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

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 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 off

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 Bas 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 Nieke 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 and pneumonia.

Total 23.

22 Jul. Rumored more troops are moving into the camp. Boys 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 see from the top

are ranges and more ranges in all directions. I feel terribly

hemmed in here. Brought back a beautiful bunch of wax-tipped

lilies and fern. Can just imagine how Gwen and Mum would rave

over them.

28 Jul. Lee died tonight from beri-beri and malig. mal.

Nieke (Nikhe?) - 11 K's south : Gula Mal. A sweet syrup : Malig. mal. Malig. malaria

 

29.

29 Jul. Noel's 21st Birthday. Drank his health with the last of

Barney's whisky. Jim Mercer 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 into/the 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 6 am, fall in 7 am and after being

counted, numerous lines finished up starting work out on job at

10 am. 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 'Q' 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.

11 Aug. Cholera has broken out again. About 4 cases so far including

1 death. Total of 1683 in camp now so hope it doesn't spread. 2

more English died tonight. Had another chol. needle.

13 Aug. Black Friday! 5 deaths during the day.

14 Aug. I and 23 others proclaimed cholera carriers 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 and 18 mths POW and

am celebrating it in isolation. Had lost my job as QM and was due

to go out on the road today. Many Tamils moved into the camp and

rumor is strong that we shall soon be moving south.

18 Aug. Still in isolation. Another 54 carriers shifted over

last/night. Still many deaths, mainly English. Six cremated

yesterday, 3 so far for today.

19 Aug. Was on the cremation today. Burnt 3 bodies. Never thought

I would ever be doing this, picking up corpses and thinking

nothing of it.
 

30.

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.

1 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 still over here

and likely to be for another week yet. Don C. now has a job in

the hospital. 

15 Sep. Boys on road worked right through last night. Rail is

supposed to be here tonight.

17 Sep. Up to last night boys on road had had 11 hrs. rest in 72

hrs.

18 Sep. The rail reached here this morning and is now well down

the road. Death rate still very high. Cremated 5 today and already
 

31.
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.
11 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.
15 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. l had hoped earlier that I would be home for this one but no
such luck. I pray that she is well and somehow l know that today

 

32.
she has missed me as much as I've missed her. Gee how I wish l
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.
11 Nov. Have a dose of fever tonight. Had blood slide taken.
I2 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 Neike.
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 Don.
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 Reg. Camp early morning. Stayed there till 5 pm.
Swim in river. Glorious country and sights.
 

33.
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. l 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. l have been put in
charge of fuel dump opening over here with Jim Russ 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 A1. Les
has been promoted to a Sgt.
 

34.
31 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.
1 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.
11 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
me.
7 Feb. Received 2 letters tonight. 1 from Mum dated 10 Feb and 1
from Bobbie dated Oct. '42. All well but still don't know if I am
OK.
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.
15 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.
poultry - for officer's mess
 

35.
28 Feb. Some American Red Cross parcels in. Get issue tomorrow of
28 Camels, 1 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 a/day. Temp. of about 104 for 5 or 6 days. Ate practically
nothing consequently weight is down to 9-8. Was about 11 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.
28/Mar. 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 80% 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.

 

36.
5 Apr. Put on P.T. by Dr. today. Feeling much better.
6 Apr. Have another bout of malaria coming on. Looks like being
a/great Easter.
8 Apr. Started on Quinine today. Feeling lousy. Wishing like hell
I was home with my folks. Planning 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 $10 at 2 up. Very handy although things
terribly dear. 3¢ cigars now 13¢, and tobacco once 25¢ now
95¢ 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 arrived/down from Camburie this morning.
Don C. amongst them. Looks remarkably well. Suffering from Cardiac
beri-beri. Heard of Gordon 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 Syme Rd, (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 l had always looked forward to being present
for such an event. Still I guess that is a selfish outlook. l
worry now for Mum and Dad. Are they living alone or is Gwen still
with them? I pray for/the latter till I get home. Admitted to
Malaria Centre tonight. l 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 l am OK. It is a great weight off my mind so l can
just imagine how they felt.

 

37.
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 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 1st floor of European section. Nothing to see but iron
bars and cement walls.
11 May. Starting to settle in. Food very light on.
13 May. Portion of AIF Concert Party have moved into Goal 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 of/Mum 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.
21 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. 2 more letters today. 1 from Mum and 1 from U. Bill.