Wallet 3 of 5 - Diary of Francis Russell James Day, volume 1 of 2, 1941-1943, Part 7

1942   JANUARY  1942

I^st
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 job this morning wrote a

bit to France:

2^nd
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

3^rd
Sat

First Alert at 0900 hrs

Mail to France, (6) Syd, & Mrs Thompson.

Work At 1300 hrs. till 2330 hrs

4^th
Sun

Day of Rest? Two Bombers

over today so far. 3 Alerts

Mail in; I missed out.

5^th
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

6^th
Tues

Bombers over early this morn.

0820 hrs. Plenty of Explosions

in Afternoon. Tin dredges being blown & Engines
ships

7^th
Wed

Pay $8. R.E's sinking Tin Dredges

with explosions. All Engineering

shops broke & blown up by R.E's &

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

8^th
Thurs

All Guards now have Tommy

Guns & orders to shoot natives

in anyway suspicious.

Guard for 12 hrs on Tobacco

Factory to Keeper Looters away

Troops getting cigarettes by the

Thousands, Tobacco galore.

Got Mah-jong set. Mail Mum
[*38*]
& France.

9^th
Fri

Went to work no oven so work.

is off. Japs 18 miles away, we

should evacuate in morning.

Mail to Mumma & France.

Everybody is Just Happy, Beer is

Just laid on, M.t. Y.M.C.A.

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

10^th.
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 x

Camp. Put up at Segamat Masonic

Club. Rained like Hell.

11^th
Sun

Left Segamat at 0815 hrs

made for Johore Barhu.

arrived at 12.30 hrs. waiting for

rest of Convoy. Passed 29^th

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. 42 M.T.

Just here in time for a Air-Raid.

Turn on Bukit-Timah. Rd

January

12^th
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."

13^th
Tues

Still lost. Leave till tomorrow.

Stayed Night at U.J.C. went

X

January

13^th  

Tues

to "Allambra" saw "Sky Murder"

rained like Hell & did we get

wet much. back to camp next day

14^th
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

14^th
Wed

Wrote to France & Mum. Day & night in
Singapore.

15^th
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

29^th 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.

16^th
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

16^th
Fri

Had a real good night ^out for the

Last one, with Doug & Henry.

Moving on in Morning to BASP.

17^th
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 18^th, 19t^h, 20^th, 30^th Batt

in action in Negri. Sembil are Gemas.

100 odd miles up.

18^th
Sun

Day of rest, spent all day

cleaning up kitchen stuff with

January

18^th
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

19^th
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.

20^th
Tues.

Stood to at 0430 hrs till 0600 hrs

Have to stand to 0400 to 0600 hrs 

January

20^th
Tues

Reports that Para troops landed

between us & our Font Line.

Work this morning Slept all

afternoon. A.I.F. still doing well

2. Flights of Japs. 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

21^st
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 coupe

out of the sky with "Ack-Ack"

Mobile laundry back today from

Kluang. Bombed out.

January

21^st
Wed

Sent parcel today to France.

Heard 29^th 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.

22^nd
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 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 nights drinks were Brandy (cognac)

Creme De Menthe, Whisky, Beer, Gin, Rum

Grapefruit, Lemonade, Soda; (Poor. Fraser.) 

January

23^rd
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?)

24^th
SAT

Played Poker for the first time

last night, to fill in a gap for the

others, won $6. (Mugs luck)

Re-inforcements in; Tricked "Tojo" this

time Boys 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

25^th
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.

26^th
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

27^th
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

27^th
Tues

Went for a dip in the sea, at

0900 hrs.(Swell) someone tells us

when we get out that place is

infested with Sharks & Crocodiles!

Night Air Raid on Singapore.

28^th
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

29^th
Thurs

Dip in the sea every morning

4 Raids here yesterday.

3 night raids tonight, no good, in bed

Bought 30 dozen snaps 5^c each

Spent afternoon fishing from the

Boat. Wrote to France ^no 7.

30^th
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. 20^c. B2. 7^d each

50. P.C.'s. 37 B2. size

31^st
SAT.

Just the same as the other

days here. Went to "Ubique" Cinema

saw "Adventure in Washington".

25^c Admission: R.A.'s Cinema. (Cinema

is Concert Hall of P.O.W. Camp Hospital.

Direct hit on roof by Shell.) 

February

1^st
Sun

ALL our troops now on the Island

Causeway blown up yesterday.

This doesn't seem to be too good at all

Japs have too much of Malaya.

Fished all afternoon, no good worrying

2^nd
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.

3^rd
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

4^th
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

5^th
Thurs

Now come the Dive Bombers,

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. 

FEBRUARY

5^th
Thurs   

Parcel from Syd. Lucky Rabbits' Foot

& Two "Trays". In middle of Bombs

again. Talking to "Loyals" a 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 everywhere about Allan

can't find out where he is yet. 

6^th
Fri

Mess Orderly today. Jap Fighter's

flying around today. Artillery still

sending it over; xxxxx Mail to Lila

Mac, Harold Eisfelder. Struck by lightening

7^th
SAT.

Lovely Wet night in leaky Tents

February

7^th
SAT

Fixed Tents up with Tarpaluins

Rather quiet day. Got ovens going

These "Aldershot Ovens" are not so

good to get the fire going in.

8^th
Sun

26 today: Only present I got was

a piece of Shell case, 18 in 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.