Wallet 3 of 5 - Diary of Francis Russell James Day, volume 1 of 2, 1941-1943, Part 4
A VILLAGE
IN
A VALLEY.
CONTENTS
| I | CHURCH PARADE - WHEN YOU GO | 11 |
| II | SAINTS AND SINNERS - PRIVATES & SIRS | 17 |
| III | A GREAT LADY - JOHN WOOD | 37 |
| IV | WARNING SHADOWS - CAMP POLICE | 48 |
| V | PRESERVING THE AMENITIES - THE Q.M. | 57 |
| VI | ANCIENT LIGHTS - OUR LAST SMOKE | 66 |
| VII | A SYMPHONY OF SILENCE - LIGHTS OUT | 89 |
| VIII | INTRUSION - M.P. BREAKING UP THE 2 UP. | 104 |
| IX | TO THE RESCUE - FOUND A DOLLAR | 117 |
| X | BABES IN THE WOOD - "F" FORCE IN SIAM | 134 |
| XI | THE STORES - ASK ORDINANCE | 145 |
| XII | THE LOST WINDOWS - "P" PARTY | 162 |
| XIII | WOMEN IN SHADOW - JUDY GARLAND, KEITH STEVENS | 180 |
| XIV | TROUBLE DOWNSTAIRS - EMPTY STOMACHS | 188 |
| XV | CONVERSATION - DETAILING OF DUTIES | 207 |
| XVI | MARTHA, MARY AND OTHERS - A.I.F. CONCERT PARTY | 220 |
| XVII | SMOKE BEFORE FIRE - "FURPHIES" | 230 |
| XVIII | ROMANCE - OUR LOVE FOR THE "SIRS" | 242 |
| XIX | TREASURE TROVE - COL. KAPPIE'S PURE | 247 |
| XX | A GREEN HILL FAR AWAY - MELBOURNE | 262 |
| XXI | THE LAST MIRACLE - A GOOD OFFICER | 270 |
| XXII | LIGHTS OUT - 11.PM CHANGI. | 277 |
EDUCATION
CENTRE. AIF
JUNE
25th Wed
Pay. $25 Doughs Sent to K.L.
[*Look over Market - Great place*]
26th Thurs
Saw "40 Thousand Horsemen." at
"ODEON", & it was just a show.
27th FRI.
Night off. Saw "Kitty Foyle" &
"Topper takes a Trip." Parcel from
Jean, from Family [*Look over Railway
w/shops "] X
28th SAT
Bought sandals $4-50 (Gordon
Wrote to Mum, Dad, Vic, France↑
Mail from Mum & Dad & Gordon
29th SUN
Mail sent today. B.S.I.T.W.Y.S.I.Y
Saw "My love came back," Capitol
[* Nipper commandeers Bus.*]
30th MON
Saw "Theif of Bagdad at Cathy
Marvellous. Photography, & colour .X
is extra, lots of the boys didn't care for it.
July
1ST Tues
Mail from France 15 Mum. Ern.
.4.y.E.B.Lonely Saw "Private Lives" K.L. Town Hall
Mail sent to . France. Mum. Ern
2nd Wed
Saw "Captain Fury" at "Capitol"
Cracker Night in Corpral's Hut. !!!?
3rd Thurs
Made doughs finished at 0700 hrs:
"Cathy" to see. "Road to "Zanzibar"
4th FRI.
Night off. Saw "Little. Nellie Kelly"
at 'ODEON". "Convoy" at "Pavillion".
Boss came back from Mallacca.
Cable to Joan.
5th SAT.
Went to KLAng to Mr & Mr
Thompsons. House. Rubber. Planter
4,000 Acres. North. Hummock.
Plantation. Crocodiles
(NeeDr.Craig of N.Z. now Sydney)
July
6th Sun
Joan's Birthday. Wrote to France.
Went for Walk Saw T-T.t.y.o.f.4.e
thru Chinese. Biscuit Factory
Had some Iced Papaya & limes.
7th Mon
Played " Monopoly", "Table Tennis"
Had a feed of Pineapple & wen to bed
[*10¢ for a big one*]
8th Tues
Mail from France. 16 & Mum.
went to K.L. ANZAC. Club.
Cabaret at Venning. Rel. Hall
"Selangor. Club" Orchestra."
cabaret items by . White Residents
extra good turns.
Mail to France & Mum
9th Wed
Pay $15. $3.d0 for Camera. Case
$1.80 for sHoes. $2.10 for Films
Saw "Cowboy & the Lady " Capitol"
Chicken Curry at stall & . Mee-koos
July
10th Thurs
'So Ends our Night" at "Cathay"
Extra good SHow. Letter from Aunt
Lila. Fish & chips Supper (Chinese Style)
11th FRI
Night off. Saw "Scotland Yard"
at "Pavillion." "Go West". at. "ODEON"
Stamps $2. Fish & Chips ^ (Fried) Supper. 35¢
12th SAT
Mail 2 Letters from France. 17 & 18
13th Sun
Letters sent today. Saw "Flash
Gordon". at "Capitol". Ice Cream & Fruit
14th Mon
Slept all afternoon went to see.
