Diary Jack Lusby Burns - May - Sep -1943 - Part 6

Saturday 24^th July 1943.
Pay day received 20 yen.
& the "black-jack" school has
revived again. Weigh day
& have hit an all-time low
- 64.8 kilos. Rained all day
Had some of our Red Cross tinned
fish for the evening meal.
Very perfunctory inspection
conducted this aft. Major Potter
came over for some morning
tea. Very humourous at muster.
We have been issued with
name tags to be worn on all
occasions. The orderly giving
in the standby told us to have
them on for muster. There
was a hell of a bustle. The
things were stuck on haphazardly
& that Sleemans fell off. I nearly
died laughing. -

Sunday 20^th June 1943.
The concert was put on by the
Australians. The main "drama"
was written by one of the lads -
Frank Sleeman - in this room.

It was sure an excellent
programme. For the evening's
meal we had the vegetables &
"pork" cooked in with the rice.
Although the ration was insufficient
it tasted delicious and I wouldn't
mind a full bowl for breakfast
at home once or twice during
winter. In fact there are quite a
few concoctions I intend trying
when I get home. Gee! it will be
swell when I get home & see
mum and dad again. Made a pair
of sandals for Lex Fraser today. Some
more of the lads want things made
for them.

Friday 23^rd July 1943.
Issued with a bone name tags
which we have to wear all the
time. Managed to win the
final of the bridge tourney
& won a couple more packets
of fags. Issued with 3 pkts
cigs - Still no parcels? Rained
all day. News in the paper looks
excellent. Everyone is very
bucked. There is a young
J. girl typiste in the office so
now we are NOT allowed within
5 meters of the office or allowed
to look into it. Killed some bed
bugs in my pillow. Blessed
things. There is an a new order out -
NO more talking in bed after
lights out has sounded. Still
feeling very hungry. Tis a lousy
sensation.
Monday 21st June 1943
Have started another "book" in
conjunction with Bob Allen on the
Zentsuji Bridge Journey. 'Tis
great fun. The draw came out
y'day & we spent practically all
the morning fixing the odds, & the
blessed draw was re-drawn &
mucked up our "odds." One of
the "brass-hats" is offering to take
any bet up to 1,000 dollars on the
termination of the war by Xmas of
this year. Gee I hope he wins.
For B'fast had some of our own beans
(french) grown by our outside gardeners
- They tasted delicious. Received an
issue of 3 pkts of cigs. The meal
tonight was good - Noodles & Vegs.
Card Tricks seem to be the order of
the day now.

Thursday 22^nd July 1943
Wrote letter No 6 home today.
'Tis hard trying to put anything
in it as one anxiously awaits
news from home. Hell, 'twill be
lovely to hear from mum & dad.
The papers came out again today
and we were given the past papers.
Had a shoe inspection. Managed
to click onto a pair of new soles.
Also an order came out to wash
our pillow cases for an inspection
tomorrow. As I had some other
washing to do I had just finished
when it started to rain. Another
rumour re "parcels" tomorrow?
I believe these things when they are
in my hands. Started the finals of
our consolation bridge tourney.
Heck, things are becoming monotonous

Tuesday 22^nd June 1943.
Pay day - was paid 15 yen. Wish
we could spend this amount on
food - Sure am feeling hungry
this evening. Beans for breakfast.
These are sure nice. Usually keep 
a few over till lunch - make a
"mush" of them & spread them
on my bread. Paid 10 Yen into
the room fund. Managed to click
onto 2 rubber heels for my
sandals. Was taken to town in
"Pontoon" today. Lost what I won
the other day. Did my past
weeks washing - 1. Shirt, socks (1 pr)
h'chiefs (2), 1 set u/clothes, so my
laundry isn't very big & doesn't
take long to clean wash. Frank
Sleeman just gave me a slice
of bread. The indep. officers sure
stick to one another. The papers
didn't contain much news today.

