Diary Jack Lusby Burns - Oct -1944 - Jan - 1945 - Part 5
[*Smashed a tooth on a rock in the rice.*]
Thursday 21st December 1944.
Screed came round containing the official Xmas menu
0700 - Tangerines? Egg(s)? [[?MorsolofLily]] Special (Mix) Salt, Sugar 2 ozs.
0730 B'fast. Red Beans, Carrots, Onions, Rice wheat, Leeks, Irish Potatoes, Abarage.
1000 Brunch Sweet Potatoe jam - extra issue of sugar
1200 Lunch. Chicken (?) Onions, Irish Potatoes, Carrots.
1400 Doughnuts (?)
1700 Rabbits (?), Onions, Carrots, Irish Potatoes, Rice/Soya Beans
Tea Water. 0700, 0900, 1100, 1300, 1500 1700 hrs.
There are NO figures quoted for where I have marked a (?)
Did some pasting together of Xmas decorations - Got paste
everywhere. The J's. said we could start decorating. At 1500
hrs went downtown to pick up some rabbit meal
& brought back to barrels of Tofu. "Shaged" by the time I got
back.
[*Red + parcels issued; - Pay Day.*]
Friday 22nd December 1944.
Another officer - Jack Hepburn & self made a "pud" out of
our burnt rice to eat with afternoon tea. We just sat
down to it when pay parade was announced - Drew 40 yen.
Just came back when word came round that Red + parcels
were going to be issued & Jack had to go on a carrying party.
Eventually we finished our "pud" at 1600 hrs. The trading
on parcels was pretty fierce. :- Sugar - 2 butters; Jam - butter,
5/6 Butters - milk; Raisins - cheese - 2 butters; Coffee - Salmon -
Choc. Bar - 1½ butters; Raisins - prunes + 1 cig; Salmon - pâté;
Some of the lads are making Xmas puds. out of burnt rice
raisins prunes choc. etc. The issue of these parcels came
as a complete surprise - No rumours & they weren't due till
the 24th. The betting is 2:1 on a parcel being issued the
30th or 31st Decr.
Saturday 23rd December 1944.
A screed came round containing a revised "menu" for
Xmas day. - "Alteration to Xmas day menu" - No
carrots or onions are available. As a substitute for
these, the soups will be reinforced thus:-
B'fast - Daikon & extra Irish Potatoes & oil
Lunch - Squash " " " " & leeks
Supper - Extra Irish Potatoes, Taro & Tofu.
Cereals - Rice & Wheat for B.'fast & Lunch; Supper -
Rice & Wheat & Soya Bean. "
Its impossible for the nips to lay down anything definite
Had an air raid alert during the aft. Everyone
is rushing around preparing Xmas cards etc. Had
a hot bath 1415 hrs ¼ hr for 32 men 1 bucket of water
Sunday 24th December 1944.
As I had traded off my bread for 2 rations of
rice & as there will no NO bread now for Xmas
day settled the debt for 2 packets of fags. Mixed
up some coffee cream for my sweet potatoe jam, due
to come out tomorrow also some milk for coffee.
Everyone is sort of getting into their stride doing
some preparation work for tomorrow's big show &
feed we hope. Went to the pantomime last night last - "Babes
in the Wood" (a travesty) - tonight we had Xmas
carols & singing. Had to put in ½ of our midday's
ration of rice for our table "cake" tomorrow for
the formal room party. Dashed off some Notes
in time to catch the last "post".
[*Xmas Day - 1,000 extra Red + parcels came in.*]
Monday 25th December 1944.
Xmas Day - Peace on Earth, Good will to all men.
I wonder when this bloody war is going to end. My
first thoughts were on wondering what the mater
& pater were doing. I mentally wished them all
the best throughout the coming year & a Merry Xmas.
Really was full this evening - had 1 doughnut
left over - Gave my milk a hell of a bash - Resume -
0700 - collected Salt (2 ozs), Sugar 2 ozs & miso paste (2ozs)
3½ tangerines & 1 egg per man (Gave my egg
to Conners - Tea water ½ ration (coffee self.)
0730 B'fast - Rice, Beans Red Irish Pots. oil leeks
0830 Sweet Potatoe jam issued (Had this for lunch)
0900 Doughnuts issued - 2 per man (ate 1 for late supper)
0915 - Had morning tea with Major Potter - 1 ration
burnt rice & 1 ration rice between 2. with practically
a taste of everything in the Red + Box - Very nice - Gave
me a bottle of home brew - Raisins, Gum & Prunes juice -
down for 33 days.
1100 Coffee - Conners
1200 - Lunch ^ Chickens, Spuds, leeks - Pormal Room show - cake & sweet Potatoe
jam, Coffee (self).
1430 Coffee - Sandy Robertson - the Xmas party - officially
opened in Rooms 3 & 4 by Capt Gordon, senior Eng'man
Races, Spinning jennies Beans in bottle guessing competition
1500 Mocha Coffee - Major Gordon - Long term policy
re soap etc.
1630 Coffee Capt Johnson
1700 Supper - Rice & Soya Beans, Spuds, Taro - Sweet Potatoe
Jam given me by Conners.
