Wallet 3 of 5 - Diary of Francis Russell James Day, volume 1 of 2, 1941-1943, Part 7
1942. JANUARY. 1942.
Ist. .THUrS
New. Year's Day. I wonder what
this year will bring forth. My hope
is to be back with France & the
Kids before I have to start another
year in this Dairy.
Saw the Old Year out on Guard
at Supply. Wished France & the Kids
Happy New Year, & to all at Home
First it job this morning wrote a
bit to France:
2nd. FRI.
Cable from Mumma & Dadda.
Flour-Lumper, Day off; Went to
"Cathay" saw "Caught in the Draft."
Had to Walk there & back. Busses
off the run now. K.L must be near
on Evacuated. All white Women
ordered to evacuate tonight.
Japs reported to be at Pt Sweetnham
January.
3rd Sat
First Alert at 0900 hrs
Mail to France, (6) Syd, & Mrs Thompson.
Work At 1300 hrs. till 2330 hrs.
4th Sun
Day of Rest? Two Bombers
over today so far. 3 Alerts
Mail in; I missed out.
5th Mon
Indent down: "Aussie" & "Tommie"
in Camp from Front Line.
Reckon things are not so Hot.
R.A's & the 3.M.T. doing good
Work. 2 Aussies gone up to date.
K.L. Curfew on from 7. to 6.
Any one found on Streets to be
SHot, suspicious Natives shoot on
Sight. Japs seem to be all
around K.L. North. East, West.
glad there's none South so we can get out
January
6th Tues
Bombers over early this morn.
0820 hrs. Plenty of Explosions
in Afternoon. Tin dredges being blown & Enginer
shops
7th Wed
Pay $8. R.E's sinking Tin Dredges
with explosions. All Engeneering
Shops broke & blown up by R.Es &
L.D.C.s K.L. Town Thrown open
Boys I got Lamb, Whisky, Cognac
Beer, smokes, Brandy, & other
things. Terrible the way things
have to be destroyed, looks
like Burnt Earth Policy is
the only way. I would say it
will take 20 yrs to get Malaya
back to what it was. Police
evacuated? we got Baynets, Rifles
Lewis Guns, & Ammo.
Things are not the best.
January
8th Thurs
All Guards now have Tommy
Guns & orders to shoot natives
in anyway suspicious.
Guard for 12 Hrs on Tobacco
Factory to keep Looters away
Troops getting cigarettes by the
Thousand, Tobacco galore.
Got Mah.-Jong set. Mail Mum [*38*]
& France.
9th Fri
Went to work no oven so work.
is off. Japs 18 miles. away, we
should evacuate in morning.
Mail to Mumma & France.
Every body is Just Happy, Beer is
Just laid on, M.t. & M.A.C.
Blokes in for meals, down from
North. Japs coming in from Pt.
Sweetmenham. All we have to
Drink is Beer. Brandy, Whiskey.
Creme-de-Menthe, Gin, Rum, Cognac.
January
10th SAT.
Evacuated K.L. 0900 hrs with
R.I.A.S.C. Our Drivers driving
their Trucks got to Segamat
at 1700 hrs. Couldn't get u
Camp. Put up at Segamat MASONIC
Club. Rained like Hell.
11th Sun
Left Segamat at 0815 hrs
made for Johore. Barhu.
arrived at 1230 hrs. waiting for
rest of Convoy. Passed 29th
on road would like to ^Have seen
Allan. Last heard that Japs
were in K.L. & isn't K.L in
a mess. All Bridges on way
are ready mined. (Japs in K.L. 1200 hrs. 10-1-42)
Arrived Singapore at 1600 hrs X
Slept at Buller Camp. 42nd M.T.
Just here in time for a Air-Raid.
Turn on Bukit-Timah. Rd.
January.
12th Mon
Great welcome by Japanese
Planes. Flight of 129 over & many
Bombers. Our Destination at
present unknown. "Lost. Legion"
of Bakers'. were nobody's Child
H.Q. don't know where we are.
Leave to Singapore till 0900
next morning. Stayed night at
U.J.C. first real bed we've had
since leaving Home. Had a look at
Brothel's & Low Dives, so low that
they had to be lifted to make them
low. no truer saying "EAst is EAst
& West is West" Food at U.J.C.
Extra. Steak & Eggs, Etc.
Went to "Victory" Cahavet."
13th Tues
Still lost. Leave till Tomorrow.
Stayed Night at U.J.C. went.
X
January
13th Tues
to "Allambra." saw "Sky. Murder"
rained like Hell & did we get
Wet much. back to camp next day
14th Wed
Postal found us today. no Mail
for me. Block Chocolate from
Kitty. very little Mail.
