Wallet 5 of 5 - Diary of Francis Russell James Day, volume 2 of 2, 1943-1945, Part 1

V.X.39518

F.R.Day.

1^st Field Bakery

A.I.F.

N^o. 2. Aus. Convalescent. Depot

Changi.

5th year of War.

1944.

Drawing - see original document

Building  167

Offs         42

O.R.s     247

Total.  289

FR Day

72 Thackeray Rd.

Reservoir N.19 

Melbourne

Victoria

Australia. 

SEPTEMBER

17th. Fri.

Smoking Area cartoon - see original document

R.O. from I.J.A. that no smoking, expect

in specially appointed places, not allowed to

smoke on your beds, or in quarters.

Y.M.C.A. Musical, Popular Recordings

Sept 18th.  Sat.

I.J.A. have issued a card equivalent to

our. F.200 for checking of clothing. I don't

know how many more of these inspections we

are going to get, nothing ever comes of them.

Sund. 19^th. Sept.

Big working Party goes each day from the

Camp to work on Fighter Strip, supposed to

be just anti-malarial clearing; not too many

fit men in the Camp now. Band Recital

on Square a 2015 hrs.

Monday 20th.  Sept.

Played Bridge in Evening. Pay $1.20¢

Tuesday 21st. Sept.

Over to see Frank. Weather very nice &

the Birds extra good.

Wednesday 22nd.

Still on Brooms & Brushes. A.I.F. Concert

at 2015 hrs. "Let's have a Murder" just a

show, by Slim-De Grey & Ted Druitt. 

Thursday 23rd.

A.R.P. Blackout Trials 2025-2130;

Sirens etc. Watch fixed by J. OLMEYER.

Friday 24th.

Just another day. Bridge of Evening

Saturday 25th

Stroll over to Canteen. Made 2 sets of

Stripes for Alec & Bruce.

Sunday 26th.

Church Parade a 1900 hrs. Blackout on

for 3 days. Talk of Japanese being Evacuated.

Monday 27th SEPT

Smoking allowed here drawing - see original document

Chap from English Lines says he was

with Allan in May 1942 on the Main-

-Land, am trying to contact him to find

out a bit more.

Tuesday 28th.

How the Years roll on, hoped to be Home

for this Anniversary, well there's still the

next one.

Wednesday 29th.

End of A.R.P. Trials. Talk of a 
Broadcast by I.J.A. of A.I.F. Concert

Party to Australia.

Thursday 30th.

Over to see Wally. Watched Basket Ball

for a while, much played in Camp now.

Asked to fill Tooth-brushes for the Red

Cross, (not so good)

OCTOBER

Friday 1st.

50 O.R's back from Blankang Mati

still quite a few out there, some rare

tales of what they had to do.

Saturday 2nd.

Extracts from letter made into a

screed & read on Parade, some very

interesting news from Aussie in it all

Sunday 3rd.

Canteen prices keep going up, soon be

unable to purchase anything from there,

maybe it is good if the Rumours about

Pay being cut out comes right.

Church Parade, Concert by A.I.F. in 

Y.M.C.A. Hut at 2015 hrs.

Monday 4th.

Over to see Prosser. Pay $1.20¢

Talk of Pay recuction next Pay.

Tuesday 5th.

Stroll around Camp in evening. Lot of

troops from G.& W. Area over the Camp

today.

Wednesday 6th.

Still on making Broom, etc, Playing

Bridge of Evenings. Walk over to Sigs.

Thursday 7th.

Prices of Canteen are terrible. Ovals of

Herrings, $2.85¢, Bananas 17¢ lb. Peanuts 56¢.

Tomatoes 80¢ lb. Biscuits 80¢ lb.

Shaving sticks $5, Soap Lux 85¢.

Sugar 80¢ lb, Coffee 56¢. lb. Bread 40¢

2 lb. Loaf. Coconuts 19¢. Tobacco 30¢ oz.

Friday 8th.

Day off for Leveling Party. Wood is a big

item in Camp & the Boy's from the Drome

bring in a bit when they knock off.

