Wallet 3 of 5 - Diary of Francis Russell James Day, volume 1 of 2, 1941-1943, Part 12
June
7th Sun
One of the nice cool days today is, for
a change, could put up with a lot of
this weather, sort of like a dull day
at Home; “Danny” over with Tom, he’s O.K.
again, all that got hit with “Bur” Shell
bar, “Yours Truly”, are O.K. now
Furpheys:- 10th F.A. now on ½ hrs notice, Coy.
Depot & non-combatant units to move over to
the A.G.H. Area.
8th Mon.
Had 2 Eggs today from "KAS", this fruit of
the Hen is a Luxury now & very seldom seen.
"Cookie" sent over some "Tomato. Soup" its
a treat to get these things for a change
Furpheys:- England has landed the biggest
Convoy ever in India, (100 ships). 7 Jap. Subs
sunk on East coast of Australia. Japanese
Fleet sunk & damaged at Wake &
Midway Islands.
June
9th Tues
They laired up this week, 3 stews in
4 meals, sort of letting their heads go a bit.
Tom was telling me about "Padre, Donavan.
who was hit at the time they were giving
me attention.
Furphey's:- Newcastle & Sydney were shelled by
Submarines, reported that R.A.A.F. sunk them
Japs have landed in Queensland, but were
all captured.
10th Wed.
Went to Concert by the "Optomists",
Jim wheeled me down in the Chair, it
was rather a good show.
Furpheys:- Big drive thru Burma by Yanks
& British Forces. 1,000 Planes over Naples.
Cologne & Emden, flattened by R.A.F. &
Russian Planes; We are to go Home & to
become Non-Combatant Troops R.A.F
are dropping land-mines in Germany.
June
11th Thurs.
Col. Osborne looking me over this morning.
Tom scored Two Jackets for me from a
chap at the Q.M.
Cookie sends over a Pint of Stew about
5 times a week.
Furpheys:- Russia is getting pushed back.
A.I.F. or British troops in Libya are giving
Rommels new force Hell, they are pushing
them back in a battle of Tanks.
12th Fri.
Rather a turn up this morning was an Issue
of Chocolate, a 1? Nestle's, Red.Cross.Issue.
We are to be paid $3.10 by the Japanese.
$1 to go to the Unit to buy Food, $2 in Cash
to us, & 10c into A.G.H. Cook house.
Furpheys:- Japs have landed in the
Alusian Islands. R.A.A.F. are at Rangoon
A.I.F. & A.G.H! to move out next week
to a new Area.
June
13th Sat.
Pay $2. Japanese Currency. The things
that they are going to buy from the Canteen
list, you would think they had been Paid at
least $30.
Furpheys:- They are non-existent at present
14th Sun
Concert by the Changi. Concert. Party.
some of the Artists are from the English &
London, Music-halls. They put on a very good
show. Dinner today was Plum-duff, well
duff made with Rice, Flour, Wheat, Peanuts
Suet; just a heavy load to carry.
15th Mon.
Official list of Wounded, Killed, etc. 25-5-42
Total A.I.F. in Malaya. 19449. 2/3 M.t. who
were sent away 377. Rep. & Deaths 1030.
Nurses & I.M.O. Cl. Coates. 133. Burma. Party
47, Official Party 78. K. in A. 378, D.of W
106. Missing 2309. P.O.W.s 14991.
June
16th Tues.
Life is just about getting mononentous now
nothing to do but lay & wait to get better
I feel good in myself, if I could only walk
it would be O.K., but methinks "Yours Truly"
has quite a while in his Cot yet.
Furpheys:- 2,500 A.I.F. to go away this
week, 2,000 Tommies, to go North by
Train. 200 Bed Hospital to go away too
17th Wed
Much the same has yesterday, the
bright spot in every day is Tom, he never
misses coming over to see me.
Today was the first time they heard
of the Boss & the Boy's who went away
first time, it was only a whisper then.
They are operating in Singapore, somewhere?
Furpheys:- Alusian Island's Battle still
going, Yanks claim to have sunk & disabled
80% of Japanese Fleet.
June
18th Thurs
Canteen came good today, we got 24. Cigs
1. Pineapple. 1. Con. Milk for 55c: Cookie keeps
sending over a bit of stuff every day.
Furpheys:- They are very quiet nowadays,
Russians are pushing Germany back, Yanks are
on 7 Battle fronts.
19th Fri.
Quite a surprise today, we got a card
from the Japanese to write Home on,
not allowed to say very much; but its nice
to know we are able to let them know
we are O.K.
Furpheys:- Japan bombed Russia & now
Russia has declared War. Darwin has
been Bombed.
