Wallet 3 of 3 - Transcript diaries of Edward William Burrey, 1942 - 1945 - Part 4

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
AWM2019.7.11
Difficulty:
1

Caution: sensitive content

POW conditions described

Page 1 / 10

3 Jul. A death this morning from Malaria. Total 17. Heard from J. Cox who is back at M'eKe with most of our other boys who dropped out. It's Saturday and the sun has been shining all day I'd give worlds to be home with my folks right now. Gee how I miss them and the more I think of home the farther away it seems, 5 Jul, Another death from Malaria. The correct total now is 20 All bodies cremated and ashes placed in bamboo crocks in cemetery 6 Jul. Bought some Gula Mal today. It's lovely to taste sweetness again. 7 Jul.'Hock' made a steamed pudding tonight. Extra good with Gula poured over it. Have had a couple of vivid dreams about Joan Larkin during the past week. Strange she should still be in my memory. 9 Jul. Had another glass rod yesterday. 10 Jul. A boong died here the other day. When the Burmese went to bury him discovered hole was too short so they cut his legs ofi with a shovel! 11 Jul. Jock Taylor died this morning from beri-beri and pneumonia. Total of 21 12 Jul. New administration at our camp since 6 offrs went there from camp further back. Large numbers of fighting troops and guns going thru' to Burma every day, 15 Jul. Frank Le Be; died tonight of cerebral malaria. Total now 22. Had heart attack but I put it down to exhaustion. 17 Jul. Got some food and med, stores up from He ke today. Had no Thai money so no food! 18 Jul. My ears are sore again. Noel has just cleaned them out and am deaf at present. Three years today since I joined the army. 19 Jul. Grafton died this afternoon, Beri-beri aund pneumonia. Total 23. 22 Jul. Rumored more troops are moving into the camp. Hoys working on railroad again. 27 Jul. First time sun has been out for about a week. Noel and I climbed mountain at back of camp. All you can seee from the top are ranges and more ranges in all directions, I ifeel terribly hemmed in here. Brought back a beautiful bunch off wax-tipped lilies and fern. Can just imagine how Gwen and Muum would rave over them. 28 Jul. Lee died tonight from beri-beri and malng. ma Nieke (OtKher/.V. K. Sovth : Gula Tel, å svet svoup : Tela- mual. Talg nalae
29 Jul. Noel's 21st Birthday. Dyank his health with the last of Barney's whisky. Jim Mereed died tonight from dysentry. 300 from No 1 Coy moved in today, Total deaths now 25. 2 years today since I left home 31 Jul. Work on railroad cutting now is just outside our hut. I have job of feeding 350 each meal from now on. All cholera are moving back intothe lines today with the exception of Roberts. 4 Aug. Troops have been moving into this camp for past 3 days. Now have 800 Aussies and 500 English approx. Meals have gone off and things in general will be much tougher from now on. Most of incoming troops have been taken out of hospital for the march and were dead beat and many seriously ill when they arrived. 7 Aug. Went out on the rail work this morning by error. First time since 4 Jun. Reveille 6am, fall in 7am and after being counted, numerous lines finished up starting work out on job at 1Oam. Worked till 7.30 pm and home about 8.30 pm. Long day and work hard. Raining a lot of the time. Nips working every available man even taking patients out of the hospital, 8 Aug. Sunday and I am back on the old 'O' job once more. Have a heavy cold and yesterday didn't help to improve it. Home these days seems farther away than ever. No news for some time now. A death tonight. 9 Aug. An Englishman died tonight. 10 Aug, 3 AIF and 1 English died tonight. Alan Scott was one of them. li Aug, Cholera has broken out again. About 4 caases so far including I death. Total of 1683 in camp now so hope it ddoesn't spread. 2 more English died tonight. Had anotherchol. needlee. 13 Aug, Black Friday! 5 deaths during the day. 14 Aug, I and 23 others proclaimed cholera carriiers and were shifted over into isolation at tea time. Proved by glass rod test taken yesterday. 15 Aug, 2 years today I arrived at Singapore andl 18 mths POW and am celebrating it in isolation. Had lost my job as OM and was due to go out on the road today. Many Tamils moved iinto the camp and rumor is strong that we shall soon be moving south. 18 Aug. Still in isolation. Another 54 carrierss shifted over lastnight. Still many deaths, mainly English. Siix cremated yesterday, 3 so far for today. 19 Aug, Was on the oremation today. Burnt 3 bodiess. Never thought I would ever be doing this, picking up corpses aand thinking nothing of it.
