Diary Jack Lusby Burns - Jan - Apr -1943 - Part 5

Sunday 4th April 1943.
Rained all day - Its busy here
when it rains everyone
mopes round & with the chow
being as light as it is, its
damned uncomfortable! Atended
church service and I'm afraid
that my thoughts more than
once turned to home during
the service - Gee I hope that
they are full of hope & well.
Had a very nice chow as regard
quality but rotten as regards
quantity - Bully beef & onions
were cooked with the rice.
Shadow soup was served with
the meal. Slept twice today
just after b'fast & lunch for an
hour or so. What oh for a good feed.
Started garden plot of own.
Monday 5^th April 1943.
Beautiful day - sun came out - twas
grand basking in its warmth.
Have started a small little garden
plot in conjunction with Leut Bob.
Fulton U.S.N. at the back of the rabbit
house. So far have transplanted
some beans to it. Intend planting
tomatoes, peppers, radish in
it. Hope NO one pinches the tomatoes.
Going great guns saving some
things bread & milk for the B'day
Felt quite heartened today - from
a senior officer who thinks that
we will be home before Xmas 1943.
Cigs were issued today - much to
everyone's relief. Axx Naval officer
gave our room a talk on the Battle
of Jutland this evening. - Jolly good.
Chow still extremely light.
 

Capt Schwartz U.S. Army died last
night - Sweet buns ½ each.
Tuesday 6th April 1943.
A Capt Schwartz of U.S. Army died
last night - the Americans are
doing the funeral watch. - God rest
his soul. Had a very interesting
talk this evening in our room
on the Philipine campaign Week
they seemed to have been caught
with their pants down. Sweet
buns this evening - 1½ each
the office took the rest. Golly
they're "lik lik" but they taste
great. The rabbit man took 5
rabbits as duty for killing 15
(5-xmas; 10-last wk.) We kicked up
a bit of a stink & in future we
have to pay a yen for each rabbit
killed. Had some fish (1 each) from
a Red Cross parcel for evening meal.
Four rabbits came with litters last night.

Wednesday 7^th April 1943.
The J's went mad today - We
were issued with boot polish (2 tins
to 14 men), Colgates dental powder
(1 tin apiece) & Williams shaving
cream (1 tube to 2 men) also a
washing soap issue plus a
gillette blade (1 per man). The
meals are getting absolutely lousy
just enough to sustain body
& soul. Still I guess we cant
complain being P.O.W's. New
brooms were also issued
today. - Evidently everything
is done on a monthly basis.
Attended the funeral service to
Capt Schwartz at 0830 hrs -. Did
some washing & marked my "clothes"
with my official P.O.W. number
which is 428
 

Thursday 8th April 1943.
Slushy duty today - The meals
for b'fast & lunch were average
but tonight - zero. We had
fish. Rained all day - water
is lying everywhere. Dashed
cold this evening. Slept after
b'fast this morning until
morning tea time. Have run
out of black tea & have to use
green tea which is rotten.
Another of our room Gordon Chinn
had a birthday today. So far
have practically 3 loaves of
break saved up plus 2 bottles
of milk. Teddy Goode issued
me an invitation to have morning
tea down in his room on my b'day.
Mine "does" have brought in litters
amounting to 72 litters so far this month.
Friday 9^th April 1943.
Windy cold day although the sun
came out. The officers are really 
making a good job of cleaning
up the camp. At present have 381
rabbits. It should be over 400 by
the 15th and near 500 by the end
of the end of the month. Hell the
chow is light. Had my hair cut
this morning. Rec'd a cig. issue
of 3 pkts today. Chap may as well
give up smoking. The news in
the paper looks rather good even
glossed over ^as it is by the J.'s.
Our committee were to requested an interview
with the J. Colonel re the increase
of the rice ration. We get 350 grams
of uncooked rice per day per officer (perhaps)
Supposed to be an inspection of Shirts
tonight after muster.
 

