Diary Jack Lusby Burns - Jan - Apr -1943 - Part 6

Friday 23^rd April 1943.
Had a surprise inspection
& field day .Everything had
the in inspection order by
0830 hrs. . Had some of the
pilchards from our last issue
of Red Cross parcels- they
tasted very nice. Another litter (5)
rabbits came in last night
Total now 441. Everyone  is
eagerly looking forward to
try to see the paper each day
to see if a second front
has been formed - Here's
hoping. ? There is a hell
of a lot of dickering going
on in '"future's " of the proposed
parcel coming tomorrow. Attended
church service this morning.
 

Saturday 24^th April 1943.
Well the Red Cross parcels didn’t 
turn up but  an order was
promulgated that they would be
issued on the 28th & NOT today on 
account of an inspection of this
camp to be conducted before then.
Full day- Clarrie, Archer &
self swabbed down the room
scrubbed tables & benches etc.
There was NO routine weekly
inspection conducted this aft.
Rec’d  milk today . Have hit on the
policy of sharing a bottle of milk
with Teddy Goode each day so
instead of getting 1 bottle every 2 days
receive  ½ bottle each day. There
promises to be a good feed tomorrow
Lets hope but I would sure like
to have some of the mater's.
 

[*Easter Sunday Had a “do” in our
room & the next room for the whole
camp.

Anzac Day*]
Sunday 25^th April 1943
Easter Sunday - all the Indep.
officers went to church at 1030 hrs
I thought of Mum & Dad during
the service. Instead of the usual
evening concert we had singing
by various choirs. It was
quite excellent. The meals were
quite good in quality compared
with the usual days  “chow.”
Veg soup, gravy & hamburgers
formed the usual 3 meals for the
day. The bath water was nice
& hot. We had these early on
account of a ‘do ‘ we had in
our room + the room next door
for the whole of the camp ( a second
Xmas “do” ) All brought their
tea cups & tea pots & various items
were put on. Everyone enjoyed themselves.
 

 [*Weight 66.6 kgs
Play- "Rookery Nook".*]
Monday 26^th  April 1943.
Had the “play” of the year put
 on tonight - “Rookery Nook”.

Everyone was impressed by it.
Y’day’s “do” made a hit on the
new people. They say that it
made them forget for the 1^st
 time so far that they were
P.O.Ws. Inspections of issued 
goods seem to be taking place
right and left. - 2 today. One

of the tea kettles & buckets & the other
of razors. Most of the lads who
grew beards over winter have
shaved them off within the last

week. Weighed today. & gained
6/10  ^{11 os} of a kilogram. Now weigh
66.6 kgs. First time I’ve gained
since I’ve been here. Very warm

this evening.

Tuesday 27^th April 1943

There is supposed to be a big 
inspection tomorrow by the chief
of the  War Prisoners Information
Bureau so they hold a preliminary
inspection today  at 1300 hrs today.
They removed all rails from 
the wall and took down all
temporary shelves etc, created quite
a stir. The guards were very
troublesome - it’s funny how 
different guards had d’frent
ideas of their importance. Supposed
to get "Parcels" after the inspection

tomorrow - Let’s hope. Was
raining this morning, but the sun
came out later in the day evening ‘Twas

nice sitting in its warmth. Promise
to be a good feed on the 29^th the
J. Emporer's birthday. Oh! for sense

of the Maters.?

 

List of Books ordered 14.2.1943
Book.                                 Cost                Paid
 Year Book: Japan         25.00.              25.25        

South Seas H’Book.                              ^27.2.43             
[*Recd  11.3.43

rec'd 9.3.43
Japan Times Weekly.    17.00.               17.doz
                                                                rec'd 20.3.43
rec'd 20.3.43                                             27.2 43

Sakura - monthly            7.56                  7.65       

                                                                      ^27.2.43

Nippon bimonthly.      10.00.                   10.15
.                                                                    ^27.2.43

Commerce ¼ ly.          15.00.                   15.10
Tourist Library.               20.00
(38 books).                    *94.56
.                                       ________

Sunday  3^rd April  1943
 Burnt rice this evening - Hopped
into my ‘parcel’ today - polished
off a packet of “hardtack” &
1½ bars of chocolate but I have
put in my share of goods for
Maj’ Wilson’s b’day on 23 May 43.
Dame Rumour hath it that we
are going to lose our bread issue.
I hope it’s wrong. [[?]] I’m going to make
up for the loss of chocolate when I get home.
 

Wednesday  28^th April 1943
Whacko! parcels  were issued
 today - American - although the
J.'s took out the meat, fish, soup
& cheese. ‘Twas tough luck about
the latter. Went out with the
feed collecting party today.
Has a big inspection today
by the Chief of the J. War
Prisoner's camps etc.  He was
a Maj. General. Took 15 rabbits

down to the butcher to be killed
and dressed for tomorrow's meal.
It promises to be a good day
tomorrow it is the J. Emporers

birthday which is the most
notable feature of the J. year.
Feel dashed tired & excited
tonight.Wrote my letter No 4

to home today although as yet

have to put it into the office.

Thursday 29^th April 1943
J. Emporer’s Birthday. We were 
led to believe that extra 
feed was to be put on but I’m
sorry to say that we were
very disappointed as far as
breakfast & lunch were concerned.
However for tea we had 15
rabbits in the gravy -it 

tasted delicious. Also, I
used some prunes & condensed

milk on my rice which also 
tasted very nice. Now that

parcels are here everyone
tops up their shelf & digs
out some little lunch snacks.
There are a lot of sore throats

& colds flying around of late.
I hope I can steer clear

of them. Twas grand being 
out in the sun in fact
some of the lads have started

to sunbake. News in the paper 
looks grand today.