Diary of John William Cardwell Wyett, 1942 - Part 9

SATURDAY—August 1st, 1942
We moved today into the house
opposite & set up a new HQ.
The new mess is quite small &
consists of Col GALLEGHAN, Phil, Alex,
Glyn WHITE, Lee STAHLE, Curly, MAY
Joe VINCENT & myself. The new
cook is the ROSEBERY original & five
of us are also originals. Meals
today were very good & a great
improvement.
I developed a raging headache
after dinner & took 12 gr. quinine
before retiring.
The new sleeping quarters are breezy &
cook — a great change from the
hot verandah of the other house.
Lee STAHLE was up to dinner with
us with no bad effects.

SUNDAY—August 2nd, 1942
I awoke feeling fairly well after a
good nights rest. Very feverish for
the first portion and perspiring freely
for a couple of hours. However
the headache has gone.
I went to Church at 10.30 hrs, Padre
Jones taking the service, the first since
he had dengue. Although still
very weak he preached a very good
sermon about St. PAUL chained to
his guards yet still very happy in
his faith.
Had a yarn with Col THYER who
is still troubled with his gouty
leg & I thought was rather depressed. 

WEDNESDAY—August 5th, 1942
Two Australians arrived today. They are
Engr Lieut WARNER ^RANUR & Capt ANDREWS who
were captured when the AORAKI was
taken by a Jap raider & brought here.
They were en route to COLOMBO from
FREMANTLE & have some interesting tales
to tell, bringing news of Aust up to
June. Americans are apparently
there in force.
We are eating very much better &
I hope it will continue. The new
cook has some imagination. 

THURSDAY—August 6th, 1942
I spent the morning in the office, attending
the lecture during the afternoon. I walked
over to sigs with James THYER who was
morose. Chas gave us a cup of
tea & a biscuit — James was a little
cheerier when I we left.
After an early tea Col GALLEGHAN,
most of the staff & the Dutch generals
left in a party which I had
arranged for the play at 18 Div — "The
Dover Road". The show was
excellent, the acting being very polished
& the orchestra first-rate. The A.Q
took the leading part & gave an
excellent performance. Two female
impersonators were most realistic.
We had a supper of rice &
kipp herrings on our return after
which Col GALLEGHAN & I talked
tactics & the campaign generally until
after midnight.
FRIDAY—August 7th, 1942
I cannot help feeling that the Jap invasion of Aust
is imminent.
Alex announced at breakfast that the war
reduced Japan A party would leave about
11 Aug. Presumably this will be on the
Asama Maru which should arrive from 
LOURENCO MARQUES tomorrow.

THURSDAY—August 13th, 1942
Huff came over & Michael & I took
him down to the net as he has had
some experience in fishing around these
parts. It was larger than he had
thought but he did not consider we
would be likely to get a good bag, &
can thought small throws better. 

FRIDAY—August 14th, 1942
Life in the new house is very pleasant,
and meals with the smaller mess are
much improved. Petrol lamps
are a good light & we have some
very enjoyable games of "liar dice"
Chas WRIGHT gave a very good lecture on
ord w/shops.
SATURDAY—August 15th, 1942
Area comds conference.
Farewell gathering of offrs to bid goodbye
to G.O.C. went off well — THYER spoke
very well.
I saw Brig TAYLOR & suggested that he
might come but he refused. Col GALLEGHAN
asked GOC & staff to supper & saw
Brig TAYLOR, but he refuses to be
reconciled for the insults which he
asserts to have been offered to him.
Bill K-HUGHES kept popping in & out &
will remain to the end of his days
playing to the gallery. The visitors
all had a glass of beer from six
small bottles presented to Col GALLEGHAN
by the Jap guard from his working party
at SPORE. 

