Wallet 5 of 5 - Diary of Francis Russell James Day, volume 2 of 2, 1943-1945, Part 12

Sept

Thursday 13^th.   
A.I.F  P.O.W. Recovery Section in. 35 of

"A" Force down from Rangoon by Plane
Mick Lynch amongst them.
Friday 14^th
Worst night for heat I have known, Heat
Mosquitoes, Stench, Rats. Confined to Hut
Rain & stand by. Lord & Lady Mounbatten in
Camp today. Just when our Convoy left
for the Boat (Oranji) Good to drive
thru Singapore & to see the last of it for
a long while I hope. On board the
Oranji, met by Nurses & AWAAMS. given
Cabin, beds, extra good, meals brought
to us by Sisters, Hot baths, walk
around deck Pay ₤2: & to bed
Saturday 15^th
Walk about ship. Meals very good. Talkies
in evening. Pulled out to Roads at
1600 hrs. Took on 70 more Patients
Sunday. 16^th 1st day of Voyage Home. (1230 hr)
Laundry day. Issued with Ration Card
Prices very high on Board, Lose 4/- in
the ₤1. M.O around at 1500 hrs. Physiotherapy

at 1630 hrs. Attention Excellent. Milk or
ovaltine every 2 hrs. Vitamin tablets morning
Atabrin afternoon. Lovely on deck at Night
 1st

September
Monday. 17^th  2nd Day at sea
Sisters &V.A's marvellous to us, nothing is
too much trouble. Meals seem to improve
every day. Passed Java this afternoon,
carrying Life-preservers till Tuesday Eve.
Tuesday 18th 3rd DAY.
Drew book from Library. Teeth fixed at Dental
Centre. All afternoon on deck in the Sun. Exercise
on Sports deck each morning. Issue of tobacco
Papers, matches, Sweets, Passed Bali this Morn
Chap buried at sea. 2/30.
Wednesday. 19^th  4th Day
Breakfast 0645 - Exercise 0830. Lying in the Sun
till Lunch 1145, Medical & Quarantine Exam

1430, Lying in Sun till Dinner 1745 hrs. On
deck till 2030 hrs. Read till 2200 hrs.
Life is good & food & comforts hard to
better.
Thursday 20^th  5th Day.
Extra good day. Letter to France & Kids
Seeing plenty of Sea life, whales, sharks
Porpoises, flying fish, sea snakes, when we
Pass Land quite a few birds come around
Fill in Medical history Card. Issue of Socks
Making Girdles. Met Les Stone.
Ration ticket for Canteen. Sweets, Cigarette
matches, Chocolate 9/10d
 

Friday 21^st  6th day.
Pulled in to Darwin at 1045, Dozens of
boats & planes came out to escort
the Oranje, in. Leave was on from
1145 to 1600 hrs, & what a reception, the
Dock was lined with 100's of people, &
Trucks & Cars lined up to take us around
the town, down to Merril Beach for
Cool drinks, plenty of food & fruit, every
attention to us. Every one was flat out
to give us the best, all the Women's
Army Service, R.A.A.F. R.A.N. A.I.F.
& what few Civillians there were here
Back to the Ship at 1630 hrs after
seeing over Liberators, Spits, Douglas
& Mitchells, I crammed more into
the 5½ hrs ashore than any other
5½ hrs at anytime, Thanks to the
People of Darwin. Sailed 1715 hrs
Saturday 22^nd 7 Day.
Quiet day, P.T. at 0830. Issues of
Sweets & tobacco again. Many forms
to fill in on Atrocities. Cable Sent
to All at Darwin by 39 Thankful
Aussies. Medical Examination. Coming
onto Thursday Is tonight
 

Sept
Sunday 23^rd  8^th day
They get at us for time every
night last 4 days clocks on ½ hr
daily. Issue of Record Books. QXs
being issued with Clothing. Passing Australian
Coast all day, coming down the Reef.
Went to see "The Ice Show" at Ship's
Theatre. Weight 8st 12lbs.
Monday, 24^th  9^th DAY
Sailing past the Islands, Spend most of my
time up on Deck talking with L.H. Payne,
Beautiful weather, & the nights are marvellous,
only one thing missing (France.) Radio tonight
says we will be in Brisbane Wednesday morning
Ration ticket for Canteen. 9/-
Tuesday 25^th  10^th Day
Wrote to France Letter to be posted at
Brisbane. Issued with Pay-Books; Receipt
for old one. Paid ₤6-0-0. Issued with
Kit at 1500 hrs. Sea cutting up a bit rough
Quite a few absent from mess. (Farewell. Dinner
Wednesday. 26^th  11^th Day.
Early breakfast. put on by Kitchen staff to give
boys a go to say farewell to their mates before
going off. Sorry to see Billy go, but glad
to know he is Home. Issue of Rest of Gear
Had to make our own Colour Patches. Quite
day of Sewing. Pulled into Hamilton ^wharf at 1100 hrs
Quite a good reception. Mail from Aud & Jean
Presentation to Our Sisters tonight. Anne; Mavis
Georgie; Eunice; & 'Jo."
 

September
Thursday. 27^th.  12 Day.
Anchored all night. News of a man falling from
a building in Pinkenba & being killed.
Issued with Service Ribbons. '39-45; Pacific Star
Quite a swell on today, Pitching & tossing,
worst so far; hear that 'Oranje' may now
go on to Melbourne. A Lot down Sea-Sick
Friday 28^th  13^th day
Sorry I'm not with France today.
Sent Telegram. Met Pop on the Wharf
Glad to see him again. Went to the
Hospitality Hut, met Miss Marsh, Car
took Pop & I out to Croydon to Mrs
Nash's. Nice people & it's great to go
into a Home again; Sailed at 1700
hrs came on board at 1659 hrs; & so
on my way to France & the Kids.
Party in the Cabin put on by
the Sisters etc. (Anne; Moira; Mavis; Jo;
Georgie; Eunice; Helen; with cake & Apple
Pies from Pop.
Saturday 29^th.  14^th Day
Very cold today. Resto all day. To see
Show in Evening with Anne & Eunice.
 

Sept.
Sunday. 30^th. 15^th day  
Not much sleep last night; all up on
deck at 0630 hrs. Pulled in to
Prince's Pier. Embarked to cars of R.A.CV
Crowds of People, took 3 hrs to reach
Heidleberg Hospital; Met Vic & Vi, Jean's
Arthur & Robbie & Stella-. France
Smothered me at Heidleberg gates
Admitted, met Mum & Dad; 24 hrs
leave drove to Home, then to
France's at 9 Alexander. St. Ceile &
Vern there, Mumma & Dadda &
the Kids.      
Suda. Habis 
1941-1945