Burnt rice.
[*Good evening chow.
gravy, rice & bully./Table inspection.*] 
Saturday 10^th April 1943.
Today's routine inspection was
the shortest we have experienced
as yet. The O.O. just walked through
our room. The chow was very
good in quality today - Beans
for b'fast & gravy, rice & corned
beef for evening meal. The supposed
examination of shirts didn't come
off last night, - supposed to come off
tonight. Beautiful day - Sun was
nice & warm - No wind. Did some
washing even was able to take off
my British undershirt so as to
wash it. Had a table inspection
conducted by Division & our room
was allocated 3 tables for the
whole room. Am looking forward
to the 14^th. Should have 4 - 5 loaves of
bread plus 5 btles milk. Burnt rice
this evening.
Sunday 11^th April 1943.
Bath day - water was nice &
warm. Started on a 500 hand
bridge match - Ron Currens & Self
Versus Cmdrs. Keene & Richardson.
Cmdr. Richardson intends to write a
book on bridge I understand after
this war & is doing this for statistics 
purposes. Didn't save any bread
today - thought I'd have a normal
feed for Sunday. Saved my milk
from y'day & had it today with
the 2½ doughnuts we had tonight
The concert was put on by the
enlisted men & was a dashed good
show. Was handed over a young
doe to look after today - it looks a
cute young thing. Time seems to drag
with monotonous regularity of late.
Would give anything to see Mam & Dad.

Killed another 10 rabbits - Had them
with gravy - delicious.
Monday 12^th April 1943.
Attended a lecture on "[[Consoying?]]"
given by a R.N chappie this
evening. Our room has determined
to have some person talk to the
whole room every monday night.
Killed 10 rabbits again today - Had
them in gravy for the evening's
meal; It tasted delicious.
Our number of rabbits is now
396 including the 10 killed. Rained
today so there was NO work on the
outside gardening detail. This
cig. ration of 3 pkts cigs. per 4 days
is sure killing inasmuch as I'm
always out on the 3^rd day. We have
to draw the "blackout" curtains
across the windows each night at
sunset now. Its evident that the J.'s are
scared that Japan will be bombed in the
future. I hope they are NOT disappointed.
Tuesday 13^th April 1943.
Had a chat with a chappie from
England. - be a good idea to get a
job in Eng. for a while after this
war & see a bit of the place. Taken
to town in bridge this aft. The
news in the paper looks dashed
good. Had a fair chow this 
evening - Noodles but by heck
I get hungry around about this
time - Sure like to have some of
the maters cooking. I often think
of those at home. I hope they know
of my whereabouts. Cig. issue
today. Three rooms lost their
smokes through having unauthorised
ash trays. The cigs. lost by
these rooms were immed. purchased
by the J'.s. in the office (?) Did
some washing today but was very windy
 

My b'day - 25 today Lets hope
the next is at home.
14^th April 1943. - Wednesday.
My b'day - Hell of place to spend
this in. - 25 yrs. old. - getting
on. My thoughts were well &
truly on home when I awoke, &
throughout the day. Had a wonderful
day - didn't think it possible to have 
such a time here in Zentsuji.
The Indep. Coy. officers turned
on morning tea - gave me ^a unit gifts of
cigs. & a pipe. The Major & Peter
gave me aft. tea & for my meals -
Whacko? Ron Currens Norm. Wides
& Carroll? Johnson gave me some
soup & prunes. My menu throughout
the day was
B'fast - Brd ration (Daikon soup; 
rice, prunes orange concentrate & milk
& a milk & bread pudding, bread &
butter.
Lunch - ^Chocolate. Soup, bread & butter, bread &
milk & orange.
Tea - Soup, fish, & rice, Chocolate
I was too full to complete my
evening meal with bread.
My Sp. master (Major Potter) gave
me a packet of "Roy" cigs. & Lt Cmdr
Pierson enough coffee for 1 serve.
Out of 4 loaves of bread still have
1½ left. & out of 5 botls of milk
still have 2⅕ bottles left.
I got a hell of a kick out of what the
boys chaps gave me - 'Twas
marvellous of them - It sort of gets
one. An order came round today
that we are prohibited from lying
on our beds between Reveille & Evening
muster. I'm the fullest tonight Ive been
since I came here.
 

Sowed turnip seeds in xxx garden
near rabbit house.
Put in return ¥10 + owing 30 Yen.
Thursday 15^th, April 1943.
Beautiful day - Was lovely to sit
in the sun. Planted some turnips
in our plot near the rabbit hutch.
They J.s. evidently intend to extend
our grounds & rumour hath
it that there are 300 more
prisoners expected here. Nearly
lost my birthday feed last
night - My tummy couldn't take
it & I was dashed near sick.
In fact went as far as to get a
wash basin & put it near the
head of my bed. Heck! I intend
to give the chocolate a bashing
when I get out of this place.
Had an inspection of all ^of our
room Js issue thing this morning
This evening we are to have an
inspection of pillow cases & covers.
Pulled boards up to inspect under
the deck.
Friday 16^th April 1943.
Had to take our mattresses out in
the sun today. - We weren't allowed
to bring them in until 1500 hrs.
During this time they p^ulled
the boards out & inspected
under the deck. As our room
had sufficient time to remove
anything incriminating nothing
was found. Listened to a lecture
tonight of the "Q" side of the
Philipine campaign - damn
amazing. Finished off the
last of my chocolate this evening
Rumour hath it that we are to
receive a parcel before the end
of the month. The fence round this
camp is being extended. Had a
wonderful sleep last night although
nature has been insistent the last
week or so.
 

