Wallet 3 of 5 - Diary of Francis Russell James Day, volume 1 of 2, 1941-1943, Part 2

1941

January   Sat 25.

25th    Sat

 

Enlisted. STURT St. 1100 hrs.

Went to Royal Park. Passed Doctor

X-Ray taken. Attested. Left Royal Park

at 1230 hrs. Went to Essendon for Lunch

Spent night at Home. (72)

26th.   Sun

Packed & stored furniture. went

for to Collingwood for tea. Spent night at

Essendon. weight 9st 8lbs.

27th    Mon

Reported at Royal. Park. Camp

0830 hrs, X-Ray result not thru. went

to Collingwood. Not much interest in Camp Life

28th  Tues

Reported at Royal. Park. 0830 hrs

Sent to Craig's Building 3rd Div. H.Q.

to have Photo taken. Back to Royal

Park, out to Collingwood, then into

City with France.

JANUARY

29th      Wed.

Reported to Royal. Park at 0930 hrs

Issued with S.D. Uniform. Started Final

Leave at 1300 hrs. Went to Collingwood

for afternoon, Had tea at Sid's, said

Good bye to all at Reservoir. Poor Trix.

30th    Thur.

Final Leave finished at 2359 hrs

Spend day with France.

31st   FRI.

Spent night in Camp. Kit & Uniform

changed for tropical uniform. Issued

with Webbing. Rifle, etc. Left camp

with Bill went to see France said

Goodbye to France & Joan. Night at Essen.

February

1st.   Sat

0500hrs.

Said Goodbye to Mum & Family &

Phyllis. Reported at Royal Park at

0600 hrs, last day in Melbourne.

 

February

1st    Sat

March to Train at Royal. Park.

Station after Address & Speech.

Train from Spencer. St. to Albury

Last look at Donny Brook as train

passed thru. Arrived at Albury

2400 hrs, Changed to Sydney train

Breakfast at MossVale Station early in

morning. Tea at Benalla (Wangarratta)?

Letter to Allan.

2nd   Sun

Arrived Sydney 0845 hrs boarded

Ferry that took us to "Queen Mary"

spent rest of day looking over

this Luxury Boat.

Our Mess Room was 2nd Class

Dining Saloon holds about 2000 Men

per sitting. 3 sittings a meal.

Lights 220.v.  40.w. Thousands of them.

27. Lifts. 13 Decks. 2 Swimming Pools

Crew 880/ (1500 in peace. Time).

February

3rd.  Mon

Still looking over the ship. Approx

6,800, Troops on board including Nurses'

& Officers. Bakehouse all electric,

Dough Machine. 25 Lifeboats, hold

36 men in Peace. Time. Dozens of Rafts

hold 22 men each.

4th    TUES.

Still at Sydney. Parade for

Govenor. General. Lord. Gowrie at

0930 hrs. First. S.A. Inspection. embarrassing

Aquatania Sailed at 1315 hrs.

Queen. Mary 1330 hrs. New. Amsterdam

1345 hrs. Escort H.M.A.S. Hobart. 

5th    Wed

Fatigue Duties in Officers Quarters

Life boat Drill. Respirator. Drill.

Concert in One of Two Theatres by

18 Div Band at 0815 hrs. Theatre

holds 700 Troops.

 

February

6th    Thur.

Life boat Drill. Baking Test passed

Respirator Drill at 1400 hrs. S.A. Inspection

Rifle. Drill. Swimming Pool opened to

Troops. Theatre. opened. Deck. Concert.

by, Salvation. Army & Y.M.C.A. Rep.

"Mauritania" Joined Convoy off (X)

Melbourne. somewhere. Nick Engel joins Unit.

7th    FRI.

P.T. Concert on Promenade Deck

at 28 2030 hrs. Having my meals in Bakery.

8th    Sat.

Somewhere at Sea. 1st issue of

Q.X. Press. 2 injections & Vaccinations

25 Today. Concert. Promenade. Deck

9th     Sun

Day of Rest, Concert by 2/20th

Band in C.Deck. Theatre 2000 hrs

Item by John. Woods. Lux. Theatre

Player.

February

10th    Mon

Land sighted at 0530 hrs. Joined

by 3 Destroyers. Standing off

Fremantle at 0800 hrs.

11th    Tues.

Rifle Drill. Boxing. Tournements. (X)

started. Spent night in Bakery.

Letter arrived from France.

12th    Wed

Lecture on Baking. Conditions

Made Will. Sailed from Fremantle

at 1715 hrs. Escort. H.M.A.S. Canberra

Picture Show "Diamond Jim"

13th    Thur

Rifle Drill  P.T. Information

released we are going to Singapore.

Books issued on Malaya.

14th    FRI.

Comforts Issued (Value 25/-)

Otherwise just another day.

 

February

15th    Sat.

SEA very calm.

Crossed Equator. Map Reading

Lecture on Malaya & its Diseases

V.D. we are told is 100 per cent (B.S.)

