Diary Jack Lusby Burns - Oct -1944 - Jan - 1945 - Part 3

[*J's. withdrew one blanket per man, issue balance Red + gear
Rooms duty. Major Barrett. U.S. Army died*]
Saturday 11^th November 1944. 
Late this evening word came through that a Major
Barrett. U.S. Army died. - cause ulcerated stomach
it hit him pretty quick. Tough luck to get so far. Had
the room duty for Saturday's inspection. Thought it would
be at 0930 hrs so didn't have time to eat my b'fast rice
as had to swab floor, do tables, sweep stairs & return
& wash soup bucket to kitchen. It turned out inspection
was at 1100 hrs. Managed to click onto 1 h'chief &
a pair of summer cotton/wool cotton long handled drawers, which
I swopped off for 1 pr "Nip" drawers which I think are warmer.
The J's withdrew 1 blanket from each man - now have only
4 blankets each. 'Twill be ruddy cold when winter really
hits us. Make up a "sack" to sleep in of a night-time.
[*Extra issue 1 boiled sweet spud.*]
Sunday 12^th November 1944.
At 1600 hrs the galley put out an extra sweet potato
per person, which I had for the evening meal. 'Twas damned
nice. Had it with my evening meal. Also had ½ an issue
of rice extra. In fact couldn't eat it all so traded it
off what I couldn't eat for some burnt rice.  Ration of
burnt rice now trades for 1½ ordinary issues of cereals.
Gosh our tummy's must of shrunk. Mixed up some horse
radish to have with my evening meal. It didn't taste too
good. The galley have now the practice of putting up the

weights (dry) of the cereals & vegetables we have for our
meals, Red + rumours are very strong. Extra-ordinarily
cold today. Noel Lyons & self won the first round of our
bridge Tourney & started on our second round match
lead by 2500 at the end of the 5th rubber.

[*Canteen issue - 1 pkt bombers, Funeral Major Barrett., Sick.

Put in as having 20 Yen.*]
Monday 13^th November 1944.   [*Burnt Rice.*]

Smoke bombs came out (1 pkt per man,) fish pills & 3 pkts
sen-sen came out from the canteen. Gosh was I sick last
night - vomited 4 times & visited the "head" about 9
times - stayed in bed for muster, attended J. sick call -
given some sulpha - quinine (?) - 8 - pills - 2 every 4 hrs
& stayed in bed all days except for the odd times I went
down to the banjo. Ate NO rice only soup - Jack Hepburn
gave me some beef tea he had carried from Singapore
- His reserve rations he called it - damned good of him.
Major Barrett's funeral was held at 0900 hrs. - Lets
hope it is the last for this place. Rumours - Germany
out by 25^th Get Red + stuff in by 8 - 10 days &
Shigemetsu (J. foreign minister committed suicide.

Tuesday 14^th November 1944.

Had a good sleep in the morning. Now feel 100% better - I
don't want another attack like this one - Henceforth NO
more horse-radish for me in future. Managed to trade
off my 3 issues of rice & the burnt rice. Scouted round
& managed to pick up some soup cubes which are damned
tasty. The announcement was made by the room leader
last tonight that "token" Red + parcels were expected in soon
Gee I hope this is right. as a bit of civilized food would go
well. Had some pickled daikon for evening meal. Decided to
run a "charade" evening meal Saturday night for the room
get together night. Traded off some "Hoshi Minose" pills for
cigs. for one of the lads. Commission 25%. Managed to make
2 pkts cigs but unfortunately had 1 pkt "swiped" from my shelf.??

Wednesday 15^th November 1944.

Had my burnt rice - managed to "bum" some soup mix

from one of the Americans who received a private parcel.

Had to go & see the J. Supply officer & obtain his permission

to have the stuff cooked up in the galley. - which was

obtained - Soaked my burnt rice in it, together with the

morning soup & had it for afternoon tea snack.

Tasted lovely. Sat out in the sun after lunch. Noel &

I won our 2nd round match for the "Annual Winter

Zentsuji Bridge Tourney. Swopped 3 pkts cigs (futures)

for 1 khin tin burnt rice. The J's. in the galley have

stopped the boys from putting the weight of the greens &

cereals up on the black board. 100 books were set up by

the library as preference books so as to ensure a better

distribution.

