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

216
DECEMBER.

Monday 6^th.
Over to see Wally. Getting Beans in big
Lumps. Lecture "Around the Sale-yards.
by. Lt. Turnbull.
[*ROOM. 1
Leg. Patients*]
Tuesday. 7^th
Just a day.
Wednesday 8^th.
Lots of Rumours about No more Tobacco
Ducks to be cut down.
Thursday 9^th.
Housie-Housie going in the Mess.
[*DO NOT LEAN
ON TABLES
AS. IT DAMAGES
THE CUSHION
USER REST*]
Friday. 10^th.
Letter cards for Home to be filled
in today.
Hand drawn sign 'Rules of Billiards' - see original document
Dear France.
AM. WEll, Please do not WORRY.
LOVE to PHYLLIS, JOAN. All at HOME
Hoping you are WELL. Keep Smiling, Love 
Frank.

217
Saturday 11^TH. 
P.T. Work on Brooms, Brushes.
Classical Recordings in Y.M.C.A. Hut.
Sunday. 12^th.
5 Ducks done over for a Duck Supper
at 2030 hrs for Limbless, very good
turn Yes.
Monday. 13^th.
Over to see 'Wally'; Lecture "Post-War
Military Careers in Australia; Maj. Hunt.
Tuesday 14^th.
Reports of Bad times had by. "F & H"
Force. Lots of Rumours.
Sign - 'Rules of Snooker' - see original document
Wednesday. 15^th.
Reports from Troops returning from North
are pretty Bloody.
Thursday 16^th.
First Casualty lists are pretty Grim

218
DECEMBER.
Thursday. 16^th.

Lists still coming in 29^th badly knocked

about. 26^th & 30^th much the same all 

units in proportion. Can't get any

definite news of Bakery Boys.

Starvation; Berri-berri; & Malaria

chief Causes. A.I.F. losses estimated

at 600 for "H." & "F" Forces.

Great Gloom is cast over Camp this

evening.

Friday 17^th.

Went to see Toy Display at. B.G.H

very good show & should please the

Kids no end.

Lists & rumours still coming in.

Col. Cappy lecturing to Officers

Sat 18^th.

A.I.F Concert at 2015 hrs for me.

223
Sat. 18^th

"Mac" over in G. & W Area, can't
get to see him for 1.wk (. out of Bounds)

Wally got thru. Says That. Tom

Charlie, Harry. H. G. Wilson, Doug &

Alf are good. "A." "D", & "F" Forces

I can't say how I feel about Tom.

Sunday 19^th.

"Marty" & Roly McMahon came thru

today. Sent all my spare things

over to them. Some of the storys

are Terrible. Over to see Don

Monday 20^th.

Filling brushes for G. & W. Area.

"Cookie" came into A.G.H last night

in a pretty bad way.

Tuesday 21^st

Saw "Darkie" & Danny who came in

DECEMBER

21^st

Today, Danny not the best.

Wednesday 22^nd.

I.J.A. Gestapo in Camp search so it

is rumoured. Had to get this Book

out of the way, though there is

not much in it I wouldn't want

it to go after all this time

Thursday 23^rd.

Got in to see "Danny" today he's

starting to pick up.

Friday 24^th.

"Mac" over from G.& W. Area; says

How Tough it was up North.

Berstein, Bales; in with Him.

Saturday 25^th

Xmas Day & what a bad show to

be still away from France & the Kids

225
25^th.

& all at Home. I wish them all the

Best in my Heart & hope they are

getting on alright & I can see

them soon. Saw all the Boys in

A.G.H. Daniels; Gibbons, Marty, Darky

Good Tea put on by the Cooks.

Lights are off, break in power.

A.R.P. Practice on.

26^th. Sunday.

Things are quiet nothing to do

Have filled 300 Tooth brushes, 600 

Brooms & numerous other brush ware.

