Papers relating to the service of Cyril John Watson, 1941-1945 - Part 19

Great surprise when 328 lb rice arrive in

Kegs still continuing to flow in. K.M. & C.Y.

feel [[?bucked]] & all day to day men. Some change.

FEB 11 (Sun) I.J. holiday. Rations increased

and have best day since Xmas. Pumpkin &

cucumber bread for b'fast, artichoke pastry

& tea - rice belackair, cream Tapi. sav, greens,

cucmber, & beer for supper. Not so cold. 
Concert of variety. Acquired B.S.D uniform

by good work of Monty. Swapped shovels for 

K.D. tunic two days agoi with Hufer. Swap

again for better job from Bob S. Trying 

to improve wardrobe, J.M presents problem.

Very sleepless nights, but thankfully not restless. 
FEB 12 Shicker & I "on the job wardrobe hunting".

Soap issue (V.P.) first for month or so. 
FEB 15 (Thurs) - Oonce again its here. W.Ps wedding

anniversary, General dissatisfaction over application

of food. Few letters arrived in two days ago (13^th)

[[?]] late 43, good [[?]] & orange crop. May

'44 feeding all stock. Cut Kang Kong in rain the

same day and nearly froze. Saving wood

after Tengko and then eat. Usual ceremonial

postponed for races.

FEB 16 - Having very nice days, rainy nights

Received [[?]] oil Paid $85 for

uniform F.S. Out of cash. The "itch" appears

to have abated for the present.

FEB 17 Wood partly to sq only part before

evening meal. Read "Capt Hornblower" (C Forester)

FEB 18 (Sun) - K Kong cut in morn. Celebrate

in old spot. W.P's wedding anniversary.

No concert. No lights. General service before

b'fast. Small patch ringworm appears.

FEB 19 - Tissy gardens &c. Buy putties $12.

Discussion now on picnics & camping. 
Buckolice veg issue, but still economising.

Should get big meals soon. Sleeping better

FEB 21  - Notice slightly increased diet. Sell

pacl $15.00. Feeling brighter. Hear of hundred

of recipes for use later. Barreing stores.

FEB 23 - (Fri) Received doover back up

yesterday. Wood choppers to return to duty. 

Fertilise garden in afternoon.  More vegs.

Beautiful moonlit nights, but mosquitos bad.

Canteens are a thing of the past. Last on 5^th Jan.

FEB 25 (Sun) - Quiet day. Slept in. Finish

reading "Science of life." Meals veg nasi; Lunch -

[[?]]. green (2 spful) piece pumpkin; Tea - Belachan rice

creamed Tapi, savoury greens, grated Tapi been.

Cracked ½ back up pork nasi last night & ½ again

today. Took body measurements yesterday.

Concert washed out with rain. Wet season still

having a fling. Have been hearing "last post" many

times during the day recently.

FEB 26 - Rice party late. 10 bags, 2127 lbs gross. 
General unsettled atmosphere over camp and

colloquy mainly of holidays, food, houses.

FEB 28 (Wed) Organisions idea ∧finance for post bello

period to be considered. I suppose young Diana

is celebrating her birthday. I hope the family

are all there. One misses the children

Books changed Lose Science of Life, Medical Board

Wood party Discuss caravans with T.S. Work party

MAR 1 (Thurs) Cut R Roig. Weighed on

Camp scaler 127lb. (9s 1lb) How correct? (∧[[?]] 137 lb)

Last day on Feb Ealioer scale. Tomoorrow will

be critical day. Had good fright last night

but 3 or 4 hours sleep would see out most days.

It would be very hard to describe futiity of

this existence. Waiting & unable to concentrate

except building castles in the air.

MAR 2 - Chop wood before b'fast. Puddin' takes

Areca nut, Meals just bearable. Canteen comes

in late. 12+ pkts biscuits, tobacco fine & pipe, claver

vipa. Why so much now? Biscuits $1.65. Have

3 pkts for supper. Talk [[?Kern]] J.M on flowers & poultry.

MAR 3 - Cleaning pde. Draw 2^nd in lottery.

Worth #105 (to G.N.S.C) $42 (Vera saved $5.00) and

swap J.M. (who is on "light duties") 3 pkts pipe for

biscuits. Meats - green nasi (½ bowl) - Lunch - boiled

keladi (colonial heliotrope) - Pork nasi - greens, sauces

 

MAR 4 (Sun) Communion with [[?]]

