Papers relating to the service of Cyril John Watson, 1941-1945 - Part 8

MARCH 1942
SUNDAY 1st
Communion 0830
Monday 2nd
Tuesday 3rd
Wednesday 4th
Parade for Japanese Naval
Officers.
 

MARCH 1942
5*
Thursday 5th

Friday 6th
Chas. birthday. Made him
biscuit in cookhouse.
Saturday 7th
Notes
 

MARCH 1942
SUNDAY 8th
Move from East side of Changi
rd to the West side. Gordon’s
Oficers mess. Spent night
on Padang.
Monday 9th
Move into new quarters.
Pretty good surroundings.
Diet now consists of rice
with flavourings.
Tuesday 10th
Saw Rossie in hospital.
Just fair. Looks very thin.
Wednesday 11th
O S.
X
Rossie moves to Roberts
Barracks.
 

MARCH 1942
Thursday 12th
Wiring party on beach
Dysentery started
Rained hard today.
Friday 13th
Capt. Brown to Singapore.
Wiring again.
Gave Browny $10.
Saturday 14th
More wiring.
Saw guns on beach & talked
with Japanese Officers.
Getting used to rice
Notes
X
 

MARCH 1942
SUNDAY 10th
Communion 0830hrs under tree
Memorial service for fallen. Taken
by Padre Dean. Honor Rolls read
Major Schneider to Singapore
with work party. (45 OR’s)
Monday 16th
R.O.O. Day quiet enough.
Tuesday 17th
St Patricks Day
Agriculture in morning.
O.C scroungers in afternoon.
Good hand from Loyang barracks
Wednesday 18th
Sent on scrounging party
early in morning.
Classes in afternoon
 

MARCH 1942
Thursday 19th
Returned [[?]] scrounged
goods in morning.
Friday 20th
B.O.O.
Friday Dis
Writing up War Diary.
Batns to R.H.Q.
Saturday 21st
Agriculture party in morning
Writing War diary in afternoon
Detailed for Singapore in [[?]]
party (18 O.R’s). Working [[?]]
augers all night. For bore hole
latrines
 

MARCH 1942
SUNDAY 22nd
Bty on duty. No Singapore
work party yet. Good news
tonight. Writing war diary.
News is Italy’s Atlantic fleet, McArthur
Monday 23rd
Still in barracks. R.H.A. pde
for G.O.C. Address by him.
[[Obtained?]] R.O.O. tonight.
Tuesday 24th
R.O.O.
Very easy day. Tried roasting
rice today. Fair success
Two scones today. Shower late,
strolled, then to bed. Not sleeping too well.
Wednesday 25th
[[Padre?]] & I collected wood, rations
[[?]] Very little to do
these days. Naafi say News
good but musn’t be released
(Bullo.) Rice still mouldy.
 

MARCH 1942
Thursday 26th
Parade for Japanese General
I.C wood & ration party
Meals just fair.
Friday 27th
B.O.O.
Quiet day
Saturday 28th
Quiet day. Started reading
A.T. Vol II. Rice very starchy
& hard to take. Another SING:
party standing by. Vance i/c
Notes
 

MARCH-APRIL 1942
SUNDAY 29th
Shower in morning. On wood &
ration party. Play [[?]]
& Church service in afternoon
Discussion by C.R.A. on emergency
measures.
Monday 30th
Manning detail &c. today
Them shorthand &c. Shower.
Game of solo after [[mess?]].
Mount R.O.O.
Tuesday 31st
R.O.O.
Rice has lime & sulpher in it.
Not too good. Mjr. Blanksby to go
back to G.B.D. Padre O’Donovan (RC)
[[?]] to us.
APRIL
Wednesday 1st
Changes around Btys. Toller to
16 Bty as Capt – Mjr Schneider to
16 Bty. Browny to O.C – 13 Bty. Flett,
Keaton to 13 Bty. I am R.O. 13 Bty.
 