20 Aug. Dad's birthday today. Thinking of him all the day and praying that I will be celebrating the next one with him, Cremated 6 bodies today. Hundreds of Boongs in the camp now. Hope to move south soon. 22 Aug. Had the day off. Cremated 4 yesterday. 23 Aug, Another 23 carriers marched in tonight. Sun shone brightly today. First time for a week. 25 Aug, Brian Dale died today from dysentery. I cremated 5 bodies today. 4 months to Xmas day. 27 Aug, Had fever today. 5 of 9 English who escaped have been captured. Other 4 dead. Being brought here for execution. 31 Aug, Still on cremation and averaging 4 and 5 daily. I Sep. Into another month, do a bit of fishing daily and have landed a few small ones which we grill on the fire. 3 Sep. The war has been going 4 years today. Had a glass rod today. Look like coming out of isolation any time now unfortunately Caught an eel 14 ins long yesterday 5 Sep. Result of 'bum prod' today. I'm still a carrier according to the Japs. The 5 men who escaped brought back yesterday. I smiled yesterday when I thought of the food we eat. Preserved meat each day is full of maggots yet when it is washed and cooked everyone enjoys it. Sunday today. Always makes me miserable thinking of my folks and how I used to spend the weekends with them. Had to sleep in the ward tonight - bloody awful. Chap next to me shitting in a pan (bamboo container) half the night. Could hardly stretch out full length, smoke and heat from fire nauseating and to top it off the place is full of bugs and lice. 9 Sep. Had result of 2nd 'prod' today since being in isolation. I'm still a carrier, Had issue of cigarettes from Nips the other day. Men got 4 pkts yet offrs who are over in isolation here received 15 10 Sep, I cremated 6 bodies today and already there are 2 for tomorrow. 13 Sep. 100 went back from isolation today. I'm stiill over here and likely to be for another week yet. Don C. now hnas a job in the hospital. 15 Sep. Boys on road worked right through last nighnt. Rail is supposed to be here tonight. 17 Sep. Up to last night boys on road had had 11 hrrs. rest in 72 hrs. 18 Sep. The rail reached here this morning and is mnow well down the road. Death rate still very high. Cremated 5 todday and already
there are 5 more. 19 Sep. Duncan McLeod died at 4.30 this morning from dysentery, Terrific rain today, 9 bodies to be cremated and no chance of lighting a fire 20 Sep. Finished up with 16 bodies to dispose of, 7 this side of creek, and impossible to take across as the bridge is under water and almost all washed away. Result was two graves were dug, one either side of the creek. Terrible stench as some bodies had been exposed to rain and flies etc. for 2 days. 23 Sep. Cremated 10 today. 24 Sep. Had another 'prod' today. 5 deaths. 26 Sep, 13 carriers went back today. Death rate still high. One chap had arm amputated today 27 Sep. Had our last prod today and looks like going back tomorrow. News that we are going back to Changi by rail within 14 days came through last night. Great rejoicings. Have fever today 29 Sep. Came out of isolation today. New quarters are terribly cramped. 2 decker huts. 1 Oct. Started cremating back of our camp today. Boongs have smallpox and we are not allowed over other side now. 2 Oct. Had a free day. Still feel terribly bloody sick. Off my food too but I guess I'll come good soon. 4 Oct. Able to purchase small quantity of oil and Gula today. Makes meals much easier to eat 7 Oct. Feeling much better now. Roberts died this morning. Death rate still high, Over 200 deaths in camp now out of 1700. l1 Oct, Still no news of shift. Death rate high. Burmese live in hut opposite ours with fence separating. Almost nightly they get in groups, clap hands and sing till all hours. i5 Oct. Doug Verrender died this morning. 20 Oct. Koreans and Nip Engrs, had fight last night with result no work on road today 25 Oct. Death rate becoming higher. Have cremated 31 in past 4 days. Canteen supplies coming up from No 2 camp now, so food position is brightening while the money holds out. I have been bloody sick with colic but am better today. 28 Oct. I've been laying on my back for the past half hour gazing at dear old Mum's photo and at the moment she is sitting in front of me. It's her birthday today and all day I've been thinking of her, I had hoped earlier that I would be home for this one but no such luck, I pray that she is well and somehow I know that today
