Papers relating to the service of Cyril John Watson, 1941-1945 - Part 14
MARCH
SATURDAY 13TH. – Day off home Keith
in too. Reading and resting. Three shots
fired & two were brought in from
wood party. Beaten & into cage. Have
heavy cold & ingrown in toes & [[?]].
Have [[?]] & people have gone from Belau
Behala last Sat.
SUNDAY 14TH. – Holiday today. Communion.
Rieh for lunch, very nice. Cold bit better
but toes very sore. Unveiling ceremony
of memorial tablets in chapel. Very
impressive. Service in evening in
memory of fallen in Malaya. Anniversary
of last service. Reading –Star Atlas.
MONDAY 15TH. – O.D.P. Quiet day, packing
files. Nearly had row with John Russell.
Light rain most of the day. W.P. [[?]] party
Bathe ingrown and then to bed.
Huns leg improving.
TUESDAY 16TH. – O.D.P. Same quiet sort of
day. Exercising on the 12 lb and most
of day. [[?]] & toes very sore from
Fungicide burn. 26lb training for hut.
Very nice tea.
WEDNESDAY 17TH. – O.D.P. Rainy sort of
day. Stacking & burning logs. Do very
little.
THURSDAY 18TH. – O.D.P. Crutch still
very sore. Hardly see ground. [[?]]
cuts down as number of Mess. Orderlies
1 per bucket. Fish for tea. J Morrison
very sick. Countdown stage.
MARCH
FRIDAY 19th - Stay in today with
very sore crutch. Bathing four times a day
Good to have days rest. J Morrison in
also, we form Ch. Depot. Reading -'The
Fight for the Pacific' - M.J. Gayor.
SATURDAY 20th - Off work still.
Will be few days. Bathing with hot
water & reading most of day. Bombers
over, but does not land. Laurie White
out of hospital.
SUNDAY 21st. - a holiday. Quiet day.
Everyone wants rest. Excellent fish
for lunch. Communion 0930 hrs.
MONDAY 22nd. - No work still witj
crutch. Meat in canteen. Make rissoles
Star gazing at night.
TUESDAY 23rd - Rail clothes in morn.
Hun's leg showing improvement. [[?]]
advertisement in Japan Times for Yorkshire
Specie Bank. Agencies temporarilly closed.
Hoshi. wants choice to put on J. [[?]]
song.
WEDNESDAY 24th - Still O.B.D. Reading
and bathing with hot water. Having
bad nights.
THURSDAY 25th - Still in. Very lazy
days arguing with Vernse. No Batman
for couple of days.
MARCH
FRIDAY 26th - O.D.P. Back again.
Days very hot. Crutch almost better.
Ringworm burning very sore. Plane lands
and off again in great hurry. Choir
starts again.
SATURDAY 27th - O.D.P. Vern out again
today. Legs just fair. Days very hot now.
Burns on legs give me bad night.
xxxx ^Rice for tea, Have extra every now & then.
Never feel the old hunger now.
SUNDAY 28th - O.D.P Make us
work for some obscure reason. Very
hot day. A lot of pottering around.
Another death in camp. Having another
box ([[/]]) being made.
All weighed in evening. I am 12 st 12 ibs.
V.R. 14.3 K.M. 11.3lb 5 oz. W.P. 10.7
J Miliner 14 st.2 Bob S. 12 st 7 I am 1st
heavier than Changi. Communion 2000 hrs.
J Flett 11 st. 8 lb. F. Andrew 11st 2 lb.
MONDAY 29th -O.D.P. Usual hot day.
Very little work. Interesting discussion
Vern, Stricker, Jison, McLeod & I each
tell our first sex experiences.
McLean gives us great tour of Java.
Hear that some more prisoners are
arriving. Who & when unknown. Camp
for extra 1000 to be built. Hoshijinga
to address us tomorrow on food shortages.
drome workers to finish at 4pm & fo
1 hour on agriculture. Maj. Armstrong
to be u/c drome. Jhnson u/c agric and
Lewis i/c barracks.
MARCH
TUESDAY 30th. - O.D.P. [[?]] in again
today. Leg nearly better. Rained most pf
day. Had one of the best days yet at drome.
In shed all morn, just time to boil tea.,
then home after lunch. Big sing: song
after [[?]], over 60 in the cubicle.
Very bright.
WEDNESDAY 31st - Holiday today.
Hoshi addresses us. Not his usual tone.
European prisoners coming here. Two
camps to be built. Food position may
be acute, so we are to do more agric.
