Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX37385 Private Francis Prosser, 2/29th Australian Infantry Battalion, 1941-1946 - Part 5

Friday 30^th Went on board the
Marnix 2 years ago today. Living in hopes
of being home this time next year.
Sat 31^st Went through the heads 2 years
today, time does fly, still alive & kicking.
Went over to Palladium tonight show
good.
Sun Aug 1^st
Just another day. Went to Church.
Mon 2^nd
Still plodding along
Tues 3^rd Just another day.
Wed 4^th Not feeling the best stomach troub
Thurs 5^th Saw M.O. going to A.G H.
Friday 6^th Feel very ill
Sat 7^th Not the best
Sun 8^th Seems to get worse.
Mon 9^th Just another day
Tues 10^th Stomach still playing up.
Wed 11^th Received letter from you makes
it 2 now quite a surprise packet, even
if it did take over 12 mths to get it
Thur 12^th Still very sick, on light diet
Frid 13^th Pains on and off all day.
Sat 14^th Just the same.
Sun 15^th 2 yrs today since we arrived
in Malaya, 2 [[?]] [[?]]to be
exrayed
Mon 16^th Very bad day exrayed
tonight result a very large ulcer.
Tues 17^th Pains very severe.
Wed 18^th Pains still bad
Thurs 19^th Just the same
Frid 20^th Still bad pains
Sat 21^st
No improvement
Sun 22^nd Hospital moving to Selerang
Barracks so now all those left here are in
the same area. Very sick woman.
Mon 23^rd Very sick woman
Tues 24^th Very much out of sorts
Wed 25^th Just another day.
Thur 26^th Looks like operation in
a few days time, still bad.
Frid 27^th Had a bad night, but much
easier today.
Sat 28^th Moved to Surgical Ward.
Sun 29^th Being operated on tomorrow.
Mon 30^th Todays the day.
Tues 31^th          } Had blood transfusion
Wed 1^st Sept. } Very sick for
Thurs 2^nd         } quite a few days
Frid 3^rd           } in fact didn't know
Sat 4^th            } what day it was
Sund 5^th        } in fact didnt worry much
Mon 6^th Still a very sick woman
Tues 7^th Very very sick but on improve 

Wed 8^th coming too slowly.
Thur 9^th Wound turned infective
Frid 10^th Wound discharging quite lot
Sat 11 Joyces birthday forget how old
many Happies, still very sick.
Sun 12^th About the same.
Mon 13^th Just another day.
Tues 14^th}
Wed 15^th} still very sick
Thur 16^th}
Frid 17^th Starting to come good at last
Sat 18^th Received letter from you noted
it no 3 quite a pleasant surprise on improve
Sun 19^th Much improved
Mon 20 Still on the improve
Tues 21^st Got another letter makes 4
well on way to recovery now.
Wed 22^nd}
Thur 23^rd}
Frid 24^th} Much improved.
Sat 25^th Feeling fairly good
Sun 26^th Extra good today.
Mon 27^th put in good day.
Tues 28^th Fair day.
Wed 29^th Wound still discharging
Thur 30^th Not so good today.
Frid 1^st Oct
Wound discharging bad MO
put tube in to drain again
Sat 2^nd still draining
Sun 3^rd Just another day.
Mon 4^th Wound still bad.
Tues 5^th MO took tube out.
Wed 6^th MO said coming good.
Thur 7^th May get up in couple days
Frid 8^th Wound improving
Sat 9^th Still a little discharge
Mon 10^th up for an hour today
very weak soon went back to bed
Tues 11^th Up a little longer today still
weak on the old pins
Wed 12^th Starting to get my land legs
Thurs 13^th Getting a bit stronger now
Frid 14^th Wound healing up now still discharging
Sat 15^th Getting to feel oneself again
Sun 16^th Had a bit of a stroll legs still weak
Mon 17^th Wound healing up slowly.
Tues 18^th Just another day.
Wed 19^th undesolved stitch worked through
Thur 20^th Wound very sore.
Frid 21^st Not feeling the best today.
Sat 22^nd Another stitch came out
Sun 23^rd Still feeling very sore.
Mon 24^th Still on the sore side
Tues 25^th Just fair.

Wed 26^th 2nd stitch came out.
Thur 27^th 3rd stitch out
Frid 24^th Just another day.
Sat 29^th Fair day wound still dischg.
Sun 30^th Walked over to unit today.
Mon Nov 1^st just another day.
Tues 2^nd Wound still giving trouble
Wed 3^rd Went over to unit had good feed
Thur 4^th Wound gradually healing
Frid 5^th just another day.
