Diary of John William Cardwell Wyett, 1942 - Part 16

THURSDAY - December 10th, 1942

It has scarcely stopped raining now for four days.

Last night the rain came down in torrents all

night and this morning it continues. Everything

is extremely damp and before long will go

mouldy if the rain continues.

I am trying to help indoors today as all my

footwear is wet.

 

THURSDAY - December 17th, 1942

We were all up early for breakfast at 0800 hrs ready

to line CHANGI rd by 0930. Timing of units out

the gate working out admirably. I unfortunately did

not see Fred STAHLE as Pde were coming out & divided

the column. There was the inevitable fuss & I had to

apologise to Chas KAPPE. Comd also went at me for

having [[mats?]] take at Chas X's lecture & I had to apologise 
once again - rather a good start for the morning.

The Japs were in position for two ^an hour before the gen

arrived & then had to wait another hour until

he returned. All then marched past cond & 

Lt- Col FRITH, the concert party playing as a band &

keeping atrocious time.

In the evening I arranged & Chas WRIGHT for work

to be done in getting the place in order & then

went on a lone patrol after black-market operations.

I had a most amusing evening. Firstly I met noone

en-route until I saw two tommies near a house.

They were apparently fairly new, &  were caught by MALAY

police on the return journey. However, when one told

the MALAY that he had given him a  shirt on

another occasion they were allowed to proceed. I went

with them in spite of some half-hearted questions. The tommies were wearing

boots & were very noisy. I sat on a mound of sand for a bit &

then four Dutchies appeared, three of them laden. They all smelt of

whiskey & one carried an innocuous - looking ash stick  stick with a thin silver band.

I met them later talk to the police whom they paid $5. They gave me

a servg of Chinese whiskey & one , a big black-bearded fellar with the stick

promised a bottle of B&W whiskey on night 24/25 Dec at 2300hrs. He also

offered milk at 50c a tin & I am to meet him outside 18 Div gate at

2100hrs tomorrow.

 

FRIDAY- December 18th, 1942

Pte WESTON called to see me this morning on the matter

of Red X stores being sold in the hosp area.  ROBERTS was

here and gave him $5 to make a purchase of some

marmite.

Col JEATER talked for a long time about the movements

& operation of GBD during hostilities on the island where

they started off as reinforcement of bde under Div

Chas KAPPE gave his third lecture on ops in MALAYA

this afternoon.

WESTON called later to report. He has done very

well & should get a good line-up shortly.
 

SATURDAY - December 19th, 1942

A fairly uneventful day. The night I spent on

a watch patrol to catch some of the BM ring

who are going to collect about $2000 worth of

goods. EATON arranged the inside

watch for all gates & WHARTON, MAY, PEACH &

myself remained out until 0600 hrs without 

any result.

 

SUNDAY- December 20th, 1942

Today we changed the quarters round as we

must compress somewhat in view of the 6000 tps

coming back from SPORE.

I spent the morning in bed until 1400hrs to

make up on a little sleep.

In the evening PEACH, McALISTER & myself were

ready for the BM operations who did not

go out last night but caught four others

instead. 

 

MONDAY - December 21st, 1942

Reg BRIGLAND moved in today & is sleeping next

to me. Alec T has moved into comds room.

In his appointment as AQ he is very closely in

touch with comd & I feel a bit out of it.

There has been a good deal of reorganisation the

last four days & I feel that I should be
rather more in the picture. Phils suggestion

that there should be clear coordination of

A&Q has rather put him out of affairs & 

looks like absorbing me too - certainly not if I 

can help it. 

 

TUESDAY-December 22, 1942

Curly came out today with a party from SPORE.

He seems very fit & had an interesting time

at Rive Vy Rd camp, seeing much of the island

& harbour - the course of various work.

He is going to Bde as I O in a few days time.
 

WEDNESDAY - December 23rd, 1942

Up early this morning and to 11 Ind Div with DAVIE our

half-jap interpreter (father a Scot) to deliver toys to the

gaol. Two trailer-loads in all. Arrived at the Jap

HQ for No1 PoW camp ( CHANGI) we had a long wait whilst

arrangement were held up pending the arrival of the General.

Much commotion because we had no list resulted in our

being hastily prepared in shelter. The toys were then

formally handed over & then handed on to a rep from general

PoW HQ in the house opposite.  We then reloaded 

the trailers and proceeded to the gaol entrance for delivery

(thanks to James). Several parcels, including an embroidered

quilt were sent by the women inmates to Nipponese wounded

in SPORE & returned by them for our hospital. I saw 

several of the men & had as interesting yarn to them. 

They are in fairly good trim although crowded three to a

cell. The lady commandant came down after the

rest of the trailer party had gone and expressed their

sincere thanks for the toys & money ($1070) . They were

pathetically grateful. 500 tps AIF ex SPORE

arrived as I was leaving. In a few days they

will all be back from SPORE. (6000 in all ) & the

camp will be very full once more.

A rather abrupt order from MC re discipline &

fraternising . c̅ Japs annoyed BJ & he sent me over

to Col HOLMES with a personal note of protest. I 

thought ' Eb' was a bit upset. After dinner at night

I went to 11 Div to see a mock trial which was

rather humorous & very well done.