240. Jap Planes over yesterday.
Try for Convoy & 'Drome. Bad
weather made accurate Bombing
impossible. Heard "Hurricanes" to
take the job on Tomorrow.
Went to Singapore & stayed night at
U.J.C. Saw "Broadway Limited" at "Roxy"
Went to "Green Circle;" "New Lulu; "Victory"
"Piccadilly" & "Swing Club" Cabarets
for a while. Boss is in with the
Boys now; taken off Pips & is Pte
some-one? every day in Town.
January.
14th Wed
Wrote to France & Mum. Day & night in
Singapore.
15th Thurs
Back to Camp at 0800 hrs. Mail
from Allan, Ern, Wrote to Allan
"Grumpy" OLSen got Machine-gunned
by Japs. Something Allan says the
29th have to pay back.
Wrote to Ern send letter tomorrow.
Great air Battle while I was writing
to them. Bombers were laying eggs
again. On Transport Guard at
night 1-3.
16th Fri
Went to Singapore at 1600 hrs
Tea at "ANZAC Club" Slept at
U.J.C. Good night out. went to
7 night Clubs in 3 hrs; Victory
Piccadilly, New Lulu, Green Circle,
Swing Club, Green Cresent, & (X.?.)
January
16th Fri
Had a real good night ^out for the
Last one, with Doug & Henry.
Moving on in Morning to BASP.
17th SAT
Left for Johore:- A.I.F. G.B.D.
arrived at 1100 hrs, spent day
getting camp in order, hope we
don't stay to long here, got
to wait till we get equipment
again; seeing all ours was
lost in evacuation of. K.L.
The A.I.F are giving the Japs
something for their corner now.
Reports of 18th, 19th, 20th, 30th Batt
in action in Negri. Sembil an Gemas.
100 odd miles up.
18th Sun
Day of rest, spent all day
cleaning up kitchen stuff with
January
18th Sun
"Johnny, the Boy". Camped in Tents
now, Candle lights. at night; if
we keep our tents shut up.
Waves of Bombers over today
Belted hell out of something
looks like Naval Base.
19th Mon
Mail to Ern. Spent Morning
getting new light-weight equipment
Got caught had to make "Sharpoies"
spent all afternoon at it
Fraser came in last night; spent
2 hrs with us, he'll be in again
tonight, expects to go up to Front
line any time: Told to stand to.
at 0430 hrs tomorrow morning.
20th Tues.
Stood to at 0430 hrs till 0600 hrs
Have to stand to 0400 to 0600 hrs
January
20th. Tues
Reports that Para troops landed
between us & our Front line.
Work this morning Slept all
afternoon. A.I.F. still doing well
2. Flights of Jap. Bombers over
to day 45 in each. Oil Dump out
today been burning for 3 days.
To bed early this getting up at
0400 hrs not so good. X
21st. Wed.
Pay $25. Duties today in
Officer's Mess. Took Photo's of "Our"
Tent & Fraser. Letter from "Betty"
Jap. Bombers & Fighters over today
Looks like our "Hurricanes" were in
Action against them. Blew a couple
out of the sky with. "Ack.-Ack."
Mobile laundry back today from
Kluang. Bombed out.
January
21st Wed
Sent parcel today to France.
Heard 29th got knocked about
hope it's not right. MUAR. '42
Letter-card to France, Letter to
Allan.
13. Jap Planes down today.
A.- A. got 9. of them.
22nd. Thurs
Camp. Piquet today. Wrote to
"Betty". Parade at 1400 hrs. to
tell us that not enough work was
being done on the scharpoi's &
to give us $12.40 each out of our
Canteen. Fund now it has closed
down, of course it's nothing for
the Bakery to be away when theres
other work than Baking to do.
Last night's drinks were. Brandy (cognac)
Creme De Menthe, Whisky, Beer, Gin, Rum
Grapefruit, Lemonade, Soda; (Poor. Fraser.)
January
23rd. Fri.
On Sharpoi's in the morning.
Afternoon loading party.
Jap's. Tokio Radio threaten to blow
Base Depot. Malaya. off the map
in 72 hrs: (arn't we lucky?)
24th SAT.
Played Poker for the first time
last night, to fill in a gap for the
others, won $6. (Mug's luck.)
Re-inforements' in; Tricked "Tojo" this
time Boy's were brought in on the Q.t.
No Raids today. Not a Jap Plane over
In Record team of Sharpoi-makers.
11 by 3 men in a day. 8. was. record.
Made them for new men in; & chaps
back from the front. I can't find out
anything definite at present about Allan
Heard his Company suffered.
Parcel to France. "Mah-Jong" set.. etc.
January
25th Sun
12 mths today since I joined up
Orders to be ready to move out
at 0830 hrs. Talking to 2/29th
Chaps. No news of H.Q. Coy.
Hot Showers on today. (mobile)
Only one alert today.
