Diary Jack Lusby Burns - Oct -1944 - Jan - 1945 - Part 6

[*Anchor Watch. 1000 individual Red + parcels came in.*]

Tuesday 9^th January 1945.

Air raid alarm 1400 - 1515 hrs had to go downstairs

Have the anchor watch - 5th watch tomorrow morning

0330 - 0455 hrs. Developed a cold - Have to watch out

for h'chiefs. Have to go damned easy on the parcel

so as to save the majority for the Mater’s b'day. Now

have about 2 coffee tins of butts saved up - will get

rid of them in the pipe. Rumours:- Parcels once a

week - 2 breakthroughs on the allies part (Munich & 

Nuremburg.) - J. Colonel pep. talk to staff - If Germany

cracks J. cannot fight world on own. - Tokyo supposed

authorized 30% increase in officer chow. 250 parcels (4)

came into camp. Some more are supposed to be on the way

from Vladivostock ?? Had an extra blanket issued to 
me.

 

Wednesday 10^th January 1945.

Nice day so decided to test my fate & have a cold shower

- first for 3 weeks - I was filthy - henceforth I stay

dirty. Hell 'twas cold. As the boys say - "you can't die

of being dirty. Feel fed-up with this place. I often

think of home & try & picture conditions there. I hope

I never go hungry again. As our room only has a

store-room underneath it, the temperature is usually

10^o - 15^o colder than the other rooms on the top floor who

have people living in rooms underneath. Also, the rooms

facing South are warmer. The boys had a big party

in our room tonight - Bruce Parkhill's 31^st b'day.

He seemed to be eating all day. - did it by trading

his rice forward on previous days. If the J's would

only increase the rice ration would be wonderful.

[*Burnt rice.*]

Thursday 11^th January 1945.

Warren & self had a party - tend to have one every

day he is off. He kindly supplies most of the Red +

stuff & all the rice. This time had a tin of "Tang"

cooked with 2 rations rice. 3 rations of rice ½ tin of

Peach jam & 1 tin Grapelade plus 1¼  tins butter

coffee milk & sugar. Start at 12.30 & finished at 1500 hrs.

Cigs are selling at 25yen. "Buns" 4 for jam butter,

6-choc. 4 pâté, Salmon & 8 for meat 15 for milk.

Screed came round saying parcels every 15 days.

The J's were approached re toilet paper issue. Told

the coloured paper we had issued at Xmas was

in lieu of it. Cunning blighters - screwed again.

The burnt rice seems to be on the mend - once every 8 days.

 

[*Put in as having 20 yen - change later to 40 yen - camp return

short 11,000 yen.??*]

Friday 12^th January 1945.

Anchor watches are being "sold" for 1/2 ration burnt rice or

from 1-2 pkts fags. Division leaders interviewed Supply officer

& Camp adjutant re anchor watches, canteen supplies, food

etc. Screed was issued stating - Anchor watches would

continue - impossible to get vitamins etc pills as now rationed

cereal would NOT be increased & re the proposed making

of bread, 'the grains would have to come out of our ration.

A strange J. doctor was in camp interviewing our sick.

Had a ruddy good table party at lunch time- Had

a 5 ration job which "stopped" me. - Menu - Liquid off

soup milk & butter. plate - 1/2 ration rice cheese bully pâté, cheese -

Pork cooked up. Vegetables from soup & salad, 1/2 ration Salmon cheese,

1 ration butter Jam (Grape, Peach) whipped cream & a cake 1 rice & 1 burnt rice.

Saturday 13^th  January 1945.

Air raid alert sounded about 1400hrs, Fortunately

we didn't have to go downstairs. Felt a bit squeamish

in the tummy this evening so traded off 1/2 ration

rice for Tuesday. Had a cup of coffee with Teddy Goode 

- damned good. Hot bath 1/2 bucket water per person

12 mins for 32 men - first for 3 weeks - as one

chap said - 1st time I've had my u/clothes off in 3 weeks.

Inspection - (routine) held at 1100 hrs. The evening

muster took 3/4s hour -  The J's selected officers

at random & asked them how much yen they

had - they then had to produce this amount. One officer

was put in the brig for having 100 yen (said he found it

in the banjo) - offence to have more than 50 yen - The

camp return was 11,000 yen short. Aust. Div. O.K.

 

Sunday 14^th January 1942.

A nasty incident occurred in our room. The air-

raid alarm sounded at 1400 hrs - We had to go

downstairs - "all clear" given at 1515 hrs. Some

of the lads on my "bay" when they came upstairs

found that their Red + parcels had been rifled.

The chap next to me lost 3 tins from our

meat pool - It looks as if I will be having some

J. meals in the near future till the [[?]]  come

out. - Lousy swine. It leaves a nasty taste of

suspicion in the room. Developed a cold from

y'day's bath. First time I haven't poured a bucket

of cold water over myself when I finished.

Borrowed a leather jacket & a shirt from Warren

so as can wash my u/clothes.

Monday. 15^th January 1945. 

About 2200 hrs last night, a fire started in the 

township - It looked a fearsome sight - reported

have burnt down 25 houses & some lives were

lost. The J's blew the air raid alarm. Intensely

cold today - spent the majority of the aft in bed.

Snowed late in the aft. As our meal pool was

"swiped" had to subsist on J. food. Gee, I

hope the parcels come out on Saturday in

preparation for our 'bash' on Monday.

Supposed to be an increase in cereal today

also bread - I still hold to my old adage formed

from bitter experience - believe anything

when I have it in my belly.

