Diary of John William Cardwell Wyett, 1942 - Part 13

FRIDAY—October 16th, 1942
I had an amusing morning as Hedley S
sent a note saying that his pet which
we were to collect this morning had
disappeared. However the cook
produced the explanation later & I paw
the scheming craven again.
Comd & I then met Rob & proceeded
to the waterfront where the remaining
Red X personnel had foregathered. They
turned on a splendid lunch of bread &
butter, tongue, bully, chutney, green peas,
tinned tomatoes, tinned pears & cond milk.
I had a swim & we returned
via the hospital feeling mentally refreshed.
500 A I F (mostly 2/3 M G Bn) arrived today
from JAVA together with Americans & Br tps.

SATURDAY—October 17th, 1942
The usual conference finished early (1130). This
constitute a record. After lunch Comd, Max
Alex & I went over to Fairy Point to see the
party of 500 AIF who arrived from JAVA yesterday.
Capt KENNEDY is in charge (KENNEDY & WALSH engrs,
HOBART.) Their treatment in JAVA has been
pretty lousy & the conditions aboard ship just
frightful. 500 Americans were in the party
being personnel of a fd regt. They are mostly
Texans & very close-fisted. Although themselves
well fitted-out & holding a quantity of cash, they
offered nothing to the other PW. Lieut LYONS
a schoolmaster off the PERTH gave an
interesting account of the action. Although
the Dutch air recce reported that the SUNDA
Strs was clear, Dutch patrol ships received
word that they were closed. This was not
passed to PERTH who even so may have
got through had she not challenged.
I went to Con Depot after dinner to hear
PINAFORE recording c̄ Phil H & Bruce A. Then
for a stroll c̄ Rob who was dissappointed.
Four of the Java pty offrs came to supper
after the concert.
I called a George WORT (WILTS Regt c/o Cox & King)
adjt Malay Regt & asked him to come to
dinner on Thursday. I have been
calling him GUDGEON for months. 

SUNDAY—October 18th, 1942
The day broke wet & dull so I stayed
in bed for breakfast. As I had a
cold coming on I spent the rest of the day
in bed, feeling pretty miserable.

MONDAY—October 19th. 1942
My cold is clearing, but severe headache makes
life pretty dull. Another day in bed.
I hear that Gus KAPPE & Reg BRIDGLAND are
down with dengue. 

TUESDAY—October 20th, 1942
1500 more P W arrived from JAVA, 500 AIF
no AIF, all DUTCH. About 5000 are expected.

WEDNESDAY—October 21st, 1942 

THURSDAY—October 22nd, 1942
WORT is coming to dinner tonight.
I sent for LYONS to get the story of PERTH
& ROGERS came too, giving the HOUSTON story.
WORT arrived & enjoyed his meal. We
went to the AIF concert & came back
for supper. I find he is a great friend
to Rupert CROWDIE.
Rob received some interesting stuff which
interested Curly.

FRIDAY—October 23rd, 1942
A Jap truck come out this morning from SPORE
to take the concert party to BLAKANG MATI for
some celebration being held there. OKASAKI
refused permission to allow them to be taken
& they tried to get the instruments instead.
I went to Con Depot c̄ comd & on to see

Gus KAPPE who is almost recovered from his dengue.
Reg BRIDGLAND was up.
We received word today that 7000 English
tps are being moved from CHANGI shortly.
Practically all 11 Div will be going.
I have a splitting headache & feel rather like
dengue. Went to be immediately after
tea. 

SATURDAY—October 24th, 1942
The usual morng conference & a MALAY
lesson during the afternoon.
After an early tea I went for a walk
via 18 Div meeting Rob & his friend.
After leaving them I called on SUTHERLAND
who is very busy getting the parties
detailed for movement up country. 3,900 of
them are going in 5 days time, presumably
to BANKOK. 7000 PW will be moved
during the next few days. AIF are remaining
for the time being.

SUNDAY—October 25th, 1942
Rain after dinner prevented church parades &
PEACH & I went for a stroll, calling on
Gus K, Ken B & Buck. We had supper
tonight consisting of bully & M & V. The rations
are much improved due to the Red X issues
& everyone feels much better. 

MONDAY—October 26th, 1942
I went over to MC with PEACH this
morning & called on MANSFIELD, only to find
that he had gone with a party up
north, probably to BANGKOK. He left a
note & some gear for me. I called on
COOKE who has remained because he is on
local purchase.
We had a look round the area while
we were there 1\1.
On the way home, we got rather wet &
arrived late for lunch.
Rob & I went for a stroll after tea. Tonight
is the second night of blackout.
ll Div area is very quiet now that most
of them have departed. They went overseas
somewhere as most of them are unfit to
march & had to be carried by boat.

Y Block
Changi
Dear Wyet,
We are leaving
for up country at very short
notice tomorrow morning
(Monday). Sorry I couldn't
get in touch with you before
moving off but you know what
it's like.
After this show is
over I would very much like
to hear from you and if my
wife & kiddy are still in Hobart
I may go down there for my
well earned leave!!
You can get in touch
with me c/o Shell Co of Australia
(Marine Staff) Melbourne, Aust. 

Cheers & all the best.
Good luck
Frank Lansfield
I'm sending along all
my bits and pieces of
you know what — if
you can make use of
go ahead.
FL
26 October 1942.

TUESDAY—October 27th, 1942
After the usual morning conference Alan HILL & I
played about with details of the peep-bo which
we finally settled during the afternoon. Col PARKER
was over re PT demonstration which we are
holding until the Dutch tps have departed.
1000 arrived this afternoon & are going into ll Div
area.
I saw Clem H after tea & we played a few games
of dice. As I was duty offr I could
not go out. Comd dined c̄ 18/26 Bn &
returned about 2230. We talked about
full dress uniforms & regalia until nearly
midnight. 

WEDNESDAY—October 28th, 1942
I spent most of the day on my diagrams.
During the morning LAMMERCRAFT came out with
a man for detention - juice pinching. Yank
was with the truck. He deposited three
small packets of cheroots with in the comd's
basket on his desk, later asking for some
sox. We milked some juice & everyone
was happy. Cocoanuts can be very refreshing when
one is thirsty.
THURSDAY—October 29th, 1942 

FRIDAY—October 30th, 1942
SATURDAY—October 31st, 1942
I attended the AIF concert tonight & enjoyed it
thoroughly. Gen HEATH went with comd.
MACDONALD did some good water-colour diagrams
for me. McALLISTER came over & yarned for
quite a time. 

MEMORANDUM
28 Gen HEATH, Brig MAXWELL & 550 AIF left for overseas.