Papers relating to the service of Cyril John Watson, 1941-1945 - Part 6
SATURDAY, 15th SEPT, 1945. —
Wake up in 6 A.GH Labuan.
Everything is O.K. It is not all a dream
The Bendigo Adv" July 17 dished up with
breakfast. John McCallum, Louis Smith
Bunty Bennett all arrive. Talk & more
talk all morn. To leave on Wanganella
at 1400 hrs, but after M.O. delays us
all morning, & I write a few letters
& have lunch, we (Bob Stanistreet
& I) have look round island.
See air strip & planes galore. Nip
Sho-sho arrives when there to
surrender. Down to boat in Jeep.
Out in Ducks Ward A.3. Only 12
for Ward. Single bed not bunk.
More from others re food on
way here. Blood test taken.
16 SEPT. (Sunday.) - Awake early.
Cannot break habit & don't know that
I want to. Have positive malarial
test. Start on quinine course.
Nice easy day. Meet Sister Martin
from Bendigo. Spend day in bed.
Pictures in evening.
17 Sept. (Mon.) - Sweat thru' in night.
Quiet snores. Issued 1/3 bottle beer.
Sweating & trying to write. Around
ship with Shield & Baker. Pictures
in evening. Pass Lamboanga in morn.
Paid £5
18 Sept. (Tues) - Still sailing calmly.
Writing letters all morn. in-between
talking & eating. Have ½ bottle beer.
Paid ₤5.
19 Sept. (Wed.) - B'fast & Disembark
to 2/9 A.G.H. Well received & in Ward
with W.P & P.A. Canteen gets boring
Tinned food rolls in Meet Jack Phillips
from Bgo. Gives me haircut. Rosalind
Martin (ward (7) of Dave Smith.) Red Cross.
Hear much more from Melb. Send letter
Fay, telegram to parents
Malaria course 2 days -
1 quinine on boat in morn.
2 Atabrine in evening.
Supper outside end of tent. Bed about 2200.
20 SEPT. (Thurs.) - Felt lousy in morn.
Off tucker, shocking thing. Another
blood test, negative. Still awaiting
mail. Slippers & sandals from Red +.
Mr Starkie. Red & Reg. Wrote letters in
bed & asleep very early. Received old
letter from Pat 2 Atabrine 3 times.
21 SEPT (Fri) -
22 SEPT. (Sat.) - See Lawrie ([[Lgreen?]])
about 0630, and give him addresses as he
is going thro' to home. Quiet morn.
Out to P.W. Reception Camp in afternoon,
for kit. Strike George Curwick
Spent evening in Sister's mess.
What a night. Rosalind Martin
takes me in hand for dancing.
Hear new numbers. Into Chalke
& whisky. Louise Ran turns up.
Letter from Pat when we return. Give
night sisters bit of worry.
23 Sept. (Sun) - Med examn by
Lt. Col. Gantrell in morn. Listening to
gramaphone & writing letters. Lunch
& then wander around. Woke up at
about 2300 hrs & see Rupert Giudice.
24 Sept. (Mon) - Sent photos home.
Draw ₤6-5-0. was out to HMAS Platypus
for lunch. Very nice. 1400 - back
1430 - Out with Win Ritter to airfield.
Education scheme shorts finished. Work
complimented upon. Quiet evening
Another blood test at Path. ward.
25 Sept. (Tues.) - Up early. Boys
having worm treatment. Repack kit.
2 kitbags 1 pack 1 small wproof bag, 2
haversacks. R.D.T R.R. W.P & I chat with
Maj. Lloyd to Airfield &c. Sisters mess
in evening. Very good time. Bed
about 2200. 5 Telegrams & 1 letter.
Signed Education scheme certificates.
26 Sept. (Wed.) - Up early. Write many
letters. Letters from Johnnie, Joyce
and Mr Scott. Farewell drink at
physio-therapy ward. Date for game
golf. Col Wilson calls in to see
me. Lunch. Leave 2/9 A.G.H. 1445
with band playing. Strike
Bruce Fisher just before leaving.
Board Wanganella. Aboard just
before dinner. Write more letters.
Too late for telegram.
27 Sept. (Thurs) - Woken 530hrs Sail
from Morotai at 0600. B'fast. Spitfires
come out to farewell & put on trick
Back on Aust currency again to go
Bridge. Sing song in evening. At table
with Davidson, Brennan, G. Bennett, Charles
Affy & Co pinch end of table.
Finish malaria course.
