Diary of George William Edward Clark, January 1941 - September 1942 - Part 11
DECEMBER - - 1941
700
9 TUESDAY
Up again at 8.30 A freeze up last night so
everything is ice no mud thank goodness. Usual
bread issue also 2 letter cards. Lunch: Same as
yesterday! The news is right about Japan &
America. The German papers claim that Japan
bombed Singapore, Guam, Manila & Pearl
Harbour, an English gun boat sunk in Hong
Kong & an American cruiser captured! WOW!
[*£85-10-10*]
701
10 WEDNESDAY
Slept in until 12. Did not get up for
bread so did not get any. But they must
give it to us. So I am not worrying. Mail
a letter for me from Mother 23-9-1941.
thru' Geneva! Rumors that H.M.S. 'Prince of
Wales' sunk on trails by Jap's! Germany evacuating
Lybia! Turkey in the war! on which
side? Played bridge at night & got beaten
score now Played 7 won 5 lost 2. Not bad.
WOLFSBERG
1941 DECEMBER
702
11 THURSDAY
Up early, on duty. Had to sweep out the Room
A very thick fog & heavy frost. Water has been
very scarce lately! Lunch at 11 A.M. The
best for a long time beans & spuds. There is an
outbreak of TYPHIS in the camp! Hitler made
a speech today 2½ hours. He admitted that he
was at war with America & the American's.
703 12 FRIDAY
I say the weather might typify the German mood
deep gloom! Up at 9 A.M. Everybody is talking
about the TYPHIS 2 Germans have it! We I
did not go down for lunch. Had a parade at
2PM to 3 for exercise. Marched round &
round for ½ hour. Major Niel M.O. gave
a short talk on the seriousness. We have to
get all our hair cut off. mine came off at 6
P.M. feels funny. No mail & no rumors.
DECEMBER - 1941
704
13 SATURDAY
A fair nights sleep up at 9 for bread
parade. another heavy frost and still
a thick fog. Snow in the air. The ground is
solid as iron, and pools of ice everywhere,
also icicles hanging from every
roof and window ledges. We got busy
and started cleaning up! All beds
and blankets out and aired & shaken.
all bed boards swept and covered with
N.C.I. delousing powder from the Red Cross.
Lunch at 11 A.M. a soup of turnip &
maize. A terrible smell where spuds
are stored. Going bad. Feels very funny
with hair off. Everybody has it off too
No news except Germans in camp are
not too happy after Hitlers speech.
It should not be too long now.
No mail until this score is over!
WOLFSBERG
1941 -DECEMBER
[*15 PARCEL 4th CANADIAN*]
705
14 SUNDAY
A very good sheep sleep last night
Report 11 A.M. we take over the de-louser
from the French. We are the only ones
Jerry can rely on. Bootmakers go thru
this afternoon we start tomorrow in party
of 26. Rumors of Jerry losing 200,000 prison[[er?]]s
706
15 MONDAY
Had a good sleep. Up at 9 A.M and started
to clean up. Took everything out, burnt
all straw and go in partys to be de-loused!
I go about 4 P.M. A fine day luckily!
Went onto showers at 5 P.M. out at
6.30. Feel much better now. Drew
parcel Canadians and only 25 cigs!
Rumors? Germany retired from Lybia
Heavy fighting in Rumania. Roll on.
DECEMBER - 1941
707
16 TUESDAY
Had a wonderful sleep on the new mattress
The reveille whistle was not blown until
7.30 Got up at 11-30 bread issued at
12. A very heavy fog & cold. No news of
any importance. The doctor is supposed
to have said if the British troops advance
at the rate they are going now they will
be here in less than a month! Jerry admit
failing west of DERNA!
17 WEDNESDAY
708
Had another good sleep up at 9 A.M. for
bread and then got back into bed. -
until 1-30. Started to snow at 2.30
stopped at 5.30 everything covered.
went down for tea at 5 an awful mash
no good! Heavy fighting in Rumania & Bulgaria,
Turkey in on our side, Bulgaria packed
in. Roll on the boat N.W. Germany had heavy
air raids. Jerry retreating very fast.
1941 WOLFSBERG. DECEMBER
709
18 THURSDAY
Did not sleep very much woke up at
8 A.M. with sore throat, did not get up for
bread. Up at 12. Snowing all morning -
melting straight away. Very mushy! Drew
my pacel all tins unopened. No German in
the store now. May not get any parcels next
week. We are now quarrantined for 3 months
until next March! Why? Cleaned up in P.M.
