Diary of Bernard Henry McCabe
APRIL 18th no porridge for brekker three
strike - after dinner Fred Simpson
from Hoffman & Harry Monah took over
Kitchen. Im still on tour - Jack & party
still standing by - Bardsley & Passmore
rejoined units - bought 1lb sugar 50cts.
went for a walk right around camp.
Paddys market being picketed - to stop
sale of foodstuffs Tobacco 15/- for 2ozs - Bread
6 oz loaf 2/3 - managed to get 2 at 1/6 each
saw Josh Isaacs - Bluey Smith in Hospital
APRIL 19th Vic Francis put 3 tins porridge
in with meal - I'm dying for a cig.
so here goes 6'. - Padre on about strike
in his sermon - one more time we
estimate relationship - they always
seem to spoil things -
Just saw Vic Kay & he told me Blue Smith
had died just after dinner.
[*WX7904 36yrs*]
APRIL 20th Went to Blue's funeral - Hospital
Orderly said he died from Beri Beri - more
salutes given the cortege than Ive seen
handed out in 12 months - he deserved
every one of them - (Grave 26 A.I.F. Cemetery
CHANGI) - met Jack Needham - heard that
young Tom Ferguson had come across
as Reinforcements to 2/4 M.G. - nowhere
to be found now. - got loaf of bread
APRIL 21st Got another 1lb of sugar for a $1
that leaves 50cts & a £1 note. Went to
A.I.F. Concert Party good show - bought 7
fags for the 50 cents as Im out of Malayan
money.
APRIL 22nd Padgett, O'Meagher & Morris
& Fallows get 28 days Detention for
alleged leaders of sit down strike -
went to concert by 2/4 M.T - Pasties
tried out & given to the sick - very
decent. - sleepless night
APRIL 23 Have just been told the Rainbow
had been presented with a bucket of -
during the night - hes sure a popular
lad - still I think it a - trick xx
Jacks Party are to leave to-morrow
morning - sometime - for an island about
20 mile out (ASIATIC PETROLEUM COY's) Paule Bukham
APRIL 24th Cooks tried out some pasties for
Party leaving - Looked very good - Cig issue
Crib Tourney - 6-7-9th Davey's supposed
to be back in Aussie - mole puts in a
cig each for detention crowd - Work party
left about 12 o'clock - Debate on "Professionalism
& Australian Sports" - started on my last
tin of milk. Yeast issue served out.
APRIL 25th ANZAC DAY - Dawn Service -
G.O.C. collapsed at it - still favourable
news being given out re our position
meals seem to be getting lighter - rice ration
down to 13 ozs
no meat issue - Charlie Graham moved
into room in Maskiels place - Kit inspection -
Barbed wire fence around plot
for garden. Listened to Debate at 2/20th
APRIL 26th Sunday - names submitted to xxx
view Cricket Match - 10 to go morning and
afternoon - lucky I got in - Poms put
up poor display 123 Aussies batted in Afternoon
which I watched from the 60ft Watertank
Ben Barnett top scored with 53 - Pasties
for tea & they look good oh - my mouth
waters at the mere mention of them.
APRIL 27th Heavy rain all night - rumour
of bad treatment of working parties in Singapore
by Japs.
APRIL 28th Company split up - Jack Lynch and
Tubby Thomas made Sergeants - received issue
of Yeast to ward off Beri-Beri more pies
for tea - H.Q cooks to come into Kitchen
to-morrow.
WED
APRIL 29th The "Son of Heavens" birthday
so all "guests" have been given a holiday
Heard that those that went over on the
Island are on a good wicket. plenty to
eat and little to do - H.Q. in Kitchen
two Rissoles for dinner besides stew & rice -
also Pineapple issue with rice & pastry
for tea with stew & rice. News not so hot.
APRIL 30th Cook-house bare of everything
a bad start for us - Burma getting a
hiding as I heard.
MAY 1st Furphy that we are to be shipped
to an island (Neutral) & held on Parole.
Meat came in - so we got pies - pastry
milk issue off for 4 days - listened to
Debate on Prohibition - Fitz & Tubby 100-95
got our Cig issue - saved nearly all mine.
Harry got nasty burns on chest & arms.
heard that Singapore was bombed - but to
hard to believe. crook rice in again.
