Diary of Bernard Henry McCabe

Sat APRIL 24^th Boys to leave Sunday morning -
news excellent - cut out of sugar by Japs -
also shortage of vegetables. 5 officers to
leave us to go O/T.S - boys to go sea trip -
Syd Wright came back from Hosp yesterday
Went to Confession - restart of Jap Parade
Sunday APRIL 25 Went to Communion  & Mass - boys
left at 10 o'clock - had to have soup for breakfast
Anzac Day Dawn Service  Parade to night, by
Black Jack - Paid 70cts.
Monday APRIL 26  Shifted up to top of flat
went to A.I.F. Concert a "John Wood" production
(fair) - no more Jap Parades until
Friday - fixed lighter for Ron Fullerton
Tuesday APRIL 27th Put on axe handle making -
Got electric cooker in operation in flat
Java Weed scarce - got another week light
duty foot still sore
Wednesday APRIL 28 Tried to get 4 English £1's
changed - no luck - breakfast a very weak
meal now - Sigs in with us - also some 2/19
attached - Japs looking for cameras to buy
Thursday APRIL 29^th Poms still leaving Sth Area for
north - others moving in to square - foot
still very sore & aches at night. Sugar
Back on issue.
Friday AP 30^th Another month completed -
news good regarding production - Syd
hasn't got the tomcat working - Party
being picked to go away "H" - 600 AUST
3000 in all
Sat May 1st. Missed out of party -
Jennings. Allday, Harris, West Pearce
Fachon Smith to go.
Sunday May 2 Lump in groin - went to doctor
Tinea under right foot. G.Harris to go to Hosp.
Haydn Hayes put on draft
Mon May 3 Saw Doc again and got put on
A3 from B2 a fortnight light duty - sold a hat
for $1 also a pair of Aussie bootlaces for 30 cts
heard Australia speaking for first time in 12 months
Tues May 4 Sold ring for Dick Pearce 3-50 - had
an earful of Big Ben news service - also
the African session from B.B.C. - news on
the improve - although Darwin raid looked
bad - Arthur Reidy gone A.G.H. - met a couple of
decent F.M.S boys in officers mess.
Wednesday May 5 H Hayes came off draft for up
country - bought a couple of lighters - pay
day 20 cts - reclassified by Dr - so there may
be another party going shortly.
Thurs May 6^th  Rickie saw Ding Dong Bell & he is
very low doesn't think he will last 24 hrs
bought pair of long pants $1-50. -  sold material
for shorts 50 cts - F. Arthur went to A.G.H. area
mob xx move out cancelled 24 hrs
Fri May 7^th Got mosquito net for 2 Bucks - also
folding camp stretcher for oz of weed -
should get rid of both at a profit. - party
getting ready to leave - Bell still very bad
W - went [[?]] waited till 3 o'clock AM
Sat May 8^th Heard Lumis affair nearly cleaned
up - another party to go away - all officers
& batmen - Bell died - funeral this arvo

W - fixed again - got bottle of Benzine

out of Jap truck while unattended.

news good 

Sun May 9th Another Force sighted.
"J" Force - C Graham, 2 Cook Bros
Lutherburrow, Olsen, Bob Crawford
also W. Marshall to go with "H" Force
All heads now on trailer parties
for wood & rations. - Grill left Unit T.G.
Capt Sloan in charge
Mon May 10th Tunis news still rounding
up - got job caretaker of Dump -
Foot still swollen - and both
starting to ache of a night.- lots of Con
Depot patients picked to go with "J"
Force - it is a boat trip - Medon or
Borneo so rumour says.
Tues May 11^th Tunis still showing resistance.
Harry Brown may go on force
get some bread from Baker in F.M.S.V.
got 1 Flint off Bert Galbraith - now
unprocurable - still can't get boot
on.
Wed May 12 Boys on glass rod every 48 hrs -
Pete Burne & F-MSV force leaving to night - Bill
Marshall to go Tomorrow night - got £2-50 for bed
Tennis Balling - expect to hear it tomorrow
got plaster off foot.
Thurs May 13 Tunisia fallen 3 p.m. today - big
Washington conference - Marshalls draft held
up - cant get flints - had good
night's rest no ache.
Fri May 14 On brooms to-day - lads making blade
razors from old bayonets - foot gave a bit of
trouble during night. - Syd up all night cooking
Sat May 15 Boys given notice to be ready by 2 o'clock
Horrie Brown & Wally Collins turned back - C Graham
& Bob Crawford went - cameras selling as high 
as 385 Dollars
Sun May 16  Very quiet day - had a tin of
M&V backed up by beans & potatoes - she  was
the goods. - Myers up - gave him 3 tins of Polish
to sell. Stocky selling my globes. Marshall &
Party notified to go to morrow - word back that
officers had cabins & O.Rs mattresses on boat
trip yesterday.
Mon May 17 Marshall & Party on there way 1-30
Black Jack says last party to leave - feet are
very sore & aching - news particularly good
Dams blown up in Germany - got 5 days light
Duty with foot
Tues May 18 John's birthday - got paid $1-20
15 days - news of Hospital Ship Centaur torpedoed
off Queensland coast - Jap Parades started again
tried to get boot on but no good.
Wed May 19^th Sold shoes for 7 bucks - cant get flints
into camp - Went to Concert poor effort - heard Churchills
speech, news good Sold Ronson lighter $2.
Thurs May 20th Sold 9 Globes @ 20cts for Torches - big Jap
parade on square from 4 till 6.30 - foot still bad
& weak - had supper at Dutch canteen Coffee &
Peanut Puffs also Pineapple Slices Fried eats the two
plenty of Raids on Germany Sardinia & Sicily - heard
I could have got 5 bucks for lighter - had tin
of sardines for tea.
Fri May 21st Bob McLean hurt carrying rice - Bob Marshall
gone to hospital - got 20 ozs of Java
Sat May 22 Everybody in on trailer parties - feet
very bad - no sleep.
Sun May 23 Pete's birthday - couldnt go to
church - W. broken down. - bought Kit
bag for 50cts - sold lighter & mosquito net.
 

