Wallet 3 of 3 - Transcript diaries of Edward William Burrey, 1942 - 1945 - Part 1

TRANSCRIPT OF 
A DIARY 1942-45
kept by
E. W. BURREY
HQ COY A.A.S.C. 8th DIV. A.I.F.
WHILE A P.O.W. OF THE JAPANESE ARMY IN S.E. ASIA 

PREFACE
It seemed to me that this war diary might well be historically 
valuable, in its original condition: the actual handwriting 
is, in itself, remarkable, as are the two small 'books', the 
second of which was handmade and hand-lined. 

There are (inevitably) numerous repetitions in the day-to-day 
entries, but these ultimately contribute, unselfconsciously, to 
the emotional impact of the diary. They have the effect of 
giving each stage of the prisoner's experience its essential 
emphasis, with the greatest (necessary!) brevity. For example,
the limbo-like state, induced by initial captivity, is conveyed 
by repetitious entries of deprivation, monotony, humiliation etc. 
The extremes of physical and psychological suffering on the 
Thailand-Burma Railway are reinforced by an (understandably)
obsessive preoccupation with the daily spectre of disease and 
death. The return to Changi is, by comparison, almost an 
expression of joy! I was moved by the sheer unsentimental 
brevity, which became, for me, part of the very substance of a
document written (in the nineteen-forties) by a young P.O.W. 
of no literary pretensions.

With these opinions in mind, I asked the author (too modest 
himself to do so) to allow me to investigate the possibility 
of the diary being preserved in an appropriate place, and to 
have a transcript made of it. It seemed important that his 
son and daughter, his grandchildren and future descendants 
should have a readable copy. He agreed, and I decided to make 
the initial transcript myself: I could read most of the diary 
with ease, and had access to the author for consultation. What 
follows is that initial transcript, with apologies for the lack 
of presentation finesse!
Ruth Barratt
Balmain. NSW 1995 

INTRODUCTION
EDWARD WILLIAM BURREY was twenty years old when he joined the 
army in July 1940. After completing his initial infantry 
training and other courses in camps at Liverpool, Ingleburn,
the Showground and Rosebery, he sailed from Sydney on 
28 July 1941, a corporal (by this time) with
H.Q. Company, A.A.S.C., 8th Division, A.I.F.

Having arrived in Singapore on 15 August 1941, he proceeded 
with his company to a camp at Johore Bahru on the Malayan 
mainland. The presence of the A.I.F. was to be part of the 
defence of the British colony, Singapore, which (it was thought
by the British High Command) would soon be invaded by the 
Japanese, from the sea. However, it was from the north, 
overland through Thailand and Malaya that the invasion began on 
8 December 1941. Hence the move from JB to Yong Peng in 
January 1942 (referred to at the beginning of the diary) was a
move north into Malaya, to support the troops that were 
attempting to hold back the rapidly-advancing Japanese army.

Edward William Burrey (NX 58148) was, by the end of the war, 
a Staff Sergeant. He was awarded the British Empire Medal.
A.A.S.C. - Australian Army Service Corps : JB - Johore Bahru
N.B. Throughout the diary, underlining indicates a footnote (as above)
Place names and native words spelt as sounded.
R.B. 

1.
WAR DIARY 1942-45 by E.W. BURREY
My original diary I destroyed at Tanglin Bks. the day after the 
capitulation and we were told that all diaries etc would have to 
be handed into HQ for censorship. However, had I been able to 
look ahead I would still be in possession of my diary plus many
other odds and ends - still- I was not to know. This is a rough 
outline of happenings from early January '42 onwards, copied from 
the notes I have recently made on rough paper. 15 Aug.'42.
Left JB for Yong Peng about 10 Jan '42. Settled in rubber. 
Good spot. Built swimming pool in creek. Rain set in for first 
few days. Everything wet. Sleeping on wet ground in tents. Had 
2 or 3 trips to Segamat. Traffic on roads terrific. Hundreds of
vehicles capsized and many on fire at sides of road. 3 Res.
did marvellous job. Looked exhausted. Went out scrounging for 
vehicles. Bar and two-up at night. Night driving back from 
Segamat a strain. Blow out second trip we made there. Stayed at
YP for about two weeks. Jap bombers constantly overhead but never 
spotted us. Bombed Ayer Hitam and made a mess of things.
Tanglin Bks. Barracks on Singapore Island where EWB's Coy was 
situated at the time of the capitulation.
15 Aug. '42. EWB unable to explain this date. Seems unlikely to be 
the date on which he began the 'rough outline' in the small red 
book that became his new diary. There is no mention on that date
(see p.11 of the transcript) or elsewhere to indicate precisely 
where the past 'happenings' end . It seems likely (and EWB agrees) 
that he wrote up these early events in June '42 (not August). 
Entries from Sun 21 June (see transcript p.6) seem to be the 
beginning of the day-to-day reporting that characterises the rest 
of the diary, unlike the narrative style of the 'rough outline' 
of past events.
JB. Johore Bahru : Res. Residents?
Ayer Hitam. Australian forward post 