Wednesday 21^st July 1943.
Rained very heavy just before
the evening meal. Practically
all the camp took advantage
of the opportunity to have a
shower. My 1st shower this
year. I felt very good after it.
Gravy & corn beef for the
evening meal. Burnt rice
issued to our room - First
time since the end of May.
Played bridge practically all
day. Still NO papers. Had a
nightmare last night - dreamt
we lost the war. Ray Tyrrell
also dreamt that the war was
over by Dec. 11^th 1943. - I
wonder? Still NO papers. The
effort put into the garden paid
dividends - had a cucumber for
lunch.

Wednesday 23^rd June 1943.
Had to turn in worn-out socks
last night and tonight we were
issued with new ones. We pay
8 yen a pair for these & the rate
of issue is once every 2 months
Bought a loaf of bread with
Ron Currens for 30 Yen. This
used to cost 3 yen when I
first came here. One certainly
has never appreciated bread
as one does now. Made another
pair of sandals. Won 8 at
pontoon. In the "pooh" 1½ pkts
cigs. of my next issue. Too bad.
Rumour of another big inspection
on July 2^nd. Hope to get a Red
Cross parcel after it. (?) Am
now averaging one trip a night
to the banjo - Blast it. Had the
room detail duty with Clarrie Archer 

Tuesday 20^th July 1943.
Took a bet today - Winner - a
dinner at the Australia hotel
Melbourne. - Terms I bet that
the war would be over by
June 1944?? Won the
finals of the consolation
tourney & picked up 4 pkts
of fags each. We play the
grand final on Thursday
next. The papers were stopped
again today. The excuse
given was that the censor stamp
has been lost & that it will
take 6 weeks to replace it.
Possibly quite a lot of hooey -
but still? Cleaned out the
last of my rabbit coops. Just
finished when it started to
rain. Feel damned hungry
again - Oh for some of the maters cooking.

Thursday 24^th June 1943.
Went out for a walk this aft.
to collect some old boxes to
make some rabbit hutches.
Cleaned out my pets cage -
sure is a mucky job. Made
2 pairs of sandals for a
couple of the co-rabbiteers. Had
a hell of a tummy-ache
last night just after I had
gone to bed. 'Tis lousy down
at the "banjo" with the mossies
flying around. Most of the
rooms have an organized
rest period from after lunch
till aft tea time. We post a
sentry to watch for a guard
whilst we lie down on our
bunks. Milk issue. Received back
our 11.80 yen we paid for our
British winter uniforms

Monday 19^th July 1943.
Started on the finals of the
consolation round. If we win
we collect 4 packets fags apiece.
Here's hoping? Issue of 3 pkts
fags late this evening. There
is a strong rumour that we
are to collect a Red Cross
Parcel tomorrow.? Also rumour
hath it that the new
commander intends to issue
out the comforts parcels etc
at a more rapid rate. Gee
I hope that this is true. Did
my weekly washing this
morning - sure enough it
rained. Learnt some crooked
gambling tricks from some of
the Americans. These boys sure
know their onions. Had a bit
of trouble with our numbering this
morning. Year at Zentsuji today
Friday 25^th June 1943
Official Weigh Day - Now weigh
65.00 Kgs. - The lowest yet on
record. Received an issue of
only 2 pkts. cigs. to day to make
up for 20 pkts for the month. These
are supposed to last till the
28^th. - Going to be a lean time.
Did a spot of washing. Gave Bob
Allen a pkt of fags for his birthday.
One of the enlisted men had a
stroke just after lunch today.
He is O.K now. Tough luck for
him. The bets are still coming
in on the "book". Played
American "Black Jack" (akin to
our "pontoon") this aft. & evening
- Won 3 yen. Heck, I'd give
anything for a good feed. - Wonder
how the mater & pater are (?) 

Sunday 18^th July 1943

The concert this evening was

turned on by the Englishmen

Bath day. Sure is nice to

pour hot water over one &

put on clean clothes.

