Papers relating to the service of Cyril John Watson, 1941-1945 - Part 3

22 AUG. (Wed.) – N.S Davidsons birthday. What    
farcical circumstances. Very plain rations
Oedema prevalent thru camp. Some badly,
almost everyone showing some signs.
0730 -  Fried rice & greens. General clean up.
1130 – Corn kedgeree, greens.
1 pl. over & round for ½ hr very high.
Must keep in. Q.M. promises clothing,
blankets, shoes &c. Rice & little extra food
Expectancy terrific. Why delay? I.J.A.
issue 3lb sulphur & lime. Goodbye
scabbies! Wood running out again 1 day short
1530 – Rice & Veg. stew. Wash & clean up.
13 k. dry fish, 6 k. whitebait in. 1830 - corn
bun & cup tea. J Crozier messes with us
M.B. gives during meal, details of interview
with Col Suga. War finished, but C-C-C
South area awaiting results Manilla conf
Will protect in from soldiers. Ration
position very difficult. Assure him that
“we will play.” 1930 - fish nasi, sav. veg.
greens. Pound down bony belachan
during day for G. Forbes. First night for
year or so, that I go thru’ night without
covering M.B. 2 i/c [[?]] 3 i/c Maj. Johnson.
17 AUG. (Fri.) - Big [[?]] day. Early fish
kedgeree (2½ issues knocked) followed by
six meals. No external action. Still
having tenko &c I.J.A supposed to know
of position, but I think most do.
Yesterday - issue of good native rice
unpolished. Beautiful. My ginger &
pepper comes good. Helps many with
meals. Get much belachan & oil. Few
peanuts.

18 AUG. (Sat.) – Few rations in. Turtles
eggs, 4lb tapi. 1430 – Wood party for all
fit. Issue rubber shoes and clogs.
About 1500 - news re Jim Flett. Very sad
but — ?! General party about 1730 hrs.
Meals very big and stoppers. Still
getting nearly double rations down.
 

19 Aug. (Sun) - Communion. Corn porridge.
Officers take over all O.R's duties for 36 hrs.
[[Sawing?]] wood &c. Boiled Tapi, rice, greens,
1400 - several types planes over. A.R. alarm,
flying boat & twin eng. jobs dive over
camp. Pamphlets dropped. Can see even
in pl wave. They must notice no [[?]]
Situation ridiculous. 1600 - turtle egg
rice, baked binjal. 1730 - fish nasi, sav. veg,
greens. Eating about 2 meal rations with
all sick fellows around, plus oil &
belachan. Can feel the flesh going on.
Stomach seems to be standing well.
W.P. i/c cooks cannot eat tea. Worked
to standstill. McIver doover special.
Meals too late for concert.
20 AUG. (Mon.) - Officers still in
kitchen & batting. What confusion.
Wood situation under control. Ten weeks
of suspense & uncertainty, food to be
cut a bit, later back to seven day
policy on strength of pamph. Many
explosions at odd intervals during
day and night. No IJ rations
Running out of flavorings, protein, &c.
Sugar & flour promised but not in sight
Effect of delay very trying on many
nerves, who take it out on others.
Meals becoming more plain, but garden
is being raped for flavorings. A.R. alarm
in morn. for few mins. I.J. produce
sulphur & [[cocnut?]]  oil in morn.
21 AUG. (Tues.) - Tenko tea, 0730 - corn porridge,
Flem wants clothes. L Sharks bring $45.
R Robin i/c kitchen. C.O. wants smartening
up. Cleaning gear &c. 1130 - brinjal
nasi & greens: Writing, clean mess
gear as we are still batting. 1530 - Corn
kedgeree, greens, Tong, clean up. 1830 - 
Fried kedgeree, corn, greens. 2100 - Cup of tea
Beautiful moonlit night. What a farce
this place is now? A.I.F. on the way.
Here shortly (?) At least ½ issue
again, I receive, & treat accordingly.
Have to arise about 3 or 4 times during
the night. Physical reaction of diet
over system, very noticeable.
 

