Wallet 3 of 3 - Transcript diaries of Edward William Burrey, 1942 - 1945 - Part 6

48.

12 Mar. Finish up in Q job today and start going out tomorrow.

Have not been hitting it off with Westmore so think I will be

better off outside. Doesn't look as if job as Squ. CSM will

eventuate. Singapore bombed. Never saw planes - too wet.

14 Mar. Working down on garden now. Quite a break to be out after

9 months in the Gaol job. Food very light on. Can notice myself

thinning off already.

16 Mar. AIF Concert Party was broken up. Doesn't look like any 

more concerts.

17 Mar. St. Pat's Day. Think I was up at Dooley's this time in

'41.

19 Mar. Still on gardens. No Red Cross supplies have arrived in 

camp yet. Doubtful if we will get much of it. No raids, not even

a recce seen for the past week - most confusing.

21 Mar. A working party of 3,000 - AIF allotment 1500 to go to

Singapore shortly. Not keen to go as I believe the work is not 

too pleasant.

23 Mar. Have a new job with Forestry. Have a party of 14 and our

job is carrying stumps that have been grubbed out on to the road

to make easy loading for the trailers.

24 Mar. Rations are very meagre these days. As a result snails

and frogs are in great demand. Have tasted snails but haven't

come to the frog stage yet. The Dutch are even eating rats. No

excuse yet for stooping that low. Mushrooms and the fungus that 

grows on dead logs have a pleasant flavor.

25 Mar. The latest delicacy on the food line now is sparrows.

Three of the boys in our hut have rigged up a trap at the rice

store and their catch yesterday totalled 30. They clean the birds

then boil and fry them and say their taste is delicious. Sunday

today. very wet and I am spending the day in bed with Bruce

Lockhart's 'My Scottish Youth'.

28 Mar. A party of AIF going to Singapore. None of HQ except

Olsen and Slattery is on it. My job with Forestry cut out owing 

to shortage of men.

29 Mar. Air Raid last night about 12pm. Beautiful moonlight.

Some planes over. Ak Ak and flaming onions shot up.

30 Mar. Another raid in the early hours of this morning. 2 in/fact.

Bombed petrol dumps on one of the islands. Huge fires burning.

Good Friday today and I celebrated it on the Drome. My first day

down there. Long hours - leave camp at 7.30 am and arrive home at

6.30pm.
 

49.
31 Mar.  On Drome again today.  Easter Sat. and my thoughts were at
home all day.  Dooley was down for my last Easter at home.  Funny
here the other day.  A bird dropped a soft card on tope of a fellow's
dinner.  Meals too small now to throw away and seeing that it was
too sloppy to pick out, he said, 'Oh buggar it. I'll send it thru
again.'  and mixed it thru his rice and ate it.  The thought of it
makes me sick.
1 Apr.  April Fools Day.  Past the joking stage here now.
2 Apr.  On the Drome today.
4 Apr.  Things very quiet at the moment.  A few more have left for
Singapore but still more|to go.  Had a dysentery innoculation last
night.
5 Apr. On the|Drome today.  Bloody awful day.  Worked from 8.30 to
12.30 in boiling sun without a rest or a drink of tea or water.
Just as bad|in afternoon.  Bad lot of Nips and one chap was done
over by them.  To make matters worse I have poisoned leg and I
almost had a black out in the morning.  Terribly tired when I
eventually limped home.
6 Apr.  Some more Red Cross parcels arrived in camp today.  Hope we
soon get issue.  Food terribly plain and light on.  Total weight
per man per day of rations now is 25 oz whereas in normal times
the lightest ration scale issued was 82 oz.
8 Apr. First issue of Red Cross food tonight.  1 parcel between
20 men.  All|of it went into kitchen and although it was only a
flavouring it was wonderful.  First time I had tasted meat,  jam,
butter etc for just on 1 year.
13 Apr.  After a week at home my leg is much better and I went out
to work at gardens today.
15 Apr. About 40 ASC have moved to a separate area outside the
Gaol.
17 Apr. An occasional recce plane over these days but no big
raids.
19 Apr. Had our fourth taste of Red Cross food tonight.  A ballot
was|run today and everyone rec'd a comfort. I drew a pencil -
market price $4.  Les - 1 razor blade - $3.50.  Don - Nugget polish
- $15.  To top things off I have malaria.  First time for 6 mths.
and go to hospital tomorrow.  Have lost a lot of weight recently
on account of light ration so hate to think how I will look at
end of another week on still lighter rations.
20 Apr. Mysterious death occurred in Gaol last night.  A chap
named Hermann of 2/26 went to bore hole last night and did not
[*Bore hole. Hole used as latrine*]
 