Senior prisoners to run other camps.
More - 800 British, over Jessels had
500 Dutch from outside.
APRIL
THURSDAY 1st - O.D.P. Very good day.
Only boil the billy with coffee about six
times. Finish at 4 and do 1 hour agric.
Bomber at drome in morn, takes off.
All J. have moved from barracks to
building near camp. Rumor seems to
have some Air Force coming here.
FRIDAY 2nd - OD.P. another good day.
Boiling coffee for every Smoko. Discuss
sea [[?]] and matters of life.
Maj. Green inspects the camp and
drome. Drew pay. I get $5.00.
SATURDAY 3rd - O.D.P. flew in today.
Usual day, plenty of coffee. Concert/[[?]]
in evening. Weeping tinea on ankles.
APRIL
SUNDAY 4th. - Holiday. Communion
then have the nail removed. Infected
with Tinea. Quiet day resting, no
protein in canteen for some time.
Food coming in gate much less.
MONDAY 5th - O.D.A. Rains intermittently
during most of day. Finish on
stumps today. Jim Fletts leg bad.
TUESDAY 6th - O.D.P (Working occurred
over hill between barracks and drome.
Good job working) Working digging ground
at end of strip ready for trucks.
Jim Flett in today with ulcer on leg.
[[?]] on smoking in the lines.
WEDNESDAY 7th - O.D.P. On road between
barracks and drome over hill. Guard
badly rating Mauritake; Good job.
Near shade. Discuss giving us tobacco.
Work till 5. No agriculture. Jim Flett
goes to hospital. Bob puts me off for 3 days
with infections in leg. Meat stew by George.
THURSDAY 8th.- In camp today. Bathing
leg and reading &c. Lunch with McLears.
[[?]] going better. Meat in again.
Jim F much better. Ground Geog. good.
FRIDAY 9th. - Im still bathing legs.
Chaps on drome line up in gravel pit
for new P.O.W's. Apparently R.A.F and R.A.
2 eggs on rissole for tea. Guards very
easy with off. party. Jim Flett's leg
doomed.
APRIL
SATURDAY 10th. - Camp again, bathing.
Quiet day. Make nasi goreng & rissoles for
tea. Legs improving. Jim looks much
better. Jim Mellier out again today.
SUNDAY 11th. - Meeting in morn. re
paying of farm party. Decision NO.
Boys out on farm in afternoon. Gathering
of Shrimp Club after 2 weeks to celebrate
Ray Topham's wedding anniversary &
Harold Grenfell's wife birthday. Good night.
Early in tomorrow, just scraped out.
MONDAY 12th. - O.D.F. On culvert in road.
Finish road today. Fish for tea.
Shickenstreet to hospital with ulcer.
Maj. Owen back there too. Geog. V.C. looks
like H.F will clean up any day.
TUESDAY 13th. - O.D.F. On end of strip
again digging. Hardly see guards.
Easy day. Fish for tea. Hear 500 P.N's
arrive from B.[[?]] & are on the Tobard
W.P. out with us working.
WEDNESDAY 14th.- O.D.P. Putting in
new line at end of strip. 3 [[?]]
[[?]]. 10 min. longer for lunch. More
fish for tea. Evensong after [[?]]
THURSDAY 15th. - O.D.P. Putting in rail.
Plane there in early morn. Leave, Days
now very hot. More Protein for tea.
Legs nearly better again. Choir practice.
APRIL
FRIDAY 16th. - O.D.P. Usual day. Still
carrying rail. Very hot. More fish in
for tea. Have been living well lately.
SATURDAY 17th. - O.D.P. Rest of cubicle
have day off. Carrying rail all day.
Water very short. Peter & Keith out to farm.
Geog- Ford in [[?]] says prepare for 3 yrs.
H. Of. in last stage. Hosh says we must
have hair off to distinguish us from
others.
SUNDAY 18th. - Rest day. Communion
Fish for lunch. No water on. Dirty &
very hot night.
MONDAY 19th.- O.D.P. No work in
morn. Brit P.W's coming in from boat
thro' back of drome; Tyes gives in [[?]]
Easy afternoon on drome. Choir practice.
KM in with tinea of finger. Acute water shortage.
TUESDAY 20th. - O.D.P. Finish carrying
rail. Built shelter. Funny episode came
asap. Speak to Brit P.W's from Java then
Jesseltown. Camp joke - the Proletariat
going don lines & calling out "Red light"
Keith takes Chapel of evening.