26 AUG (contd) - 1700 - whitebait nasi
& greens. Makes mouth sore, but do
over nearly two issues. Concert on bit
singing. 2100 - Sweet bun & tea.
Everyone expectant. Issue 5 pkts. cigs
27 AUG. (Mon.) Offs. take over kitchen
for 24 hrs. 0730 - corn porridge with
oil. Oil available $40 p. bottle. Order $10.
Issues roll in during day. Another 5 pkt cigs.
1 cake pink soap, ½k. peanuts, 3 large
sheets white paper. 29k. dry beans, pig,
curry, pepper, coffee, 60k peanuts. Medical
doses, Vitamin pills, milk. Legs swollen.
Oedema pde. 42 on, and many not there.
1130 - fried rice & greens. I lace with belachan
powder. Then start on pig. Better job.
1500 - planes over again very low. Finish
evening meal, then hot shower. Planes over
for long time, Blue [[rung?]] before they clear.
1545 - peanut nasi, greens. Legs very swollen.
1915 - Save biscuits. Pork & bean saute,
rice, biscuits. 2100 - Fried whitebait rissole.
Mouth sore again. Vitamin tablet seems O.K.
Swelling's down. W.P. rooted from day in
kitchen again. Burnt [[?]] [[?]]
23 AUG. (Thurs.) Tenko 0720. Tea. 0730 -
Rice & greens. W.P. & I batting. Clean up
Read. 1130 - corn rice & greens. Air raid
alarm rung during meal. Nothing happens
C.O. to [[red?}} again. M.B. deputy C.O.
Maj.Johnson 2 i/c (nose job.). Sleep & read
1530 - rubber cup rice, boiled cucumber,
corn sauce. Reading "Cėsar Ritz". Tong.
1830 -  fish nasi, greens. Talk & walk.
2100 - corn bun & cup tea. 2200 - Lights out
Hope rations tomorrow. Poor day. Garden
has lacing.
24 AUG. (Fri.) - 0730 - Cor & greens Corn
porridge (becoming (?) very forgetful).
Go thro' J. Flett's gear. Watches missing.
Personal effects retained, rest distributed
Food containers to W.P. & I. Issue sugar,
salt, corn, (4 bags each) 2 spam tins.
rubber cup salt. 1130 - plain rice & greens
Pack sugar, salt & fry fish. 1530 - Fish
nasi & greens. Rice party: 15 days supply
1730 - Col. Suga addresses pde of English
speaking P.O.W's. Peace coming. Hiroshima
City & Nagasaki devestated with
 

atomic bombs. Aug 15: Emperors [[?]]
ordering laying down of arms. Some
generals of field armies are bellicose, &
talk of changing nationality.
We will be perfectly protected. Russia
has declared war on Japan & intered
Mandukuo, despite treaty. J have
accepted terms Potsdam conference.
Keep up morale, particularly of sick
comrades. Will feed, clothe & cure us.
1900 - Col. Suga reads pamphlet dropped.
from G.H.Q. Brit. Born. - signed by Gen
Wootten, comd 9 A.I.F. Div.
1915 - Corn nasi, sav. veg, greens.
2100 - Corn bun & tea.
25 AUG. (Sat.) Window dressing begins
Off's beds back from hosp. Iron beds,
wicker furniture issued. Some
boots & clothing comes in.
C.O. off duty. M.B. deputy. Wood rake up.
Wood party in afternoon. Very hard
job, long carry. Late afternoon meal.
Dinner by lamplight (Gasolene job.)
Perc. W messes with us. Have signs of
Oedema but so has everyone.
Shirts, mosqie. nets to executives.
Newspaper issue 4 sheets.
26 AUG. (Sun.)  Fay's birthday. Hoped to
be able send greetings. Local service.
0820 - porridge. W.P. & I serve & I wash
up. More clothes coming in. Boots
sand shoes, singlets, jocks, [[?]]
towel, sheeting, issued thro' day.
1200 - Brinjal rice & greens. 1300 - At
least 5 planes over & round. Alarm
rung & into huts. 4 small fast seven
eng. (NONA jobs) & 1 big green 2 eng (X)
drop pamphlets. Rumor - [[?]]
tomorrow. Beautiful show. Sawing work
Issue 5 gals. oil, 124k peanuts, tea.
Deferred pay to come to us. Our army
[[Sand?]] $10000. Kuch $200,594. Aust Red +
$7000, to hosp. 1600 - shapate & greens
sweet corn nasi (AI meal.)
Blankets for exchange

31 AUG (Thurs) - 0730 - Corn & rice porridge
then clean up pile. Issue ½ pkt Capstan,
 ¼ tin State Express [[?]] butter bread
[[?]] - planes over again. Big Douglas drops
more food & clothing. 1130 - Salmon & rice,
bread and butter [[?]]) & plain jam. It
is beautiful. (Still)

thar eleany nt pate dae tpl othe
t ti that axure the sixpe bread.
planes mer ape by doglos dap
note toobe clothing. a Selmr r
hen and buther frousza plen jan
buantiful till
mark Gpewan Batical & other
setiers) 006 guta wtaka (black
ket) inues & to his each (
eve Do expetion tamp ow completed
m land stap nbbling peut
ll denned goods it Butder, Langae
sibbit exred harts, arpriagus, tith
lowe bread Read Hourho Neekly
ity Kmaus Musot 1830W2
collect seal ead san pinapple
H. Renerett Ato hagp My Eady math
out to husting tp
 