Sat
MAY 2nd - Very sleepless night. got double issue
of wood - a lot of traffic on road carting rice
they say its because there afraid of a riot in
town over shortage among civilians - all fantastic
rumours cleared up to-day - no source of information
- got a hat today - a bit tattered but its
Aussie - I wonder how you all are; out of fags
till Friday - its the only thing that gets me down
Am seeing whats the best price I can get for
that Quid and then what oh some smokes
Sun MAY 3rd Plenty of rice coming in today -
no mood fatigue - Ethan gone to see if he can get
some cigs - got some 10c each - Cricket match on -
won by Aussies by an innings - Barnett made 68 - Furphy
about being put on Neutral Island on Parole
we wish it were true. - good tea - soup (celery
asparagus & tomato) pineapple - Change Alley
filled with 2/6th selling cigs. 5 cents a pop. - word
came in about 8 o'clock - 100 Engineers to go in
to Singapore on working party - looks as if
Ill be in it this time - 11-30 hrs cheering
going on at Changi Gaol. - Indians praying
Monday MAY 4th Notified to be in Party for Singa
also Snowy Jewell Blue Lee & Arthur thats 3 good
mates - cooks on the job for pasties - went
across to Jack Elliott & got 5 Bucks for my Quid
Tuesday 5th MAY - Reveille 5.30 - pitch black
pulled them all out in the room - 5ozs Yeast given
each man - kicked off 8.30 on the march - from
Geylang in you could buy anything. -
picked up by truck; the last 7 mile out from
Singapore - had glorious cup of Coffee when we
halted at midday 5 cents. - had to carry pack
1 mile & I'd say I was sore & sorry when
we got to the house where we were to camp -
it had all the roof blown in & was it wet
- we all got together in fairly comfy rooms
spent a very comfortable night with a cold.
Wednesday 6th MAY - Notified to go to work at
1-o'clock - 10 cents a day - Canteen to buy
tobacco - food in Got 100lb meat (frozen)
also plenty of rice - 10 tins of Onions Sugar flour
going out early morning now Reveille 6'o
leave here 7 -30 - fell bad with flu
Thursday May 7th Started on a very light breakfast.
- marched out at 9-0 clock - with axes
[[chunkals?]] - cutting a road through the Jungle
knocked off at 3 o'clock - 4 mile each way.
dinner rough when we got it at 4' o'clock -
Went straight to bed feeling - under the
weather - blisters on the feet. - sent deputation
re cook house & got it back
Friday May 8th Out again to road - journey
seemed shorter - to have dinner on job - plain
rice - but well cooked - Japs hit a couple of boys
worked till 5' o'clock - bread 15 Cnts a loaf - got 2.
- stew for tea.-
Saturday May 9th Working around camp for a spell
making a track over the road - had early
day.
Sunday May 10th Reveille 6-45 - plain rice for
breakfast - out to work - and felt very crook
with head. visited by one of the heads.
didnt leave job until 6-15 - very tired
I can tell you - started on brown outs
Got our 1st pay 30cents in Jap money
Monday May 11th Up as usual but found out
there was no work for the day - were just a
bit lousy about being dragged up - notified
going out buying - ordered some tobacco
paid a $1 for it.
Tuesday May 12th Out with A.S.C & had a
fair time on job - got 25cents of Chocolate and
word from Changi that 260 R.A.E going to
Borneo - many of 2/6th going - good meat stew
for tea was able to double up.
Wednesday 13 May Early up - with ASC again
good day - bought some salt - good vegetables
in to nights rations - Pots - Pumpkin & Marrow
beans - certainly an improvement on straight
rice - saw many unburied skeletons where we
worked to day - a couple of Aussies among them
had Rickety Party for Cigs - issued with 12½ cigs
for the week. - Arthur off work - have heard
from some of the chinks that war wouldnt
last another month - it seems boloney to
me though - as Gordon would say. Job going
ahead well. - quite a surprise
Thursday 14th May A hurried brekker - Cooks slept
in 6-45. Heard that leaflets had been dropped
in town - Canteen starts to night - got bread for 8cts
today - on sawing wood for cookhouse. - made some
Rissoles - Early to bed
Friday 15th May Had to wake cooks 4-30 A.M.
bought some chow cakes on road to work
2cts. very decent - putting culvert in road
visited canteen - heard that crowd from
Changi had been issued with service
uniforms - they must be going north -
learnt also that we were spelling to morrow
- sleep in till 8 A.M. ARTHUR still off work.
