Diary Jack Lusby Burns - Oct -1944 - Jan - 1945 - Part 4

[*Rice increased by 10%.*]
Friday 1^st December 1944.
The rice ration was supposed to be increased by 10%
-  noticable for the morning meal but nothing at
all on the other two rations - also, sweet spud
was throughout the rice - "screwed again" as the 
boys say. Clarrie Archer was saying that he is to 
go down to the sick bay room room ^reserved for those 
who are in weakened circumstances. Turned
damned cold today. The room have an idea that
if anyone is sick their rice is served out to the
others i.e. 31 bowls instead of 32 put out & when
they are better, 33 bowls instead of 32 are put
out. The Xmas menu promises to be a beauty. 

 

[*Coal shortage. - No hot baths.*]
Saturday 2^nd December 1944.
Felt damned hungry this evening so busted into
some chocolate, cheese, raisins etc. Order came out- 
greatcoats may be worne at all times except for
inside musters or inspections. Inspection at 1100 hrs,
another cold day. Clarrie Archer moved to the Sick -bay 

where their "chow" is 1/3 extra - Aussies
coined a new word - "grazing" - to signify burrowing
into the Red + box.  Coal shortage - so only have
tea- water 3 times a day instead of 5. Bit of a
blow as this hot water tends to warm one up.
Rumours of proposed sweet spud jam tomorrow.
"Teed"up", a chocolate drink for myself tomorrow.
Many & varied are the concoctions mixed up.

[*P/cards to home handed in. Air raid alarm.*]
Sunday 3^rd December 1944.
Handed into Dis. office a 40 word post-card to home. Only 
wish we were allowed to say what we want. Still damn 
glad to be able to write to the folks. Very cold - felt miserable 
all day. Everyone is availing themselves of the opportunity 
to be able to wear their g/coats. Had a party with Paddy 
Palmer & Tom Fortney in the aft. (old inmates of Room 21)
- celebrated the occasion when Paddy first met his wife. 
Owing to the lack of coal, had our proposed extra 
of sweet potato jam for the midday soup. - 'Twas 
nothing like soup by the time the boys had been at it 
with their Red Cross ingredients. The lads had 
a real "grazing" period for tonight's meal, during the 
day. Really turned out some super works. 

 

Monday 4^th December 1944.
An order came out from the J's. that we would be
able to use 2 blankets to cover ourselves during the
day. Hell of a concession (same as wearing of
g/coats on parade.) for them. Ruddy war must nearly 
be over. Everyone is hoping for another parcel 
on the 7^th or 8^th instead of the 12^th. Due to the 
coal shortage the tea water has been cut down
to 3 times daily. instead of 5 times. The value of
coffee should now fall. Out of the tins in the parcel the 
lads have been making all sorts of "quaning" bowls. 
Although rumour hath it that we are going to be issued with 
wooden bowls through the Canteen. We are pressing for an
issue of clothing etc out of this Red + stuff - tho J's say after their 
inspection on the 8^th.

[*Aust. mail dated June came in.*]
Tuesday 5^th December 1944
Canteen issue - Fish Pills, shoe laces, slippers etc.
Did a chap's anchor watch for 2 packets Americans.
They will come in very acceptable. At muster, the
room leader read out the proposed Xmas menu.
This menu can be handled by the galley & it is
now in the final form to hand to the J. Supply
officer who has been asking the Div. leaders for it.
B'fast - Meat, beans, mix, aboragics, 1 ½ rations rice.
Morn tea. Sweet spud jam
Lunch. Chicken & Noodle soup aboragic, 3 loaves bread
Aft. tea. - 3 doughnuts per man
Supper. - Rabbit gravy - 1 ½ rations rice. - tangerines (10)
In addition prior to Xmas issue of saki, salt, sugar, mix, soy. 

 

Wednesday 6^th December. 1944.
Had a beautiful chocolate pud. as an addition to the
evening meal- just managed to eat it - 2 squares
chocolate grated up, 4 T/spoons milk & some butter for 
the icing - prunes raisins butter sugar & milk in
the rice - tasted delicious. Everyone is hoping to get
another parcel on the 7^th or 8^th.  800 parcels were
taken out of camp by the J's.- supposedly to another
camp. Lets hope they get them. Extremely cold snap 
- snowed today for a short time. Its a case of putting 
on clothes to go to bed. My feet are the things that suffer 
worst, as they become frozen. Quite a few of the lads are 
suffering from stomach complaints - Probably Red + 
food or the Sweet spuds ^which we are given in lieu of rice

for evening meal.

[*June '44 letter from home. - Earthquake - Inspection.*]
Thursday 7^th December 1944.
Whacko! Received a post card post-marked June 44
from home. They evidently seem to be in the best of health 
which is a grand thing. Every night I pray that we shall 
be re-united in the near future & for their safe keeping. Early 
in the afternoon we experienced a decent earth-tremor.
It lasted about a minute, - the whole building shook.
Tomorrow is evidently the annual Supply inspection
as they had a preliminary inspection at 1500 hrs.
Very cursory. Our room was caught with their
pants down for evening muster as we were all
standing around in the room some smoking some
with g/coats on & people out of place when the J.D.O. 
arrived - Great was the turmoil - No one had heard 
the bugle. 

