Diary Major John Kevin Lloyd - 1942-1945 - Part 16

1942
DECEMBER
10 THURSDAY 
Weighed - 11 Stone exactly.
Yarned with Lt Col
Black of 2/3 MTRs Coy who was
sent from Malaya to Java.
2/2 Prisoners, a coy of Engrs, aCCS,
12000 Br RAF technicians, 200 American
The allied forces of USA troop in
Java plus the Dutch companies
The allied forces in Java. Br & AIF
were responsible for West Java,
Americans for East, both assisted
by Dutch. Previous were the only
people who fought. 2/40 was 
captured on TIMOR and 2/21 on
ONIM (?) island & less Col Roach
AIF from mid East men put
off at Java to make room
for RAF technicians,
Low vultures at close quarters.
DECEMBER
11 FRIDAY
Many conflicting orders about
our stay. Finally orders to
move tomorrow. Heard that
a Jap had been beaten up
with a tin of petrol and
our men were blamed - at TAVOY.
Heard that the AIF in Java
had sold skin cats to
the Americans there and later  
whenever the both forces passed
the AIF were not to say 
"meow". 

DECEMBER
12 SATURDAY
Up before daylight. packed up
and ½ of us ready to move at
0845. The usual mix up of orders
& Jap control occurred. Drove out
to 25 kilo camp along a road
which is servicing the new
railway. Mostly P.O.W. labour
and some Arabic. Very dusty
& rough. Embankment bridge
being constructed in sections out
about 26 kilos now. Japs [[?]]
everywhere including gathering of
bamboo for brush. Camp is
awful, crude, dusty, stuck in
between 2 hills, miles from
civilisation such as it is in these
parts. Crowded, little equipment.
DECEMBER
13 SUNDAY 
Further 221 under Ewart arrived
without warning. Now organised
into 11 groups with 4 Depts &
cleanup Duties. 3 Dutch officers
were cruelly shot this morning.
Lt Col NAGATOMO went away for 1
months and left orders for them
to be shot - the swine. Capt Healey
of 2/3 MT Res Coy went to Haven for
2 mnths in 1920. Capt Winning I knew
in Melb T. Club. Several RAAF
officers from all states. Major
Kiernan from Coles - a buyer -
Natives are camp alongside us
near the creek. Have now
got over the shock of this
place and am beginning to
think we can be comfortable 

DECEMBER
14 MONDAY 
Finished BORZOI. Food is good
but so far we have no canteen.
Collected 148 R^s for changing
into Jap money. Ordered 400 R^s
of goods for Canteen. Have great
difficulty in getting men from
Light Duties to carry water,
collect fuel and take midday
meal to the W.P. Men are
slipping badly - lazy and dirty
W.P. today numbered 324 much
larger than the other camp
with its 717 men to our 498.
DECEMBER
15 TUESDAY 
Holiday. Time Table put
back one hour. Church Pde
held by Chaplain Mathieson
a Methodist. Met Sgt Frank
Knight & Lieut Walternuff of
S.S.B. who were from mid-east
and were captured in Java.
They said Adrian Knowles is
a P.O.W. in Java & acting as
interpreter. Poor Lottie. Was
frightened by elephant as I
investigated the creek alongside
our camp - a delightful brook
Sent all men out for wood &
upset the Japs. Had supper
with Kiernan & listened to
concert organised by M. Cart

DECEMBER
16 WEDNESDAY
Food is improving. Kill 3 or 4
beasts daily. Green vegetables have
come in for the first time, tea
is an issue, and we cannot eat
all our rice. Groups take it in
turn to have the beasts head
and the soup bones. Hides are
being tanned to make boots.
Sandshoes arrived for the other
camp. We received our final
share of canteen goods. fish.
Soap & [[chiratagah?] Whitfield
shot by Japs for escaping and
giving himself up. 219 POW^s 
under Major O'Brien arrived
without warning and I fitted
them in. Said rosary with
Capt Healys party every night.
DECEMBER
17 THURSDAY 18 FRIDAY 
428 went out on W.P. Planned
Christmas Dinner. Saw the
Southern Cross this morning.
I am kept busy most of the
day on admin work I feel
how futile all this worrying
is and how I could be denied
something of positive value
if freed. Met Flying Officer
Whelan of Coburg at rosary
last night. Jap sentry (an RC)
made a fuss on Tunks as he
thought he was being called a
baby. Jap Sgt chastised him
later. 

DECEMBER
19 SATURDAY
Settling down. Hospital
moved. Kitchen being built
near well. 4 men went to
hospital. Christmas dinner order
went in to Base. Submitted
list of messing and clothing
requirement. Said rosary.
Creek is teaming with small
fish. There are several recent
graves in the scrub behind
the camp, natives who died of
cholera or were shot. Mornings
and evenings here are beautiful
Still very dry. I am not
eating anything but issue
rations excepting coffee. Several
cases of scabies. 

DECEMBER
20 SUNDAY
No Padre and no
Mass. The prospect is very dull.
I am loosing hope. Perhaps we
will be prisoners for another
12 months. Many men are not
much better than animals
and with no intellect. Do I
have to help control them - 
now almost naked - for another
12 months. Fate played me a cruel
luck when I joined the 8 Div.
Watched an elephant pick up
on his tusks logs which would
take 30 men to lift. Discovered
with Ewart a delightful
creek about 400 yds west of our
camp. Did a little PT there
and bathed. Started Jap lessons
again & read prayer book
DECEMBER
21 MONDAY
CO & 130 arrived thus complete
the move of the whole force.
Force organised back at base
and all permanent duties are
changed. One man died of
exhaustion upon arrival at
Base. Lieut Staples of No 2 Bn
died & Watchman is seriously
ill. 3 5 Burmans shot yesterday.
3 Dutchmen who escaped 6 weeks
ago were caught and will be
shot. Griffin was told that
152 Dutchmen died of dysentery at
Moulmein and 800 are to come
here. Handed over command.
Beautiful moonlight nights.
Southern Cross visible. 