50.
return.  His towel was later discovered near|a bore hole and this
morning when a chap went|for a 'bog' he saw 2 feet protruding from
the excreta.  He had fallen down the hole head first - intentionally
or otherwise not known.  A terrible death.  I came into hospital
today.  Issued with 5 Old Gold smokes tonight.  Boy they taste good
after smoking chopped up cigars.  They are worth $2 or more each
in Singapore.
23 Apr.  Feeling reasonably well now.  Food is very light on.  Bill
H. has kindly sent down a doover at lunch time yesterday and
today.
25 Apr.  More Red Cross food today.
27 Apr.  Finished quinine tonight.  Had my blood count taken.  Result
- 70% which is very good now.
29 Apr. Came out of hospital tonight.  Issued with new pair of

shorts from Red Cross supplies.
30 Apr.  Last day of month and the war still goes on - (b)!!
Quite a lively month.
1 May.  Out to work on gardens today.
7 May.  Have received 5 letters up to Oct 44 out of present mail.
8 May.  I think I could write pages under this date but will have
to be content with my thoughts.  How wonderful it all seems.
10 May. Weight today 9-12.  Just a bare 2 stone under normal
weight.  Another plane crashed on Drome today.  No one killed.
11 May.  Home today.  Had to visit dentist.  Had sore tooth and have
had the gum treated.  Play cards most evenings now.  Poker is the
game and have won quite a few bucks so|far.  Bill H. has malaria.
going to visit him tonight.
13 May.  Mothers Day. Went to church in evening.  Very good sermon.
Wore beautiful white frangipanni which I have kept and hope to
take back to dear old Mum.  Missed her very much today.
15 May.  Had my blood count taken today.  Down to 69% so have been
given a fortnight on light duties.  Also have a touch of the runs
so at the moment I am not too happy with the world.
17 May.  Still playing poker and winning.  About $60 or $70 up to
date.
19 May.  Have new job.  In charge of party emptying 'piss' tins
3 times daily out in hospital area.  Gee it stinks.
23 May. Gwen's birthday.  How I would love to be with her tonight.
I've lost count of all the celebrations I have to make|up for when
I get home.
30 May.  Over 1000 Dutch troops have shifted in from Sumatra.  More
(b)!! - U.S. Bombings: How wonderful ---- Better news filtering thro'.
 

