Diary of service - Donald Morrison, 1940 - 1945 - Part 15

CHRISTMAS – 1944

HUT D3

DINNER 

Map - see original document

JOHORE - SINGAPORE

D MORRISON CAPT

VX28610

ENLISTED - 2RRD - 24 JUN 40

DISCHARGED ROYAL PARK 26 JAN 46

Diagram insignia - see original document
AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH

MILITARY FORCES

4 ITB - ALBURY

2/22 BN - TRAWOOL BONEGILLA

2/29 BN - BONEGILLA BATHURST

HQ 8 AUST DIV - MALAYA

2/29 BN - CHANGI

HQ 8 AUST DIV

COC MAJ-GEN GORDON BENNETT CB DSO

ADC LIEUT C WALKER

CSO I	COL JH THYER	AAQMC	COL R BROADBENT
CSO II	MAJ CB DAWKINS	DAAC	MAJ M ASHKANASY
CSO III 0	CAPT A CURLEWIS	DRQMC	MAJ A THOMPSON
CSO III 1	CAPT H JESSUP	DLD	MAJ P HERD
CSO III CW	CAPT T MITCHELL	DADDS	LT-COL L STAHLE
ID	CAPT L GREENER	SOME	MAJ C WRIGHT
CY 0	CAPT F McDONALD	DAPM	CAPT W MILLER
LO I	MAJ C MOSES	CAMP	CAPT H WEIDERSEN
LO II	CAPT C BUTLER	P+EP1	LIEUT N COUCH
LO III	CAPT D MORRISON

CRA BRIG CA CALLAGHAN CMC DSO

CRE LT-COL I O'DONNEL OBE

COS LT-COL C KAPPE

CAASC LT-COL L BYRNE

DAOMS MAJ B ANDERSON

HQ 27 AUST INF BDE

COMD BRIG D S MAXWELL MC

BM	MAJ SAF POND OBE	SC	CAPT AP CARDE
ID	LIEUT N PAUL	LO I	CAPT A WIMPOLE
LO II	LIEUT J MELLION	LO III	LIEUT N BARRATT
SIC O	LIEUT L MATHEWS	SIC O	LIEUT K TRUMBLE
TO	CAPT C YULE	BASCO	CAPT J BRITZ
P-E P1	LIEUT E CARNER

HQ 22 AUST INF BDE

COMD BRIG HB TAYLOR MC

BM	MAJ R BEALE	SC	CAPT J FAIRLEY
ID	LIEUT K HUTTON	LO I	CAPT W BATHGATE
LO II	LIEUT JOHNSTON	P-E P1	LIEUT W BARNES
SIC O	LIEUT LUSH	SIG O	LIEUT GETTERS
TO	CAPT J HORDEN	BASCO	CAPT C PICKFORD

POW Life: 1942 - 1945

February 1942

Reveille woke me on Wednesday morning 18, February 1942. I had a look around and

for a minute did not realise where I was. Suddenly it all came back - I was a prisoner

of war, but, there was no need to dwell on the past the future was more important. I

was aching all over from sleeping on a concrete floor and my feet hurt like the devil.

Neither foot had much skin left on it.

Selarang had only been slightly bombed but, the sewerage, light and water were out of

action. I thought that there must be somewhere to wash so I took my towel and soap

downstairs and went outside to have a look around. I saw a line of men disappearing

over a hill and as they were obviously on the same errand as myself. I followed. In

the valley was an anti-malarial drain in which had been built a tong or native washing

place. Many hundreds were gathered there, but, eventually I got my wash and in

doing so lost my soap, thus I was taught lesson number 1 of the POW - If you wish to

retain anything never leave it lying about. The most unlikely people had the habit of

souveniring when there was little chance of being found out.

After a very light breakfast, I could think of nothing more beneficial to my health than

some medical attention to my feet, so, at a very slow hobble, I made my way to the 

MIR which was approximately 250 yards distant. A couple of hundred others had the

same idea and a queue many yards long was already waiting. The Medical Officers

worked flat out to cope with the rush of blistered feet but, even then I was late for

lunch.

