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

 

June

Thursday 15th

Over to Goal to see Charles in

Central Library. Some building this Goal

16. Acres inside double walls. 5 stories

high in places.

Friday 16th

All Personal out of Square by 1700 hrs

last night. Walk over to Goal.

Saturday 17th.

Music in Goal by A.I.F. Orchestra

Over to see Charles every day.

Sunday 18th

Wally & Roly over today. Very warm

in these Huts of ours. Food is 1 pint

of Rice & 1 pint Veg. Stew per meal

Do overs to start soon. Church Parade

Monday 19th.

Do overs 2 for tea. Over to Goal.

 

June.

Monday 19th.

to Library. Went with most of Unit

to see the Boss before he goes to

Kvanji. Blackout on A.R.P.

Tuesday 20th.

Camp full of Rumours of Red Cross

Parcels. Some of A & D Force lost

at sea. 50 Patients to Kvanji. 70 return

Reading plenty of good books, that

came thru America. Y.M.C.A.

Wednesday. 21st.

Over to Gaol in Evening. Only reading

to do of daytime .I.J.A. Guard taken

off Gaol.

Thursday 22nd.

Food is ordinary no meat, Rice, Vegs, & Dried

fish, small amount of fruit (Bananas)

Saw Unit in Gaol.

June.

Friday 23rd

Walk over to Gaol in evening, saw Boys of

Unit. Talking to 3 Preston chaps out of

M.T. tell me 7 Preston fellows out at

M.T. died up north.

Saturday 24th.

Bit of washing, lot of reading. Gaol in

Evening, paced Gaol out with Charles to

ascertain Area 16 acres.

Sunday 25th.

Day of rest. Every one is very optomistic

at present for unknown reason.

Church Parade.

Monday 26th

Inspection at Camp by Saito General

over to see Charles. Nothing to do but

read. Think of Home a lot & dream

very vividly at times.

 

JUNE

Tuesday  27th.     1944.

Inspection by 2/IC Southern Command. I.J.A.

Plenty of rain last few nights, bit off

colour with cold & sore Throat.

Talking to Frank Ditchburn this evening

Wednesday 28th.

Camp getting into good shape now. Water

to most points, plenty of Boreholes.

Quite a bit of Dysentry about.

37. Battle Casualties.off a Jap. Transport

(Torpedoed 12 hours) brought into A.G.H.

today. Heavy losses on Boats.

Thursday 29th.

Concert "Road Show") by English

Concert Party.

Friday 30th.

Lecture on Pekin & China. Gaol to

see Charlie. Pay $7.75c.

JULY.

Saturday 1st.    1944.

More Casualties in from Ship. Saw a

few of the sick in hospital.

Sunday 2nd.

Over to see Unit in Gaol. Food just

ordinary:- Rice, few tops & greens, fish.

Nothing to do but read & think & talk.

Monday 3rd.

Lots of Rumours in Camp about every

one being moved to Japan. "D" Force

reported to be in Singapore; awaiting

shipment ("P" party Rumour.)

Tuesday 4th.

Independence Day for the Yanks.

Over to Gaol to see Charles

Wednesday 5th.

Started to learn how to play Mandolin

Music Popular Recordings.

 

Thursday 6th.

Told to report for work at Brush Factory

against this on principle of working 18mths

& being so many of Group who have

always dodged their share. (Joan's Birthday)

Friday 7th.

Lecture (Padre Duckworth) on "Trip on Continent"

Over to see Charles. Mail 92 boys. 86 P.O.W's

6 Internee

Saturday 8th

Told to report to make Blackout shades

refused on principle: on Charge sheet

11.30 hrs this morning. No further move a 1500 hrs

Sunday 9th.

Lots of stories & wild furpheys in Camp

one trying to outdo the other in yarns.

Some of "A" force in A.G.H.

Monday 10th

Orderly Room at 1000 hrs for refusing to work.

JULY.

Monday 10th.     1944

Mail coming in gradually. Over 1 million letters

Orderly Room at 1615 hrs, Admonished.

Wally Sarkins is talking for a while.

Tuesday 11th

Down to A.G.H. Kitchen talking to Don

& Co. Over to see Charles. Band Program

by Camp Orchestra at 2015 hrs.