SATURDAY MAY 16th A day at home - did some washing
carted some wood - & bought some Coco-nut Oil
for cooking purposes. - pasties for tea - heard the
mob went aboard yesterday but did not sail
straight away - Im tipping they'll get very sick on
rice.
Sunday MAY 17th Mob still in harbour - work
didnt start till 11-30 knocked
off 1'o'clock - holiday to-morrow. - all tools
gathered from each unit - something doing.
Monday May 18th Johns Birthday - late meal
breakfast - Coy parade to be told Japs changing
guard - light dinner - no Japs seen
to-day at all.
Tuesday May 19th Still a holiday - no new
Guard as yet - boots supposed still in Singapore
- went over to other camps saw les
Kemp & the Collie boys - all well
Wednesday May 20th Still no work -
rations lighter - Les Kemp returned unit
went looking for a YAK-
Thursday May 21st Took a hike to Jurong
Road 15 mile for Tobacco - all dug up 1000 times
when we arrived - found tin of Cheese got
back very tired - boys did well in Singapore
Friday May 22nd Went into Singapore & had
a jolly good day - plenty of tucker - also money
brought a lot of food back with us - went
to To2 & met Tans father who treated us
well. Tan still at B.P. - tea was a treat
with M & V and bananas & rissole to top up
on. - all the boys coming back well loaded
up with bread & pineapple- to bed well
satisfied.
Saturday May 23rd Pats Birthday - notified
on first parade up before the O.C & A.W.L - off
at 10AM. into Singapore - and had damn
good day again - Arthur & I got 7 bucks and
5 Peas, Cocoa, Bully Beef - Pineapple - Snow & Blue
got 8 tins of Pini B.B. & 2 Fruit - meat & vegetable
potatoes for tea - plenty of bread. - its wonderfull
the way the Chinese have treated us on
these trips.
Sunday May 24th Very tired in the xxx legs
but I think they will stand another trip
into the City - so off at 1200 - first visited Tans
and got loaded up like a pack horse. - by
Tans sister - round to the smaller streets and
did they treat us well Ill say. Tobacco
Butter Jam bread pineapple bully beef Cigs
Cigars $7. milk, lollies, on road home soldiers
being grabbed for working party so had to detour
saw native fall from a coconut tree 50 odd feet
nothing smashed - had a real tea of tinned
stuff & cocoa with sugar - 10pm - stomach
giving me some trouble - Les Kemp & Joe Lynch
came over from Adam Rd - decided to go
in next day with us.
Monday May 25th Toast butter & honey
sardines & cucumber with Cocoa for
breakfast - morning tea biscuits & coffee
warned not to go into City - L.K & J.L tried
but got sent back by Japs - had the day
on the spine - it was welcome. - Gordon Beard
& party A.S.C visited us - Supper & to bed - well
satisfied - Snowy Boyle & Karlie missing -
they must have got picked up by Japs.
that makes 5 for the Coy. - and 100 all told.
Tuesday May 26th Still no work - heard Snow & K,
over at 29th H.Q. got 7 days plain rice & tea -
on chopping wood big 2ft 10" x 5" sledges with
a Tomahawk - blisters - bought both Lea & Perring
sauce - rumour work to-morrow. - large tin Pines
each for tea. - work cancelled for our Coy.
sent in for some nugget & tooth paste
Wednesday May 28th On parade told that Japs
had raised officers pay to 25cts a day and all
N.C.Os 15cts - rations to be cut down by Japs.
anyone found in town to be shot - we are satisfied
with our little lot - but our thoughts are
always at home - its our topic every night
before going to sleep. - had bread for supper
with cocoa.
Thursday May 28th Still off work - went to
two Lectures this day one on Rubber
the other on Department Stores - very good
fresh meat came in 20lb - also vegs - went for wood
heard we were next to go on a boat trip -
opened tin of B.G. Jam and gave ourselves a treat
on rolls with cocoa
Friday May 29th 12 mths by day since we boarded
the Zealandia - I wish it was going back on her
though - treacle & honey gone up to exorbitant
prices in Canteen - [[?]] getting another
Heard one of 2/29th picked up by Japs & to be shot
his meat tickets & personal gear sent back.