1730 - Dickens Xmas Carol. 2100 Muster 2130 Lights out
Tuesday 26th December 1944.
"After the Lord Mayor's show comes the Night cart." -
Back to greens etc after y'day's "good" food. Heck
the Red + boxes received a bashing. Had the Major &
Teddy in for early morning morning coffee. Sandy Rob.
for morning coffee & in the aft. Teddy & self had
a little snack of kept over mid-day rice plus
some of our package. The J's. last night had a "sing-sing"
of their own - They got on the saki and kicked
up a hell of a row. Had to answer nature’s call
3 times during the night. No doubt about it a
chap can face the cold now much better than
previously. The feeling nowadays is one of
optimism.
[*Anchor Watch*]
Wednesday 27th December 1944.
As Sandy Robertson suffers from sugar diabetes he has
to swap his "sweet stuff" for proteins. So, he made
a "cake" out of salmon & pâte whilst I made a "pud"
out of choc raisins sugar mild etc. & we had a tete
à tete at aft-tea time. Really bashed my parcel
today as I had the "anchor watch - 4th watch 0145
- 0320 hrs. Very cold whilst on duty. Room decided
to have a room do on the night of the 1st. The J's.
put out the books to the library that came in on
the 21st Nov. Understand that there are quite a
number of acct books. Did my washing - water was
bloody cold. Had to leave it on the line overnight.
Every one is mooting for a parcel on or before the 1st.
[*Burnt rice*]
Thursday 28th December 1944.
Received our burnt rice - as I had a big party
with Warren Conners in the aft I kept it over till
the next day. Our party consisted of 2 rations enlisted
men's rice + 2 tins salmon ^ + 2 eggs baked to make a loaf, 1 ration
rice + 1 tin butter + ½jam + milk for a sweet. 1 tin
pâte, ½ cheese, 1 ration rice, milk, onions to make
savouries, 2 rations rice, ½choc, prunes, raisins
1 tangerine, ¼box sugar ½milk, ^ ¾butter for a cake, & ½bully
1 rice, vegetables, pickles & miso for the meat course,
liquid off soup with milk, butter & pâté added. We
ate for 3 hours & finished up with 2 cups coffee. The
coffee stopped me & I finished my cake at evening meal.
Didn't have my rice for evening meal. New books issued to library.
[*Letter (July) from home - Comforts issue.*]
Friday 29th December 1944.
Bad news - screed came round from Capt. Lineberry saying
that NO parcels will be issues till the 4th or 5th & thence every
2 weeks - Everyone is disappointed - Still its a dark cloud
that hasn't a silver lining. Rec'd July '44 letter from home
with a PHOTO of the mater, pater & Diek's baby. Gee, they look
wonderful - won't it be grand seeing them again. I rushed
around showing everyone. Was I thrilled? Comforts
issue was made - 1 tube brushless (Barbasol Shaving
Cream, 1 cake soap (Fels - napthal.), 1 pencil 1 toothbrush, 1 tooth
powder (Williams), 1 comb & 1 pkt. "bumph" between 2 people.
Also there were a few razors for those that needed them.
Started new innovation in the room of rice - seconds -
a jam-tin (6 ozs) Speeds up serving of meals.
[*Red Cross clothing issued. -*]
Saturday 30th December 1944.
Red + clothing was issued - we received an odd
lot of goods for this room - I managed to snag a
pair of u/pants (long woollen) and a towel - the
latter most acceptable. No baths today. Very cold
snap today - as soon as the wind blows it begins to
get cold. The "Home Guard are training very assiduously
in the school yard across the way. Inspection was held
by the new camp superintendant at 1330 hrs. I had
the room duty. Had my rice china-bowl broken
for me - had to go down & report the matter & finally
finished up by having my tea-cup & soup bowl
confiscated - now have to improvise in klim tins.
[*Put in 150 word letters to home.*]
Sunday 31st December 1944.
For the concert this evening - the Eng. Aust. & Dutch
put on a combined variety show. The Scotch were well
in the fore - reminded me of Maryborough. Three members
of the room were allowed to write 150 word letters - the
rest 100. I was one of the lucky three. Unfortunately
one cannot write what one thinks or wants. Still
as long as it reaches home I'll be satisfied. The
last day of the year - wonder what the new will
bring forth. I sincerely hope & pray I'll be home
ere the end of it. Now only have my meats left
to last me till the 4th or 5th for a new parcel - Still
one can't have one's cake & eat it. The soups &
rice rations have been damned small.
[*New Year's Day - Let's hope I'm home this year.????*]
Monday 1st January 1945.
1945 and what will it bring?? Gosh, I hope & pray
that the war will be over in the near future.
Some officers got up at midnight & rushed around
wishing everyone a Happy New Year Had the
Major & Teddy in for a drink of coffee at 0900. Table
party at night - borrowed 1 tin butter & jam on the
next parcel for it. Rooms 1 & 2 had a sing Song
in the afternoon. Had a "drink" with Conner.
