Wallet 5 of 5 - Diary of Francis Russell James Day, volume 2 of 2, 1943-1945, Part 4

APRIL
Tuesday 18^th

Rations down a bit again. We were
on Rations for 51 men. 19½ lb Rice.11 lb

Maize; 2lb Sugar. 2½ lb Oil. 3½ lbs Black Beans.

1¼ lb Salt. ¾ lb tea 20 lb Tapioca Root.
6 lb Greens (Spinach & Potato Tops.). 1 lb
Sweet Potatoes. Rice flour 24 lb.Papaya Sometimes. 120 lb wood.
Spiced Prawns & white bait. Per day.
Wednesday 19^th
Rumours of mail at Goal 20 bgs.
Rumours of Move to Simms Rd for
700 B.3. men.
Thursday 20^th
House & I invited out to "Cyril's
Joint" (Officers Club) by Capt. Collis
may go on Saturday. Move on.
Mail Official. Pay $ 1-10¢
 

Friday 21^st
Things starting to run better in the kitchen
Went to see "On the Spot" at the
Phoenix Theatre.
Saturday 22^nd
Day off, enjoying quite a good rest.
Men for Sims Rd moved out this
morning. Salt in Canteen. $5 lb.
Tobacco 95¢ oz. Sugar $3.60¢.Guall $2.50¢
Vinegar 85¢
Sunday. 23^rd
Good Day in Cookhouse. Saw Eric Joyce
came in from Sims Rd. Looks well, so
do all the men who came out.
Over to Don & Bill at A.G.H.
Monday. 24^th
Was going to see Show at A.I.F. Theatre
Postponed owing to illness of F. Wood.

 

Gentleman's laundry list - see original document 

PRO3884 

APRIL.
Tuesday 25^th
Anzac Day. Lots of Things seem to
be happening. Officer to wear Pips again
No more planting in the Gardens.
Rumours of move to Goal
Wednesday 26^th
Formal Mess in Com. Officers' Mess, First
one I've had anything to do with, we put
a pretty good Tea on.
Went to see "Suspect" at Little Theatre
but when we go there the show was postponed.
Thursday 27^th
20 bags of Mile 3,500 Letters in each, now
being sorted. More is on one day off next
All fit men to go to Goal, unfit,  P.U.Bs. 
to stay with A.G.H. (2) Two G.H.s staff
& Patients not to exceed 1500.
 

Thursday 27^th
A.G.H. has that many now.
Yo go to Cyril's Joint Tonight.
Friday 28^th
Just another day of work. Lots of
talk about the Move & Mail.
400 of F & H. Force came back
from up North.
Saturday 29^th
180 more of F & H back, they look
very well Jerry Murphy back.
J Britnell died. Move is definitely 
on. K. Arrowsmith.
Sunday. 30^th
Rumours are rampant about how &
where & when we No. 1 Section are to go
Kranji. Jahore, Goal, Sine. Rd.
No mail of new lot yet being
Monday 23  distributed.

MAY
MONDAY. 1^st 1944.
Day off. Dome my washing, went up 
on roof for a while, see quite a bit of sea
from up there. Jerry. Murphy came over
to see me. "Pinnochio"  M. Brace back.
Tuesday 2^nd.
Letter from Mum 3-2-43. I want 
to hear from France. Saw A.I.F. 
Show. "I'll take you." Trailers are
moving parts of Camp to Goal
site.
Wednesday 3^rd
Pay $2. 25^¢ 400 Record, 4 Gramo's
Books in from I.J.A. Three A/M.R.I.
for Y.M.C.A. Weight 10st. 7lbs
Thursday 4^th
Sine Rd Personell reported to be at 
Goal.
 

Thursday. 4^th
Music at Y.M.C.A. Hut. now Records
from American Hits from "Holiday Inn"
Friday 5^th
Sick in from Sine Rd. Leg playing
up a bit.
Saturday 6^th
Booked for "Suspect" at Little Theatre
show postponed indefinetey.  Learning
to use Blade Razor 
Sunday 7^th
Music at Y.M.C.A. Hut (new Reords.
40 Moved out to Units from C.D.
Wally to go. Boss sent us all
a $1 in from the Goal. 200
Officers in Goal.
Music off & a Programme arranged
mainly for down country Party, of
Music .by J.J. Porter & his Band

Sunday 7^th May
Was put on at Rd Hut Bld. No 167.
Assisted by. "Woods Geoghegean." Picken
& Stevens. Doug. Mathers sang "Road to
Mandalay" Les Brody: Stan.? Solly
from Petticoat Lane. One of the best
shows I've seen here. The Orchestra on 
the Verandah of Pon. Depot & all
the crown sitting out on Padang
beautiful moonlight Night, must have
been at least 2500-3000 there.
Monday 8^th
Parties starting to move to Goal.
Played Bridge. with Bob & Jim
Tuesday 9^th
Mr Swaddling left Con Depot for Goal.
Officers from Sine Rd - Goal in Camp
Moved out of Goal so has Troops may go in
 