2.
Bill H. and I shifted out to Kluang staying night at Rengam. Bob, 
Mess, Don and I slept in coolie lines in Indian camp. Cooked own 
meal. Steak, toast etc. Sipped away bottle of brandy after meal.
An Indian shot himself during the night. Amusing morning in 
Indian cookhouse. Two of them had fight. Planes overhead. Came 
back to JB at night reaching No 1 Coy at midnight. Following day
saw AK Ak score direct hit on Jap bomber. Came down in flames. 
Total of 81 planes over at one time. We claimed to bring down 13. 
Our fighters were in action. Shifted camp next day to new location
in JB. Officers in lovely house, men in tents. Use of bathroom 
a novelty for us. Went to Sinipan Rengam for day. Road had been 
bombed. Went looting in town. Miles of convoys on the way home.
Had trip into Mal. Comd. on bike. Looked round Singapore. Many 
buildings had been bombed. Obtained old Norton for my use from 
VRP at JB. Much fun had! Troops commencing to evacuate to Island.
This is when it began to dawn on me just how serious things were. 
We shifted, arriving at Stevens Road after dark. Crossing Causeway 
a nightmare. I took bike. Raid and red onions while I was guiding
our convoy off Bukit T. Rd. Slept night in open after nip of a 
Le Cure. Pitched tents in morning and dug trenches. Load of tnd. 
fruit from JB dump. Tons of food had to be destroyed. Causeway 
blown in 3 places on Saturday morning. Brooks and Mayo injured by 
shrapnel when JB was bombed on the Friday. Spent a morning in 
Sing. with Gordon H. on bikes. Beer at U.J.C. Light lunch at 
Robinsons. A marvellous break. Had a couple more trips into Sing.
with dhoby. Found U.J.C. closed down. Planes overhead and heard 
for first time bombs dropping. A queer sensation. Went across to 
Adelphi. Disappointing meal. Food rationing. Good two-up games 
each night. Cigs plentiful. Managed to get beer sometimes.
Mal. Comd. Malayan Command : Norton. Motor Bike. :
VRP. Vehicle Repair ? : Island. Singapore Island.
Red onion. Type of Very light. : Bukit T. Bukit Timah.
Le Cure. Liqueur : U.J.C. Union Jack Club : Dhoby. Laundry. 

3.
Shifted next to Durong Rd. Camped in good spot. Marvellous view 
of fires. Sky indescribable when oil dumps at Mandai and Naval 
Base were set on fire. Base burnt for days. Went up/on hill at 
night. Moon rising together with glare and bursts of flame from
fires and the thick smoke an unforgettable sight. Had couple more 
trips into Singapore and other places. Good games of Pontoon each 
night. Played in moonlight also in dugout. Lights forbidden.
Tfd from HQ to 3 Coy AASC on Sun 8 Feb. My promotion to Sgt 
commences from this date. Capt. Mull OC. I shifted to new location 
in Durong Rd in morning. Just arrived when shells comenced to
come over. In trenches for 2 hours. One Indian killed. A few 
wounded. Shelling continued on and off all day. Some of the 
trucks loaded with amn damaged. Japs landed on Island same night. 
Terrific barrage by both Atys. Japs suffered tremendous losses.
We shifted camp on Monday evening. An hours notice so most of 
gear was left behind. I drove Capt. Smith. Last to leave camp. 
Road block. Japs commenced shelling. Truck smashed my utility on
Buckit T. Rd. Got to our new location 1 am. Slept till daybreak 
on top of utility. Planes constantly overhead next day. Shifted 
camp again same afternoon. Japs supposed to be only a mile away.
I was left behind when we shifted. Picked up one of our cars and 
eventually reached new location. Got hold of another bike and 
went looking for some of our fellows who were missing. Went as 
far as BT village. Village a wreck. Dozens of soldiers, pitch
black with burning oil smoke, walking along BT Rd towards 
Singapore. Eventually I found boys in Singapore near docks. 
Jim O. half shot directing traffic an amusing sight. Took supplies 
up to front line same night with Capt Mull and Coxie. Dead lying 
on road. Aty fire going overhead. Road bombed and shelled. Glad 
to get back safe and sound. Slept night on lawn. Plane overhead
at daybreak doing recce. Bombed and shelled shortly afterwards. 
Shifted camp same morning to Geylang. No semblance of order among
troops in Singapore. Oil dumps set on fire near where we were 
camped. People compelled to leave their homes. Panic stricken 
faces a terrible sight. Planes continually overhead during day
and night. When I refer to planes I mean enemy planes.
Amn. ammunition : Atys. artilleries : half shot. Half drunk.
Recce. Reconnaissance. Boys. Mates 