19 FRIDAY
710
A fair sleep up for bread at 9 and then
went back to bed again. Have a sore
throat. Did not go down for lunch.
Played bridge & won. Have now Played
9 won 6 lost 3. Went down for tea it
was porridge not bad. went on sick
parade a small scratch on my wrist was
festering! No news about parcels. Still in
the wind.
DECEMBER - 1941
711
20 SATURDAY
Up for bread at usual time 9-30. Back to
bed again until 12. Did not go down for
lunch. Reading "Lighten our Darkness" by KEABLE
According to Jerry paper they have had to retire 100
K.M.S. owing to intense cold and long lines of
communications! Also admit fighting round
Derna! Also Japs have shot down 500 U.S. planes
to their 10. - almost every U.S. warship in the
Pacific has been sunk! Wheather extremely
cold & windy. Looks like snowing any time!
All the snow of the other day has melted!
We should get 2 parciles & 75 cigs next
Wednesday if they can get into town for them -
if not then we will get 1 parcel of sorts & no
cigs.! Hoping for best anyhow. Roll on the boat
WOLFSBERG
1941 - DECEMBER
[*2 LETTERS. 1 FROM MUM & 1 FROM N. BIRRELL.*]
712
21 SUNDAY
Had a better sleep last night up for bread
at 9.30 - it is very dark of a morning now.
Did not go down for lunch. We now have a
Padre here - he comes from an OFLAG! Bought
some news Russians took 138,000 prisoners in
ROSTOV. Heavy fighting outside Bengasi. Yanks
were caught with pants down by Japs but are
waking up now! Things look very bright for us.
713 22 MONDAY
Up early this morning 7-30 and it was still
dark. On spud feeling just got outside the
gate and they were all coming back! NIX!
Drew bread and went back to bed. Very cold.
The Red Cross hope to get the parcels tomorrow
Did not go down for lunch. Had tin of
meat loaf. Went down for tea but did not
eat it - Spuds & saurkraut spuds bad.
8 ro planes every night over Germany.
DECEMBER - 1941
[*16 + 17 PARCEL XMAS*]
714
23 TUESDAY
Up early again this morning cleaning
up. All beds out & aired. The men went
downtown for parcels at 6 A.M. I helped
unload them this end until they all
came. 3100 of them. Will be drawn at 5.00
I drew 2 parcels 1 XMAS + 1 INVALID XMAS
75 cigs & 50 in one parcel 125 cigs! Red
Cross make it a happy christmas for us.
[*£87-7-10*]
715
24 WEDNESDAY
A fair nights sleep did not get up for
bread a friend on duty. Up at 12.
a fine day. No sign of snow. Looks like
a green christmas! More mail in - none
for me. Had some beer 4 bottles! Change
then choclate for them. Will be an open
air service tomorrow morning by the
new padre. Alas all the latest news!
We wonder of Jerry will put anything on!
1941 WOLFSBERG DECEMBER
716
25 THURSDAY
Christmas Day
Slept in until 10. Mucking about last
night made me sleep very well. Have sore
right wrist. Did not get any bread.
Only a short service. Fine day. Am dissapointed
no snow. Usual soup from Jerry! I had soup,
roast pork & stuffing and plum pudding sweets
and cake & beer! Thanks to the Red Cross. Am
reading a book Imperial Palace - A.BENNETT.
very good 700 pages.
26 FRIDAY
718
Slept in as per usual not feeling so good -
running a temperature and headaches. (TYPHIS)?
I hope not. Do not feel hungry still have
nearly two parcels left. Only eaten pork &
christmas pudding. Went on sick parade. My
right hand has gone all septic where I scratched
it on barbed wire. Played bridge got beaten.
A concert in this barrack tonight all right.
DECEMBER - 1941
718
27 SATURDAY
Hardly slept all night still have temperature
but headaches gone. Got up in time to go
on sick parade my hand is much better!
A very cold morning! The sun was shining
but it is all cloudy again looks like
snow! But it didn't. In bed early and
a clear night. Feeling a lot better.