(it sort of looks like all the Furpheys
about going Home, will be squashed a
bit now, seeing we got the .P.O.W. cards
to send away.)
June
20th Sat.
Just a day. Red .+. Tobacco issue cut
out today, it's amazing to think it spun
out so long. Tom & Bill over today for a
while.
Furpheys:- Sydney has been Bombed. Big
Blockade on Island by Yankee ships.
21st Sun.
I don't know why it is that Sunday
always seems to be different, maybe it's just
imagination on my part. I still think a lot
of Home these days. Lately I've been doing
a lot of reading of Australian Books.
Furpheys:- Today they brightened them up a bit.
A ship to take the Cards Home is on it's
way, & the 100 worst wounded Patients are to
go on it. Russia is holding her own. Tobruk
has been isolated by the Germans. Churchill
& 5 British War Leaders are in Washington
to confer on opening a Western front.
June
22nd Mon
A nice rainy day. They laired up at
Breakfast & gave us a sort of Rissole
on the Rice, quite a change.
Furpheys:- Sebastapool is the scene of a
great Battle, heavy losses on both sides.
Yankees claim to have control of the
Stragetic Islands, Singapore & Malaya must
be relieved at once.
23rd Tues
Tom not over today, "Staffy " & "Kas" told
me that he's not too good, hope he soon
picks up: We still get the Jap issue of
Cigarettes every week.
Furpheys:- Yanks & A.I.F are at Java, &
it looks like something may be on very
soon, because the Japs ordered a complete
Blackout tonight at 19 2130 hrs, we even
heard the Bugler play lights out for
the first time.
June
24th Wed
Tom a bit better today & made his way
over for an hour. He got a bit of treatment
from Don when he came in, got his Temp.
taken. (100.4.).
Furpheys:- America is going to relieve us by
the 26th June. (they'll have to hurry up).
North. Malaya has been Bombed by the Yanks
& they have control of Java & Solomon. Is.
Sebastapool is just a Massacre.
25th Thurs.
Bill ("KAS") over to see me today. Tom
in Hospital. I'm a bit crook on not being
able to go down & see him. Col. Osborne
advises a Soap & water massage of stump
twice daily, to get skin in perfect Condition
Furpheys:- New Guinea has been evacuated
by the Japs. A. parcel & letter is on its
way to us from Home, we get it on
the 5th July.
June
26th Fri.
Canteen functions again today, be alright
if we had a few $.'s. to spend.
Air activity is brightening up now, by the Jap.
Furpheys:- Germans are 40 miles into Egypt.
Parliment passed a no confidence vote on
Churchill. Russia is still holding out at
Sebastapool.
27th Sat.
More Planes than ever are about today, a
lot of Flying Boat in particular, looks as if
something must be in the wind. Strong rumour
around that there is an outbreak of Cholera
in Singapore, all precautions must be taken.
we are not allowed to even clean our teeth
unless it's in Clorided water, water from
taps must even only be used to wash in.
Furpheys:- Food shortage is to be the
next problem here. (Looks like it may be
right by what I know of the Country.)
June
28th Sun.
I don't know why it is that Sunday
always seems to be such a nice day to me
Went for a walk (well in the chair then)
with Don to see Tom, & then around the
A.G.H.s till 2215 hrs. by moonlight.
"Kas" comes over every day now that Tom
is in Hospital.
29th Mon.
Just another day as a. P.O.W. things are very
quiet now, seems like there is something in the wind
Furpheys:- are not on the go today.
30th TUES
"Staff" over with "Kas"; Tom looks like
going out very soon, he comes up & plays
Crib. with me of a morning now.
Furpheys:- 3 Flying Fortresses have been
seen over Singapore. (Reason for the
Blackout).
JULY.
1ST. WED.
Played Euchre with Tom. Jim & Roy. Kent
today. Lot of Plane activity & a large
number of explosions.
Furpheys:- 7 Flying Fortresses over Singapore
Selangor (K.L) has been Bombed, Chinese
British, & A.I.F. Guerillas are operating
on the mainland. Aircraft Carriers have
been seen out at Sea, ("Sionian Times")
Submarines are operating in the Straits
of Mallacca, 3 Japanese Ships sunk.
Churchills party voted No against him, but
he was put well in by the others. (26.6.42)
2nd Thurs.
Planes & explosions again this morning,
maybe Japanese Manouveres.Tom to go
out today.
Furpheys:- Portugese captured Italian ship in
to take us to Port. E. AFrica & the we trans.
ship by American Ship to Australia
July.
3rd Fri.