For the first two days the lunch for twenty eight officers, incuding two Brigadiers,

consisted of one tin Bully Beef, one tin of Cheese, fifty six Savoury Biscuits

between the lot. Thank goodness I had plenty of cigarettes to fill in the gaps. After

lunch; a siesta. I spent every spare minute for three or four days in a horizontal

position sometimes on the floor but more often on one of the lawns with which the

building was surrounded. I was mentally and physically worn out.

That afternoon I managed to get hold of an iron bed which I was able to hang onto

during my stay in change. When I moved quarters it came with me and it was always

referred to as "Morrison's" bed. It was some months before I could scrounge a

mattress but even then it was preferable to a concrete floor.

Selarang Changi

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POW Life: 1942 - 1945

As there were no lights (lamps operated by cocoanut oil or anti-malarial cream had

not been invented at this stage) we retired early and yarned about any subject except

the army. Carl Gunther was in our room and although he generally held the floor he

was mot interesting when he was talking about New Guinea.

As I have said before we arrived at Selarang early in the morning and no one had any

interest in which direction we went. It was easy enough to get the points of the

compass but it needed an expert to plot the buildings to which the various units had

been allotted. Then luck came our way and someone found a map of the area and the

work of the "Man in Grey" was made so much easier as it was just a matter of putting

the Units alongside the appropriate houses. While I was at the Information Desk I

made a copy of the master map as I thought it would come in handy for the future.

The first Japanese order that had a direct bearing on every one had to do with time.

All clocks were to be put back 1½ hours so that we worked on Tokyo time. This rule

applied to all places under Japanese domination and thus time was standardised

throughout the Greater Co-prosperity Sphere.

Once again my valise turned up. I never dreamt that I would see it again when I

addressed it and left it outside Headquarters at Tanglin but, I found it in the hall of the

Mess when I knocked off work that afternoon.

The staff had been allowed only twenty four hours to make a recce and to issue orders

for the billeting of fifty two thousand men. There were three areas; AIF, British and

Hospital. Each of these had to be divided into Formation then Unit areas and then

there had to be water points, rendezvous for rations and fuel, allotment of cooking

gear for each unit and calculation of the sleeping capacity of each building and

numerous other matters. Everything to maintain the camp had to be brought from

Singapore and much had to be left behind as insufficient time and transport were not

available to do the job; consequently things were pretty rough, especially from the

hygienic point of view, for the first few days and in our little group things were not

made any easier by the grumblings of the more senior officers who chose this of all

times to stand on their dignity.

Selarang Changi

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POW Life: 1942 - 1945

The buildings of Selarang Barracks where thirteen thousand of the AIF were

quartered occupied an area one and a quarter miles long by half a mile wide.

Macadam roads crisscrossed the ground and linked up with Roberts Barracks which

was the Hospital Area and with the main road to Singapore. The concrete buildings

from barrack blocks to married officers quarters, were on a sumptuous scale and must

have been most impressive in times peace. There were acres of beautiful lawns,

tropical shrubs and palms, tennis courts and playing fields. When we took over the

whole place had gone to seed and had been well and truly looted by the Nips.

At 1000 hours on Sunday 22 February, I reported to Lieutenant Colonel Pond who

had taken over command of the 2/29 Battalion, when they reformed at the end of

January. He made me feel quite welcome and did seem pleased to see me; the fact that

we were at the Grange together may have had something to do with it. I was

introduced to Jim Rutherford and Fred Cross, the Adjutant and Assistant Adjutant. I

never quite fathomed the former but Fred and I had met when he was a Sergeant on

Brigade and we became firm friends. Chas Lovett was sent for and told to hand "B"

Company over to me. This was a bit hard on Chas, as he had been Company second in

command since the end of August and had fought with them all the way down the

peninsular. He had taken my place when I had been kicked out and sent to Division

Headquarters.

After some small talk Charlie took me back to the lines to meet the men I found about

one hundred of them quartered in two small attap huts which would hold no more

than sixty at the most; the remainder had to sleep on the ground. Basil Maher and

Harley Clark had been killed and Jock Richards was missing, while there were

another one hundred and fifteen either killed, missing or wounded in hospital. That

was a big sway out of one Company and I was not really surprised at so many new

faces. I was particularly pleased to see Chris Nestor who had been my batman for a

long time. He had gone back to the Unit from Kulai in the hope of finding his brother

Paddy but, it was not to be. He said that he would like to take on his old job so I asked

him to get hold of a couple of cobbers and to bring my gear over from the old Mess

building.