sell excrsions dm
(ur)
sght. Many people need Denpetion
whichly bey steppy night but wout
e sign of utes awakening. Be
n the etang Pie & te
1730 - bo Ruelge Wark fur clothes
sucation com mt Ague Eeguest
aw paper is available work car be doy
1100 - 1d & a ug pt over Dis it t
120 Pork & peahex sase. A wauty
tavy busy suahing note bath takeng
Snterday COS8 bing in Dearly
1 suillives dollars. £34 purhing
can] 10 died ue & quch
lood tbuco, & more bags plan
day firts [ B) Sorth purer sed
7th - meet peannt nen, no wee
greenre. (sill doing double somes Ba
sharts, sant shallin tocks chanrel for
bager 1o6 2115 Bu went & Ta
Ld s ou light out
letm pill a dent thi mith in
Batin cat as present
 

Rve (hed] tey good wah
28 A () i 0p0 bow prudge
ary not ship there until swells
Expesancy- was ag terclued
so did we cupat w
yesterday 1000- 2 Beanfightys(over
100 places over for shart sum
Thear selver jobs & finally beg Hangar
agqarently menger pamplled dd ps pchut containen set ou
Ek permits, mued, b
sey greasing book and watch the
Hack Thrannes Sllet Aagay, 14
fur Have srted long sine for this
Beewers Spa pawder, Harel &it sab
1130 - Reame ne & peens. Ihepnt
dd 1100- Pan nre greas
begin dusting in by drapped diticter
shell pant Diners our bustirious
1200 thld shipping party autuide one
position 1000 places over, which
will 4 teas dawned & brought in
refms gaff. 1520- brugal ware
quik sime
bollecting & soting inplination&
goo Iid sue, saked firh, greens
seid busanc pithr
signets put hip to ox the dropping
S food Nelero rets drapped &I
Der. Articles taher in searches
now available Papers & books
open at office for enpection.
 

15 hgfar a wadit
2r Kluris buttre
ttwell nd and mues and another uncersone pasied Het noter
lday eachp early, but repai
action nove m note thin
pir in chest. Hond prty, I shel &luta bis
Hinking Ony diting love of the AR 50
quetes very considerably when aboishs
thatti L Euen, WD &be back per
tht all nt in picture h
boorted. Honble day, aftenoor Sea
tay &Pe Alistas nonl, Spe, Enge
A an iovnent lit i afteron
8 D ( shaping by dug pt nos
C0 10 called but Po three dead
drages effect of doubt & uncertainly
(&) about 1700 & rey patsees bex & sod
Beautiful stry y/4 left new ou stage
by Bot) pitents i ver Canndtl
o en with Sug ( camp) ton
G So & Abebe n with uo ptahis
tack wel engar & reamts i morns
iubsunded & vy n Treemeence o
not available in evening t hbett nigh
t Ave (us) Aithing happenned yt
lad naw, sor purty preens, coffer
Temeral of to eae su at a tine
seceas of aca since 67 pesent is
9 Dg. (h) still inperatend wan
terible But planes over about 1400 420
a bast &207 pl sao, wao nae
5 2 relepus seaflets
and what a sight At are behind the simes
firing 604 dy fish arrive le Shop
teen se day firt about 107) B fron
wor late in ateis, beals are
R. Henlett Ees Rtis sundful pepes. Hade
ps, even body joynes but inpatied
sart to bog Rawques is supper te
Haly still ill Datide on late meal o
i se again gives be sinuble It hs
fort hudge, NP, RR, F5, DT& self to
pair Paut L Ky Eg tonsond
cock Bstat out when L.J.A intelvene
Conterv Regs. Aetie by cook, pe
a work Istalemak. key funy new
say to supper, but wooks have seffet
 