WEDNESDAY 21ST. O.D.P. Trucking. Raise
with trucks. Amusing incident of
rice collecting at lunch time. Girl
climbs in sentry box. Water shortage
still very acute. No tong till very late.
Chapel in evening.
APRIL
THURSDAY 22nd. - O.D.P. Trucking.
Very hot. Bad day, "Jack" Policy, good tea-
steak from canteen, very nice.
- good Friday-
*FRIDAY 23rd. -O.D.P. Keith out again.
trucking. Build ramp in trucking
end. Bad incident - nearly hit with
shovel. Father not out on island. Service
in evening. Not on stage, not asked for.
Reading of Shakespeare at drome.
SATURDAY 24th. -O.D.P. John Mauscar
out again. Funny day. Morrison, when
Takasawa approaches & Paul Moss calls
out warning. "What Tak", we haven't
enough coffee for him." Also "Ehe
chaps, any chance of a go on the trucks".
Supposed to have hair off tomorrow & shaved.
SUNDAY 25th. - Easter Sunday & Anzac Day
Dawn service on stage & laying of wreaths
Communion. B'fast of fried corn.
Lay wreaths during day. Service on stage
in evening. Concert rehearsal afternoon.
MONDAY 26th - O.D.P. Some "Bastard"(?)
appear on scene. "Old Bill" is one of them.
Easy day. Water position still acute.
Tong at well & bring in bucket of water.
TUESDAY 27th. - Day off. Visit dentist
and Chiropodist. Teeth O.K. Visit hospitals.
Farm in afternoon. Carrying timber.
Pleasant day. Pump lowered & water
situation temporarily eased.
Bust shoes.
APRIL.
WEDNESDAY 28TH. - O.D.P. Hot day, same
as usual. Hasher? occupies our hut.
learning English. Funny with Johnny,
"Need nicotine stimulant". Morrison.
More arguments over trucks.
THURSDAY 29th. - Holiday. Emporers
birthday. Quiet day. Clean room.
Parade taken by L/Col a farce. Afternoon
play Jap. Patriotic song. Final rehearsal.
FRIDAY 30th. - O.D.P. Lay out kit before
going out. Camp inspection. Work in morn
home for lunch & afternoon holiday. More
face East & salute in morn. G>W>P> to come
from drome and go on wood & c. Guard
produces taste of Samsu in morning.
MAY
SATURDAY 1st. - Going on wood party but
no pde played. Three men (Sgt Wallace,
Harvey & McKenzie) gone thro". Zenghs.
No work. Then worried over nothing.
Concert put off. Canteens to close for
three days. Read most of day. McLean
to hosp. with ulcer. Everybody having
laugh over Wallace. Rumor - NO pay.
SUNDAY 2nd. - No work for Off. Mauri
way head off. March parties still going
out. Funny in evening with stories of
another go thro' Big Packets - Boarding
house 50c p week. Dhobi service. Water
bottle filler 5c p.w. Loan of dice 60c night
Sale of Casino £10.00.
MAY
MONDAY 3rd. - O.W.P. Wood party
Keith & I do power house job splitting wood.
On back all morn, but hard work in afternoon
[[?]] doubtful if we are to continue
working. No pay for April work.
make difficulties after was long Tenghs.
TUESDAY 4th - No work for Offr today.
More Packets - Boarding House. Red ([[?]]
clothes aired, room swept, coffee
night & morn. 50c per week.
Dhobi service - began on own at 3c per
article. Now employs 2 men. Put advert.
on board - Wanted 2 men, strong work all
day must be Class D. Good wage.
Protection Racket - Cockatoos & shadow
even for two up schools. Churches out for
Casino. Good warning guaranteed.
Sale of Casino of rights. When men had
to clear out from under huts this
became nearly valueless.
Water bottle filler has 40 customers.
formulating schemes for lectures, education
&c of Offs. As no work is anticipated.
Hair to come off again. We have not
been paid for April work & all apparently
not being paid for wood party work.
Also order for hair to come off. [[?]]
gutless & are playing for him to clear
things up. We never know whether we
are against Force or J or both. Now J. off
wandering around & says Off. will not
be working any more. Keith gets loan
of £10.00. Are hoping for increase in salary
MAY.
WEDNESDAY 5th. O.W.P. Wood party. Away
early. Spend hard day on concert. Lunch
late. Buy 2 big bunches of bananas for £1.00
Canteen open again but nothing in. Have
built up large wood pile. Home earlier than
usual. Too tired to cook supper.
