Diary of John William Cardwell Wyett, 1942 - Part 14

MEMORANDUM

SUNDAY—1 NOVEMBER 1st, 1942

Clem H & I went to SA where we saw further

evidence of the elaborate work done in preparing the

SPORE fortress, all wasted on account of the limited

vision of those planning the defence for what

is required to hold a fortress.

In the evening I went with Phil H, Glyn WHITE,

Joh KENNETT, HANGAR & PEACH to a concert at

18 Div. It was a good show with Br,

Aust, USA & DUTCH reps playing. We had

supper afterwards with Col McOSTRICH comd 18 Div

Sigs who is going north tomorrow.

The night was cool & we had an enjoyable

walk home. Cocoanut palms never seem to

lose their charm when silhouetted against the

sky even under these conditions.

MONDAY—November 2nd, 1942

McALISTER & I went to MC with Robby &

on to George WORT where we had some

orange squash which Rob had bought.

On the hill the Japs were moving bits from 

the 6" bty.

Mac & I went across the valley in SA.

Comd had 6 teeth extracted this

afternoon & is feeling a bit dicky. I gave

him a tin of State Express tobacco & 

some paper which I have been saving.  

Word came today that 60 messages a

month will be broadcast from P/W. Allotment

will be made by lottery.

TUESDAY—November 3rd, 1942

I went to cemetery with Padre Jones & PEACH

to arrange the placing of tps for the commemoration

service next Sunday (Armistice Sunday).

The cemetery looks very well & ELLIOTT & his 

team are doing excellent work. 

In the afternoon I caught up on some of my 

Malay with Reg BRIDGLAND.

After tea Phil, Bruce A & I went to HANGAR'S

room to listen to some records. The

light has been off for some days as to a 

break in the cable.

All the morning was occupied with a conference.

The guard reported that a SIKH had gone

missing & they were knocking people about.

PEACH & I went to see the gd comd but

did not get far owing to language difficulty.

A party of Japs came out this morning & took

photos of us at breakfast & in the mess.

The are for the red X. We tried 

to get them to photograph some of the

mens' quarters without avail. This

sort of thing may be good propaganda but

it gives an altogether wrong picture.

WEDNESDAY—November 4th, 1942

Saturday

Comd went to MC to meet Jap reps for a 

discussion on contraction of areas now that

many tps have departed from CHANGI.

1000 Java tps have arrived last night & are

quartered with us.

Comd is somewhat better today but his face 

is very swollen.

THURSDAY—November 5th, 1942

I spent the morning trying to silver some glass

without much success. Ken B came in towards 

the end & managed a fair effort. I have

given him the job to finish.

BOYD came over during the afternoon & we had a 

yarn about tin-mining in MALAYA. His father

is chairman of directors of MT MORGAN.

On my way over the bde gp after tea I met

ABRAMOVITCH who had heard that Lt. Cols were to

go to JAPAN. This was confirmed later from 

M.C. I yarned to Gus & his offrs for

awhile sitting outside his quarters. Pat GARDE

came along later & objected to our cigarettes

as he had issued orders preventing smoking.

Chas was surprised & apparently none too pleased.

Pat is becoming somewhat objectionable lately &

several people have mentioned the matter.

I heard of someone in SPORE selling a house &

also a truck.

CO's mouth is better but his face is very

swollen still.

FRIDAY—November 6th, 1942

I went to hosp after lunch & saw Sgt YAPP who is

ill with diarrhoea & beri-beri. He was in

P.W. camp at BANGKOK & was sentenced to 5yrs

solitary confinement because of trying to escape. There

are 10-12 Aust tps as well as English, Chinese,

& Malays imprisoned there.

We received notification this evening that Lt. Cols are

NOT to move to Japan, only the senior offrs left

from original move. This means that Gen HEATH

& Brig MAXWELL will be off soon. I saw Brig M

this afternoon & he seems fairly well but very pale.

Late this evening a sudden order came for

200 to move into SPORE for a work party. This

meant a good deal of late work.

In yesterday's SYONAN Times messages from Gen PERCEVAL

Sir SHENTON THOMAS & others thanking some Jap offr

for cigarettes. They are apparently in FORMOSA.

On my way home from the hosp. I met Sgt Cpl SOMERVAILE

who had been doing a job at RE workshops. Half a

dozen Japs were sweeping up & he got one of them

to hold the job while he was working on it. This

is indeed cooperation.

SATURDAY—November 7th, 1942

TUESDAY—November 10th, 1942

Stewart PEACH & I went to interview comd

US tps at CH FAIREY point & asked him to

dinner tomorrow.

