Diary/notebook of Herbert Stanley Geldard - Part 5

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2022.6.114
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 3

February 15 Op at 7.30, Hars & Communion at 8, a ppot I lreakfast then back to bed where I slept fuintil lunch Pottered about in aftimoon, sais to my Rissians, most of whom amongst new ones are muning disly stiff timps. Bath at Might, then wrs e to ad to LoroS EOROPEEVAEA 15hvE CAnnA, CENEVA SUE aB Euman a trunch Eaminers & Gennan, mesh, D Walian Detionanes and to the Commandant o St 3 re my hi lox and to ask him 13 nlay to Capt. Butrai C reguir s forward me a copy John rultons bridge. notts. /o timiting for Vandubecg Poday - anneversary of his engagement Febpuary 16 Isual staff today - anxisthis in a , kns his in aftinoon, and an Temergency dope i evening for a Huschun with a billeuts and a puporated qunquenous appadix I hill probably de y OOFuliig thombly blue all day, I wort in wenn thinking D Pncapon) which has Galmost cetanly fallen, Tik o its ofets at home – Its awhut being Ho far awng in our circumstances and being una to kind a Shand to help on own Jolk O tope Glad and he kids and the fomilied will consnce f mnnly gast onnd an 0 Lods n the it na s A o Geahelde ofor A o Damr hi ra g aut Dat a Sow ha ns, 2c
February 25 Ialomied hiis moming shat all inture dopes were to be chlo. Iso gave a tal fether for the last chse, chls for the second. Ran Knough Pussians afterwards. I French offices walked in aon. Repetit on Ammans re Ipain a ougal, and more about Mly. Said aso that Stalser is comm back timp Carily. two letter carde nnd su lettes shalls tagher with five other letters ts replace those ntuned Ss me, reaced me to lay from the heads. FebpuarY 2 26 Eventlers day today. Two chlos, bots D.K, but the stuff still makes mt ful dineadly uncombortable in the giving found out a cple A dayd ago tnt too land a Pproportion of the patinswere & dudeloping post anawstete conqunctin tis. Since then mey gitten them Liie in the eyls beforehand and hem overd frew ayes tie put anoed pad topsed by a day onl and Hpt in place by stupping lolloed a the end by I more kops in The exs. O hope it helps Quen there must le imfrm us in the dopet. I wrote two letter ts Rlad Bsnight, would paes a he hand with news and space about 20/or 20/pages would till the bill, for much better how much beter? Id like to kill her every in Person,
Janyary 28 Up belines, Yass & Communion in Iish Aut, 29 next door, then put in the rest of the day cooking – masted potats nissoler wast sonds, woast muat-hell, primis a misi ant with custard. ounds good would spen the ms of our people at home who polably imagie us on fur fam Adg. Youg thanks asain Oto Ged & ot from Arsn V.F.C. A. Iman in London re advics for disposall I finds he was from Ansoue wad & and others for use ) our own men. Our prosgestion was that we Ollus. Iran) think he might send s goods in protsortion 1o totel your strength here and that we hand Hn to English camp-tuusties for general use – only fair since up Ots present, English I, Scotish .2. Olr) Indian Cytt. Pallotimans Eduadians, all Bribish P.S. Ws. have b partin pating equally in ptuf sent from England fote mached hs Gesterday and was considered immdiatly said 36mkes to day – payday. Should have n bit in the old sock poor. V tinals of a cook - the oven was hardly but enough to cok he mot course, and the insard in Preha i was bunnt, in never mind, I know how glad has now when things gowrong. Gowoon to nlahe did Qe wrong 1ms down Tuptens ban to Obe lifted on Yonkhy, Feb. 2 Janyary 29 Glepsing in this moniing when Stan Sykes came along at about 810a.m. and Domed me that the Sabran, had told him that four o) hs are to leave tomo a. I for a hosptal near Bul - all his quie casnally as though Btan already knew. The four are wes allad Ballantane Dugr Hetiglon (and I. Dont guite know how I ful about it h it will be the prot tim pince inlisment that I'll have been partal hom the eads of the company, very some about fit, but It was menitable amsn had again, the oficers here are a good gang and (x (get along together - would have g to as o erand so ances whither hose On employment bill be advirbly affected should be constantly doing a nestion I repatiaion be remiected. At all events) we oud be ma pompoall and may be about to hear someting from consun Ricks frieds. Spent a busy day at dilouser getting addresses, suis plast of the Oboysa evenyone. Soid Goodby to H. Btn. Att 1600 wosI went aon to efice wh most of gear a Cmodiment a quite horough resoch. I Rnund tamell game B pontson al, mainly due to one goot bank made hup my 14 mks. 10 be up sly in am. Jnly Islis was mability 10 ge address d mstA poor Old Agus lod, wold have witen tto he atik eventually) sunt him a pliots of his grave at Cdele Ides Wanee is 1o0 20 1omorrow at same time as onnilves to a duital job atO Black hammer

