Diary Jack Lusby Burns - Jun - Oct -1944 - Part 3
Two years in Zentsuji P.O.W Camp.
Wednesday 19th July 1944.
Whether it's an omen or NOT. 2 years ago we
Aussies from Rabaul arrived in this camp &
They gave us an apple each. Today apples came
in for the final time since then. It still amounts
to the fact that it has been a perfect waste
of two years and a year of starvation for the
last two years. - Gosh if ever I get out of this
hole I'll sure appreciate the common amenities
of life. - bread, butter jam etc. I'd like to get the
ingredients of a Red Cross box & have a
"hell" of a mix-up in the kitchen. Pete Dixon
wants me to be a groomsman at his wedding.
I sure hope I can accommodate him.
Apples issued - Second loss of wt. 1.55 kilos per person
Thursday 20th July 1944.
Off the apples that came in y'day, after the J.s in
the office had had their %age our room finally
managed to collect 49 apples for 28 men. Every
one of the J.s who left the compound had a
bag of apples under his arm. One packet of
stove-pipes were issued. Orders came round
to the effect that our number tags have to be worn in the
front in the middle. The average loss of weight for
the camp, was 1.55 kilos per person, for June/July.
Caly 36 officers gained. A screed was put in to
the J. authorities to the effect by the committee. All orders
have to be given in J. The J. doctor is on duty
& he does NOT understand English. [?] asked an officer "Can
you play the harmonica?".
Friday 21st July 1944.
Best newspaper to date (re the Cabinet) & the worst
meals we've ever had. No soup for lunch & sea weed
(kelp) ^for colouring putrid stuff. Rained very hard last
night. The rain should help our garden very
appreciably. This island is in a bad way for
want of rain. To have a shower now is practically
impossible. There is only one shower in
camp & officers are allowed 40 minutes (morning)
and 50 minutes evening afternoon. You join a queue.
When you arrive wait 15-20 mins, get wet, soap oneself
then wait another 20 mins to wash it off. During the
interim the soap dries & becomes very sticky. Sandy
cancelled the rice deal tonight.
Pay day - put in as having 50 Yen.
Saturday 22nd July 1944.
Took 2 chances (5 a chance) & won 4th prize,
a packet of Gillette razor blades so promptly
invested in 2 more chances for 10 pkts of cigs.
Payday as I put in as having 50 yen, I was
unable to draw any money - Rooms 7 & 8 had
a shake down this afternoon. They made them
take everything down off their shelves then told them
to clear out of the room. It was a pretty thorough
search. Rumour hath it that the J's. were
after cigs, sugar, matches & electric light
appliances. Usual Saturday inspection. Apples
(cooked) for evening meal. Some of the lads utilise
the cordial issued from the canteen in this.
Sunday 23rd July 1944.
Yasumé day - Slept in the morning & read
lying down in the aft. Got a good change of
finishing up amongst the 1st four in the bridge
Tourney etc. to be in the prize money. Missed the
concert - 2 shows on next Sunday, so we,
cut the cards for ½ the room to go. Since we've
got the mats have gone back to sleeping in my
old place. Fortunately, the bugs seem to have left
us. Two apples were issued from the galley
per person in the afternoon. Fruit sure tastes
beautiful after a long abstinence. Inspection of
cabinet, tables & benches - all had new labels pasted on
them.
Burnt Rice.
Monday 24th July 1944.
Handed over a cheque to W.D.C. for services
rendered. (Red Cross stuff Aust watch cigs
etc) About 300 new books came into the library
-mainly text books from the Tokyo Y.M.C.A.
Had Burnt Rice. This seems to come
around now about once every 8-9 days.
There must have been a bit of a racket
worked in this in as much as previously it
was lucky if we got it once a month! For
morning muster, commands now have to
be given in the Nippon language. Quite a
few cheques are being given for Yen - 3-4 for 1.
25% cut in rice. - Swedish Repres. for Dutch
Tuesday 25th July 1944.