Mon May 24 Still good news. Poms coming over
from 11^th Div - got 2ozs Tobacco at 22 cts.
Tues May 25 Feet still bad - very sleepless night -
took trip over to 11^th Div area scrounging - got
typewriter. - offered 450 bucks for a Lyka camera
Wed May 26 Had a look at Concert - only fair -
bought 6 eggs at 18cts each -(nice) - out of flints
Thurs May 27 Arthur Reidy back from Hospital- got
10 flints 22cts each -
Fri May 27 Trying to get rid of Haydns Typewriter
looks hopeless - sold sox for Marcus - showed

25 cts cap - on Ray Treatment for foot
Sat May 29 Very ordinary day - news scarce
tried to get off some binoculars - went to
Smokey Joe's Cabaret - good orchestra.
Sun May 30 2 years tonight since we got aboard
the Zealandia - sold the oldest of the Typewriters
for 10 bucks -
Mon May 31 The night we sailed 2 yrs back -
Grand opening of "Smokey Joe's - Coffee & cakes
very good - also good floorshow with
7 piece orchestra in old NAAFI building.
First nights rest Ive had for a week
Tues June 1st Notified wages to go up to 14 cts
per day - figures of casualties through -
lavatories put into working order.
Bad accident on the trailer on Tones Hill.
Wed June 2nd Got 2nd typewriter working
order - Price $1-30. -  Still losing sleep
issue of pkt of Globe Cigs
Thurs June 3rd Got some goods together - 3 bucks
Reunion to be held on the 9th - $2000 to be
spent on food in Hospital a month
through the Red Cross - News still good.
Feet still bad of a night. taking a double
sedative - good show at Cabaret
Fri June 4^th Tried soup at Cabaret - very nice.
Got some more stuff (flints) - had very bad
night with foot.
Sat June 5^th On sick parade - another week
A3 still on Ray treatment - no floor show at Cab.
Sun June 6 Feet still giving me hell - news
much the same - Churchill back in England
set a brew of Toddy for Reunion.
Mon June 7^th Got rid of some more gear - had
a good nights sleep - got some bread with
dripping & marmite.
Tues June 8^th Eddie took pullovers - made 50cts
last night on S. - Italy still being pounded
feet playing up this afternoon - floor
show at Cabaret to-night.
Wed Jun 9^th Got 10 ozs tobacco - we hear its going to
rise in price - put through a watch for Watchmaker
had reunion of landing here good night.
Thurs June 10  Pantelleria getting heavily bombed
Cabaret show fair. - Sam Ogilvie back from A.G.H.
Fri June 11^th Feet worse than ever to-day - got
 2 cups of hot coffee down stomach - no blisters
trade dropping off - heard the fall of Pantaleira
 - had tin of herrings to celebrate
Sat June 12 Visited Dr & got another week on
massingly - made $3-50 on goods - good show
cabaret - Barrys Birthday - 12 ch Snooks
Sun 13^th Light day - smoking fish - another Island
fell - feet no trouble today - no massage.
 

