Wallet 3 of 5 - Diary of Francis Russell James Day, volume 1 of 2, 1941-1943, Part 6
November.
8th SAT.
Still a bit under the weather
hope to work tonight. Wrote to
Allan, sent snaps taken at Segamat.
Sent Xmas cards by Surface
Mail, to Mum, Mumma, Joan, Phyl
Jean.
Started work at 1900 hrs. big
night tonight:- Inolent up: 50 bags
2500 Lge:- (10,000lbs)
9th Sun.
Rested all day. Start work at
19.00 hrs finish at 2400hrs.
10th Mon
Mail from. Mum. Ern & Merle
Day. Rise in pay 2/-. allotment 6d.
11th Tues
Night off went to see. "I wanted
Wings". & "Saints Vacation" at.
"Cathy" & "Capitol" Theatres .
Play lot of Try-your-SKill.
November
12th Wed
Pay $20. Letter from Mac.
Wrote to Ern, Merle, Mum,
Weight 11st. at, K.L Dispensary .
13th Thurs.
Went to K.L presents for Xmas.
Stamps $2. Snaps. $5.20.
14th Fri
Letter from Sid: I'm feeling much
better today, than the last 4 days.
15th SAT
Dan back from Base. Cut Colors
for Belt took nearly all afternoon .
Letter to Syd.
16th Sun
Day of Rest. Making Belts & Reading
17th Mon
No mail in today. Went for Swim
Will be able to do a few more
than 6 strokes if I keep at it
November.
18th Tues
Mail from France, 32 Mum. Pop
Vic. Kitty & Harry, George X
Night off. Went to "Cathay" to seexxxxxx & then to "ODEON"
& saw "We Who are Young"
Saw "Reaching for the Sun", at "Cathay"
19th Wed.
Wrote to France. & Dad & Vic
Saw about Xmas Cards ready on
Friday paid $16 on Cards.
Ordered Coloured photo for France.
at "Good Earth Studio" $1.30.
Took snap of "B.B. Park".
20th Thurs.
Started to make Belt out of
Celophane Wrappers off Cigarette
packets.
21st Fri
Got Xmas Cards at "Commercial
November
21st Fri
Press" 3.30. Last night on early
doughs.
22nd Sat
Finished Belt. Wrote cards out
to send away.
Letter from Allan. Listened to
the Wireless till 2000 hrs.
23rd Sun
Letters to Allan, Mum, Mac
Ern, Merle, Cards in Letter
started work at 0200 hours . finish
at 0600 hours 50 extra Cards.
Day of rest as usual .
Good Wireless programme from
Penang. Patriots concert. all
announcements in Malay . items
British .
only 5 doughs each tonight
Using. jackets & Thomas's Flour.
November.
24th Mon
Our biggest night yet 2615 Lge10460.lbs
Letter from, Allan. Card for Xmas from
Syd & Barbara .
Mail sent to Ern, Mac, Mum,
Merle. Wrote to the 5 in 1. Girl. & to
Jack Gerashe.
25th Tues
Swim Parade at 1439 hrs . X
Night off . Saw ''Good Earth ''at
Odeon & Murder in the Air.
Met Pilot Officer. "Aussie" in R.A.F
at ''B.B Cabaret. had a dance
with Gwen, for Gratis, same has Tom's Cig's .
26th
Pay $26 spent most of it on
presents in . K.L.
Made Mum's Parcel up.
Cushion Covers for. Mum, Jean.
& Bangle for Audrey.
November
27th Thurs
Xmas Card sent to Lait Eades
Cards & Photo sent to France. Syd
Cards to Geo. Sykes. Kitty. Harold.
Letter to Mum . Debugging Parade .
Parcels ready to go.
28th Fri X
Parcel to France. 2 Pyjamas $7 & $3
2 Bangles $2.50 each. 2 Crocodiles. 1 Snake.
$1.50. Ash tray . $2 1pr. Cushion Covers
$6. Album (not full) & Corners. Ring.
Parcel to Mum. Cushion Covers for
Mum and Jean. Bangle for Audrey $2.
$8 for Covers. Wrote to France .
Stamps $2.40 & 80¢ for Parcels .
29th. SAT
Early. Shift. All Troops to be
Armed. Leave Cancelled. Looks
like things are on again, one of
these days these scares maybe Dinkum.
November
30th Sun
Papers from Mum. Every body to
Carry Rifle. Respirator. & to wear
Steel-Helmet. Only way to get
to K.L. is to go on Duty take
Rifle. Respirator, Battle-Bowler, & Live
rounds. Every man must be Armed
even at work. Orders to prevent
Sabotage at Supply Depot. X
Late shift doughs. Saw
"Bitter Sweet" at the 'ODEON'
Feels funny wandering around Town
all armed up,
DECEMBER
31st 1st Mon
Letters from Mum, Gordon.
Cards from Mum, VI .& Aud
Parcel from Preston R.S.L.
Wrote to Mum. Gordon, F. Smith
December
1st Mon
address on Card in Parcel.
