Wallet 3 of 5 - Diary of Francis Russell James Day, volume 1 of 2, 1941-1943, Part 14
September
19th Sat.
Done a terrible lot of Dreaming last night,
went Home twice. Met France on the Wharf, had
been to some other country first. Next we were
at a big Party & what a time it was.
Japanese Inspection. Didn’t come off.
Big Match Richmond .V . Essendon. 25. A.I.F
Prisoners brought in from Java & Timor
2/40th Btn. Weight 9st. 4lbs. X
20th Sun.
Rumours are running Riot, since these
Timor Prisoners came in; Even Germany’s capitulated
at 9’ O’clock this morning.
21st Mon
Down to Theatre at 1130 hrs, hope this is
the last time? Back again till 1730 hrs.
This “Op.” don’t feel too good: I think the
resistance is a bit weaker now. Temp
up to 101o, giving me needles & on liquid
Diet.
September
22nd Tues.
Had to be measured up height & chest
some say it’s for increased Rations. Still
a terrible lot of Rumours going about.
23rd Wed
Major Eddy done the dressing today
stirred it up a bit , I think this is the
sorest I’ve been. Some talk of 125
repatriations, more likely a furphey
24th Thurs.
Feeling a bit better today. No Pay for
Patients, only the essential duties to get
it at the A.G.H’s
25th Fri.
Just another day still getting “Merry Hell“ from
the Last “Op.” I’ve had enough of them now, I
think success or not they can go to Pot.
26th Sat
Pictures in the Ward. ”Our Gang“ & Charlie
Chaplin. “OP’s a flop; I think,
September
27th Sun
C.O. has put on compulsory Church Parade
every sunday, some of the chaps are a bit
crook on it, so on the Rice - Grinder
they go. Tom & some of the boys over.
Tommy not too good.
Japanese thru today quick inspection.
28th Mon
Today was a great day for me, a
few years ago, & I hope it is again
this year, all ( wounded disabled have
been lined up for inspection by the
Japanese, re - repatriation, which looks
to be on this time. Can’t send no
Loving greetings this year; maybe I’ll do
in place of them. (7 is my lucky number) I hope.
No inspection, been put off till Wednesday, a
hell of a lot of hopers in it now, I think
I’m still a bit of a no-hoper. Some even
have the Names of the Ship & Port & Date 10th oct.
September
29th Tues.
Tom over as usual. Lots of talk in the Air
about this repatriation. Japanese are carrying
out kit inspections thru all camps. Kit inspection
for the Staff of A.G.H.s today. Lots of rumours
has to what they are after, some say knives
& weapons of any description, others say it’s
Boots. we’ll know when they’ve done us over here.
30th Wed
Nice & wet & cool this morning, I’m sleeping
well again now. Japanese kit inspection at 2000
hrs.a very casual sort of inspection. Tom
came in to Hospital today, came over to play
me crib after Tea. Medical Inspection has
been put off till Friday now, Reports are
that all the “Tommie Boarders” bar one got
thru, he was a Gunsmith before joining up.
Also no Rank over a Sgnt. to go Home, I
don’t know why it is so.
October
1st Thurs
Issue of “STOUT” 1 bottle between 4 men
Can’t say I like it, drank it for health’s
sake, They tell us that a Bottle every 2nd
day would clean up most of our Troubles in
the Tinea line & malnutrition.
2nd Fri
Inspection was at 1800 Hrs put off
till 9000 hrs Sat. morning.
3rd Sat.
Inspection carried out by Japanese
Officers at 11.45 Hrs, they seem to be
very fair in going over cases, but gave
any doubtful ones a good going over
All we can do now is to hope that
something comes out of it all.
O. Block have their own Concert Party
now. 1. Mouth-organ,4 spoon, a couple
of Singers, & a few bawdy story
tellers.
October
4th Sun.
Lot of Boys from “K.L.” came in late
last night, quite a few into Hospital, they
all look to be in a pretty bad way. No
Medical Supplies at “K.L.” to treat them.
Tom sent out to Con. Depot.
5th Mon
Lot of Red Cross Supplies in, Ration
cut down by Japanese. Cigarette issue
seems to be off this time. ”Kas” comes
over every day now Tom is indisposed.
6th Tues.
Just another day. No one allowed over
from Selerang Camp, owing to the Diptheria
Scare. Bit of strife in the Camp over
1400 tins of Milk. ”Pinnochio “ M.R. Brace.in.
7th Wed.
Playing Bridge darn near all day now,
they say plenty of practice & you learn,
I’m learning all right.
October
8th Thurs.
0630 hrs is washing time from today on,
one time I can sleep is in the morning.