Wednesday 12th.

Decorate Cake for J Geogehearn. Popular Music

by Y.M.C.A. Learning to play Mandolin gradually.

Thursday 13th.

Work in Central Library. Wally Sarkins in to see

me in afternoon, have some fine talks on Reservoir.

Concert. A.I.F. Road show.

Friday 14th.

Library. Stroll about camp in evening.

Saturday 15th. L

Library 1100 hrs. Music Classical.

 

July.

Sunday 16th.

Issue of Matches. 3 men per box. Moved

down hut.

Monday 17th.

Library (160) . Over to Unit in evening.

Tuesday. 18th.

Library. Decorate Cake for Col. White. Played

Bridge Bob, Jim, Charles at Gaol.

Wednesday 19th

Mail from Mum 8 March, June 1943

Library. Popular Recordings.

Thursday 20th.

Library. Wally Sarkins in. Eclipse of Sun. No.1.Section

off Parade.

Friday 21st.

France's Birthday. Library. Very wet today. I

hoped to be Home for today.

Saturday. 22nd.

Music by A.I.F. Orchestra.

JULY

Sunday 23rd.

Move to new Hut. Library. Blackout

Monday 24th.

Library 1100 hrs. 1230hrs. Up to see Unit

Played Bridge 1930 hrs. 2000 hrs

Tuesday 25th.

Library 1100 hrs. Very wet weather. A.I.F.

orchestra. More Mail in camp.

Wednesday 26th.

Library 1100 hrs - 1600 hrs. "A" Force. Lists &

Casualties thru.

Thursday 27th

Library 1100 hrs. A.I.F. Road-show. No. 4 very

good turn.

Friday 28th.

Library 1100 hrs. Camp Area extended.

to Beach. Swim parties each day. Library

1930 hrs. Pay $7.50.

 

JULY.

Saturday 29th.

Library 1100 hrs. Watch stopped. Letter

from Mum August 9th 43.

Sunday 30th.

Library 1100 hrs. [[Doa?]] in. Letters from

Mum Nov. 19th. 43.  Jan 1944 24th

Monday 31st.

Library 1100 hrs. Saw A.E.G. & Charles in

evening, down to see Don.

The Camp Area has been extended

Swim partys every day. Limbless to go 14

per Trailer per day. Food is just Rice

Tapioca, Greens, Palm oil, Sugar. Tea, salt

dried fish, (modern Girls). On the swim

Parades we see a few natives & see a

bit of scenery, the Camp seems to be

well in the Jungle coming from the sea

Nice houses down at the sea front.

AUGUST

Tuesday 1st.      1944.

Library 1100hrs. Lecture on A.B.C. of Crime.

Wednesday 2nd.

Library. 1100 hrs - 1930 hrs: Wally Sarkies

down to see me each day. W. In. P.

Thursday 3rd.

Library 1100. In Gaol to see Bert West

in evening. Reading of Richard II.

Friday 4th.Swim Parade at 1100 hrs, very good in the

water, hard to swim with one leg.Like to be

down there every day. Lecture "I was a

London Messenger Boy". Library 1930 hrs.

Saturday 5th

Lib. 1100 hrs. Saw Charles & Arthur in

Evening at Gaol.  Mail 9 bags.

 

Sunday 6th.

Library 1100 hrs. Decorate cake for R.H.Faradon

Monday. 7th.

No Parades for Limbless. Water off

reason unknown. Lecture "Scotland"

Tuesday 7th.

Music by D.I.E. Orchestra 2015 hrs.

Up to see A.Gilbert, Letter card to write

Home:- Dear France, Well, Hope same;

You; Kids; All. Waiting Mail from you.

Send Photos, Keep Chin up. Thinking of

you always. Love. Yours Frank.

No 2 Con Depot.

Wednesday 9th.

Library 1100 hrs. Weight 9st. 1lb. Over to

see A.E.G: Lot of news from latest

Prisoner into camp, was in Melb.

Nov, Dec:- Jan.44.

AUGUST

[[J.J.A. W/K SHOPS]]

Thursday 10th.

