Diary of John William Cardwell Wyett, 1942 - Part 11

THURSDAY—September 10th 9 10, 1942
I spent the morning with Mike HUNT & in the
afternoon went with BJ to visit Lt Col FRITH
who is mer comd 3 CORPS.
After tea we attended a gathering at
which BJ presented certificates to the winner
of a literary competition organised by
Leslie GREENER. Karl GUNTHER read
his essay on "The Last Day" & Lieut CHALMERS
read a short story "The Bell Tolled Once".
Both were very good, as were some
short poems.
I called in to see Chas K on the way
home.
A notification was received today from IJA
saying that they may consider at some
future date the question of repatriation of
non-combatant and disabled personnel
& asking for a roll of names.
 

FRIDAY—September 11th, 1942
I spent the morning in the office.

SUNDAY—September 13th, 1942
There is to be a pilgrimage to the A.I.F. cemetery
this afternoon & I spent the morning making
arrangements in conjunction with four ex-servicemen
of the last war whose idea it
all is. They proved very good types
& the parade was very successful. A very
fine wreath of green leaves surrounding a 
cross in red flowers was laid by comd AIF
& the parade marched past BJ on our 
return.
I took a stroll with Rob after dinner.
The deep thump, thump, thump of the 
temple drum calling the faithful to prayer
came to us with startling distinctness
from the thickly clustered rubber and cocoanut
trees in the distant ^groves. Over the still warm air
came the high-pitched call of the muezzin.
There was no moon, and we walked
by the thin, suffused radiance of the
millions of stars which pricked the

velvety blackness of the sky.
Half turning to pass a remark to my
companion who was a little behind
me I saw a light. We called
at 11 Div before returning home. And so
to bed.

MONDAY—September 14th, 1942
Duty offr today. Worked in office most of the 
day drawing up SO for guards & setting out a 
standard drill. Sgt DICKENS reported progress.
I had a quiet read after dinner, everyone being
out. On the return of the others
someone started a Great Public School
controversy, Comd, Phil H, Glynn W, Mac & I
taking part. The argument waxed
hot & provocative and proved most
amusing - it was still unfinished at
midnight when we adjourned to bed.
Altogether a most amusing evening.
 

TUESDAY—September 15th, 1942
GPS argument continued at breakfast, Alex T
adding new blood.
Heavy rain started after breakfast & comd will
have a wet trip across to M.C.
I had a slight sore throat & felt very weary
after lunch so had a rest during the afternoon.
SHERIDAN came in about 1750 & told me 
that MANSFIELD had sent a message to say that
the accurate watch was not now available.
Rob came in after tea & later produced
some stout which Glynn W, Curly & I shared c̅
him.
I find Curly knows Mrs HUNGERFORD & ^Mrs ANL.

WEDNESDAY—September 16th, 1942
I paid a visit to ord this morning, DICK having 
a good idea for a pivot using a ball bearing.
MACAULEY has rectal ulcers & is going to
hospital for examination (? amolic dys.).
Gen HEATH gave the first of a series of three
lectures on ERITREAN Campaign today.
Two tommies were returned blind from
SPORE today - diet deficiency. I must
buy some palm oil next pay to get
the necessary vit A.
 

THURSDAY—September 17th, 1942
I spent most of the morning extracting notes from
a report submitted by Bruce A on his return from
MEKSING.
In the afternoon I went to MC to see about breaking
up Jap party A. Had sweet coffee with
Pomg DUKE. I then found GUDGEON in his
new quarters on top of the hill & was asked
to dine & see SA play on Saturday next.
Comd went with Gen HEATH to dine with 
18 Div & to the premiere of "I killed the Count"
produced by 18 Div. I believe it is very good.
Heavy & continuous rain commenced after dinner
& I retired early, reading for a while in bed.
A message arrived later stating that 1000
tps were arriving tomorrow from JAVA, 300 to
be quartered by A.I.F.

FRIDAY—September 18th, 1942
Rain continued most of the night which was
cool & pleasant. Still raining today.
Lt. Col LEGGETT arrived about 11.30 in a car
with JAMES. Lieut GORDON was the only 2/40^th
offr present who was a Tasmanian. 10 offrs & 
15 OR's arrived altogether all from TIMOR
originally having been in BATAVIA for some months.
They told of a very good  show put up by
the PERTH & HUSTON (U.S.) who ran into 40
Jap ships in SUNDA strs, sinking 14 before
being skittled. PERTH had 2 round of amm
left for starboard guns when she capsized
after taking 4 torpedoes.
These chaps have a poor opinion of the 
(.) DUTCH who, although 100,000 strong at JAVA
left all the fighting to 3000 Br & Aust tps,
capitulating when JAP threatened to bomb 
the towns.
Maj STEVENS who I last saw acting as DADMS
at ROSEBERY was in the party.
I took my usual stroll after tea before
returning. A half-moon made the night very
bright.
(.) Since broken down somewhat. Only 15,000 DUTCH tps
were left in JAVA & they fought quite well
in spots. General direction & control was
poor.
 