First 100 days in P.O.W. Camp from 15th Feb
to 25th May :-
| B.E.F. | A.I.F. | TOTAL. | |
| Total admissions. | 11,963 | 4080 | 16,043 |
| Per cent of Strength | 33.2 | 27.2 | 31.5 |
| Dysentry. | 6512 | 2019 | 8531 |
| Per cent of Strth. | 18.1 | 13.5 | 16.7 |
| Beri-Beri | 477 | 104 | 581 |
| Deaths - | 185 | 38 | 223 |
| Dysentry | 84 | 13 | 97 |
| Assoc. Dysentry | 10 | 3 | 13 |
| " Beri-Beri | 48 | 3 | 51 |
| Battle. Casualties | 43 | 10 | 53 |
9th Fri.
Issue of 65 Indian Cigarettes per man.
Looks like a big fire going there's so many
of them getting smoked, won't last long.
Still at Bridge every day;
October
10th Sat.
Lot of Rumours flying about again, about
New Guinea, & Russia. More of the A.I.F. from
Java came over yesterday. Some talk of
the Boarded going to Changi. Gaol. Said
that Aust .Govmt. sent Ashes of Japanese
Sailors to Japan. Great Gesture.
11th Sun.
Colnel says I'm going to be O.K. this time
wants extension on has soon possible, I said
I can take it now, sooner the better.
12th Mon.
Dinner today. Rice Pattie. Asparagus, Peas,
Baked Potato & Pumpkin, & Bully Beef.
Cocoa at 2100 hrs every second night.
Tom unable to get over yet. X
13th Tues.
Big Party from Java in again. Dysentry
raging in Singapore. Reg. Hull & Nick Engol
O.K. with 2/3 M.T. from Batavia.
October
14th Wed.
Java Party to move on today. Tom
over to see me when he went to find
out about Ronnie, 2/2nd Pioneers.
15th Thurs.
Food is on the improve the last few days
No Visitors from Selerang allowed over yet.
News is very hopeful if it's dinkum. X
Met C.C. Lockwood from Preston, knew me
because I'm like Dad & also knows Allan.
16th Fri.
Just another day. Lots of talk about the
Board in the Air again. X
17th Sat
Pretty good food at the present, almost to
rich for us, after what we've been on for the
last 8 mths. XX
18th Sun
A nice quiet peaceful day. Played Bridge
near on all day. X
October
19th Mon
Troops arriving every day from Java; Yanks
A.I.F. British, & Dutch, being sent away
nearly immediatley. X
20th Tues
Playing Bridge all day. Food is pretty
good now, be getting Bully-Beef it is if
they keep this up. Some great tales from
Singapore by boys coming in from the
Camps. X
21st Wed
Things seem to be on the move by all
the news that comes thru now, only hope
some of it is O.K. X
22nd Thurs
Just another day. Troops being moved about
quite a lot according to reports, move in
from Batavia. Lots of reports about us
sailing on the 29th. I hope it's right, the
way I feel now I want to be Home. X
October
23rd Fri.
Our Bridge Four got broke up today
one went for a "Op". Things seem to be a
lot improved here lately, in the way of food &
conditions, & the weather is cool most of the
time. Weight. 8.st. 13 lbs. X
24th Sat
Lots of Explosions today, rumour will have
it tonight that there has been a raid by the
Yanks, some blokes are wishful thinkers.
Japanese are carrying out Mortar practice
on "Our" Football ground. X
25th Sun.
Just another day. News seems to be very
good, in our Favour, both Russia, Middle East &
Here. X
26th Mon
Issue of Lime Juice to Patients today, Bottle
between Four. I think I need it the way I've
been the last few days.
October
27th Tues.
Tom over today, got thru on a pass to
Southern Area. News is excellent at the
present time, if we can believe it.
28th Wed
More men from Java in to camp here.
No news today at all.
29th Thurs
Tom over again. Phil Bernstein came
into Hospital, first time I've seen him
since the Blue finished.
30th FRI.
Looks like our Repatriation is off. if
it was ever on, some are still pretty
hopeful about it. Meals extra. X
31st Sat.
2. PKTS Blades from Phil. Charlie came
over with Tom. I've been a bit uphill
the last few days, thought I was in for
the "Changi Curse" (Dysentry)
November
1st Sun.
Feeling O.K. again - Bridge is still Tops
with me.
2nd Mon.
A Lot of Dutch came in to A.G.H.s one
in next bed to me, rather nice chaps,
very polite & obliging, want to give you
anything they have. Say Australians
are No.1. O.K. men.
3rd Tues
Leather belt, & Pannikan I Lost when
wounded, have turned up.
Tom & Charlie over again today.
4th Wed
Blackout for 2 days. Playing Bridge
with the Dutchman. (Slam. No. Trumps)
5th Thurs.
Talk about dream, at it all night all
about Home too, woke up early in the X
morning & wondered why I was here.
November
6th FRI.