Guard mounted Day & Night at
Bakehouse. Sabotage. Prevention.
2nd Tues X
Day off. went to Mr Thompson's
at KLang. Very lucky to go as
all leave is now definetely stopped
had a swell time, & Met a Priest
(French) ^(Father Petain) Curry for Dinner, best ever
had/ Curried Rice, Rabbit, & about
15 different things to go with it,
Potato Crisps, 3 Kinds Onions, Bananas,
Papaya, Coconut, Chillis, Peanuts, etc.
& Mangoe . Sauce. (Extra). (Reistafel.
Back to Camp at 2400 hrs, bought
5 spools of Film at K Lang $.5.
3rd Wed
Fixed Wireless, Hookey the house
Cow woke me at 0820 hrs to do it
December
3rd Wed
Post's from Mum. Slept all afternoon.
first time for Months. Listened
in till 2200 hrs.
4th Thurs
Comforts. issued non-Smoker's a bit
unlucky all they get after giving
their Cobbers the Tobacco was
P.K's. Water-Wheel; Hutchinson's; Pearl;
Stratton's, Wise's, Flour. Barret's Yeast
2532 Lge Night. 18 doughs more X
flours, Schutt & Barries's, Jacket's, Canadian.
5th Fri.
Letter from France, 33 Phyl to get her
Tonsil's out, hope she is O.K. by now
Parcel from Mrs Robbie.
Wrote to France, Night Off for all
Reason Unknown has yet.
Tom & I. managed to rake up the
Cents to go & see. "Come Live .
[*orders to pack for Middle East (Cancelled.) *]
December
5th Fri
with me" at the "ODEon" s
6th Sat
Parade at 1000 hrs. March for
2 or 3 miles, Gas Drill. Told that
our Holidays start Monday: Week on
first Shift Doughs. Looks like
War with Japan by all the News
& Work that is going on a Supply.
Men still going Armed.
7th Sun
Day of Rest. start work at 1800hrs
Armed Guard on Supply Depot
Malay . Volunteers. Orders for
extra Precautions at 1900 hrs
8th Mon
News that Singapore got it
War Declared, Looks Dinkum this
time. Every-one is sort of
releived. waiting on more news.
December
8th Mon
Mail from ALLAN. Mum. Vic &
France,34 I was terribly pleased with
letter from France. [*Bang goes our Hols.*]
Wrote to France. Allan:- Mrs Barry
Jean : Xmas Cards. Men to do 3 hrs
Guard instead of Leave.
9th Tues
Work cut in half. Allan's Mob X
reported to have moved up North
Japs reported 100 miles away.(11-12-41.)
All Unit called out at 2000 hrs
to go on Guard. 12 men at a time
2 hrs: Nothing happened.
10th Wed
Last report of Japs. To have taken
Aerodrome 75 miles away from K.L.
Work in Bakehouse almost too
much with 6 men on has permanent
guards. 20 Batches. per day, all
December
10th Wed
day work now. Blackout all.night.
Every man to a stand ready at First
Alarm. Seems to be expected tonight
Pay $25. Bought shoes for
France $3, hope I can get them
to her. Men now getting Rifle Drill.
One Air Raid Warning at 2035hrs
Repulse & Prince of Wales Sunk.
11th Thurs
Letters to Jean. (Allan's), Mum, Vic.
Bern. & H. Eisfelder; Xmas Cards.
No Air ALARMs. 2/29th at KLUANG,
12th Fri
Mail from Syd with snaps., & Ern
Wrote to Ern & Syd. 'ALERT' at
1300 hrs. . Went to K.L. in afternoon
Put away Pyjamas for the Kids
All shops are boarded up. All Japs
have been interned. 2880 Lge (11,520).
December
13th SAT
Fence Erected around Camp.
Afternoon servicing Dough Machine &
fixing Bakehouse lights. Mde shades
for light, out of Yeast Tins . [*(Blackout)*]
Unit now has Tommy-Guns. No Alerts
today so far. Quiet Night. [*5 Tommy Guns*]
14th SUN
Went to K.L. to see "Men of
Boy's Town." back at 1830 hrs, no
Leave at night now. Went on guard at
Midnight; No work in Bakehouse tonight
15th Mon
Every one on Defence Work around
the Camp. Fences, Pits, etc.
Cleaned & Oiled. Dough Machine
No Mail today. Parcel from
Collingwood Council, I wonder who
put me in for that.? One of my
Favorite Chocolates in it, Peppermint
Cream.
December
16th Tues
Latest report Ipah. Bombed X
I wonder about K.L. its a very
important. Tin Producer & maybe
to VAluable to the Jap. to wreck
with Bombs. Well - One never knows
Mail today from France,35 Harold;
George, & Ivy Sykes; Mum & Aud, snap
of Audrey on her 21st. Tells me
she's getting Married, hard to realize
my Kid Sister is grown up.
Work all afternoon on Fence.
Wrote to France At night, I miss
her more & More has time goes on
Syd sent me a Card.