THURSDAY 6th. - Rest today. Another wood
party out. Reading "Teach yourself Photography"
On farm in afternoon and boil clothes.
Offs. incensed re haircut and work parties
still continuing without pay. Eggs for tea.
Supper out at end of C.O. hit.
FRIDAY 7th. - No work parties today.
Seems as though we are finished with
them. Talking of not having haircut. [[?]]
says he is trying to see Hoshijima. New
Off (3) wandering around a good deal.
First lectures of interest. Len Dummsy on
Law for Layman" and Rus. Forsyth on Malay.
SATURDAY 8th._ stay in again. Trying
to get patches on legs better. Many Offs
having hair off. Ordered to do so and
mines comes off after lunch. Feels funny.
Lecture by Bob Apiers om First Aid and
Jap. by Ted Esler.
SUNDAY 9th. - Communion 0930 hrs.
Shocker back from hospital. Reading
Heide in hospital & read in afternoon.
Evensong.
MAY.
MONDAY 10th. _ Extraordinary Tenghs.
Taes long time. Then ordered out to
drome agric. Objections quashed.
Party feels very heated. No work done.
Cook has done his best to get us
into this. Geor Eselt & again past finis.
Plane arrives.
TUESDAY 11th. - O.G.P. Maj. Sugar speaks
before we go out. Almost same address
as before. [[?]] from "[[?]]
ment: goat 2/fearing and "goal".
Offs indignant because [[?]] has to
be pushed to seek interview. Have
lunch then out to work. timid laughs
in evening when others have to go, but
after 3 Brit P.W.s who have gone thro'.
WEDNESDAY 12th. - O.G.P. No work in
morn. No guards. Out after lunch &
water garden. Drawing water from
well. Party bring back two men shot.
Harvey & McKenzie. Rumor that third
man is in Sandakan Hospital. Japs
wont allow burial in cemetery.
Fish today. Contractor aid yesterday.
Message from Maj. Blanksby and
I sent reply. Shircker back to hosp.
N. Af. finis.
THURSDAY 13th.- O.G.P. Putting in
cucumber stakes. Quiet day. Hoshi
has evidently gone to Kuching with Maj.
Suga.
MAY.
FRIDAY 14th. - O.G.P. Finish stakes
& begin putting atop on shed. Rumor
of only two day per week delivery to
canteen.
SATURDAY 15th.- Keith and I have
day off. Spent most of day reading "Tennyson"
and "Bedside Esquire". Held quiz in
evening. Keith & I in team against Capts.
hut.
SUNDAY 16th. - Communion 0930 hrs.
Fish for lunch. Heavy rain about
1430 hrs. Beaut shower. Result of conference
with Nagai Chiu. Has taken over [[?]]
One canteen, fit & sick men to separate
Offs to work on road. Will get pay of
all salary. When road finished - off to farm.
MONDAY 17th - O.D.P. Waiting in cutting
on sides. Jim M. spends day consulting.
Got plenty. Fish for lunch. Ken & Bill
in. Boil clothes & make fritters. Extra
100 odd pulled out 7 went to drome as
quotas were not fulfilled.
TUESDAY 18th.- O.D.P. On bridge near
same. Concert practise again. hear
re Changi parties. Father, Ken Schultz, M E
Schnieder, Quick, Stubb with D [[?]] to
Bangkok. 31 cruises in Sumatra. 33 missing.
Red Cross parcels in Sing. looted by J.
John Morrison hears he is father of daughter
again by round about channel. It is
just about one year since it must have
happened.
MAY
WEDNESDAY 19th.- O.D.P. On bridge again.
Regaled with stories by Johnny of his brothers
& his escapades. Hosi arrived back in
plane. Have little gathering of Cyril Young,
Harold Grenfell, Ray Tephain, Ken, Keith
Bill, Johnny & I - in honor of John.
F. Bincherall dies. Has son in the Cono.
Party of 18 Bns who went Messing had
enemy time. 3 killed & 22 wounded.
Woolridge who ratted off to Java, taken
there and brought back to Changi.
"Blackjack" Culleshaw has [[?]] discipline
we back to Changi. Just like training camp.
THURSDAY 20th - O.D.P. Funny day.
The guard nicknamed "Screaming South" tels
Honshs that his name is "Koanre".
Bill Peck leads in work party as [[?]] Major
Hoshijiana calls up party on road & tells
us that all are well at Kuching.
Very funny concert rehearsal. John Pool
sings out " Thats right, crab my net" when
two cheetahs drop from team roof.