Sat 6^th Getting monotonous at Hospital
Sun 7^th Over to unit this afternoon.
Mon 8^th Wound breaking out again
Tues 9^th Not so good today.
Wed 10^th Shot to unit for walk Shirleys Birth.
Thurs 11^th Armistice day wish it was this wars armistice
Frid 12^th Just another day just so, so.
Sat 13^th Not feeling so good today
Sun 14^th Trouble with back passage.
Mon 15^th Going under small opperation tomorrow
Tues 16^th Went under again today, had the ½ hour.
drunks needle, and not so bad, took [[?]]
Wed 17^th A bit sore but not as bad as I
thought I would be only slight Opp.
Thur 18^th Coming good again
Frid 19^th Just another day.
Sat 20^th Nothing of note happened.
Sun 21^st Ulser wound still sore.
Mon 22^nd Not falling so good today
Tues 23^rd Another off day.
Wed 24^th Wound still discharging
Thur 25 still in trouble with wound.
Frid 26^th MO getting bit worried over wound
Sat 27^th Going to put me under X Ray
tomorrow night.
Sun 28^th Wound running very freely today
went for X Ray tonight but it broke
down so am waiting till it is fixed
Mon 29^th Raining today real Melbourne weather
Tues 30^th Wound still discharging and very
sore. Had X Ray tonight MO found trouble
he told me there was a nasty pocket there
Wed 1^st Dec
MO took tube out today much
easier with it out but still running
Thurs 2^nd Dec Just about the same.
Fridy 3^rd No improvement went to A.I.F.
concert tonight very good.
Sat 4^th Wound just about the same &
its my birthday today 40 yrs I think Ive
actually forgotten just how old I am.
Sun 5^th Just another day
Mon 6^th Nothing of note happened.
Tues 7^th Wound still discharging went to concert
Wed 8^th Wound just the same
Thur 9^th X Rayed tonight
Frid 10^th No better. MO said pocket of puss
Sat 11^th Wound sealed over very sore
Sun 12^th Same as yesterday.
Mon 13^th No improvement.
Tues 14^th Wound still discharging
Wed 15^th About the same.
Thur 16^th Boys arrived from up North.
in very bad shape 100 died
Frid 17^th Inspected boys for [[interns?]] hold
[[?]] road.

Sat 18^th Just about the same.
Sun 19^th Nothing of note happened
Mon 20^th Getting near Xmas went to A.I.F. concert
Tues 21^st Wound still leaking new Alladins lamp tonight
Wed 22^nd About the same more of boys arriving
Thu 23^rd Saw Micky [[?]] body in Hospital
Frid 24^th Xmas Eve hope home for the next.
Sat 25th Xmas day had pork for dinner infact
had fairly good meals all day, got a
packet of 20 ciggaretts very acceptable.
Sun 26^th Back to normal once again
Mon 27th Wound still giving trouble
Tues 28^th Saw on of the boys today }George Wasinton
Wed 29^th My old cobber Ricky Ned is over in Hosp
looks very thin on it had bad time.
Thur 30^th Wound discharging quite a bit of late
Frid 31^st New year Eve would like to be home
to celebrate, hope to be next year. Was very
quite New year celebrations here at A S A
Went to see Puss in Boots A.I.F. concert
Sat Jan 1^st 1944 Very dull indeed.
Sun 2^nd Not feeling so good wound giving trouble
Mon 3^rd Just another day nit off.
Tues 4^th Still not so hot wound giving trouble
Wed 5^th Still a bit off.
Thur 6^th Just another day.
Frid 7^th Wound very stubborn will
not heal up.
Sat 8^th Not feeling the best.
Sun 9^th Another week gone went to church
Mon 10^th About the same
Tues 11^th Still plodding along.
Wed 12^th Just another day.
Thur 13^th Nothing of note happened
Frid 14th Another day nearer home
Sat 15th Not the best.
Mon 16^th Running a bit of a temp -
Tues 17^th Not so hot went to see Hay fever
33 [[?]].
Wed 18^th Just another day. Went 22 Bn
Thur 19^th Your Birthday many Happies
Frid 20^th A bit off color
Sat 21^st Confined to bed not the best.
Sun 22^nd Still running a temp.
Mon 23^rd Not the best.
Tues 24^th Still in bed on N & Bs
Wed 25^th Feeling very squirmish
Thur 26^th Not so energetic
Frid 27^th Just so so.
Sat 28^th A bit brighter today
Sun 29^th End of another week also another
month nearly done.
Mon 30^th Wound grad coming good.
