Diary Major John Kevin Lloyd - 1942-1945 - Part 4

JULY 1942
13 MONDAY
Still no rain. Hot nights. Have 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.G.M.
EWART, "Ballarat" Crawford St,
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 JULY
14 TUESDAY
Still no rain.  Hot night.
Went to dinner
with 539.  Jap orders to be
used to move pde.  Had some
meat and fish and was given
eggs, bananas, dried fish and
jepaties, coffee.  Visited sugar
can factory and dairy with
2 Jap soldiers.  AR HYDER,
Hospital Rd & Mohamad 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 supxx
in my pocket.  Finished Guard

JULY  1942
15 WEDNESDAY
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 Telly.  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, Chichaws have
great finish in lit room.
1942  JULY
16 THURSDAY
Rained overnight but fined by
0900 hrs.  Went out
with W.P. of 489 including 30 who
went to Naval H.Q. Koks 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 1 R 2 A per 3½ lb from
Japs, but 3 Rs from shops.  Tavoy
evacuated through fear of air
raid similar to Moulmein
Submitted preference list of offic
2 ships believed to be in port. 

JULY 1942
17 FRIDAY
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 Copl Tulevyn
at Jap quarters & was given
food.  Showed them card
tricks.  Went on to hospital.
Rumours of Jap troop movement
N towards Russia, ¾ of NG is ours.
successes in Libya, attack on
Dutch East Indies.
1942  JULY
18 SATURDAY
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 is
white shirt, black trousers
and of course an unbrella.
A few families used rickshas
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 1942
19 SUNDAY
Rainy morning.  Mass as
Doris. X usual.
There are 3 Franciscin nuns
running a school with some 50
pupils.  Two large fighter
planes arrived during morning
& left later.  Magnificent
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 JULY
20 MONDAY
Rainy night.  Tummy rumbling
all night.  Took
RMO ^I 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
sexy.  Happy but [[been?]] day.
Stated that diplomat and
civilians had been exchanged
from Singapore to [[?]]
East Spore - [[?]] [[?]]
on Italian ship.  The active
Jap sentry is SAGARA
more contract bridge.
Tuesday 21 July
of Forestry Dept & Harrison of
Hong Kong & Shanghai AA.

JULY 1942
21 TUESDAY
Attack of Diarrhoea.  Went to
wharf to see our
men at work.  Natives appeared
to off anything.  Viewed by
them with much interest.
One street contains at least
20 temples side by side, old
and new, wood or stone and
containing any number up
to two dozen idols of Budda
and the Goddess.  Some idols
would be 18 feet high and
tower into the ceiling.  They
are painted Gold & cream
and are studded with glass
crystals.  The doors were open
but there were no worshipping
Had my first swim with
the wharf party.  Yarned with
Capt Davis of PWD, Lieut Brian
1942 JULY

22 WEDNESDAY
Very heavy rains.
Diarrhoea bad.  Saw RMO &
went on to salts and no
food for 24 hrs.  Visited
hospital.  Figures going up
slightly.  Saw football match
on way back.  Estimated 2000
spectators.  Attended concert.
Men are much bucked up
after a concert.  Pep talk to
McCarthy.  Must give him
some food.  Tasted butter
for first time.

JULY 1942
23 THURSDAY
Restless night.
[[?]] racked with pain
from Diarrhoea.  Too weak
to go to drome.  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 JULY
24 FRIDAY
Too wet go to go 
drome.  Rained all day,
and became cold.  My
tummy is quite recovered.
Played Coin-can 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
ins.  body about size of egg and
covered with brown hair.  Ugly
[[?]] small eyes, large mouth,
wings are skin, bone and flesh
After light is out, fireflys can
usually be seen, brightening the
room.  Little John seems close
tonight.  Offered Rosary for him
Prospect of being reported for

JULY 1942
25 SATURDAY
Rain again and WP
delayed until 1100 hrs.  Jap
Comdr inspected camp, said
B Rn 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 tomorrow
(Gee last page of diary)
1942 JULY
26 SUNDAY

Wet again and Fr
Lundy did not turn up for
Mass.  Wrote opinion of Jap
treatment for Comdr.  how
Lt Imari 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 were poorer.  Fr
[[Ma?]] also there.  He is either
Burman or Chinese.  Had Coffee
bread and bananas.  Another
visitor was Frida O'Castro.

JULY 1942
27 MONDAY
Gave records to d'Souza.  Coffee
and cakes.  Warburton
Brothers. COs, Adj. Bd Coats &
Major [[?]] (Ramsay Merrell
Apthorpe & Huree) had farewell
dinner with Jap Comdr Lieut
Tokero, Miyairi, Dr Ishihara,
Feruba & 4 other Japs.  Owe
Eat Hotel.  Chinese.  Table
loaded with fish, chicken
and sweetmeats in batter, and
in white pastry, much brandy,
red water, chop sticks coffee
tea.  Rather poor type of hotel,
Natives ate in cubicles around
wall or out on open floor.
Many speeches.  Kobodera very
drunk and carried out.  I
was taken back in ricksha.
Huree rather ill afterwards 
1942 JULY
28 TUESDAY
Fine night.  9 1/2 hours
sleep.  Advised that we were
to be sent to Tavoy 300 at a
time, myself first.  Later advised
that journey was delayed some
10 days.  Pay for period 11-20 was
made available Fruit vendor
called again.  Letter from Fr
L re records.  Very easy day.
I am feeling splendid.  Pte
[[Lh?]] caught outside wire
by 2 Burmese and foolishly
jumped out of our guardhouse
window.  Was returned
to GH by Lt Krichlar, beaten
and taken away.  I am very
desirous of learning a foreign
language.  Will it be Jap or
French? or both?

JULY 1942
29 WEDNESDAY
Marched through
Muqui with 500 TORI-KO.
Prisoners behaved splendidly.  Thrilled.
Saw temples, mosque, post office,
Burman army - all boys and
about 60 of them, back of gold
pergoda, sat on sea front,
saw many [[Sheeroot?]] makers, watchmakers,
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 JULY
30 THURSDAY
Cold morning
Still no word of move or of
work.  3 Jap planes appeared
and landed.  Heard that one
large ship lay outside on the
roads.  NX2567 Wm J 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 themselves.
Got story of 2/29 from Lovett

JULY 1942
31 FRIDAY
Extremely heavy rain and electric
storms all night
and day.  Probably our coldest
day so far.  Received word
that rip to TAVOY is cancelled,
aerodrome WPs are to start tomorrow
and pay is available
for period 21-30 Jul.  Visited
hospital with Salin and Lovell
Football match [[?]] even
in heavy rain.  A sea of umbrella
Planes could be heard at
irregular intervals.  17 Jap
war ships were seen to be
anchored out in bay. - two
battleships.  Wrote up Lovetts
story of 2/29, studied [[An?]
and Japanese.  My heart Aches
to be with Nancy and our
young ones again.  When will it
all end.
1942 AUGUST
1 August SATURDAY
Rain has gone.  Had a
bad pain
in middle of the night and
felt weak and listless all
day.  Sent 201 out to aerdrome.
Conference and Inspections.
Large bomber arrived at
drome and dropped a naval
officer.  Pay received for
period 21-30 Jul. Flowers are
very rare in this country.
Hibiscus, lavandra, a blue flower
like plumbago, a very large
edition of yellow jasmine an
about the lot.  I often pick
a bunch for our room.  Nancys
rug is invaluable as a cushion.
The beginning of my second years
absence.  I am appalled at the
prospect of another year from Nancy