 

Thursday 16^th November 1944.

Seem to have a touch of beri-beri - In the morning

my face is swollen - but it goes down in towards evening.

Feel NO effect except that my jaws hurt if I clench them

tightly. Teddy Goode is giving me the liquid off of his

soups - Doctor told me I needed them. Rumour that they

are going to "double-deck" the buildings of this camp to

accommodate 400 more enlisted men. I hope NOT as

it is damned crowded at the moment. Cigarettes are

fetching a high price - 2 pkts for an issue of rice.

Wish I had some of them as one is conscious of an

aching void all the time. Canteen issue of seaweed, pepper

fish powder. hoshi microse pills - Very minute quantity

averages about 1 box / container between 4.

[*Rabbits.
 50*]

Friday 17^th November 1944.

Since the lads were caught going over the fence into the

bakehouse next door., the J.s have started to raise the

heighth of the fence with wooden spikes about 2 feet.

50 Rabbits were sent out & we had them in 

Soup - A taste of meat in the soup makes all the

difference in the world. It tasted wonderful. Some Aust.

mail (dated May ‘44) & American mail (dated August ‘44)

Came in - didn’t click. One of the lads - Clarrie Archer

who got a mattress given him gave me his mat. ‘Should

be a bit of padding for the hips. Went outside to collect -

the rabbit meal - bought in 2 barrels of "tofu". Absolutely

pooped when I came back in after an hour’s walk. Am

getting a cold. In our weak state will be hard to 

shake off.
[*Aust letters 

Aug ‘44*]

Saturday 18^th November 1944.

Bath day - Our division went early- water only warm

still better than cold water. Everyone seems very

optimistic re the “imminent” arrival of the Red + Parcels.

Heavens I hope they are right. Some Aust. mail came

in - It was airmail bearing stamps and post -

marked August ‘44. Quite disappointed when there

was none for me. Still glad some - one clicked.

Inspection at 1000 hrs - lasted till 1200 hrs. Been

doing a bi5 of trading of cigs. for rice & I am now

completely out of cigs. In fact 6 pkts in debt. The

“charades” for tonights room show fell through. The J.

doctor caused a furore by “securing” Nos 1 & 2 divisions

after he checked them for outside muster before he did Nos

3,4 & 5 Divs.

[*Weight. 59.2 Kilos.  Issue boiled mashed sweet spuds for aft tea.
loss 1.1 Kilos.*]
Sunday 19^th November 1944.
240 Kilos of sweet potatoes were boiled & mashed & issued by the
Galley at 1500 hrs as a extra - we needed the damn things
as practically the whole camp lost weight.  I lost 1.1 Kilos
and now weigh 9 stone 6 lbs - weighed 78.5 Kilos when I walked
into this camp.  Lets hope the Red + stuff comes in - the rumours
re this are very persistent.  Cigs. are at a premium - 20
yen a pkt of 10.  Heard of a future trade on Red + - 4 pkts
of Americans for 2 tins of coffee.  Instead to get into the
trading racket this time, to see what I can get out of it.
'Twas beautiful sitting in the sun today - took a book out in
it but went to sleep.  'Tis annoying - have to get up twice
now of a night time to obey nature's call.  As the Camp
barber has to go out on a work party - officers have to cut each
others hair.
[*Postcards signed - Canteen issue.*]
Monday 20^th November 1944.
Signed our post cards put into the Div. office on 5th Nov.
Lets hope they are expedited as from letters rec'd. from
home  Theyre seems to be a hitch in the receipt by of our
folks of them.  At last we have definite news of Red +
parcels.  Tomorrow a party of 50 officers have to stand
by to unload Red + stores from "Tadatsu" - where a
party of enlisted men are unloading them from barges.
Rumour hath it that there are between 50 - 75 tons of
the stuff.  Lets hope that this is the first influx of the
stuff.  Listened to the music last night in Teddy Goode's
room.  Some of the boys were playing banjos, violins etc.
Cigs, fish pills, sweet pills were issued from the
Canteen only after the Div. leaders had been down to see
the J. supply officer

