Diary of Arthur Seaforth Blackburn, April 1942 - November 1944, Part 2 of 26

[*16-5-42.*] New system of purchasing started today. One officer was

allowed to go out in a truck with a guard & buy things 

for officers only. So far Japs refuse to allow any 

further purchases for the men. Unpleasant incident 

in the morning when the officer in charge of the officer's mess 

of the Americans with whom 24 Aust. officers have been

messing until we can enlarge our cook-house paraded

before me & requested that Aust. officers mess elsewhere

as he "would rather the Aust. officers did not mess 

with them." On being asked the reason he stated that

the American officers had stores of extra foods of their

own & didn't want to share it with the Aust. I

pointed out that we have shared everything we have 

got with the Americans ever since we came into camp.

Col. Searle later assured me it was only this one 

objectionable officer (Lt. Stivers   ) but the it 

has left a nasty feeling. In the evening at 1020 hrs 

a sentry came into our compound & I, Col. Searle, Wing Comdr

Davis & Comdr Lowe were sitting talking. He came up & 

Spoke very rudely & ordered us all to salute him (I as 

Senior was the only one who had saluted up to then).

He then walked over to four officers playing bridge, 

fu  who all stood up at once & saluted. He picked up 

their cards, threw them away & then bayoneted a

fox-terrier puppy which has attached itself to us

& was lying down alongside them.

[*17-5-42.*] Attended H.C & Church parade. Col. Searle moved to 

quarters at the other end of camp with other U.S. officers 

Japs issued orders that everyman must wear a

badge which they will issue numbered

conseque  consecitively. Also issued long written orders 

for discipline of camp. Now transpires that

Lt. Hamilton was taken purely for interrogation 

purposes. Capt. Handayside has also been taken 

away for two days.

[*18-5-42.*] Very heavy rain practically all day. Gas fitters arrived 

& are fitting up separate kitchens for officers. This will 

considerably help cooking position which is acute. Expert 

reported that my gramophone can't be repaired here in camp.

Camp authorities produced ping-pong table for use of officers 

for 2 days. Bought a duck in the evening for 3 gulden which 

a working party had obtained.

[*19-5-42.*] At conference this morning, Japs told us they intend 

to provide boot repair material & cloth for repairs 

up 15-30% of total in camp. Also enquired as to amt.

of moneys held. In afternoon was taken out by 

Commandant in his car to get gramophone repaired. 

Managed to exchange broken one for another. In 

evening had supper of stewed duck. Best meal 

since arrival in this camp. Have dreamt of darling 

Wody every night for a week & she seems to be 

constantly in my thoughts. Hope nothing has happened 

to her but feel very worried.

[*20-5-42.*] Vegetable seeds arrived this morning. Buying party 

managed to get 3 eggs per officer. Japs still refuse to 

allow us to buy for the men.

[*21-5-42.*] Had to spend ¼ hr sitting to attention in the Guard room 

this morning because I walked out of the Commandants 

office onto the road smoking. At the end of the 1/4 hr was sent 

away with a warning not to do it again. Uneventful 

day otherwise.

[*22-5-42.*] Alteration of time table ordered as from tomorrow.

First roll call is to be at 0740 as Japs say men are 

not getting up at Reveille. Much movement

[*23-5-42.*] Big canteen order arrived today. Concert in the evening.

Just as it started lights fused & took over 1/2 hr to 

repair. Jap. staff & 2 majors from H.Q. attended. Good 

concert in view of very limited material, instruments etc 

available. Japs have at last agreed to allow the Dutch

R .C. Padre in Senior officers compound come out to us & conduct 

mass & one of our Protestant Padres to go into Senior compound 

& conduct a service. This starts tomorrow.

[*24-5-42*] Attended Church Parade at 1000 hrs. Order issued that we
must give a return showing the money held by each 

individual & also public monies on 1 June '42. A Flying 

Officer was taken away yesterday for interrogation. This makes

five officers - 4 of whom are still away. In the evening 

I slipped on a wet stone near the drinking tap & had

a heavy fall, severely gashing my right hand. New 

officers kitchen commenced today. Big improvement in food.
[*25-5-42.*] Lt Col Eadie allowed to go to Rathcamps to purchase for
hospital. Also to buy a Clarionet for the camp 