3
February
15
Up at 7.30, Mass & Communion at 8, a spot of
breakfast then back to bed where I slept until
lunch. Pottered about in afternoon, saw to my
Russians, most of whom amongst new ones are running
fairly stiff temps. Bath at night, then wrote to
Glad, to FONDS EUROPÉEN DE SECOURS AUX ÉTUDIANTS,
13 RUE CALVIN, GENEVA, SUISSE re Spaltchoz, Bing,
German & French grammars & German, French, & Italian
dictionaries, and to the Commandant of  VIIIB re my
tin box and to ask him to relay to Capt. Bertram a
request to forward me a copy of John Hulton's bridge-notes.
No hunting for Vanderberg today- anniversary of his
engagement.
February
16
Usual stuff today - anaesthetics in a.m., Russkies in
afternoon,, and an emergency - dope in evening for a
Frenchman with a belly-ful of gas and a perforated
gangrenous appendix - he'll probably die.
Feeling horribly blue all day, worst in evening
thinking of Singapore which has almost certainly
fallen, and of its effects at home - It's awful being
so far away, in our circumstances, and being unable
to lend a hand to help our own folk. Hope
Glad and the kids and the families will continue
permanently safe & sound.
 

 

February
25
Informed this morning that all future dopes were to be
chlo., so gave a final ether for the last case, chlo
for the second. Ran through Russians afterwards.
French officers walked in afternoon. Repetition of rumours
re Spain & Portugal, and more about Turkey.  Said
also that Stalsozt is coming back temporarily.
Two letter-cards and Two letters-sheets together
with five other letters to replace those returned to
me, apli reached me to-day from the heads.
2 February
26
Eventless day today. Two chlos, both OK, but
the stuff still makes me feel deucedly uncomfortable in
the giving.  Found out a couple of days ago that too
large a proportion of the patients were developing
post anaesthetic conjunctivitis.  Since then I've given
them loric in the eyes beforehand and then over their
eyes put an oil-soaked pad topped by a dry
one and kept in place by strapping, followed at
the end by more drops in the eyes.  I hope it helps.
Given there must be impurities in the dope.

Wrote two letters to Glad tonight, would prefer
a free hand with news and space - about 20 or 
30 pages would fill the bill, or, much better, oh,
how much better!  I'd like to tell her everything in person.
 

 

JANUARY
28

Up betimes, Mass & Communion in "Irish" Hut, 29, next
door, then put in the rest of the day cooking - mashed
potato rissoles, roast spuds, roast meat-roll, prunes & raisin
tart with custard.  Sounds good, would open the eyes
of our people at home, who probably imagine us on our
beam-ends.  Many thanks again to Red +.

T/OK from Aussie Y.M.C.A. man in London re advice
for disposal of funds he has from Aussie Red + and others
for use of our own men.  Our suggestion was that we, 
(Aus. officers) think he might send us goods in proportion
to total our strength here, and that we hand them to
English camp-trustees for general use - only fair, since
up to present, English, Irish, Scottish, N.Z., Aus, Indian, 
Gyp, Palestinians, Canadians, All British P.O.Ws, have
been participating equally in stuff sent from England.  
More reached us yesterday and was considered immediately.

Paid 36 wks to-day - pay-day.  Should have a
bit in the old sock soon.

Trials of a cook - the oven was hardly hot enough to
cook the next course, and the custard in reheating,
was burnt - never mind.  I know how Glad feels 
now when things go wrong.

Pontoon to-night did me wrong - 14 mks down. 
Typhus ban to be lifted on Monday, Feb -2nd.
January
29
Sleeping-in this morning when Stan Sykes came along
at about 10 a.m. and informed me that the Sta[[?]]
had told him that four of us are to leave to-morrow a.m.
for a hospital near Berlin - all this quite casually as
though Stan already knew. The four are Weston,
Allan Ballantyne, Owen Hetherington and I. Don't
quite know how I feel about it- it will be the first
time since enlistment that I'll have been parted
from the lads of the Company, very sorry about it, but
it was inevitable anyway. Then again, the officers here
are a good gang and we get along well together - would
have been great to go to an Oflag together, and question
arises whether those in employment will be adversely
affected should the constantly-dying question of repatriation
be resurrected. At all events we should be more comfortable
and may be about to hear something from cousin
Dick's friends.
Spent a busy day at delouser getting addresses,
seeing last of the boys & everyone. Said Goodbye to
Fr. Berry. At 1600 hrs. went again to office with most of
gear & underwent a quite thorough search.
Played farewell game of pontoon and, mainly due to
one good bank, made up my 14 mks. To be
up early in a.m..
Only slip was inability to get address of next of kin
of poor old Angus McLeod, would have written to them
and eventually sent them a photo of his grave at
Adele.
John Warren is to go tomorrow at same time as ourselves
to a dental job at Black hammer.
 

 


 

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