Diary of Arthur Seaforth Blackburn, April 1942 - November 1944, Part 25 of 26

1944 Sept 15. This afternoon a large number of officers were turned out to work, cutting raking up grass around the outside 
of the camp.  After they had been out there for some considerable time - 2 hrs or so - the sentry approached 
a group of them who were resting for a moment or two & spoke to them indicating that they were not 
working hard enough.  It was a very hot day. This group were not brought in from work 
until after 1730 hrs & before being dismissed from the parade ground four officers, Din Major 
Dinwiddie, Major. Howe, I.A.K, Capt. Cumper, J.E & Capt Fraser H. L (Aus) were ordered to fall out. The Interpreter 
(Yamanaka) was then sent for & told the four that the sentry accused them of loafing on the job. They 
denied that they had been loafing. The Interpreter then beat them up - all of them - with a bamboo pole 
& with his fist. The medical corp. (Grumpy!) then took his turn & beat them all up severely with his 
fists, knocking two of them down & kicking them whilst they were on the ground. The sentry concerned 
was then call over & he proceeded to beat them all up. When he got to Fraser - who has been sick & had 
attended sick call & received treatment this morning - he struck him so hard that Fraser was 
knocked completely off his feet & his head struck hard again some concrete causing a severe 
gash. Proceedings were then stopped & the four officers were ordered to return to their quarters, the 
one who had only so far been beaten up twice (Maj.Howe) being ordered to report next morning at 0800 
hrs to receive his third beating up. On return to quarters all the officers concerned had to receive 
medical treatment for cuts etc caused by the blows. Shortly after arrival at his quarters, Fraser 
collapsed & had to be carried across to hospital on a stretcher. He was admitted to hospital 
with suspected concussion. Early next morning 16 Sept. The nipponese authorities found that he 
had been admitted to hospital & ordered that he be at once turned out of the hospital. He 
was unable to walk & had to be carried on a stretcher to his quarters.  All this was with 
the full knowledge of the Camp Comdt - in fact a protest lodged with him on the morning  
of 16 Sept met with no satisfaction whatever. Arthur S Blackburn Brig.

1944 
Sept 19 
Contd balance (if any) shall be distributed upon payment therefore 
to the Administrative Staff. General policing outside all 
morning & internal policing in afternoon. We have 
had a few earthquakes shocks again lately, yesterday 
having two quite good ones. Ratcliffe was released 
from the cells today - he was awarded three days in the 
cells because he was caught in the enlisted men's hut 
where he had gone to speak to one of them. He was 
made to stand at attention in his cell for 5 hours 
one day & to sit at attention for 3 hrs on another  
occasion - sitting on the floor of course. Got a bottle 
of milk today. 
20. Roll call last night at 0200 hrs. All squads turned 
out for policing this morning & a number turned out 
for policing outside the camp this afternoon.  
Weather still keeping pleasant with cool nights. 
21. Inspection today by a 2/Lieut from medical staff.  
He passed rapidly through one end of our hut 
& that was all we saw of him, clear cool 
day but rather close night. Am developing 
another boil. 
22. Inspection still continuing but we have seen 
no more of the Inspecting Officer. A number of 
officers had their names taken today for 
various offences. Brig. Challon for talking to  
an man officer out of another squad when both 
of them happened to be taking their exercise at the  
same time out on the exercise ground. It will be 
interesting to see if there are any developements. 
23. Very hot sultry night last night. I was foolish 
enough to read for about 1/2 hr longer then my  
allotted span of 1 hr yesterday & so developed a 
violent headache & pain in my eyes which 
kept me awake until after midnight. Just 
before roll call last night an announcement 
was made that cards,  games, music etc would 
be permitted all day today. Last night after 
roll call one of the Dutch officers, Posthumous, 
felt a bit unwell & lay down on his bed. 
When they went to him shortly afterwards they 
found that he was dead! Very dull heavy  
day with light rain in the late afternoon. 
308 24. Sunday. Usual Services. Hot day but nice night.
Heavy rain in afternoon. 
25. Weighed today. 50.6 an increase of .6 kilos. Big 
load of syrup etc came in today. Another pleasant day  
with bright, hot sun but cool breeze. 
26 Hot day. Roll call last night at 0230 hrs. New 
number tickets for us to wear issued today. All reference 
to rank etc is eliminated & the new ticket 
simply has our P.O.W. number on it. 
27 Hot day. Quite uneventful. Food seems to 
be a little better lately. 
28 Roll call last night at 0345 hrs. Hot  
sultry night. Case of typhoid has occurred 
in the camp & precautions are being taken