Fred Hollway goes to hospital after lights out.
FRIDAY 21st. - O.D.P. Guard interferes
on furthest part of rd. & stands up Malis
Morrison & Millner. Opening ceremony of
new barrack. Pineapples & [[xxxxxx?]]
rafters & sprinkle salt over the floor to
chase out the evil spirits. Canteen
has been very poor for the last couple
of weeks. My legs not getting any better.
No one getting days off now, seems to
be worse off than ever before.
MAY
SATURDAY 22nd - O.D.P. Ken in today.
Dentists Paid & Thessel came out with us in
the afternoon. Guards change in morn.
In evening we presented "Lets Bring it on"
our magic minstrel show. It went over
very well. Choir numbers - Old folks at
home. The Campdown Races, Darkies lead
a happy life, Brahms Lullaby, Mozarts
slumber song, the Stern song,
The Volga Boatmen, Rio Grands, Hullaball-
woolsy, Always. Finished again with
Darkies lead a happy life
Graham & Bill Messe make excellent
Mammies. There was one blaze of
colour. Have lot of fun on stage,
byplay nearly spoils one or two
numbers.
SUNDAY 23rd. - Rest dat. Communion 0930 hrs.
Boiled clothes in morn. Read & slept in
afternoon. Work party tomorrow up to go.
This will bring some of the stayers in to
their feet, perhaps. Keith Tyers in for supper
and tells us of some of his adventures.
Evidently all I find of geog. Beat up
each other. The drovers put it over Maurie
& others - eg. boiling water for clothes &
tells him it is for radiator or black
paint for engine. Hoshi gets boys
ironing at 2.30am.
MONDAY 24th - Empire Day O.D.P. Very
easy day. Not much work to do. Rains
very heavily in evening. New concert in
production. P.C. swing by John Russell.
Another strong rumor that Maj. & Capts
off to Kuching area.
TUESDAY 25th.- O.C.P. Road sunken after
rain. Easy day. Fish in canteen, first time
for over week. Still dragging out even to
make up numbers. Now camp going up quickly.
WEDNESDAY 26th - O.C.P. In cutting near
power station. Everything disorganised
by Hains & Hunter & everyone in bad mood.
Feel the worst, I think, during the whole
of this sojourn. Putting sleeper in during p.m.
THURSDAY 27th -O.C.P. Resolutions not to
be annoyed today carried out. Carrying
rail & fettling. George Skinner to hospital.
FRIDAY 28th - Holiday today. Rains
most of the day. Spent it reading
make fritters in afternoon Shoes
mended with rubber they good job.
Send-off to Kuching seems to be definite.
SATURDAY 29th - O.D.P. Road very muddy
but Len Jackson & I spend day on line.
Have not had anything from Canteen for
long time except Tephora & Lemons
which are very dear 3 & 4 cents each.
Talk with Pers Watson & Dick Craig re
poultry farming & [[?]].
SUNDAY 30th - O.D.P. Len Jackson & I still
fixing up rail. J includes Marnie for
[[?]] Communion 2000 hrs Hear all
credits are up $5.00 for next months. But
it is hard to buy anything. Prices very
high.
MAY
MONDAY 31st. - Rains during night. No
G.R.P out to work. Men are changing round
in camp. Fit men to N area & Hospital
& unfit to W area. Essential duties
cut deeper to ridiculously low figure.
Capt. Pissine in charge of all medical
work. 10 offrs to barracks in morn all out
in afternoon. Begin J lessons in morn.
More rain in night.
JUNE
TUESDAY 1st - O.D.P. Finish rd. near cutting
Trucks keep bogging. New pay scheme - all
pay up $5.00. Credits to carry over and
balance to fund for all camps. J. Off to
contribute at rate $5.00 (Choir) & $3.00 [[?]]
Insurance Committee. had nothing to do
with these regulations. Off work tomorrow.
WEDNESDAY 2nd. - Staying in with legs
until I get them better. Spent day
boiling clothes & bathing legs. Evensong.
THURSDAY 3rd. -Still in bathing legs
Protein ss days April 3 days May. Guard
forces boys to work in front of barracks.
All come in very annoyed. Reading
"Out of the night" Good.
FRIDAY 4th.- Quiet day. Make fritters.
Very little comes into canteen. Bananas
(very dear) Papaya & little Tapioca.
SATURDAY 5th._ Holiday for all except 200.
Other 500 A.I.F from Berhala Is. coming to
adjoining camp. They are well equipped.
