Letters and Postcards written by John Slater, 1942-1945 - Part 2

9 This brought us to the 15th Oct. At several stops 

we managed to buy some bananas or pomeloes 

from natives when the Jap. guards were not looking 

& this helps a little. Money was raised by selling 

some article of clothing to the natives, although, 

the language (Thai) was rather a problem. We 

finally arrived at BAN PONG at about 8am

on the 16th Oct. after about 87 hours in the

train without a wash & marched 2 miles to a 

camp which was just above flood level & as 

it had been raining for weeks beforehand, 

we had to trudge around ankle deep in mud! 

Here we were given fairly decent meals which

revived our spirits, although I had to have 

my bath in an open muddy "padi" field. We 

rested on the 17th & at 7.30am on the 18th Oct 

we had to set off on a march of 30 kilometres 

(about 20 miles) in a westerly direction toward 

the Burma border. Unfortunately, our third 

morning I had slipped & hurt my right knee & 

after marching 10 miles carrying about 80lbs, I 

just collapsed & had to be picked up by a motor 

lorry which was trailing behind for that purpose. 

After the lorry was full we passed the main body 

(we were 1,000 strong) & were dumped at the 

camp where we were to spend the night. At 

7.30am the next morning, my knee was much

10 better and I was able to march again, especially as 

on this day all our baggage was to be carried by 

lorry & the distance was not quite so far, 23 kilo-

metres. We arrived at the camp about 3pm in 

the afternoon & were given 4 tents which held 

18 men each for our section which was about 170, 

so most of us slept in the open. This camp was 

at the end of the main road & its name sounded 

like Kanchin Buri. The next day, 20th Oct. we 

rested & the following morning we set off at 

daybreak, this time carrying our baggage, & 

marched through the jungle all day & 

reached our night [stopping] place at about

8pm where we had a meal of plain rice. 

As far as we could gather, its name was 

Lalja & was on the bank of a large river.

We rested on the 22nd & were able to wash ourselves 

in the river. On the 23rd we set off again in the 

rain and marched 20km. in the rain & through 

mud up to ankles to our nights stopping place 

where we had no shelter & I had to huddle 

near a fire all night to keep warm. On the 

24th we set off on our last march to a large 

camp in the jungle & by a river which we 

reached at 9pm in the moonlight.

11 It was about midnight before we managed to get something to eat & then finally to sleep about 1am. 

It was a bitterly cold night & my one & only 

blanket was still damp from the previous nights 

rain. In the morning, we discovered that 600 

of us were to go to another camp a few miles 

down river by barge, so after resting on the 

25th & 26th we set off by barge on the morning 

of the 27th & two hours later arrived at our 

destination, the place I am now writing from, 

the name of which I have now discovered is 

WANG PO. Today is the 12th November, so you can 

see that I have been some time getting this much written, but I have been very ill with dysentery & 

have not quite recovered yet. The food here is 

terrible but I am feeling rather weak at the moment 

so will continue tomorrow perhaps.  

Well Anne, Sweetheart, it is now the 18th Nov. & I am 

now feeling almost fit again, but it is slow work on this terrible food, in fact it is due to the food that we have 

so many cases of dysentery, three chaps have died since we arrived here & I am afraid that there will be 

many more before we are through. I managed 

to receive a note from Lieut [Thiers] who is up river 

from here & was able to find out what

12 had happened to Max McCracken. He was 

killed on the 31st Dec. together with Sgt. Milne in 

the same ambush I had been caught in.

Barron the other member of the crew was captured 

& lodged in K.L. gaol & [fatterly] sent sent to Singapore 

& then up here with Lieut. Mills' party. Eric Price is 

with the same party.

In this camp, I am in charge of 50 men Naming 

them are many Anglo. Oriental people, they are:-

T.Cassidy, Gordon Fleming, Ted Deakin, Brice Whitechurch, Brice James, Ken Wordsworth, Brian Miles, Doug Yews, Jack Thurling, Ray Thurling, Frank Napin, John Marshall, Tom Oxley, [& N] Hunter. The Lieut, in charge is Cecil Boving who is also from A.O. (Head Office), so there 

is quite a representative gathering. We have finally 

decided that our position is on the NAM KWA NOI river roughly 55 miles due East of TAVOY on the Burma Coast.

There are 1200 men in this camp & we expect another 

400 anyday. We are engaged on building a railway 

which the Japs intend to connect with the Burma 

railway somewhere near [Moulamein]. There are 

similar camps spread along the route.

The working hours are from 9am-1pm & 2.30pm 

to 6.30pm. & one day off after ten working days.

13 Our day is as follows: - Reveille at 7.30am, B'fast at 

8am. (rice & spoonful of sugar), 9am-1pm. work, [Liffins] - rice & tea, 2.30-6.30pm. work, 7pm. Supper - 

cupful of vegetable stew & rice. 8pm. roll-call & as 

it is then dark by this time we just sit around & 

yarn till we feel like sleep. Yesterday was a 

red letter day, we had one pig cooked in the 

stew for 1200 men & it certainly flavoured it, even 

if my share was a 1/2"cube of fat. Over a third 

of the camp are down ill & I think that our health 

will improve a little, otherwise there will not 

be enough men available for work. This is all 

the paper I have left, so I will save it for further news, Darling.