I saw Lee STAHLE who looks very well.

WEDNESDAY—November 11, 1942

I went to the hosp to interview a couple of

AIF who are sick & have been sent out from

OUTRAM gaol. They have been in solitary 

confinement for 6 months, allowed out about 2 hrs

each day & for 2 months they were fed only on
rice. For the past 2 months they have

been unable to walk & have crawled into

and out of their cells. Medical attention

has been nil and only the death of two

English tps res effected their transfer to

hospital here. I had lunch with Cotter HARVEY.

After tea I went with KOOY to the

concert. KOOY is in a state of nerves

& a bit of relaxation will do him good.

ABRAMOVITCH & his ruffians would drive anyone

mad.

Lt Col THARP sent an apology to our

invitation to dinner.

THURSDAY—November 12th, 1942

Lt Col McEACHEARN came out this morning with Maj

JOHNSON & a few others to consult about what is

to be inscribed on the BUKIT TIMAH memorial.

A member of 2/18 bn who did not salute

comd last night & was insolent when checked

was charged this morning. His cheeky attitude 

will get him into trouble when he comes up

again.

Blackout tonight.

FRIDAY—November 13th, 1942

This is a day and date full of reminiscences. David's 

birthday was a Friday & the 13^th; my promotion to

G2 also Friday 13^th & also my last note

to Con which may or may not have arrived.

Clem HILL & I hopped on a Jap truck going to

the RE workshops & thus got in past the gate.

The place is stiff with Nips & 100 personnel (20

of ours) are to live there & work the machines.

We had a look round & a yarn to 

Maj KOE, who is o/c, about the peep-bo.

On the return journey we had tea

with George WORT & hailed a Jap truck

along the rd. We climbed aboard

but he turned off thro 18 div & then 

down towards the beach so we stopped

him. As we walked off he backed 

the truck towards us & handed out my

pencil which I had apparently dropped in

the truck - very honest action of the Nip.

After dinner I went early to bed but was

pulled out of a visit from Rob. It looks

as if his pal has proved untrustworthy.

We had a run before bed. The

blackout precautions are well kept although

Jap cars are using full headlights.

SATURDAY—November 14th, 1942

A fairly uneventful day. I went to hear

the recorded classical music at Con Depot after

dinner & Reg B & I had an hour's Malay with

BOYD afterwards.

THARP did not turn up to dinner — he may

not have received our my note.

SUNDAY—November 15th, 1942

Today we have been prisoners for just 9 months.

Phil keeps tab of the days as they pass & announces

the day number from time to time.

WEDNESDAY—November 18th, 1942

I spent some time during the afternoon with

Tom M, Carl G & Tim HOGG afterwards trying

some experiments in silvering. During the

evening we had some records. Rob brought

some word in later & had cocoa with us.

THURSDAY—November 19th, 1942

Col McE came out today with 50 sick personnel

Most of his camp are moving to River Vy Rd leaving

only 400. JOHNO comes out this afternoon with

pedalgia. CO far from pleased.

FRIDAY—November 20th, 1942

SATURDAY—November 21st, 1942

TAMRA BUTAI move off today with many others.

KENNEDY gave a lecture on SYRIA to all offrs this

afternoon & spoke well. I had a few minutes

MALAY with BOYD & Reg B beforehand.

After tea I took my usual stroll & retired

early to bed.

SUNDAY—November 22nd, 1942

468 arrived from Bt TIMAH today, 3, 4 & 5 camps now

being closed. TAMRA BUTAI are moving off suddenly

& consequently P's W are returned to CHANGI. McEACHERN

is incl in the party.  His wangling has gone

for nought. This will necessitate some changes 

of comd here & Bill JEATER will probably come to HQ.

2/30 are having their 2nd anniversary today.

I went to hosp to see one of Curly's men who 

has returned sick with some trouble with one eye.

He talked for a bit & I think will be O.K.

Sheets are short at the hosp & he mentioned

having seen some in SPORE of Aust pattern being loaded.

I call over to see Chang DUKE & had

cocoa & a cheroot with him. Later I

called in to see Hedley SUMMONS & had more

cocoa.

On my return I saw comd with a group 

of 2/30 offrs & men, going from him to see

Chas K & Chas WRIGHT. After that I

saw TINKLER & chatted for a bit on my return 

so that I had a fairly late night.

During the afternoon I went with comd Glyn W

& Mac to a memorial service at 18 Div for

Maj Gen BECKWITH-SMITH who dies from diphtheria

in FORMOSA. It was a very well-conducted 

service.