[*Fl./LI. Moulden R.A.F. died - Red Cross parcels came in.
of malnutrition.*]
Tuesday 21^st November 1944.
Whacko!!  Cheers !! Beers!! etc.  Approx 9500 individual
packages - in cartons weighing 50 lbs each containing 4 boxes
came in. - also theatrical equipment, books, records, medical
supplies, clothing, blankets comfort. kits (106 bundles) - The
enlisted men went down to Tadatsu & unloaded from a barge
Another lot is expected in, in another 5 days time.  The
officers unloaded this minute end.  A screed came round from the
medical officer advising people who suffer from berri berri to
eat their proteins first & leave their carbo hydrates till last.
An English Fl./Li. - Moulden died last night (found dead in bed this
morning.) of mal-nutrition - A very strongly worded note was
put in by the Committee (central) to the J. office re this matter.  They
also tried to get us a parcel for this evening but NO luck.
[*Pay day
drew 25 yen.*]
Wednesday 22^nd November 1944.
Did I give the Reg + parcel a bash today - Clarrie
Archer & self have gone into a pool & have to bash (through
doctor's orders all our parcel in a fortnight)  Have
already cleaned up a 8 oz tin salmon, butter milk & drunk
coffee.  Teddy Goode came in & pinched my sweet.
stuff - Raisins, Sugar, Chocolate & left my proteins.  Had
a wonderful sleep on a full tummy last night.
Parcel consisted of:- Cheese - Kraft - 8 ozs - 1
Coffee - 2 ozs [[?]] & malt 1
Bully Beef - 12 oz tin - 1  Cigs. - chesterfield - 5
Prepared meat. (Peer) 12 oz tins - 2.  Butter - Kraft - 3¾ tins.  4
Choc. (O ration) 6 ozs. - 2.  Chewing Gum 2 pkts (5)  2.
Milk (powdered whole S.P.R. 16 ozs.) - 1  Sugar. (Jack Frost. ½ lbs - cubes)
Raisins - 99?00 - 15 gs. - 1.  Salmon - 8 ozs - 1.
Feel damned confident
that we have turned
the corner.  The moral
of the camp has had a
tremendous uplift
Gee I hope & pray the
mates & [[pates?]] are in the
best of health.  Hope to
see 'em in the near future.

Thursday 23^rd November 1944.
Parcel still continues to go with a bang.  Clarrie & self
cracked a tin of prepared meat. "MOR."  After muster mixed
up a drink of powdered milk (3 heaped Tablespoons, 1 block
Class D. emergency ration choc., 3 lumps sugar.)  It went down
with a bang.  Now only have to get up once a night
instead of 3 times as previously.  The water is going
through my system with rapidity now.  Visit the "head"
quite frequently during the day.  The swelling in my face
is going down due to proteins.  Rumour hath it that there
is a possibility of getting 1 Red + parcel every 10 days &
a special Xmas parcel fxxxd  On the strength of it our.
room held a bash party after muster.  Teddy still
continues to ration me.  Allow me one lump of sugar for
my coffee
Friday 24^th November 1944.
Screed came round - parcels to be issued twice a month.
with a possibility, if more parcels come in, of getting
one a week.  Everyone is pushing like blazes for the
latter.  The Yanks are busy arranging feeds &
concoctions for Thanksgiving Day. on Nov. 30^th.
Everyone hopes to get a parcel then, one about the 10 - 14^th
& one on Xmas Eve.  Arrangements are in full swing
re Xmas celebrations.  The J's. have evidently
promised to turn on a decent feed for us.  I personally
hope they turn on their own "chow" for us without
having recourse to the Red + stuff.  Had a cold shower
this afternoon.  It was ruddy cold.  The work party
are bringing in bean buns - swopped for 1 pkt. American

