Diaries of John Kevin Lloyd - Part 4

JULY 7th Month—1942
13 MONDAY 194-171
Still no rain. Hot nights. Hard to
get good sleep. I
arranged credit with H.P.BUCKLEY of
145 St Johns St, Launceston. I am
to keep records & repay when paid.
Rep + K.M. BOSTOCKs address is DENHAM
Place, Malvern, MAJOR C.B. O'BRIEN,
Education Dept, NSW. Major A.C.M.
EWART, "Ballarat" Crawford Lt.
Brala, Sydney. Natives state they
will be shot if caught supplying
food to prisoners. Took notes
from Major O'Brien on history
of 22 Bde.
1942—31 Days JULY
14 TUESDAY 195-170
Still no rain. Hot night.
Went to drome
with 539. Jap orders to be
used to move pde. Had some
meal and fish and was given
eggs, bananas, dried fish and
jepaties, coffee. Visited sugar
cain factory and dairy with
2 Jap soldiers. A R HYDER
Hospital Rd & Mohamed YUSOOF
near Hospital desired testimonial.
Br troops will probably go to
Singapore. Jap seems to believe
that there will be an exchange
before the end of the war, good
men first. Eggs can now be
bought in canteen. Seem more
reconciled to imprisonment with
prospect of more food & 3 [[?]]
in my pocket. Finished [[?]]
JULY 7th Month—1942
15 WEDNESDAY 196-169
Five months prisoner today.
Still fine with
one short heavy shower.
Camp grounds now thoroughly
dry. Some days ago I saw 5
natives under escort to local
goal. They were handcuffed to
a long chain and were guarded
by 6 Burmans with 3 rifle and
3 double barrell shot guns. One
prisoner was happily drunk.
Conflicting rumours about
Russian front. Orderly room
on Terry. Invited in to C.O.s
room for drink of milk.
Insect life is amazing, spiders
ants, wasps, butterflys, etc.
At night the air rings with
their noises, Chuchaws have
great feasts in lit rooms.
1942—31 Days JULY
16 THURSDAY 197-168.
Rained overnight but fined by
0900 hrs. Went out
with W.P. of 489 including 30 who
went to Naval H.Q. Kobo caused
trouble with Chinese Vendor.
Lunch of cocoanut rice, fish, chicken
& coffee, Burman Independent Army
was formed to restore order after
Br left. Food dumps looted.
Rubber production was forbidden
by Japs on arrival. Balance of
stocks now being sold at 8 Rs
per lb. Sugar is issued weekly 3½
lbs to each household. To buy
extra costs 1R 2A per 3½ lb from
Japs, but 3 Rs from shops. Tavoy
evacuated through fear of air
raid similar to Moulmein.
Submitted preference list if [[?]]
2 ships believed to be in port.
JULY 7th Month—1942
17 FRIDAY 198-167
More rain. Drain full. Three
men caught
outside wire. Taken away
from camp but C.O. recovered
them later in the day on
condition that they were
punished. All British. They
thought they would be
shot. Visited Capt Tulevyn
at Jap quarters & was given
food. Showed them card
tricks. Went on to hospital.
Rumours of Jap troop movement
N towards Russia, ¼ of NG is ours,
success in Libya, attack on
Dutch East Indies.
1942—31 Days JULY
18 SATURDAY 199-166
Bet with Bostock - £5 - that notes
printed, but not issued before
the capitulation - and which
have got into circulation
probably thru theft will
be honoured. He claims that
they will not be honoured.
Argument with Bostock but
he made an apology.
(see Sunday 19th) Chinese in
white shirt, black trousers
and of course an umbrella.
A few families used rickshaws.
The mourners were more interested
in us than we in them. One
broke off to get a light from
one of our Burman Guards.
JULY 7th Month—1942
19 SUNDAY 200-165
Rainy morning. Mass as Doris X usual.
