Diary Jack Lusby Burns - May - Sep -1943 - Part 2

Wednesday 22^nd September 1943
Did the weeks washing.
Am starting this diary on
the 1^st of October 1943 in a sort of
summarised form as paper
is very scarce.
Weight now 64.4 Kgs - gone up
4/10 cant make it out.
Black out
till
June 12^th 1944.
Tuesday 11^th May 1943

Heck we are having some fun
re the book we are running.
Pleasure is so damned
hard to get in this place
Theres only one purpose for
which this paper is suited
for. Have just about finished
my "parcel". Wish we had one
once a fortnight. The mosquitoes
are beginning to rear their
hoary head. Was dive bombed
pretty well last night. Still
I prefer these boys to the bugs.
They caught a cat that had been
pinching the rabbits but they
let the damn thing go again.
I killed a breeding doe.

Tuesday 21st September 1943
The weather has turned
cold all of a sudden.
Everyone had to put on more
clothes. Had 30 rabbits
in the the gravy for evening
meal. Burnt rice was
issued to this room this
morning. It supplements our
diet. Did about 2 weeks
washing this morning.
"Daikon" is beginning to make
its presence known in the
soups now. Cut up some
timber for a stool. One of
the inmates was put in the
Brig. for bathing in our
unofficial place. No news of Italy
in the papers today. [[??]]
Wednesday 12th May 1943.

Another nice day. All Jap

underclothing had to be turned 

in to the J. office. It looks as 

if we are to be allowed to buy

1 set of the captured British 

underclothing that was issued 

to us. Received an issue of 

3 pkts of J cigs. Signed a 

duplicate set of papers, allowing

a charge of 8 [[sen?]] to be made

against our pay for 1 pair 

of J. socks. Doug & Teddy

had me down for morning 

tea - damned decent of them.

The nightly cat marauder

has accounted for another 3

rabbits Won 23 yen on a bridge

match book. -We still stand to lose 

100

 

Monday 20^th September 1943
Miracles sometimes happen.
Were issued with a sweet bread
apiece. It tasted beautiful.
Tells how much one is going to
appreciate bread, butter & jam when 
we get home. Rained all day.
Rumour hath it that there is
a hurricane in the vicinity.
Starting to grow a moustache
again. Issued with g/coats
the same as we had last
year. [[?]] in as having 1
blanket, I understand that we
are to get a total of 7 blankets
apiece for winter. With no stove,
we will sure need them. Started
to wear a tunic today.
Thursday 13^th May 1943.

There is a crib tournament being

run- 20 starters. So Bob Allen

& self have decided to run 

a book on the whole affair.

Our highest odds have been 

30/1. So far. at present there 

are 3 books running. Lex

Fraser had me down in his 

room for morning tea.

Capt Tozer the A. A. PC. Chappie 

from Rabaul was also there &

we teed up things trying 

to anticipate the questions

the questions that will be asked of 

us when we get back to Australia.

Had gravy for the evening meal.

Rec'd an issue of burnt rice -

very lik-lik. Would love to hear from

the mater & pater.

Sunday 19^th September 1943
Rained all day. Still it wasn't
bad as it was a day of rest.
Slept most of the morning.
Doughnuts for supper. Every
Sunday aft. we have a
"partie" of bridge, & we have
a dashed good game. The news
in the paper looks good. Had
a very vivid dream about
home & [[Léline?]] last night.
Gave me a touch of the "blues"
today. Many are the tales of
horror etc told by officers
of other camps etc. Reminds
one of the adage "He who laughs
last". I xxx would give almost
anything [[????]].

Friday 14^th May 1943.

Caught a cat last night in 

a trap which we had baited 

with a live rabbit. Unfortunately

the cat had killed the young 

rabbit. Some of the lads had 

the cat for their evening meal.

Had to hand in our British

underclothing issued to us by

the Japanese prior to winter. It 

was a great comfort during the 

cold days of winter. Had morning 

tea with Teddy & Doug this 

morning - Teddy makes some 

kind of cottage cheese out of his

milk. It tastes really delicious

Having great fun with the 

running of our books. Did 

some washing this morning, also

started on a new garden plot.

Saturday 18^th December 1943
Managed to buy a scrubbing
brush plus some tooth
powder from the canteen.
This canteen now doesn't sell
½ of what it used to. Notebooks
are now at a premium
in view of the classes that are
being run. Put in as having
no money for this month.
Very perfunctory inspection
this aft. Have [[warned?]] quite a
number of the officers here as
to the possibility of "stamps" being
sent to me after this show. Tis 
grand looking at some of the
photos some of the lads are 
[[???]]

Saturday 15^th May 1943.

Was put out of the Crib tournament

today. - all present we stand 

to lose at the most 12 yen on 

our books for this tournament

Paid out 11.81 for our ∧issued captured 

British uniforms. They are 

good things for winter. I hope 

to heavens that we dont have 

to use them at this place

again. I haven't worn mine 

for about 2-3 weeks. Been out 

of cigarettes all day. An Aust.
flying officer ^F/O P. Metzlers who has been
incarcerated in this place
for over a year received a
letter from Aust. dated
sometime in June 1942. Gee
'twould be grand to hear from
home. Had [[cheese?]] for lunch
today. 

Friday 17^th September 1943
Orderly for the day. - "Chow"
was pretty lousy. Our vegs.
consist mainly of egg-fruit,
squash, ^with some potatoes & onions
thrown in. Sometimes we get
spinach which is always
full of grit. Beans we have
once approx every 3 days.
Heard a lecture on living
conditions in the prison camps
in German during the last
war, by one of the officers here
who was also a prisoner last
war. Poor Blighter. Evidently we
get slightly more food here but
they used to get a "parcel" once
a week plus extras. 

