Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX37385 Private Francis Prosser, 2/29th Australian Infantry Battalion, 1941-1946 - Part 1

2/29 BN

A.I.F

MALAYA

Christmas Wishes

from

MALAYA

AUSTRALIA

Pictures - see original document
 

With best wishes for Christmas

and the New Year and tons 

of love & Kisses

to all

from Frank

Dec 1941

 

AWM2016.651.1
 

CHONG'S IDEAL SERIES

NOTE BOOK

Name:  Pte F. Prosser

School: VX 37385

Standard 2/29^th Btn

Subject: A.I.F

Made by PETER CHONG & COMPANY

Education Booksellers & Suppliers, Printers, Genera Goods Dealers, etc.

Singapore, Serumban. Malacca. Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Penang & Branches
 

Sunday February 15^th 1942
A very bad day for troops in Malaya
had to toss it in, and lay down
our arms a hard thing to do.
Mon 10^th
Rounded up into our Btn and
laid dawn our arms by the side
of the road in dumps, rest of day
we lounged about, awaiting our
fate as P.O.W.s and doing a bit
of scrounging from near by homes
came across a few bottles of grog
and let the rest of the world go by
finished up full as a goog.
Tues 17^th
All troops were marched out
to our new home at Changi
which became the P.O.W. Camp
for A.I.F. and British Troops

that was fully 15 or 16 miles away. 

Wed 18^th
Had to go through a certain
amount of messing about we were
finally got fixed for sleeping
quarters which was on concrete floor
Thurs 19^th
We actually got settled and
sorted out Jock and myself went
back to Don Coy and was
given different fatigues such
as wood, water, and other partics.
Friday 20^th
Went out ^with party to wire our
selves in, so we are gradually getting

barbed wire all around us.
Sat 21^st

Our own food is getting
short and we are about to live
on rice
Sun 22^nd
We had our Church Parade
and a few fatigues.
Mon 23^rd
Just another day of fatigues
smokes are getting low and no
money to buy with, ciggarettes

are as much as 3/- per packet.
if you have the dough.
Tues 24^th
Want on wiring party again
today getting cut off from the
out side world, are now on rice
for breakfast dinner & tea.
Wed 25^th
Was on a couple of fatigues
borehole for latrines also wood
carting for cook house.
Thurs 26^th
Just another day much
the same as yesterday
Frid 27^th
Our food suppleis about done
so it looks like just plain
rice 3 times a day.

Sat 28^th
Again on wiring party
hands and legs getting cut
about by barbed wire, about
done in xx ready for a good
sleep even on the concrete floor
the old hips getting used to it
Sunday March 1^st
Church Parade and a few
more fatigues about the kitchen
Mon. Mar. 2^nd
some talk of smoke issue
tomorrow hears hoping nearly
dying for a smoke. Went on
Salt water party down to
beach felt like swimming
home, cook house use salt
water to cook with as salt
is very scarce.
Tues 3^rd
Issues with on packet of
smokes good to smoke again

Wed 4^th
still have a smoke or two
and a couple of butts so sure of
a smoke tomorrow, then the
famine once again did a bit of
wiring.
Thurs 5^th

Few rumors floating about that

the yanks will soon have us released

don't know where the news comes

from, few fatigues

Frid 6^th
Went to beach to get barbed

wire to fence us in, pulling down

some of the Islands fortifications

such as they were.

Sat 7^th

Went on trailer to Artillery

Square for rations such as rice

& vegetables, trailers or cars or

trucks after being dismantled

Sunday 8^th
Church Parade and fatigues
of some kind seldom miss out
on a job, don't feel too energetic
on rice three times a day.
Mon 9^th
Name was read out to go
on working party for Japs to
Singapore, so now the fun may
begin as we have not seen much
of the Japs since being a P.O.W.
Tues 10^th
After marching a few miles
we were picked up by tucks
and arrived in Singapore safe
and sound. Japs don't seem very

stricht

 Wed 11^th

Busy getting sleeping
quarters and new camp fit
to live in, quarters had
a bit of a blitz by bombs
and shelling, looks like ^work tomorrow

