Diary Jack Lusby Burns - Jan - Apr -1943 - Part 3

[*Signed letter No 3. for home.*]
Tuesday 23^rd February 1943.
My Yank bridge partner (Currens)
has been telling me a bit
re the Phil. Is. & the States.
Sure intend to see both places
after this war. Signed my
letter put in on 23^rd Jan. - Sick
service what? The Austs. were
again asked today to broadcast.
From the circumstances it
seems as if our people do
NOT officially ^^know whether we
are P.O.W's. I hope this is
NOT true. We Aussies refused
to broadcast - it being against
regs. The rumour re parcels
has reared its head once again.
Sure hope its right this time.
Beans for b'fast & bread for lunch.
The meals are getting lighter again.

Wednesday 24^th February 1943.
Moved the rabbits into the new
rabbit enclosure. There is room
there for ^⁵⁰⁰ at least. Permission
was applied for to kill some of
them & the local civil rabbit
man made an inspection. The
minimum weight requirement
is 2.25 kilos. A surprise
inspection was made this
morning by a J. naval intel.
officer. - Bread for lunch.
The meals are dashed light
By the papers things are sure
tightening up even for the
populace of J. I guess conditions
will become worse & food looks
as if it will become a problem.
Some cards came in today. Our
rooms get 3 packs. Am gradually
breaking in my new boots.
 

[*Weight 66.9 Kilos.*]
Thursday 25^th February '43
Had the duty today. Managed to put
on a meat stew for evening meal.
It tasted delicious - sure am
going for meaty & fried things
when I get out of this place.
There was a meeting of the prospective
rabbiters this morning at 0800 hrs.
- was allocated 4 cages. Weighed
today - 66.9 Kilos (10.10 lbs) lightest
I have been for a long time.
Lost 3.1 kilos from the last weighing
1 mth ago. Everyone lost weight.
Sure hope the tucker improves.
But (?). Tis nice to sit out in
the sun nowadays. Issue of 3 pkts
cigs. Was right out. Missed out on
the walk today through being out on
duty. Was very cold last night. Everyone
complained of being cold at night.

Friday 26^th February 1943.
Beans for b'fast. - In due of our
loss of weight we received an extra
5 K'grams weight. (So rumour hath it)
kept some of my milk from yesterday
& had bread & milk. Sure tasted
delicious. The working parties
started today Everything should
be in full swing by the
end of the month. Taken to town
in bridge tonight. So far are
the only ones who have finished
their tournament. games. Touch
of indigestion (strange as it may.
seem) tonight. The J's are enforcing
all the little rules more rigidly
nowadays. We must be winning
the war as they seem very down
of late. The rabbit house is sure
the goods. Had an inspection this
morning.
 

Saturday 27^th February '43.
Paid out 58.15 for books on or re
Japan. There should be some
interesting reading in them.
The food ^collecting party (rabbits) ^was on the new working
party went into operation today.
Sure is a good idea as far as
the rabbits are concerned There
being a constant source of food
supply for them. Had gravy with
meat in for tea - sure tasted
lovely. Washed some clothes today.
Cleaned out my quota of rabbit
cages - Have to do this once every
3-4 days. Was beautiful sitting.
in the sun this aft. - Talked with
Ted Goode re his future occupation
Heaven knows what's in store for me
when I get home. Hope the Mater &
Pater are bearing up under the strain
The part of angels.

Sunday. 28^th February '43.
Bath day - the water was lovely
& hot. - Washed some clothes
including U/shirt. - Its damned
cold with it off. - 'Tis rotten, now,
as once we used to get some
little thing of a Sunday night, now
we get nothing. Some carrot
tops came in for the rabbits
- they sure go them. Tonights
concert was a repetition of
old concert on behalf of the
new officers. Twas grand,
sitting in the sun today.
No cigarettes were issued today
on a/c of it being the last day of the
month. Feel tired tonight - possibly
on a/c of doing nothing. The meals
are certainly getting very light on
- I'm as hungry as blazes.
 

[*Elect. light globes cut down from 60 watt
to 30 wt. globes - 1 per room.*]
Monday 1^st March 1943.
The general of the area paid us a visit
today - He was supposed to come about
1400 hrs. then it was 1530 - 1600 hrs.
the "chow" bell rang. We had just got
the rice served when he arrived
Consequently, "chow" was late & cold.
Still we had gravy & onions for tea.
Tasted delicious but unfortunately
it repeats on me. Had bread &
milk for lunch. - also very nice.
Two lads are down with fever. The
lights were off till 1930hrs. We have
now only 1-30 watt light instead of
2 - '60 watt bulbs are before. Cigs
were issued today. As I owed 2 pkts
have only 1 pkt for the next 3 days.
Rained all day - Miserable day very
cold & damp. - Rumour of an increase in
the rice rations.

