Diary Jack Lusby Burns - May - Sep -1943 - Part 5
Tuesday 3rd August 1943
Some more prisoners
came in today. - about
70 in all - including about
6 Australians. This muster
business sure takes a long
time nowadays. There also
appears to be a bit of trouble
re the numbering. We have
to number loudly & distinctly
Some rooms have had to
renumber about 6 or 7 times
Had burnt rice - but only
a lik - lik portion. Played
cricket today for the first
time today for the year. Great
was the interest shown by
the yanks & dutch. Hand
out 100 yen for a watch. Hope
to receive it within 10 days
'Tis good sleeping after lunch
Thursday 10th June 1943
The chow has been lousy today
Hell! would love some of the maters
food. There is an inspection
of all our summer clothing
tonight. Rec'd our mosquito
nets 2 days ago - They certainly
are a boon as the mossies
are coming quite a nuisance
as we are NOT allowed to lie on
our bunks during the day
everyone is in bed very
soon after "muster." Was introduced
to the American Game of
"Black Jack" this morning.
Won 8 yen. As the papers are
still being withheld, great are
the rumours that are flying
around. Still playing a lot of bridge
Monday 2nd August 1943.
Received an issue of 9 packets
of cigarettes - I understand
that we are to receive 18
packets of fags a month. These
fags are issued gratis to us
whereas previous we had to
pay for them. Gave 2 packs
of cards to the new officers.
Bought 2 packets of fags
for 10 yen each. ? The tales
these new people bring in
are certainly amazing. Heard
some news re the 2/29 Bn
who seem to have been cut
up pretty badly. I hope that
Jimmy Brown has got through
Seem to be big rumours re
the news. Most of the officers
expect to be home by Xmas
Friday 11th June 1943.
Stopped raining early this
morning so did about 2
weeks washing. Issued with
a singlet (made in Hong Kong)
Had a lousy night last night
due to the mosquitos. Seems
to be some rumour re "[[Truck?]]"
& the "Pelew Islands". Wish we
could sleep of a daytime. This
5 oclock rising tends to make
one very tired. Purchased a
couple of brushes from the canteen
this morning. Constructed a
feed rack in the rabbit house.
Seem to be getting restless or
something as I get bored with
cards & can't sit down to a book
for more than ½ hour. Wonder
when we will be out of here. ??
Sunday 1st August
Allowed to be in bed in all
day - on a/c of this I
didn't lay down once but
played "Black Jack" all day
Won about 150. About 1000
hrs a mixed party of about
200 officers came in. They
consisted of Dutch, English
Australian & American forces
from Java. They brought us
news of activities down at
Java & Singapore. They also
brought me a letter from
a W.G. Graben an American
enlisted man who left here for
Osaka in January last. 'Twas
grand. The hot baths have
finished & we had showers
today for the 1st time. Had some
news of the 2/29th Bn
Saturday 12th June 1943
Field day - Swabbed the decks & the
floor & "de-bugged" our mattresses
We shifted about 100 bugs. Finished
making a pair of wooden clogs for the
Major. Took out 20 rabbits to
be killed but unfortunately had
to bring them back again
as the rabbit butcher was away. Had
my photo taken this morning. The
J. photographer hails from “Kings
Cross” Sydney where he has been
for the last 30 years. ‘Twas funny
we were putting a cage away when
a chap dropped his end on me. I
swore at him & the J. remarked -
“ah I see you haven’t forgotten the
Good old Australian language“
Very cursory inspection today. Had
some of our Red Cross fish for
evening meal - Hell I'm hungry
sure love a good feed.
The 3rd July 1943
The new routine went into
operation today. It seemed
to work alright although the
extra hour between meals made
a big difference. Had to clean the
tables etc. as my share of the
field day preparations.
Managed to win a little at
"Black Jack" so now am free
of debt. Out of cigarettes - still
we can't be worried. Many are
the weird & wonderful tales told
by the newcomers from Java.
I will be good having a yarn
with some of them later on.
