Wallet 3 of 5 - Diary of Francis Russell James Day, volume 1 of 2, 1941-1943, Part 13
July
21ST. Tues.
Frances. Birthday. No Cable Home to her
this Year & I don't want to send any
more from here, in Person will do me. .X.
Furpheys:- 2 Reconasince Planes shot down
over Mainland, Yanks have cut all the
Japanese Communications from Malaya.
22nd Wed
Tom, Kas, Whopper & Geo. over today.
"C" Force which were to go to "Tokio" have
been put off for 48 hrs.
Furpheys:- Biggest Armada the world has ever
known has left all points in the Pacific to
attack Malaya.
23rd. Thurs.
The Patients are getting less & less
every day. Ted went to Con. Depot, now
only 40 in the Ward, originally 92.
Furpheys:- Roosavelt says the American Flag
will fly over Singapore within 5 wks.
July
24th Fri.
Made a net-bag today, just to fill in time
& have something to do. Often do a bit of
sewing. all gear was lost, & we have to make shift
with other stuff now, it's nothing to have to sew
9 buttons on a shirt & to sew around the
sleeves that have been cut off.
25th Sat.
Made Crib-Board for myself this morn.
Tom over. Inspection by new C.O. of C.A.G.H.s?
A.Headley. Summons.
They say that the "C." Force are not
going away, till the rumours about the
Nurses are squashed.
26th Sun.
A. Beautiful day today, makes one a bit
homesick. Len Fenton of the 2/29th in to
see me, came from P.O.W. at Kuala. Lumpur.
P.O.W. Camp in Pudu Goal. All Bridges in K.L
were blown. "Ammo" Dumps left intact.
July
27th. Mon
Just a day. Play Crib every night with
Frank. Prosser. "Our Grudge Match".
Furpheys:- Chinese have taken 7 City & Towns.
say they will take Hong-Kong in 5 days.
28th Tues.
Still get our Smokes every week. Food is a
lot better. Tom still over every day (Pete calls
him "Santa"
Furpheys:- Germans have taken Rostov. 16,000
Yank Planes?. in England. 2500 in Australia.
29th Wed.
getting around pretty well on the sticks now, no
trouble at all. Arthur Samson came in to see
me. Friend of Allans from Albury Showgrounds.
30th Thurs
Gramaphone in Ward they are giving the Records
Hell. Furpheys: Said to have 32 of our Nurses in
Changi Goal.
31st FRI
Just a day. 9th F.Amb. takes over A.G.H.s
AUGUST
1ST. SAT.
A.I.F. Concert Party in Ward today. "Changi"
Concert Party at Cinema at night, Camp-Pie
Night extra good turns, "Gloria D'ear," (Arthur
Butler could give a show on his (her) own.
Furpheys :- 4 Reconisance Planes over Singapore
Militia driving Japs back in New Guinea.
R.A.A.F. sunk Destroyers & Transport.
2nd Sun.
Tom & Danny over. Made ½ doz Crib-boards
& some Match-box holders.
Japanese Planes are very active again last
few days.
Furpheys:- Germans are asking for Peace terms
Russians have anhilated the Germans, at
Rostov, Libya the Germans were driven
to the coast, & the Navy & Airforce done
their bit.
Chinese are doing very well in Burma &
have taken back Hong-Kong.
AUGUST
3rd Mon
Just a day. Spend most of my Time now in
making Crib-boards & Match-box Covers.
Furphey:- Sydney, Darwin, & Newcastle, Bombed.
Militia doing well in New Guinea
4th Tues.
Issue of Cigarettes. Indo-Chinese. Tom brings over
Pint of Yeast every second day.
Furpheys:- 16 Japanese Ships sunk of. N.G. 2000
Prisoners taken. 7,000 P.O.W's escape in Burma
during raid. "A." Force amongst them.
5th Wed.
Concert in Cinema by A.I.F. Concert Party
Orders out that I. Disks, or Pay books must be
carried at all times.
Furpheys:- Sumatra & Java in Yanks hands.