Two crib Tourneys held - got into Semi final
in each one
Saturday MAY 30th The day we actually
sailed from the West - not by date. A.S.C gone
to work on road our turn yet to come - duty
Coy - our room on wood - rations - got plenty of
bread rolls - played rummy all day after duty.
& lost 3 cts. - heard we were to be embarked for
the island of Shikoku.
Sunday May 31st A new Lieut took over this
unit. Archie C.R.E. - New adj in Wimpoles
place - got paid $1-10 - put in for Jam $1-50 a
tin but none arrived yet - no work for anyone
to-day
Monday June 1st Our first work day for a fortnight
- job very light - did 1 half hour shifts -
home at 3-30 finished - got 2 tins of milk $1-60. -
- found one thick - so took both back - got the
opened one 40cts & 2 tins of BLUE CROSS - for $1-90
heard things very serious in Libya.
Tuesday June 2nd Syllabus to include drill
- P.T. - got 2 Jam C.ofC. at $1-50 went use grinding
- Libya supposed to be a victory for us
also Essen bombed off map - Objv to go Singa
- notified late work for a few of us.
Wednesday June 3rd Our room went to work -
Japs started a new scheme everybody a tool &
10 min off every hour -m we had B.A to do - so it got most
on our trips - got another 2 of Jam - both marmalade
though - second tin of Cordial mouldy. no
news Japs around - Forknall on [[?]]
Thursday June 4th No work. heard a good
story of the Rose Commanders
parade & count for Japs & Blackout from 9-
10-30 Air Raid siren gone. Heard a few shots
during night - a big 4 engined flying boat
flew over the house. - Forknall got off charge
Friday June 5th We got another shift at
work - Snow stayed home with the D▬▬▬
worked pretty solid. finished 3-30. - 100lb meat
in - also vegs
Saturday June 6th - No work - payday $1 each -
another good lecture on Malaya by Sap Riley
men notified to go back to Changi & Cash
Crib Tourney - no luck - good news of a sea battle
in the Mid-Pacific - also successful advance in
Libya - large convoy said to have reached
India from England - Bremen Blasted again
Sunday June 7th No work for us - two good
meat dishes with vegs to-day - pasty to-night
also jam-tarts - canteen short of rolls ½ one per
man - we finished up getting one each - more news
of sea battle. visited Don George.
Monday June 8th Still no work - got some more
Jam - further news of Sea Battle - notified work
to-morrow setting out party to work ½ day.
fresh fish in to-night.
Tuesday June 9th Work afternoon shift - our room
in charge of Poms setting out road - ride out
Joe & Len caught taking rice from house - BILL K.
shaved beard & m. off. - thats the last - notified
dayshift to-morrow Belton & Forknall standing by
Wednesday June 10th Heard another 3000 + -
same job today - meat in each day - J & L . up
on carpet. - gave cocoa to Pat. - no news. -
J & L under close arrest remanded - public slapping
for 2 of 2/30 for A.W.L. by Japs. - BELTON FORKNALL not
to go back to CHANGI.
THURSDAY JUNE 11th Job still progressing under Eng -
supervision - hours changed 2-6 afternoon shift
now over cooks - no pasties - crook rice - pulled
out 11.o'clock to be counted by Japs & notified no
work for friday - no work for us others had to go ½hrs notice
FRIDAY JUNE 12th BARRY 11 today - I hope Im ↓
their for your next one BAR. - more meat in
ready to go back to Changi - Joe & Len got 28 days
FINED £5 & sent back to Changi.
Saturday June 13th AFT-NOON shift - good day -
meat & fish in - better news of Midway battle
240 planes got brought down.
Sunday June 14th Nothing fresh - parties
getting broken up - road slippery - Japs
interfering with lay out & doing a bit of slapping
talk of prisoner wages.-couldnt get to sleep. - we
had fried fish for brekker
MONDAY JUNE 15th Sugar for B.- Snowy Boyle
gone from kitchen - Allday to take his place
- reason not given yet - smoke over Singapore -
prawns for dinner to-morrow - we had the
day off - full day to-morrow - news bad in Libya
TUESDAY JUNE 16th Taking crib to workfull day - raining
- Boots wearing badly - no improvement in news -
pay to have 5 cents deducted for permanent duties
- got paid $1-90 - had some real sponge cake - bought
salt.-
WED JUNE 17th DAY home. - slept most of it - crib
tourney-missed again - went up to A.S.C & played
euchre - had win. - couldnt sleep.
