Diary Jack Lusby Burns - May - Sep -1943 - Part 4

Monday 31^st May 1943.
Everyone in camp was ordered
out to work today by the J's.
clearing & cleaning up the 
buildings & compound - especially
the new compound. All the
rabbiteers had to turn out -
as it is my week on the feeding
detail - we get one week
every month on this detail
Heard some interesting news
tonight. There is also another
rumour that our rice
ration is to be cut again.
Hope that this will NOT be
so. An order came out today
saying that we would only be
allowed to keep one empty Red
Cross box. An American who
arrived here in January received
an answer to one of his letters written then.
4
0600  - The extra ½ hour of rest 
is very acceptable. Have started
to breed the rabbits again.
Received 7½ packets of cigs

y'day. The ration has been 
cut again from 20 a month
to 15 a month - Now on 5 cigs
a day. Some of the rooms
have had their cig. issue
stopped for 6 weeks for having
unofficial ash-trays in their
rooms. Have been giving
Bridge the go-by of late. There
hasn't been much news in the
paper of late although everyone
is very optimistic. Weighed
64 Kgs last weigh day . No pay
last month due to the influx
of such large numbers of
new prisoners. 

Tuesday 1^stJune 1943.

Started the 0500 hours Reveille

stunt. Heck I feel tired

this evening. As the room

has to have the windows

closed & the black-out curtains

drawn it is very hot &

oppressive. The J's have issued

& order that those who are

NOT working must remain

indoors. We are now allowed

only 1 haircut every 3 weeks.

The milk ration has been

cut down to 100 bottles a day

for the camp instead of the old
figure of 250. Thus we get 

1 bottle every 4 days instead

of 1 every 2 days. Cigarette 

issue today - 3pkts. Still rumours

of a big inspection by the 10^{th.  -} Time

will tell. Had my hair cut

this morning. - Bit different from the
Leviathans.
3
one feel washed out of a morning.
The last 2 nights have had
black out precautions. We
understand that that the Marcus Is.
were raided. Finished my
Red Cross Parcel at least 2
weeks ago. Am now ready for
another. Signed a letter
put in about 6-7 weeks ago
for home. About 10 days ago
everyone in camp was allowed
to forward a post card (25 words)
by the Exchange Ship of late
the "old" Americans (Guam & Wake)
have been receiving oodles of
mail. One laddie received 16
letters. Am longing to hear from
home. Reveille is now at
 

Wednesday 2^nd June 1943.
Cheese for lunch - we saved ½  for
Bill Page's birthday on Saturday.
Another Indep boy officer's
party. Altogether, we have to give
in ½ loaf bread, 2 bottles milk
& ½  of our cheese ration. Today
we had a fire drill using the
fire extinguishers & ended up
in a water fight between the
officers manning the extinguishers
Great fun. Lex Fraser our
Indep boy 2 i/c. has absolutely
turned up trumps & is giving
me some of his bread. He said
he gets some extra now & then.
'Tis a thing that I am NOT likely
to forget in a hurry. Damned
decent of him. This 5 oclock
Reveille is pretty serious. You
feel a wreck by night.
2
progressively worse. We have
taken our floor boards up again
& painted the joints with lime &
bug-powder but still the blighters
keep on coming. The chap next 
to me (Jock Pitt) has brought
lice with him. He had to burn
his pyjamas. Bought a watch
for 100 yen - it seems to keep
good time. Have been feeling
off colour for about 3 weeks.
Went down with low fever
on Monday last with a temp of
102°F. Also still have the 
runs which have been troubling
me now for 5 weeks. The worst
of it is that I have to get up
of a night-time which makes
 

Thursday 3^rd June 1943
Had some of our "Mother's Soup"
(Red Cross Parcel) Soup for
evening meal. It tasted
delicious - also had some
fish. Have had a hell of a
headache throughout the
day. Received some more bread
from Lex Fraser today. 'Tis
damned decent of him. Received
some milk today which we are
keeping for Bill Page's b'day
on Saturday. In clearing out
the new compound the boys
found a 5 ft. snake. It
created quite a diversion.
The mosquitoes were extremely
active last night. Still I
slept fairly soundly. We have
extended this Tour of the world
to 5 years. We intend to work
at the various countries.
Tuesday 10^th August 1943.
To Friday 3^rd September 1943.
Today marks the end of the 4^th
year of the war - years of sorrow
& grief for practically everyone.
Everyone here in camp is
heartily sick of this war &
are longing to be free once again.
Since moving into this new
room have been forgetting to
fill in my diary so well
try & run a synopsis of the
news. Food of late has been
getting very light and a
representation was made to the
J.S. on this score. A promise
was extracted from them that the
rations would be increased. This
happened 10 days ago. So far,
the rations have got
 

Friday 4^th June 1943.
Had a very long muster this
evening. It lasted for over an
hour. There is some big
inspection coming off on Sunday
by evidently a big Knobas
Today we had a pretty thorough
inspection. Tomorrow at 0800
hrs the divisional general is
inspecting & throughout the
past week we have been
tidying up the compound etc.
Tonights muster was taken
up enquiring re our summer
uniform. The meals were
very light on. We gave Bill
Page his birthday party this
afternoon instead of tomorrow
on a/c. of the inspection. We
had a great time. Bought a loaf
of bread for 25 yen
Monday 9^th August 1943.
Had a grand field in our
new room. Took up the deck
& killed thousands of bugs.
The stench from these things
was rotten. Still it had to
be done as last night I
was eaten alive. If the J.'s had
seen the foregoing there would
have been a bit of a stink.
As I have the trots. Ron
Currens gave me his milk
which is bloody good of him.
I only hope I can repay
it in some manner or
means. The meals seem to
be on the upgrade.