1 packet "fish tails" issued from the canteen
these are filthy things to smoke. Nature
has been calling of a night time - 'Tis
rare that I have to get up. There was
a 25% cut in rice - now we don't get
a full cup of rice - The soups are
"air-raid" so I guess that everyone will
lose a great deal of weight. The Swedish Embassy
official was here looking after the Dutch. He
brought them good news. "Twas grand to see a
white man dressed up in good clothes & looking
in the best of nick.
Wednesday 26th July 1944.
An order came round informing us to hand in
all captured & J. issued clothing that had NOT
been paid for. This order ^was promulgated about 1700
hrs so, to hand them clean by 0800 tomorrow. I
guess twill be impossible - typically J. Been
going round getting peoples autographs on their
photos - usual question asked - Getting ready
to go home. One June 16 we had 840 rabbits
& on July 24th 305. Deaths for Jan to July inc.
were 146, 128, 148, 123, 94, 322, 143 - Cause
starvation. The international committee interviewed
the J. Colonel re food we now have [390?]
grams of uncooked cereals per diem. He promised
to try & increase vegetables.
Thursday 27th July 1944.
Did some washing & sure enough started to
rain about 2 hrs. later. Had to turn in our
winter u/clothes - lets hope these are re-issued
if we are to be here for winter. Had a shower
this aft. arrived there at 1610 &left at 1700 hrs.
Open shower for the whole camp & 2 periods of 40 mins
daily to partake. Great arrangements. No news yet of the
towel I had swiped. Everyone extremely optimistic
re the news. "If wishes were horses" I'd be home
eating the things that mother makes in no time.
If a person is particular re his food put him in
a prisoner of war camp. Complete cure guaranteed.
Put in 2 post cards. - Home & Reline - 50 words
Friday 28th July 1944.
Word came round that we had to put in
a 50 word post card by Sunday. Allowance
was made for people to put in 2 cards
each to count on their yearly quota of 3 cards
& 3 letters. I wrote to the mater & Reline
I figure that later on when we have to
write we may be out of here. -Optimistic
blighter? The cards were 50 worders.
Rained practically all day. Played bridge
in the afternoon. Had to stand by for
inspection at 1100 hrs for some outside officers.
One officer was put in the brig for cutting the
sleeves off an issued J. u/shirt.
Saturday 29th July 1944.
Inspection of all captured clothing & head gear - to be
put on one bunk - supposed to be at 1000 hrs. Left
there all day & then postponed. Normal routine
inspection at 1100 - Supply officers be seen lucky
in the room as it is rarely that they tarry
in here. Anyhow if anything is being looked
for word is always passed. No papers today.
Word came round this evening that Germany
had collapsed - resolution etc. Just a rumour
but oh! how I wish it were true. Issue of
pills from the canteen. Feel damned hungry
nowadays. The lads are going in for recipes.
Sunday 30th July 1944.
Issued with apples from the galley this aft. - 3 very
small ones a piece. Also about 3/4lb tomatoes per
man from our outside garden plot. The idea is
to issue these direct to the prisoners instead of
putting them into the galley as if this were
done, our ^outside vegetable ration would be cut down
& its damned little at the moment. Very tasty
evening meal - fried squash. Intend to
partake of this in the future at home. Papers came
in late this morn. Great news on the Eastern Front.
dreamt of home last night - Hope its a good omen.
The 1st Aussie went in the brig for failing to salute a
Js. DO.
Monday 31st July 1944.
Fish for evening meal. Unless a miracle happens
I think that my partner & I will have won the
bridge Tourney of which 1st prize is 100 dollars.
For the first three positions the matches played
this afternoon decided the positions. Ere these
matches were played we were laying in 3rd position
A chappie was here from the War Prisoners Bureau
He was rumoured to have been told that the present
ration was entirely insufficient. New job
again in the rabbit house. Back on to the cages
from putting out the feed. Our gardens are certainly
paying dividends & we have great need of the stuff
as outside rations are Nil.