THUR JUNE 18th To work early - sugar brekker &
crib - quiet day on job -home early - plenty
rissoles - Wash and started work - Peter Pell
joined our gang
FRIDAY JUNE 19th A day off for everyone - parade
for latest news - not so classy - meat in. -
slept most of day - heard the A.I.F landed in
Java - 1500 standing by in Changi - this must
be just about the finish of them out there -
Saturday JUNE 20th A further day off for our room
played cards & did the washing - Sugar for
dinner - Washout on the mat for breaking
out of column to buy eggs (10cts)- bread scarce
played A.S.C EUCHRE - game each - notified of letter cards
to be sent home - official.
Sunday June 21st Went to work - Poms supposed
to be going back to Changi - all heads out on job
- notified to work everyday &n allday - full parade
for Japs -
Monday June 22 All day work - rained - tired of
filling in time - all boots getting bad day on
road 6" deep - sugar for brekker -dry lunch-bought
Chinese jam to be eaten quick or @ ours - poms
out on far end of road - cant get bread now.
getting 45cts for our Woodbine Cigs also got ZO
for a pkt Craven A
1942
Tuesday June 23 Started on new track
from Golf Links side of road - hive of industry
bridges - tarred roads - through virgin jungle
boots gave way - looks as if Ill be idle to morrow-
very crook rice for brekker & dinner - home very
tired & wet - issue of 11cigs. saw Alby Miller
of M.G's. - boots condemned by O.C. - [[Bla?]]
Wednesday June 24 First day off - so gave every
thing a spring cleaning - went rice grinding
heard we'd lost Tobruk - but the Russians had
regained Sevastapool lets hope the latters right.
in complete blackout from 8' o'clock last night
Thursday June 25 Boots that were taken for
repair yesterday - returned to-day & new ones taken
off us. pat tried out bread - Cooks good - it is good
Ive had some - only fatigue carting grates for fireplace
from A.S.C. House now in complete black-out
Friday June 26th Had Fried bread & egg for brekker whacko
Pasties for tea - Jap inspection of lights - everybody home
got paid#1-40 - no news. Boys saw some of Burkit Tima
crowd
Saturday June 27 Away early grinding rice - plenty
of Air Activity about - Japs putting Ac Ac guns xxx
in cemetery - Japs shifting the boongs away from
the force - will make it hard for our buying - Don
George visited us - news of M. East & Russian not so
hot
Sunday June 28th Rations still fair - hot weather
starting to set in - still no boots.
Monday June 29th Libya beleived to be hard pressed
Grinding Rice - still no boots - men home
early - had egg & roll - bought sugar
Tuesday June 30th No news this morning - hot
day. - meat in. - Air all sleeping bags -
still no boots - got sweet with pastry cooks -
lads home early
Wednesday July 1st Scrubbed out & did
washing - big Explosions screw Syonan Tinas
heard only 1500 men at Changi get rice
grinder in - heard about boat going to
Portugese E. Africa might get mail on.
Thursday July 2nd News pof Libya taking
a pretty severe setback. - more explosions
during night - got given our letter cards
30 words to be written on them - got boots
to fir - nothing flash though - work instead
of day off to-morrow.
Friday July 3rd More favourable news today
from Libya and down south - boots were
not a success - learnt we were to shift
quarters to-morrow - to where the poms
were - doesnt sound so good as houses
are smaller - our cards passed censor
issue cigs being sold for 40cts.
Saturday July 4th Shifting - got into house and a
room for 4 again - on main road - Arthur &
Blue home - pushing trailer & carting all day
- changed from one house to another - one
taken off us for 30th BATT - camped alongside
M.G's - no supper.
Sunday July 5th Still work going on - back
cleaning old house - sent back for bricks &
wood - good meat stew for tea.