These Offrs (Sherle, Brow, Gillo, Wagner) 3 OR's
& 2 Malays go thro' in launch.
JUNE
SUNDAY 6th - No work for Offs. Quiet
day. Communion 2000 hrs. Syndicate gets
$20.00 with Tobacco.
MONDAY 7th- Boys on road see 2/3 Pris
Bn. man from Java. Says their situation
good but Dutch gave up. German Raider
crew (refitting in Sing.) ask our work party
how little shit evid. [[?]] B's beat us.
Was it lack of material or inferior type
of troop. Farm party sent in in afternoon
& can only go out under guard 3 times
day for 1/2 hour. Stop choir practice at
night. McLean has dose of dengue.
Have sore throat, think cold coming on.
TUESDAY 8th - Quiet day reading. Finish
"Sleaveless Errand". Just a book. Good story
of Kechil Gde rendering of J. Offs No 1, Sold -
No. 2. A.I.F. No. 3 and their No. 4. Boys
preparing big party for me. Choir stopped.
WEDNESDAY 9th. Feel lousy with cold.
Passing of notes to other camps interrupted
Four (incl. G. Weyulan & Cols [[?]]
stood up all night. J. Morrison hears
gt of 9th M.G. Bn men who were missing
at Fremantle, fought in Java. Two more
men up for passing notes.
THURSDAY 10th. - Hot water for legs
& reading as usual. Cook fritters & make
gravy for tea. In afternoon Offrs to go
Kuching notified. All Mgs Fleming, Johnston,
Armstrong, Lewis, Mafly, Baysan, [[?]]
Capt. Bathgate, May, Pickford, Britz, [[?]]
JUNE
THURSDAY 10th. Capt. Moss, Johnstone,
Lieuts. McLean, Haines, McLeod. McLean
has to come out of hospital with fever.
Are given very little time to pack and
kits are thoroughly inspected. Harold St John
to be in charge of camp. Punishments
awarded by J - Weynton 14 days, Bourke 7
others 3 days. All in cage. 5'6" sq x 4'.
Six O'rs (mostly [[?]] sad kids) also to Kuching
Concert party has to re-arrange. Bob Spark
giving talks after lights out on Opera.
FRIDAY 11th. - My birthday. Noot allowed
to work all day, then brings in morn &
afternoon tea. Big party in evening mostly
prepared by Jack Knowles & Dan Morgan under
super. of Ben. 3 Pasties each, mashed potato,
tarts, fruit salad, coffee & milk. Table set
out in Benat Castle. President - Cyril Young,
Kris P Ray Ingham and then, Harold Grenfell,
Keith, Gordon Owen, John Morrison, Bill Peck,
and James Millner. Gordon Owen proposed
health & made very nice speech. Was great
effort & emphasises the comradeship and
what can be done with little material
available in this place. We all have lessons
to learn here, on how to live & enjoy life.
SATURDAY 12th. - Quiet day. Hoshi gave
news last Thurs. that mail is in Sandakan
Reading "Fame in the Spur" by Howard Spring.
SUNDAY 13th. - Another quiet day. Keith
takes Mattins. Party from H.Q entertained
by Keai at barracks. Water position
very acute again. Evensong.
JUNE
MONDAY 14th. Usual day. Bathing
legs, reading, cook fritters Brinjal gr. Offrs
in 2 new shirts given notice of move.
TUESDAY 15th. - Rains early in morn.
Parties do not move out till 10am.
Meat very poor these days & only fruit coming
into camp. Lecture by Gordon Owen on
"Pre Shakespearean drama".
WEDNESDAY 16th. - Quiet day. Re-check our
Tenghs in evening. Evensong.
THURSDAY 17th.- Boil all sheets, towels
&c. Heavy day. Many colds about camp.
Story (Home Life) -Tea merchant following
Coffee King around camp saying "Don't let
coffee keep you awake, drink pure Liptons tea".
FRIDAY 18th.- Busy today. Harold Campbells
birthday. Force H.Q. shifting into two
rear hits and Offrs. shifting out.
Party under light - pasties, fruit salad
& coffee. Songs by all.
Bil brings in 1/4 tin bully beef &
herrings. Make pasties with it.
SATURDAY 19th - Another quiet day.
No mail yet. Canteen in dispute
at present. Finish "Fame in the
Spur". Excellent reading. Ted Brook
tells us stories of "Aussie" Crabbe in
Malaya. More yelling on Tenghs.
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