Diary Major John Kevin Lloyd - 1942-1945 - Part 14

OCTOBER
31 SATURDAY
bite on finger still
infected. Two orderly rooms. Good
news of capture of Abyab and
other western parts. 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 & Sutherland from A Bn
are organising a Melb. Cup for
Tuesday next. There are 38 nomination
at present - horse & jockey. Names -
Sam Sue. By Runner at Night - Over the fence.
Sweet Potatoe. Ali Baba - Canteen
Chupattie King - Rice flour - Spud & Onions
[[Tinea?]] - [[Tongwater?]] - [[Tong?]]
[[Turphy?]] Christmas - Savoy
Once bitten - Mosquito - Net
NOVEMBER
1 November SUNDAY
Portugese Timor - Neutral Ship - Singapore
Batmen Coy Hard to get - Officers
Duty  Doctor - Spite. 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
P.O.W's . Mass & HC in the hall.
the usual count, and I loafed
for the rest of the day. Had
another great win at bridge.

NOVEMBER

2 MONDAY  

Mass & H.C. for Holy Souls

Drove off with Clyde O'Brien and a

sentry too in a coach.

Visited market. There were at least

1000 natives, Indians and Chinese

buying & selling. There is plenty of

fish, vegetables & fruit, rice,

peas & beans dried but extremely

little and very cheap kind of

whicker articles.  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 - A12.

block sugar R6 lb, I bought 2 fish

for A3 4, R1 of coffee (2/5 lb) and cakes.

The town has been gutted, and

only a few good buildings remain.

People are living by barter one stage

removed, sarongs are plentiful.

NOVEMBER

3 TUESDAY  

Major Niellssen died suddenly at 0610  

boys hovered about with baskets to

carry our goods. fat was bought at a

very dirty restaurant.

Potatoes, bananas (some red), betel

nut with the necessary lime & leaves,

cocoanut, fish & shrimps, chicken,

beans, [[goula?]], curry, noodles,

flavers, sauce, patent medicines,

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

operated for money & cigars. My portmanteau 

was used. Taxi carried passengers 

for 1 Anna. Course marked out with

whitewashed posts, barrier and judges

box (latrine). Chupatties and

coffee sold by 'native' women

NOVEMBER

4  WEDNESDAY

Latrines marked

Men & "Ladies."  Governor arrived in

coach with mounted escort. Course

officials all of questionable

character. Trophies displayed on

table. Japs & natives were spectators.

Japs & natives donated pomeloes & sanitary

paper. Ali Baba donated 5RS. Officers

race won by Lovell and his entry

won the cup. C.O. presented trophies

after very whitty speech. Ball in

the evening. About 15 ladies & Governor

judged best dressed. Band played

Blue Danube for the waltzes.

Visited Dutch Cemetery and placed

wreaths on Neillssens grave, (No 17).

Saw native women with hand

loom, babies hanging from the roof

and immense lever for raising bucket.

NOVEMBER

5 THURSDAY  

Ali Baba stated ½Bn of Indian line

withdrew to Murgu and joined other

½ Bn there. No fighting. American

plane bombed Tavoy the day the Japs

arrived. 3 European coys operating

several ^tin & [[?]] mines each were producing 3000
tons monthly & selling at R. 2600 per
ton. Now Japs operate 5 mines and
produce 100 tons at ₨600 per ton.
Offensive has started from Assam
& Kashmir.  Burmans want ₨1600 per
ton for tin.
Walked with [[?]] and discussed Indian
religions. India has population of 402 m
82 m Mohammedan, 15 m Christian,
280 m Hindu, 10 m Sik 20 m Buddists.
Pathans are descended from Alexandria
Greeks, rather dirty. Siks very clean.
Buddism comes from Tibet. [[?]]
mostly in the west. 

NOVEMBER
6 FRIDAY
Still no rain. Ord room on William
for stealing greatcoat.
Yesterday evening ½ the officers were
taken on a tour of inspection of
Buddist temple. It is the premier
temple, very gaudy, with tiled floor,
decorated 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 pergoda, 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 18 Bn and played bridge
till lights out.
NOVEMBER
7 SATURDAY
Still dry. Soccer
still popular. No 4 Coy (Eng. Dutch
and A I F from V P) have now entered
a team. Concert & presentation of
R 28 to C O for hospital as proceeds
from Cup meeting. Rumours of Br
drive across France, German collapse
in Libya, NG in our hands, Madagascar
finished, Japs attacked on Burma
Rd, Alayab, & Assam border.
Got conviction against Williams
for stealing greatcoat. Did
some [[?]] for exercise 