51.
working parties to move outside now tha thte Drome work has
finished.
31 May. Have been home for last 2 days. Suspect I am getting
malaria. If I don't develop it I look like going with the next
party in about 1 weeks time.
4 Jun. Haven't developed malaria yet and the party to go away has
been postponed.
6 Jun. Dvr McLaren out of ASP died of dysentery early this morning.
7 Jun. Went to funeral this morning. Also Dutch doctor buried.
Committed suicide by cutting his throat.
10 Jun. Have had pain around my heart so went on sick parade. Dr
said I have a particularly good heart. Pain coming from the stomach.
12 Jun. Another new job I have. Pulling 2 trailer loads of grass
into Gaol each day.
14 Jun. Feel bloody awful tonight. My stomach feels terribly sore
and today I was flat out to walk the distance to work and back.
Each morning lately when I waken I feel too sick to eat all my
breakfast. Oh dear. How I am longing for home and dear old Mum
nobody knows. I pray it will be soon now.
17 Jun. Feeling better again.
19 Jun. A party of 800 including 200 AIF is going away. Les and I
are going.
23 Jun. Received a letter card from Mum dated Jan45.
24 Jun. Received a card from Dad dated Oct. 44. Party to go away
still in abeyance.
25 Jun. A lot of Indian POW have moved into the Gaol. A camp
census was released the other day. Strength of camp approx.
8,000 comprising 3,000 AIF, 3,600 British, Dutch a few hundred,
and the remainder made up of Americans, Italians, 2 Norwegians, 1
Dane, 1 Czek, Malays, Anglo Indians - not a bad mixture, the only
one missing is the German. Still no mention of X8 party moving.
2 Jul. Pinched good feed of tapioca from boong garden this morning.
Cooked it for tea tonight.
3 Jul. Another good feed tonight. About 3lb of egg fruit which I
scrounged.
4 Jul. X8 party moved this morning. 200 of us are in a new camp
at Bukit Timah. No organization yet as it ws thought we were
coming to an organized camp. We are right in the middle of an
ammunition dump and the job is to build tunnels into the many
surrounding hills. Only creek water and hygiene arrangements very
bad at the moment.

[* X8 -party referred to on 19 Jun.*]

52.
5 Jul. All working on camp improvements this morning when Nips
made us form up into 4 parties and go out to work.
7 Jul. Working on gun emplacement on hill near camp, also digging
communicating trench.
8 Jul. Half holiday. Rations of vegetables here stupendous. After
light rations at Changi it is wonderful to get on to plenty of
food again.
9 Jul. Some parties tunnelling into hills - not so good.
11 Jul. I am in charge of E Squad 39 men. My Nip boss is a champion.
In fact all the Nips on our party are A1. Yesterday the boss
presented us with $60 of tobacco. Strangely enough it's a pleasure
to work with them especially after being associated with some of
the stick merchants.
13 Jul. Shifted to new location today. Digging a gun pit and 2
connecting tunnels. New Nips just as good as old ones.
14 Jul. Les off sick today. I have had diarrhoea for 4 days. Very
bad yesterday but better today.
15 Jul. Half holiday. Feel very well. Food wonderful. Witnessed
fight between Nip and Korean last night. Nips and Koreans are
bitter enemies.
18 Jul. Things not so good. Vegetable issue dropped to practically
nothing although we are told this is only temporary. Hours of
work increased. Official time now 8.30am to 9pm although we
finish at 7.30pm and are back in camp about 8.15pm.
20 Jul. Rained all afternoon. We sat in shed from 12.30 to 7.30pm
just 7 hours. Oh what patience a man has learnt.
22 Jul. Half holiday - Sunday. Oh how I wish this whole show
would finish and I could return to dear old home. Nobody knows
just how much I miss Mum and the others.
29 Jul. Seeing that I leave camp at 8.30am and return at 8pm each
day excepting Sunday an entry once per week will haveto suffice.
Reveille is 7.30am. Days are long and although I am No 1 of a 
party and don't work I am very tired by evening. Rations have
gone off considerably. Vegs were 4lbs a man most days but are now
8 or 9 ozs. Terribly hungry. I am losing weight. Last week I
weighed 9-8!! Have been two or three air raids during the week
and a recce plane over most days. I expect big things to happen
soon. 4 years today I sailed from Sydney.