Rail clothes in morn. Mend V.R. chair afternoon.

Concern by Bunny Glover. 70lb whitebait ([[?]]

fBean - porridge - lunch: fried vegs - Tea;

fresh whitebait nasi; Tapi ipar, papaya, peanut

biscuit mixture, (very tasty)

MAR 5 (Mon) Cut K'bang top beds. Financial

position being checked on. Too much tobacco. 

C/O receives $3920 from Papal Envoy for A.NZ P.W's  ∧(OR'S

$8957.87 from Aust. Gov. through Swiss Gov^t

Make deal with Boundy for "Soiless Growth" for 5 pkts

Pipe Fob by end Mar or 6 after, Get 1 pkt from Perer.

Mar.6. Perer & I cutting wood before b'fast. Early

morning tea on job. Finance raised in camp.

1 - $100 2 - $375 3 - $200. Beautiful situation.

Sugar issue for April, To get rice also. Does not come.

MAR.7. Meals - Fried veges, only b'fast & lunch

Tea - Plain nasi & greens. Tea (½ cut) & curry for

April in. Miss Biscuits, finished last night.

Heavy rain of night, but days very fine. Sardines.
MAR. 9. (Fri) Raining in [[?]], but wood wanted

so Perer & I cut. Mainly brambles. Very cold, but

have hot b'fast kept which helps. Dressed all

day. Meals becoming rather distressing.

MAR. 10 - People remarking on "hangover" of

moving. "Blackouts" common unless careful

not to gain equilibrium. Rain back again. 
Meals - yesterday. Green Death (½+ bowl). piece

fried pumpkin - rice & vegs (½+ bowl). Today

same but for 2" cucumber & 2 spnful) greens for lunch

Rice for April came in last Thurs (8), also

wood party to square again. 

MAR. 11 (Sun) Very quiet wet day. No concert.

Unlike usual Sunday. Very poor provaic pabulum. 
MAR.13 (Tues) - Chop wood. No rice b'fast & lunch.
(V3 bowl veg & greens) & nasi in evening.  Draw plan

of "Tweedside." Notice pinch most of all today. 
Decision to step up scale. Afternoon in comes

680 lb. rice extra for March & April. No lights

of evening, so in bed early. General weakness

very evident throughout camp. No pork since Feb.

MAR. 14 (Wed) - Increase of about 20 lb rice per day

makes prospects brighter. Copying vegetable tables

from Malayan Gardening & finding it particularly

hard to set friend to work. Chat with Perer & Dick

Craig on wheat J.M. having another turer. H.G. cannot take

MAR, 15 (Thurs) - 378K veg in evening. Rainy day

& night. Feel very listless. Tinea under arm &C.

MAR 16 (Fri) Awakened about 0200hrs & have Tengko

by candlelight. Chop wood before b'fast. Tea bowl

gone through. Meals slightly increased which helps.

More hard veg. and our Kankong yeilding slightly more.

MAR 17. Field day on the bioche boys private

gardens. 155 eggs ($1.50) and pigs head in.

Later 20k fish whitebait & 12k; beachan & vegs.

us afternoon. Boys reconstruct overhead

suspension for beds. Humor - Voice outside

"Who wants a snail" - Cries - "How much"

& "Who was quick enough to catch it" Food bit

better. Tasty cup of egg base for tea, with pack.

Discussions with them on farmers & other

prospects; between and altering buildings. 
MAR. 18 (Sun) - food K'kong. Swap shirt for

stockings plus $7. Meals - Plain rice & sweet 

sauce - Keg, hash - Fish nasi and greens.

Chicken makes situation looks very sound.

Weighed on camp scales & make 121 lb (8st 9lb)

We must appear a lot of wrecks & crocks.

MAR. 19. (Mon) - cut K'kong again, Concentrating

on Chekurmanis beds. K.M. has beri-beri affecting

leg. Take over chilli dept. 580k hard veg in.

V.R. weighs 132 lb. 16c. J.M. & I talk housekeeping.

Buy pencil $5.00

MAR. 20. (Tues) Chop wood & conc Urine on

garden. K.M goes to hospital in afternoon.

Few letters in mornig R.H.G & R.T receive one.

Clean slit trench. 35 eggs ($1.20). 50k rice ($3.00)

168k veg. 13k fish, 53 pc shorts issued

to be consumed by end month. TTrf + money

to be distributed - $3.00 per head each O.R.