Tue 31^st Still got a few pains
Wed Sep 1^st Up and about again
Thur 2^nd Just another day
Frid 3rd X Rayed tonight
Sat 4^th MO said absess getting smallr
Sun 5^th Nothing of note happened.
Mon 6^th Hospital life getting monotonous
Tues 7^th Saw Peter today
Wed 8^th Seen quite a few of the Boys
^{Thur 9th} Wound sealed over
Friday 10^th Discharge stopped.

Sat 11^th Still no discharge
Sun 12^th Looks like wound is finished
discharging after all these months
Mon 13^th Just good to have bandage off.
Tues 14^th Still no discharge from wound.
Wed 15th Wound started to discharge again
Thurs 16^th MO says a month at the
Con Depot sill do me good, so over
to the Con dep I come this afternoon
Frid 17^th Food very good here so it looks like
I will like my new home if it continues
Sat 18th Made my self at home here no duties
as yet good to be out of Hospital after so long
Sun 19^th Taking things easy take a few walks
during the day much better than Hospital.
Mon 20th Did a spot of reading & walking today
Tues 22^nd Wound still discharging.
Wed 23^rd Just another day Raining all day
Thur 24^th Still raining feel better in myself.
Friday 25^th Nothing of note happened played cards this Eve
Sat 26^th Wound still discharging food good
Sun 27^th Con Dep will do my doing well
Mon 28^th Feeling pretty good again
Tues 29^th Wound stopped discharging issued
with 1 oz chocolate little [[?]] & 2 [[?]] cigarettes
Wed March 1^st Wound still stop. disc & feeling
pretty good coming good at last.
Thur 2^nd [[?]] must have done the trick
still not running, feeling extra
Frid 3^rd Getting a bit of good [[?]] from the
yank parcels, doing well.
Sat 4^th Still eating fairly good, Not the Best
Sun 5^th Feel a bit off color Wound dischar
Mon 6^th Not the best wound [[?]]
Tues 7^th Very squirmish
Wed 8^th Sent to A.S.A once again
Thur 9th Wound still running
Frid 10th Just the same
Sat 11^th No better M.O had a probe
at the wound
Sun 12th Not feeling so hot MO says he will
fix it up this time so here hoping
Mon 13 Maries Birth many happies I think
she will be 4 yrs today not so hot myself
Tues 14^th Just another day.
Wed 15^th Nothing being done so far to me.
Thur 16^th Wound sealed over again
Frid 17^th Just another day
Sat 18^th Good not so hot in Hospital
Sun 19^th Feeling much better stop discharge
Mon 20^th Asked MO to go out didnt succeed
Tues 21^st Asked MO to go out once again and
won the Battle, so I am now back C Dep
Wed 22^nd Better living here, no duties, hope wound
is stop dish, for all time MO said not to be [[?]]
Thur 23^rd Just another day nearer home I Hope
Frid 24^th Not so bad, went AIF Concert
Sat 25^th Just another day may be never home
Sun 26^th Feeling a bit better still not right
Mon 27^th Living fairly well here
Tues 28^th Coming good again stop disch]
Wed 29^th Fairly OK feelling good.
Thur 30^th 1 more day near home I Hope
Frid 31 Just another day.
Apr Sat 1^st Going good still no [[?]]
Sun 2^nd Fair, went to Church tonight
Mon 3^rd Nothing of note happens
Tues 4^th Wound blew up again.
Wed 5^th Discharging as bad as ever.
Thur 6^th No better just feeling bit off.
Frid 7^th Good Frid Con Dep shift so am I
back to hospital had bad night last
Sat 8^th Easter 44 hope not here 1945
Sun 9^th Same as usual May be X Rays Soon.
Mon 10^th No difference

Tues 11^th Still leaking pains bad.
Wed 12^th Nothing happening of note
Thur 13^th MO not worry much about [[?]]
Frid 14^th Still going fairly X Rayed tonight
Sat 15 Not X Ray as yet likely any time
Sun 16^th Wound seems to heal again
Mon 17^th Sealed over again.
Tues 18^th Pains pretty bad.
Wed 19^th MO sent me back to Con Dep
Thurs 20^th Not the best today went A.I.F. concert
Frid 21^st Not so hot today pain bad
Sat 22^nd Just another day.
Sun 23^rd Feeling fair. Went Anzac Church
service tonight
Mon 24^th saw [[?]] Greens at Kitchen
Tues 25^th Anzac Day Hope Home for the next
Wed 26^th I.J.A. have said they will abide by
the Geneva Conventions, so we may get
some male & a bit of good food. Told of Move.
Thur 27^th Wound still not running, still got pains
not to bad
Frid 28^th Smokes are a big asset now tobacco prices.
sky high makes men very down without a draw.