she has missed me as much as I've missed her. Gee how I wish I were home tonight. This life gets harder to bear every day. 4 Nov. Well, into another month and still here although we are told we shall be moving in about a week. Death rate still high. 9 today, 7 of which were English. 7 Nov. Bill Frewellan died today from dysentery and general debility. li Nov. Have a dose of fever tonight. Had blood slide taken. 12 Nov. Have BT Malaria and still feel groggy today. Well it looks as though the first party of 500 will be leaving here on 17th. I have volunteered to stay behind with a party of 5 others to do cremations. 15 Nov. All outside work finished tonight. 17 Nov. 500 stood by in pouring rain from 6.30 pm to 9 pm ready to move and finally only 50 left. The others are not moving till 19th 19 Nov. A further 450 left this a.m. March to No. 2, spent night there, then march on to Neske. 21 Nov. Another case of smallpox. Vaccinated this am. 23 Nov. The latest rumour is that the remainder of this camp moves on 26,27 and 28. Food these last two days has been awful. 3 meals a day of plain rice apart from a few tasteless lily roots and yams, We are getting into winter now. Nights becoming bitterly cold. Sleep out with les and Dom. 26 Nov. All remainder of camp left by train during afternoon. An awful sight loading the stretcher cases. Before first train was half loaded train pulled out, consequently some of stretchers half on train had to be pushed on or pulled off anyhow. I left in last train and spent night at Neike. Total number of deaths when we left No 3 was 521. Five left behind to die. I estimate that I cremated 450 of the total bodies. No recognition!! 29 Nov. Left Neike at 7 am after spending a pleasant day at Neike. on good food and the night in the open. Slow travelling carriage crowded and foul smell from ulcers and dysentery cases, Three derailments during day and night. Had to lift trucks back on rails. 30 Nov. Reached Keg. Camp early morning. Stayed there till 5 pm. Swim in river, Glorious country and sights.
1 Dec. Bob Dunn died at 3.30 am while train was in motion. Pleurisy and dysentery. Buried when train reached Tarso. Left in afternoon and reached Cambury at 9 pm. Total number of deaths was 23 on trip down shared among 3 trains. 2 Dec. Met a lot of old faces today and learned of numerous deaths. John Cox, Bill Gaffney, Chesterton, Day, O'Driscoll, Kirk, Ormston, Forbes, and about 60 other AASC. Good camp here. Went swimming this afternoon. Able to buy eggs, fruit etc. Parties of 500 leaving from here for Singapore 3 Dec. I am in 2nd party with Capt. Allen. Forming up into party this morning. Glorious day. 6 Dec. Developed an ulcer on my leg. Went on sick parade and marked unfit so am off the draft. 10 Dec. Ulcer is healing. 'H' Force are leaving in parties of 500 for Singapore. One yesterday and the last today. Morning and nights here are bitterly cold. Developed malaria this afternoon. Had terrific temperature and felt worst I've ever been. 13 Dec. Malaria much better, also ulcer. 14 Dec. Left Camburie this morning and boarded train for Singapore about midday. 18 Dec. Arrived at Singapore just before midnight. Better trip than when we went up. Filthy dirty -boots been on for 5 days. Taken by truck out to G and W area Changi. A marvellous feeling to be back again after 8 months of HELL. 25 Dec. Christmas Day, I managed to get over the other side, although we are still in isolation because of smallpox, and had lunch with some of the old crowd. Arrived back here at 3 pm just in time to partake of our own Xmas Dinner. Piece of roast pork, baked potato and pumpkin, stew, cake and sweet sauce and a cigar, A good effort. Good evening meal, then at 8 pm Les, Jim, Miso, Bill H. and self had a dish of duck stew each, followed by some cake which was sent over from the other side. Thought of home all day and knew they would be doing likewise of me. 26 Dec. Bad dose of colic through over eating, I have been put in charge of fuel dump opening over here with Jim Rusg as offsider. Shifted in today. Have tent 5 by 8 which is just roomy enough for two. Have a stretcher to sleep on. Tonight will be the first time for 8 mths that I have slept off the ground level. 30 Dec. New job going along smoothly. Quarters and bed Al. Les has been promoted to a Sgt.