There are three Franciscan nuns
running a school with some 50
pupils. Two large fighter
planes arrived during morning
& left later. Magnificient
Chinese funeral. Quite a number
of Burmans, a few Indians and
women of both nationalities
attended. The drum beaters
were Indian. Gongs and white
and red calico signs were
carried by about ½ the
mourners. Drums and wind
instruments played from a small
cart drove the evil spirits
away. Another cart carried
baskets of food and a mat
to lie on. The dress for
1942—31 Days JULY
20 MONDAY 201-164
Rainy night. Tummy rumbling
all night. Took
RMO ^& LOVETT to drome with 471. 100
went to wharf. Met Capts
YANO & NAKAJIMA of Naval
Construction Branch. Most
affable. One was member of
Foreign Office, the other is very
[[?]]. Happy but lean day.
Stated that diplomats and
civilians had been exchanged
from Singapore to Portuguese
East Africa - Lorenco Marques
on Italian ship. The active
Jap sentry is SAGARA
More contract bridge
_
Tuesday 21 Jul
of Forestry Dept & Harrison of
Hong Kong & Shanghai AA
[*IP*]
November
3
Dec 8, 42 Tues
Parcel of one book from home, "High Courage" by
Jackson Gregory - no sender's name or date, but a
no. put on it by Boan's was 927. Probably Glad.
Flying visit by Swiss Red Cross, a permanent member
of Legation in Berlin, and another who had flown from Greece
to look into distribution of food and medical supplies.
Many of personal parcels arriving badly knocked
about & rifled - they're checking up on it, on the arrival
of mail, and say they are making arrangements for
radiograms to & from Australia. I asked whether Red +
would get me a uniform if I sent the measurements
I was told they would - Last 2-3/52 full of rumours
that the camp is to move shortly. Capt Taylor told to
have dental kit ready on 10th for stocking & return to Station.
Looks as if one is not coming back.
Dec 9.
Stabsarzt came in afternoon and checked over a
number of the cases I had to show him - impressed on
him the great lack of supplies here. Sgt. Andrews measured
me for uniform. Kommandant denies truth of news
of a move
November
4
Dec_10 42
Fairly early, on looking towards station, saw Eric Cooper
and a few British gefangeners coming towards camp. Met
him at gate, and he corrected my impression that he was
returning by saying he had come to take dental gear to 484.
Told me he was going from there to 520 at about X.Mass, &
also that we were shifting to Teltow, close to 520 tomorrow.
This was confirmed by [[?]] sanitater when he joined us a
few minutes later - said he'd heard Old Man get news
on phone. Eric left then, and I warned Hewitt to get started
on packing. Orders to shift at 0730 tomorrow came from
office at midday or thereabouts, and of course the fun
started then. I had received two clothing parcels from home
& collected about 20 unopened food tins, John's crockery
and, had it not been for Hewitt's skill in packing and
the fact that he had made me an extra case, I'd have had
to dump a lot of things. Stanway's job promised to be rather
fruity handling the food etc. and Jock Livingstone was
far from happy, so was I, when we were told that all
Gerry medicaments, instruments, as railway property, had to
be left behind. Usual rush & bustle, but everyone settled
down to sleep by about 10 o'clock.
Information was, that as another Company was running
our new camp, we would be severing association with
Kommandant a guard - tearing of hair, etc! The
one big hope was that we should be going to another
Reichstaten Lager, as with them the [[eval?]] issue is on a
much more generous scale than in others.
Said goodbye to Bangart, the German storeman, quite a
decent fellow - all Lazarett - and Reiner - papers referring
to patients had to be sent to Stabsarzt Wiecks.
JULY 7th Month—1942
23 THURSDAY 204-161
Restless night
turned racked with pain
from Diarrhoea. Two weeks
to go to dromes. Rested most
of the day. Broke fast at
noon. Food made me
feel better. Jap bomber
dropped mail on drome.
Read Eugene McNeills "Anna
Christie." Encouraging
Thomas to re-cook more
foods. Had 2 poached eggs
on toast.
24 Friday - yet another birthday
is apalling. I am hungry for
the sight of my darling Nancy
and our loved ones. May God
bring us together again soon
1942—31 Days JULY
24 FRIDAY 205-160
Too wet to go to
drome. Rained all day.
and became cold. My
tummy is quite recovered.
Played [[?]]-carr and read.