OCTOBER

Saturday 9th

A.I.F. Concert at 2015 hrs. A Play by Ken

Morrison (Allin) Time of Your Life, a fair

show.

Sunday 10th.

Troops move in & out of this Building

about every second day. Planning Kitchen

Furniture today. Often fill in time on 

Plans of House; Recording Postphoned.

Monday 11th.

Just another day, stroll over to Canteen &

around to A.G.H. to see Prosser.

Tuesday 12th.

Rains every day, & puts off Parade in

morning & evenings.

Wednesday 13th.

Food not so good this week. Play Bridge

of Evening.

Thursday 14th.
Drawing - see original document

Day off from Brooms & Brushes, spend a

lot of time planning Furniture, fills in the 

Time. Y.M.C.A. Popular Recordings at

2015 hrs.

Friday 15th.
Drawing - see original document

Over to see Wally, stroll to Canteen.

Tobacco now 44¢ per ounce.

Filled 100th T-Brushe.

Saturday 16th.

Planning still. Washing Day. Bridge of

Evening. Things very quiet in Camp

Sunday 17th.

Day of Rest; Church Parade. A.I.F.

Orchestra Recital.

Monday 18th.

I.J.A Made Recording of A.I.F.

Concert Programme today 1530 hrs.

OCTOBER

Tuesday 19th

Shortage of Tobacco, a lot of sore

heads in Camp. More than glad I don't 

smoke. Some smoking Globe Cigarettes.

Wednesday 20th.

Big rush on Canteen Tobacco in. Reports 

of "H" Force to return to Reception Area.

Plenty of Air Activity now.

Thursday 21st.

Made Broom 500 today. 120 Swats. 130

T-Brushes. 30 Scrubs; 70 Brushes.

Java Force that left from Reception. H.

returned.
Drawing  - see original document

Friday 22nd.

Pay $1.20¢. (no Sign) Went to Canteen

Sugar 85¢. Biscuits 90¢.

Saturday 23rd.

A.I.F. Concert 2015 hrs.

Sunday 24th

Church Parade: Y.M.C.A. Musicale

Played Bridge.

Monday 25th.
Drawing - see original document

Stroll over to see Frank. Doing quite a

bit of Reading. A.R.P. Practice.

Tuesday 26th.

Community Singing in Y.M.C.A. Hut.

Bridge Tournements on.

Wednesday 27th

Cup on. 5-2-1. Camp is alive with

Furpheys. Strolled over to see Wally.

Thursday 28th

A.R.P. Practice; Orders out to dig slit

trenches. I.J.A. Order. Lots of Bets on.

Friday 29th.

R.O's are getting pretty well fool-proof

there were ways out of Trading offences, once

but now. No Hope at all.

OCTOBER

Saturday 30th.

There is a lot of Talk about how & what

we are going to get for Xmas. They say

that the A.I.F. Purchasing Officer has

approached the I.J.A. re the Buying 

of Pork, etc. for Xmas & was refused

permission; & was told not to worry we

would be on Our own Rations by then.

Quite a few of the Boarded are hopeful

still of being Repatriated by Xmas.

Sunday 31st.

Well so ends another Month in this

Country; I am getting very tired of being

shut up the way we are, for prisoners

I really think we don't do to bad, but the

restrictions on Writing & receiving mail

I think Is the worst. Church Parade

Popular Music: Moving Pictures.

Weight 8st. 4lbs. 

OCTOBER  NOVEMBER.

1ST Monday.

Play at "Little Theatre"; "Outward

Bound" by the Selerang Players.

C.U. Business Meetings at Y.M. Hut.

Tuesday 2nd.

"Lord Babs" at Command Theatre by

the "Changi Players'
Drawing - see original document

Wednesday 3rd.

Played Bridge: Stroll over to see Wally.

Thursday 4th

Things are not has good in the food line

now, They have built a new Oven here, &

haven't cooked a thing since; They can't be

told how to fire it & some claim to be

Bakers.

Friday 5th.