 

[*Air-raid alarm. - Sick -. Cyril Nielsen's b'day.*]
Friday 8^th December 1944.
Felt squeamy in the tummy all day - Had to get up
a couple of times last night with the "squitters". Damned
cold squatting down the banjo. especially round the feet.
It's so damned cold I can hardly write. - 34°F.
Stayed in bed for morning muster. Personally I blame 
the sweet spud for upsetting me. The air raid alarm 
sounded 0945 & secured 1115 hrs. Rumour hath it 
Osaka & Kuré Naval Base. We all had to go
downstairs to the 2 rooms. Had an inspection at 0900 
hrs by the J. supply dept. Understand it is in lieu 
of the inspection tomorrow. Everyone is going crook at 
the Central Committee for NOT going down to the J's. 
to get a parcel - Bloody ludicrous.

Saturday 9^th December 1944.
Feel blown up like a poisoned pup. - managed to get a 
couple of "sulpha" pills this evening. Reverted to the 5 
oclock schedule for tea water. Quite decent having something
hot for the evening meal. Two representations from Room 
9B came here for tea whilst 2 went from our Room.
One came to our table. Rumours are prevalent -
that the J. Prime Minister & cabinet have resigned - that 
the inventories have turned up for the Red + stores & 
that they expect as much in again. The J's. asked 
the Div. leaders for a menu of vegetables between the 11^th 
& the 24^th Dec.  A representation was made by American 
officers to the Amer. repres. on the Central Committee to
try &  get a parcel once a week. - No luck. 

 

[*Burnt Rice. - Hot bath.*]
Sunday 10^th December 1944
We received the burnt rice in this room for the evening 
meal - I went into p/ship with Major Wilson - gave him ½ 
of mine and he when he gets his will give me ½ of his.
Intend mixing chocs etc raisins milk butter & prunes
with it. Everyone is waiting on the appearance of the
new superintendent. Propose having an Indep dinner 
in the Major's Room on Friday right next. - 4 course 
meal (Hum?) & a cake - Each to put in ½ Salmon, 
¼ meat, 1/8 cheese, ¼ butter, 1/6 choc., 40 Raisins, 3 Prunes 
1 spoon (dessert) Jam, 3 Tble/spoons Milk, 1/10 Sugar, 1½ spoons Coffee
3 amer. Cigs & 2+ rations Rice - Should be a grand show.
Pte Teddy's b'day. on the 20^th & Peter's on the 25^th. Getting damned 
hard to shave with the hollows in one's face, Had a hot bath this aft.

[*Signed P/Cards to home*]
Monday 11^th December 1944
Signed our post cards put in on 3^rd Dec. Would
like to know that I could beat the thing home.
Feeling very confident this way. Understand Col.
Scanlon went down to see the J's. re distribution of
Red + parcels once a week. He was told that they
(i.e. the J's.) would only recognize Capt. Linebury
(senior American) as spokesman for the Red &
stuff & that if he saw fit to only issue to Amers.
they would sanction it. Quite a slap in the eye
for Col Scanlon. Went for a walk down the town
after some rabbit meal - Quite pleasant - Noticed quite a 
few daikons hanging outside windows & shop fronts drying.
Just about out of Red + stuff. The things should be issued 
once a week. 

 

[*Put in as having 10 yen.
Red + parcels
issued.*] Tuesday 12^th December 1944.
Red + parcels were issued about 1400 hrs this aft.
Everyone in this room was holding back their burnt
rice so as to prepare a decent mixture. Some good
results were obtained. Put in as having 10 yen- enables me 
to draw 40 yen this month I hope as I'm broke. Traded 
off my Raisins, 2 choc bars Coffee & jam for 1 cheese, 1 
salmon & 5 butters. I don't think my tummy can take 
the sweet stuff. Went down to sick call & had a complete
overhaul by the doctor. Said I was suffering from 
nothing but malnutrition as everyone in here is - Gave 
me some vitamen B.1. tablets - enough for 20 dozes - 1 
doze per day. Tried to do some washing - only ½ completed.
Wish the sun would come out - Bloody cold.

Wednesday 13^th December 1944.
So damned cold that I can hardly write. The new
superintendent came in - he looks a typical nip .
Remains to be seen how be acts - Let's hope its for
our good as I'm tired of being screwed with
false & broken promises. Wish they would break
open some of these bulk stores that came in with
the parcels. Finished my washing - next job is to

get the stuff dry. Went back ^on to my tucker with a
bang - Feel as hungry as ?!. Anchor watch

this evening 0010 -0145 hrs. The div. leaders are

trying to get this abomination abolished. - Tis a

ruddy nuisance - these cold nights. 'Tis amazing the
traffic that occurs in this place of a night - time! 

 

[*Anchor watch 0010 - 0145.*]
Thursday 14^th December 1944.