Letter & 2 Photos from Phyl. 9-12-43.

A.I.F. Roadshow. No. 5. Water on again.

Friday 11th.

Very wet at Present, rain for 2 Days.

Arthur & Don in for while.

Saturday. 12th.

Library 1100hrs. Swim 1600 hrs - 1715 hrs,

Study of Bread at Ed. Centre.

Sunday 13th.

Day off from Library. De-bugging

place is Lousy with them.

Monday 14th.

Library 1100 hrs. Saw A.E.G. work in

evening. Blackout at 2300 hrs.

"Exile" makes it's Debut

in Camp.

[[Hut Skin Ward No 8

Visiting hours

1630-1730.  2000-2200]]

 

AUGUST

Tuesday 15th.

Band Recital by Camp Orchestra.

2015 hrs.

Wednesday 16th.

Library 1100hrs. Needle at 1430 hrs.

Anti-Dysentry. Popular Recordings.

Thursday 17th.

Library 1100 hrs Needle 1400 hrs. T.A.B.

Head bit thick

Friday 18th

Swim Parade at 1030 hrs Had to

fetch Charles. Up to see Unit

Saturday 19th

Library 1100 hrs. Lecture in Evening on

"Wimboldon Tennis.

Sunday 20.

Lib. 1100 hrs. Gaol in evening to

see Charles & A.E.G.W.

AUGUST

Monday 21st.

Library 1100 hrs. Nothing to do now

but visit a few friends.

Tuesday 22nd.

Library 1100 hrs. Needle 1400 hrs.

Don, Bill, Allan, Wally in this

evening.

Wednesday 23rd. [[Canteen G/R's only]]

Library 11 hrs. Needle knocked a few

of us about today. Cake to decorate

Thursday 24th.

Library. Swim at 1600 hrs. impossible to

enjoy because of Jellyfish. Road show

in evening.

Friday 25th.

[[Dysentry Ward. Out of Bounds]]

Lib. Swim Parade put of for Rain

Lecture on "Lords & Ladies"

Up to see "Desperate Dan"

 

[[Out of Bounds

to all

P.O.W.]]

Saturday 26th

Lib. Swim at 1600 hrs much

better today. Classical Musi

Guards very jittery.

Sunday 27th.  [[Isolation]]

Library 1100hrs. Up to see Charles again

this evening.

Monday 28th   [[OUT. OF. BOUNDS]]

Saw Dan in morning & afternoon.

Lib 1100 hrs. 27 Bags Mail in Gaol

Lecture "Are you ready for Arrie Street"

Tuesday 29th

Lib. Legge Swim at 1600 hrs. Music

by Camp Band.

Wednesday 20th. Popular Music

Thursday 31st

Swim at 1930 hrs. More Mail in 10 bags.

SEPTEMBER

Friday 1st. [[No Addmittance

To Officers

Except on Duty]]  [[Japanese characters]]  1944

Swim 1930hrs. very good today in

water. Razor:2nd Copy Exile out

Saturday 2nd.

Lib. 1100hrs. down to see Don at Kitchen

Skin Parade at 1430hrs on Ray Treatment

Lecture "Know your Empire".

Sunday 3rd.

Library 1100 hrs - 1230 hrs. Shave with new

Razor today, done alright.

Church Parade at 1930 hrs. Blackout

every night from tonight until

further notice, no water either.

Monday 4th.

Library 1100hrs. Lights are now on or

right off in Blackout.

 

Tuesday 5th.      207

Library 1100hrs. Swim 1400 hrs. Iced

Cake 1700 hrs. Band Music 2000 hrs.

Kvanji Party go & come every Tuesday.

Ray Treatment at 0915 hrs daily.

Wednesday 6th.

Lib. 1100hrs. Bugle calls now all I.J.A.

Down to see Don. Popular Music.

Thursday 7th

Library 1100hrs. Swim 1600hrs.

Road Show at 2030 hrs.

Friday 8th.

Lib. Swim at 1600 hrs. Not so many

Jelly fish today 1000's yesterday. Saw

Cpl Wisker of "C" Company 29th

Saturday 9th

Lib. 1100. No Swim too wet. Lecture