Papers relating to the service of Cyril John Watson, 1941-1945 - Part 13

C.J.WATSON
VX39057,
LIEUTENANT,
4 A TX REGT.
A.I.F.
SANDEKAN.
BRITISH NORTH BORNEO
KUCHING
Cyril. J. Watson
 

JANUARY 1943
SUNDAY 10th
No work today. Kevin's birthday. The hot
air flies thick & fast in the morning.
[[Koch?]] orders Hobbies Exhibition again
& brings photos. Conference with [[Koch?]].
re Bashers at 'drome. "Things will be different".
[[?]] salad for tea.
MONDAY 11th.
Holiday for me today. Others to 'drome.
Saw dentist - teeth very good. Rain in
afternoon. No bashing at 'drome. Boys home
laden with fritters (8 each).
TUESDAY 12th
O.D.R. [[?]] & I out. Keith & Bell have day
off. Rain intermittently for most of day.
Work very sloppy. Camp far [[?]]
[[?]] fish for tea xx Heavy rain [[?]]
in for rest of night.
 

WEDNESDAY 13th.
Work cancelled this morn. Heavy rain.
In bed most of day. Sew hem on shorts.
Money nearly finished. Read "Goodbye
M^r Chips." Many boots mended today.
THURSDAY 14th.
More rain during night and so another
day in. Reading most of day. Reading
"Word from England."
FRIDAY 15th.
O.D.P. Rained in night. 'drome very sloppy.
Showers during day. Rains most of lunch
hour. Working at [[?]] end in mud
up to knees. Black boots jiggered at
last. Good slew of pork. Ted slapped
for singing after lights out.
SATURDAY 16th.
Rains during night & most of day. No work.
Reading "Way of Transgressor". No news.
JANUARY.
SUNDAY 17^th
O.D.P. Raining now & then. Have good boots.
K.G.M - Vern & I volunteer for tipping end in
[[?]], but have surprise on good line
Rain again for midday meal. Rain J. happy.
MONDAY 18th.
O.D.P. Pushing us to finish 25m strips.
Good teams on truck. Bill has big day
at market. Count [[?]] fetch [[?]] $20 Whacko.
TUESDAY 19th.
O.D.P. Not much bashing but keeping
us on our toes to finish strips. Bill
clinches deal.
WEDNESDAY 20th.
Keith & I have day off. Coffee & cigars for
all men on 'drome. Our day spoilt by
having to go agriculture because men
will not go out.
 

JANUARY
THURSDAY 21st.
O.D.P. Bill & Ken have day off. Everything
O.K. for them. Levelling on strips - easy
day. not worried by "The Bull & Co."
Another death in camp. Maj. Owen walking
again - very much improved. Wrangle over
how many fritters to purchase.
FRIDAY 22nd.
O.D.P. In gravel pit today. Good day,
easy work after clay &c. Alison [[?]]
birthday celebrated. Have sore throat.
Usual supper - Coffee & [[?]] & fritter
SATURDAY 23rd
O.D.P. All work parties in the 'drome today.
Gravel pit again. Cars from Sandakan
to meet 'plane, which does not arrive.
Speech by Hash. in camp & slaps man
re mosquito net. Evening meal
in camp again..
[[??]] operated on for appendicitis.
JANUARY.
SUNDAY 24th.
O.D.P. I put pick into Jim Miller's
hand. Rather nasty. Hear re X and
discuss it in evening. Plane expected
again but does not turn up.
B.P. [[?]] hit over head with [[?]]
handle. In hospital.
MONDAY 25th.
O.D.P. Truck flies down line from gravel pit
and busts shovels. Plane still does not
arrive. Talk over X in evening & decide on
active preparations.
TUESDAY 26th.
Holiday today. Wash clothes & rest. [[?]]
Maj. Owen walks over from hospital. Has
made excellent progress. Lauri Maddock
has [[???]] with Cpl. of guard.
 