Saturday 25^th November 1944.
Did Clarrie Archer's washing plus my own as he
isn't feeling up to scratch.  He has a lousy cold & I'm
afraid I'm developing one.  Had my first issue of
"sweet" stuff from Teddy Goode - 2 blocks Choc,
3 lumps sugar & some raisins.  Hell a chap can
have a decent bash when he gets out of this hole
in his own kitchen.  Teddy Goode had me in for
morning tea - played a bridge match in the
afternoon. - 3rd round of the Championship - Have to win
this match & the next to be in the prize money.  First
prize worth about 100 yen each.  Feeling much warmer
of a night time - due to the meat etc one is getting
inside them.  Wish the rice ration would be increased.
[*Boiled Sweet spud.*]
Sunday 26^th November 1944.
Had Coaner. up for morning tea - gave me a bean bun-
Trading for 1 pkt Amer. or 30 yen.  The water bucket gets
a bash in order to make a decent mixture of milk.
Instead of the usual Sunday night's concert we held
a Thanksgiving Service.  Rumour hath it that the
Camp superintendent is leaving & the new commandant
is "Scochi joto-Ni" according to the guards
Still time will tell.  Everyone is pushing for another
parcel on the 30th Nov - Thanksgiving Day.  Boiled
sweet spuds were issued from the galley at 1500
hrs.  Mixed some butter with them - Whacko!  Running
a raffle for an Amer. officer. - 5 cigs. a chance - 100
Chances on 2 pipes.

Monday 27^th November 1944.
A new innovation - Sweet Spuds in the rice - they make
it mushy & gooey - bloody awful for making up concoctions.
As, Thursday next is America's Thanksgiving Day & we look
like getting the burnt rice - took one of the American's issues
now for when mine comes up.  Mixed up some milk &
sugar, broke the burnt rice up mixed a bit of bean
bun with it & put chopped up raisins through the
lot.  Will let it soak & have it for tomorrow evening.
Intend to garnish it with chocolate, butter & milk.
Had morning tea with Noel Lyons & aft - tea - Teddy Goode
Coffee both times.  Some of the rooms are putting screeds into
the Div. Leaders - pushing for the issue of another Red +
parcel on the 30th ??
[*Burnt. Rice.*]
Tuesday 28^th November 1944.
Burnt rice hit our room for the morning meal. & for the
evening meal were there some marvellous concotions
made.  Some of the boys show a better aptitude for
"chefing" than others & in the culinery line there are
some experts - Noel & self managed to win our
bridge match for the Tourney to enter the 4th Round.
If we win this Round we will be in the prize
money.  Been very mild of an evening - whether this
Red + food has anything to do with us feeling the
cold I don't know but I am NOT half as cold
as previously.  'Tis wonderful being able to bash a
tin of this or that once a day.  The Next issue of
parcels is expected on the 7th.

[*Sgl. Sobie. US. Marine died.*]
Wednesday 29^th November 1944.
Whacko!!!!  Was in having tea (afternoon) with Major
Teddy & Peter & word came round that parcels would
be issued tomorrow.  Everyone was tremendously
bucked - Rumour hath it that we will soon be
getting one per week.  The official dates given for
the next distributions are the 18th & 24th Dec.
ie. one every 12 days - Even this is too long to make
the milk, sugar & choc spin out.  A Sgt. Sobie
of the U.S. Marine Corps (Guam) died at 0915 hrs this
morning form a throat complaint.  Twas bad luck
to succumb after lasting so long.  People are now beginning
to become very optimistic as regards the length &
termination of the war. "Home for Xmas" is the cry.
[*Amer. Thanksgiving Day.  Anchor Watch - Red +
Issue of 2 razor blades; ½ cake Soap & Tooth powder. parcels.*]
Thursday 30^th November 1944.
The funeral for Sgt. Sobie was held at 0900 hrs.
Red + parcels were issued at 1300 hrs & every one
traded.  Choc bars, milk & sugar commandered a
high price whilst the value of meats fell.  You
can't buy anything for yen now. Have the 1^st Anchor
Watch this evening.  Sweet potatoes (boiled) were
issued form the galley as an extra for the Amer.
Thanksgiving day.  Made mine up into a concoction to
eat prior to when I go on anchor watch.  Most of the
Americans have really made some marvellous concoctions
out of rice. - One chap made a turkey: A screed came round
that. the rice would be increased from the 1^st Dec. by
10% - We must be winning the war.  The old J. Colonel
has left. camp.