4.
For a week, or a little over that period before the capitulation 
I never once saw one of our planes. Next morning shifted our 
quarters to flat nearby. Visited our HQ same night in Grange Rd.
Funny trip with Bob H. and Lieut Gray. I was bailed up by an 
Indian guard. Had marvellous night with boys. Drinks of every 
description. Craven A smokes laid on. Got back to flat about 
10 pm. Aty camped on road outside. Japs landed at Changi and
advancing. Machine gun fire during night. Rejoined our old crowd 
next morning at Grange Rd. Aty Batteries all around us. 
A continual stream of dive-bombers overhead all day. Snipers 
firing on us. Half-shot most of the day. On guard at night. 
Shells from both sides whistling overhead. Next morning dumped 
our gear except bare necessities and went in small groups to 
Tanglin. Before leaving had cocoa and toast for breakfast. Home 
contained, amongst most luxuries, 2 Refrigs. A shame to see such
lovely homes looted and wrecked. Date was 14 Feb. When we arrived 
at Tanglin discovered a truck load of whisky. Planes dive-bombed 
and machine gunned the area all day. Shells commenced coming over 
in afternoon. Bill Harris's leg cut off by piece of shrapnel and 
later died in hospital. On guard at night. Managed to snatch 
little bit of sleep in dugout with Les, Bill H. and others. 
Sunday 15 Feb a day I shall never forget. Dive-bombed, machine
gunned and shelled continually from daybreak till about 5 pm when 
firing almost ceased. Planes were dropping hand grenades. Many 
lucky escapes from death. We guessed that the end was near. I was
not surprized though a little stunned when I heard at 8.30 pm of 
our unconditional surrender. Impossible to describe my feelings 
after hearing the news. All I remember is polishing off a bottle
of whisky in fine style with Capt Mull, Harvie, Coxie and Les H. 
We shifted into the Bks proper next morning after a marvellous 
night's sleep in the open without fear of bombs, shells etc. 
Spent all day and the next morning clearing away some of the
debris and wreckage at Tanglin. Then at 4 pm on 17 Feb we set out 
with all the gear we could carry (this was not a great deal) for 
the 18 mile trek to Changi.
Changi. In 1942 the name referred to a large area - a village, 
Singapore's Gaol, a large British garrison with defensive 
fortifications (pointing seawards!) and Selarang Barracks where 
the garrison's soldiers were housed. Under the Japanese, the 
area became the dreaded P.O.W. camp.

5.
The march was a nightmare and it was just pure stubborness that 
made most of us last the distance. There were Japs all over the 
place although we were unguarded on the march out. Arrived at 
Changi about 1.30 am foot-sore and exhausted. Just fell off to 
sleep in the open. Many couldn't finish the march and were brought 
in by ambulances and a few odd trucks which we were allowed to 
use. Dead were still able to be seen on the roadways although the
majority of bodies had been picked up in trucks and buried in the 
bomb holes, ditches etc. Shifted into our quarters next morning 
after a breakfast of bully beef and dry biscuits. Lived on our 
AIF rations for first 10 days. Rations very light on. The first 
time I have ever felt the pangs of hunger for such a long period. 
It made me realise just how precious food is and the number of 
times I have unnecessarily turned away good meals. Jap rations 
commenced about the end of Feb. Plenty of rice but nothing much 
to go with it. Terribly hard to stomach but it's a case of eat it 
or go hungry. Life terribly monotonous. My thoughts and worries 
are forever about home. Good two-up games at night. Over a period 
of 2 or 3 weeks I won about $200. Concerts held one or two nights 
each week. Almost one or more burials each day. Hospital is not 
able to give the men proper treatment. Memorial Service held on 
Armistice Day very impressive. Dysentery very severe throughout 
the camp. I had slight touch. Missed Mum's tender nursing. 
Easter Week. Felt completely lousy all the week as I could not 
tear my thoughts away from home. Went to Communion (my first 
time) on Good Friday morning.
Saturday 4 April '42. Les, Don and I with 3000 others came in on 
a Jap working party to Singapore. Marched most of the way. We 
were like two-year-olds buying along the road. Bread, bananas,
sweets etc. I never before realised how much these simple every 
day foods could mean to one. We settled into a comparatively 
decent house. Our offrs Potter, Dixon and Robinson a bloody 
menace. We commenced work on the new road the following day. 
Sunday 5th. Building a road and shrine in memory of all the Nips 
who were killed on the Island. During the last days of the war 
heavy fighting took place throughout the area where the road is 
being built. Consequently there were many dead bodies, still 
unburied, lying around in the scrub. Stench was terrible.
$200. Sing.$.: Singapore. Adam Park, formerly Brit. Army quarters.
Offrs. Officers.