Russians though heavy pushed are still holding
out. Chinese are doing wonders in China &
Burma. Japan established air base 50 miles
from P. Moresby. (30 trucks of Rice in).
AUGUST
6th Thurs.
Sailors from R.A.N. Sloop now Prisoners in
Changi Gaol, they tell that the Casuality
lists etc weren't Home in Australia by the
Middle of June.
Furpheys:- Churchill resigned, now chairman of
the War Cabinet. Major Atlee, Prime Minister.
¼ million Yanks in Australia.
7th Fri.
Concert by 11th Div. Good Show. Pay day
again today.
Furpheys:- American Fleet off Singapore,
Ipoh & Java bombed.
8th Sat.
Made 10th Crib-board today. A.I.F Concert
in Ward today.
Said to be good talk given by P.O.W.
Sailors.
Furpheys:- Yanks to relieve us by September
Home by October, months leave by November
Join up again December. (Whacko!)
AUGUST
9th Sun.
Cooks turned on a Cake today. (Fair).
Tom brought over some Yeast Buns.
Went for a stroll around grounds of C.A.G.Hs
Furpheys:- Fghting in Timor. Kuantan Bombed.
10th Mon.
18th Div. Concert at Cinema. Said to be
a Monument to 82,000 Fallen at Johore.
Japanese.)
Furpheys:- 13,000 Prisoners taken at Solomon
Is. Big Bombardment by R.A.A.F. A.A.F.
Shelling by Navy.
11th Tues.
Things don't turn out has expected in this
place. When we came here 18 mths ago, the
R.A.S.C. Bakers said 3 mths would see the end
of the A.I.F. Field Bakery operations, now the
A.I.F. are playing Football etc, every day & when
we were taken P.O.Ws. they said we would be
very weak & sick in 6 mths time. X
AUGUST
12th Wed.
Big Australian Rules match today, Changi
A.G.Hs, to play Selerang Barracks Team on
the Padang.
Furpheys:- Said to be Ship which took the
Diplomats to Portugese. E. Africa back in
Singapore, with Mail from Home.
13tH Thurs.
Concert by the A.I.F. Party at Cinema
Can, Read, Write at night now, they have
put the lights on, it's Goodo to be able
to have the lights again.
Furpheys:- Singapore Bombed, one Plane
brought down. Phap Phamplets dropped
27 Patients Put out on stretchers to
denote Hospital Area.
14th FRI.
Concert by C.A.G.H. Artists at Cinema.
Furpheys:- Russians pushed Germans back.
Japan declares War on Russia
AUGUST
15th Sat.
Pay. 70 cents. some pay we got now from the
Japanese. 10c a day. 6 mths today since we
became P.O.Ws. Time seems to have flown, it
seems to drag a times, but it’s hard to realise
how long it is since we left Home. I think
we are in for some surprises when we get back
Furpheys:- 3 point landing in Java by A.I.F.
& Yanks. Solomon. Is. in Our hands.
16th Sun
Rather a funny day today, don’t know wether
to rain or shine. Japanese Part of 118 left for
Nippon (Tokyo.). Big R.C. Service today.
Furpheys:- Lot of trouble on Mainland & in
Burma caused by Chinese, & Commando's
17tH Mon.
Tom over as per usual, not much for me to do
now but to just wait for my next, quite a few
going out again to Con Depot, always good to
see this happening.
AUGUST.
18th TUES
Concert Play by 18th Div Party in Cinema -
"Dover Road" exceptionally good play, very
well acted.
Furpheys:- 3 Japanese Transports Sank at Alusian
Is. Yanks in Java.
19th Wed
Big Parade today for Japanese officials
on the Padang:- Going to see the Football
this evening I met Lionel Davies, quite a
surprise to see some one I know.
Furpheys:- Still a lot of talk about the
Red Cross Ship being in Port.
20th Thurs
We had Maize Meal Porridge for Breakfast
today, bit of a change, reputed to be
Red Cross Issue. Jam & Lollies (Vitamins)
from East, AFRICA. Thru International
Red Cross:-
Furpheys:- One that came true drawing - see original
AUGUST
21st Fri.