Monday July 6th Our buying Kampong cut off
Jap guard on road - put light & shower on
room - ALLDAY moved on to verandah at back
issue of 2 cigs - cleaning drains - heard that
a new issue of boots had come in - Blue had
day off.
Tuesday July 7th Started on oven for A.S.C
with Stan Hall - boots didnt fit - started work
back on old road - in charge of no booters
Wednesday July 8th Word from Changi that
another crowd ready to leave for Sth Burma
road building - still on oven - tried boots
but didnt fit - work on road to be finished
by 15th - we are supposed to get back pay
of 70cents - flight of 27 bombers overhead
13 escort fighters with them on manoeuvres
Thursday July 9th Put electric light on
verandah & garage - all black & brown
out restrictions off - Arthur back at work
Friday July 10th Half coy went to work -
Snow blue at home - had easy day -
Kel & Gordon up for game of cards.
Saturday July 11th Rumour Germans on the
Don River looks bad for us - Cholera alleged
to be breaking out in Singapore - Lord help
us if it takes a hold - still on oven. - built
an oven for ourselves in side of hill - The Judge
in camps in place of Gwynne - now for sparks -
Coy Parade re Cholera outbreak - Yanks landed
on Mayotte Is. 70cents back pay paid - Singapore Trip
Sunday July 12th on oven - Judge has fixed the
hours of 8-30 to 1 & 2-5-30 - just a dog-day rice
for dinner not very palatable - Steam pudding
for tea -. Stan notified to go to work
Monday July 13 Finished oven & got it started - first
batch O.K. - made trays - A.I.F. IN ACTION LIBYA -
WASHOUT FOR a mate on OVEN - fried veg's for tea
Tuesday July 14th Putting door over A.S.C kitchen
& made a trip up to Admin in HQ. with news
Mal shifted there as cook - issues of cigs-
Wednesday July 15th Had Blue for a mate
on trays for HQ Electric oven had breakfast
of good stew & vegs - had dinner as well
veg pie bread & fried vegs - tea steaks greens
& Baked yam - sweet pot - egg fruit with
Coconut & marmalade pie for sweets & iced
tea - a very enjoyable day.
Thursday July 16th - Made two folding beds
for O.C & LT RANDALL - Boys came home & said
day off Friday - walked up & got some scones
off Mal. GOT PAID $1-35 - Peter Pell cut foot with axe
Friday July 17th Lay in-had easy day - made
a rice strainer for 2/8 MG. - Blue still with
me - to morrow off for us - Black Jack
supposed to be going back to Changi as
G.O.C. - McEachearn to take his place
Saturday July 18th Black Jack went to Changi
- Had 1lb steak for dinner plus egg - made a grate
& oven tray for Pat.
Sunday July 19th Making a new style of double
decker bed -tools getting blunt - egg for dinner
Pasties for tea. completed bed for Uren & Vincent.
Monday July 20th Some of the boys in Singapore
for work-got salt also sweet tea - home early
- rumour has it that a boat with 1100 of our
boys was sunk by Yank sub - in Syonan Times
missed main news this morning - finished early
Tuesday July 21 Bobby Uren left the Coy to go to OC
OFFICER - still on bed - BLUE still with one - made
1st 3 decker - satisfactory job
Wednesday July 22nd Met new Officer LT LILLEY
seems decent type age 37 - Pips since capitulation
heard we were to get some mail from home
issue of underpants & singlets.
Thursday July 23 Saw taken away - job might
cut out - issue of 12 Cigs - News Better.
Friday July 24th Day off - Church parade - sports
gathering at M.Gs - Meat pie for tea.-
Saturday July 25th Four more men put in with us
on beds. - made two only - fixed up a rolling pin
for old Jim. A.S.C for 2 date rolls + puree of plum duff
Sunday July 26th made 3 beds-short of timber
got paid $1-30 - have still got Cigs - Peter Pell
came out of Hosp.
Monday July 27th Townsville & Darwin raided
sugar for Crakker - Rostov [[of?]] the topple - meat
pie for tea & still short of timber.
Tuesday July 28th Bridge Tourney started -
Jap parade - sports meeting on Friday
one first game in Bridge Tourney
Wednesday July 29th [[rina?]] out of nails -
Timber came in - Rostov fallen - seaplane
over Townsville. Allday & Wilson in
Hour Cookhouse. - Pat to go on road - lost
second game Bridge - Our room on ration
fatigue.