Not much news. China has declared
war on Germany & Italy? TYPHUS is raging
in Europe? Everywhere. Russian prisoners
and German wounded are is Typhis! An
officer (German) died here! Also 2 or 3
soldiers and 2 French! No English cases
yet. I hope there never is. Jerry asked
for an armistice to bury dead - again!
I think the war will be over by Easter
WOLFSBERG
1941 - DECEMBER
[*18 PARCEL ORDINARY. *]
719 28 SUNDAY
Ooh- I feel crook hot and cold &
head aches. Hand is very sore, too! The
weather is still fine. Plenty of ice every
morning now. I have not been up earlier
than 12 this last week. I can't sleep too
well. Feeling better in afternoon Am not
eating anything drinking choclate malt.
720 29 MONDAY
Still not sleeping too good, did not get
up until 1 PM. in time for sick parade. My
hand still sore aqua-flavine put on it. drew
parcel - ordinary -. Have plenty of cigarettes!
Playing solo for cigs. Won a few. Russians
retaken Smolensk! Fighting outside Bengasi
Have not hear anything about Japs.
DECEMBER - 1941
721
30 TUESDAY
A fair sleep feeling a lot better thank goodness.
What a relief. Up at 12 on sick parade
1 P.M. Hand much the same. Had a tin of M & V.
and some bread, feeling very hungry. A big
train smash in Germany 15 dead 40 injured all big
officials 'sabotage'! Germans are retreating to
fixed positions! Fighting at AGEDABIA! Wish I
was there. Weather still fine. Playing Solo for cigs!
[*£89-6-4*] 722 31 WEDNESDAY
Up at 12 a fair sleep feeling quite well again
it is awful being unwell in a place like this!
Dreamt I was home last night. On sick parade
1 P.M. my hand was very itchy last night. Getting
better. No more mail in or out! They have sent
cables to homes telling we are all O.K. Still no cases
of TYPHIS in English personel. More Germans died
Russians in Danzig, British troops on Boulougne, French
rearming Italy finished A Happy New Year 11-31
JANUARY- Cash Memoranda
Deffered pay 1940 35 14 0
" January '41 3 2 0
" " TOTAL 38 16 0
To busy being in action and moving
about to worry about money- Drew a
total of £2-10-0 Palestine while at base.
In Action. -
FEBRUARY- CashMemoranda
Money is not troubling me now!
at the end of the month I have £3-10-0
in cash, I am also owed 35/- by:-
K. KAY 10/- T.MCGRATH 10/-
B. CRUICKSHANK 10/- B.Baxter 5/-
The paybook is pretty healthy!
A credit of £22-10-9
cash in hand 3-15-0
owings 1-15-0
Grand total £28-15-9 28/2 1941
£28- 0-9
Deffered pay brought fd. 38 16
" " February 2 16
" " Total £41 12 0
27 15 9
GRAND TOTAL WEALTH £69 7 9
Drew £1-10-0 Egyptian during month
Last paid on 16th FEB.
Deffered pay brought fwd. £41 12 0
" " March 3 2 0
" " TOTAL £44 14 0
1st week Have drawn nothing
since 16/2/41.
23 piastres on tobacco!
2nd week B.C. Cruikshank paid 10/- 10+ 0
Leut B Pridus 1- - -
Paid for beer & canteen 1- - -
3rd week K. May paid 10/- 10+
T MACGRATH paid 10/- 10+
Leut Cruickhank £2 2-
4th week " Branighan £2 2- - -
B. Prediers paid 1+ - -
Paid £3-8-0 for beer. 3
Leut. Mick Hamilton £1 1- - -
Paid £3-8-0 for beer. 3- 8 0
APRIL - Cash Memoranda
Deffered pay bought fwd £44 14 0
" " April 3 0 0
______________
" " TOTAL £47 14 0
ALEX Drew £7 -14-0 on 2-4-41
ALEX Drew 6 -8-4 7-4-41
ATHENS Drew 6-0-0 14-4-41
ALEX Leut K.May £1 1- 0- 0
ATHENS " G. Richards £1 1- 0- 0
" " " G.COTTER 500 drachmas= 1 - -
And hen I was
captured ___
No more accounts for
how long?
_______
Credit in pay book 28 10 -
MAY - Cash Memoranda
Deffered pay bought fwd £47 14 0
" " May 3 2 0
__________
" " TOTAL £50 16 0
31-5-41 Credit in pay book 36 17
Still a prisoner!