Mon June 14 No Tobacco in Canteen - Peanuts
up to 50cts lb - feet easy.
Tues June 15 Leg starting to swell up & lump is
groin - Sold 4 reels of cotton to Pom Canteen
$4.
Wed June 16  On sick parade - to go into M.I.R.
still no tobacco - sore turned to ulcer.
Thurs June 17 Pay day $1-65 - tobacco an ounce
per man - got bottle of tomato sauce - King in
Nth Africa.
Fri June 18^th Got 10ozs weed - 14 Doctors to go on
a party north - may be illness - tonight 4 eggs
17cts each - we are low on potato tops &
grass - looks like a fortnight in here.
Sat June 19^th Syd got punished with wireless up
for Court Martial - 2 eggs bad - peanuts & other
eats going up in price in canteen - ulcer
coming on nicely -
Sun June 20^th Syd remanded under close arrest
quiet day - news still good - word came
thru that Japs wouldn't carry out full mail
matters for P.O.Ws
Mon June 21 F. Arthur returned to house from
A.G.H. - Concert off for a week - Smokey Joe
still going strong.
Tue June 22 Sent out for tin of Bully Beef cost
$1-50 - Syd to go up to-morrow -  Major Gunther
taken over MIR
Wed Jun 23 - Started on Bully but could only
eat a couple of ozs - all Syds evidence taken
case looks good for him.- leg looks a lot
better & not so sore - rumour 1500
being shifted - all sick personnell
& war wounded.
Thurs June 24  Jack [[Sharisaier?]] returned from A.G.H.
- went up to Smokey Joes but came away early -
camp very quiet.
Fri June 25 Medical crowd to leave to night 200-
got 3 eggs 17cts each - lights put on to rooms
Sat June 26 Still rumours of further crowd
leaving- Syd lost his stripe - got 28 days
leg improving on Eusol
Sun June 27 Tried to get rid of Cyl Head -

Syd went in to new [[?]] barracks

Mon June 28  Time beginning to drag in

here - all area to get needles for Cholera

etc. - on white ointment & is she pulling.

Tue Jun 29  Looks like another month in

here - bought another 6 eggs $1-02

got onto a 1.6 Lens.

Wed June 30^th  Got a Dysentry needle - went to A.I.F.

concert - Bridge Tourney on - lost first match -

feet playing up again - pair of boots taken

off us - strong rumour party to move - Eye

cases - battle casualties & sick. -

Thur July 1st  Cracked eggs going for 10cts but missed

out - anxiously waiting 2nd front.

Fri July 2nd  Pay Day $1-70 - better news in Pacific

made 14 Bucks - leg improve - feet  still a

bit uneasy.

Sat July 3  Got ½ dozen eggs - also bread - off tucker

again - Clarke left M I.R. - last night of Concert-

had good do at Smoky Joes.

Sun July 4 Yanks having a party  & concert - 

big concentration of Troops in Sth Area - heavily

bearded - taking Islands in Solomon Gps

Mon July5 Leg still on improve - Happy feet

returning -

Tues July 6^th  Discharged from M.I.R. - put in

buggar of a night with feet - German offensive

started in Russia - great Russians gain

of tanks & aircraft - had 2nd Dys needle

Wed July 7  Day on spine - news still good

2nd T.A.B needle - rumour big return of 

prisoners from north - China & Japan start

7^th year of war.

Thur July 8  Pacific position improving - on cook

house fatigue - feet still playing up -

Fri July 9  Ulcer opened up. Cooks very fierce

still - put in sleepless night.

Sat July 10  Chap brought from Gaol for burial

weighed about 50lbs starvation & covered in

sores

Sun July 11  Heard of the Sicilian Pounding - great

Joy - [[Canberry?]] news suppressed a bit -

Mon July 12  Bought tin of Chicken Curry for party-

fixed bed with wire mattress - had a walk over to Hospital.

Tues July 13  Had a M & V and Curried Chicken

stew for dinner with 3lb Pots ½lb Onions

& 1 lb Towgay beans - got $3-50 for my big towell

Fist playing hell last night & all day

Saw Syd at Detention BKs

Wed July 14  On Cooks fatigue - news all round

good - played Volley Ball - feet getting worse

1 pint of grains & soup per day.

Thur July15  2/10^th Reunion - passed fair

night-

Fri July 16^th  A.I.F  Concert - news still bright

left foot gave me hell during night

Sat Jul 17  Ulcer review two days - Arthur

sold watch for 100 dollars - paid $1-20 wages

dropped 5cts per day.

Sun July 18^th  Arthur sprained ankle at Volley Ball

had a bad night with both feet - news good

still rumour of "F". Force returning.

Mon July 19^th  Got 10 bucks of Arthur - beleive white

shirt & shorts bring $60 - loo0ks like the upper

hand in Sth Pacific - foot easier - F. Arthur on Gdn

party

Tues July 20^th  Further 4 days with ulcer - no sleep

Reclassification. 3B. Syd returned to Unit

Wed July 21  Truck loads of Boongs brought out

to G & W Area - Called together re Microscope

being stolen

Thurs July 22  Still more above brought out - 

feet still giving trouble.