Meat Issue day today, it's the only
solid food we get besides the Bread
& that's 50 p.c. Rice Flour.
Nice & Wet & Cool this evening; Spent
today covering Old Autograph Book.
Furpheys:- Landing (Dieppe) in France,
Offensive to start. Pacific news quiet
22nd Sat.
Quite a few Soups have been added to
our Menu in the last few days, looks like the
Japs have let the Red Cross operate again.
Furpheys:- A ship with Supplies has left Aus,
India, & E. AFRICA for the Island. X
Solomons evacuated by Japanese, Java &
Timor are being bombed without Air-resistance
23rd Sun
Pay 70. cents. Danny over with Tom. Down to
see Essendon v Richmond, looks like a lot
of hard work this Football.
AUGUST
24TH Mon.
Just another Day. Lot of talk, as if there
something in the wind, maybe it's all just
Furpheys:- ALL wood-partys have been stopped
going out; Tokio Party has been brought back.
All Singapore Working Partys to be back in
Changi P.O.W. Camp with in 24 hrs.
25th Tues
Quiet a turnup this morning. (A Sausage for
Breakfast, almost forgot what they were.
The only change one gets here is in food,
it's all some Blokes worry about, they do a weep
if someone gets a little more than they do.
Sausages 1½ for Dinner, Veg stew for Tea.
26TH Wed.
Concert by The "P.O.W - WOWS" in Cinema.
Furpheys:- Ship in with Pork for Troops. Yanks have
taken Gilbert Is. Landed in Borneo. Singapore is
under Martial Law. Indian Guards to be changed
for Japanese.
AUGUST
27th Thurs.
Australian Rules match Carlton v Melbourn
resulting in a win for Carlton. A lot of Medical
Cases coming in to Hospital from Singapore
Mostly Beri-Beri & Eye Cases.
Furpheys:- Big drive by British thru Iraq,
Russians being hard pressed in the Caucasus.
Yanks taking a lot of Islands in Pacific
28th FRI.
Concert by the Mumming Bees. 18th Div
in Cinema, Best Orchestra in the P.O.W
Camp, & a very good show: they say. Concert
cancelled because of Diptheria Scare. Went to
A.G.H. v 9th Fld. Amb. Australian Rules, very
good match. Fld. Amb. had their 20th win.
Furpheys:- Japanese attempted landing in
Solomons, Lost 2 Aircraft Carriers, another damaged
7 Cruisers, 3 Battleships, 3 Transports.
Big Force of British (170,000, landed in France.
Germans being pushed back in Caucasus.
Duke of Kent killed.
AUGUST
29Th Sat
Moved down to O.1. not so good this
downstairs business. Had a shower tonight, first
for 6½ months, a change to be able to shower again.
Col. says to wear extension for 10 more days.
Furpheys:- Yanks say it will be all over in 6
wks time. Landings in Java & Borneo. General
Govt making the best progress ever known in
Wartime history.
30th Sun.
Just another day; I miss France a terrible
lot, now seems to be getting worse this missing
out business. All visitors to the A.G.H.s have been
stopped, Tommy still manages to get over, Old
"Santa" takes some stopping.
31st Mon
New M.O now Major Eddy. They stopped
Tom today, no one allowed out of or in A.G.H. Area
Furpheys:- Reports that 30 of Nurses were Killed.
Japs are being pushed back everywhere.
SEPTEMBER
1ST Tues
Japanese Goverment want us to sign a Paper
that we will not attempt to escape, "On Our Honour.
Looks like they are cracking it a bit, I don't
think that the paper wiil be signed by anyone.
Inspection by Japanese Commanders, started at
0900 hrs till 1300 hrs, full check up on all the
Staff & Patients. Breakfast 1 hr early, Dinner
1 hr late. X
Furpheys:- Landing by Japanese in New Guinea, 1
Cruiser & 3 Transports.
2nd Wed.
100 men & Officers had to go to Selerang
today. 18th Div & 11th Div together now
all Troops are herded into small area, A.G.H
is isolated from all ways, no discharges
allowed, Looks like Nippon he bit savage
about us not signing his paper.