3i Dec. Pa's birthday. Stayed up and saw old year out. Bill H. came over at midnight and we had toasted bread and meat, sweet coffee and bread and jam. Not much noise. Thoughts were at home i Jan.'44. Work went on as usual today. Caught another bout of malaria. Not going into hospital as I have the necessary treatment. 6 Jan, Bill H. went into hospital with malaria. 7 Jan. Over the road today. Had lunch with the boys at Hse. 39. li Jan.Official census over the road revealed 8,000 head of poultry (ducks and fowls). People say it is more like 20,000. 13 Jan. Saw some silent movie pictures tonight. The first for just on 2 years. Laurel and Hardy and an 'Our Gang' comedy 14 Jan. Over the road and saw Bill H. this am. Coming back tomorrow. Jap inspection this afternoon so will have to plant this diary plus a few odds and ends 15 Jan. Went to AIF Concert tonight. 'Dick Whittington and His Cat'. Excellent show. Scenery and music amazing. 20 Jan. Nothing much happens these days. Meals good but light on. Always feel hungry. Have plenty of time for reading and some good books. Just finished 'Gone with the Wind' 23 Jan. More mail arrived at Gaol. Letters dated from March to Aug. '43. Hope I'm lucky 26 Jan. Went to British concert tonight, 'Roman Rackets', 27 Jan. Dooley's birthday somewhere around this date 28 Jan. Received 2 letters from Unc. Bill dated Aug.'42. These are out of some old 'F' Force mail. All well at home, 1 Feb. Still another month. Leap Year - 24 on 29th Feb. 5 Feb. Have malaria again. BTT and was admitted to Malaria Centre Hospital this afternoon. Les admitted tonight next bed to 7 Feb. Received 2 letters tonight. 1 from Mum dated 10 Feb and i from Bobbie dated Oct. '42. All well but still don't know if I am 8 Feb. Les has commenced learning shorthand. I am his teacher 10 Feb. Came out of hospital today. Still 4 days treatment to do in lines. Have lost some weight. 12 Feb. The days are very quiet but pass fairly quickly. is Feb. 2 years POW. Just the same as any other day. 19 Feb. Nothing of interest during past week. Am learning to play Contract Bridge 21 Feb. Saw Coward's play 'Hay Fever' at the Little Theatre tonight. An extraordinary performance. Marvellous cast. One chap playing a female part too-let his hair grow like a womans. Pocttrg-toroths
28 Feb. Some American Red Cross parcels in. Get issue tomorrow of 28 Camels, i oz choc and piece of soap. Remainder of food goes to cookhouse. 29 Feb. I am 24 today. Thinking of home all day and knowing I am missed just as I miss them. Had bit of party tonight. Bill H., Fred H., Les, Miso, Jim and self. Bread and meat sandwiches, bread and jam (jam made from coconut juice, sago flour, banana, chocolate and sugar - No 1!) Then sweet sago with grated coconut through it. This was followed by a cigar and then numerous Camel and Chesterfield smokes. A darn good night. 2 Mar. Have been suffering from diarrhoea for over a week. Had dose of oil but has not done much good. 8 or more times every day is too much for this baby. 6 Mar. Have heavy head cold and headache so got blood slide taken tonight. Les admitted to AGH with malaria today, 7 Mar, I have malaria BTT, and go into AGH today. Feel bloody awful. Had an hour of shivers this morning. 9 Mar. Just a bit better. Off my food. Les is in same ward as me and has been looking after me. 17 Mar. Just starting to feel myself again. Been pretty crook and don't remember a lot of the past week. Had 2 Doctors at me twice aday, Temp, of about 104 for 5 or 6 days. Ate practically nothing consequently weight is down to 9-8. Was about il stone when I came in. 22 Mar. Still in. Have dose of itch. Dr. says it's scabies. Start hot baths tomorrow morning, also U.Ray treatment. 25 Mar. Itch getting better thank goodness. 27 Mar. Asked Dr. if I could go out today. Decided I was pale and put me on more medicine as a result. Les gone into Malaria Centre with malaria once more. 28Mar. Have been in 3 weeks today. Jim Russ came out of Mal.Cen. after bout of fever. Starting sleeping on the roof tonight. Beautiful up there. Found cement a bit hard 'cause I'm so thin (still 9-8) but no bugs to worry me. 30 Mar. Had another issue of 4 Camel smokes today. Result of blood test I had taken shows 80t which is OK under present conditions although 100 I believe is normal. 1 Apr. April Fools Day, I think we're the fools. 3 Apr. Big change-over completed. Some units moved to G and W and others moved back to Selarang and now the Nips have informed us that G&W are coming back over to Selarang,huts and all.