Some talk of an Issue of Tin food.

NOVEMBER

Saturday 6th

Party for Blakang mati to replace those

sent back recently. Bread being making

by Wally to sell to Group 20¢ 1¼ lb. Pay $1.30¢

Sunday 7th

Melbourne Cup run on "They're Off" in

Con Depot Mess last night. Winner 35 to 1.

Padre Usher new Padre at Con.

Monday 8th. 

Went to S.A. Library in morning.

CHangi Burea in Evening. "Cattle Industry

in Australia".

Tuesday 9th.

Still on Plans. Brushes. Brooms. A.I.F.

Concert 2030 hrs. Very good show.

Wednesday 10th.

Lecture on H.M.A.S. Perth by C.P.C.

Moore.

Thursday 11th.

Armistice Day. Pork Issue by I.J.A.

4 ozs per Man, nice change for us.

after 12 Months to get a bit of meat

Friday 12th.

Lectures at A.I.F. Theatre "Off the

Beaten Track" at 2015 hrs. Exibition

of Unit Honour Rolls by Tom Rogan

in Y.M.C.A. Hut a 1500 hrs.

Saturday 13th.

Stroll about in Evening.

Sunday 14th.

Service on Square by British & A.I.F.

Chaplains. Changi Choir. Doug Peart.

Monday 15th.

Lecture on Building Trade in Aus.

by Lt. Stronagh at Y.M.C.A. Hut

CHangi Union.

NOVEMBER
Drawing - see original document
Tuesday 16th.

Sing-Song in Y.M.C.A. Over to

see Wally in Evening.

Wednesday 17th.

Still working on Plans, more in the

Furnishings. Got a book on Timber

Prices June 1941. costing out House.

Thursday 18th.

All Dogs to be registered by 1800 hrs

today & must wear their I. Disks.

Ducks also to be registered. Young,

2 months, & Laying. Popular recordings.

Friday 19th.

All Limbless on Spine exercises (not on bed).

Col. says we are developing Curvature.

Saturday 20th.
Drawing - see original document

Sunday 21st.

They have put on Evening Parade

again & there is quite a bit of Moan.

Cutting out Jig-Saws with Bill &

Charles for Kiddies.

Monday 22nd.

Attended I.J.A. Recording for 1430 hrs. a

Broadcast to Australia, probably a

bit of propaganda. Went to Little

Tuesday 23rd.

A.I.F. Concert "See for Yourself".

Wednesday 24th.

Had to report to Q.M. for new shorts, bit

of a turn-up. Doing 1hr P.T. every morning

Thursday 25th.

Blackout Precautions by A.J.A. from

1600 hrs to 2000 hrs (why then).

NOVEMBER
Friday 26th.

Lecture by Liet Baggot on Experience

in the A.A.F. rather Interesting.

Saturday 27th.

Inspection by I.J.A. for Man-power.

bit of a ramp what went on here, of

course quite a right idea. to b.

Sunday 28th.
drawing - see original document

Working on House; finding out a lot of

things & prices from various ones. reports

of Forces being back. A.R.P. Blackouts.

Monday 29th.

Trying hard to work out Roof. seem to

have got it right.

Tuesday 30th.

Lots of reports of the Force in Singapore

(Wednesday 31st) "H" Force.

Talk by Ivor Hanger on "I was an Immigrant"

∪

DECEMBER
Wednesday 1st.

Pay $1.20. Talk by Ivor Hanger "I was 

an Immigrant".

Drawing - see original document

Thursday 2nd.

200 More men to go on 'Drome job & in

Gardens. Col. Holmes has to go to "Drome

on account of seeking appeal by letter to

Mr Switzer. Red Cross Rep in Singapore.

Friday 3rd.

A.I.F. Concert: Had to dig Worms to

feed Ducks; once a week.

Saturday 4th.

Just Lazing about. Issue is 1/3 Soy Beans

now 2/3 Rice; Classical Music.

Sunday 5th.

Party for Drome to go from here.

Some more sick in from Blakangmati