"Stood by" waiting for an inspection by the new superintendent
all day - eventually a strange naval officer, rep^uted 
from the Prisoner's Bureau Tokyo, came round. I was 
sound asleep on my bunk. Had a  table dinner for 
evening meal. I had 3 extra dishes one of which I
left till after muster. They were chocolate, cheese & pate, 
and butter-jam. Ate 3 rations of rice for the 
evening meal & felt like some more. Buggered up the 
schedule for the ingredients of my Red + parcel to 
make it last till the 24^th the ^proposed date of the next 
issue. These parcels are definitely meant for an  
weekly issue - Too much strain to make them. spin 
out for 12 days. 3 lorry loads of coal came in.

[*Indep party.*]

Friday 15^th December  1944.

Volunteered to go out with the outside agric. party at the
officer's Club. The aussies have been assigned a plot of 
ground there. We planted some cabbage & dug up some 
ground in which previously, had been planted leeks - brought 
some of them back with me. Had a wonderful party 
for the Indep crowd this evening. Bill L. & Peter D. were 
the caterers - they did a grand job. Afterwards Len played 
his accordion which he bought from one of the latest 
arrivals for £10. Decided to run more of them. The 
chewing of gum has been prohibited by the nips outside 
the building. The new superintendent had the allied 
committee down to see him after he had made an inspection
in the morning. Told them that we would be home soon 
as Japan would win the war..??

 

Saturday 16^th December 1944.

Another inspection at 1100 hrs this morning. - 4th day of 
inspections. Some new idea of giving each man 2 cartons 
to keep his odds & ends in. Didn't dream I could exist so
 long on so few items. Borrowed a tunic & tie for last 
nights show. The J's. provided a few dried fish to put in 
the evening's meal. - Just tasted it. Nowadays, there 
is more grease proteins in the washing up bucket than 
the J.'s have provided for the last 6-9 da months. Now

that we are on good food feel absolutely ravenous.

Started to snow - feet & hands feel like blocks of ice. Find 
it damned hard to concentrate on studying & reading. A chap 
just lives from meal to meal. Well it I'll be a pleasure to 
go to the kitchen & get what one wants. Saving my chips 
from my fags & damned low on cigs.

[*Weight 57 kilos - loss 2.2 kilos - now under 9 stone.

Tangerines (2) issued.*]

Sunday 17^th December 1944.

Things look bad on the Red + front. Capt Linebury

sent round a screed re his interview with Lieut Nakajima 
who has charge of the Red + stores. He tried to get him to
issue the Red + clothing comfort kits & theatrical appliances. 
Answer - No issue of clothing etc. until invoices & 
instructions rec'd from Tokyo (meanwhile we shiver & 
freeze). Parcels issued on 24th & every fortnight 
thereafter) unless more stuff comes in - then he will 
reconsider. - Well I hope the J. transport can get more 
stuff to us. Our room has nothing except a garage 
& store room under it. Hence, becomes very cold. The J. 
xxx graciously going there & get some newspapers to 
place under our mats. Now weigh under 9 stone. The 
majority put on weight. Room gain .04 kilos. 

 

[*Air Raid alert. 1010 hrs. - Canteen issue*]

Monday 18^th December 1944.

The air raid alarm sounded 1010 hrs - we in the

upper story had to go downstairs & congregate in the 
bottom two rooms. "All clear" went at 1115 hrs

We are NOT allowed to smoke whilst downstairs

The air -raid sounded again in the afternoon.

Traded my ^proposed Xmas mid-day loaf of bread off 
for 2 enlisted men's issues of rice. So damned

ravenous now that I could eat anything practically

Every room is under way preparing Xmas decorations 
probably start to hang them up next Friday or 
Saturday. If the wind doesn't blow the weather is 
quite mild - as soon as the wind comes up 
becomes as cold as charity.

Tuesday 19^th December 1944

Canteen issue - fish pills (which I trade off for

chewing gum.) cigarettes (1 pkt per man)- smoke bombs) 
and powder. Should have shaved today but it was too 
damned cold. Caught with our pants down for this 
evening's muster - none of us had heard the
bugle. Quite a few of the lads are manufacturing 
"hot-boxes" out of empty milk cans to try & keep 
their tea - water hot; Also, milk cans are 
beginning to replace the china crockery for
soup as they keep the soup hotter, especially 
with a lid on. Did an "anchor watch" for a pkt 
of fags & a pkt of gum. Most of the lads are busy 
whacking out Xmas Cards. 

 

[*Teddy Goode's b'day- Burnt rice.*]

Wednesday 20^th December 1944.

Had Teddy Goode in for an early prior breakfast

cup of chocolate - Gave him a packet of Chesterfields 
& ½ tube [[ ?stauhless]] shaving cream. In the 
afternoon the other Indeps. gathered around 

and gave he & Peter D. an afternoon tea. Peter's

b'day is on Xmas day. We each put in 4 

savouries & 3 cigarettes. Snow fell today - It

was bloody cold all day. For evening meal we

joined our table onto the other this end of the

room & the 16 of us held a room dinner. I

made a chocolate pud & a cheese savoury. Went

off damned well. Rec'd our burnt Rice. - understand

it did 112 rations today - This stuff is traded off for 1 ½

rations of ordinary rice.