16th   Sun

Day of Rest. Queen Mary left

convoy for Malaya. Rendezvous at 1415 hrs at sea. Rest went

to unknown destination (Trigomalen) ind  Trinoomallee Ceylon

Escort now H.M.S. Durban

Passed Sumatra at 2400 hrs

17th     Mon

Passing thru Straits of Mallaca

Tropical weather. See Rain. Coming

18th   Tues

Arrived Singapore Naval Base

1415 hrs. Unit 2nd off ship taken

to Gillman Barracks. Quartercel with

English "Loyals" Regiment. Paid $10

Spent night looking over Singapore

U.J.C. Night. Clubs. 25 of Unit A.W.L.

February

19th    Wed

Revellie at 0630 hrs. Breakfast

0700 hrs. Tour of Barracks. Went to

Singapore at night. first Riksha.

Ride went to New. World. Dance. Cabaret

Taxi. 70 cents for 3 miles. Girls at

Cabaret. are Hostesses, Buy Book of

Tickets $1 - 4 dances per book $2/11

Mostly Chinese Girls, & SIAMESE.

20th    Thur

Tour of Ordanance. Met Indians

(Sikhs) Very Sociable. Soldiers

Went to Gillman Cinema 25 cents

Received cable from Mum.

Food very poor, not enough. (X)

21st   FRI.

5.mls. Route March for Exercise

Food. Worse. Bough Brasswork off

Indian. Snake Ash-tray, sent this

Home on 28.11.41 from K.L.

 

February  

22nd    SAT.

Worked morning in Bakehouse

Photo taken with Indian Troops.

Taught some of Boys to play Crazy 500.

23rd   SUN

Walk thru Native Villages. Visit to

Haw Par Villa. Chinese Millionaires

Home. Wonderful Work in Concrete

& Porcalain. Visit to Indian Lines

Indian Curry & Bread. Whisky & Soda

Mineral Wafers. Tiger.Beer. (X)

24th   MON

Visit to Tiger Brewery. Manager

turned it on. 6 Doz for 24 men.

Brewery was all solid Copper Vats.

25th  Tues.

Made two - 3 bag Doughs at 0330

hrs at R.G.S.C. Bakery.

Rest of day Free. Wrote to France.

Strange for me to have to write

Letters.

February

26th     Wed

Went on Route March. Wrote R.S.L.

No work in Bakehouse. C.pl. Blower

Mr Eades went to K.L.

27th   Thur

Room Orderly for day. Cpl. Blower

came back from K.L.   X

28th    FRI.

Work at. Bakehouse. Changed

Addresses with Indians. Wrote. Joan.

Played 500 all night.

1st MARCH. Sat

Work in Bakehouse. Played

Euchre till lights out.

Had Rabbit for Dinner, Off Rabbit

till. I. get back to Australia.

2nd  SUN.

Day of Rest, Walk thru

Native Villages, very interesting; Down

to Docks, saw Il-de-France being repaired

 

MARCH

3rd    MON

Respirator. Drill. Raid on Coconut

Palms. Souvenar Case from Paddy.

Loyal. Regiment. Crest.

Euchre till lights out.

4th   Tues

Respirator & Rifle Drill.

Visit by Malay Soldier. Visit to

R.I.A.S.C. before they went on 6

days manourveres.

5th (Tom's Birthday.)   Wed

10 mls Route March. Visit to Barber

Souvenier Handkerchief from Stan of

R.I.A.S.C. Left for Kuala. Lumpur

at 2200 hrs. Goodbye to Gillman. Barr.

6th   Thurs

Arrived at K.L. at 0645 hrs after

travelling all night by train

Mrs Rodgers shouted Ice Cream

Orderly all day

MARCH

6th    Thurs

Looked over new Bakehouse.

Letter from Mum. Wrote to Mum

Plucked Chicken for Mr Eades

Tea. Black Out on account of

Manourvers. All troops must carry

Respirator & wear Steel. Helment.

Barracks made shipshape.

7th    FRI.

Hut Orderly. Canteen Opened.

Issued with Live "Ammo" Pay $40

Guard placed every night from 1800

hrs to 0600 hrs.

8th    SAT

Everbody at Work in preparing

Bakehouse. Afternoons Free.

9th   Sun

Day of Rest. 1 Parade. Wrote to

France. Mum. Harold. Y.M.C.A.,

for snapshot from Home.

 

MARCH

10th    Mon

More work in Bakehouse.

First visit to K.L. Bought. Camera

$29, 2 spools of film at Shui.Kats

Film 65 cents spool.

11th    TUES

Work in Bakehouse. Ready to start

when troughs arrive & Bench made.

Wrote to Kodak at Singapore.

On Guard from 2200 hrs till 2400 hrs

Last day of Manourvers. Manoeuvres

12th    Wed

Guard 0400 hrs till 0600 hrs.

Issued with work suits. Route. march

Celebrated Billy's Birthday at Sunger Besi.

Presentation to K.Savage on his

21st Birthday. (Camera)

13th    Thurs

30 ml car tour to KaJang. 2/4th C.C.S.

Impression taken for plate. Visit to K.L.

Went to ANZAC Club  Utility & Surface

Mail. arrived

MARCH

14th    FRI.