Flying ants invaded our
room at night, attracted
by the light. Two bats also
paid us a visit - I caught one.
Wing span must have been 12
mms, body about the size of egg and
covered with brown hair. Ugly.
[[?]] small eyes, large mouth,
wings are skin, bone & flesh
After light is out fireflys can
usually be seen, brightening the
room. Little John seems closer
tonight. Offered Rosary for him.
Prospect of being separated for
JULY 7th Month—1942
25 SATURDAY 206-159
Rain again and WP
delayed until 1100 hrs. Jap
Commdr inspected camps, said
B Bn was best and stated
we would be leaving for Tavoy
within 4 days. Visited hospital.
Went to bed with sick headache
after supper with C.O.
-
Sunday - her cousin Josephine
gave me 3 mother of pearl
crosses, crucifix and prayer
book. One I will keep for
Nancy. It is pure and
beautiful. Had usual
Sunday night concert,
sampled brandy and now
look forward to holiday tomorr
(Yes last page of diary)
1942—31 Days JULY
26 SUNDAY 207-158
Wet again and Fr
Lundy did not turn up for
Mass. Wrote opinion of Jap
treatment for Commdr. Saw
Lt Imahi, was given (1) permission
to visit Catholic Church (2)
and 5 bottles of brandy. Strolled
through town. People very
interested but forbidden to talk
or give. Many superior shops,
watchmakers, coffee and food
stalls, etc. Fr. Lundy had not
been too well. Church about
60 years old and very very poor
Presbytery even poorer. Fr
Maurice also there. He is either
Burman or Chinese. Had coffee
bread and bananas. Another
visitor was Frida D'Castro &
September
2
Another quiet day.
September
3
Captain Eric Cooper, dental officer of the 26th General
came to us today to start work here.
Three years since Glad and I came out from
seeing "Wuthering Heights" to buy a special "Daily Sun"
and find that the Empire was at war.
Six years since Glad and I went to
196 Walcott St, So. Lawley, to begin practice.
JULY 7th Month—1942
29 WEDNESDAY 210-155
Marched through
Merqui with 500 TORI-KO.
Prisoners behaved splendidly. Strolled,
saw temples, mosque, post office,
Burman army - all boys and
about 60 of them, back of gold
pagoda, sat on sea front,
saw many sherroot makers, watch
makers, eating shops with baked
pork and poultry, innumerable
children naked from the waist
down. Had tinned sausage for
lunch. Commenced Jap dictionary
Saw Jap phamplet on raid on
American fleet at Pearl
Harbour. Eating my heart out
to see Nancy again.
1942—31 Days JULY
30 THURSDAY 211-154
Cold morning
Still no word of move or of
work. 3 Jap planes appeared
and landed. Hear that one
large ship lay outside on the
roads. NX 2567 Wm H Schuberth
shot today by Japs because he
was found outside the wire on
Tuesday. Sheer murder. Gloom
over the camp. Jap seems
capable of doing anything in
cold blood. Has robbed me of
every vestige of good feeling
towards them. Compulsory march
of 300 men through Mergui. Only
about 80 wanted to go. The bad
boys of 2/29 who went after protest
in bare feet were sorry for them
selves. Got stay of 2/29 from Rowell
November
25
Frost left on working-party this morning, good
luck to him. The day passed by much as
usual - announced that Red + parcels
were to be reduced to one in 8 days per
man. Thought we might break it up into
smaller parties of twos and a three to facilitate
rationing - table agreed, but only if we
could get 3 parcels to-day to let groups start
off scratch. After wangling, the parcels duly
arrived and then a few changed their
mind and we are still rationing as a
body - pity - certain amt. of ill-feeling
might have been avoided.
Went to black and white class for
beginners, first subject was choice of "parcels
distribution" or "card-game"! Decided to
continue at lectures, but persuaded
Hughes-Stanton to tutor a few of us in
officers' quarters. Played bridge in evening
November
26
Good news - three of B. Co. received letters
from home yesterday! So Curtis, Jones & Baulks
won't be long now. Hughes-Stanton started
us this morning with a general talk on
pictorial composition, promises well.

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