Wallet 5 of 5 - Diary of Francis Russell James Day, volume 2 of 2, 1943-1945, Part 7

November 1944  

Wednesday 29^th.

Pay $7/75¢. Lib. 1100 hrs Issued with I.J.A.

Meat - tickets. a very horrible peice of Tin

Music by Y.M.C.A.

Thursday 30^th.
Lib. 1100 hrs. Ordered 3 days rest. Medical
review. Head very bad at weight 8st. 9lbs
Friday 31^st present time.
Lib. 1100 hrs So ends another month in
this Country away from home, Xmas Hopes
of being Home Look to be gone; things
are not improving any here food seems
to be getting less all the time. Rations
are, Rice 14 ozs; Greens vary; it's a good job
we have our Camp Gardens, has the I.J.A Supplies
are very irregular. Oil, very little; Salt & Sugar
Issued with I.J.A. Disks to be worn at all times.

DECEMBER. 1944

Friday 1^st. 
Off Duty for 3 days, not allowed in Sun
must rest.
Saturday 2^nd.
This laying about is not much good, & no
improvement. Stroll in evening. Music in Hut
Sunday 3^rd
Still laying about; Stroll in evening down to
see Don & Co. Doing a bit or Reading to pass
the Time away.
Monday 4th
Sick Parade put on Rice Polishings 2 ozs. per day.
Went to Lib., at 1100 hrs. feel no better, up to
see Sid in evening Swim at 1500 hrs.
Tuesday 5^th
Lib 1100 hrs. Swim at 1500 hrs extra good in
water today. Stroll about camp in Evening
Canteen Prices: Peanuts $12.8¢; Sugar $10.40¢.
Gula $5.20¢; Blachan. $6.40¢: Boot Polish $2.
Exercise Books 16 pges. $1.60¢. Soap $2.40¢. Bar
Salt $2.40¢ lb; Cigars 28¢ ea.
Wednesday 6^th
Lib 1100 hrs. A.R.P. Exercises on. No movement
at night, Toys for Children (Sinai Rd) on show
at Jail.

Thursday. 7^th

Lib 1100hrs. A.R.P. on today again. No Sirens 

unless a Genuine Raid. Some amusing Incidents

with fire-flies at night. Some more Mail

about.

Friday 8^th

Lib 1100 hrs. First rain for 12 Days. Medical

Area in bounds only from 1600 hrs. - 1700 hrs

2000 hrs to 2100 hrs. Darky in Hospital & to

go to Kranji.

Saturday 9th

Lib 1100 hrs. Getting teeth fixed. Vivid 

Dreams of Home. France Tops? Learning

Bit about steel-square from Mick Kean.

Repaired Tooth-brush, first time since

January '44.

Sunday 10^th.

Lib 1100 hrs. Mail coming in 6,000 letters for

A.I.F

Monday 11^th

Lib. 1100 hrs. Darky & Wally goes to Kranji. Chlarles

takes his place for a week or so. (2) Two 

Letter cards from Mum. 15-4-44) 2-5-44)

Tuesday 12^th

Lib 1100 hrs. Charles goes up each day with

me now. Saw show put on for the I.J.A at

Play-house. 1845 hrs - 1945 hrs. "Twinkletoes"

on from 1945 hrs - 2250 hrs. 50 I.J.A. Personell.

Wednesday 13^th.

Lib 1100 hrs. Down to see Don. Sirens at 1800

ALERT - no Raid

Thursday 14^th

Lib 1100 hrs. "K & L" force reported to be on

way back & into Camp Tomorrow, hope to see

Peter Mackinlay again. Lecture on Photogra

Friday 15^th

Lib 1100 hrs. Overdue list to make out every

15 days. 64 Discharged from Unfit Group.

Coconuts $1-40¢, go up 10¢ every time they 

come in.

Saturday 16^th

Lib 1100 hrs. Still await "K & L" Force. Down to

see Don. Music by.Y.M.C.A.

Sunday 17^th.

Lib 1100 hrs. Charles having week off. Sick in from

Blakang mati.

December 1944

Monday. 18^th

Lib 1100 hrs. Danny & I digging up Past in 

K.L. Plenty of Rain for the Gardens, been

very dry lately. Plane crash near Drome

Tuesday 19^th.

Lib 1100 hrs. "MAC" over in evening for a yarn

Charles & I often talk on Houses & Equipment

Wednesday 20^th

Lib 1100 hrs. Talking with one of Charles'

Cobbers on Timber (South Coast (N.S.W.) &

Fishing in Lakes & Sea there. Cigars 50¢

Thursday 21^st.

Lib 1100 hrs (223 thru). Much rain, weather cool

A.I.F Concert on all week for Xmas. 3 shows

for I.J.A so far.

Friday 22^nd.

Lib 1100 hrs. Raining now for 5 days. (nonstop heat)

Down to see Don. Rain off at 2100 hrs

Saturday 23^rd.

Lib. 1100 hrs. Issue of Paper. - Soap - 2g Tobacco

Pay $7.50. Charles back to Jail.

Xmas Carols from A.E.G. West. (4)

Sunday. 24^th

Xmas Eve: Lib 1100 hrs. Lecture by Padre

Pelaine. on "The Holy Land." 1500 hrs in

Hut. Issue to Kitchens of Cheese ¾ oz

per Man for Xmas. Day. Cheese 4 years old

Very "Drac".