Selarang Changi

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POW Life: 1942 - 1945

The Companies were housed in and around various buildings while the only

communal parts of the camp were the kitchen and the latrines. The officers had a 

separate Mess once a month but on all other occasions ate with their respective

companies.

Discipline in Changi was run on the same lines as British Army discipline. All orders

were issued to Headquarters Malaya Command by the Officer Commanding Prisoners

of the Imperial Japanese Army. These orders were than handed down to Commander

of the British troops and the Commander AIF, then down to Brigades, Battalions,

Companies etc. Broadly speaking, the British were responsible for maintaining

discipline within the camp area while the Japs looked after things outside the wire.

When I left the Battalion in August the men were very fit, well disciplined and well

turned out. But now, it was a different story; health was fair, but everyone was bodily

weary. The general attitude seemed to be "to hell with everything and blast obeying

any orders", troops could not be bothered to shave or get a hair cut and no attempt

was made to wash their clothes. A great number had only the clothes they stood up in

while some had lost their self respect. As a result of this breakdown in morale the men

had to be sat on straight away and it was here that Lieutenant Colonel Pond did an

excellent job. He had to award some harsh punishments for breaking the more serious

of the Japanese orders, but gradually welded this body of men into a Unit once more.

In all fairness, it should be remembered that many of the troops had left Australia

about the 1st January 1942 and had never had the chance to enjoy the life long

fellowship engendered by those who have belonged to a Unit since its inception.

I had to become all regimental again but, it did not take as long as I thought it would.

I even had to go on parades and march up and down.

Each day there were four main jobs that had to be done. The first was the sinking of

Borehole Latrines with a large twenty foot long auger and these had to be done in

banks of three. It was hard physical work turning the auger round and round, pull it up

and scrape off the clay and put it down the hole again for a few more turns and then

repeat the process. But this was more hygienic than the old fashioned trench type.

Then came the drawing of rations and water and these were transported on an

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POW Life: 1942 - 1945

engineless motor chassis with a flat top body varying in capacity from an eight

hundred utility to a five tonne truck. Again we had the job of providing guards at the

various entrance gates to keep our selves within the perimeter. Lastly there were the

men left in the company lines who had nothing to do and it was essential that they

should be prevented from brooding over their fate and I thought that the best way to

do this was to get various types to tell of their civilian jobs or experiences.

I was very fortunate to have Chas Lovett, Jack Arthur (QM), Les Cotter (P&O CPL)

and NCO's Stephens, Gilmartin, Pursell, Opie, Knott and Dean to help with the

settling down. I made the NCO's and Lovett sleep inside the huts because they needed

as much rest as anyone and were always on duty but I slept outside in my valise for

two reasons. Firstly, because I was not as tired as the others and secondly, because i

had lent my bed to Rupert King who had a badly wounded arm but was not sick

enough to go to Hospital. Each day our numbers were added to by men returning from

other units to which they had been attached or from AGH and some from a spree in

Singapore which had lasted several days but, unfortunately, this could not be proved.

With this influx the space became acute but was temporarily settled by the loan of

three tents which housed thirty six men.

As soon as we had settled into our new ways and I was accustomed to the new routine

I appointed two small committees to act as Historians of the Company. Firstly Chas

Lovett and six reliable men had to piece together the complete story while it was still

fresh in their minds. In some instances the Company was split up so the committee

could call in outside help if it was necessary. It would be a long job but for once time 

would be no object. "Bara" (Baragwanath) was to act as the Scribe. The other

Committee was Les Cotter and his job was to make a complete list, with regimental

number, al all who had passed through the company; including those left behind in

Australia, since formation on 22 November 1940 and to include such information as

Next of Kin, home address and present whereabouts.