Sat 29th Just another day, went to see play on the spot.
Sun 30^th Still get pains, but could be worse.
Mon 1 May Big shift coming on sometime soon
Monday pains still bad
Tues 2^nd Looks like breaking out again.
Wed 3^rd Went in see MO opened up wound
Thur 4^th Wound discharging again Went AIF concert
Frid 5^th Still discharging
Sat 6^th Round about the same } Hope it will
Sun 7^th Nothing of note happens } someday soon
Mon 8^th Just another day } Some of the boys have
} move to Goal
Tues 9^th Not feeling the best today still discharge
Wed 10 Still discharge not so hot
Thur 11^th Just another day still no mail
Lots of mail in but none for
me up to date.
Frid 12^th Plodding along.
Sat 13^th A move is on dont know when
Sun 14^th Hospital moving some unknown
destination believe Im going with it
Mon 15^th Still no mail for me yet
Tues 16^th Not feeling the best wound still run
Wed 17^th Still at Con Dep about the same [[?]]
Thur 18^th Move getting nearer dont know [[?]]
Frid 19^th Just another day. no letters.
Sat 20^th Still a PoW. fair day.
Sun 21^st Wound stopped discharging
Mon 22^nd Just another day no letter
Tues 23^rd No news of shift as yet or setting
Wed 24^th Heard I'm going with Hospital
Thur 25^th Going with Hosp. Sunday no mail
Frid 26^th Still at Changi But will move
Sat 27^th Move postponed still at Con Dep.
Sun 28^th Changed their mind moved to Cranji
Mon 29^th Don't go my on new home. Another
light on with the [[?]]
Tues 30^th Still light on otherwise camp OK
Wed 31^st Getting settled down now but still
room for improvement food on the up & up.
June Thur June 1^st Today fairly good doing few light jobs
Frid 2^nd Still get few pains food on improve
Sat 3^rd Going along OK much better food.
Sun 4^th Nothing of note happens wound [[?]] a little
Mon 5^th Wound still draining very little now
Tues 6^th New Home on improve wound still disc
Wed 7^th Just another day out doing a
bit of gardening today
Thur 8^th Nothing of note happens.
Frid 9^th Still get few pains still discharge
Sat 10^th End of another week maybe a week
nearer home.
Sun 11^th Just another day.
Mon 12^th Still discharging but ony little
Tues 13^th Just another day went out gardening
Wed 14^th This camp improving not the best.
Thur 15^th Wound still disch freely.
Frid 16^th Nothing of note happened
Sat 17^th End of another week but no nearer home
Sun 18^th Same as any other day.

Mon 19^th Still hoping for the best or better.
Tues 20^th Some boys went back to Changi, some
came into this camp no one I know.
Wed 21^st Out on light gardening this morning.
Thur 22^nd Just another day food still light on
Friday 23^rd Wound still discharging slightly
MO says nothing to worry about.
Sat 24th Not feeling the best today
Sun 25^th About the same as yesterday
Mon 26^th Wound sealed up once again
Tues 27^th The same as usual no discharge
Wed 28^th Lads arrived over from Changi
some went back to Changi
Thurs 29^th Rained nearly all day very dull [[here?]]
Frid 30^th Just another day nothing of note happen
Sat July 1^st Out on Garden just to fill in time
Sun 2^nd Rained nearly all day wound stopped disch
Mon 3^rd Out on Garden this afternoon feeling well
Tues 4^th American Independence Day hope they do
something bug getting fed up.
Wed 5^th Lads arrived from Changi some sent back
Thurs 6^th Received letter from you makes 5 now
Frid 7^th Out on garden once again wound sealed
Sat 8^th Same as yesterday feeling pretty good
Sun 9^th Just another day nothing of note happens
Mon 10^th Just another day out on Garden food [[?]] off
Tues 11^th Not feeling the best wound about to [[?]]
Wed 12^th Wound working up for a blow out
Thurs 13^th MO probed the wound [[?]] off again
Frid 14^th Discharging freely once again
Sat 15^th Just another day. went to Concert tonight
Sun 16^th [[?]] Birthday today 4 years ago today
Mon 17^th Just another day went to concert
Tues 18^th Some boys came from Changi Had
note from Peter
Wed 19^th Wound still leaking a bit
Thurs 20^th Getting fed up with this P.O.W
Frid 21^st Coming good again.
Sat 22^nd End of another week must crack soon
Sun 23^rd Just another day.
Mon 24^th Expect some boys in tomorrow
Tues 25^th Some lads exchanged with Changi
Wed 26^th Just another day. went to concert
Thur 27^th Rained nearly all day played cards
Frid 28^th Still raining. feeling fair.