SATURDAY—September 19th, 1942
The usual morning conference this morning, reps of
a party on BLAKANG MATI arriving whilst it is in
progress. (Maj OKEY) I have put Lieut HODGE on
work with the borehole augers.
After lunch I went with SCHULTE to the concert party
who are doing a splendid job with their new 
theatre.
I went to dinner with GUDGEON at the MALAY Regt
& afterwards to an orchestral concert with by
SA at Changi theatre. 21 in the orchestra
& a choir of 36. The fare was very 
good. They started with a rendering of "God Save
the King" by orchestra & choir which was very
well done. Two Elizabethean Madrigals followed,
"Invitation to the Waltz" by Weber, "Enigmatic Variations"
by Elgar and various selections from Schubert,
Greig, Bethoven & Strauss. The whole
show was very well done & most enjoyable.
We played "Slippery Arm" until 2315, drank 
soup & I returned home per bicycle,
meeting noone en route. 
 

SUNDAY—September 20th, 1942
I went to communion at 0830, there being a very good
attendance.
In the afternoon I had a spell in the sun for
an hour with a book. After dinner I
went to RC Benediction service with Alex T.
STEVENS came round after the service & we played
dice for a bit. 'Maj CAMPBELL, 2 i/c 2/40 Bn
came with him & gave us an amusing account
of the ops in TIMOR.
We have had no pay now for a week

since it was due. In SPORE the men
are being paid, offs not, pending some
new scheme whereby offs get $10/month, are
debited for board & food & balanced pay
placed to credit until release. This is

just another of his tricks.
I have a feeling that the force may be
moved north into Thailand before long.
Lists of noncombatants and disabled personnel
have been asked for.
ABAAMOVITCH told me today that he saw
Red X stores being unloaded whilst in SPORE
for rations. 1700 tons including shirts, shorts
hats & boots. I rather fear that
we will see little of this stuff. It came

TATUTA MARU from LOURENCO MARQUES & an
AUST ship is expected shortly.
 

MONDAY—September 21st, 1942
A staff conference this morning. SCHNEIDER came
out from Pine Valley Rd Camp & told us of
pilfering of RED X stores by Tommies & Japs. This
camp of 8000 may be returned to CHANGI.
 

TUESDAY—September 22nd, 1942
TRACY comes out this morning with two chaps
caught stealing petrol. One had fallen down
some stairs & was bleeding from both ears. He
was kept at the conference house & our attempts
to get him taken to hosp at once were unavailing.
He was there from 1200 to 1800 hrs & was finally
admitted D.I.
Glynn W & Macaulay with a party of volunteers
disinterred BREVINGTON & GALE'S remains today & they
were buried in the cemetery. I attended the
ceremony & placed two wreaths on behalf of the
comd. A party of ord personnel attended
& chap JONES conducted the service.
Being duty offr today  I could not attend the celebrity
concert at the Car Depot & read quietly for a while
in the mess. Rob came in and later Col GUNTHER
Carl has done a good deal of work on mites &
we yarned about zoology & similar topics incl
NG to until midnight.
Col LEGGETT lectured this afternoon on Timor ops.
A poor lecturer & generally a poorly handled
show.
 

WEDNESDAY—September 23rd, 1942
It is much cooler this morning with a fresh breeze
from the west. I had a much needed haircut.
 

THURSDAY—September 24th, 1942
PEACH started work this morning taking over from
SCHULTE.
I spent most of the morning in the office. Rain
during most of the night has continued & the

day is cool.
Glynn WHITE is spending the day in bed, resting
from the reaction of his exhumation activities.
Rob is not well & is also resting with a
slight fever.
Later this afternoon I turned in for a rest &
had over an hour's restful sleep.
Rob being in bed I took my stroll alone.
Maurice RUSSELL called in this afternoon to
my great surprise, having come over from JAVA.
He was left to as part of a div staff to

conduct operations when WAVELL departed & is
now Lt - Col having been appointed A.Q. He is
coming over to dinner on Monday.
Bertie FREEMAN is also in JAVA.
 

SUNDAY—September 27th, 1942
A fairly uneventful sort of day. I worked in
the office & went to church c̅ the comd at
the new concert theatre. This is Chas KAPPE'S

area & he marched his tps past the comd after
the service.
Desmond SHEEHAN is going to SPORE to direct the
distribution to working parties of the 40,000 cases
of Red X stores which have arrived from LOURENCO
MARQUES. He & COLE came over this
evening & played dice c̅ us.
 

MONDAY—September 28th, 1942
A Jap naval offr called today in search of the
naval personnel so I took him over to Fairy
Point. The MALAY driver gave me a couple of
cigarettes. The offr. was most courteous.
After lunch I went with Tom CRANKSHAW to the
hospital to see Brig MAXWELL, Lee STAHLE & John
BARRETT. The brig is coming along fairly well
after his hernia operation. Lee is much the
same, & BARRETT is recovering from his beri-beri.
The rice polishings we are all taking now should
make a big difference. They cost us $15.50
a bag while SPORE working parties buy them for
$3.50 from the factory in J.B.
Maurice RUSSELL came to dinner tonight & told
us he saw G-B in JAVA on his b way back
to Aust.
 

TUESDAY—September 29th, 1942
The usual comds conference was held this morning
and a decision reached concerning offrs pay. The
IJA intend paying about $30 in cash to offrs
of which we draw $15, the remainder going to
the hosp & to a fund which will finance
purchases of extra food for the men. The men
are to receive their present amenities pay of
$3.
Tonight the AIF concert party opened in