 

Tuesday 16^th January 1945.

This evening we had an inagural meeting of the

"Pud Club" - Boys, instead of eating their "puddings"

at evening meal, kept them until 1900 hrs. All types

were seen some very tasty. Red + rumours loom

again - expect more parcels in.? Essences, lemon

& Strawberry were issued by the canteen - also fish

pills & sweet pills  & cigs (1 pkt.) xxxxx to the

Red + stuff "vanishing" from this room - Cyril

Nielsen accused me of having something to do with

it. I then saw Major Wilson - he advised me to

cut out all dealing - intend seeing room leader

tomorrow. Strange this chap saying I'm implicated

as I  suspect him.

Wednesday 17^th January 1945.

Screed came round from the J. - "Because the American

airmen have bombed the Grand Shrine of Psa, prisoners

are forbidden to sing dance etc" So I guess all concerts

will be off for a while. - also, NO musical instruments

are allowed to be played. Re the stealing of burnt rice Red +

stuff, I saw the Major this morning & demanded an

enquiry, if I was concerned. He said that there

wasn't enough evidence to support an enquiry, but

promised one if more evidence came to the fore. Looks

as if I better stop all "trading" for peace & quietness

I'm afraid the rest of the members of this bay look at

me askance. Capt Hepburn very kindly offered his

services as a defending officer if ever the occasion

should arise.

 

[*Burnt Rice*]

Thursday 18^th January 1945.

Saved my burnt rice & borrowed another as I can

make a decent "pud" for the Mater’s b'day. Reminds me

of the letter I wrote in Dec. '43 when I said that I would

make a cake "out of rice". Some more incidents occurred

re the loss of Red+ stuff. 2 lads sleeping next to me

told another lad (Gary) that they suspect me although they

have NO definite grounds of suspicions except that I

seem to have a lot of Red + stuff. The Major & Teddy are

really staunch comrades - in fact the whole of the

[[?Indis]] Coy. Had it out with our Room Leader and

asked for an enquiry or a def public accusation or 

apology. Going to do Peter Dixon’s next 6 watches for

3 burnt rice rations.

Wednesday Friday 19^th January 1945.

Had 3 air raids tonight, one at 1900, another

2350 and yet another 0430hrs. Also had an

alarm at 1030 hrs - Quite an exciting day. For

the first I was caught over in the other barracks.

Tangerines 4 each were issued from the

galley - Most of us soak the fruit & peel with

raisins prunes & sugar for 3 - 4 days prior

to putting it into burnt rice to make a "pud".

Wish our rations were a damned side larger.

We could really have decent feeding with these

Red + boxes even once a fortnight. Today I am

writing this day's show on the 22nd as I'm 4 days

behind on my schedule.

 

[*Red + parcel issued. Sept letter from home. *]

Saturday 20^th January 1945

Whacko, another parcel came out today - Great

was the rejoicing - didn't come out till 1600 hrs.

Quite a few were despondent as they didn't

think they were coming out. We have great faith

in the J. If the damned thing hadn't of come out

would have been shagged for the Mater’s b'day

on Monday great tragedy - only for 3 butters.

Great news rec's a September 44 letter from

home - evidently all in great spirits - Gosh I

hope we are re-united soon. Everyone is

optimistic re the general trend of things. Quite a

few of the lads have rice & stuff saved up

to bath when the parcels came. 

[*Bath day. Weight Now 58.5 Kilos gained 1.5 kilos*]

Sunday 21^st January 1945.

Had the best hot 'bath" I've had in Zentsuji - 

went over after the evening meal - there were only

2-3 there & plenty of hot water so had about 6

buckets instead of the usual 1/2 bucket & finished

up with a cold shower. Had a shave also

whilst there. Wonderful to shave in hot water.

Busy all day preparing a cake to the mater's

b'day tomorrow - literally got down to it with

my hands to mush up the rice & burnt rice. Soaked 

the later for 3 days in prunes & raisins. We

really have a comprehensive menu drawn up for

it. Meat & salmon loaf, strawberry jam, choc. & mince

meat pie, cake, savouries, cocoa coffee etc.

 

[*Mater's birthday, Pay day, Signed p/cards to home*]

Monday 22^nd January 1945.

Haven't felt so "full" since I've been in Japan.

I've the Mater’s  birthday so Warren & self planned

a "do". We ate all day - in fact still have

2/3rds of a chocolate & Mince Meat pie left as well

as a greater part of the cake. I really hope & pray

I am with her before her next birthday comes

around.  - My thoughts were with her practically

all day. Signed our cards to home; also "pay day"

drew 10 yen. - Money has NO value or at least

out of all proportion in this place. Practically

impossible to buy outside things with it. They tell me

that even outside prices are inflated - 5 yen

for an egg normally costing 5 sen.

[*Air-raid*]

Tuesday 23^rd January 1945.

The air-raid alarm sounded just on afternoon

 tea time - really awkward as Conner & I planned

to finish off our "bash" - Since when the air raid

alarm sounds No one is supposed to leave either

barracks & he is in the other barracks. Still

we got together for a really decent ^scrap party.

Did an anchor watch this morning for Peter Dixon

-  traded his next 6 watches for 3 burnt rice

rations. The room decided to hold a Foundation

Day dinner (lunch) on the 26th Jan. Rumour

hath it that more Red + stuff is expected in. Varied

in hue are the colours now. Turned out in cakes

by the lads since the J's issued different essences.

 

Wednesday 24^th January 1945.