JANUARY
WEDNESDAY 27th.
Clothes inspection by [[Hashijuma?]] & record
taken. Talks in our cubicle re homes,
Manchuria &c. Only wood parties to work.
Off. pay mentioned again. Bob Speirs & Ken
both approached re Z. Claude Pickford gives
instructions after lights out re discouraging
troops from "going thro''.
THURSDAY 28th.
Day off. Raining all morn. No work till
afternoon. Try making hooks.
FRIDAY 29th.
O.D.P. Gravel pit. Bill's party stood up. Laurie
gives us the [["nip?]]. [[?]] J cobbers have "shirker up."
SATURDAY 30th.
O.D.P. Gravel pit & trucks to ships. Bought boots.
SUNDAY 31st.
O.D.P. Rained all morning. Trucks in afternoon
for about 2 hrs. Keith in with [[?]] [[?]]
Commission. 2000 hrs. Rumour - that [[?]] (when
lights fail) [[?]] Bob & his [[?]].
FEBRUARY
MONDAY 1st. - Officers party up to 60.
O.D.P. N.C.O's supervising from today. Less
chance of day off now. 65 required as
opposed to the 56, Henry to work again.
Laurie Maddock's party has accident
with trucks - he has to slap the men
and is slapped himself. Raining intermittently
all day. Hash tells [[?]]
that money has arrived & he will make
statement. Accident on truck just
before we knock off. Glover hurt [[?]].
Rains all the way home & most of night
Keith has been out on wiring party.
We are to be wired off from [[Amer?]]
Boys have boiled sheets &c in morning
and all are still very wet.
TUESDAY 2nd. _ Raining in morning.
No work today. Keeps [[?]] all day.
[[?]] for pay given by Hashijima -
[[?]]    Maj   170 [?]]. CAPT 112-50  LIEUT 85
SAVE             70                      40                  10
B & L.             60                      60                  60
CASH              40                     22-50             15
We are to be [[?]] off & have own canteen.
[[??]] in evening by [[?]].
WEDNESDAY 3rd. — O.D.P. Quiet day, so we
call it - a holiday. Down on [[?]] again.
Laurie Maddock's birthday. Paid wages
last night, best yet. V.R. 3.85 K.M. 3.71
W.P. 3.76. C.W. 3.79. Jess Millner chiselling
piece of wood & the "chip" [[??]]
the [[?]]. making great strides with
astronomy &c.
 

FEBRUARY
THURSDAY 4th - O.D.P. Another type 'plane
at the 'drome leaves, Keith starts [[?]] off
[[?]] day trucking. Bashers very quiet.
Bill Rick in today. Gets pass made
Jonah xxx [[?]] if we [[?]] church.
Supper of tomatoes, [[Clams?]] and chips, coffee
See North Star (Polaris) tonight. Good night.
News round these parts seems at a standstill,
but other side seems to be moving well.
FRIDAY 5th. — O.D.P. Making new road onto
strip. Quite a good easy day. Jack Britz
gets slapped. W.P. not [[?]] good, has to lie down
[[Jonah?]] does us good. Sun becoming stronger
is beginning to make itself felt again.
First meeting of Canteen Committee with
hash & [[Mauritaka?]]. Want us to spend money.
SATURDAY 6th.— O.D.P. On clay line again.
Day warm, but work easy enough. [[?]]
rains have eased a bit. Hash takes
several snaps of work. First few sign for
pay or at least have thumbprints taken.
Bill obtains sheet of zinc. Have excellent
scale now for measuring angles.
SUNDAY 7th. — O.D.P. Raining early in morning.
No holiday today. No work for morning.
Put thumb prints on pay sheets. Have [[?]] done.
Work at 1200 hrs. Late out. Levelling both ends
of strip. Working at western end. Have [[??]]
MONDAY 8th. — O.D.P. Grubbing stumps &
from West. end of strip. W. [[?]] on Finance
Committee which has meeting.
FEBRUARY.
TUESDAY 9th. — O.D.P. Same work as yesterday.
Plane arrives with Staff Off. (Maj. Gen). Line [[?]]
and salute.
WEDNESDAY 10th — O.D.P. In gravel pit. J Gen
inspects drome. Bashing gang line us up
after work and leer at us. [[?]] around
but [[?]] is begun. [[?]] close. Only two
[[strands?]]. [[?]]
THURSDAY 11th — Rest day. Birthday of Empress.
Clean up in morn. Parade in afternoon [[?]]
[[?]] & salute. Then baskets of goods given
to diligent (3) workers. xx John Tai [[?]]
Laurie [[?]]. Laurie's [[?]] is no good.
Yak stew for bfast & tea & fruit issue for lunch.
Best stew for many a day. L.M. approached
re X. Favorably received.
FRIDAY 12th. — O.D.P. Vern has day off.
[[?]] enlargements of [[?]]. Grubbing
checkups, others excellent. Churchill gives 
speech re [[?]] policy & [[?]] finish [[?]]
[[?]] J to an unconditional surrender. [[?]]
[[?]] [[pistol?]] from [[lines?]]
SATURDAY 13th. — Day off with sore heel.
Making fish hooks most of day & then
doing more enlargements. [[?]] [[bombed?]]
[[?]] in Celebes. Getting near. Rumors
already begun on us going there.
SUNDAY 14th. — Sports to be held in
morn, but off on account rain. Off from
afternoon too. Reading about [[?]]. [[?]]
[[?]] in evening & we do physical
exercises to improve health. [[?]] Wallace
& [[?]] see [[????]]
 

