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

Conflict:

Second World War, 1939–45

Subject:

Diary entries

Status:

Awaiting approval

Accession number:

AWM2021.7.17

Difficulty:

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.

Hand drawn sign - see original document
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 at 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.
Classifacation 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.

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.

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.

~~Rep~~ 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 1930 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.
18^th. Sun.

Hand drawn sign - see original document

Bit damp today; playing about with Plans.
Walk over to Signs - 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.

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. I'ts 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 & Souveniers, & any Electrical parts
4^th. Wed

Mail in at the Goal, 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 18mth

AUGUST.

6^th Fri.
Hand drawn sign - see original document
Chap from 18^th Div brings me 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 Trading.

10^th. Tues
Went to "Smoky Joes" 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.Hs to move

into Square. Con Depot now 250 Conv.

6^th. Fri.

Chap from 18^th Div brings me 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 Trading.

10^th. Tues
Went to "Smoky Joes" 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.Hs 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

3rd. Over to Sigs - Engineers.

AUGUST

22^nd. Sun.

Made Cigarette Lighter this Morning, 2

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

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.

Hand drawn sign - see original document

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 Ps.O.W.

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 in to 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, Extra 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

O.K. 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.

Last edited by:

H.Boutell

Last edited on:

25 April 2026, 2:52 pm

Last updated: 25 April 2026