Caught & killed some more bugs
in my mattress & pillows. These
things are sure a damned
nuisance. Reville 0530 hr
Sunday 13th June 1943
As there was No grease in the
galley we had steamed "cookies"
as the Sunday special. The bath
water was very hot. Received
an issue of 3 pkts cigs. as I
owed 1 pkt I have to make 2 pkts
last 4 days. Some tablets (vit B) were
issued from the Canteen - we have
to buy these. Was issued with a
singlet (from Hong Kong) last
night. Gave the Major a hand with
his washing - just got it out on
the line & it started to rain.
Had a long talk with Teddy re
after war conditions as affected
ourselves. Lex Fraser had me
down to afternoon tea. Had a
slight bilious attack last night
Feel damned hungry tonight The
concert this evening was put on by
the English - Punch & Judy show.
Friday 30th July 1943.
30 more prisoners marched
in - they are Englishmen from
Java. They have been in J. for
9 months. Also an American
enlisted man came xxxx. He
was here before but was sent
to jail for striking a J. We
conducted a "Crazy whist"
evening in our room tonight
we sure had a grand time.
A new set of orders came out
today - Reville 0530 muster
0540. B'fast 0630, Fall in 0800
for work Lunch 1200, Fall in 1330 for
games etc. In barracks
at 1500 onwards . Tea 1730
Muster 2000 & Lights out 2100
Did some washing. Missed
out on bread which was
rather unfortunate.
Monday 14th June 1943.
Rained very hard during
the night and this morning
Water was lying every where as a
consequence played bridge
practically all day. Listened to
the music over in the canteen
this evening with Teddy Goode.
Officers now have to go on the
"anchor watch at night time"
we walk round with the guards
for 2 hours of a night time.
All officers have to write a
letter summarising all the
news that they have sent home
in their letters to date. This
information is wanted for the
"files "at the J. army H.Q.'s. so
as ostensibly to give news to the
Red Cross. My tummy is damned
near touching my backbone [[Chileans?]]
came in today 800 of them
Thursday 29th July 1943
Had to pay out 25.70 for the suit
of captured English clothing &
boots - 16.70 for the uniform &
9.00 for the boots. Did some
work on our cricket pitch.
It is a full length one & the
Yanks show great interest in
the game. They think that
it is a lousy game. Damn
near lost my "shirt" at "Black Jack"
this aft. - Meal - burgers & bread
for evening meal - quite tasty
but as usual insufficient. My
cold seems to be breaking & my nose
looks like a beacon. Did my
weekly washing & had a "crop"
hair cut. I think that this is
better than having one's hair all off.
Tuesday 15th June 19413.
Wonders of Wonders. We received
the papers today dated the 15th June
1943. Golly even though they are
full of propaganda they contain
some news. Most of the lads are
very optimistic & hope to be
home by Xmas - sublime
optimists. These papers have
been stopped for a month.
Put in as having 35 yen in
hand for next pay day. Tis very
muggy & stuffy indoors of an
evening now on a/c. of the
blackout curtains & the
mosquito Nets. Did some washing
today. Beans for b'fast. They
sure taste nice. Am again out
of cigarettes. The chicken farmers
have come into their own with
800 chickens to look after.
Wednesday 28th July 1943
Sweet buns & a doughnut each
came in from outside tonight.
They sure tasted delightful.
Have a very sore throat so
went to the sick parade
today. Had particulars such
as name, rank Nationally
previous occupation age etc
put on a form & was then
examined by the J. doctor. This
took 1½ hrs & I managed to
get one aspirin out of it. Has
been extremely sticky today.
The news re [["Musso"?]] looks
grand. Feel very tired this
evening & hungry as usual.
Although as "Sake" was issued
y'day our room received
the J. orderlies rice issue
Wednesday 16th June 1943
Took 20 rabbits out this morning
to be killed & we had them
in this evenings stew. Had
Sweet buns (2) sold to us after
Supper. Put in letter No 5 to
the office. This letter was an
epitome of all news written by us
to date. Whether this letter will
reach home or be kept on the
files as J. army H.Q.'s. is a
matter of conjecture. Two dogs
got amongst the rabbits last
night and killed 3 of them
'Tis very hot this evening.