Tuesday 2^nd March 1943.
Some of the room got milk again today.
2 days in succession is pretty
good. Beans for b'fast. They are
sure a satisfying meal as
compared with the other meals.
Very cold today. Had two good
games of bridge lost. New order - or
rather an old order enforced -
making it compulsory to stand &
during the WHOLE of muster. Some
of the working parties are getting
into their stride. Bread for
lunch kept some milk from y'terday
- 'Tis unfortunate how some of the
lads are losing weight. Hope to
have 350 rabbits by for the 20^th - of this
month. Heaven knows where we are
going to kill some for our stews. Built
some more new hatches. 

Wednesday 3^rd March 1943.
Very lean day as far as food
was concerned - No bread although
some of us received a bottle of
milk. The officers in charge
of the outside gardening plot
were taken out & shown their
place where to work. It looks as
if things are moving in this
direction. Cleaned the rabbit
cages out this morning. Golly
they get filthy. Received an
issue of 3 pkts of cigs this aft.
Was right out except for a
packet that my bridge partner
Ron Currens gave me. Had
to get up last night - damned
nuisance. Also very cold again
today. Had my trousers mended
where I scorched them on the knee.

[*Earth tremor - Hamburgers*]
Thursday 4^th March 1943.
Duty day - my partner went
sick with Malaria for the evening
meal which was No.1. It consisted
of meat burgers - They were
delicious. We rec'd another
bottle of milk today - 2 days in
succession - pretty good going. Gave
a packet of fags to Lt. Frank Sherman
as it was his birthday. Hell of a place
to celebrate one's birthday. Lent
one of my blankets to Clarrie Archer
who is suffering from Malaria.
Let's hope its NOT cold tonight.
At 1930 hrs we experienced an
earth tremor. The whole b'ding
absolutely shook. Lasted for 10 secs.
or so. Bread today - saved my milk
from y'day & intend saving today's
issue till tomorrow. Canteen sold me
1 pr u/pants. 

[*Started outside agric. work.*]
Friday 5th March 1943.
The outside agriculturalists started
on their new work this morning.
They have 1¼ acres to cultivate &
are trying to get the vegs. planted
by the 21^st of this month. Helping
Teddy Goode in his work on an
inside garden plot and managed
to smash a pick handle. Had to
report it to the J's. Also have
to report for burning a hole in
my trousers leg. on a brazier.
Had small fish like whitebait
fried in batter for evening
mean - Golly they tasted delicious
Would like more of them. Bred
some rabbits today. Have been
given some new ^^young ones to look
after. They're cute. Had bread &
milk for lunch xxx tasted really nice.

[*Had to put in a report re the breaking
of a pick & the scorching of my
trousers on the 30 Jan. So far everything O.K.*]

Saturday 6^th March 1943.
A new order came out today - 
The J's found cigs butts in the
Conference Room. They have now
placed this room out of bounds
any further infringement will
result in curtailment of our
big supply. - Tis fair as we
have been warned before.
Another milk issue today. Bread
& milk for lunch - (Good oh!) The
working party didnt go out this
aft. Instead we had our
inspection - had to hide my soap.
Rabbits are coming on fine - near
the 300 mark & expect 350 by the 20^th 
of this month. This new work is
sure wreaking havoc with classes.
Gravy for dinner which was very
nice. & Beans for lunch b'fast.
[*Had the job of washing down
the room for field day. - today.*] 

[*G'coat & uniform parade.*]
Sunday 7^th March 1943.
All officers had to parade in their
g'coats in front of the office. Coats
& tunics were then inspected
for burns & scorchings. Evidently
my note of yesterday stimulated
this move. It is now 4 mnths
exactly since we received our
1^st Red Cross parcel - during
this interval we have had
another. As they were ^^{are supposed to be} issued
once every 2 mths. we should be
due for one at any day.
Skin & dressed a rabbit which
broke its leg. We had it in
the stew this evening. Cleaned
the rabbit cages out today. Bath
day - water was nice & hot also
the weather was kind. No concert tonight
on a/c of the Conference Room being
closed.

