Letters and Postcards written by John Slater, 1942-1945 - Part 3

[*3*]

From:
Name J.C. SLATER
Nationality AUSTRALIAN
Rank W.O.11
Camp [No:4] P.O.W. CAMP, THAILAND.
To: MRS. J.C. SLATER,
89 CENTRE ROAD, EAST BRIGHTON,
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.

IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY
I am interned in THAILAND
My health is excellent.
I am ill in hospital.
I am working for pay.
I am not working
Please see that MOTHER is taken care
My love to you John.
PR03294

SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE
Name SLATER J.C.
Nationality AUSTRALIAN.
Rank W.O. II
Camp   No: 4 P.O.W.  Camp,   
Thailand
To:- MRS. J.C. SLATER,
89 CENTRE RD., EAST BRIGHTON, 

MELBOURNE,
AUSTRALIA.

[*4*]

IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY
Date: 10^th June 1944
Your mails (and      ) are received with thanks.
My health is (good, usual, poor).

I am ill in hospital.
I am working for pay (I am paid monthly salary).

I am not working.
My best regards to MOTHER, DAD, DICK & JOAN, KEN,
BILL & PEARL, BROM, AILEEN & JOHNNY.
Yours ever,
John.
PRO3294

SERVICES DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE
Name J.C. SLATER.
Nationality AUSTRALIAN.
Rank W.O. II.
Camp   No: 4 P.O.W.  Camp,   
Thailand.
To:- MRS. J.C. SLATER,
89 CENTRE RD, 

EAST BRIGHTON, MELBOURNE,
AUSTRALIA.

[*5*]

IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY
Date 15-1-44
Your mails (and        ) are received with thanks.
My health is (good, usual, poor).

I am ill in hospital.
I am working for pay (I am paid monthly salary).

I am not working.
Best regards to MOMS, DAD, AILEEN, BROM,
AND ALL AT HOME.
Yours ever,
John.
PRO3294

5^th Sept 1945
My Own Darling Anne,
After these last three & a half years of hell I just cannot realise that 

it is all over, indeed, until we are evacuated from this camp where we spent our last two 

months as Jap slaves, will we finally realise that we are once again, free men. 

Since the 16^th of last month we have been receiving decent food & the change is 

remarkable & you will not have cause to worry when you see me (very soon I hope).

You have always been in my thoughts & it seems like a life time since I saw 

you last. The last letter I received from you was dated October 44 & that arrived 

only last Friday, so you can guess how pleased I will be to receive a really recent 

letter & not of only twenty five words. I am not giving you an address to which 

you can reply as we may move any time, now, but more than likely you will be 

advised officially where to forward mail.

You do not know, Sweetheart, how much I am longing just to be with you, away from 

everyone else for a while, & to be able to relax mentally. I seem to have lived so long in an 

atmosphere of tenseness that I just cannot let myself go, my nerves are all on edge.

This does not seem to be a very cheerful letter, My Darling, but I know you will understand 

& help me to become a normal person once again.

I have had no news from Moms & all at home, for so long, so I do hope that all is well & 
you yourself, must have had a tough time not knowing where or how I was. Never mind 

Anne Dear, we have grand things to look forward to & plan & make for our future together. 

Many of my weary hours have been passed thinking of what we will do.

With me in this camp are Ken Wadsworth & Bill James, they are both very fit. Cassidy, 

Doug Yews are in a camp about 25 miles from here & many others you have known are 

scattered all over the place, but I suppose we will all be gathered together ere long.

It is so long since we have been able to write a letter that we find it difficult to write a 

fluent & sensible letter & you've no idea how many of the chaps are asking for more paper 

as they've spoilt their first attempt.

I often wonder if you managed to keep my wrist watch, as my other one was taken 

from me by the Japs when I was in Alexandria Hospital on the 15^th Feb '42. I am still

carrying a shell splinter in my leg but it has never bothered me. I will save the tales 

of my experiences until I get home.

I suppose young John is quite a man now, give my kind regards to Aileen & Brom &
hope to see you all soon. What are your plans? Will you be free when I arrive home &

where do you wish to meet me. Will it be in Sydney? Perhaps that will depend on when 

& if the authorities are to put us in quarantine. There will be miles of red tape I suppose, 

& how I hate it all, just to be a plain civilian & your own boss will be heaven.

I received a letter from you written in August '43 planning a holiday at 'our' place 

on the north coast & that fitted in exactly with what I had been dreaming of, only I 

wonder what the position is down there regarding cars, do you think things will be more
or less normal when I get home? Will clothing be hard to obtain etc? (my letter seems 

to be full of queries).

I am doing an administration job at present & it doesn't give one 

much
time to oneself as the boys are doing many things they shouldn't with the usual 

consequences.
Well, my Dear Wife, I must finish now & I hope that when I am allowed 

to write again, I will be able to give you something more definite regarding my movements 

so Cheerio Dear Heart & all my fondest love.

Always

Your Own,

John.

ARTIST'S IMPRESSION OF

BILL JAMES' PERFORMANCE
AT A CAMP CONCERT. THE
FROCK WAS MADE FROM
MOSQUITO NETTING.

THE ORGINAL DRAWING IS
WITH MRS VERA JAMES
IN BRISBANE

Hand painted  picture - see original
[*[[?]] P.O.W.
THAILAND 30^th Nov
1945.*]

Hand painted  picture - see original

[*[[?]] P.O.W.
THAILAND 30^th Nov
1945.*]