Diaries of John Kevin Lloyd - Part 14
29 THURSDAY 302-63
attack of Diarrhoea probably
due to bad egg. I slept very
badly, so - had a short sleep
before noon. Boots ruled out
of soccer camp and rugby
is forbidden. The M0 has
nothing to final causalities,
I was given a tin of sweet
corn by the Jap officer. I
yarned to the Jap staff later
and showed them my snaps .
The humour in this room
is marvelous. Carey, Lovell,
Graham, [?] , [[Hince?]] O'Brien.
Padre and myself. Rumours
that the last POW ship
was taken over are rife.
1942 - 31 Days OCTOBER
30 FRIDAY 303-62
My day is usually
as follows:- up at crack of dawn
5.30 (0800 Jap time) to the sound of
the reveille, shave and bath before
breakfast at 0815. At 0900 check
working party out and hold Coy
home conference. Bn duties often
keep me going to 1100 hr when I
do about an hours Jap, then PT
and sunbath for an hour followed
by [[?]] with soap. After lunch I
study Autocar for an hour, and
read my history or a novel or
both. After the evening meal at 1900
I admire the sunset, join in the
rosary and then play contract
bridge. Sometimes I am able
to read a little before the lights
fade.
OCTOBER 10th Month - 1942
31 SATURDAY 304-61
Cut on finger still
infected. Two orderly rooms had
news of capture of Abyab
and other western ports .Burman
woman came to claim the goat
and had to provide a cartload
of pomeloes to the POWs for
finding her goat for her?
No 2 Coy & Lutherland from A Bn
are organising a Melb. Cup for
Tuesday next. There are 38 nominations
at present - horse & jockey. Names-
Yam Lue By Romance at Night - Over the fence,
Sweet Potatoe - Ali Baba - Canteen
[[?]] King - Rice flour - Spud & Onions
[[?]] - Longwater - Song
Furphy, Christmas - Savoy
Once bitten - Mosquito - Net
Portugese Timor - Neutral Ship - [[?]]
Batemans Bay Hard to get - Officers
Duty Doctor Spike. The are
several bookmakers operating and
several horses have appeared
rugged, bandaged, under escort,
they have been shot at and
scratched, dope was found on
one trainer and horses train
every night for the delight of
Japs and Burmans as well as
POWs. Mass & H C in the hall,
the usual [[?]], and I loafed
for the rest of the day. Had
another great win at bridge.
NOVEMBER 11th Month -1942
2 MONDAY 306-59
Bank Holiday, Tasmania
Mass OHC for Holy Souls
Drove off with Pryde, O'Brien and a
sentry to in a coach.
Visited market. There were at least
1000 natives, Indians and Chinese
buying & selling. There is plenty of
fresh vegetables & fruit, rice,
peas & beans dried but extremely
edible and very cheap kind of
unpacked article. The manufactured
article is incredibly, poor quality.
Tinned food was very scarce. I saw
no more than 80 tins very dear
and often sold with chemical goods.
Condensed milk R3, soup R2. d12,
block sugar A6 lb. I bought 2 fish
for A4, R1 of coffee (2/5lb) and cakes
The tower has been gutted, and
only a few good buildings remain.
People are living by barter one step
removed, sarongs are plentiful
1942-30 Days NOVEMBER
3 TUESDAY 307-58
Cup Day, Pub. Hol., Melbourne
Major Niellssen died suddenly at 0630
boys hovered about with baskets to
carry one goods, fat was bought at a
very dirty restaurant.
Potatoes, bananas (some red) betel
nut with the necessary berries & leaves,
cocoanut, fish & shrimps, chicken,
beans & goula, curry, noodles,
flavours, sauce, [[pabond oured/]] cures,
haberdashery, sandals leather or rubber,
tires, a horrible latrine, jewellery,
were the main display. Flying foxes
swarming on large tree right near market.