Sat 29^th Nothing of note happened today.
Sun 30^th End of another week 3 yrs since left Port Melb
Mon 31^st Not long to Xmas hoping to be Home.
3 yrs today [[?]] of [[?]]
Tues 1^st Aug Received letter card from you today.
was thrilled to bits thought I missed out
Wed 2^nd Not feeling the best, but will make it.
Thur 3^rd other troubles the old leg not so good
Frid 4^th Weather not the best, infact nothing
the best stomach playing up.
Sat 5^th End of one more week just hoping for
the best.
Sun 6^th Nothing of note happens must be near
the end now hoping it wont be long
Mon 7^th Look forward to tomorrow may get mail
Tues 8th Some boys came in but no mail
for me, transfered to Con Ward
Wed 9^th Tummy not the best change ing diet
may do some good food [[?]].
Thur 10^th [[?]] day raining all day not
the best, last of vitimans [[?]]
Frid 11^th Just another day
Sat 12^th Must be near the day
Sun 13^th Start in garden commision
Mon 14^th Went out to garden put in avg bad
day, lots of Breakouts no Vit.
Tues 15^th Not so [[hot?]] reson the legs Berri Berri
Wed 16^th Out in garden this [[?]]
Thurs 17^th Gardening again
Frid 18th same again tried to get back Changi
Sat 19^th Hope it wont be long
Sun 20^th Garden Half day
Mon 21^st Garden
Tues 22^nd Garden, exchange of lads Changi
Wed 23^rd Half day garden very dull.

24^th Thur One more day on the Garden legs still swelling
25^th Frid Wound still sealed Berri Berri still bad
Sat 26^th Garden today concert tonight very good
Sun 27^th Garden this morning Half day off. not so bad
Mon 28^th Just another day in the garden
Tues 29^th More lads arrived from Changi some went
no mail.
Wed 30^th half day in garden did bit of washing
Thur 31^st Another day in garden very hot
Sept 1^st Gardening again bit tired tonight good
Wish the end was near about fed up [[?]]
Sat 2^nd Out in Garden. Went to concert
Sun 3^rd 5 yrs today since War was declared
Mon 4^th On the garden
Tues 5^th Same as yesterday garden
Wed 6^th Half day off today
Thur 7^th Garden Trying to go back to Changi
Frid 8^th Ditto.
Sat 9^th Garden, May go back to Changi Tues
Sun 10^th Took all day off did some washing
Mon 11^th Joyces Birthday must be 10 yrs old today Many Happies
Tues 12^th Arrived back to Changi gaol today
Wed 13^th Food much better then Changi
Had a look around new surroundings
Thur 14^th Saw [[B?]] & [[R?]] and boys
[[?]] more contented here at Con dep
Friday 15^th No duties as yet more entertainment
here lectures and what not
Sat 16^th Went down the beach & had swim
Sun 17^th Very good food good [[?]]over to unit
saw lot of the boys, looking well
Mon 18^th Went for a swim today
Tues 19^th No duties feeling pretty good
Wed 20^th Got an odd job today more content here
Thur 21^st striping leaves for grass stew not Hard
Frid 22^nd Same as yesterday
Sat 23^rd Day of rest nothing doing
Sun 24^th Did 1 hr work today fairly well
Mon 25^th Nothing of note happened very quite
Tues 26^th On leaf picking today for for a couple of hrs
Wed 27^th New job  today in Med Ward dont
Thur 28^th fancy it at all
Frid 29^th day off went to AIF Concert very good
Sat 30^th Got another letter 2 yrs & 1 day old
Sun Oct 1^st Just another day
Sat Nov 11^th Armistice day hope the next
is not far off getting fed up
Sun 12^th Just another day
Mon 13^th Had a game of Bridge
Tues 14^th Went over to unit this afternoon
over again
Wed 15^th Half the month gone soon be Xmas.
Thur 16^th Just Potering about
Friday 17^th Just another day
Sat 18^th Not the best
Sun 19^th Another day to remember should be
more of them
Mon 20^th Waiting for some thing to happen
Tues 21^st Time marches on
Wed 22^nd Went over to unit
Thur 23^rd Living in hopes.
Frid 24^th Still waiting some say it wont be
long so we are just hoping
Sat 25^th 1 month to Xmas & it looks a [[?]]
one at that, Wedding Aniversary
Sun 26^th Another day nearer home maybe.
Mon 27^th still a POW not feeling the best
Tues 28^th Just another day.
Wed 29^th Changed my job now a runner for Div [[?]]
Thur 30th