Diary of John William Cardwell Wyett, 1942 - Part 10

MONDAY - August 24th, 1942

 

TUESDAY- August 25th, 1942 
After the usual conference Miles HUNT & I
did some work. About 1630 I proceeded to
YC where I made a small fire-pot,
lining it with asbestos rope.
After tea, being duty offr, I remained in.

Bruce ANDERSON came round & we had a
long yarn. He is interested in trying out
the fishing & will come to inspect the
net.
We had a long talk with regard to his
experiences at MERSING. JAPANESE
hold two main doctrines - the spirit of
SAMURAI & BUSHIDO. Former is the old war
spirit where every enemy is a bad man & must
be killed, whether wounded or captured. We
were so many that the friendly spirit of
BUSHIDO has to apply. Red Cross is
respected & amb not molested. Medical personnel
are killed unless actually helping wounded.
Jap med personnel all fight except doctors -
wounded are evacuated when time permits. If
captured they must kill themselves. All the
personnel of Jap army fight incl bde comds
& they cannot understand our large number of
adm personnel. Jap soldiers cook in pairs -
no central cooking. Good use of bicycles - carried
thro swamps etc. NO bde or bn office
in battle - trained to advance only - central
objective & go all out to get it.

 

WEDNESDAY - August 26th, 1942

I spent most of the morning attending a conference

at MC with Col G. We called at the

hosp on the way back & I stood under

a fan for the first time for over 6 months.

Washed most of the afternoon with Mike H &

the heads of penices.

After tea I saw Michael W who has

drawn some very good diagrams for a 

new peep-bo.

My fire-bucket has set well & I

am very pleased with it.

Later went for a stroll with Rob &

Max Bride.

 

THURSDAY - August 27th, 1942

Lee STAHLE is still down but looks well.

I am inclined to think that the medical

appreciation is right and that he is bluffing

himself into sickness.

Col HOLMES paid a visit to the are this

morning, nearly all area comds at tea first.

 

 

FRIDAY - August 28th, 1942

Work on peep-bo held up owing to illness of

sgt. Saw Reg BRIDGLAND re possibility

of thinning bitumen with petrol to make a

varnish. He is going to try it.

Chang DUKE & Desmond SHEEHAN came over

to tea tonight, & being a meat

meal they enjoyed it thoroughly.

 

SATURDAY - August 29th, 1942

Conference as usual this morning.

 

SUNDAY - August 30th, 1942

This morning I attended church parade at

the barrack square with Glynn, proceeding

afterwards with Michael & Tom CRANKSHAW to

see the net. Someone unfortunately, has

taken it and a search of the area

failed to reveal it. I am afraid

this means the end of our tennis unless

we can find a means of obtaining

another. Both took it very well. We

went for a swim & I arrived home late

for lunch to find that BJ had been

summoned to the conference house together

with other comds to & ordered by J.J.A. to

sign a parole form declaring that he

would not attempt to escape. A pile

of forms was brought back for all tps to

sign & area comds had been called to

a conference, all agreeing with BJ's decision

not to sign. They are giving tps the

option but advising not to.

POND & MCE were out

 

MONDAY - August 31st, 1942

 

 

MEMORANDUM

1. Beginning of barrack sq. incident

 

10 9 Repatriation of non-combatants & disabled personnel.

 

16. Two tommies returned blind.

 

 

We _∧of the 8th Division were surprised and very touched at the

warmth of the welcome we received on our arrival at

Singapore. Wherever we went _∧in both Singapore and Malasia there were signs, "Welcome

to the 8th Division." We really felt wanted.

 

[*Barrack Square*]

 

 

We _∧of the 8th Division were surprised and very touched at the

warmth of the welcome we received on our arrival at

Singapore. Wherever we went _∧in both Singapore and Malasia there were signs, "Welcome

to the 8th Division." We really felt wanted.

 

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TUESDAY - September 1st, 1942

Sep 2 Barrack Square.

 

 

SUNDAY - September 6th, 1942

 

MONDAY - September 7th, 1942

I spent the morning writing up the sequence

of events during our concentration & the

negotiations for signing.

I feel very flat today. Probabthly the

reaction after the last few days.

 

 

TUESDAY - September 8th, 1942

3 Corps started moving furniture through the

area en route to the barrack square at

first light. The stream has been going 

past all day.

Lt Gen Sir Lewis HEATH moved today into

a bungalow in our area.

I gave a strip of celluloid to Ken B.

today. Whilst at the barrack square

I met SUTHERLAND & brought him back

for a cup of tea which was not

forthcoming.

We are all tired today & intend

having an early night.

Ken B called in after dinner & we

had a game of dice. Rob brought

a bottle of stout back from Spore &

gave to the C.O. We had a

small glass before retiring. I do

not usually care for stout, but enjoyed

this.

CO does not seem very well today.

 

WEDNESDAY - September 9th, 1942

Col McEACHEARN, Maj JOHNSTON & Capt BRYANT were out 

from No. 3 camp this morning. I went to ord

with Chas WRIGHT & saw Sgt DICKENS who is

going to make another attempt at the peep-bo.

Col GALLEGHAN does not seem very well today

& I think is still suffering some reaction.

Lieut-Gen Sir Lewis HEATH called before tea.

He remembers John GARDNER well & also

spoke of Jim HOBLYN.