The list contained more than three hundred names when it was completed and of these

Les Cotter was able to remember about two hundred and seventy five of the

Regimental Numbers. The work done by these two committees was really the start of

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POW Life: 1942 - 1945

the Battalion records as other Companies soon followed our example. Jack Bruce was

a great help to us as he had access to the files at second Echelon.

A vast amount of work went into the story of the Company. Someone would write of

an incident and then hand it to another for his criticism and eventually four or five

people would be involved in getting at the truth of the matter before it was finally

written up in the book of words by "Bara". When I returned I got a quote from a

publisher for one copy to go to the next of kin of those who did not return and one for

those who said that they would be interested in such a screed. When it came to the

point of actually raising the necessary funds it was a different matter and I decided to

let the matter drop although Harry Archdall kindly offered to help cut the losses if I

wanted to get on with the printing. I had two or three copies typewritten privately and

then gave "Bara's" mother the original version which had been written in Changi.

The first big difference with the Imperial Japanese Army concerned military etiquette

and took place in the first couple of days. The British prisoners from generals down to

privates were not saluting the Japanese and Indian sentries and soldiers. General

Heath replied that, under the Hague Convention, Officer POW did not have to salute

those of lesser rank. The Japanese were very clever, they could easily overcome this

silly convention; it was just a matter of the British officers removing their badges of

rank and then they would all be equal with no rank. However, as a special concession

they could wear a star on the flap of their left breast pocket but it must be remembered

that this star was not a badge of rank, just a means of identifying the British officers to

the British troops. Later on Field officers were allowed to mount their solitary Pip on

a piece of red cloth as a further distinguishing mark.

No one fancied saluting a Japanese or in some cases a Korean coolie but it had to be

done but it was very much against the grain to salute a renegade Sikh who a few days

before had been fighting on our side but was now an ally of the Japanese. Failure to

salute could mean a clout over the ear or some prolonged physical exercises such as

hand presses. A clout or two and we soon got into the required habit.

The day I took over the Company the IJA called for the first of three big work parties

to go into Singapore to clean up the mess caused by the fighting. Command AIF were

informed that these men would be back in two weeks. This was a slight

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POW Life: 1942 - 1945

understatement as it was not until December that I saw them again. Other large parties

went into the City on 11 March and 5 May. These three were known as the "Great

World" Thomson Road and River Valley Road Work Parties. As I said their man job

was cleaning up the debris but this word "debris" had a rather special meaning in that

it include loading onto Japan bound ships all material which could help their war

effort and it included building a shrine to the IJA at Bukit Timah. I missed all these

parties as my tummy was continually playing up with a mild form of dysentery.

Thursday, 26 February 1942 was a date to be remembered as it was the last day of

issue of European rations and the first of RICE and other IJA delicacies. The meals

were lousy for a long time after the change over as the cooks did not get the hang of

cooking rice in large quantities; enough for seventy five to one hundred men; in one

container for some days. At first it was just a sticky mess.

The first Japanese issue was, theoretically, 482 grams Rice, 99 Vegetables, 19.7

Sugar, 50 Salt, 4.9 Oil for Cooking, 4.9 Tea, 20 Pepper, with twenty eight grams to

the ounce this gave us an intake of 2lb 6oz of food per day, if we were lucky enough

to have had the full issue delivered by the Nips. The normal AIF ration added up to

5lb 7ozs. This first Nip ration remained in force until October 1942 and after that

there were ten main changes in the rice and vegetable ration. All meals for the Unit

were prepared in a central kitchen and then split up into Company lots. At first there

were many complaints of unequal distribution and also of withholding a portion of the

daily issue, the officers were getting more than the men. Most of the trouble stemmed

from the reinforcements and it took a little time to convince them that there were no

malpractices in the catering department with Bert Kemp running things. I still reckon

he was the only honest Quarter Master in the Army.

At the end of February, all POW paraded for the first of the "Humiliation Parades".

On these occasions all the men turned out for inspection by some high ranking officer.

The easiest formation to adopt was in file facing inwards along the main road through

the camp. We got all spruced up and then set off for our position which, for this first

parade, was down the hill towards Roberts Barracks. Here we stood or sat in the

boiling sun for more than two hours until His Nibs drove past in a car followed by a

Selarang Changi

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