$1000 Officers, balance to be held by C.O.

Orders for canteen for Easter cause concern in [[?]]

some smoking quarters. Veg rations Apl 1-2 in camp [271k

 

MAR 21 (Wed) Meals - they small serve rice & egg;

fried vegs - Stewed veg - Tea - whitebait and

sweet potato hash, savoury veg. Taki chips, sauce

Rain easing up at last. Very late season.

MAR. 22 - Bananas in from canteen 135k (65c/k)

also 168 k veg - workers ration for March. Later

veg, (incl. ginger) for 3 Apl. 50K buckshee veg.

Talking cafes, hotels, &c of Sydney & Melb. with

Bruce Gollan and Jim Davidson. Also Cup trip.

MAR,23, (Fri) - Chop wood, very mostly peices. 
Green veg for Apl 3. $1272 representing interest

on Compulsory savings give it (?) to Comp Hosp.

Trevor Owen and C.O. have interview with Col.

Sugar. I was re eye & transfer to Singapore.

Food and petrol position is acute shortage due to

shipping difficulty with proximity of Am^ns Subs.

Russian Red Cross ship at Sing, but cannot get

supplies across here, Have tea, cakes & cigarettes.

MAR. 24 = Wet night and morn again,, 305k

buckshee Tapi late in day. 7k pork. List

eating houses &c of Melb. & Sydney and decide

that all myst be crossed from list. Threvor O

receives two eggs. Altered pole near my bed

yesterday, and move up one board. Also Maj

Workman to hoop, very low state. First really

good chilli crop since I took over. 

MAR.25. (Sun) - Momentous day. Talking

quietly to Roly Wilson, when notice different

hum of plane. At door see if eng. jobs dropping

pamphlets.  1018 hrs. Roly unaware & I surprise

him. Just giving him Pat's address. Spend 

approz 1¼ hrs in trench. Beautiful sight.

Meals bumped. B'fast - plain green nasi (+²/₃ b)

Lunch - sweet Tapi, keladi, ginger & rice (¹/₃ b)

Tea - Veg, cottage pie, belachan nasi, sweet serve 

with Mint. chilli, chekeur. Best feed since Xmas.

Maj. Devers has aquarium with 6 small fish.

Bucky Meagher & Bruce G fius us Sydney eating

Trouses. Five trucks veg. arrive after dark.

Tabulating cafe's, accom & c of Sydney, 
MAR. 26 (Mon) - Chop wood. 758k veg Tape up

to Apl 10. (Approx 40% rotten) Buy alum. dixies for $25,

sell tin plat $10. Lend M.B. my grey pullover. 

Many sick men, nervous & stomach trouble & apparent

Camp normally would be 100% unfit. 

MAR.27.(Tues) - Quiet wet day. Very fine night.

Full moon tomorrow night. Must be 1¾ ∧hrs afead solar time.

7k park. Plenty fried veg = Tea - Tapi chips. pork stew,

fried rice. Two truckloads [[?]] at office. Alec.

Bathgate back from hosp. K.M. is doing alright.
O.R'S conditions bad, more than 1 death per day.

MAR.28 (Wed) - Beautiful moon.  130 [[?]] (15 cts)

200lb. tapi & Keladi for 11-12 Apl. Horrible butts of

wood come in aftrnoon, all sizes except small.

B'fast & lunch - Fried veg. Tea - Veg & C'nut rice. [z-1808

Alasen about 10130 hrs; just before our late B'fast.

214 k. buclshee tape just in. Last night rainy

& cloudy, but lovely full moon at morning [[?]]

Rain again during day. Another 80k buck. tape.

Increased meals noticeable, also coconut.

MAR. 30 (Fri) - Easter again.  Good Friday.  Quiet

mornig till 1230 hrs. When suddenly twin

fuselage 'planes are over' drome, Have never seen

anything like them before. Pay fast on job & away.

P. Bell to write account of issue for I.J.A. Cloudy

day made identification difficult. No opposition.

No religous services held today. Ted Boscolo

back from hospital with girm stories. 

Does not see, like Easter 68 K. fish 9 keehil)

in ration. Give J.F. tobacco $8.00.