May.
Tuesday 9^th
They are waiting for Huts to be erected.
Music at Y.M.C.A. Hut. Tenors & Swing.
Wednesday 10^th
Lt. Lloyd Boreham came to see me today
On his return from up North.
Over to visit Don & Bill.
Thursday 11^th
Music at Y.M.C.A. Hut. Half of camp
must be moved by now.
Friday 12^th 
Quiet day & night for me. Trailers
still going strong.
Saturday 13^th
Day off. Bit of washing to do
Lots of Rumours about where we
are going in the Move. Jahore is latest.

MAY.
Sunday 14^th
Quiet day. Music at Y.M.C.A. Hut
Monday 15^th
1,000 letters into Camp today. Some old
some new. Phyllis's. Birthday.
Tuesday 16^th
Popular light Music at Y.M.C.A. Hut
Camp still on move.
Wednesday 17^th
Mail being issued. Lecture on Official
Escape Party from Singapore. Feb 14^th 42.
Thursday 18^th
Swing & Jam Music at Y.M.C.A. Hut.
Friday 19^th
Day off Advance Party from A.G.H.
move out to Woodlands. Kranji.
Saturday 20^th
Talking to Jack. Skully on the Marsh.
 

MAY
Sunday 21^st 1944.
Garden Cropping in a big way in I.J.A.
Gardens. Mail still coming in. Kranji
Party still moving out.
Monday 22^nd
Don & Bill over in evening. A.G.H still
moving.
Tuesday 23^rd
Letter form Mum (6-9-43). Hoping for
one from France. Music at Y.M.C.A. 
Hut with "Don & Bill" Popular. Music
Wednesday 24^th
Talking to Charles & Bill McKenzie
most of the evening.
Thursday 25^th
Phil Bernstien over from the Goal
"Boogie-Woogie" Music & Swing at
Y.M.C.A. Hut.

MAY
Friday 26^th 1944.
Day off from Kitchen. Move to
Gaol very close now most of Camp
been removed.
Saturday 27^th
Quiet day. Kranji move off
Sunday 28^th
Move from Kranji on again, off at 1345 hrs
on at 1400 hrs. Convoy of 70 Trucks went.
Monday 29^th
Lots of talk of Move. Square being
wired in by I.J.A
Tuesday 30^th 
Only 9 Officers left in Mess.
All Personell to be in Square by 31^st
Wednesday. 31^st
First in Kitchen tonight, move back to
section on Ground Floor.
 

June.
Thursday 1^st 1944.
A.I.F & British Limbless now together
Messing from A.G.H. Kitchen. Bridge
Music by Y.M.C.A. at A.G.H.
I.J.A Guards on Wire around Square
Friday 2^nd
Some Guards are Indian, about 11
Guards on at once L. - France.
Saturday 3^rd
Went to see L. Boreham in A.G.H.
Don & Bill in for while. Pay $6.30^¢
Sunday 4^th
Music before Church Parade.
Having a great rest.
Monday 5^th
Medical Classification by Capt. Vincent
1 Letter from France 4 from Mum
France's Letter. 4^th June 1943
 

June
Monday 5^th
Teaching Charles & Jim. G.W. to make nets.
Tuesday 6^th
Reports of Wireless Cables being at Goal
16,000?. Walk around Area with Don
& Bill, (very small area)
Wednesday 7^th

All beds out for wash out & de-bugging

Hot Bath for first time Since Q.X. Mary.
Up to see Lloyd Boreham, Capt Turner. Lindsay

Haw. Musinc by. Y.M.C.A. in Ward.

Thursday 8^th
Music by Y.M.C.A. Very little to do.
Friday 9^th

Over ti see Don & Co. Lecture by Padre
Duckworth on Olympic Games. S.....

Saturday 10^th

Music. Classical.

 

June.

Sunday. 11^th 1944.

Charles went to Ed. Centre at Gaol

today. Done & Bill over in evening. Up to

see Lloyd B. & A.E.G. Wesr.
Monday 12^th

Outrim Rd. Prisoners move to Gaol today
A.G.H. to move Thursday.
Very lazy life at present.

Tuesday. 13^th

Getting ready to move at 0715 hrs, & got

away at 1515hrs. moved into 100 metre

Huts on Goal Area site, bit of a
shambles at first, but soon be
settled in, 200 men to a hut metre per

man