To Cheras saw Strange Ox carts.

Route March. Wrote to Allan. Sid

France in Reply to their letters

that arrived yesterday.

Received Birthday Cards from

France & kids. Air. Ml.

15th    SAT

Mess Orderly for Bill. paid me $1.

First snaps back not so hot rolled

on wrong. Mail from France & Dad

continued letter to France. Air. Mail.

16th SUN

Mess Oderly. 1st Visit by DobHie

We are allowed 30 pieces of washing

per man per week free.

Day of Rest. ("Oh Yeah")?

17th   MON

Visit to Dentist at KaJang. High.School.

Mail to Sid. Dad. Allan.

Kit Inspection. V.D. Books. Issued.

 

MARCH

18TH    Tues

around Pudu Jail , saw some Malay Homes 

(High Class)

Route March. Mail from Mum &

France. continued letter to France.

Went to Dance at Masonic. Hall.

19th   Wed

Mail sent to France & Mum

snaps sent. Pay $15 Visit to Dentist.

Look around KaJang every 2nd

amazing number of Match brands in this country.

shop a fish shop, & on the nose.

20th   Thurs

by Bus - to Serolang & back.

Route March to Chinese Temple.

K.L. by night. Ricksha. Ride 3

Paddy & Alf but on a turn at Kobe Hotel.

mls 25 cents. Met Major

Blaskett from Preston. S. Army.

21st  FRI

Route March to Cheras. Bought

Album in K.L. Went to Pavillion

Theatre. saw Shorts & "Mark"

of Zorro". Nice jobs in Wood & Pearl to

hard to pack.

Albums very cheap here, quality?

MARCH

22nd     SAT.

0645 hrs Inspection by Brigadier

Walk around Pudu. Wrote to G.Sykes

Spent afternoon in K.L. Tea at ANZAC

Club. "Baked Beans" a favorite dish.

23rd    SUN

To Aerodrome

Route March. Went to Musical

concert at ANZAC Club given

by Mr Eisengers Band fromthe

Majestic Club.

24th    MON.

Orderly. Rifle cleaned & put away

No More Parades. Made first doughs

at 2345 hrs, & so the Bakery goes into

action.

25th    TUES

Tom Jones L/Cpl. & me I made Buns.

& Raisins. First Barch drew at 0500 hrs

53 Lge. Letters from Mum & Sid

Visit to Dentist for Teeth 2/4th C.C.S.

Dentist Capt. Simpsons. Kee wat o boa

Manitoba

 

MARCH

26th  Hospital      Wed

Hull-Jones-Frost-Lewis.

Mail from Mum & France. First

doughs made in Bakehouse. A.M.I.

27th   Thurs

Started work at 0200 hrs.

Jones-Day-Marven-Burton.

Made 35 bags. finished at 1000 hrs.

Rained life Hell for 2 ½ hrs.

Mail sent to France, Mum, Sid.

28th    FRI

Work started 0200 hrs finished

Very fatiguing work here Humidity 90% Temp 90°

1100 hrs. Rest of day in Bed.

29th   SAT.

Repeat of above, Spine-bashing.

30th   SUN. X

New idea start at Midnight

Garden Party at Kinross.

Golfview Rd. Mr Tallalla. Residence

Indian Food. F.M.S. Police. Band.

31st  MON

SAME as 28th. only much more tired.

APRIL

Work from 2400 hrs - 0800 hrs & a 2 hrs wait

1st  for Injs. Worst morning I ever put in.      TUES

Went to 8th Div. Sigs. Got 2

Injections. Mail from France. Mum

Paddy. Visit to Dr McBeths A.M.H.

2nd     Wed

Pay $20. Went to K.L. in afternoon

Bought Torch. Pen. Stamps $2.

Diary. Steradent. Wrote to France

Mum. Paddy. Paddy at O.C.T.U.

3rd    Thurs

Change of starting time to 0330 hrs

3rd night on making doughs.

4th   FRI.

Night off. Went to K.L. in afternoon

bought. Kimonos for Phyllis & Joan

$2.25.Went to Pavillion Theatre saw

"Too Many Girls" after show to B.B.

Park & Cabaret. .60. Got to know

att the Hostesses at the Cabarets very

well. Our Unit being at K.L.so long.

 

APRIL

5th    SAT.

Morning. Reading (3 HARBOURS). Went to ODEON

Theatre. Saw "Lady with Red Hair" .80.

6th   SUN.

Work finished at 1115 hrs. 

Day of Rest & then walk to Coffee Shop "Slim's Joint".

7th    MON.

Slept all day from1200 hrs

Presentation to M.Borthwick on

his 21st Birthday (Cigarette Case.)

Melbourne Bitter in Canteen 50 cents.

Ray Ford went to Hospital.

8th    Tues.

Mail from France & Vic. Snap from X

France (Y.M.C.A.) Went to ANZAC Club

then to dance till 10000 hrs. AIR. M 3

9th     Wed

Letters to France went for walk

to Pudu. Saw Chinese Widow

buying water for her Husband