28th Sept. (Fri) - Awake early. Bath. B'fast.
Reading & writing. Lunch. Writing. Collecting
reports for the War Crimes Commission.
Bridge before dinner.
29 Sept. (Sat) - Early rising proper
habit now. Reading, sunbathing.
Met Vern Stewart. Arrive off Balik
papan about 1800. Move in about 1930 hrs.
Embark wounded about 100. 20 stretcher cases
Know no one on wharf.
30 Sept. (Sun) - B'fast alongside wharf.
See Bob Wallace just prior to pulling
out. Gives me much news. Send
letter and telegrams. Sail 0930 hrs.
Sleeping, sunbathing. Prickly heat job.
Bridge with R.D.T H.S.D & A.S.G after
dinner. Supper with R.R & W.P.
1ST OCTOBER. 1945. (Monday.)
Again up early & into tea, rolls & jam.
Shower, walk on deck, B'fast.
Writing, Comforts fund hampers issued,
Path. Lab squared ^[[?]] Lunch. Sunbathe.
Shower, writing, beer, dinner. Bridge,
supper & more bridge. Bed. Stormy
night Plenty lightning. Buy 200 cigs &
2 OCT. '45 (Tues) - Awake very tired.
Stroll round, then B'fast. Washing.
Sunbathing, reading, Bridge
Arrive Morotai just after lunch. Send
letters, telegrams. Take on oil, water
late in afternoon. Mail on board.
3 OCT. (Wed.) - Leave Morotai 0600 hrs.
Very calm sailing along Lovely day.
Eating, sunning, sleeping. Two letters
early in mail. Pictures. Expect reach
Sydney evening Frid. week or Sat morn.
4 OCT. (Thurs.)- Getting bit sleepier of
morn but still awake early. Eating
like a horse, but keeping tight rein.
Bridge. Inft talk by Lt. Roberts RQES.
Aust. now. The war years, Rehabilitation
Sight N. Guinea mainland.
5 OCT (Fri)- Tired mornings coming
on. Sunning. Hair cut. Clothing
issue - Gumboots S.D. underclothes.
Quiet evening. Bed early. Rest off.
Settling down. Beginning to realise we are
on the way home.
6 OCT. (Sat.) - Feeling very tired. Sleep
all morn & afternoon. Pass volcano Is.
at 1330 & 1630 hrs. Have Agric certificates
stencilled Pictures.
7 OCT. (Sun.) - Feeling about 100% again.
Only a bit tired today. Sunning, sleeping
No fresh water showers. Pictures in evening.
Less smoking. Must be reactions, relaxing
now & sleeping more.
8 OCT. (Mon.) - Wake with sun coming
thro' window. Heading South now.
Passing thro' many coral islands. Very
pretty Green lagoons. Stranded ships.
Topham receives message from cruiser.
Just after lunch pass last land until
Aust. Repack kit bag. ½ overboard.
Boat pitching for first time. Lovely
days & nights. One thing missing.
I really meant to write letters, but
I cannot get into mood. Bed early.
9 OCT. (Tues.) - Another beautiful dawn.
Apparently calling at Brisbane now, so
shall have to get into letter writing
mood. T.A.B. Injection (2). Passing thro'
Coral Sea. How close it was!
New Red Cross shirt. Pictures. Shirker
& I chat on 'dirty past' with wind
in the face. Decide we will be good
boys. And so to bed, with a
sheet and blanket over the frame.
10 OCT. (Wed) - Thoroughly enjoying
lying in of morning Another beautiful
day K Ms dermatitis no good.
Swimming, writing letters, send telegrams
Matinée of Pantomime in afternoon.
Again in evening To bed Cold night.
11 OCT. (Thurs) - Cold morning, we think.
0600 Take on pilot, & so to Newfarm Wharf
Gave breakfast an awful hiding.
Boats hooting, people along river
everywhere. Speed boats along side.
Orderly disembarkation on wharf.
Send telegrams. Latest - on to
Melb. Cancelled in evening.
Boat due to sail 1600 hrs. but
engine trouble causes hold up.
Throwing telegrams &c ove wharf.
Send flowers per telegraph through
favor Julie Whiteman. Leave wharf
2030. hrs. Look out Sydney.
Met Chenhall before going to bed
Double whisky from Padre Rodgers & into
bed.
12 OCT. (Fri) - Quiet day. Preparing for
tomorrow. To arrive Sydney 1000. disembark
first 1430.
C.J. Watson
Lieut
A.I.F.
VX39057
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