concert orchestra. In evening meeting held at officers 

mess. I urged all officers to put into a common 

fund all money held by them so that those with 

money could help those without any money & so 

improve general scale of food. Handed in to Japs 

this morning return showing serious deficiencies in
food issue to camp (copy in file), main shortages 53% 

shortage sugar, 63 % shortage vegetables, 16 % shortage 

salt. Urged immediate remedy of position. Informed 

that matter would be looked into. Another RAAF 

officer removed today for interrogation.
[*26-5-42.*] Uneventful day. I have decided on extreme re-organ-

ization of men in camp & officers duties. Have allotted 

all officers whose main units are not in camp to 

units for duty & ordered a daily parade of all ranks 

from 10.50 - 1200. This parade will be by units 

not by huts. Have also allotted certain areas to 

units for sanitation - not to huts. Capt Albrecht to
be Organizer of Working parties both in & out of 

camp. Lt. Lalor to be attached to camp office as 

Legal Officer & assistant to the Adjutant. In evening 

a meeting of the officers mess was held & it was 

decided that all officers should pool into a 

common fund all private monies held by them
in excess of 2 gulden & should also hand in to 

the mess all condensed milk & all jam & submit 

a list to committee of all other edibles held.
This should ensure better standard of food 

all round. Have decided to buy & issue one 

egg per man per week (for O.Rs) out of public 

monies held by me.
[*27-5-42.*] Applied for permission for American troops to hold 

a ceremony on their formation Memorial Day 

30 May 42 & to visit grave of Lt Ross. Granted.
Muster parade of all officers & men in camp at 

1500 hrs to check numbers & particulars. Japs are 

still removing officers for interrogation. There are
now six away including Lt Col Williams.
[*28-5-42.*] Orders to paint & exhibit sign outside each hut 

showing particulars of inmates (nos. etc) Ordered 

Crt. Martial of a man from No. 2 unit. Also Crt of 

Inquiry into allegations that officers have been 

selling articles obtained from officers mess to men 

at a profit. Procured two new towels after 

weeks of waiting. Soap position becoming acute

as Japs still don't issue any in spite of repeated 

requests. Am afraid I will have to use some of 

public funds in buying enough for a general issue.
[*29-5-42.*] Balance of Aust. officers joined in our mess today so that 

we now all mess together. Daily training parade 

started today. An American sailor attempted to escape 

& was caught & placed in solitary confinement. Dealt 

with an Australian sailor (Weetman) under powers 

delegated from Japs as Naval S.O. did not have power 

to punish him sufficiently.
[*30-5-42.*] American National Memorial Day Parade of all Americans in
morning at 10 a.m. Party then left for cemetery & placed crosses 

made by our men on graves of men from this camp who 

have died; Also Japanese columns which they have 

presented to us. Wreaths were then laid on graves of 

one American (Lt Ross) one Aust. (Pte Walker) & one 

British (Bomb. Daniels). I represented the Aust. Army in 

the ceremony. Upon my return to camp I found an 

Intelligence Officer from Jap H.Q waiting to interrogate 

me. As He questioned me here until 1300 hrs &

[*30-5-42*] then took me to his HQ. I was there locked in a cell 

about 6 X 6 feet. I was given lunch in the cell & 

then in the afternoon the interrogation continued. 

At about 1630 hrs they said they had finished
& took me back to camp. Fowls laid 2 eggs today.
[*31-5-42.*] Sunday. Attended church parade at 1000hrs. Was 

then sent for for some Jap. Intelligence officer & 

interrogated for another two hours. Concert in the 

evening. Obtained permission today to send clean 

clothes to officers who have been taken away for 

interrogation. Position over spectacles has become 

acute. Already I have a bill of over 400 gulden to meet 

& 75 more men have applied for glasses. Have 

been compelled to refuse some as I haven't the money.

[*1-6-42.*} At this evening's conference Camp Comdt. informed me that

it was possible that all the public monies held by us would 

be confiscated. I explained that we held no money belonging 

to the Govt but only a fund established by contributions of 

Officers for Welfare of Troops. I therefore amended our 

money return which had been lodged. This evening 

we had a meal without any rice, excellent salad & a hard 

boiled egg, followed by fruit salad.

[*2-6-42.*] Jap. Camp Commandant this morning handed me

45 questionaire forms asking very various questions 

as to the opinion we held of the Japanese Army, our 

treatment etc & informed me that 45 men would be 

allowed to broadcast personal messages to Australia. 