Extended fence on West side of
grounds.
Saturday 17^th April 1943.
Grand day - Sat in the sun all
day morning & talked to a lad
re England. Two of us could
have a damn good time for
12-18 mths on £400 & get a job
in between times. Field day, to'day
So had to swab the floor.  A very
perfunctory examination
during the usual Sat - aft.
inspection. It was held only by
the interpreter. Received
March's issue of the Sakura
monthly. The news re Tunisia
looks grand. Destroyed a ^false shelf
I made to take some of my goods.
Boys are running around trading
on "futures" of the forthcoming (?) parcel
Chow was very light today. Heck
would love one of the mater's feeds.
Doughnuts (3)
Sunday 18^th April 1943.
The Austs. put on the "Desert Song"
in the form of a Radio b'cast
tonight for the weekly Sunday
night concert. "Twas a damn
good affair. Had a good chow
this evening - Noodle soup
& "bully" in the rice. Milk issue
today. Bread & milk sure taste
lovely. - probably would NOT look
at it at home. The bathwater
was nice & hot but the day
was o'cast & is now raining.
I always feel pleasantly tired
of an evening after a bath. Had
doughnuts (3) for supper. This
new rule of NOT being allowed to be
on bunks between Reville & Evening
Muster rathers interferes with one's
rest.

Sweet buns. (1½)
Monday 19^th April 1943.
Sweet buns (1½) tonight. Very
small but very tasty. A new
order came out today allowing
us No boxes other than 1 Red Cross
Box on our shelf & No more than
2 notebooks per officer - also
NO bottles or tins were allowed
to be kept by officers So we had a
great clean up. Also at "Chow"
time we had an inspection
of blankets. There is a rumour
round to the effect that the J's. are
going to allow us to buy the clothes
issued to us by them (captured
from Hong Kong.) Had to put in a
request for ¥15 extra to pay off what
I put in as having on 15^th April last.
Rained all day - Tired of wingeing
about the food! Heck Id love to run a
P.O.W. camp.
Burnt rice
Tuesday 20^th April 1943.
Grand day - beautiful in the Sun.
Inspection of all crockery this
evening. Have to wash & turn in
all J. issue clothing over &
above 1 complete issue. Fish
for supper - very tasty. Burnt
rice ^issue for b'fast - managed to
save a bit of bread on this
account. Arranged to play chess
every morning after b'fast
against Teddy Goode. Not
allowed to whistle in the
compound now. Evidently the war
news can't be so hot for these
people. The news re Tunisia &
the threatening Allies invasion
of Europe looks promising. Rumour
seems to have it that we are to get a
Red Cross Package on Saturday (?)
 

Wednesday 21^st April 1943.
Fairly warm today - Did some
washing - All J. issued u/clothing
over 1 set was turned in.
Some of the Junior senior - officers
were shifted hour part of the
building as their block is
having extra bunks installed.
Evidently, there is some
truth in the rumour of new
prisoners arriving. Wonder
where they are from? Gravy
for supper - Heck I'm going
to give greasy things a "bash"
when we get out of this place.
The rabbits are on the increase
Now have about 420. Had our
issued crockery inspected after muster
last night. Had a touch of
diarrhea today - guess its the rice.
Payday - rec'd 65 yen.
(Pay record No. 121)
Thursday 22^nd April 1943.
Went out working with the outside
agric. Party. The Daikon
Spinach & Gobo are up. We
planted some maize. Feel
pleasantly tired this evening
The chow was very light today.
Feel dashed hungry this
evening. A rabbit fell out of
its hatch & broke its leg so
it was popped into the stew.
Nice sitting in the sun. The
news in the paper looks rather
good espec. re the cabinet changes
in For every choc. meal I gave
Peter Dixon ½ my bread for
his bowl. Otherwise he won't eat
(drink) the stuff. Now that the
warm weather is here the bed
bugs are going to be rotten