"Zorros's Fighting Legion" (12 chapters)
at 5.30. at "Cathay" to bed at
2200 hrs. Wise's Flour.
15th Tues
Letters from Ern. Allan. Mum.
July
15th Tues
Snaps of Allan, Ern joined up.
Wrote back to Allan & Mum, wrote
to France:- With Cpl. Reade & Pte Frost
Went to Dance not a bad turn called
at Ming Quong's on the way to pick up
snaps for Harry. Bell. had shower at
23.40m hrs & went to bed till 6.45.hr
£3.0.0 sent. Home
16th Wed
0645 hrs when I got up to start
work. finished at 1300 hrs & came home
to dinner, got washing ready for the
Dhobi & got clean clothes back, took
two or three snaps & wrote to Mum &
Ern, Ern's letter being held till I hear
from him re his Unit & Address
Mail collected by Corpral at
1650 hrs & then to Tea
Mail to France. Mum & Allan.
played "500", & Table Tennis till 2230hrs.
17th Thurs
Late finish at work, taken to SKipping
everyday for Exercise.
Saw the " Mummy's Hand" at the "Capitol"
(Nip). Pte. A. (Mitiamo's Playboy) Boyd
goes to Hospital today, to be decapped.
I saw. "Navy Steps Out" instead of M.H.
good show. "Cyco" Compressed.
18th FRI.
Started doughs at 0035 hrs. finished
at 0600hrs, breakfast. SHower & to bed
till 1230 hrs. Paid a visit to C.S. Bakery
in afternoon. Slashing place, Oil burner
double decker Steel ovens. dough.machine
Sponge Mixer & all Mod. Con.s all
Electric. Cable to France. [*see 21st*] [ANKle. Bangle]
Went to "Cathay" to see "Virginia", & to
"Odeon" to see " Congo. Maisie", back
in Camp by - ( Gave up skipping, Loss of weight)
19th . Sat
0030 hrs.
July
19th SAT
Day off. raining Like. hell has been
all the morning, Saw "Northwest
Passage" at "capitol"
20th Sun
Started week on doughs, Phil made
them tonight wants to get out early
tomorrow. Seafoam Flour. Qld.
21st Mon
France's Birthday. Cable sent Fri
night. 57/41/35. Many Happy Returns.
best wishes & good health. Love Darling
Frank. finished doughs at 0615hrs, came
back to camp. had 10 min .sKip, then to
bed till 1200hrs, mail arrived unusual
to come Mondays. Letter from Mum
she thinks Allan has sailed:
Wrote to Mum: Comfort issued today
4pkt. Cigs. P.K's. Razor Blaedes, Toothpaste
Fruit Cake, Matches. Mail 1 day early.
July
22nd TUES
Finished work at 0600hrs, Had a sKip X
breakfast, bed till 1200 hrs, Dinner, made
Mail Box. Letter to Mum ^&France sent.
Tea to bed at 1800hrs,
23rd Wed
Pay $15. Lit fires at 1900hrs, started
Work at 2300h.rs, finished. 0445 hrs. Thurs
24th Thurs
Slept till 1100 hrs. Started work at
2300 hrs, back to bed at. 0400 hrs
25th FRI
0500 Hrs. Day off. Mail from
France 19 & Sid, $3 for "Stingab's".
Mail sent to France & Syd, Saw
"Phantom Submarine" at. "Cathay"
then saw "Flight from Destiny" at
"ODEON', after show had. Ham
Omelete at Cafe then home to
bed at, _____
JULY
26th SAT
0150 hrs. arose, at 0900 hrs, S.A.
at 1000hrs, rest of day Loafing around
decided to go to Late show, not
starting work till 0730 hrs in morning &
went to "B.B" Cabaret instead of
show got back to Camp at 130hrs
nailed by the Boss. for being out after'
2359 hrs.
27th SUN
Started work 0730 hrs fin. 12.30 hrs. Mr
& Mrs Thompson called at Bakehouse.
Went for walk to Pudi had a feed
of "DIn SIms' & some other Chinese
dish, to bed 22.30 hrs. Tea of Flowers
28th Mon.
Started work 0730 hrs fin. 1300 hrs.
Parade at 1400hrs about coming in
after time shown on Leave pass,
Had Iced Coffee at shop & then to bed.
July
29th Tues X
Mail to France, Mum & Ern, Nipper comes
back from Kajang. Went to Y.M.C.A.
Gym. for couple of hrs &, then to
Dance till 2200hrs & then back
to camp & into bed. English. Granulated Yeast.
30th Wed
Started work at 0730hrs finish 11.30 hrs
nice cool afternoon, rained all the time
so most of the boys put in the
afternoon sleeping.