Saturday 5^th June 1943
Well, we had the inspection by
our General ^at 1030 hrs. - he passed some
comments with the result that
orders came round this evening
stating as to how we should pack
our pitiful belongings on the
Shelf & as to how our beds should
be made. The boys have
organized a 'housey - housey"
game in our room. The Americans
call it 'bingo' & quite a few of
them have joined in the game
Muster was again delayed this
evening due to the J's. inspecting
our clothes & shelves etc. 'Twas
very cold last night. Had to
climb under another blanket.
Gravy for the evening meal. Had
early breakfast 0630 hrs. Doug Millican
& self finished last in the Crib tournament.
Sunday 8^th August 1943.
Had a grand move throughout
the camp. A new list came
out in seniority. Happily
practically all we Australians
are in 3 rooms close together
We have a captain appointed
as a room leader & have
some new blood in the form
of a dutchman, Englishman
& Americans in with us
I feel much better today.
The trots having died down.
The parcel is proving a
grand boom. Have as sleeping
companions a Jack Pitt who
comes from Kooyong & Dale
Milton.

Sunday 6^th June 1943.
Well at last we have the big
inspection over. The Divisional
commander & about 15 other
J's. came through. They rushed
through the rooms like an
express strain - It seems
ludicrous after all the trouble
we have gone to during the past
week or two. This morning
the J. duty officer & interpreter
were around the barracks
issuing & countermandering
orders. Cig's. were issued after
the inspection. Had 3 doughnuts
for tea & bully-beef in the rice.
Finished my weeks duty of feeding
the rabbits today. Bath day - water
nice & warm. Won 11 yen on the
Yankee Bridge Tourney. Received our
mosquito Nets today & the library is now
open.
Saturday 7^th August 1943.
Well believe it or NOT I
actually made a mess of
flannel pyjamas in bed
last night. Had 8 trips to
the head. Heck, had a 
rotten tummy ache. We threw
a party for Vin Buston this
morning i.e. the Indep boy.
& he left about 1400 hrs for
Hokkaido. We were very sorry
to see him go. There is rumour
of a big shift around tomorrow
or the early next week. Am
feeling damned tired this
evening - Hope I sleep well.
The news & rumours (Hitler
to have shot himself) are
particularly good.

 Monday 7^th June 1943.
As it is the King's Birthday
today our room held "formal
Mess". The three Americans
in this room also attended.
We saved a doughnut from last
nights meal & a slice of bread
(which was toasted) from
lunch. Pontoon has reared
its head in this room today.
The boys played all day on
account of the weather. It
rained all day. Fish for
tea. Tonight they are again
inspecting blankets. Started
to make myself a pair of
wooden clogs & so far in shaping
them damn near cut my finger
off. A rumour is Our Cig. ration
is to be cut to 15 pkts a month.
Friday 6^th August 1943.
Its unbelievable - Red Cross
parcels were issued. They
had the meat, fish, cheese &
soup removed from them.
Gee its grand receiving one
of them. Immediately there was
a grand outcry as "traders" &
"Swoppers" got into full swing.
I traded off my coffee & butter
for cocoa & hardtack and 12
loaved butter respectively.
Unfortunately, I couldn't eat
any of it as I have had a
touch of the trots. Played the
replay of the Bridge - "Culbertson"
versus the "One Club". 'Twas
played on the duplicate system.
We now have a new committee. U.S.A.
Capt Gordon RN. Col Scanlon A.I.F. Lt Col Miller
 

Tuesday 8^th June 1943.
Finished my pair of wooden
sandals - My first attempt at
woodwork. They are fairly comfy
although grotesque. Intend
making a pair for the Major
and Teddy. Rained all day -
it looks as if the rainy
weather is here with a vengeance
- It is supposed to be rainy
weather for the next 3 weeks
or so. The air-raid system
has been sounding on ^ off
all day - must be a spot
of practice. 'Twas on Aust.
Flight Lieutenant's b'day today
Doug & here turned on morning
tea for him. It must have been
a nice feeling for hm & also
was quite a spread.
Thursday 5^th August 1943.
Another batch of prisoners
came in today - British
& Dutch from Java. They 
came from Hokkaido where
Vin Bristow is supposed to 
going very soon. They
look in good nick. Heard
some more news of the
2/29^th Bn. - but still NO
news of Jimmy Browne.
Cleaned out at Black
Jack. Gravy & meat for
evening meal. The weather
is getting very hot & sticky
The order has been repealed
re pulling the black-out curtains
at 12 oclock - They can be left open
all night. 

Wednesday 9^th June 1943.
Took 20 rabbits out to be killed
which we had with gravy
in the evening meal. 'Twas
lovely & tasty - Also beans
for breakfast. The cigarette
issue has been increased
from 18 to 20 pkts a month.
Received an issue of 3 pkts -
Traded some "Wakamoto" pills
for cigs -these will help the
ration a bit. Still raining
& everything looks waterlogged
Spent the evening in the canteen
listening to the music with 
Teddy. Rec'd an issue of a
"gillette" razor blade (1 per month).
Blankets were inspected again
last evening. The lights failed
for muster this evening.
Wednesday 4^th August 1943.
Burnt rice issued again
to our room again tonight.
Had another yarn to other
Australians who came in
re the 2/29. Still cannot
find out re Jimmy Browne.
Sure am cleaning up on
these cigs. Won a packet
at Bridge. Made a pair
of sandals (wooden) for one of
the new arrivals who has
bad feet. Got my trousers back
from the tailors which I put
in over a week ago - Had
a patch put on the tail and knees.
Was offered 5 pkts of cigs
for my sandshoes which I
refused - Think they're worth
20. Was cleaned out at
poker today.