Diary of Arthur Seaforth Blackburn, April 1942 - November 1944, Part 8 of 26

Flitton (ex Signals) was brought to camp by Jap 
authorities. He had been in the jungle from 10/3/42
to 11/6/42 & had then handed given himself up
to the Japs. He has been in the custody of the 
Military Police ever since. After taking all 
particulars etc, Camp Comdt handed him over to 
us. I only only just had time to tell him where
to report etc & he had just been allotted to a
hut when he was told to report back to camp
H.Q. Camp Cmdt then explained that orders had
been received that he was to go to another camp.
25.11.42 My 50^th birthday! With permission of Lt Sone, I gave a
sherry party in the evening at which Gov. Gen, C in C & a
number of Senior Dutch & British officers from A Camp were
present, as well as all my own & American officers. It
was very successful. Sone brought along another 10
bottles of beer. During the evening he announced the 
lifting of all restrictions imposed on 23^rd & gave
permission for band to play immediately to provide
music for the party. It was a very pleasant
evening for us all. 
26.11.42 Quiet day. All restrictions imposed on 23^rd are
lifted except that no games during working hours.
Lt Sone declared this afternoon a "half-holiday"
& released the camp from work. Strong rumors
are current of a move soon & today another
return of clothing defisiencies was required
including such items as "topees", 'water proofs'
& "long boots". Americans had a Thanksgiving Day dinner 
& invited me to attend. Very enjoyable. 
27-11-42 Uneventful day. Continued working party around
camp all day. At 1215 Lt Sone called parade
& inspected new numbers. Very satisfied with
Australians & Americans. Very dissatisfied with
Dutch & native troops. Had long discussion
with A.V.M. as to breaches of Geneva convention.
28.11.42 Inspection by C in C postponed until 1-12-41.
Lt. Sone issued orders that every Wed. & Sunday
afternoon would be observed as a holiday
& no work done. Otherwise uneventful day 
29-11-42 Lt Sone informed me that he is so satisfied with the
work going on in camp that he has altered working
hours etc as from tomorrow. Future hours are 9.30 -
11.30 (½ hr rest) 3-5 (1/2 hr rest) & half holidays on
Tuesday Saturd & Sunday. Men may sleep from 1400
-1600 on half holidays, & games etc may be played.
In addition he has approved of 2 concerts per
week, Saturdays & Sundays. 
30-11-42 Large quantity of articles were sent in from
outside per Bishop of Batavia. The articles
included clothing, towels, books, games, leather
for boot repair, cloth of making & repairing clothes etc.
Great difficulty in making up nos. of a working
party tomorrow as sick men, men on camp duty
etc. have had to be sent out, including 10
batmen from A Compound. Lt Sone ordered
today that no card playing shall be permitted
until 1700 hrs daily 
1/12/42 Working party was cancelled at 0800 hrs.
Lt Sone altered day of one half holiday
from Tuesday till Wednesday. Arguments have
developed as to gift articles sent in by Dutch
people. Dutch officers desire to sell some
of the articles to whoever desires it but
I have refused to allow this to happen. 

but ordered that all articles be distributed free. 
Another difficulty has arisen over the repair shop (tailoring
& shoe-repairer). Dutch desire either a capital levy
upon officers + a charge for work done to build up a  
capital with which to buy cloth & shoe-leather
for ourselves. As an alternative they desire to do
tailoring work for the Japs at a profit & thus
get the necessary capital. I am strongly opposed
to all this as it is the duty of the Japs to
provide cloth & leather or alternatively to cloth
& fit us out. The feeling is a bit tense over
it all & friction is developing rather strongly. 
2-12.42 Dutch officers now request a greater control
in hospital but as staff is appointed by Lt Sone
I have told them this is nothing to do with me.
50 English novels from books which were sent
in a few days ago were handed over to us today.
Also 30 came in from Kolff's library.
3.12.42 Uneventful day. Conferences between ourselves & the
Dutch as to control of the hospital. I insisted that
under no circs am I prepared to allow any
interference with administration of hospital whilst
welcoming Dutch co-operation in treatment of patients. 
4-12.42 Preparation for Black-out commenced with a preliminary
test tonight. Result was very unsatisfactory to
Camp Comdt & he will inspect same again
tomorrow night. Dry, hot weather still
continues. 
5.12.42 Fixed all lights in camp preparatory to Black-out
tests. This morning we received the air raid
signals etc & full orders & were told it would 
continue from 5^th to 10^th. In evening air raid
warning sounded at about 1945. hrs. Guards
ordered us to put out all lights so we were
in darkness until about 2200 hrs. The 100 ducks
which I had ordered for men Xmas dinner arrived
today so as to enable us to fatten them a bit.
There has been a change round of the quarters of the
Jap. staff resulting in us getting back our old office.
6.12.42 Today at 1200 hrs Lt Sone sent for me & informed
me that at 1330 hrs the Comdt of all camps
(Maj Gen Shaito) would inspect the camp. I had
to rush on all meals etc & get everyone
working again by 1300 hrs. Inspection continued
until 1430 hrs & we thus missed our
Sunday half-holiday. At In the evening
a large supply of medicines & drugs came
in from the Japs & were handed over to
the hospital. It consists of practically the
whole of the order we put in 2 months
ago & is an excellent supply.
7-12.42 Roll call parade was called for 0115 hrs this
morning & we all had to get up out of bed.
Before we had reached the road the order was
cancelled & we were sent back to bed. Then 
at 0215 hrs we were again wakened up & this
time a roll call parade was held. Because
of the disturbed sleep we had had, Lt Sone
announced to me at 1300 hrs that all ranks
could sleep until 1500 hrs. 