Everyone is wearing only a pair
of shorts - such a contrast to
winter. Received the papers again
today - also copies of the Sakura
& J. Times Weekly Mag. Hell I'm hungry
Tuesday 27th July 1943
Am getting a slight cold & as
a result feel pretty miserable
tonight. Have the feed detail
this week. Some of the rabbits
seem to be dying for some
reason. A new order came
out - During weekdays we
are allowed to be on our
beds for the hours between
1200 & 1300 hrs of a week - day &
all day of a Sunday. Got
interested in a book & read
all day - a thing I haven't,
done for ages. I just cant
settle down to steady reading.
Feel absolutely fed up tonight
Guess a good sleep would do
me the world of good - not to
mention a good feed. Cig. issue
today - 2 packets to last up to
the end of the month
Monday 17th June 1943
Absolutely lousy chow today
even although we had the balance
of our Red Cross cheese for lunch.
Had some kind of seaweed in
the evening soup which everyone
voted as awful. The guards have
been very active today strutting
around trying to catch people
lying on their bunk. unfortunately
for them - the boys have organized
watches to give a "Tally ho" So as
they can be on the bed. Feel a
bit worried - had a motion today
& noticed blood on the paper
Guess it is a touch of piles as
quite a few lads here have a touch
of them. Received our issue
cigs. today (3 packets) Managed
to click onto a cig holder today from the
canteen
Monday 26th July 1943.
Strong rumour re Red Cross
parcels today. I bet a slice
of bread that we would NOT
get one. So far we haven't
received one. Some of the lads
went out & brought in some
benches for the new wing.
looks as if new prisoners will
be coming in soon. Bought
another ½ loaf of bread for
15 yen. Paid 5 yen in for a
room subscription Made
a pair of sandals for Jim
Bowring. The Central Committee
paid out 2200 yen for a 12
months subscription to the
Tokyo Times. The chow is
getting light on again. Hell
I feel hungry. The ruddy rats
ate a doughnut I had kept over
from last night.
Friday 18th June 1943
For the evening meal - had some of
our Red Cross soup (Noodle)
and cucumber. The latter has
given me indigestion. I have
decided to give up smoking &
will try & trade the stuff for
food. I believe 4 pkts cigs. will
fetch a loaf of bread. A new
bridge Tournament has started
for the whole camp. Started to rain
last night & has rained all
day so consequently quite a lot of
card games were played. The
vegetable plants are now starting to
pay some dividends. We dug up
some spuds today. Quite a number
of egg plant & tomatoe plants seedlings
have been brought in from outside
nurseries & have been planted. Had
inspection of room articles today
Saturday 25th July 1943.
Bath day. water was cold but
the pleasure of having a bath
was good. Won about 5 at
black Jack. Doughnuts (3¼) for
the evening meal. Rained again
today. The news in the paper
looks excellent. In the new
compound we have been allowed
to have a cricket pitch & deck
tennis court. The rabbit feed
detail haven't gone out for
about 3 - 4 days consequently
some of the lads rabbits are
dying of hunger - poor beggers.
Had a salad concoction for
evening meal. Milk came in
today - it seems as if we get
this once every 4 days. Had
a call of nature last night - The
mosquitoes were frightful.
Saturday 19th June 1943
We had some form of seaweed
for the evening meal - It tasted
lousy & various complaints were
put forward by various rooms
to the Central Committee. Field day
although everything was cleaned
we even took up time of the sticking
to dispose of some bed bugs there
was NO inspection, bug powder
has been given by to us by the J.s.
So we de-bugged all our mattresses
Only had 5 cigs. today - an all-
time Zentsujs record. Tomorrow
I hope to have even less. Made
Bill Page, a pair of sandals
today. Great interest is being
paid to the Bridge Tournament
when sitting at table one must
be careful, NOT to put their legs
near the legs, as bugs are sure to
raise lumps.
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