17th Wed
Mail to France.1. Harold. George & Ivy
Letters to France numbered from now on
Snaps sent 3. Sultan's Palace. "WHit" &
Group at Thompson's.
December
17th Wed
Quiet day no Alerts. No work at
1900 hrs; 1945 hrs 6 doughs to make
then 4 more at 1100 hrs. Thurs.
18th Thurs
Woke up for an Alert at 0930 hrs
Planes passed over very high.
Watch-cover from Syd. Mock Raid
at 19 2100hrs. Shots fired every-one at
Battle position in 7 mins. Unit now
has 5 Tommy-Guns for Defence o/-
Supply Depot. issued with 20 Rounds.
19th Fri
Mail from Florence & Mrs MacIntosh
start work tonight at Cold Storage
Bakery. Mail to Florrie Mac. &
France. 2. Had a good night no
ALARMS. Now have acquired 250 Rounds.
20th SAT
Started work at C.S.B. 18-3bag
2200Lge.(8,800 lbs)
December.
20th SAT
Doughs. 11¼ hr shift, troops at Ipoh
must have Bread, things not so good
up North according to Reports.
Natives evacuated Penang, Dead
just left in the streets. v
21st Sun
Woke up to Air Raid Sirens
at 1200hrs, Our First Air Raid
Japanese Planes intercepted by
Our Planes, (Brewster's) One Jap
Plane down, Can't see the reason
for the attack no Bombs dropped
Our first Taste of Arial Warfare.
Another ALARM at 1400hrs.. (2100.-2400)
On Guard at Supply Depot. 9-12-
Letter from ALLAN. Written on 16th.12.41
Wrote to ALLAN.
Snaps taken of Planes, 6 Japs down
7 Buffaloes.
December
22nd Mon.
First Raid by Planes at 1000 hrs
to 1100 hrs. SKy seemed to have Dozens
of Planes in it. Second RAid
At 1200 hrs, I was in K.L. At Time
& you should see the natives take
to the Shelters, ( fairly orderly).
Reports to Planes down vague. SAW
3 come down from Camp.
Got the Kid's Pyjamas, couldn't
get France's things, most of Shops
shut in Town, most of People eVAuated
8 hr. shift in Bakehouse.
No Mail Today. Pay $25
23rd Tues
Mail At 1000 hrs, Bombers over
at 1125 hrs, nothing happened by (X)
what we can see .from Camp.
Letters from France.36 Mum & Jean.
Wrote to France. Mum & Jean. No.3.
December
23rd [*K.L. station Bombed - missed.*] Tues
Guard. Camp. 100hrs to 2100hrs.
24rd Wed.
One Air Alert otherwise just a
day, Work starts at 1800 hrs. & doughs
One oven Blown out.
25th Thurs. WThurs
Quiet day. Boys had Xmas Eve
celebrations till about 4 o'clock
Xmas Morning, real good time
was had by all by the looks of it
Guard for Bill. Dela at Supply. Depot
25th - 0100 - 0300 xxay
Xmas Day, thoughts are at Home (X)
today, well & Truly; Wonderful Xmas
Dinner. Turkey, Ham, Duck, Pickles
Soup. fruit;. Tea. Pork, Turkey. Tomatoes
Onions, Lettuce. Jelly & Peaches & Cream
every one completely SATisfied.
No RAid Today. Lot of respect for us.
December
26th Fri.
Boxing DAY. RAid for 2½ hrs. (X)
Post. Office, & Selangor Club. got
a few bombs. 24 Bombers came
over. No Mail today. Comforts
Xmas Parcel issued, Cake. Pudding
Fruit, Tobacco, Cream, tooth paste & Brush
Cheese, Polish, my Parcel from.
Miss, Joyce, Tivand , & Miss Betty
GArrard. 478 George St. Sydney.
27th SAt
Air ALArm at 0945 hrs All quiet.
Wrote to 478. George. St. Sydney.
Letter to France. No. 4 Guard 13/50
0300 - 0600 hrs. at Camp. [* Fun in Foundry*]
28th SUN
Usual Day of Rest. go to work At
1330 hrs. Bombers, over at 1015 hrs.
Got Parcel ready to send at a
Moments Notice. Extra Comforts. today.
December
28th SUN
Just work, a couple of Alerts in
afternoon, a bit disturbing to our "Siesta
29th Mon
Letter from France.37 Glad to get
it. got parcel ready, sewn up while
in Air RAid . shelter. Will send away
as soon as things seem to be . O.K.
Boys aquired a Vicker's Gun today.
Parcel contents, Kid's Pyjamas 4. pr.
1 Negligee. 1 pr Shoes, 3 Belts out of
Celophane. Plan for House. Letter to France (5)
30th Tues
Bombers over Two or three Times
Today, otherwise very qujet. Finished
Work At 2200 hrs. Mail from Jean
(Snaps of Audrey's wedding), & Syd. X.
31st Wed
New Year's Eve. Went to K.L. HAD A
look at the Bombed Parts. GuArd
at (9-12) 2100 hrs - 2400 hrs. Wrote. Syd
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