FEBRUARY.
MONDAY 15th — Off duty with sore on ankle.
One year since Sing. capitulation. W.Ps
wedding anniversary. J. [[?]] birthday.
Doing enlargements all day. Sports at 'drome
in afternoon, & Rhy. exercises [[?]].
Bashers very [[?]]. Boys seem to enjoy day.
[[???]] middle of events. Late tea.
TUESDAY 16th. — Still sore ankle. Enlargements
Plane takes off & comes back again. Quiet day.
[[??]], complete check up. Wire
(2 strands) [[?]] around our buildings now
No sign of [[?]] yet. Issue of soap.
WEDNESDAY 17th — In camp still, working
on enlargements. Signed for another lot of [[clay?]]
Boys have good day on 'drome. Eggs for supper.
New [[fire?]] place is going very well, [[??]]
[[????]]
[[?very??]].
THURSDAY 18th. — Off work still. Quiet
day. [[?]] at night. Japs donate prizes
Men startled by offs in camp. John
Morrison very funny re Sgt Wallace & [[?]]
Says he wants to be [[??]]. P.T[[?]] smoking after lights out.
FRIDAY 19th. Still in. Going out to
'drome, until I get boots on. Ankle sore.
About midday, Darlington brought in
& put in cage. Horrible sight. [[?]] up
by Black [[?]] at 'drome. Tied up. xx
black Prince. Guard rather scared.
[[??]] came to Offs canteen.
Fruit & eggs. We get credit each month
out of pay. Lieuts - $5.00. Capts - $10.00.
Maj. - $15.00. Nave no say in matter
at all. [[?]] just orders it.
FEBRUARY.
SATURDAY 20TH. — Camp again. Making
hooks in morn. Guards change early.
More canteen stuff. Fresh fish. Clean 10lb
fish for cubicle. Boys in from 'drome
early. Two [[?]] away from party cause
check up & great panic. Guards looking
everywhere. All parties, [[?]] gear &
tools, brought into camp. Two men
caught later & brought in, kicked &c.
Grilled fish & pork stew for tea. No
rice.
SUNDAY 21st. — Work parties out today.
Reading &c. More fish, meat &c in canteen.
[[?]], Barracutta & [[?]] ones. Grilled
whiting, steak & eggs, & yak stew for tea.
Cigarettes &c. [[??]] as ROW. Gerard
[[???]] [[?]] Boxing & put up
$3.00 prizes. [[?]] Offs evidently divide and
split up. [[???]] Pity they
don't put energy into more necessary
[[phases?]] of out life. K.A. very sore  on [[??]].
Rains most of night.
MONDAY 22nd. — Not included on work
party. Rains most of day. Reading &c.
More Yak in canteen. Begin [[boiling?]]
after lunch but rain makes things
very hard. Stew for tea. Beautiful.
Finished reading "Lost Horizons." Canteen
had baby [[?]], pretty little things.
[[?]] quantity tobacco down I was [[??]]
 