Visitors for Tea from other Units, We

raffled a duck & are having a special

Tea from proceeds. 307 in Depot.

Monday 27^th.

Back To work again. Music in Y.M.

DECEMBER 

Tuesday 28^th.

Just a day over to A.G.H To see

Boys every Evening.

Wednesday. 29^th

Lots of Reports about Red Cross

Ship being in Singapore, hope it's 

right has now is the time the extra

good food is needed with all the

Sick men coming down from the North

Thursday 30^th.

Red Cross Ship just a Furphy: Over

to see Boys in A.G.H every day.

P. Bernstein in A.G.H. G & W Area

still out of bounds.

Friday 31^st.

New Years Eve. no different to any

other day here. Filled Plate-brush for

myself.

JANUARY. 

Saturday. 1^st.
1944.

New Years Day & still in this country

worse luck; lots of thoughts of Home

& in my Heart wishes to them all at

Home. Lights out at (0100 hrs. 2^nd)

Sunday. 2^nd.

Just another Sunday, visit to A.G.H.

Lovely weather; Playing Bridge again

Monday. 3^rd

Still on Brushes; Boys in from G. & W now

& then.

Tuesday 4^th

Over to A.G.H. to see Basket-Ball &

to visit the Boys. Daniel's out to G. & W.

Wednesday 5^th.

Over to see Wally.

Thursday 6^th.

Pantomine at A.I.F. Theatre. -

JanuaRy

Thursday 6^th.

Dick Whittington & his Cat," by L. Greene

& Prod. - J. Wood; Decor:- Murray Griffin

Music; Slim De Grey & R. Tullipan very

good show.

Friday 7^th.

To "Little Theatre" to see ALLADin.

by Changi Players, very good show.

No Rations in last few day. Tucker

very light.

Saturday 8^th.

Went to Last night of "Dick Whittington"

& his Cat.

Sunday 9^th.

Very Lazy day just lay about & read.

Monday 10^th

Strolled over to A.G.H. in Evening.

Canteen & around Area.

Tuesday 11^th.

"Danny" back in A.G.H. Looks like

the Tooth-brush game is finishing.

Wednesday. 12^th.

Trying to put Limbless to work. Mr -

Swaddling new O.C. Building. To blame
"Sparrow"
Thursday 13^th.
Battle of Limbless on they refuse to

work, when so many able-bodied men
are about.
Friday 14^th.                       

Saw show at Phoenix Theartre,

"Roman Rackets" just a show.

Inspection by Japanese, sort of come down

search.

Saturday 15^th

Saw 5 of Unit in A.G.H. Cards.

JANUARY.

Sunday 16^th.

Nice quiet day of Rest.

Monday 17^th.

Played Bridge; Saw Laurie Bales, Darky.

Danny, Cooky, Marty, Phil in A.G.H.

Jack McMahon over to see me.

Tuesday 18^th

Pay $1.20. Wally Sarkies came over

to see me. ₤500 Engineer Scholarship

open for selected few.

Wednesday 19^th.

Camp alive with rumours; I don't know

what some of these blokes think

they are Dante of Argus.

Thursday. 20^th.

A.R.P. Starts today again; Dispersal

to slit-trenches, which a thickly scattered

about all Areas.

Friday 21^st.

Over to see Boys in A.G.H.

Saturday 22^nd.

Music in Y.M.C.A. Hut. Stroll over 

to 'C.' Area.

Sunday 23^rd.

Lots of Rumours about a move for "F"

Force to Japan; Formosa.

Monday 24^th.

Bit of Ear trouble. fixed up by Major

Watson. First Anti-Dysentry needle 

today.

Tuesday 25^th.

Rumours of A.G.H. going to Alexandra.

St. Johns Island, Gillman Barracks; Johore

Police Barracks. 1^st T.A.B. Today at 1400 hrs

Wednesday 26^th. 3 yrs in Army Today.

Scrap piece of paper - see original document

Scrap piece of paper - see original document