I took the forms away & carefully considered the position 

in view of the fact that we can send no letters to 

Aust & that (so far as I know) no list of our names 

had been sent to Australia. I finally decided that 

even these facts did not justify anyone in breaking 

Standing Orders & doing an act which would 

help enemy propaganda. I therefore issued an order 

which was read to all ranks on a muster parade 

forbidding any man from broadcasting. I made 

an exception to this to the a limited number of 

men from the "Perth". In view of the fact that 

so far as I can ascertain no knowledge of the 

fact that there are over 300 survivors from the Perth here

 in Java, I directed Lt Comdr. Lowe to select some 

officers & men to broadcast & send word of the 

fact of these survivors. This should prevent the 

stoppage of payment of allotments etc until the names 

of all prisoners reach Australia.

Held a meeting of representatives of all Unit in the 

afternoon & explained fully to them what monies 

I held & what arrangements I was trying to make 

re improvements in the men's messing.

[*3-6-42.*] Informed Jap Comdr this morning that very few men 

desired to broadcast & that it was against Aust. 

Army orders. This evening ^ at 1755 hrs. When I returned from my 

bath I was standing in my office with a towel around 

me when a Japanese Sentry sang out at me in a 

loud angry tone through the window, from the 

guardhouse. He spoke in Japanese & I could not under-

stand And made signals to him accordingly, (A few 

minutes previously, Lt Katugari had come to the guard 

house & found our prisoners & the guard all sitting at 

a table together smoking & had (from the sound of it) very 

severely reprimanded the guard). He thereupon seized 

his rifle & bayonet & rush out towards my quarters. 

He appeared so angry that I decided I had better 

get out in the open where there would be witnesses 

to what occurred. I therefore moved out onto 

the verandah. The Sentry met me there & immediately 

struck me with his full force on the jaw. He 

then seized hold of my arm & led me over to the 

detention room. He then made me pick up two 

dixies & led me down to the kitchen, through 500-600 

men who were lined up waiting to get their

[*ne*] meal & made me get the rice for the five prisoners. He then 

led me back to the detention room & made me 

personally feed the prisoners i.e, hand them their 

food. When this was done he sent me back to 

my quarters. I immediately put on some clothes & had

just finished doing so when another sentry came 

& got me & again took me across to the detention room 

and ordered me to get tea for the men in detention. 

After some considerable discussion I was allowed in 

this instance to detail an orderly to get some. In the 

meantime Capt Henry had managed to get word to 

Lt Katuguri that asking him to come to the camp, as he 

had left for his quarters. At about 1900 hrs I 

received orders to proceed to Camp H.Q. I did so & there 

put the circumstances before Lt Katuguri & lodged 

an emphatic protest. He assured me that he would 

conduct an enquiry & punish the Sentry concerned if 

he found him guilty. Col. Searle (U.S.A) also attended 

& lodged a protest against the incident.

[*4-6-42.*] I today received an apology for yesterdays incident & 

an intimation that the Sentry concerned had been 

punished. Regulations governing the conditions of 

detention in the Camp detention room have been 

published. These provide for men in detention not 

to be allowed out for exercise or for purposes of nature. 

A bucket will be provided for the latter purpose. 

We have requested that men be allowed out to 

the latrines & also for 1 hr. per day for exercise. This 

has been refused. Tonight an American Officer 

failed to salute the Japanese Guard House outside 

the Officers' compound. He was taken over to the 

Guard House & reprimanded. He then was allowed 

to proceed into the compound. A few minutes later, 

a Jap. Sentry (Jo) came into the compound after him 

to get his name. He got the name & was moving 

away when evidently some incident occurred as 

he suddenly turned back & slapped him in the 

face several times.

[*5-6-42.*] Was sent for by a Japanese Official - head of Broadcasting, 

as to refusal of all ranks to Broadcast to Australia. 

After a long argument in which I endeavoured to explain 

the position I was "ordered" to broadcast myself. 

I refused stating it was against the orders of my King. 

I was threatened with severe punishment but do not 

think they will do anything of the sort. The whole 

atmosphere of the camp has changed for some reason 

& everything is now absolutely tense & difficult. Tonight 

at about 8.30 a sudden parade was ordered by 

the guard. I was sitting playing bridge with Col Searle 

Comdr Lowe & Capt Parker. As I had no word of the 

parade, simply hearing the bugle call, I thought it 

did not apply to officers & was slow in falling in 

the officers on the parade. When the guard arrived 

to check us we were still not falling in. There 

was very nearly a "beating up" but the matter 

passed off with a reprimand. The Sentries generally 

are much more officious now than before. I was 

issued with an arm band to wear reading "Chief 

Commander" we are all now compelled to wear a 

small red tab with our P.O.W No. on it in Japanese 

& English. My P.O.W No. is 1.