26th Mon
So starts another Year in the
Army for me. X
Just Lay around all day today
looks like camp will be evacuated
very soon. Told we are to move out in
the morning: Went fishing tonight
27th Tues
Left. G.B.D. at 0900 hrs for. Changi
new Bakehouse to be at School
Garrison School: Swell place.
East Coast. Nearest point on Island
to Australia
January
27th Tues.
Went for a dip in the Sea, at
0900 hrs. (Swell). some one tells us
when we get out that place is
infested with Sharks & Crocodiles!
Night Air Raid on Singapore.
28th Wed
Up at 0630 hrs, down for a dip
(In the Shark-proof Baths).
It's swell here; Beautiful sea-breeze
all night. Veiw from where I sleep is
over the sea. Looks like we will start
work very soon now; got parts for
Aldershot. Ovens in Yesterday.
Spent morning down at Beach
Afternoon in making Scharpois, went
fishing in evening. No good writing
at present, can't get our mail
away to G.B.P.O. Would like to
hear from Home at present.
January
29th Thurs.
Dip in the sea every morning
4 Raids here yesterday.
3 night raids tonight, no good, in bed.
Bought 30 dozen snaps 5c each.
Spent afternoon fishing from the
Boat. Wrote to France no.7.
30th Fri.
Early raid this morning "Tojo" over
at 0900 hrs. Spent day at Beach
& in Boat. Wrote to Mum & Syd.
Got back Snap of Xmas Dinner
$12-29 worth. P.C. 20c. B2. 7d each
50. P.C.'s. 37 B.2. size.
31st SAT.
Just the same as the other
days here. Went to "Ubique" Cinema
saw "Adventure in Washington".
25c Admission: R.A.'s Cinema. (Cinema
is Concert Hall of P.O.W. Camp. Hospital.
Direct hit on roof by Shell.)
February
1st. Sun.
ALL our Troops now on the Island
Causeway blown up yesterday.
This don't seem to be too good at all.
Japs have too much of Malaya.
Fished all afternoon, no good worrying
2nd. Mon.
Fishing & swimming all day. Told
to pack ready to move. Went to
see. "Nothing but the Truth".
Mail from Mac. Harold Eisfelder.
Lila; & Cable from Mum & Family.
3rd. Tues
Moved out to "Bukit Panjang" at
0900 hrs. Took over House of Dutch
Quarry Owner. Swell place, pity that
such things have to be done.
Greeted by Bombs from Jap. Planes
nearest they have been to me yet.
Burnt on knee with Shrapnel.
February
4th Wed
On Truck to get Material for
Bakery. Got caught up in a Big
Bomb Raid at Buller Camp.
Thought I had lived my last
day, they were that close; Bombs
whistled, Ground shook (so did I)
They were too close to be any
thing but Comfortable.
All we can hear is Artillery going
all day & night. Japs all day; Ours at night
5th Thurs
Now come the Dive Bombers, I
think they are worse then anything
The Battle of the "Big Guns"
started this morning right over
our Camp. Shells were landing 200
yds off. On Truck Duty to
R.A.O.C. for troughs, Boys putting
Ovens in. Weight 11st. 6 lbs.
FEBurARy
5th Thurs
Parcel from Syd. Lucky Rabbit's Foot
& Two "Trays". In middle of Bombs
again. Talking to "Loyals" ^at "Tiger Brewery" heard
that Paddy O'Brien got killed at
Muar River.
Parcel from Merle DAY, & R.S.S.A.I.L.
Preston. Battle of Big Guns on
nearly all night, got Syd's Parcel
while the Shelling was on. (Guess
I had better keep rubbing that foot)
Asked every where about Allan
can't find out where he is yet.
6th Fri.
Mess Orderly today. Jap Fighter's
flying around today. Artillery still
sending it over; Wrote Mail to Lila
Mac, Harold Eisfelder. Struck by Lightning
7th SAT
Lovely Wet night in Leaky Tents
February
7th SAT.
Fixed Tents up with Tarpaliuns
Rather quiet day. Got Ovens going
These "Aldershot Ovens" are not so
good to get the fire going in.
8th Sun
26 today: Only present I got was
a piece of Shell case, 18 ins from my
shoulder while sitting in the trench
Camp is getting sprayed by Shrapnel
all day, shells Explode in the air.
Kit-bags to be handed in for
storage today. Flour arrives today
Hope to start work soon, if the Japs
let us. I never want to experience another
day & night like today. Two Bomb
raids over the Camp; - I think the Japs
fired every gun they possesed. Our.
Artillery gave them a lot back. This
war business is not too good.
D CoatesThis transcription item is now locked to you for editing. To release the lock either Save your changes or Cancel.
This lock will be automatically released after 60 minutes of inactivity.