APRIL 1942
Thursday 2nd
Agriculture party. Rained [[?]]
New rumours of Java [[?]]
first. Rice pretty good again
Friday 3rd
Good Friday
Church service at 0830 hrs.
Our N. Gate guard [[?]]
off our working party [[?]]
Saturday 4th
Off guard 1030 hrs to wood
party leave. Only [[?]]
Writing war diary. [[?]]
weather about 1600 hrs each
Notes
day now. Have lawn mower
converted to rice grinder, does
good job. News still has very
optimistic note. Talk of [[reinfts?]]
in 21 days. (Roosevelt)
 

[*Prices Black Market
Bully beef - $5 Milk - $3*]
APRIL 1942
SUNDAY 5th
Easter Day
Salt water party all day. Good job.
Swim in afternoon. Walk & chat
with Monty.
Monday 6th
B.O.O. Took ration party to
Arty. square with trailer. Saw
Shrivens. Bob Seddon pretty
crook. (leg amputated). Rossy very
[[low?]]. $5 to L.J.M.B.
Tuesday 7th
R.O.O. Rice fairly good, but
one meal of crook rice per day.
Shifted quarters last night.
Wednesday 8th
[[Steward?]] day. Many duties.
Coconut scrounging in afternoon.
C.O. to be [[next?]]. Everything
posh. Had baked rice & coconut,
rice patties with meat paste
apricots & rice, biscuit & roll.
Concert party performed.
 

APRIL 1942
Thursday 9th
Rolls for Singapore party.
A.A.S.C ration party. Had trouble
with men. 10 on charge sheets
Missed concert. C.O. has chat with men
Saw Shrivens again today
Friday 10th
Standing by for Sing. Work party.
Trnsfd. this morning from 13 Bty.
to R.H.Q. Start Regt parade. Long
talk with C.O. Evening saw L.J.M.O. &
arranged to go to hospital. Lecture in evening
Saturday 11th
Officers up 0750 hrs & to shave before parade
Take over R.O.O. for morning. Go with
Maj. Blanksby & Concert Party to Hosp.
See Rossy, Bob Seddon. [[?]]
ill but are doing well.
Notes
Officers & Sgts. lecture on [[?]]
 

APRIL 1942
SUNDAY 12 th
Quiet day. Play reading in afternoon
saw A. Lilley & had chat.
Game bridge after tea, then bed.
Saw Monty in afternoon.
Monday 13th
Dentist at 1000 hrs. Put off till Thursday.
Detailed for Rationn party to A.A.S.C.
Trailer returns Empty. Officers do stick
drill. Evening sing song. Bed de-bugged.
Tuesday 14th
Rations stolen in night.
Medical course & Malay.
Work in garden in afternoon.
Evening-bridg & read.
Wednesday 15th
[[?]] working party. All day.
Pleasure to get away. Concert
in evening, it is very good.
Prisoners let out. (some laugh)
Medical course wiped. Will persevere
with malay.

APRIL 1942
Thursday 16th
Dentist 1000 hrs. Bill [[?]] fixed
me up. Had one filling.
Hospital at lunch time with food.
Afternoon on lawn. Lecture C.O evening.
Friday 17th
R.O.O. Quiet day. Have bit of time
to myself. Malay in afternoon.
Concert in evening. Very good.
Chat with A.B.
Saturday 18th
Heavy rain at Reveille & continues
till nearly 1200 hrs. Visited dentist
& had teeth cleaned. Bit of sewing.
Collecting ferns in afternoon.
Lecture Adj. McBain evening on
Notes
Re-org. Mess spruced up. 

APRIL 1942
SUNDAY 10th
Communion 0815 hrs. parade for C.R.A.
at 1000 hrs & march past. Gen Percival
entertained in mess & inspects Guard
of [[?]]. Hobbies exhibition.
Monday 20th
Agriculture in morning
Afternoon in kitchen.
cards after mess. Bed debugged
Tuesday 21st
had eyes tested. Quite good but
slight conjunctivitis. Spent
day inside after drops. Walked
round & chatted with Maj. Blanksby.
Wednesday 22nd
Job of A.A.G.M.M.O. Erected stage
Wood collecting party in afternoon.
Wet through. Concert again, very
good. Rice is good these days.
Food situation pretty fair. News
seems good.