6.
The first crowd of Jap guards amused themselves, by beating the 
men with sticks or throwing stones etc. Humiliation almost 
unbearable. I witnessed the torturing of an inoffensive Chinaman 
by about a dozen Japs. A wicked sight. I had two days spell from 
road with sore feet. I purposely wore boots without socks so that 
I would work up a couple of blisters, as this was the only means 
at the time of obtaining a day's rest. 
Mothers Day. The second Sunday in May. I like many others wore a 
white flower in my hat. 
New Jap Guards took over some time in May. Conditions and treatment 
a hundred per cent better. Rations increased and now fresh meat 
is issued almost every second day instead of once per week. 
I saw the re-burial of 4 British soldiers out on the road job. 
Not a very pleasant sight. 
Gwennie's birthday 23 May. 
Les returned to Changi in early June. The day he left I was
admitted to hospital with Dengue. Felt pretty lousy. I missed 
home and Mum's nursing dreadfully. Discharged after 6 days. 
Rice terribly hard to eat when feeling off colour. Had Singapore 
ear straight after fever (had it earlier at Changi). Darn painful
thing. Canteen here is an asset. We are paid 25¢ per day when out 
on road and 15¢ when home. That is NCO's rate. Pte 15¢ and 
10¢ respectively. Our house has most conveniences. Electricity, 
sewerage, electric cigarette lighters, hot plates, elec. stove,
elec. rice grinder and elec. water heater. Boong tobacco pretty 
stinky but I guess it is better than going without. Haven't been 
a day without a smoke yet. Cigars and pineapples plentiful now. 
Sunday 21 June. My thoughts can never leave home.... not too...
but we'll.... and.... 

Told yesterday the despatch of letter cards to home will be made 
possible shortly. News greeted with cheers. Still don't know if 
family know I am safe and well. Bruce is on this Wkg Party and I 
often see him. Terribly kind to me whilst I was in hospital. Had 
letters from Bill H. and Les H. the other day. Capt Mull and 
Campbell and Concannon and 2000 others sailed from here last 
month. Believed to have gone to Pt. Victoria. AIF canteen opens 
tonight (21 June). Hard to get stocks. 
23 Jun. Went back to work today after 6 days break. 
26 Jun. Friday and a general holiday.
Home. In camp. : Boong. Native. : Letters...from Changi. 

7.
28 June. Sunday, Jap we are working under is not all there. 
Bashed me over the legs with a stick and would have paid a pound 
to crack him but I consider my life worth more than a quid.
29 June. Two trucks collided on road to Golf House. Only one Jap 
killed!
30 Jun. Last day of first half year. I hope to be home before 
the end of the next half.
2 Jul. Wrote my letter card to home tonight. Would love to have 
written pages but a couple of lines had to suffice.
4 Jul. Much air activity these days. Warning against cholera 
read out to troops. Biscuits and candles placed on grave of Jap 
killed in road accident thieved by our boys! Piece of fresh fish 
for supper.
5 Jul. On cement job at Club House. Had extra good day doing 
buggar all.
6 Jul. On same job again. Marched party home early. Japs never 
worry. Warning about shooting boongs on sight in camp area.
7 Jul. Ration party in Sing. yesterday saw a total of 8 heads 
displayed in different parts of the town. Comprise 4 Chinese, 
2 Malays, 2 Indians said to have killed a Jap Offr. Japs beginning 
to ill treat Chows again. One was shot in our camp area yesterday.
8 Jul. Saw 2 flights of Jap bombers totalling 48 and 13 fighters 
leave in east direction this morning. Appeared to be loaded. 
Looks good to me.
10 Jul. Went on guard tonight. Ours and Jap guards side by side. 
One of our boys kept watch while Nip had a sleep then Nip watched 
while our chap slept.
11 Jul. Home yesterday and again today. Two fried eggs at 10¢ ea 
for dinner. The first for 6 months or more. Wrote to Bill Harper 
yesterday.
14 Jul. I had the day off. Consumed 2 fried eggs with midday 
meal. Play bridge most evenings now. Stakes - 1 cig a hundred.
Smokes we had issued to us before the war and would not smoke 
sell for 70¢ or 80¢ in Singapore now. Five months POW today. 
How much longer I wonder?
16 Jul. Home with cooks at lunch time. What a racket! Tommie 
arguing with Jap about muckin ! It makes me sick to watch a Jap 
eat. They're just plain bloody pigs. Dreamed of Bobbie last night.
17 Jul. On barges carting sand today. Enjoyed the bit of exercise. 
Paid tonight $2.15. Many suffering from tinea on testicles. I 
have a slight touch. Our house is full of bugs. None in our 
room to date luckily.
Muckin. Food : $2.15 (Jap)