NOVEMBER
8 SUNDAY
Mass & H.C. Usual number pde.
Read "Bloody Murder" a tale
of Shin Fein 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
feeds of insects. They are
about to turn the size of
a chickens.
NOVEMBER
9 MONDAY
Formed committee to run
Athletics meeting next Sunday.
Advised by Japs that all
B Bn are to move to
Moulmein between 13-15 Nov.
Heard lecture by WO Middleton
on 19 Bn. Purchased  1 [[?]]
pork, ate flesh and rendered
down nearly a beer bottle of
fat. All for RI A14. Only
rumour today was that
american parachutists landed
on Prome aerodrome. Walked
2½ miles for exercise.
The 13th anniversary of my
engagement to Nancy. I can
picture that night still very
clearly 

NOVEMBER
10 TUESDAY
Visited Tavoy Pictures with two
men. Jap propaganda
pictures of army, navy, airforce,
industrialisation, regimented 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 

Hand drawn flag
Theatre built on site of ruins of last
year. with 6 [[latrines?]] over the
river. Men took everything in
silence. Natives returned & established
stalls outside the theatre.
NOVEMBER
11 WEDNESDAY
A few showers.
Further party to Picture show
about 230 + hospital + natives.
Check 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 [[?]], defeated [[?]] in
Libya, N.G. Dakar being attacked,
Oran & Algiers & French fleet captured. 

NOVEMBER
12 THURSDAY
Move postponed. Athletic
committee meeting. Much aerial
activity. Believe that ship came
in yesterday & some troops went
north. Read the [[??]]
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 have for
a good long while. I want to
see shows, attend functions, dance
well, all with Nancy. All my
love is for her and her alone.
With her is automatically our young
ones. May will soon be 4 God Bless her.
NOVEMBER
13 FRIDAY
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 - are straight
piece - is known as a "sari".
Two years ago today I joined
the A.I.F. How proud I was to
be selected as 2/C of an AIF Bn.
I was prepared to leave my
family for two years. Will I have
to remain longer.

NOVEMBER
14 SATURDAY
Another ^sports committee meeting.
Much aerial activity. I
read Dover-Ostend by
Taffrail. Dug the jumping
pit during a very heavy
shower. I have a game of
contract bridge every night.
Rumours of very heavy enemy
losses in Libya and our
Allied attack on Tobruk N W
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 the
visit
NOVEMBER
15 SUNDAY
Mass & H.C. 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
first three places in the order
of B2 (2/29) B1, B3, followed
by [[?]] H Q. 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 hand writing
improved, I have good knowledge
of a motor car, European history
and a little Japanese, some 100^s
of £ and many good graces. 

NOVEMBER
16 MONDAY
Pte John Damian Cook of
2/26 Bn made himself known
to me today. He took the name
Damian in Confirmation at
the instigation of Howie. Cook
left Armidale School in 1933.
I have had two successful
nights of bridge. This school
was the [[?]] Karen
High School - staffed and
maintained by American
Baptists. Saw a copy of a Jap
"Home Life" today - a good
imitation of our own. The
carp fish and cherry blossom
are their national emblems.
NOVEMBER
17 TUESDAY
When these English POWs
sing their voices loose all
accent and it is difficult
to distinguish them from
Australians. Japs arranged
a band concert for their
administrators and our
officers were commanded to
attend. We enjoyed the
evening very much, sitting
out in the cool on our
sports ground and listening
to the music. Nancy is
ever in my thoughts and
I want her to see everything
that I see. Can we afford
to visit here after the war? 

NOVEMBER
18 WEDNESDAY
All trading to be stopped
because of 2 men who were
caught through the wire
but got away from the
Jap sentry. A goat strayed
into the camp and was
killed for meat. Poor Adjt
had to apologise to the
owner an Indian who
lodged a complaint. I am
beginning to construct
sentences now in Jap.
I am now reading The Turning
Wheel by Stuart Clarke, a
descendant of the boers who
wrote of the great boer trek
northwards in 1830s. Life revolves
around [[?]] both in man & beast
NOVEMBER
19 THURSDAY
Went out to Tavoy Hotel with
party of 100. Given tea & biscuits
in the morning, & egg, fish & fried
potatoes & rice & tea for lunch. Jap
officer MIYUNI very courteous and
treated us as equals. It was a
decidedly nice feeling to be
so treated. I imagined that
I was a visiting officer, not
a P.O.W. I am sure that the
Japs usually are impressed
by high rank. The officers were
never treated so well as when
I was with them and we
were driven home in a
motor car by a Sgt Major.
The change and the magnificent
view gave us new life.