 hrs so we get a
good bellyful of it. Still I don't
mind as I hope to be able to read &
write the subject when I leave here.
Wednesday 21st October 1942
A notice came round this morning
re a visit of the Aust. representative
to the J. authorities. It read:-
1. The Service Ambassador is expected
here at any moment
2. Cricket may only be played at
the hours set aside for exercise
0900 - 1000 & 1400 - 1500 hrs resp.
3. Permission was granted to write
another letter home (NOT to exceed
350 words) We are NOT to encourage
other people other than parents to
write to us.
4. Any number of classes may be
held provided the number who
attend do NOT exceed 10, the
place and subject must be approved
of by the J's. etc.
A notice came around that all
privately owned books must be put
out on the table and be examined
by the J.'s. Also, that at night-time our
windows are only to be opened a foot from
the bottom.
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