Intense interest in the Cup. Several
bookmakers some suitably dressed
spruiked for money & cigars. My fortunately
was used. Taxi carried passengers
for 1 [[Home?]]. Course marked out with
whitewashed posts, barriers and judges
box (latrine). Chupatties and
coffee sold by 'native' women
NOVEMBER 11th Month -1942
6 FRIDAY 310-55
Still no rain. Did room on William
for stroking greatcoat.
Yesterday evening 1/2 the officers were
taken on a tour of inspection of
Buddist temple. It is the premier
temple, very gaudy, with tiled floor,
decorative pillars, a candelabra, flowers,
2 safes for donations, and a golden
Budda obtained 2-3 years ago from
the Ganges, many outside shrines
an enormous solid pagoda, a cock
bird mounted 40 feet up on a
pole, and the inevitable boys playing
about everywhere. We had to leave
our shoes outside the gate. Later
I listened to a lecture by Major
O'Brien on 18Bn and played bridge
till lights out.
1942-30 Days NOVEMBER
7 SATURDAY 311-54
Still dry. Soccer
still popular. No 4 boy (Eng. Dutch
and AIF from VP) have now entered
a team. Current a presentation of
R28 to CO for hospital as proceeds
from Cup meeting. Rumours of Br
drive across France, German collapse
in Libya. NG in our hands. Madasgar
finished, Japs attacked on Burma
Rd, Akyab, & Assam border.
Got conviction against Williams
for stealing greatcoat. Did
some chunkeling for exercise
NOVEMBER 11th Month -1942
8 SUNDAT 312-53
Mass &HV. Usual muster pde
Read "Bloody Murder' a tale
of Shin Sein war in Ireland
Still no rain. Took things
easy. Much Jap activity in
the air and by wireless
GECHOES inhabit our
quarters and have great
feed of insects. They are
about 6 times the size of
a chicken.
1942 - 30 Days NOVEMBER
9 MONDAY 313-52
Formed committee to run
athletic meeting next Sunday.
Advised by Japs that all
8 Bn are to move to
Moulmein between 13-15 Nov.
Heard lecture by WO Middleton
on 19 Bn. Purchased 1 seas
pork, ate flesh and rendered
down nearly a beer bottle pf
fat. all for R1 A14. Only
rumour today was that
American parachute landed
on Prome aerdrome. Walked
2 1/2 miles for exercise.
The 13th anniversary of my
engagement to Nancy. I can
picture that night still very
clearly.
NOVEMBER 11th Month-1942
10 TUESDAY 314-51
Visited Savoy Pictures with two
men. Jap, propaganda
picture of army, navy, airforce,
industrialisation, regimental P.T.
and extravaganza. Very Western
and well screened. Burman orchestra
was a scream, seemed to be
playing same tune all the time
until we all suddenly
recognised "Daisy". Burman flag
is Gold, green, red/ Theatre
built on site of ruins of last
year with 6 latrines over the
river. Men took everything in
silence. Natives interested & established
stalls outside the theatre
1942 - 30 Days NOVEMBER
11 WEDNESDAY 315-50
Armistice Day, 1918
A few showers.
Further party to Picture show
about 230 + hospital & natives.
Church Roll call for move to M.
414 all told. Went smoothly
and discrepancies of rank adjusted
usual routine of conference, Jap lingo,
P.T. rosary, reading, bridge, preparation
for move etc I am making but
slow progress with Jap. Returned
"Autocar" to Sgt O'Donnell.
War rumours are very heartening,
occupied Magagascar, defeated enemy in
Libya, NG, Dakar being attacked,
Oran & Olgans & French fleet captured
NOVEMBER 11th Month-1942
12 THURSDAY 316-49
Moved postponed. Athletic
committee meeting. Much aerial
activity. Believe that ship came
in yesterday & some troops went
north. Read the Ledan Alunder
Mystery - Melbourne & Geelong
setting. Everything new I see I
want Nancy to see. I long to
bring her here to see it. I look
forward to our eventual
reunion and the fun and
bright life we can live for
a good long while. I want to
see shows, attend functions, dine
well, all with Nancy. All my
love is for her and her alone.