Thurs 12^th
Rose at 8 ^ocl had breakfast of
rice with drop of diluted milk
then off to do our days work, went
with small party of 50 men and
struck good officers for Nippon
who treated us well with smokes
pineapple, nestle milk coffee and
biscuits loaded milk, pineapples, 

flour, sugar, rice & salt.
Frid 13^th
Believe it is Maries birthday
 today was a bit down in the
damps thinking about you all at
home. Was on new job handling
millions of ciggarettes & tobbaco
finished up by getting off with
200 smokes so will now smoke
till my hearts content.

Saturday 14^th

Went to work as usual

but down to the wharf unloading

trucks of stuff to ship away

came back to camp with few

tins of stuff to eat.

Sunday 15^th

Worked at wharf again today
treated OK by Japs unloading truck
of Rice & Pineapple farely hard.
Mon 16^th
Down to the wharfs again
much the same as yesterday.
Tues 19^th
Went to Great World to
clean up, found tins of tobbaco
matches & papers still well off
for smoking material.

Wed 18^th
Down at the wharf loading
rice and believe me it was
solid work nearly broke my
back, given tin or two of
pineapple by Nippon very
nice to eat.
Thur 19^th
Wharf again back bad
couldn't lift a thing.

Fri 20^th
Back very bad had to have
day off in camp pigueting huts
had badly needed rest.
Sat 21^st
Back still bad but went
to work, managed to make out
I was working Japs didn't bother us
much.
Sund 22^nd
Went to big school used as
Indian hospital and did some
cleaning up fairly easy day
Mon 23^rd
Back just about right again
went to biscuit factory and what
a treat had belly full of biscuits
and chocolates don't feel hungry
Tues 28^th
Felt a bit squeamish after
day at biscuit factory, loaded
trucks of flour not hard day.

Wed 25^th
Had a tour of Singapore
in trucks finally reached
our destination which turned
out to be Great World little
to do stacked tons of beautiful
stuff Nippon got good haul
here.
Thurs 26^th
Went down to wharf unloading
foodstuffs, Nippon put a tin
of pineapple cubes on ice and
gave us one each.
Friday 27^th
Nippon issued us with 3pks
of smokes so now have quite a
few smokes on hand. Was down
at wharf got stuck into a few
tins of food stuffs including
bottle of ghurkins very
tasty. Have been threatened
with a search, but up to
date no search has been made
Sat 28^th
Was at Station unloading
Nippon stores didnt take them
long so get railways in order
Troops were coming down by
rail & a wild lot they looked.
Sunday 29^th
At station again quite a
few trains arrived from North
Nippon getting a bit tough a
few of the boys got bashing.
Mon 30^th
Just another day like the
previous, was at station
Tues 31^st
Had a change from loading
stuff was cleaning up a few
buildings which fared
badly during the Blitz
Wed April 1^st
Same job as previous nothing
of note happened pretty
quite

Thurs 2nd
Went to brewery today had
a few bottles of beer given
to us. Just about full as a
goog Nippon a bit generous
with the grog.
Frid 3rd
Don't feel to good in the
head after hectic day but
managed to do my bit at
the station unloading stores
Sat 4^th
Station once again easy
day as trains were running
a bit late thanks a lot.
Sunday 5^th
Finished up at big store
house loaded trucks, and
did a bit of good for our
selves, scrounged a bit
of tucker so now and
again live high.
Mon 6^th
Went to cool stores among
the frozen meats finished up
by taking a few sausages
back to camp had good supper
Still have not been searched.
Tues 7^th
Had heavy day down at the
wharf loading rice & sugar
about done in, read for bed.
Wed 8^th
After heavy day yesterday
it was an easy day today sat
down most of the day.
Thurs 9^th
Went to wharf not hard
day trucks seemed to be
scarce or Nippon was occupied
else where.
Frid 10^th
Was at wharf unloading
boats bit of Jap activity &
troop movements.