Thursday July 30th Lads worked ½ day -
good tea - fish for brekker.- news in Russia
bad.-
Friday July 31st March Past for G.O.C. McEachearn
also Church Parade - I went Rice Grinding -
Sugar for Breakfast. Sports meeting in afternoon
- our Coy scooped the pool - with W.A
in front.
Saturday AUG 1st Got pair of boots but odd ones 7 &
one 8. - made 3 wood beds & 1 IRON one for RANDALL
Jap parade. - Gallagher in clink for refusing an
order.
Sunday AUG 2nd Sugar for breakfast - news better
Washout home with boils - bought 4 Flints 10cts each
Gallagher got 7 hrs extra duty - bought Cigarette
lighter 30cts - 3 nurses back from Sumatra -
Monday AUG 3rd Trengrove batman for Japs -
Charlie Graham to go back to Changi - Hand
grenade went off in grounds - got trousers
fixed at Tailors -
Tuesday AUG 4th Arthur started at Bukit Timah - saw
Kelly Smith - Bill Marshall & others - Syd Wright at Serangoon Rd
Wednesday AUG 5th Parade of those in Camp - Payday
$1-35 - in Bridge Tourney. Boongs brought some bananas
for rice
Thursday AUG 6th Went to work on road - very sore
on feet - may be back on beds Saturday oo Judge says
- this is first work for 6 weeks - holiday to morrow
Friday AUG 7th Mass 8-10 before breakfast-lazy
day-sports meeting of B. BATT - one outstanding
athlete - Snowy in with VIC running 2 up ring
got beat in Bridge Tourney so di oo did Snow
& Blue
Saturday AUG 8th On road with M.Gs - 5 of A.S.C up
on mat for sitting down - a slapping & two to
go back to Changi Boxing on at Artillery
sugar
Sunday AUG 9th Ride home from work -
very good news from Fremantle - Church Parade
for C of E
Monday AUG 10th News of Allys on Solomon Is
still on road - Diplomatic Service Boats
seen from Bukit Timah.
Tuesday AUG 11th Blue found tortoise on
road to work worth 30cts - finished wiring
- notified in to-morrow. on beds - ARTHUR T go
AFT-NOON shift-work on road to be finished by
Friday or no holiday
Wednesday AUG 12th Rumour all no booters to go
Each to Changi - making beds with 3 men - not
as good as before - Washout still off - Snow home
with Dengue - place getting lousy with bugs -
awake most of night.
Thursday AUG 13 Men gone to work on different job
- Cig issue 12 - we hear Curtin Knighted - rain
pelted down held up job. - holiday to-morrow -
rumours of battles in Solomon & Aleutian Isles
Friday AUG 14th Went to Church - Sugar for B. - Sports
cancelled- Hold up at ARTILLERY boxing camp -
Jack Dixon at Bukit Timah. - Cig issue 12
Saturday AUG 15th Raining all day - news doing well in
Solomons - got some dripping - pay day $1-35
Charley Graham went back to Changi - we missed
buying Commission.
Sunday AUG 16th Arthur gets day at home - Snow gone
to work - Jack up on Church parade - 2 beds -
Snow came home crook- Blue reckons Japs every 5 yds on job
Monday AUG 17 Getting short poles - made a
rolling pin for H.Q. - received ½ lb grilled steaks - and
3 scones off Mal. - Blue knocked off early with
strained back. - lost 1st round of Bridge Tourney
Tuesday AUG 18 Out of timber - Arthur in again. News
brighter - Blue & Washout win there draw.
good concert 2/29 - Blue off with bad back
Wednesday AUG 19 More timber in - news good
in Solomons - Blue & Washout won second draw
sent in for 2lb Dates.
Thursday All the room in - Snow home early
second front started in France - Rain heavy
hear that there is work to morrow
Friday AUG 21st Mass - cricket match with
R.A.A. (lost) - letter from Charley Graham
saying who was at Changi - that Red Ned
Mate &some of the others gone to Tokio.
Lawrie TaylorThis transcription item is now locked to you for editing. To release the lock either Save your changes or Cancel.
This lock will be automatically released after 60 minutes of inactivity.