Doughnuts (2½) tonight. Some

of the lads do quite a bit 

of trading 1 doughnut for 1

packet of cigarettes. The boys are

betting amongst themselves

that the war in England will

be over by Xmas. Had a

slight bilious attack last 

evening. Whilst down at

the bay was eaten alive

by the blinking mosquitos

especially by the old "John Tom"

Saturday 26^th June 1943

Field day - had to have all articles

on issue. The various rooms

outside by 0700 has for the J's.

to inspect. Received an issue

of about 12 locquats from the

Canteen. Gee, they tasted delicious

the first fruit we have had so

far this year. Won 34 yen 

at Bridge today. Played for 

¼ a point. Debugged our 

mattresses & killed about 20-30

bugs. Had some of our Red

Cross soup for the evening meal

− Sure was lovely. Helped to build

some more rabbit hutches.

The weekly inspection today was

very cursory. We were chipped

 re our floors. they were splotchy.

Saturday 17^th July 1943

There is a rumour out to the

effect that there are no cigs 

till the 20^th. 'Tis going to be 

tough. Took 23 rabbits 

to the butcher this morning.

had them in the gravy

for evening meal. They tasted

very nice. There is a new 

order that black-out curtains

shall NOT be drawn till 2330

hrs from now on. 'Tis a 

relief this hot weather. The 

news looks grand re Sicily

& the South Pacific. Some of the

doorways here are built for

J's & consequently many are

the bumped head. We have

new clay feeding troughs for the rabbits

Sunday 20^th June 1943

The concert put on by the 

Australians. The main "drama"

was written by one of the lads -

Frank Sleeman - in this room.

It was sure an excellent

programme. For the evening's

meal we had the vegetable &

"pork" cooked in with the rice.

Although the ration was insufficient

it tasted delicious and I wouldn't

mind a full bowl for breakfast

at home once or twice during 

winter. In fact there are quite a 

few concoctions I intend trying 

when I get home. Gee! it will 

be swell when I get home & see

mum & dad again. Made a pair

of sandals for Rex Fraser today. Some

more of the lads want things made

for them.

Friday 16^th July 1943

Cleaned out a couple of 

rabbit hutches this morning

& made another pair of 

sandals. Acted as official 

scorer or recorder for a 

duplicate bridge match. The 

news in the paper

is exceptional - the people here 

are very optimistic but some

adopt a pessimistic attitude

saying that we will all be 

killed. Still! Amién Babe?

Rained very heavy this aft.

and very hot and muggy now.

Some cucumbers from our garden outback

were turned into the various

rooms. We had them tonight

Gee, they tasted lovely.

Monday 28^th June 1943

Started on my week's tour of duty

for feeding the rabbits. Received

some cigar "Metablin" tablets from

the canteen which I traded off

for some cigarettes. Also traded

off a cake of "Lux" toilet soap

for 8 pkts of cigs. Received 

the bread ration for the other

4 members of the syndicate.

Managed to win a little bit more 

al American "Black Jack" today.

Have had a lousy headache

all day. Sweet buns (2) were

on issue tonight. Had to 

turn in all library books

today. There is a rumour of

another big inspection coming

up. Had a spring cleaning in

the rabbit house this morning.

Thursday 15^th July 1943

Cig. issue - 3 pkts - very 

acceptable. Bread issue 

for me today. The cover 

was left off the cupboard

last night and the rats got in

to some of the lads bread.

Many were the curses heaped 

on the rat's head after 

the lads saw their bread.

Rained today - quite a relief 

as some of the lads are still 

getting malaria. Made a 

pair of sandals (wood) for 

another of the lads. News in 

the paper re Europe looks good?

[*One year in Japan today.*]

Tuesday 29^th June 1943

Played in a Marathon bridge

match - So  far we have played 7

rubbers & have taken 75 hours 

to do so. As it is a tourney match

it sure is a deadly affair. The J's.

are getting like they were before 

the last inspection - it looks as

if another inspection is coming

off very soon. Rumour hath

it for Friday week. Everyone

seems the out of cigs. 'Tis

deadly. The news re Germany 

looks very pleasing for us.

Everyone is wishing to be out

of this place. Gee, 'twould be 

grand to be home for Xmas

Bought another loaf of bread

for 30 yen today. 'Tis scandalous 

the price we pay for these things.

Headache is much better today.