Lot of Men into Hospital from Working X
Party, just ill & off color not very sick.
Every night now for the last 4 or 5
nights a crowd gets around my bed
and sing till about 2200 hrs. (Much
to the sorrow of the rest of the ward)
7th Sat.
Tom & Charlie come over about every
Two or three days. News is so good that
it seems to be a little preposterous. We
got a beautiful thrashing at Bridge!!
Melbourne Cup at Changi - by Cpt. Bush
8th Sun.
Aquired a Great-Coat today, (English). $2
One thing I will not be without when I
get back is a Camera, I'm very sore at
losing mine during the "Blue", I think of
all the snaps I could have got in the
last 8 mths while I've been in Hospital.
Pilgrimage to A.I.F. Cementry.
November
9th Mon
Selerang Area puts two Teams in
Australian Rules Comp. Geelong &
Geelong beat Essendon Tonight first
game of Comp.
10th Tues.
Tom over for a while, I'm still always glad
to see him when he comes over.
Major Wright who is up to now always Wrong
says we will be Home in a month.
11th Wed
Armistice Day, but not this Year, (worse
luck). Some talk of Repatriation
Papers being back. Weight. 8.st. 5 lbs.
12th Thurs.
Just another day. This being in Hospital
& away from Home is getting to be a
bit on the monotonous side. Food is
very good at the present time. For
the 8th Time they've taken my name to
November
12th Thurs
see, do I want a Hat or Boots etc. X
13th FRI.
Very quiet day 2nd day of Blackout. Air
Raid Sirens going this morning, may be only
Manourvers.
14th Sat
Increased Air Activity from 0300 hrs
on this morning. Whistle warnings blowing.
In Hospital 9 mnths, hard to realise
that I would have such a long stretch
out of Action. X.
15th Sun.
Made 15th Crib-Board today. Looks like
I'm in for a cold the way I feel today
this is the worst place I know of to get
a cold in, a hell uva lot different to Home
knocks you for 6. Just same time has last
year I was this way. won't have to
worry about a night off this Year. X
November
16th Mon
Discharging quite a few to Con. Depot
lot of them the "Originals" & "Old-timers"
maybe there soon I hope.
17th Tues.
Just another day & so it goes on, a
fair bit of Air Activity still lots of
Bombers going out loaded up.
18th Wed.
21 Months since We arrived in Singapore, &
what months the last 9 have been, I don't
want to spend much longer here under the
same conditions, we had our fun before the
"Blue" got going but it's not much fun now
& I suppose a dam sight worse for them
at Home, I often wonder how it will be to
start "Civvie" life all over again, I think
a lot of us are in for a few rude shocks
thinking we are going to start just
where we left off.
November
19th Thurs.
Tom over today he gets over every time
he gets the chance; Inspection by G.O.C
of Troops. Japanese have a Parade for
the Orderlies of a night now, & they must
be properly dressed, Boots, shirt, & Hat.
20th FRI.
Still playing a lot of Bridge; No one
allowed out of Ward after Tea, & must be
on their beds at 1930 hrs.
21st Sat.
Today was a day of Surprise for me,
Col says out & so to Con. Depot I go.
Saw Tom & went over to Unit, then
to A.I.F. Concert, extra good show.
I didn't realise that I knew so many
people until I started to walk about
the Camp, must be a well known
figure evidently. (It's "Hello Frank"
from every where, "Glad to see you out")
November
22nd Sun.
Issued with a Hat (Pork-Pie) S.African. Red +.
Be able to see Tom every day now; over
to the Unit for Tea. Japanese Parade
at 1930 hrs. Church Parade a 1940 hrs
My first Church Parade since I joined
up.
23rd Mon
This being at A. Con Depot is alright,
plenty to do & you can visit all the
Main Camp Area at any time. Bukit - Timah
working party back in. Concert
or Lecture on every night here, plenty
of entertainment, such has Cricket, Golf,
Tennis, Billiards, deck Quoits & D. Tennis.
24th Tues.
Big Cricket Match of Cripples Today, one
armed & one legged & men with Plasters.
Playing Bridge again. There's a helluva
lot of visitors to Con of a night. X
November
25th Wed.
Went over to Unit in afternoon.
A.I.F. Concert at night. The A.I.F. -
Theatre is very excellent considering
we are . P.O.W.s & the show the "Cooee's"
put on are very good, change every 2 wks.
& are always up to standard.
26th Thur.
Over to 2/29th for a stroll this morning
& to Unit in afternoon, Lecture on N.Guinea.
at Con Depot tonight.
27th FRI.
Learning to play Contract Bridge over
at the Unit, it's a much improved game on
Auction. X
28th Sat
Another Party to go overseas, reports is
that Disabled to go Home on the 7th
another one of these good Furphey's
Concert here at Con. Depot.
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