Monday 25^th

Xmas Day. Only one Candle allowed at 

midnight Mass last night. Very good meals

Iced Cake. Supper with Don & Boys at

Kitchen. Spirits of Camp very high

6 Cigars from I.J.A. (72,000)

Tuesday 26^th.

Lib 1100 hrs. Chap fed up with things gave

himself a red shirt. (will Live). With Sid

at Med stores in evening. 128,000 Doovers

Wednesday 27^th

Lib 1100 hrs. Designing Bedroom Furniture.
Walk around Camp in evening. I.J.A. film

Road to Delhi. being partly made at Jail

Thursday. 28^th 

Lib 1100 hrs. Made Tobacco Pouch & Pipe

Lots of Talk of Repatriation  & movement of

Troops off the Island. Weather fine.

Down talking to Don & co.

December. 1944

Friday. 29^th

Lib. 1100hrs. Coconut. $1.50¢. Java Weed $3.oz.

Lecture by Lt. Orr. Somner's Camp. Powerhouse

in Con Depot at 1500hrs. Going to start a

reserve section for Fiction in Jail. Lib.

Saturday 30^th.

Lib 1100hrs. Lecture on Merchant Navy

Stroll about in evening "Darky" back

From Kranji. (Tex Neilson in Kranji from

Pasir Panjang 'D' Force).

Sunday 31st

Lib 1100 hrs. Very quiet today. Lots of

the Boys over in evening for a yarn.

So another year draws to it's close, &

we still remain for away, from the Place

of our thoughts & Loved ones, many hopes

fell thru, but they rise afresh with '45

all seem to be in good spirits for the

New Year.

JANUARY 1945.

Monday 1^st.

No work today for Camp. I.J.A.'s big 

day, every one a year older. Typed 600

addresses for F. Ditchburn for 8^th Div

League.. Stroll around Camp with Arthur

in evening.

Tuesday. 2^nd.

Lib. 1100 hrs. Swim 1400 hrs. Brown-out

1550 hrs. Lot of Wireless Messages in from

Australia. Stroll over to 2/29. & Grp in evening

Wednesday 3^rd

Lib 1100 hrs. Went for walk to see 'Sark'

in evening. 

Thursday 4^th

Lib 1100 hrs. Swim 1430 hrs. Talking to 2/2^nd

Pioneer, tells me Len Hambling died up

Nth.

Friday 5^th.

Lib. 1100 hrs. Swim 1430 hrs. Very nice weathe

Talking Libraries with Paul Cutts in evening

Saturday 6^th.

Lib 1100 hrs. Hut Clorinated out. Music by

Y.M.C.A.

Sunday 7^th

Lib. 1100hrs. - 1400 - 1715 hrs getting Reserve

Scheme into action.

Monday 8^th

Lib 1100 hrs. Plenty of work at Present. Plane

some kind over.

JANUARY 1945

Tuesday. 9^th

Lib 1000 hrs. Stroll around Camp tonight.

Wednesday 10^th.

Lib 1100 - 1230 - 1400 - 1715 hrs. Lot of extra

work getting Catalogue done. Plane over

Thursday 11th

Lib. 1100 - 1715 hrs. Reading quite a bit at

night. Planes over Lots of storries. (2hrs)

Friday 12^th.

Lib 1100 - 1715 hrs; Walk around Camp in Evening.

Air-raid warning off today. Wally Sarkies over in Evening

Saturday 13^th 

Lib 1100 - 1715 hrs. Planes over din't know much of what

goes on in these Raids inside jail most of time

Sunday 14^th

Lib 1100 - 1230 hrs; Rest & read in afternoon. Stroll in H.
Evening, not much to do or places to go.
Monday 15^th
Lib 1100 - 1700 hrs. Saw Show at Play house in Evening
'Sweet & Hot'. Jack Geoghan & his Playhouse Swingers &
Gil Mitchell's Gipsy Serenaders: 'Ecomo', in Interprative -
Dancing
 

Tuesday 16^th
Lib 1100 - 1700 hrs. Walk over to 4 Grp. (2/29^th lines)
Wally Sarkies in Hospital, with Bronchitis.
Wednesday. 17^th

Lib 1100hrs. Cut 400 Lib Cards in Afternoon. Head a bit
off again. Canteen Prices:- Palm Oil $2.0lb; Peanuts $15.
Salt $3.40¢, Coconuts when obtainable. $1.50¢. Soap $2.40¢ Bar
Curry $.20¢ ozs. Music by Y.M.C.A. Concert put off
after 3 items.

Thursday 18^th
Lib 1100 hrs - 1700 hrs. Walk around in evening
Arthur in for a while
Friday 19^th
Lib 1100 - 1230 hrs. Down to see Don.
Saturday 20^th
Lib 1100 - 1700 hrs. Very wet Tonight. Sit about
yarning of evening.
Sunday. 21^st.

Lib 1100 - 1715 hrs. Try out of Numerical System

Lot of work) Down to see Don & Co.
Monday 22^nd
Lib 1100 - 1700 hrs. Alert at 1200hrs. Kranji in
every 11 days. No System seems O.K.
Tuesday 23^rd.
Lib 1100 - 1700 hrs don't do much else but work.
A bit of a walk about the Camp of the evening

Wdnesday. 24^th
Lib. as usual. Sirens for Brown out.
Thursday 25^th

Lib. 1100 - 1700. System O.K now. River Valley Rd
Personell, odds etc. into A.G.H. ("A" Force Java.)
Down to see Paul in evening.