Later, after return to camp, I rode round & round

quite a bit of movement, also two breaks . the wire

THURSDAY - December 24th, 1942
Today is Xmas Eve & is one of those glorious days all
too rare in Malaya. There is a slight, cool
breeze & the humidity  must be down v considerably.
It reminds me considerably of the warm sunny days
at Quetta towards the end of the cause.
A year ago today I was in Calcutta, at the St Easton
with Rupert Crardie, Bill Collison & Maurice Russell.
Clem H was in this morning & I arranged c̅ with him for a
small digging party in a couple of days' time.
About 1600 hrs I went to the gaol c̅ Lieut DAVIE, an
interpreter, to ask JAMES to come along for supper
He unfortunately could not & I had a long yarn c̅
him during which he told me that he had sent a
gift of pork to the hospital. (This was seized later
by the Japs). Two MANCH OR's were
marched in while I was there & handed over to
me. I went with them to CURRAH CAMP to
collect their gear & there saw a Russian from
Blakang Mati camp named NICK. He was in
detention under suspicion of getting news & was expecting
to be shot. He gave me his wife's address.
Maj MOORE came over to an orchestral concert after
tea & we had supper with many other guests of
the mess. I saw Rob home & got a
bottle of samen for the mess.
 

[* Mrs I. M. Nick
c/o Mrs. A. W Pope
VERCAUD SALEM
South India *]
 

all ranks.
where they are
relations. No

urch service conducted
very good address.
marched past
was excellent
ave just returned

duck, celery soup &
to see a game

limes & a little
table "gimlet" &
provided just a
opportunity of
N for his sterling
& he replied at

tle cold pork with
vegetables & completed the three meals for the day
entirely without rice. At lunch-time, most
of the offrs waited on the 60 odd men att to HQ
& they all had a good time.
In the evening I paid a visit to George WORT who
produced a bottle of samen & insisted on my
consuming two generous snorts. I felt mildly
exhilirated on leaving & called on Col HOLMES to bid

him good cheer. I sat on the roof with DUKE & SHEAN

until 1300 hrs before going home.
 

Mrs I. M. Nick
c/o Mrs. A. W Pope
VERCAUD SALEM
South India
 

 

THURSDAY - December 24th, 1942
Today is Xmas Eve & is one of those glorious days all
too rare in Malaya. There is a slight, cool
breeze & the humidity  must be down v considerably.
It reminds me considerably of the warm sunny days
at Quetta towards the end of the cause.
A year ago today I was in Calcutta, at the St Easton
with Rupert Crardie, Bill Collison & Maurice Russell.
Clem H was in this morning & I arranged c̅ with him for a
small digging party in a couple of days' time.
About 1600 hrs I went to the gaol c̅ Lieut DAVIE, an
interpreter, to ask JAMES to come along for supper
He unfortunately could not & I had a long yarn c̅
him during which he told me that he had sent a
gift of pork to the hospital. (This was seized later
by the Japs). Two MANCH OR's were
marched in while I was there & handed over to
me. I went with them to CURRAH CAMP to
collect their gear & there saw a Russian from
Blakang Mati camp named NICK. He was in
detention under suspicion of getting news & was expecting
to be shot. He gave me his wife's address.
Maj MOORE came over to an orchestral concert after
tea & we had supper with many other guests of
the mess. I saw Rob home & got a
bottle of samen for the mess.
 

FRIDAY - December 25th, 1942
Today is Xmas day, & a holiday for all ranks.
A party went down to the gaol where they are
being allowed to see their wives & relations. No
AIF are included.
I accompanied comd to the bde church service conducted
by Padre POLAIN where he gave a very good address.
1500 attended quite voluntarily & marched past
comd afterwards. The marching was excellent
considering that most of the men have just returned
from working parties.
After an excellent dinner of roast duck, celery soup &
plum pudding I went with comd to see a game
of Aust rules football.
By the judicious use of a couple of limes & a little
sugar, the samen made a creditable "gimlet" &
Phil produced some brandy which provided just a
taste for everyone. I seized the opportunity of
proposing a toast to Lt Col GALLEGHAN for his sterling
work here. It was well received & he replied at
length, stressing our team spirit.
The evening meal comprised a little cold pork with
vegetables & completed the three meals for the day
entirely without rice. At lunch-time, most
of the offrs waited on the 60 odd men att to HQ
& they all had a good time.
In the evening I paid a visit to George WORT who
produced a bottle of samen & insisted on my
consuming two generous snorts. I felt mildly
exhilirated on leaving & called on Col HOLMES to bid

him good cheer. I sat on the roof with DUKE & SHEAN

until 1300 hrs before going home.
 

SATURDAY - December 26th, 1942
Work started again in earnest today & I spent
a busy morning. In the afternoon I
went to the Southern Area where I had a
chat with Maj PORTAL who is a pleasant
cove.
I represented comd at 11 Div where I went
for the evening meal. This was only poor
& I had to sit through the mock trial
again.
 

SUNDAY - December 27th, 1942
After breakfast I [[?]] all gps to notify comds
of the course which is starting about the first
week of the new year.
Chas K sent a note to comd objecting to Alex T's
attitude and chaffy comments re his sigs. I'm
afraid Chas is a trouble-maker & rather a snake.
 

SATURDAY - December 26th, 1942
Work started again in earnest today & I spent
a busy morning. In the afternoon I
went to the Southern Area where I had a
chat with Maj PORTAL who is a pleasant
cove.
I represented comd at 11 Div where I went
for the evening meal. This was only poor
& I had to sit through the mock trial
again.
 

SUNDAY - December 27th, 1942
After breakfast I [[?]] all gps to notify comds
of the course which is starting about the first
week of the new year.
Chas K sent a note to comd objecting to Alex T's
attitude and chaffy comments re his sigs. I'm
afraid Chas is a trouble-maker & rather a snake.