Wallet 3 of 5 - Diary of Francis Russell James Day, volume 1 of 2, 1941-1943, Part 18

June
26^th.    Sat
Big order for Brooms in 40 for A.G.H.
Trying to get an idea of cost of House.
asking questions of everyone. Over to "Smoky's"
27^th.    Sun.
Day of Rest for us, tried leg out for a
while, Music by A.I.F Orchestra.Church
Parade. "K" Force left 2200 hrs last night. Medical.
28^th.    Mon
Classification at 1000 hrs. Bit of Air Activity.X.!
Bombers (always brings back "Were'll you have it".)
29^th.   Tues
Trying "Tinny" out quite a bit & it's hard
going.
[*LATRINES
CLOSED
14-4-43*]
30^th.   Wed
There'll be some rumours about the Camp
now; We've had a Kit-inspection for Canvas
shoes. etc. All had to report for 2
Dysentry needles at 1345 hrs. Look
over Pig Farm in Evening at 11. DIV. Area
July
1^st.   THURS.

T.A.B Injection today. To "Smoky Joes" in
Evening for Coffee & "Doovers".
2^nd   Fri
Went to see A.I.F. Concert at 2030 hrs.
Good Vaudeville Turns.
3^rd.   Sat
Pay $1.70¢. Last night of Concert, so we
went again.. Just make Brooms of a
morning & Library of Afternoon 1400-1530 hrs.
4^th.   Sun.
Went for a walk on the "Tinny" to "Smoky's"
for Soup at 1100 hrs. Church parade.
5^th.Mon.
Classification at 1000hrs. Needle at 1500
hrs, have a bit of a cold & the needle
is playing up.
6^th.   Tues
No needle for me today, running a bit
of a Temp. Joan's Birthday.

JULY

7^th   Wed.

Harry Smith over talking to us on Circus

life for the evening.

8^th   Thurs

"Smoky Joes" for Coffee strolled over to "Sigs"

with Charles.

9^th   Fri.

xxx Rumours that "Tojo" is in Singapore-

Weather Reports are very good.

10^th   Sat.

Just a day. Cool and Cloudy. Jim & Charlie Two 

Planters from the S.V.F. over to have a yarn

Smoky's again

11^th   Sun.

A.I.F. Orchestra in Y.M.C.A Hut Jim

& Bob over.

12^th   Mon.

Classification; back at Brooms again.

Every-one to take a measure of Grass

extract every day (Vile - & very nasty.
 JULY

13^th    Tues

Go for a walk every evening usually end up at

"Smoky Joes" Music at Con. Classical

14^th   Wed

Beautiful Weather, cool breeze all day & night

Weather report extra good. Went over to see

Wally in evening

15^th   Thurs

Our clothes are mended with a Rubber solution

now, stick on Patches, just like mending a

punture. It's marvellous what things are being

done in the Camp. A.I.F. Concert

16^th   Fri

Issued with New Tan Boots at 1600 hrs;

Went to Palladium Theatre at 19.30 hrs

to see Love Laughs; (weak show)

17^th   Sat

Don & the Boy's over from A.G.H., went to

"Smoky Joe's". Pay $1.20^¢. Reading

quite a bit about cars. etc. 

JULY

[* OUT - OF

ORDER *]

18^th Sun.

Bit damp today; playing about with Plans.
walk over to Sigs-Engineers in Evening.
19^th  Mon.

5 Chaps who were doing Solitary in the
gaol out at A.G.H. for Medical Treatment

after 14 months. Smoky Joe's in Evening.

20^th  Tues.
Red Cross Representative checking up on
Alexandria Hospital Business, Looks like a
bit of strife for someone after the Blue.

21^st.   Wed.

France's Birthday. I thought I would be

Home for this; well maybe next one, I'm
very tired of being away from her & the

kids; takes a lot to wake some Guys up.

22^nd.  Thurs.

Down to "Smoky Joe's" in evening. A few

incidents in the Camp with the Japs.

Black-Market war on.

JULY
 23^rd.    Fri
Over to see Wally: Kit inspection by Officers

something to do with Black Market.

24^th.  Sat.

Song of the Bird off for today;  Collumn 5
Activity in Camp is pretty severe at present.
"Smoky Joes" in the evening.
25^th.    Sun.
Parade in Lecture Hall. (Ducks). Went on

visit to A.G.H. for Lunch. Church Parade

Over to Sigs-Engineers.

26^th   Mon.

No Classification. .Still on the Brooms.  Parade

for Notes on Where & When, Why & What, we 

were Hit.

27^th.   Tues.

Just another day.  In Library, doing a 

few things to the House Plans every 

time I work any thing out. List of all 

our Gear taken, Personal & other wise.

JULY

28^th.   Wed.

Sweet Songs at present. Went to A.G.H.

for Tea with Don & Co, leave from 1630 -

2030 hrs. Black-out Precautions on at 

present, Sirens going makes one think

of last year when they used to go.
29^th.  Thurs

I am getting very sick of being here, of
course that won't alter the fact much of 

having to stop. Its marvellous the talks

we have together here; meet chaps who get

together & yarn about their work & life
at Home all very interesting & worth knowing

30^th.    Fri.

Just another day to us; Paid a visit to
S.A. Library in Afternoon. & to A.G.H in

Evening to see 5 Moods at Palladium.

31^st    Sat.