Tuesday 1st August. 1944.
We still have 2 pigs left & they are fed on the
leavings from the J. office. 'Tis very noticeable
the amount of rice & beans they get. I think
anyone in this camp would exchange their
ration for that given to the pigs (in proper form).
An officer was here from the Tokyo War Prisoners
Bureau. Varied ^are the rumours of his call & the results
of same. He questioned Jimmy Badham re the
library. Could speak good English. No papers
today. "Seconds" for b/fast & lunch.?
Started on a 50 rubber bridge match against
Cmdr R'son & Schechter - have Noel Lyons as a
partner.
Wednesday 2nd August 1944.
Went out on the rabbit feeding (picking) detail this
morn. - must of walked 4 miles & the bag weighed
a ton by the time I had carted it back to camp.
Rumour hath it that Germany is serving for peace.
Had a very good meal of beans - We had 3rds
Made possible by picking the beans from the
chicken feed & turning them into the galley.
Have started a poker school (small game) in the
room of an evening after "chow". Quite a few of
the lads are cashing cheques 4:1 for a dollar.
No more papers from today on. Boy how the
rumours will start.
Thursday 3rd August. 1944.
Teddy Goode had a private garden in which he
planted cucumber & tomatoes. These latter
he put round the various rooms in the
division. The balance he threw a
"commando" party in celebration of the
"Armistice". 1/2 plate per person. I supplied
some salt. They sure tasted delicious. A
screed was signed by all room leaders
asking for a longer "yasume" period during
the day. - We are allowed to be down from 1230
to 1330 - This screed was forwarded to the international
committee - No action was taken.
"Air raid" sounded
Friday 4th August 1944.
The air raid siren sounded at 1900 hrs as we
get NO papers I daresay rumours will start.
As the whole "off duty staff of the camp had left
by this they all came back in to camp & we
had to pull the air-raid curtains straight away
This made it very stuffy. 1 pkt. of steak-bombs
were issued - Went out for them in the morning
& were issued in the afternoon. There has been a
change in Div. Comdrs. & an officer has been
appointed in an advisory capacity in the galley.
Went up to our garden plot on the hill, became
fairly sunburnt. Put stakes for the tomatoe plants &
dug beds for "greens".
Burnt rice.
Saturday 5th August 1944.
Inspection passed off OK. Were asked how many
scrubbing brushes we had in the room. Bath day.
Water very "short. Went out on the feed picking
detail. Absolutely "jack" of camp. Siren from the
air raid early this morning. Issue of burnt
rice. This helps out the diet a bit. Teddy Goode
gave me a tomatoe. It certainly tasted nice.
Must give these things a go when I get home.
Supposed to have a mat inspection - put all our
mats in a heap then the inspection was called
off. typically J. My back is now a nice turley
red - move to sleep on my tummy of a night time.
Sunday 6th August 1944.
Yasumé day - polished the "Hut" this morning.
Concert this evening [[?]] radio play taking in
various countries of Europe. J. interpreter
sang a couple of J. fishing songs. Meals are
certainly getting light. Fish for evening meal. -
Wish they could fry the things. Joe Lyons & self
cont'd our 50 rubber marathon against R'spn.
& Felechter. Intended to go to church but slept till
way through service. Gradually burning a
brownish colour instead of a bright turkey red.
"Crop" haircuts & shower heads seen to be the fashion
allowed 1 haircut a month.
Signed 2 postcards for Wham.
Monday 7th August 1944.
Signed the typed copies of post cards put in
on 28/7/44. Lets hope these are expedited
& the people receive them before long. Rained
this morning so all work prospects were
stopped. Some of the lads want me to cash
cheques for them - rate of exchange 4 to 1
in dollars 4 dollars [[?]]. Every Monday
night we have lectures in this room
on various topics. Mattresses were inspected
to see that no one has 2 or more. These
things are all right in summer but
I think will be cold in winter.
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