DECEMBER
22 TUESDAY
Muster Pde of all our force and
presentation of new Jap numbers
(mine is 5467) and varied coloured
armbands for officers and staff.
Speech dated Sep 42 of Lt Col
Nagatomo read out by Dutch
interpreter. An insulting harangue.
Beautiful moonlight nights. New
staff is not functioning very
well as yet and I have heard
a few praising my administration.
Timor had only 800 A.I.F. (2/40 Bn [[?]])
and 400 Dutch to defend it
from 23,000 Japs. The enemy landed
on the coast and also dropped
800 parachutists at Koepang.
720 of these were killed but our
forces surrendered after 5 days on
18 xxx Feb.
DECEMBER
23 WEDNESDAY
Ambon was defended by 6000 troops
half Dutch half A.I.F. These latter
included 2 Bns probably 2/21 & 2/22.
Built a bed, table and shelf out of
bamboo & rough timber. New kitchen
opened today. Visited my creek
again with Ewart, sunbathed
and did some P T and read "Hatters
Castle ^(James Brody's Life) by A.J.Cronin 1931. After
the evening meal I yarned with Capt
Fitzsimmons of U S Army, Capt Helsking
of the Dutch. Med. Corps. and Ensign
Hessa the interpreter. They are very
interesting and much my own type.
Japs fraternise very freely everywhere.
at cricket, in our quarters, even on
sentry go, sometimes a tussle or [[foot?]]
scramble for a ball. 

DECEMBER
24 THURSDAY
and once
again I am not with my family.
How are they all, how is my dear
Nancy managing all our affairs and
does she miss me as I miss her.
This longing to be with them again
never leaves me, it aches like a dull
pain with no hope of any easing
off. (About 300 Dutch went through
probably from Moulmein. I made a
dam in my creek and added 3-4 ins
in its depth. Chou sang Christmas
Carols. Illumination was obtained
from a large burning cross.
All troops supplied personal particulars
once again and signed promise
not to escape. Alternative is
solitary confinement on rice & water
DECEMBER
25 FRIDAY
Holiday.
Two Denominational services, our
own was a reading of the prayers
of the Mass followed by the litany
of the B V M. Very large attendance
at both. One of our cows gave birth
to a calf a few days ago. Both will
be spared. Concert after dark on
new stage. Several drunk Japs
were a nuisance. Trucks of Jap
& Asiatics & bullock wagon stopped
on road to watch. Band had
a busy day playing at all camps.
Dutchmen are in new camp at 30
kilos and state that Rangoon was
bombed frequently day and night.
Sent Christmas card to Nancy. Had
rich meal of roast beef, pork, potatoes
& raddish. It was too oily for me 

DECEMBER
26 SATURDAY
Thomas finishes up as batman
for me today. Fed the fish in my
pool today with white ant and
ant eggs. Yarned with Frank
Knight about the A.I.F in the east.
Guinn & Brock took 7 Bn after Greece,
Woods got the 6 Bn. 6 Div did
first Libya show, then Greece &
Crete. 7 Div did Syria whilst
6 was reforming. Part of 9 Div
22, 23, & 24 Bns took over Tobruk.
Rumours indicate steady but
slow progress against the
enemy at N.G. Libya, & Russia and
doubtful moves against Burma.
Took the saying of the rosary
from Healy today.
DECEMBER
27 SUNDAY
Went out with railroad
party. Found the work quite
interesting. Men have to move
1.4 cubic meters of earth daily.
Many are now reduced to
loin cloth and hat. Extremely
abrupt mountains stand sentinels
astride our path. We run the
show, the Japs sit about and
guard. Many natives work on
flimsy scaffolding erecting pile
bridges assisted by elephants.
Staples lost his head with me in
the kitchen when I inspected
the cooks stew. Yarned with a Sgt
Burnett, ex 24 Bn A.I.F. Pay Sgt. When
he left about Jan 42 [[Sparrow?]] was
still C.O. and fighting mad before 

DECEMBER
28 MONDAY
he was blamed for the loss of 300 of
his men- captured. [[Taslow?]] broke up and
went to comd a 2nd Bn in Palestine.
Loughery took his place as
2 I.C. from 48 Bn. [[Fell?]]
was very good but was captured with
all his coy. Bird Canty ^[[Meighan?]] Walker, &
Close & Blair were with him. Weir left Adjt's
job and went to 9 Div HQ, but later
returned as OC  HQ Coy. Oakley very much
liked and capable, wounded and later
lost his nerve. Adjt after Nathan
Budge excellent coy Comd - Major. Anderson
broke quickly - ran amok. Gebhardt later
became BM learner. Sheehan badly injured
but returned as Coy Comdr. Blanksley
left in Aust. Turner broke & finally left
Tobruk. Nathan arrogant but later toned
down. Baillieu game but broke, Graile
left I.O. after 8 months, Lovell Blaubam
& Tilley remained as Bdge & Staff. Bryant
was commissioned but broke.
DECEMBER
29 TUESDAY
3 Dutch shot yesterday -  half earlier
who had escaped. An Aust. was
shot by Jap sentry at 18 kilo camp
a few days ago - to cover up his
absence from his post. Met the Pte
Moylan who was responsible for
our being quarantined at Perth. Trouble
between M^cDonald & Jap sentry. Fr
Linith called last night, heard
confessions and said Mass this
morning. I went to both. Japs
demanded another 100 men today.
Yesterday CO heard case against
Staples and I had to offer fight
to a Pte who said I was sheltering
behind my rank.