1st Stage of Operation to Pad Stump. 2hrs
on Table, don't feel too bad at present
time, hope for the best. First time this
operation has been done here. Col. Osborne
officiated. Tuberlurar, Pedicule Graft.
Furpheys:- never heard any today.
4th Sat-
No sleep last night, & no wonder after all
the Gas, etc. I got. Cloride-hydrogen, then
Oxlegen, Cloroform, & ether; they started me
off ½ hr before with ¼ cc. Morphia & 1/100
Adrenlin, all I got out of it was Gas on
the heart to keep me awake.
Tom resumes his trip over to see me.
5th Sun.
Very close today not like our usual
fine Sundays. Peter had to dress my
"Jug-handle" tonight, the dressing had
slipped & was pulling a bit.
July
6th Mon
Joan's Birthday. My Baby won't know
her Dad I suppose, by the time I get
back, Pay $.1. 1st Op. on leg not
too good, pedicule died a little, still
be O.K. so the Cbn says:
Furpheys:- A.G.H.s to go to Camerons.
7th Tues
Tom & Bill ("KAS") over. 3 more of the
Bakery to go away with "B" Force on
Wednesday. Henry, Ted, "Shag". 1500 to leave
camp, they say 7,000 more from Singapore
Furpheys:- Alusian Is bombed by Yanks
also Malay by R.A.A.F. Java & Sumatra
is now in American Troops.
8th Wed.
"B" Force left today. 103 Japanese Planes
over today. Ack-Ack guns going, lots of
Troops moving about on Manouvres.
Weight 8.st 6.lbs. Hate to think what I was
about April.
July
9th Thur.
Looks like the pedicule is going to come good
after all. I don't know wether it reminds me of
a Jug-handle or a Caterpillar more.
Furpheys:- Germans anhilated in the Valley of the
Nile. Rommel thrown it in. Karkov - Battle
of thousands, heavy casualties.
10th Fri.
Just another day very quiet. Tom over as
usual.
Furpheys:- Alexandria has been the scene
of a big Offensive, but is still in British
hands.
11th Sat
Well the Pedicule just couldn't take it & so
threw up the Ghost, now they have to have another
try, took out 34 Sutches left about
½ doz in the dead part.
Camp has to be Floodlit by end of the
month, Japs take no responsibility after
then.
July.
12.th Sun.
A.I.F. Concert Party in the Ward today
The visitors are only allowed over for 1 hr of
a day now, 1600 - 1700hrs. There was a bit
in the "Borehole News" about Tom coming over
to see me, they call him the Red.Cross.Man.
4 of the "Bakery" in Hospital now; Danny,
Marty, Hammond (Whopper) & Yours Truly.
Furpheys:- They say that the Japs have agreed
on Principal to let the Limbless go Home.
13th Mon.
Went for walk in chair around Grounds.
Nice & cool out of an evening.
Bakery is down in strength. 4 in Hosp.
I.N.D. & I.L.D. Permanent. Leaves "Mac"
Tom, & Bill to do the work. Frank to issue
14th Tues.
Tom over, H. Hammond out of Hospital,
Furpheys:- 3 ships in to take us to Japan
Yanks 150 miles away. Russia getting beaten.
July
15TH Wed.
Tom over with Wally. Wally looks a bit better
than what he did last time I saw him.
Talk by R.A.F. Pilot who was brought in
by Japs 4 mths after he was shot down.
Furphey:- Some very ridiculous tales going
about at Present:-: 8st.13lbs
16TH Thurs.
Got some ALuminum to make Crib-boards
with. Tom who gets everything got it for me.
First try out on the sticks today didn't
do bad, first time on my foot for 5 mths.
Tom says they are all going away very
soon, maybe it's Japan according to all
reports. "Dinny" Barnes came in today to
see me. 2/29th Sigs.
17th Fri.
Made Crib-board for Tom. Had a few
more walks on the Sticks. 16. A.I.F. were
brought down from K.L. 163 still there. 2000
Tommies.
July
18TH Sat.
Can get around on the sticks by myself
now. Don't need Don to stop at the back.
Furpheys:- Java in Yankee Hands again
Russians are pushing back the Germans, B.E.F.
just playing with them in Libya.
19th Sun
Two Dutch Officers been brought over from
Sumatra, say there are 100s of A.I.F. over
there has Prisoners, also our Nurses are
Prisoners there too.
Went for a walk about the A.G.H. on
the sticks. feels a bit strange only
having the one Leg to use.
20th Mon
Made Crib-board for S. Neilsen. Went
down to Q.M. store. Number of Patients
in Surgical Wards down. considerably
only 40 in our Ward now.
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