5 Apr. Put on P.T. by Dr. today. Feeling much better. 6 Apr. Have another bout of malaria coming on. Looks like being agreat Easter. 8 Apr. Started on Quinine today. Feeling lousy. Wishing like hell I was home with my folks. Henning what they would be doing over the holidays 9 Apr. Feeling better today. On my food again - what there is of it. Meals terribly light these days. 16 Apr. Put on P.T. to strengthen me up! 18 Apr. Discharged today after 6 weeks. Glad to be out and on the old job again. Bill H. went into hospital today. Just a bit run down. 19 Apr. Les and I won S10 at 2 up. Very handy although things terribly dear. 30 cigars now 130, and tobacco once 250 now 950 oz. 21 Apr. Jimmy went into Mal. Cen. today. 27 Apr. Jimmy discharged today. Outbreak of dysentery in camp. Men keeling over day and night. 28 Apr. A party of 300 arriveddown from Camburie this morning. Don C. amongst them, Looks remarkably well. Suffering from Cardiac beri-beri. Heard of Gedon H.'s death which happened about 6 weeks ago. J. Conroy died in December. 29 Apr. Remainder of 'F' Force came in. Jack Olley looks well. 30 Apr. All troops in Nos 1 and 2 areas and Jyme Kd. (i.e. all POW) are moving into Changi Gaol. Commences 5 May and our area is the first to go. Don't like the idea at all. 3 May More mail in and I received 2 letters today. One from Dooley and one from Bobbie. Bobbie's dated 22/3/43 says Gwen was married a few weeks ago. Got a hell of a surprise. Terribly disappointed 'cause I had always looked forward to being present for such an event. Still I guess that is a selfish outlook. I worry now for Mum and Dad. Are they living alone or is Gwen still with them? I pray forthe latter till I get home. Admitted to Malaria Centre tonight, I am the last admittance to here,as the Centre closes on the 7th pending our move to Changi Gaol. 4 May 2 more letters each of 24 words. One from Gwen and one from Dooley, My first letter card reached home apparently in Sep 43 and they know I am OK. It is a great weight off my mind so I can just imagine how they felt.
5 May. 3 more letters. From Dad and Mum, Gwen and Lyn C. Very sorry to learn of Mr. Lee's death. Am keen to get letter giving details of Gwen's wedding. 6 May. Received letter from Gwen giving details of wedding. I'm sure I was missed as much as I missed being there. 9 May. Shifted up to Changi Gaol this afternoon. Most modern and second largest in world. It's a huge place. 4 men to a cell. Sewerage and wash basin in every cell. We are in a workshops room on the ist floor of European section. Nothing to see but iron bars and cement walls. ii May. Starting to settle in. Food very light on. 13 May. Portion of AIF Concert Party have moved into Gaol and gave an impromptu concert tonight. 14 May. Have the job now of Ord. Room Sgt. to 3 Squad. Mothers Day and for the first time I can remember, I never gave it a thought till I was reminded tonight. I know Mum would forgive me. Still my thoughts are with her always not only on special days. 17 May, More mail in and I received 2. One from home enclosing photo ofMum and Gwen. One from Lyn Cullen. 19 May. Settling down to Gaol life now. Hope it is not for long. Long for home day and night 20 May. More letters today from home. 2 1 May. Food question here lousy at present. Offrs are drawing over 3 times their entitlement of rations. Have roast meat at night and meat stew or broth, while we just have stew with practically no meat in it. Their issue of rice is far greater than ours. Without any effort I could sit down and eat our 3 meals a day at one sitting. Hungry all the time. My opinion of Offrs at the moment is very poor, 22 May, More mail in. Have received a total of 16 letters this month. Latest one dated 21 Sep '43 23 May, Gwen's birthday, Would give quids to be home and celebrating with her today. Maybe next year! 26 May. Les has gone to AGH with skin complaint. 27 May. Have another dose of malaria BT. My second bout this month making total of 9 in all. Am terribly thin now. Not much over 9 stone. Gee how I wish it would all end and that I were home with Mum right now. 30 May. 2nore letters today. 1 from Mum and 1 from U. Bill.

 

28.

3 Jul. A death this morning from Malaria. Total 17. Heard from

J. Cox who is back at Nieke with most of our other boys who

dropped out. It's Saturday and the sun has been shining all day.

I'd give worlds to be home with my folks right now. gee how i

miss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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