APRIL 1942
Thursday 23rd
Wrong drops in eyes
Standing by for Sing. Work party.
Work in garden in afternoon. Lecture
C.R.A. evening. Mount as R.A.A. on
barrack square.
Friday 24th
R.O.O. Washed some socks.
drizzled rain in afternoon. Trunks
have been arriving out here, lately
Heard am to attend school. Bridge
with John, Vern & George.
Saturday 25th
Anzac Day.
Dawn Service at 0715 hrs. [[?]]
at 0820 hrs. Quiet day again.
Visited hospital with [[?]] in
afternoon. Rossy & Bob doing fair
Notes
Read book by candlelight.
 

APRIL 1942
SUNDAY 26th
Church parade 1030 hrs. Then to Ord.
re Rossy’s glasses. Report to school
at 1530 hrs. return for Mess.
Good – Pasty, patties, and biscuits
Return to bed on floor.
Monday 27th
School begins. Lecture Parade
for G.O.C, then lecture by Col. Hyer
on Discipline. V.G. Afternoon
drill, lecture. Evening students
lectures. Food fair.
Tuesday 28th
Drill - Lecture A.M.R & O. – Lunch.
Drill M.I - Lecture Org of Arty [[?]] -
P.T - Tea- Lectures students.
Things going pretty well.
Wednesday 29th
Tojo declares holiday. No parades.
Lecture by Lt.-Col. Anderson V.C.
Lunch. Questionaire period by G.S.O.I.
P.T. – Tea – Students lectures.
Over to Regt, saw concert, supper.
Back to bed. Furphy – Stand by for 24 hrs

APRIL-MAY 1942
Thursday 30th
Drill - Lecture Arty. – Lunch – M.I.
- Lecture on Subalterns Comd - Tea
- lectures. Take over Squad. O.O.
Tin of pineapple yesterday.
MAY
Friday 1st
0805 hrs. Admin. Parade. 1030 Drill
Lecture on Mil. Law. Lunch. Drill M.I.
memory training – Tea – Concert.
Found photos. Letter from Father.
Saturday 2nd
usual routine - Lecture on Arty.
Memory Panorama in afternoon.
Evening lectures. Shorts R.A.A. returned.
Another letter from Chas. (“Home in Sept”)
Meals fair. Furphy going round re
Notes
transfer of P.W on 15th inst. – [?]]
to Kential island for feeding.
 

MAY 1942
SUNDAY 3rd
Church Parade – lunch - writte
Essay on “Discipline”, then free.
Issue of yeast from Regt. This is
being taken a lot not. Regular supplies
are being arranged.
Monday 4th
2 [[?]] walk from Regt.
Same daily routine. Lectures on
Engineers. Results Memory tests.
Mine were good average. Stabby
off to Singapore. Sent in Fathers slippers
$3 from M Bain. Browny sent out food.
Tuesday 5th
Gen. Percival inspects School &
gives talk. Usual drill. Question
G.S.O.I.
Wednesday 6th
Usual day. Lecture Medical Services
and Quiz session. Quite good.
Stroll over to Unit building in evening,
Finished tin milk today. V.G. 
 

General rumor that we are leaving here
seems to be confirmed. Supposed 5000 [[?]]
leaving for overseas. Some betting home on
30 June 42.
MAY 1942
Thursday 7TH
daily routine- Stick Drill Brig Taylor
gives talk on “Action at Musing”
Told Work. Party going overseas. Rumor
rife. Got Comb & Tunic K.D. today.
Good meals today with tin beans. Extra.
Friday 8th
Usual routine. Mount O/O in
evening. Concert, then shower.
Talked frank Woods, - concert party
full of “home on 20th June”.
Saw Fottiers, Rossys trunks today.
Saturday 9th
School O.O. - usual drill, lectures.
Period of teasers V.G. - Over to
see Vance with washing. Had beans
for supper with J.V. - The goods.
Notes
A working party, for service overseas,
has been called for. Great speculation
as to possibilities &c. Anyway it
fills life with hope for some time.
Good News (dinkum I hope) re Naval
battle – 16  J ships down.