Mar. 31. (Sat) - Quiet day. Everyone (x few)

optomistic. O.R's in from drome. Tabis

marked R.O.W in centre of camp. My mind

working in caricature. Wish I was cartoonist. 
Imagine sighting hole in [lane. Canteen late. 
5 rice toffee ($1.65) ½ each enough & peanut ½ sago

5 O.R. dry fish. Vera riding the crest. Interesting

to watch different reactions through personalities. 

"Send it off" policy adopted almost generally.

Beautiful sunset. 

 

APRIL 1 (Sunday) - Easter sunday. Holy Communion

Chop wood which is all heavy butts, in morning -  

B'fast - Fish nasi; lunch - stew; tea - Sweet vege &

sweet nasi, (banana, papaya*) Make pudding

"a la nutmeg" in afternoon which does not set. 
Others cut K'Kong. all very tired &  in bed early.

Give C.Boundy 5 pkts. pipe & complete deal.

Pudding & biscuits for supper & go to bed feeling

almost replete. C'nut in meals, very filling. 
Late in afternoon trucks of veg beach arriving. 

8 or 9 in by dark. Chaps counting. Huge pile of stuff.

Apr. 2 (mon) - Hun wakes me early, about 0600

& M.C & I pour the poll air the garden. Vern has

signs of spots & resting up with V.R. [(129lb)[. Weight 118 lb.

Rations in Apl 13-17 - 630 k tapi, 311 Relade; ginger

168k. bananas (60 cts) Canteen. Kiddies have party.

Small issue ginger. Evening chat with M.B. re

poor physical & mental state of camp. Some Tape bad.

APR. 3 (Tues) - COld early in ginger & finish us

blanket. Our hut washing (boiling "clothes")

Kitchen flat out cutting up Tapioca these days. 
K.M back from hospital.

 

SEPTEMBER 1st 1945, (Sat) - 

Cut bread after b'fast for bread, butter, 

cheese & asparagus. Memorial service

at cemetery 1100hrs. No planes over as

per signals. Sawing party midday.
Early meal, rabbit nasi and then

picture party. March into Kuching.
Much better than anticipated enjoy

everything. Nip seems anxious to please.
Bananas & peanuts supplied. Rains during

walk home. road pot holed but "Ted" after.

M^rsTakata leads way. W.P. meal pinched

Issued new boots Aust. Feel very good after

walk (5 mls) Oedema in feet no worse. 
2 SEPT. (Sun) -  General service. I stay

in bed. Gordon Owen & I chop down

3 trees while planes over, & big Dang

dropping. F Andrews, Garland, Ian Kung

into Kuching hosp. Issued shirt, sox,

hat. Another B₁ injection. May G.N.S Campbell

dies. Funeral party afternoon. Visiting

between camps 1600-1900 hrs, but I rest.

C.O. wandering with Suga in car. Danak?

Evening stew just like old dinny job.

Have trouble getting wood low. J out

of camp now Brig Off camp have all

in concert. All selments can now be

catered for. Assorted newspapers in.

So many assorted jobs & find it hard to 

read or write anything. We are well behind

the times. 

3 SEPT (Mon) - Officers in the kitchen.

I have biscuit dept. Hustle & bustle

all day. Asparahus & vegemite bread

special in maker.

Trading still going on, gula & eggs

coming in in quantities.

W.P. draws pudding & I get jubes from 

A.C.F parcel. Kiddies finish them off.

1700 - Baker & I collect children - Anne

Atkinson, Rosemary Beatty, Frenella

Abernathy, Brian, & Michael & Stephen

Bouchier. Kicked out. Enjoy show very much

Meet Jos. Clifford, rather charming.

4 SEPT. (Tues) - Roll call 0715 hrs. with

mosquitos. Gordo2 Dougs over 1100 hrs.

Another again at 1400. Messages must

have been received. G. Owen & I chop down

tree. Bread dropped comes in, and I

am o/c bread dutting dept. Resting hams

1600-1900 hrs Ind Pps in camp. Dutch

offs. tea with us. Details of Grammy (w/t

given out. Parts used - amum^m dixie,

metal scraps, bakelite shav container,

1 Phill valve; 1 earphone dear and 1 from

phone, snap I J eng dump. 3 months

to make tools for generator, 3 weeks

for generator. Concert at internees lines,

in evening, ber nice. Evening meal

civilized. No rice. ¼lb tongue, bread & 

butter, pumpkin, corn & milk. Nasty

stories re Sandakan & other P.W. camps.