31st Thurs
Started 0545 hrs to make extra dough
finish work at 1130hrs. Tug-of-War
Team go to H.Q for try out
Started work at 2300 hrs making
doughs. finished at 04.30 hrs
Fri morning; it's a nice time to
knock off, have a cold shower after
climbing a Palm for a Milk-nut, and so
to bed, & don't I sleep well? (much)
AUGUST
1st Fri
Day off went to Mr Thompson's
Estate for day, Went for car ride
to Marib" beach and back to Klang
for tea, came home at 2400 hrs.
[* squirrels & Baboons
Ducks on Beach 100'$*]
2nd SAT
Paid visit to C.S.B. to see
pastry cook at work. then went
over Printing Works. Kyle, Palmer & co
S.A. Inspection at 1400 hrs. Cricket
team formed, Some Military
Movement on, Erased Unit name
in Pay Books. Played Cricket till
dark, after Tea. then played 500 till
lights out 2215 hrs.
3rd SUN
Started work at 0330 hrs. Fin at 1000hrs
played Cricket till 1200hrs
Getting a fair Team. together, (Dr
"Cyclops") P. Bernstien , (Capt).
AUGUST
4th MON.
Finished work at 0925 hrs
Letter from France 20. to say Parcel
arrived on 23rd July. nice going
Went to "ODEON" to see the
"Invisible woman"
5th TUES
Finished Work 0940 hrs. Wrote to
France. Went to Y.M.C.A. Gym X
for 2 hrs.
6th Pay $15. things starting to Look like
they are on the move. Rumours every
where a
bout what is going to happen
Films. $3.20. Prints $1.40. Effrontine
making extra bread in case of move
coming in near future.
7th Thurs
Started on doughs at 2300 hrs.
Japanese Shops beaten up in
Scot's Road.
August
8th FRI
finished doughs at 0500hrs
Day off. Haircut. Kit-bag made
Mail day changed again.
Went to 'ODEON' to see, "Footsteps
in the Dark" & to Pavilllion to see
" That. Night in Rio" then to " B.B."
Park Cabaret. (Kuala.Lumpur. Wings
Arrived back at Camp 0130 hrs.
[* Tom don't care for walking*]
9th SAT
Went for ride in Unit Truck to H.Q.
N.A.A.F.I. & Fraser and Neave's Cordial Factory
Letter from Mum. Barretts. Yeast
[* Gave Girls hand to label.*]
10th SUN
MAIL to MUM. France. Geoge. Sykes.
Usual day of rest. NATSPAC. 5,000
11th MON
mail rom France, 21 Mum, Aud, & VI.
Adelaide Flour & Tropical Fruits.
Buah. Lumpia & Buah Langa. hand-drawn illustration see original
August
12th Tues
Went to Dance at Venning Rd.
fair turn back in camp at 23.00hrs
13th 1st Air Raid Precaution Wed
try out, Have to carry . Rifle. Webbing
Respirator.
Mail sent to Mum, Aud, VI &
France.
13th Wed
Small nights work, Two ovens had
to be moved in bake house, out of
use for 1 night. Finished at 11.30.hrs
Went to "Pavillion" to see. "Mexican
Spitfire goes West." just a show.
Some of the boys got into fight with
natives, dished it out & took it, 3 ended
up in Hospital, Concussion, Laceration
fractured ankle, some of these blokes
let their Heads go when they get
a few under the belt.
August
14th Thurs
Make doughs tonight. Rifle out & all
equipment; ready. at a moments notice
for Gas Alarms . (Trials).
Played 500 for 3 hrs. started doughs
at 2300 hrs.
15th FRI X
Finished at 4.30 hrs. Slept till 1200 hrs
500 for 3 hrs. Mail from Allan, Sid
night off . Went to 'ODEON' to see
"Comrade . X." & saw. "All this &
heaven too". at the "CApital" back
in Camp a 0002 hrs. (just made it)
16th SAT
Awoke at 0800hrs. first time I
have felt cold in bed since
coming to Malaya.
17th SUN X
Usual day of Rest. Started Work at
0330 hrs. fin. at 1030 hrs.'
Mail to France & Sid.
August
18th Mon
Mail today from France. 22 Ern.
Gordon. Played 500 till lights out
19th Tues
Letter to France. met her 19-8-34.
Played 500 till lights out.
20th Wed
Pay $40. Saw "Sea .Wolf " at
"ODeon" Three A.W.L's. Bill, Morry
Alf. 14/- fine. 7 days C.B.
21st Thurs.
Just another day ( Jeans. Birthday
[* Spend time in Cafe of evening*]
22nd Fri.
Day Night. off. Leave from 1400 hrs
to 0030 hrs on 23rd Wento "ODean"
to see "Uncertain feeling" & to
"Pavillion' "Return of Frank.James"
Mail from Mum. Bought. Watch
$30. Stamps $2.50.
Hand-drawn design see original
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