8-12-42 Anniversary of Japan's entry into the war. All ranks
paraded on main camp road in the morning & observed
one minutes silence ½ min. for Nippon dead &
½ min for our own dead. It was then a whole day
holiday. I was invited to lunch with Lt Sone
& the Sgt. Very much enjoyed interesting talk. In
evening one of our men was punished by being
made to kneel for 30 mins & then taken to guard
house. 
9-12-42 Complained to Lt Sone about the punishment of the
man referred to above. He conducted full & 
searching enquiry & found that the man's story to me
was inaccurate. However he "corrected" his
guard & gave them instrcns which may result in
there being less danger of unjust punishment. 
10.12.42 At about 1600 hrs a major from the Nippon medical
staff visited the camp & was conducted around by
Lt Sone. Told hospital Drs to put in list of what they
required to combat dysentery trouble & he would
endeavour to get same. At about 1645 hrs Lt Sone
went through camp on his own & found a large
number of Ambonese lying & sitting down. He
hit them severely & then as he had seen a
lot of men in their huts in working hrs ordered
that all music & games sh must cease forth- 
with. Blackout lifted as from 1200 hrs today
11.12.42 Uneventful day. An Interpreter from Maj Gen
Shaito's staff came to our quarters this afternoon
& had a long yarn with us. He told us
amongst other things that the letters which we
wrote last month were not sent home by
the Japanese authorities but were used for
broadcasting to purposes. 
12.12.42 Lt Sone this morning restored games & music for 
A & B compounds but not for C. All officers of rank
of Brig & upwards were paraded before Lt Sone
at about 1330. He explained that Gen Ter Porten
the C.I.C. had written a letter direct to Maj 
Gen Shaito. This was in Lt Sone's opinion quite
out of order & must not occur again. Any
matter requiring adjustment must first be
submitted to him so that he could be given
the opportunity to adjust same. Tennis matches
started this afternoon. Dutch won 1^st match after
very close game (5-7, 6-3, 9-7)
13.12.42 Uneventful day. Japs informed us they will
make an issue of clothing on 15^th. Rumors that
big mail came in a day or two ago. 
14.12.42 I was interviewed by official from Broadcasting H.Q.
today & was informed that at Xmas a goodwill
broadcast will take place to Aust. & that it was
desired that a message should be read
out to the broad people of Australia from the
men here. It was explained that this
was not propaganda but on this occasion
we could send a message in whatever form
we liked (within reason).
15.12.42 Uneventful day. At about 1745 hrs we
were each issued with a printed form
made out for us to fill in with a
brief message home to our people. This
is evidently the beginning of the scheme
which Gen. Shaito said was coming into operation
by which we could regularly write home. 