[*6-6-42.*] This evening Lt K. sent for me at 2045 hrs & tried his hardest to

persuade me to broadcast to Aust. He was very sincere in 

his efforts & used every possible argument. Later he took me 

to his house to supper. The Americans staged a Nigger Minstrel

show this evening which was very well done & most entertaining.

[*7-6-42.*] Major Kinman returned today from interrogation after 11 days

absence. Usual church parades were held. Informed 

that our names are being broadcasted to Australia.

[*8-6-42.*] Definite Confirmation that our names are being broadcast

 to Australia. General inspection of the whole camp by 

Camp Staff today. General conditions very good.

[*9-6-42.*] At this morning's conference Camp Comdt informed me that

general condition of camp was excellent. Ascertained today 

that in broadcasting our names to Australia, it has been pre-

faced by statement that we did not fight, but left the fighting 

to be done by the Dutch & Indonesians! Otherwise no matter 

of interest today.

[10-6-42.*] Yesterday the Camp Commandant handed me a form 

which every man in camp was ordered to sign. Today 

I obtained a translation of the form (which was in 

Japanese) and found that it was an oath to be 

signed by every man swearing certain things, As 

to his conduct. One of them is "To absolutely obey the 

Japanese Army & not to resist it". I will explain 

tomorrow that we cannot sign this unless the words 

are added "except where contrary to my Oath of 

Allegiance to His Majesty the King." My fowls are 

laying very regularly at present & I get an average 

of 2 eggs per day.

[*11-6-42.*] P/O Smith was put in Solitary confinement today 

for refusing to answer questions. I obtained for him the 

right to be fed from the officers mess but could 

obtain nothing more. Had a magnificent dinner (of 

a big omlette & a crumbed pork cutlet) with Lt. K. 

[*12-6-42.*] Uneventful day. Confirmed O.C.M sentence on Pte. 

Moore but reduced punishment to 7 days in view of 

severity of conditions in detention room. Lt K. paid a 

social call on me late in evening. Jap. Authorities have 

issued me with a wireless matress bedstead instead 

of the hard wooden one which I previously had.

[*13-6-42.*] Limited issue of soap today - also hand towels 

for use in kitchens. Again stressed urgent need of issue 

of tea as that purchased by me is almost finished. Beyond 

that neither tea nor coffee is on Japanese scale for P.O.W 

but Camp Commandant is taking up with Japanese authorities 

the urgent need of adding it to the issue. Later in day 

received 1 days issue of tea. Bought 6 volley-balls for 

use of men.

[*14-6-42.*] Sunday. Usual Church parades. Dull cloudy day 

without any sun all day. Lent my gramophone to 

Americans to illustrate a musical lecture & they broke 

the Spring. Ration issue is still a long way below 

entitlements chief shortage being (for week ending today) 

sugar 660, salt 167, Vegetables 6169).

[*15-6-42.*] A "Meatless" day today. 3 more officers taken away 

for interrogation. Still no signs of the return of 

the officers taken away previously. One officer 

taken to Broadcasting station & told to broadcast. 

Refused to do so. Informed that names of American 

P.O.Ws. are being broadcast via Tokio. Handed in 

form referred to under date 10/6/12 signed by everyone 

except abo 1 off & about 2 men who refuse to sign.

[*16-6-42.*] No conference today for the 3^rd day in succession. Two 

men in detention (for disciplinary reasons) released today 

before expiration of their sentences owing to severity of 

their conditions. Still no tea issue regularly. Position 

becoming very serious.

[*17-6-42.*] At today's conference we were informed that as American,

British & Australian news is all unreliable & grossly 

exagerrating anti-Jap news whilst denying their own 

losses & Japanese news is always absolutely true, we 

must not listen in anymore to any radio except Jap. 

Also ordered to hand in all gas masks & Tin Hats. Tea 

position has become very acute, as no tea will be issued 

by the Japs. Today being anniversay of Merdjaoun 

Units, concerned had an impressive ceremony in which 

the roll of killed & missing was called. Fowls are 

laying so well that today I had a 3 egg omelette for 

breakfast.