Weather ruddy cold. Thought of home. Arranged if possible
to trade my Milk Coffee Raisins & Choc bar (1) off for 11
butters Out of fags till the next parcel. Inside musters
seem to be the order of the day now. Still average at
least 1 trip a night to the Heads. Oh, for some decent chow.
Tuesday 2nd January 1945.
Spent all day on trying to make a "hot-box” to drink
my coffee or tea out of. With a cup, the first ½ is hot
& the 2nd luke warm unless you gulp it down. This way
the heat is retained. The water at the wash rack was
very chilly this morning - henceforth will wait for an
hour or so before I wash. This place is getting more
like a cannery each day. Marvellous the things that
are made from empty tins. Bought a packet of fags
for 20 - Lets hope the parcels come out Thursday. Did
an anchor watch for Johnson for 1 pkt fags - He
paid up on New Years Day & I have finished them.
The meals are ruddy awful of late. Hell 'twill be grand
to eat what you want when you want it.
[*Canteen issue, Air-raid.*]
Wednesday 3rd January 1945
The air-raid alarm sounded at 1400 hrs lasted to 1500
hrs. "Smoke-bombs" & fish pills, menthalatum were
issued from the canteen. The present cry is - where
& what has happened to our "Kinshie" issue, the
cost of which is deducted in the fixed charge of 27 yen
per month. Seems paradoxical when the B.M. price
was 10 per pkt. Was the coldest I've ever been last
night in this place. I couldn't get my feet warm
in bed & had to get up twice for a "rear". I blame
it on the "bully". Some Australian August mail came
in. The "Home Guard" who use to school ground
opposite, as a parade ground, train very industriously
with wooden rifles. Soups are damned light.
[*Letter dated Sept. 8th from home.*]
Thursday 4th January 1945.
Everyone was disappointed since the expected
arrival of parcels did NOT materialize. - Am now
a tin of butter & jam mortgaged on my next parcel.
Got an arrangement with Warren to have a bash
with him every time the parcels come out. Teed
up things with him for the mater's birthday on the
22nd. Beautiful day - sat in the sun most of the
day. Average temp for December was 44° -
surprisingly higher than last December - but we
had more flesh on our bones. Received a
letter dated Dec Sept 8th from home - Can't understand
why they haven't rec'd news of us since Nov '43.
Let's hope they have rec'd news ere this.
Friday 5th January 1945.
Smashed the stem of my pipe - a serious blow - it was
lying on my bed & I trod on it. Parcels didn't come
out much to everyone's disappointment - afraid some
hard words were said about the J's. -Borrowed - 2
tins butter, 8 spoons milk . 1 tin strawberry & a tin of
meat for Warren & my party. Mixed 1½tins butter
& 1 tin strawberry together to make a spread over the
rice (2 rations) tasted lovely - a breakfast or supper
dish for me when I get home. Beautiful day - sun out
No wind. Boys are doing a lot of trading on futures
for Red + stuff. Now have to eat out of klim tins as
the J's. took my eating gear away on a/c of my
smashed rice bowl.
[*Parcels issued.*]
Saturday 6th January 1945.
Whacko! Parcels came out about 16.30 - so we held the
hot water over so as everyone to have - coffee if they
desired. I started this parcel 2 butters & 2 jams
down. Managed to fill this vacancy for the loss
of ½prunes, 1 choc bar & ½coffee. Coffee & butter
seem to have appreciated - milk depreciated . 200 parcels
were sent out of camp - 2 trucks came for them from
another camp - they were driven by 2 dutch boys
who said they worked in a copper mine - food good.
Our first contact with another camp. - all dutch enlisted
men there. Their trucks broke down here & our parcels
could NOT be issued until they had gone. Everyone was
impatiently awaiting their departure from 1300 hrs onwards.
Sunday 7th January 1945.
Bitterly cold - almost went without a wash - Haven't had
a bath for 3 weeks. Coal very “schochi” in Japan.
Icicles were on the bottom of the wash rack - Snowed on &
off all day. Had a leather jacket given me by Warren -
it's the goods - keeps one very warm. Had a lousy sleep last
night - probably the reaction from the parcel. The concert
was put on by the enlisted men. - "My Favourite Wife"
damn good. Helped one of them make a cake - He had
a marvellous concoction made up of Raisins cheese & milk
which had a bite to it. - Let it brew for 4 days. Second
a rabbit skin with which I intend to line my booties.
Quite a few of the lads are suffering from chilblains
I relieved one lad from room duty on account of them.
[*Don Dennis' b'day.*]
Monday 8th January 1945.
The Indeps held another party - Ingredients put in
were those as for the party on the 15th Dec (see 10th.)
Had it at mid-day instead of the evening. Teeing up
things for a whacko splurge on the mater's b'day
i e. the 22nd Jan. with Warren. Put in application for
5 new text books on Book-keeping & Bus. admin.
Rumours of Tokyo having ordered an increase in
the cereal ration for officers. I'll believe it when
I have it in my tummy. One of the English officers
gave me a leather 'jerkin' to get rid of for him
in he wants a suit of w'clothing. Traded off 2 coffee cans
salt for 5 pkts Amer. each. J. Rescript Day - Not
the fuss kicked up about it there used to be of yore.
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