tuck up tol boud the suld
to Oe B D Ldy St
dea, chat there to bet AA1) E0 ly
ele before tfeet It goes to hrep Give
pector tee with Ct. Luga And ship suck.
he dacks & putture Ingettig A.C0. 20
many alarms & i nous 415 wiw ag
12 Rog Cln A and alons for wth
1700 6 ag eng Job N8& I
les tt (halb a) & shill une te
Lyre o pwhich prueded getting laving
detucted for pig kell tonnin bat fo daye
very shall oot veg sahon HG Nohce
1 D () that paily they gord inb
tatler eaal, b prints auge help
ing party at Mndday. Inteappted by
oauther alone only linent soap noue
&eg perous food chatly to se
Cala in camp on everase Stina
you party Renander mary he at Crannes
tnh e again 8760 prount coull to 746
wl has god luck with sut &c. Me wt
1o my Kliny tet moeer Shepery hines
A Baher S A.T.M. A pawlett has sexe ofter
legnewes 200 864 pbby N & ti
Af100AR 1pl 1500- & her eng do dee
lights unt landle areful
thunk thro liled t dragling a ketake mure
guens some & cahes Aabuth sgp, were in
o2 Aig (hut lan parilse, they sant reserve sarto sating 6o t plaints
pnts 10 arany pt b C0
Pat & pamd usse yas, bared chebae have
eages u at fensch &G. Libret avry
sll by andesting we reprist
glas piad) deepy afternous, w bate
suews with ine Ranilt wase, bene
s bat in pack o the he
 

t tal chap rood tha up pte
7 1 6 & diss very soae after Pute
20R Estactar in 40 p
(Eopth) father bent day Rle psc
1655-1 pt over sail puud Oeceve s
Qunecal parly 1645 46 40 th Hefperil
with pant 124/0 pe 16) 12/13 A. Cilachan
su ex hutches. Nev from Col. Legal siil
small ter £1.50, Take wue 454 augas
kelled i action Dut p died
54 allg Hou, 94 coftee, encel for
days ago, B Dord Por Regert for
Ang 15. sall ofsettle peanltts agg bdy
polec XC7 Estausting due a Corito
ushing cut off ga plachan y
step righ tre ad
Obsire colgate Lubl 1750 sok 7sone
L.T. Beoes (o ias sexp) up farer that t
5A u General mires 0 bdy
lai an raftle. He Two ware
can paidge; pck beaus, ext ngar
seather in hut charge. AAalaion
sced, siing: tuct- piece bolled h
distant doving olly T.F. will fl
blechan wuse, he bryal, green, 48
Ds very weept pents ych returtide
1220 ho th & ssh plaunts, aernoo
tear sank & seeae lep Ea-speanet
28 S1 Lat) Raining thas wand with cot
has, gue beav, greens, bu, coffee
AR alrn 1pl 14 1tt& cold
Ronell o mess A.8 1400 b
chilledg ae te
2000 andted peaitaugs ay ont
i whik shils &74 Authday
00 ushes few remarks. yu packes Camts
6 A0G (m) Hord parly cancelled 64
to hap in afteroons Enganises & mew Iuhs 29 D (du to revise Rd. Bpd Clowsparric
ewaythere Als 160, 1230,400 wall
12201p tire, the sick chillied seas
e sdsec Hedical Board AD
Anker, lumb - (Be duk, greens, ond same
Glenson at lner warting peaunts at
srt sftle tiles; a
reainets sugal deligtful tus io sgces
, on g, gren blachan
rtems his la peosngs remaite on
kes seg
& lyp Aed & char on pde
graed
sko
 

Hond party off till Qus. HaA. lang seept
10 Mplen Kenr
from that head h salious sue w parly 10
sack & chap. R. Rich back as tul Coust Garden suffering
had survidable lack of attention, but still very god
Cunapland chittler oca did Arels black betarhal in take
21 2 pa)- frue day, N08 h. D.C. tatling tapein, 1000 h
other with reavy s lang poties hh rouigh, whe ware
Enup
Rico party latte, 400 (1727 k pilled tishy the gellling
suth checked. O Advered gold filling right uppes, pridental yo
Sis
Cl Hhict re C0
Aveuor 2 1915 (Feduerday
tend con sice alas to uued 10801400
1530 tuleu lig over My sations. Rutles exp rugat
5 K. tuin to tes Very rtecting evening oute
dnstening Cantees 104 day whitbals $20 174 pluan 825
2phlwich sack&
2 A9 (the ] Duiggling tey guet day. Ho D. R. tk tack
tetach al St Boded wad in use. Thoughts backto
ceripes, house places, business so reling bit sucd, cast
settle dowes or sead Murt net. Hugh on late Steck 88R.
Cat 5 t6 snt of cmp at becack I Edd night
Pr) Hhat cold agries daw ou back, 1s a
as 14 prov Lusheas fusco of finance with peounts
(516 p. 4) and belonhon (&25 7Cobers, Raise ₤52 08
Arder D4 beloch; $13 peants Rannt in 22004 6413 p 4
F.F. coughing badly of night by Cabell indeevieus tol
Suga Euope tinlahed is snuel tlart tthe in
are & latunn taken by Am. Kaching out of