5 SEPT (Wed) - More bread cutting

G Owen & I down another tree. Saw

pinched by I.J.A. - nuisance. Eating

very much better. 1 pt drops morre good.

Evening at internees camp visiting

Atkinson, Rolands. Meet Belcher & many

others. Pleasant evening. Puffed up

with Oedema & colic. C.O. to go 

to Labuhan in morn = with Suga.

Catalina F.B over & fellow gives thimbs 

up. Very low. 

6 SEPT (Thurs) - Omelette on toast for 

B'fast. Legs up. Cutting bread C.O

leaves. Late in afternoon. Catalina

over again. Suga back C.O.returning

in morn, with medical offrs.

No supplies dropped. Water restrictions,

in fact tap off during day. Tong

built up in garden area. To report

to M.O in morn. Cannot get boots 

on. Visit womens camp kitchen.

Very nice atmosphere. [[?]] diwn at

hosp. & womens camp. Talk with fellow

who ran Grammy. O.R's give concern

in our camp. I look after kitchen.

Gooseberry tatrt & cocoa for supper.

Feel tired. Full of wind. Good act

by O.R. - "Osbut the performing flea"

 

7 SEPT (Fri) - Loose control of wind

during night. Grounded by Maj Maffey

in morn. Ticked off for getting about.

Reg in 1100 - Supplies & pamphlets

dropped. 1300 - Catalina F.B over.

Men waving. Working on Agric report.

Water being carted to kitchen from

outer garden. Taps did not runlast

night. Concert in womens camp but

I cannot attend. Uncooked pork nasi

infuriates camp. Concert party from 

intanees to entertain us, but rain

& late meal prevent concert. Padre

Henthorn & Meredith with us. 
Internee (Hammond) killed by dropping

food. C.O. returns with 2 M.O's from

Labuhan. Abdullah cigs, [presents

Bob Sp. tells me I had cardiac reactions,

but settling down now, Papers re planes

& rockets &c make us well behind times. 

8 SEPT (Sat) - Sleep very heavily right

thru night. Still grounded. Slight

juggling going on far higher positions.

Lt Col Morgan & Maj Hutton in camp.

Look me over. Address to camp. Out

as soon as poss. [[?]] to make 

Aust. Baker over & dropping again.

2cc inj B₁, Bob Sp tells me I am

fir evacuation.  Lt Col Morgan

putting Nios in place at last,

Reading magazines &c; finishing agric.

screed, But Off concert party entertained by

& entertain us. Doug Bidmeid & 3/o Ken

Allen our guests. rain intervenes. Taps to be

on tomorrow. 48 hrs extension of time for 

I.J.A to Kuching (11-9/45) W.O gets onto

eggs. Have ½doz. Issues gula nipa, soya

sauce, 4 pkts Kosa cigs. 

9 SEPT. (Sun) - Roll call 0715 hrs. Church

service. B;fast Water on 2400-0200,

0000-1030. R Cowlett goes to hospital,

Our three meals & interum teas. Legs well

down, but still to do "nowt". R Robin

back in kitchen. No bakers delivery.

Told I am off emerg. list. Some on 6ms

notice from Tues morn. Ask can I go

Victory concert but knocked back. However

wander down & hear part of it. Enjoy it,

but very tired. Acquire tooth brush,

W.P. out of entertainments job,

10 SEPT (Mon) - Still off duty. Issued small

towell, toothpast, 1pt, boot polish, ½ shav 

cream ½ tobacco, $5.00 cash from Japan.

Mainly rice meals again. 1500 - baker

calls & drops more supplies. Priests give

concert in our camp in evening

Indians to chop wood &c.

 

11 SEPT (Tuesday) - Still off duty. Ticked

off by M.O. Write letter to Pat. The first

interesting chat Bob Sp re condition.

1245 - planens over. Single & double eng

What a show. Irresponsibe R.A.A.F. ([[?]]}

[Redulicated first sound - diagnosis[

Seems as though I will hit hospital.

1700 - First reps Aust. arrive here & pde

held. Catalinas over. Parade in sq

and Brig Eastick & others speak. Capt

Jennings U.S. :- "This is a new experience

for me. It is worth many a

hard fought battle & many hard fought

& long night & days at sea. This 

is what we have been fighting for

& we have succeeded".

Called up & on 6 hrs notice to move.

 

{Written upside down}

"Life is a comedy to those who think.

& tragedy to those who feel" (Russ novel)