53.
5 Aug. Another week of agony past. The work is hard and the hours
long. Rations are still at a low scale and sickness is increasing.
Oh how I pray for freedom. Yesterday I witnessed a surprise raid
by at least 7 of our twin-engined planes. Saw 1 playne come to 
earth in flames -  hope it was a Nip.
12 Aug. Sunday once more and Les is down with malaria. Have just
read in yesterday's papaer where Russia is at war with Japan. On
top of this startling news one of our chaps has just arrived back
from Kranji hospital and was given the news to pass on to us by a
Fld officer that Japan signed peace terms this morning. It's too
colossal to believe and yet I feel it is true. If true I am a
free man at this very moment. Oh God I pray this is the truth.
How wonderful for my dear folks at home. Orders are to carry on
as normally for the next 10 days. Surely there will be confirmation
of this news in a day ot two.
17 Aug. Les' birthday yesterday. It's now about 7pm and for the
first time I am convinced the show is over. Came in from job
suddenly this afternoon bringing all tools and accompanied by 2
extra guards. All guards packing up at camp nearby and double
guards on the camp. Oh how wonderful. How wonderful for my dear
folks at home. Have just been advised by Nip in charge here that
'owing to slippery nature of ground and liability of accidents
there will be no work tomorrow.' What a laugh! The buggars in the
past have taken no greater delight than when they see you plodding
through the mud.
18 Aug. Well at last is has come. Today we move back to Changi
and heard news confirmed. Tomorrow is hoped to be the big
day. We are the first of 2,000 or more who are returning to 
Changi. It's good to be back. Saw Bill H. tonight. Has malaria
again.
19 Aug. More parties moved back to Changi today. Red cross supplies
in already and we start consuming same tomorrow. Issued with
20 Camels tonight.
20 Aug. Dad's birthday. I was almost free for it. Tomorrow the
signing is expected to take place at Singapore. More troops moved
back today. Nip troops are being concentrated in camps in Singapore
How I would love to be in charge of some of them even for 1 day.

54.
23 Aug. Shifted back into old hut today. News bulletins come
through numerous times each day - very confusing and conflicting
reports. Have been issued with many new clothes. Millions of
articles of clothing have come into camp during the past few days
yet previous to this the Nips repeatedly told us there was no new
clothing to be had. Just another one of many crimes committed by
them.
24 Aug. Les has just been told that as soon as the official
release comes he has to revert to corporal. Bad luck from him.
Don is very sick - gastric trouble and possible malaria.
26 Aug. Everyone in high spirits although no sign of our planes or
troops yet. Brown-out restrictions lifted, entertainment permitted.
Don better again.
27 Aug. Rations improved tremendously. Red Cross parcels daily
(1 to 20 men) and some fresh meat came in yesteday. The first
I've tasted for over a year. Issued with ¼lb Australian butter
today.
28 Aug. Issued with 6 ozs Kraft Cheese. I could stil eat a lot
more but what we are getting is marvellous after 3½years of
starvation. One of our 4-engined planes dived over the Gaol this
afternoon and dropped pamphlets both for us and the Nips. What a
marvellous sensation. Latest is we are going to fly home. The
sooner the better - the time is dragging now.
30 Aug. Three of our planes dropped med. and food supplies on
Changi Drome during the day. I was out on one of the roof tops
and saw most of the 'chutes dropped. Yesterday 6 personnel were
dropped and they are now in the camp taking over the Admin.
31 Aug. From today we have no Nip guards. I believe they all
moved out during the night and have gone to an internment camp.
More supplies dropped this afternoon. Marvellous sight to see the
planes circling over the drome and letting go bundles of 'chutes
at a time. Heard my first wireless broadcast in 3½years tonight.
1 Sep. Broadcasts daily now and planes flying over and dropping
'chutes a common sight now.
2 Sep. As I sit here writing these notes I am smoking a CRAVEN A
smoke -oh everything is wonderful. Heard broadcast this morning
from SS Missouri in Tokyo Bay of the signing of WORLD PEACE with
Japan. Amusing incident this afternoon when I drew Les and my own
name of a hat for a complete Red Cross parcel each. There were
only 6 parcels for 121 men! Mosquito bomber dived over Changi
Gaol numerous times this afternoon. Speed amazing. So full tonight
that I feel uncomfortable.