SUNDAY—August 16th, 1942
I have been trying too write this all day.
GUDGEON, HUFF & ? have just left
having brought over a tin of apricots which
we had for afternoon tea.
This morning we were all up before
dawn (6AM) & went round to the
barrack square where the "B" party for
JAPAN was mustering ready to embus.
31 per truck plus baggage left very
little room. They left about 0800
& we returned to H.Q. I attended
early morning communion & after breakfast
we went again to the barrack square
to bid farewell to the special party.
Gen CALLAGHAN, Col THYER, Col Kent HUGHES, Cols DERHAM, PIDGEON &
WHITE & Eng TAYLOR. Brig MAXWELL was found
unfit & remains. He objected to GOC this
morning about the order preventing his assuming
comd now or in future & stated he was fit.
Naturally, it appeared to be all a scheme to remain
especially as he disputed the order on the grounds
of what may happen when relieved. GOC dictated
a letter to CURLEWIS in the presence of Glyn WHITE
to stabilise Col GALLEGHAN'S position as comd. Mar
Pat GARDE tells me that Birg M is genuinely sick
& wanted to go.
MONDAY—August 17th, 1942
First conference at Malaya Comd after departure
of Japan parties. Alex T & I accompanied
CO. Don't think much of the collection
left. On the way back Col GALLEGHAN
blitzed several men for not saluting &
a party for marching badly.
ROBERTS reported trouble with some sgts who
were stopped going ex wire & trading
With black market. R wile show me
the spot.
Thompson produced some sausages which we
had for supper, R joining in. Afterward I
went for a stroll with him — very
interesting kids. 

TUESDAY—August 18th, 1942
I spent the morg at my desk after the
staff conference, missing the area comds
comp which took all the morning.
Afternoon spent planning with Mile.
11 Div concert party gave a show at the
Ca Depot — not so hot.
WEDNESDAY—August 19th, 1942
I left immediately after breakfast with Col GALLEGHAN

for comd H.Q. to attend a conf. re gloat
parade this afternoon. He ticked off the
guard for poor turn-out & so impressed the
2nd sentry standing a few yards down
the rd that he did not notice the
lack of armbands which we forgot to take.
Unimpressed by conf at M.C. Very hot
day for a parade — it would be.
However all went well in spite of four
changes in orders over the last 20 minutes.
Marching back into camp Col G took the
salute, the tps marching way well.
Rob called in & we played dice, going
for a stroll before bed. Sweet, moist
cake - biscuits with ginger inside & some pieces
of gula-kachang were very nice. Also
a couple of glasses.
The new Jap administrator is
Mag. Gen SHIMPEI FUKUYE, G.O.C. Prison of
War camps, MALAYA. 

THURSDAY—August 20th, 1942
Col HOLMES, now comd for/Aust tps &
COBLEY his G, came to lunch &
afterwards had a long chat with comd,
Mike & myself.
ROB called after tea & I met
McBRIDE who is a very pleasant &
efficient sort of person.
FRIDAY—August 21st, 1942
Was recalled during the morning from
my huddle with Mike HUNT to see POND
& JOHNSTON who were out from S'PORE.
Worked all afternoon.
Michael W. sent an ultimatum this
afternoon & seems very fed-up. 

SATURDAY—August 22nd, 1942
DAVIS was out today from a working party.
They are off PULAU BUKIM now & are in
much better health. About 10 days
ago a captured tanker was brought in
& one of the crew told someone they were
caught off the CELEBES.
I saw Michael W this afternoon & settled his
troubles, suggesting more individual work re
MA.
I had tea with "B" mess on the principle
of exchanging members every day. We had
just about finished when two trucks with
 the MERSING party arrived. This was
the first we had heard of them since
leaving. I was very pleased to see
Bruce ANDERSON back. They had 3
killed with the land-mines which they went
up to lift. 87% had malaria which
is taking heavy toll of the natives.
Tigers are a menace to the natives &
foot-pad marks are plentiful. An
attempted escape of 4 men was unsuccessful
& they only got as far as PULAU BABI BESAR
their boat having sprung a leak.
ENDAU — Jap grenades & amn washed ashore. 20 AIF & 4 airmen
executed by JAP during fighting. Remains of several JAP & Bn planes in
jungle. 2 soldiers & 2 airmen beheaded in trench.
GARWAHALI'S at PARIT SULONG part of 22 Ind Bde.
Jap 5 Imp Guards have great respect for 2/19 & 2/29 Bns AIF.
Stated very brave & good fights. Killed comd of regt &
SUNDAY—August 23rd, 1942
Bn comnd. This made Japs very angry. Incident of 150 men killed after
capture — roped — gunned — piled — petrol — burnt. Some AIF free in hills
north of PARIT SULONG. CHINESE guerillas causing trouble. JAPS
maintaining small garrisons at ry stations & alg rds & mg.
Remainder in pce to do as it pleases.