FEBRUARY.
TUESDAY 23rd. — Rains in morn &
most of day. No 'drome parties. Resting &
reading "The Stars in their Courses."
Fish xx for tea. Canteen going very well.
Ordinary meals also improving. More meat.
WEDNESDAY 24th. — O.D.P. [[?]] by
Moritake before we leave. Gist - xx [[guards?]]
be good & play the game & salute the general.
Easy day at 'drome with few guards. Stump
pulling. Three planes arrive, [[seven?]] engine job
with General. [[Archway?]] at 'drome. Pork chop
& fresh fish for tea.Fish just "on the nose."
THURSDAY 25th — O.D.P. Holiday in morn.
Major Suga gives address, almost the same 
as his last. Jap. Nationals being worse
treated, [[??]] not want [[?]]. He'll
do all he can for us. 200 to drome in
afternoon. Levelling on strip. Work late.
Tea - Pork stew, chips eggs tomatoes &
rissoles.
FRIDAY 26th. — Official opening of 'drome
tonight. About [[890?]] men turn out. Very
funny when Akimoto turns out dressed
up and Malays & Moros arrived in
costume. Also arrival of [[?]].
Lined up civilians & us when General
arrives. Guards all round. Much bowing
goes on. Jim [[?]] kicked in leg.
Lucky numbers read out. Lunch in
camp & rest of day off. Having bad
nights with ringworm in crutch.
FEBRUARY.
SATURDAY 27th. — Holiday today.
K.M. makes nuisance at Reveille, so
is not allowed to sleep all day. Spend
most of day looking after stomach.
Fish in canteen. Grilled whiting
for tea. Five men who escaped sic months
ago have given themselves up to I.J.A.
Offs. very annoyed at Ken & I for
not taking up relevant question on
work party &c - with Major Suga.
SUNDAY 28th. — O.D.P. Interpreter wonders
"Why you have come to 'drome on Sunday."
Easy day, just fair amount of work,
[[?]] 'plane apparently [[?]] here &
doing bombing practice. Good bananas
these days - but very expensive. Another
death in camp.
MARCH.
MONDAY 1st. — O.D.P. Work parties
becoming just like old days. Discuss
anything of interest. Work as we
feel like it. Paraded to to [[?]] office
[[Zengko?]] for not wearing shirt [[?]]
daily & [[?]] water [[?]].
TUESDAY 2nd. — O.D.P. Piling logs and
[[?]] them all day. Pork steak for tea.
Pay - I get $2.70. lowest I have yet received.
Rumours re [[??]] very bad. [[??]]
 

MARCH.
WEDNESDAY 3rd. — O.D.P. Still grubbing
stumps. Canteen has dropped off this month.
Apparently few guards in this area. N fairly
good. Progress good on other sides enemy off
N.Guinea. J making another S-ward effort.
Have had no [[?]] re [[?]] and seems as
though efforts are fruitless for time being.
Health very good at present, bit too
fat if anything. Ringworm [[?]] & [[?]]
[[?]] entirely better. All boys in 
good [[?]]. Major Owen has progressed
remarkably well & is getting about.
Reading - "Sane sex life & sane sex
living" by N.W. xxxg LONG.
THURSDAY 4TH. — O.D.P. Grubbing &c.
May move hut closer strip. Plane seems
to do two patrols per day. Fish from
canteen for tea. [[?]] do P.T. after [[?]]
it. — Convoy going S. broken up & [[?]] destroyed.
FRIDAY 5th. — O.D.P. Rains early in morn.
Same old day. [[?]] troubled by guards.
Fried pork for tea. N. excellent. 22 ships
at bottom by A.F.
SATURDAY 6th. — O.D.P. Usual sort of
day. Exercising on crosscut saw.
Plane off in after. & not back in evening.
Maj. Lewis has now taken over 'drome from
Maj. Fleming. Keen [[?]] voice leg-scratches
&c we get [[?]] to fester
very easily. Ankle very nearly healed.
T [[?]] i/c party today.
MARCH.
SUNDAY 7th. — Holiday today. [[?]]
wild pork in canteen. [[?]] for lunch &
stew for tea. Rains in afternoon.
Laurie {{/}} in hospital with sore throat.
MONDAY 8th. — O.D.P. Very good day.
Rains at lunch xxxx & upsets our
fritter market. Dugong for tea. Lights
out back to 2130 hrs. See Laurie, cannot
talk but seems O.K. Vern in today.
TUESDAY 9th — O.D.P. Usual day. Guard
making some work. Egg for tea. Hear
story of Rickards re [[?]]. Laurie
can talk & improving.
WEDNESDAY 10th. — O.D.P. (Ash Wednesday.)
Sen. Offs. & C.L.O. - 10 offrs & 105 O.R's
being entertained by [[?]]. They have
swim & see pictures. "The Invisible Ray."
22 lb [[?]] from canteen for [[?]]
cubicles. Evensong in evening.
Work till 11.30 hrs in morn.
THURSDAY 11th. — O.D.P. Fairly heavy rain
early in morn. Late start to 'drome.
Grilled fish for tea. Kent, Cox & others have
gone. Talk with syndicate re Z, as to
action to be taken. Will [[?]] on
situation.
FRIDAY 12th. — O.D.P. Usual day.
Bomber lands, refuels & takes off again.
Have cold, ringworm.