16.12.42 Trouble occurred this morning over working parties.
An extra 40 men were called for at 0825 hrs & Sourabaya
group were directed to supply them. At 0845 they still
had not produced the men. Have tightened up their
administration considerably but in the meantime Nippon authorities
called muster parade & Sourabaya group were
penalised by having to work all afternoon in lieu of
having a half holiday. Lt Sone sent for me today & informed
me that he would permit such extra buying as we
desired for the men for Xmas including purchase of
liquor for them but controlled so that there could be no
drunkenness. Unfortunately no beer is available but we
are going to get light wine & gin & make a sort of
"hock cup" for the men. 
17.12.42 Uneventful day. Work proceeded as usual.
Called conference of canteen officers so as to try to
get uniform prices throughout camp.
18.12.42 Entirely uneventful day. Finalised arrangements
for Xmas day dinner etc. 
19.12.42 Uneventful day.
20.12.42 Moved the Ambonese troops out of Hut No 10 & into
Hut No 4 so as to make room for an officer's mess
for the Dutch & a canteen room for the troops.
Submitted the programme for Xmas day to the Camp
Comdt. Ban on games etc for C compound lifted
at last. 
21.12.42 Programme for Xmas Day approved. Camp Comdt
issued a song in Japanese for all troops & band etc
to learn to sing. Started work on clearing out
drain on boundary of camp so as to get stone &
gravel etc for work in camp.
22.12.42 First batch of Radio messages from Australia
arrived addressed to individuals with their full
address and names of former units. None for me but am hoping for better
luck tomorrow. 
23.12.42 Dropped my lower dentures when cleaning them this
morning & broke them in halves. Have applied to go out
to dentist to XXXX get them repaired as camp dentist
has no vulcanizing plant. Christmas order arrived.
Am giving each army & navy man 1 packet cigarettes
& 1 cake soap.
24.12.42 Taken out to outside Dentist by Lt Sone. Teeth repaired
by 7 at night when I was again taken out & had them
fitted. In morning after visit to dentist was taken
on to rooms of Committee of Contact who have prepared
a marvellous lot of gifts for the Prisoners. All
nationalities are represented on the Committee, Dutch, 
German etc & they were all the essence of kindness.
Their gifts are almost staggering in quantity, food-
stuffs, cigarettes, sweets, clothes, books, boots, hats
games etc in very large quantities. Two lorry loads
came into this camp. Later in the day the Indian
contractor gave me a Xmas present of a basket of
assorted goods, cigars, sweets, biscuits etc. Late 
in the afternoon we were warned that A Compound 
officers & Col Searle & myself were about to be moved.
Trouble occurred with outside working party which
resulted in them coming into camp at midday under
impression it was a half-holiday. The matter was
an absolute misunderstanding but Jap authorities
thought we had put it across them & directed same 
party to go out tomorrow. Unfortunately at 1800 hrs
we were warned to find a further 80 for
outside working tomorrow 

25-12-42 Christmas Day! It has been a terribly sad one
for all of us. Rose & the children have been in
my thoughts all day. We gave the men a 
present of a cake of soap & 30 cigarettes each & 
then gave them a wonderful dinner, soup,
sardine, rissoles, Roast duck, potatoes, mixed 
vegetables, fruit salad, Xmas pudding custard
a cigar each & half a pint of wine. Unfortunately
the day was spoilt by an intimation that
A compound officers & Searle & I are to leave for
some place outside this island in a few days
& most of the day seemed to be taken up with
medical examinations, inoculations etc. In the
evening we had a formal mess dinner at which
43 officers, English, Austs, Americans & Dutch
sat down. Lt Sone joined us after mess &
allowed us to continue until 0130 hrs.
26.12.42 Whole day was occupied with preparations for
departure. We are being allowed to take all our
luggage. The major in charge of our Prison camps
gave us a party in the afternoon & said farewell to
us.
27.12.42 Another day of waiting. In the evening the concert
party gave a special farewell performance for us & I
said goodbye to the men. It is terrible to leave
them like this but it can't be helped. I have
been overwhelmed with kind letters of farewell
from officers & men of all nationality.
28.12.42 We left camp at 0800 hrs - Gens & Brigs in motor 
cars & others in lorries. We drove to Priok & there
found we were travelling in a dreadful cargo
boat about 5000 tons. She has not got one 
single porthole & was already crowded with Jap
troops when we got to the wharf. We were 
medically examined & our luggage was disinfected
on the wharf. Gen Shaito came down & said
goodbye & gave us a present of cider, cigarettes &
cigars to be put on board & used on voyage. 
We were then marched on board & taken down
 a very narrow stairway to a hold two decks
down around the wall of this had been erected
 a shelf about 7ft wide & in the space left 
respectively between roof & shelf & shelf & floor we
had to crawl in semi-darkness & settle down.
The heat was unbelievable. There is no ventilation
except that the hatch is left open. We left 
about 12 midday. In the afternoon we were allowed
on deck for exercise & air for ½ hr. The only latrine
is up on deck, there is no shower & no arrangements
so far for washing. Our quarters are the same as
for the Jap troops except that most of them are one
deck above us.
29.12.42 - 1.121.43 On board. Conditions have made it impossible to
enter this daily. Jap W.O. in charge of us has done
all in his power to make us comfortable & has got us up
on board deck for a period each day. We arrived at 
Singapore this afternoon but are spending tonight on board.
2.1.43 Taken ashore this morning & driven in lorries to No 1 POW Camp
at Changi. There found Kennedy, Grahaham, Haynes & all the officers &
men who left in the second party together with all the Americans.
Leggitt is also in this camp. Camp is beautifully situated
looking out over Johore Strait. Men are allowed
absolute liberty within the camp except that they must