[*Soap issue*]
Monday 8^th March 1943.
Went out & work this aft. down at
the officer's Club with the outside
agriculturalists. Swung a pick
& dug with a spade. Sure am
tired tonight. This evening's
meal was putrid - cloudy
water & bowl rice. Hell
I'm famished. Sure would like
some of mother's cooking now.
Hope everything is going well with
them at home. They both are
often in my thoughts as well
as others I have & left behind
One of my rabbits is pretty sick.
Now have 23 docs served. We
intend serving 28 altogether.
Till lessons appear to be up pole.
Did some washing & received an
issue of soap - monthly size 1½ ins cube.
 

[*Red Cross Parcels issued
whacko!! *]
Tuesday 9^th March 1943.
Dad's birthday -Heaven hope
that both he & mother are well &
know of my existence & whereabouts.
May he have a nice birthday. -
God bless the pair of them.
I don't know what dad rec'd for
his b'day. News of me & hope but
we rec'd a Red Cross parcel. Twas
lovely. Traded a bar of choc. for
1 G.W. Tobacco & 2 pkts Roy's & 1 tin
coffee for 1 this butter pkt cocoa & ½ bar of
choc. Also rec'd my 1^st  
of Japan Times Weekly ordered
on 14.2.43. - Sort of a gala day.
Twas our rooms turns for
burnt rice - Saved it till lunch
time & saved my bread till the
evening meal to have after washing.
Had some chocolate - delightful.

Wednesday 10^th March 1943.
J. Army day - celebrated as far as
we were concerned by No ^^outside working
party this aft. Beans & Bully for
b'fast. & Meal & DOUGHNUTS (4) for
the evening meal. The latter were
delicious. The Meals like y'day
were very late. Lunch 1300 hrs
& evening meal 1830. Golly, I was
ready for the latter. Cleaned out the
rabbit cages this morn. - filthy
job. Lent my g'coat to Ron Currans
who is NOT feeling too clever. Had
some magarine on my bread
for lunch - tasted bonzar.
Built a window box & planted
bulbs (brought from where we work
outside) in it. Hope they grow.
Shaved today & washed a few h'chiefs
Constructed a book shelf to put some of my things
on.
 

Thursday 11th March 1943.
Out at work this aft. When we were
suddely called home at 1430 hrs
for NO apparent reason. Gee this
parcel makes a hell of a difference
to our chow - just that extra.
Mixed up some water with my
condensed milk & had bread &
milk. Saved ½ my bread & had
a good feed this evening. Gravy
for supper - very nice. Received
my Japan year Book & The South
Seas Handbook ordered on 14.2.43
They make good reading. Did some
more washing today. Run out
of feed for the rabbits so had
to pluck some more grass for
them. - My hands are sure getting
seared from mucking about with
the little blighters Have to return all
milk bottles the same day now

Friday 12^th March 1943.
Felt the coldest this morning
since I've been here. In fact
had to go to bed for an hour or
so. Gave my sugar to Ron Currans
who has gone down with
Jaundice - Tough luck for him.
Hell of a place to be sick in. Went
out working again this aftn. &
feel very tired this evening
Lost 4 rabbits last night -
cause unknown although, we
suspect the carrot tops. Had
a very nice concoction for lunch
put some bread in a tea cup
sprinkled sugar & cocoa on it
then poured water milk over it.
Tasted delicious. Put in for a
raffle but guess I have Buckleys
chance. Gee would like to hear from
home & have some of Mums cooking

Saturday 13^th March 1943.
Beans for b'fast Unfortunately,
the rice was tainted with some
kind of vegetable which tasted
like hair oil. Still one can't be
a choser with food as scarce
as it is. Hell would love a
feed as cooked by mother. Guess
I would be pretty sick. Seems
to be a bit of the gripes going
round this camp. Went out
working this morning & felt
fatigued the rest of the day.
Had a "false" fire alarm
this aft. As well as an
inspection. The meals were a bit
light on today. Plucking grass
for the rabbits today & mucked up
my finger on a thorn. Tis a
bit painful tonight. Also feeling
dashed hungry.

[*Poisoned finger.*]
Sunday 14^th March 1943.
Had a rotten sleep last night
- My finger ached & throbbed like
blazes so consequently had few
hours of sleep. The officers of
the Indep Coy met this aft.
in the Major's room for a
reunion - a pleasant couple
of hours was spent in
reminiscences of former times &
of those at home. The doctor
cut my finger open this
morning & since then it
has eased off considerably.
Hell of a place to be sick in. One Two
of the lads next door had a b'day
today. We had a sing-song after
evening chow. Entertained the other ½ 
of this room to morning tea from
a bridge tournament held a month or
so ago (Dec/Jan)