With her is automatically our young
ones. May well soon be 4 God Bless.
1942 - 30 Days NOVEBER
13 FRIDAY 317-48
Frequently I picture
myself reading this diary to
Nancy. I keep it only for
her I know no other reason for
taking this trouble I will
live the days over again with
Nancy by my side. Obtained
the use of a ukelele for a few
hours. The dress worn by
Indian women - one straight
piece - is known as a "sari".
Two years ago today I joined
the A.I.F. How proud I was to
be selected to leave my
family for 2 years. Will I have
to remain longer.
NOVEMBER 11th Month -1942
14 SATURDAY 318-47
Another sports committee meeting.
Much aerial activity. I
read Dover-Osburd by
Taffrail. Dug the jumping,
but during a very heavy
shower. I have a game of
contract bridge every night.
Rumours of very heavy army
losses in Libya and an
allied attack on French NW
Africa, bombings of Crete,
Italy, German & Italian
occupation of all France
and Corsica respectively,
a huge convoy has reached
Africa. Second batch of
officers went out to see the
pagoda but rain spoilt their
visit.
1942 - 30 Days NOVEMBER
15 SUNDAY 319-46
Mass & HC. Muster parade,
Sports meeting all day with
a 2 hour break for lunch
Programme was run to
time table and went off
very smoothly. B Bn won
just three places in the order of
of B2 (2/29) B1, B3, followed
by bombs HQ. Suggestion that
we may move on soon. P.O.
W nine months today. On the
bright side- I am very fit,
well rested, my digestion
is perfect, my handwriting
improved, I have gained handling
of a motor car. Transform history
and a little Japanese, some 100
of £ and many good graces.
August
3
Saw S.M. Camp Head, worked out plan for
disinfestation of men & quarters, and presented
it and statistics to Kommandant in his office.
He later came to my room, and through the
Sanitator, reproved me for resting my foot on a
chair when addressing him, the Camp-Kommandant
O.K!!
Lot of stuff going West online.
Stabsanzt Dommels visited camp to-day and
checked out new men on last night's sick parade.
Passed them all. The Kommandant insists on
formality with him, but, though quite correct
himself in externals, will not pay me the
courtesy of trusting my sick report, even though
Stabsanzt Dommels has confirmed them twice.
Rumours of further British landings in
France and Belgium.
5 August
4
Today is the 28th anniversary of the Empire's entry into the
last war.
Slept in very late today, eventually finished dressing as
the first working party came in. Legs were in good trim when
I got up.
Must try sleeping-in again, as to-day five letters arrived, three
from Glad, one from Ron Workby, and one from Geneva. Those
from Glad were dated Feb 14th, and March 4th & 23rd. First noted
my first letter from viiiB, reported, besides clothing parcel, several fag
parcels on way. Dr Mine doing well, Bunny Wilson on way home with
tummy trouble, David walking, and all there fine and John going to class
at school. Second contains hint of anxiety of happenings in the North,
exodus of several acquaintances from town, Enice Buck doing the kids
with TAB, Father Jeny O'Callaghan back home with stories of our last
meetings in Crete, and, best of all, another photo of Glad & David companion
to the one I have framed. It's better than that one, if anything, David
looks grand, and Glad absolutely gorgeous. She's the sweetest looking
thing. In the third John is "quite a man" plenty of sense, but a bit
naughty at times, bless him, Mark's a darling and a bully, and David
a gem- Aren't they grand! A week-end at Kalamunda, but no talk
of a shift. Frank Wallace same as ever, no news from Jack Throssell,
probably "in the bag". Nell at St. John's still, only 5st 7lbs, but
improving. Poor kid. Staying on till she's 7 st. Glad loves me still -
more than ever. Gee! Thank heaven I've been a good boy, and hope
to continue so. She's wonderful. A small snap of Glad far from
does her justice - Ron's (April 5th) said he had missed mine of
Jan 23rd, in R.A.F, instructor soon, very cheerful, and asks is there's anything I
want - Londs European de Secours aux Etudiants announces sending of
several books.
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