Fri July 23  Bob M^cLean shifted down stairs

another lecture on consorting with Japs.

feet driving me silly to-day. - Canary stopped

whistling. - through somebody trading drugs

& hospital equipment.

Sat July 24  Still more boongs coming &

going. beleived to be volunteer labour at

$1-40 per day.

Sun July 25  Quiet day - Smoky Joe put on a dinner

$1 a head - news good

Mon July 26  Started work in unit garden -

best news since Tunisia fell - it shouldnt

be long now - got another card sent.

Tues July 27  Exit Musso - Went to Command Concert

 - slept with boots on feet bad

Wed July 28  Heaviest raid of war on Hamburg

started getting feet managed - seem

easier - Black outs started

Thur July 29  Feet bad n- got Distillary working

for H.B. - Syd went back in cookhouse. - our

concert party to start up Mon week - kit searches

instituted.

Fri July 30^th  Rumour of our removal from this area

still in the air - news quietened down.

Sat July 31  Went to Palladium Concert but came

away early - G & W area still being prepared for

Hospital.

Sun July Aug 1st  Walked round perimeter - played 

game of Volley Ball. - to have feet massaged

for another week -

Mon Aug 2nd  Getting back onto tucker - had good

night sleep - off sedatives - airfield being

cleared on the point - Paid $1-30

Tue Aug 3rd  Nips put on search parade - I

never lost anything - rumour mail in -

Wed Aug 4  Mail confirmed - about 5000 letters

for A.I.F - very lucky If we get one - the

move is still in the air - feet feel much

improved.

ThurAug 5^th  Letters delivered to camp - some Aug

to Nov - Nips still on the search.

Fri Aug 6^th  Sarisier & Raikie get letters - Orel

XX also  - news good still - feet on improve.

Sat Aug 7  Went to A.G.H. for walk - saw the boys

brought from Singapore Gaol - very thin &

covered in sores.

Sun Aug 8  Nips still going over the place

taking razors now.

Mon Aug 9  When  Went for dental treatment

had teeth scraped - feeling much better

in health - went to A.G.H again - Raikie

got another letter.

Tues Aug 10^th  A.I.F Concert Party restarted -

Tinned Fish risen to 2-35 a tin.

Wed Aug 11  H. Best came out of Hospital - move

looks like being off - no letters yet.

Thur Aug 12  Went to Concert -very good -

news excellent - Sicily before the week end

Fri Aug 13  Rumours of Hosp coming over on (square drawn)

Sat Aug 14  News of Sicily evacuation -very close

Sun Aug 15  18 months since we chucked it.

 - every one shifting their billets all

round

Mon ∧ & Tue Aug 16 17  I xx brought into our top flat.

a bit crushed up.

Wed Aug 18  Sicily to acko in  - R.A.P. shifted

have now got. Sigs, Canteen, Artillery Provost

Ordnance & Supply in building.

Thur Aug 19  Paid $1-20 - Perm job on swill -

left foot still giving a lot of trouble at 

night.

Fri Aug 20^th  Got Cholera needle - went and

saw the "Little Admiral" over Hosp Area -

good show - news in Pacific extra.

Sat Aug 21  Canteen Prices mounting Gula @ 3

sugar 80 cts. - Rumour better food inside

next six weeks.

Sun Aug 22  Election results satisfactory so is

news - Kiaka taken.

Mon Aug 23  Party of Medical staff leaving

to-night. Still on foot massage - they

go like stone of a night & burn

Tue Aug 24  The Party left 12-30 this morning

Wed Aug 25  Most of Hospital shifted over

Khartoum in our hands

Thur Aug 25  Talks in Quebec finished - we

now expect action

Some Dirty Points by a Dirtier. B▬▬

Although the Heads of Each Battalion

or Coy in the 8^th DIVISION are all alike

Ive never ever met a man who was

more discourteous to his workers than

our O.C - Xmas day was his pat exhibition

of a pig. - Fineing of Hugh Toley who never

had a rifle £3. - writing to Blue Lee's wife

 - trying to oust Lofty Allan - loosing his

nerve in an air raid when taking a man

to hand over to the guard - loosing his

convoy in semi-panic - placing himself

in the rear of a Patrol party while in charge

 - running another kitchen while in prison

camp. venting his spleen on Pady Omeig

Morris & Fallowes by giving them 28 days for mutiny

(He got his dessert for this though) by a bucket 

of ▬▬▬

 

B. M^cCabe

Toombe St  Johnston St

Collie

W.A

 

W. Raikie   m  

Playing with Burma (Jap)

When Monsoons start have

[[Ch?]] trapped by one of they

finish

£25 with Bill Raikie who says

that the World War will be

finished before May 9th 1944

this includes the Japs

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