Quiet day, Peter over in Evening.  Down
to "Smoky Joe's"
 AUGUST

1^st.   SUN.

Big Wash day today; have to boil clothes now

there is no soap; price at Canteen of Soap

 is 15^¢ for 1½ squ. Inches.  The Grass extract is

Pepper & Salted now & not so goddam nasty.

Mixed Programme at Y.M.C.A. Hut.

Don & Bill over in Evening.

2^nd.   Mon.

Pay $1.30^¢, other wise just a day.

3^rd.    Tues.

Parade by the Japs at 1350 hrs, while

they searched our Building, taking Torches

Cameras & Souvenirs, & any Electrical parts
4^th.   Wed.

Mail in at the Gaol, hoped to be on

issue in 3 days. Played Bridge in

evening. Letter from Mum.

5^th.   Thurs.
Very highly elated received a letter from

France, I've been waiting for this for 18 ^mth

AUGUST

[* SWILL

WET ° DRY*]
6^th.   Fri.

Chap from 18th Div brings over some

records every now & then, quite a number

of records in the Camp.

Peter took me over the "Smoky Joe's"

7^th.    Sat

In Library all afternoon. Don & Bill over

in evening & down we went to  "Smoky Joe's"

for "Coffee & Doovers".
8^th.    Sun.

Day of Rest, gave Bill a hand at a 

bit of Soldering in Morning.

Padre Benjamin over for Service; afterwards

recited pieces from the Sentimental. Bloke.

9^th     Mon.

Japs are causing a bit of trouble in the 

 Camp with their Toading.

10^th.   Tues
Went to "Smoky Joe's" for Coffee, Lecture

by one of Wingate's Men.
 AUGUST

11^th    Wed

Went to A.G.H. for Dinner with Don & Co.
to A.I.F. Show in Evening extra good
Show. John Wood now Producer.

12^th   Thurs.
Down to Smoky's in evening. Over to see

Len & Pat for a while in Afternoon & 

to see Wally.

13^th    Fri.

Hour in Library. Cholera precautions on at

present are very strict. Talks of move in

the air again.

14^th.   Sat

Just another day.

15^th    Sun

Wash-day. Church Parade. Classification

for some to go back to Unit.

16^th    Mon.

Big Moves in the Camp, A.G.H^s to move

into Square. Con Depot now 250 conv.

AUGUST

17^th.     Tues

Trailer over again on Valley Road corner

1 Died 2 injured this is the 3rd Death at this 

corner B. - A. & AM.

18^th     Wed.

Pay $1- 20^¢.  5 cents in each pay for

B.C^'s in A.G.H. quite a good show.

19^th    Thurs.

Things are starting to settle down again

in Camp A.G.H. Moves off for a week.

Visit to Palladium to see the "Little ADmiral

an extra good show.  Concert Party

now live at Con Depot (Takes me to 1934)

20^th.    Fri.

Needle today Cholera, seems to have

Japs pretty worried (Sunny Skies).

Made 2. Handles from carrying Pole.

21^st.    Sat.

Crib Contest on in A. Section Charles & I

3^rd. Over to Sigs-Engineers.
 AUGUST

22^nd.      SUN.

Made Cigarette Lighter this Morning, 2

Mesh Sticks in Afternoon. Most of B. & A.G.H.

over on Square. Party of 100 ready to

Move off. Peter, Tuppy, Norm Cornish

going.

23^rd.     Mon

Rumours of Move Men for another

party 1150.

[* ROOM 1

Leg. Patients.*]

24^th.    Tues.

Issue of Milk for Breakfast; some tales of
how we have been taken on by Japanese Ration

Officers, etc, for $1,000,000 worth or more of

Rations; Should have been getting Cigarettes

Meat, Salt, Milk & a few other things all

the time

25^th    Wed

300 Arrests in Jap Army over swindle,. Don

& Co now live on Square

AUGUST

26^th.   Thurs

Still Planning House, to fill in time; play

bit of Bridge in evenings occasionally. 
27^th.    Fri.

Went to A.G.H. to see Frank: Saw Wally

Pat & Len while on Tour. Red Cross letter-cards

in for a certain Percentage of P.O.W^s

28^th     Sat.

Walk over to see Wally of Afternoon

it's getting pretty difficult to fill in time

seems to be dragging a bit now.

29^th.    Sun.

Stroll about Area in evening. Rumours of

more Mail being in the Gaol waiting for

sorting: (Starting to make "His" Alley good).
30^th.    Mon.
Still work on Brooms, spend more time of

a morning there now, only thing to do.

31^st.    Tues.

Just another Day. Frank not too good can't

get into see. him

SEPTEMBER.
 1^st.   Wed.

Started to fill Tooth brushes for a few 

any B.C. free, others well a Gift, no trading

allowed.

2^nd.   Thurs.
Pay $1-30^¢. Stroll round camp in evening

3^rd.    Fri

Fill Brooms of Morning; T-Brushes in afternoon

Concert at 2030 hrs, Exttra good show.

4^th.  Sat.

Just another day, filled a few T.-Brushes.

Japs are Bashing up a few in the camp for

fun it seems has the Boys are saluting

OK. Jap. Guards live in our Area now.

5^th.  Sun

Big Church Parade, British & AUS. in

A.I.F. Concert Hall. at 1130 hrs, looks

good to see the marching Men probably

bring out another Working Party.

Eye trouble very bad at present.