1944 
Sept 29. Two more suspected typhoid cases. Hope we 
are not in for an epidemic. Sugar was issued 
yesterday but shortage of smokes is becoming 
very acute most of the the camp being entirely  
without cigarettes or tobacco. Cooler night 
last night. 
30. This morning three squads, 9, 10 & 12 were isolated - taken off 
all duties - so far as enlisted men were concerned, their huts 
roped off & not allowed to come outside the ropes for any 
purpose whatever. Have developed an abcess on the right 
leg, on the calf, which is pretty painful & troublesome. Water 
shortage is threatened again & we are urged to be extremely 
careful of the water we use. 
At 1400 hrs orders were issued that all American,  
Dutch & Australian office Generals & Brigs. would 
move tomorrow, carrying with them a total of 
10 kilos. of luggage & rest would be packed & 
forwarded on in due course - destination 
unknown.

PR00014

Sunday 1944 Oct 1. Left Shiri Kanwa at 1230 hrs, carrying hand baggage 
limited to 10 kilos, in weight, rest of our baggage being 
packed & ready for dispatch subsequently. Driven by 
lorry to Kagi railway station. Entrained at 1400 hrs 
& arrived at Haito at 1800 hrs. Transferred to a small 
narrow guage "sugar" train & arrived at Haito camp 
at 1900 hrs. Put into a hut which was roped off to 
isolate us & ordered not to communicate in any way 
with any prisoners in the camp. Good meal served to 
us immediately on arrival. Soup with meat in it & 
ample rice. Slept on raised board platform with 
3 blankets each. No facility for latrine except three 
open buckets standing outside the door of the huts. 
No washing arrangements except some buckets of water. 
Monday Oct 2. Reveille at 0600. Roll call at 0610 followed by 
breakfast immediately. Ample soup & rice. Working 
parties from camp were paraded & taken out as 
soon as their breakfast was finished. at 0730 hrs  
we were paraded & lead to a running stream 
alongside camp & allowed to strip off & have a 
good wash etc. At 0830 hrs we were again 
paraded & Camp Comdt led us out for an 
exercise march of about 1 mile. We then halted 
& did 5 mins physical exercises. We were then 
marched back nearly to camp to a sugar cane 
field which had been cut & ploughed & were 
given “chunkles” & ordered to dig up & cart away 
all sugar cane roots, big stones etc. We continued 
on this work (with 10 mins smokeoh in every hour) 
until 1135. marched back to camp to midday meal. 
Soup & rice. at 1400 hrs we were again paraded 
& taken to same field to continue work. at 1500 hrs 
work was stopped & we were led to a swimming 
pool - deep enough to swim - & given another bath & 
then returned to camp. Soon after we arrived 
back Camp Comdt. & conducting officer came to our 
hut to enquire what warm clothing we had with 
us. We explained that we had practically none 
having been limited to 10 kilos. A discussion took place 
about this & finally he went away to return some time 
later with the information that the next party from 
Shiri Kawa would arrive tomorrow night & that our

heavy baggage would be brought on with them, that we  
could then repack taking 30 kilos with us,  that we must  
pack all the heavy clothing we possessed (up to 30 kilos) 
& that we would all be leaving the next day (Wednesday) 
Tuesday 3^rd Oct. Taken for a bath in stream at 0730 & at 
0830 taken out to a ploughed field & set to work 
picking up stones until 1115. In evening 18 -  
15 officers from no 2 squad & 3 O.R's arrived - also 
our heavy baggage. Repacked in our hut taking 
all warm clothing. In afternoon were told we 
would be travelling by aeroplane. In evening  
were told we must get up at 0500 hrs & leave 
at 0600 hrs. By time all packing  etc finished it 
was nearly midnight. Assured that our 
heavy baggage would come on after us.  
General impression of Haito camp is that food 
is ample - meat in soup 2 out of the three days 
we were there. Work is pretty hard & men seem 
to be a bit harassed. 
Wed - 4 Oct. Reveille 0500 moved off at 0600 &  
travelled by "sugar" train to aerodrome at 
Haito. There divided into six parties, my party, Sharp 
Stevens, [[?Neil], De Fromery, Callaghan, seef & Beeton &  
put into very comfortable 'planes. Well cushioned 
seats along side with ample room for luggage. 
Took off at 0900 hrs & landed in the Southern Island 
of Japan (I think!) at 1400 hrs. Treatment throughout 
trip was excellent & arrangements etc very efficient 
Immediately on landing were rushed in buses to 
a hotel where an excellent meal - the best