30th November  Our second anniversary & just twelve months since I was called up. I have been thinking of you all day today 

& sincerely hope that I will be with you, well before our 

next anniversary. I an now feeling quite well as the 

food has improved a little & we are able to buy an 

occasional egg or banana.

5th Dec. Received word from up river that Lieut Thiers had 

died after an operation for appendicitis, it had been 

a great shock to me.

8th Dec. Today we were given a holiday, as the 

Japs are celebrating the first anniversary 

of their attack on the Allied Forces in the East.

14 14th January

Well sweetheart, its [?] a long time since I last 

"put pen to paper" but nothing much of importance has happened [?]. Christmas day was a holiday & weve been 

given several pieces of [permanent office] by the Japs & rather 

more [pork] than usual a [descent ? part] in fact, but it 

was certainly an improvement. I know you must be 

thinking that all my news seems to be of food, but when 

one is on starvation diet, food is a mighty big consideration, 

& I do want  to get out in reasonably good health. 

New Years Day was also a holiday & on New Year Eve we 

had a concert given by members of one of the Scotch regiments, which was rather good. I could not but think of our New 

Years Eve walk out to the Gap & how I wished that we 

could be together, in fact I miss you terribly. At the 

moment I am in our camp about 15 miles from Wampo 

where I have come for dental treatment & now I am 

waiting to be located back at any moment. Yesterday 

was my 30th birthday & I feel rather wild that the best years 

of our life are being wasted like this. Tomorrow I may 

not have a chance to write but rest assured, Darling, 

that you will be more in my thoughts, if such a thing 

could be possible, so may I write now, "All the very best for 

your birthday & may all your wishes come true". 

News, such as we are able to get, is very good & I am 

very optimistic about the future.

15th March Rather a long time since I added anything, 

but it has been the usual monotonous round of 

sleep, work & eat what is available, I have been

 

15 keeping quite fit except for one short bout of 

fever. We keep on hearing rumours of letters, but 

so far nothing has turned up except that yesterday 

I heard that there were 2 letters for me at Ban Pong 

but as to when they will eventually arrive, who 

knows? I am simply craving for just one 

word from you, to know that you were well & safe 

would make a great difference. There is a possibility 

that we be moving camp very shortly & I am 

afraid that it will be much further into the jungle 

& that means less food owing to the difficulty of 

getting supplies through. Must close now Sweetheart, 

paper getting near the end & must save it for further news. 

May 12!  Today I received a letter from you & Moms! You 

have no idea, Darling heart, just what your letter meant 

to me, the sky seems brighter & it makes everything bearable. 

I can handle any hardship now, knowing that you are safe. 

There is only one little thing wrong, neither you or Moms 

mention anything of Ken & I am afraid I am imagining 

the worst. I am well but can see no relief for some time 

to come, but if I can get a letter from you occasionally 

everything will be alright. Bill James & Gordon Fleming did 

not receive any mail & are rather disappointed, but it 

should not be long now.

May 15th Left Wangpo for Toucha south & my 

day taken up the story from there so I will

end this with all my best wishes & love

 

16   You are always in my thoughts, night & day

Cheerio my Darling Sweetheart.

Always

love

John

 

June '43: Sth Douchan to Kenya No 3. Had Cholera, then evacuate to

Tansoa July '43 & still here in March '44. So I am through 27th April.

Rec'd letter from Anne & Dick 15/9/44. Everyone extremely optimistic here. 

Am  feeling very fit, food reasonable & I have quite a good job.

June 19th/1945 Left Tamaray arrived Bangkok 23/ [?] left Bangkok 

25th & arrived [?] via [Brisbane] 26th

 

PR03294

Sce DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE

Mrs. J.C.SLATER

89 CENTRE ROAD, EAST BRIGHTON,

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

7950

SEARGEANT
J.C.SLATER.

 

MY DARLING WIFE, 

I AM WELL.

THINKING OF YOU ALWAYS.

GIVE MY LOVE TO MOTHER.

GOD BE WITH YOU.

JOHN SLATER

 

PR03294

From:

Name: J SLATER

Nationality: BRITISH

Rank: SERGEANT MAJOR

Camp: No 4 (1) THAILAND

 

To: Mrs. J.C.SLATER

89 CENTRE ROAD, EAST BRIGHTON,

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY

I am interned in No 4(1) P.O.W. CAMP. THAILAND.

My health is excellent. usual. poor.

I am ill in hospital.

I am working for pay.

I am not working.

Please see that MOTHER is taken care OF.

ALWAYS THINKING IF YOU. DO NOT WORRY. 

My love to you JOHN

 

PR03294