Sunday 16^th May 1943.
Rained all day. Bath day
the water being nice & hot. I find
that if I pour a bucket of
cold water over myself after the
hot it does NOT make one so
susceptible to colds. Cig. issue
y'day - Peter Dixon gave me a
packet of fags - He has given up
smoking. There was a case of
one of the J. Sgts. slapping an
officer. This matter was taken to
the J. office & the J Colonel ruled
that there shall be NO more
slapping of officers by Sgts.
No concert last night inasmuch
as the conference room is being
used as a store room. Had Todd
& Doug up for morning tea Maj Potter had
me over for aft. tea - Going social.

Thursday 16^th September 1943
Have decided to quit the rabbit house.
The Major is at me to do so —
he thinks it gives me the trots.
also there are too many mossies
& fleas there. I am going to try &
 join the Sanitary squad.
Had some of our Red Cross cheese
(¼ box per man). It tasted lovely.
Will have to eat this stuff when
I get home. Everyone seems to be
getting a touch of "barb-wire"
fever — we want to get out of this
place. Somehow, I don't think
it will be too long. Bought 12 pkts
fags for 75 yen. Eaten alive again
last night by bugs etc. Up twice
with the trots during the night. Now
occupy 1^st position in the "ladder".
Monday 17th May 1943 
Hamburgers for evening meal -
Heck they tasted nice. An Aust.
Bridge Tour. has been arranged
I am playing with Col Scanlon.
We are quoted at 30.1's in the
books. We haven't a ghost of a
chance. Still I'd like to win
a couple of games for the old
boy. The papers have been

held in the J office for some

unknown reason. Many are
the surmises on why they are
being held there & the news
they contain. Signed letter No 4.
to home y'day. 'Twould be grand
to hear from them at home.
Gee, I hope that they are OK
and are NOT worrying.

Wednesday 15^th September 1943
Raining very heavy this evening.
The summer this year is NOT
as near as hot or oppressive as
it was last year—also the news
at this period is ever so much
better than it was last year.
Received an issue of 7½ pkts
of cigs ^to last till the end of the month.
Still have my cold. Gee twill be
grand to get some decent food
inside one. Managed to get another
teacup in the place of the
one that I smashed about a
week ago. Feel very optimistic
myself this evening re the
sudden termination of the war.
More of the Yanks have been
receiving letters. Sure makes me
homesick to see others getting letters.
Tuesday 18^th May 1943.
Had to put in a list of how much
money we have in hand (25 y)
& a list of our personal clothing
also to what religion we belonged &
how often we attend. Received
some clothing from the canteen.
About 2 sets to 14 men. We
cut the cards to decide. A new
order came out that we can
lie on our bunks between the
hours of 12.00 & 1300. Had ½
a hamburger each for b'fast.
It went damn well. The bread
for lunch came in a few ^pine boxes
& they tasted very much of resin.
The meal this evening was
pretty lousy. Hell I'd damn
near give anything for a
decent feed cooked by the mater.

Tuesday 14^th September 1943
Had the feed detail for the
rabbits - Two of us feed the
brutes. This duty rotates
once every 6 days. Gradually
getting my cold under control.
Some of the lads in this room
are getting a touch of the
runs. Mosquitoes were fairly
active last night. Something
kept biting my feet & my
shoulders. Played a duplicate
bridge match for 1st position on
the ladder. The J authorities
issued a booklet to each room
setting forth in it "Rules & Regs.
of the Life of Prisoners." Very
involved. Out of cigs.
Wednesday 19^th May 1943
Col. Scanlon & self were "knocked
out" of the Aust. Bridge Tourney
this aft. Twas an exciting
game. Had an inspection of
crockery & cutlery just prior
to lunch. Meals were very
light on today — just a bunch
of greens. The papers are
still being withheld from us.
An order came round early
this morning that we would
be allowed to lie on our bunks
between the hours of 1200 & 1300.
Just after 1200 when everyone
was lying on their "blot" an
order was promulgated, rescinding
the earlier one. Many were the
moans. Things are tough as
regards cigs. Had a call of nature
last night - this rice ration.
 

Monday 13^th September 1943.
Some more letters were issued
by the J's to the old americans
from Guam & Wake. The lad
(Dale Hilton) Next to me had
received some more mail.
He lets me read his letters 
- dashed decent of him. Heck
I would love to hear from
home.  'Twould be marvellous.
My class is going on in full
swing - Gained another Law class
Should help me later
on. Now have to clean 3 cages
in the rabbit house - we have 
lost 4 of personnel to the agric.
Squad. The J's have told us that the
only meal we are to receive in the future
is that from our Red Cross parcel.
Thursday 20^th May 1943
Now that papers have been
held up, 'tis amazing the number
of rumours that are going round.
Some include a landing in the
Lowlands & Norway, capitulation
of Italy & a negotiation of peace
by Germany. Major Potter's
b'day today. We gave him a party
- it was super. Ron Currens,
my bridge partner, wedding
anniversary so he made a
chocolate cake- It tasted lovely.
Made out a report of the Indep.
Coy's financial position with
Lex Fraser this aft. The 
rations were very light today.
Received an issue of 3 pkts' cigs.
All the Indep. Coy officers are putting
in 2 pkts cigs for the Major's b'day on the
23^rd.