____________
of war. -
JUNE-Cash Memoranda
Deffered pay bought fwd. £50 16 0
" " June 3 0 0
____________
" " TOTAL £53 16 0
30-6-41 Credit in pay book 44 17 0
Still a prisoner
and no money
at all!!
___________________
And naturally, no debts or credits
' What the eye doesn't see the heart doesn't
grieve' is certainly right.
JULY-Cash Memoranda
Deffered pay boughtfwd £53 16 0
" " July 3 2 0
___________
" " TOTAL £ 56 18 0
31-7-41 Credit in pay book 53 5 -
PAID as prisoner of war week ending
PAID TOTAL
5-7-41 3 marks 5 pfennigs 3-50 3-50
12-7-41 four m twenty PFs 4-20 7-70
19-7-41 " " " " 4-20 11 90
26-7-41 two, eighty Pfs 2-80 14 70
________
14 70
_________________________________________
14 70
Still a prisoner
width with money that is no good
and in hospital!!
owe P. [[Deaves?]] 6.8L
Had on entrance to hospital ___ ___ 6 30
Have to fill in my Income Tax return!
Wish I was in a position to do so?
AUGUST-Cash Memoranda
Deffered pay bought fwd £56 18 0
" " AUGUST 3 2 0
_________
" " TOTAL £60 0 0
31-8-41 Credit in pay book 61 12 6
PAID as prisoner of war week ending
PAID TOTAL
2-8-41 /marls/pfennigs TOTAL JULY 14 70
9-8-41 HOSPITAL - 14 70
16-8-41 HOSPITAL - 14 70
23-8-41 CONVALESCENCE - 14 70
30-8-41 " " - 14 70
_________
14-70 14 70
And so goes
another month .-
wonder how many more?
A Better month than most since
we have been captured.
_____________________
SEPTEMBER cash memoranda
Deferred pay bought fwd. £60 0 0
" September 3 0 0
_________
" " TOTAL £63 0 0
30-941 Credit in pay book 69 14 -
Paid as prisoner of war week ending
TOTAL 14-70 14 70
______________
6-9-41 CONVALESCENCE - 14 70
13-9-41 " "
20-9-41 " " WOLFSBERG
27-9-41 " " " _____________
14-70 14 70
And yet
another month - I
wonder how many more?
Still not working!
Did some travelling thismonth
. too!
_________________
OCTOBER-Cash Memoranda
Deffered.pay.boughtfwd £63 0 0
" " October 3 2 0
__________
" " TOTAL £66 2 0
31-10-141 Credit in pay book 78 2 -
Paid as prisoner of war week ending 14 70
4-10-41 NIX ARBEITER! _ 14 70
11-10-41 " " - 14 70
18-10-41 " " - 14 70
25-10-41 " " - 14 70
And yet
Another month in captivity! A bit of self
promotion went on but why
worry - I am not!
NOVEMBER-Cash Memoranda
Deffered Pay bought fwd £66 2 0
" " November 3 0 0
_________
" " TOTAL £69 2 0
30-11-41 Credit in pa ybook. 86 4 -
NIX ARBEITER
And there goes
the last but one of the year.
Still a prisoner but things look very
bright. All fighting finished in Abissymia
1 or 2 Sth African Divs. moving up into the
Western Desert. I have received 6 letters
DECEMBER - Cash Memoranda
Deffered pay _ £69 2 0
" " December 3 2 0
______________
" " TOTAL £72 4 0
If still prisoner of war will have £88 6 4 in pay
book - Revised credit in pay book £94 11 6
Deferred pay & pay book: TOTAL £161 10 4
_____________
15 - -
Revised total! ___________ £166 15 6
181 15 6
Owing to an increase of deferred pay
of 2/6 from September 1st an extra
£15 onto total - Whooppee!
Here endeth the year
and still nowhere . .
nearer home. Have given
over work for Jerry. for
good and all.
____________________
NOTES for 1942
water - english water in 5
Wasser - German different languages.
Acqua - Italian
Nero - Greece
Moiya - Arabic
NX1058
GNR. G.W.E. CLARK
1st Bty. 2/1 FIELD REGIMENT R.A.A.
A.I.F. ABROAD
Gnr G.W.E. Clark
No. 849
STALAG XVIII A/ GERMANY.
A 49/ GW/2
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