Furpheys:- Big Battle at Solomons, Landings
by Yanks & A.I.F. Borneo & Sarawak.
September
3rd Thurs
3 yrs of War. & what have we? No issue
of Cigarettes & no pay. this week, a bit more
of the Nippon nastiness, "he'll teach us." (maybe)
Met Johnson (40lb) who was in with .G.B.D.
at the time when I was hit, he was wondering
what happened to me, heard I was out.
Furpheys:- Camp is now a concentration Camp
also have one at Adam. Rd. Park
4th FRI
Still no communication with other Area, no
word from Tom, can't get any out. Issued with
Cigarettes from Canteen. Plenty of Japanese
wandering around the Area. Learning to play
Bridge, quite a lot of it played here.
Furpheys:- Yanks are 80 miles Nth of Mersing, big
force driving thru Burma, & say it will only
be a few more weeks now. 17. Divisions have
landed in France, start of a big drive. Russians
holding on all fronts.
September
5th Sat.
The last few days I have felt a bit savage
about being here, would like to get out of it,
maybe it's the monotony. The reduced Staff is
not a good idea, what patients that are able
have to hop in & do a bit, wash our own Linen
& dishes, some dish of out the meals. We had
to sign the Paper ((I, the undersigned, "On my
Honour" will not attempt to escape. F.R. Day.
V.X.39518. 1st Field Bakery. Australian. CHANGI.
4th Sept. 1942.) this had to be done because
of the way the Boys were being crowded at
Selerang, they had 2,400 to a Building which
normanly holds about 200 men. they even had
400 men sleeping on the Roof. The sun was
playing havoc, which was not so good, 30 were
admitted up to 2230 hrs, after signing of Papers
I hope Tom & Co are O.K. maybe will hear
from over there today. Orderlys back this
evening, things soon be back to normal.
September
6th Sun
Rather a nice day today, very much like a
day at the Marsh, nice & fine with a cool
breeze all the time. I don't know why one has
to keep on thinking about days that used to be
Tom not over yet. New Chapel opened this
morning.
7th Mon.
Just a day, things are very dull now, Tom
not getting over, makes one down in the dumps
a bit. Patients are being discharged again
165 to go out. I think I will give up writing &
Furpheys down, they are more than ridiculous
8tH Tues.
Rugby started again tonight. Cigarette issue
on again. Frank Prosser over from other Camp
with a Trailer Party. 18th Div moving over
to Selerang A.I.F. down in Sleepy. Hollow.
Sending big drafts out of A.G.H. every
day now. 65 today. X
September
9th Wed.
Tommy over today, glad to see him once
again. Went to see Carlton. v. Richmond.
Movies in the Ward. Felix & Charlie Chaplin
(some Show) seems strange to see "Silents"
again.
10th Thurs.
Pay 80c. Letter from Fraser, No 3 Camp
Calder Cotte Estate. Singapore. Rugby League
I can't see much in this game, seems to be all
scrum.
11th FRI.
Playing "Bridge" a fair bit now, that & "Crib"
seems to be the Popular games here now. Wrote
to Fraser don't know when he will get it.
12TH Sat.
Just another day. Nothing to do but play
Crib, Read & think.
13tH Sun.
Issue of Rice Polishings every day now.
September
14th Mon.
Cigarettes still being issed to all. Talk
by Luit. McQeen of 2/29th on Battle of Muar.
Saw Essendon. v. Carlton Match on Padang.
15th Tues.
Meat issue of Mutton, bit of a change.
This Rice Polishings, is terrible stuff, like
dirty Pollard. Down to see Rugby League.
16th Wed
Melbourne. v. Carlton on Padang, two teams
from other camp to come into Comp.
17th Thurs.
Lot of Ariel Activity last few days. Big
Liner in Harbour (Keppel) can't distinguish
markings. Say that Mail is due in two
or three days.
18th Fri.
Lot of Rumours floating around lately,
if you believed them all you'd be Home or on the
way there. Tom over as per usual.
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