Diaries of John Kevin Lloyd - Part 5

AUGUST   8th Month—1942

2 Sunday 218-147
Heavy rains
have gone. Mass, Confession
& Holy Communion. Another
attack of diarrhoea. Jap navy
did a considerable amount of
firing. Went to hospital for
short visit, and saw a few
of their ships through the mist.
CO called all personnel together
after tea and addressed them
on discipline etc. Followed
by concert with some very
good acts particularly "The
difficulty of joining a
Nudist Colony.

1942-31 Days
AUGUST
3 MONDAY 215-150
Bank Holiday, N.S.W.
Still dry and still
sick with diarrhoea. Went
to drome with W.P. of 562.
Easy day. Two men caught
as they were going off the
runway, and punished. Three
others seen but not caught.
Obtained 9 tubs and one old
tyre. One plane flew past
Mergui. One freighter in
harbour. Game of contract
bridge. Feel very depressed.

Will I even see Nancy and the
children again and if so how
many years will it be. I can
not believe optimistic 
rumours of Russian success. Jap
& German revolutions etc

AUGUST
8th Month— 1942
4 TUESDAY 216-149
Birth Queen Elizabeth, 1900
Very bad with diarrhoea.
No food all day. 3 doses of
salts. Feel very weak after
14 visits. Read JANE EYRE
by Charlotte Bronte. Must
get this book for Nancy.
Fleet still in harbour. 100
men unloaded stone crusher
and asphalt. About 100 of
the Burmese Independent Army
went aboard a freighter - just
boys. Officers wore swords.
Permission obtained to supply
jepatties through Canteen.

1942—31 Days     AUGUST
5 WEDNESDAY 217-148
Allowed to eat bread toasted
and some boiled eggs. One
more dose of salts. I feel
as weak as a kitten. Traded
a tin of cheese for a tin of milk
Cricket match between AIF
and Br. - not representative.
News received officially that
move to Tavoy is to commence
on Aug 11 by small batches.
'C' Bn first. Air activity
patrolling for fleet

AUGUST
6 THURSDAY
Much better at last and feeling
very hungry. Still on diet and
must remain so until Sunday
Was able to study a little.
First good sunbath for about
two weeks. Only one visit
to latrine. There are 31 ships
reported at Mergui. Air patrol.
Occasional depressing feelings
sweep over me today and I feel
the awfulness of a prolonged
imprisonment. The mental
strain is the worst, and I
sometimes wonder whether or
not I will remain sane.
God help me and my dear
Nancy at home. She also is
suffering mental anguish.

1942—31 Days   AUGUST
7 FRIDAY  219-146
Quite recovered, but still on
diet. I bet Major EWART that it
was on Saturday morning 14 Feb
that I left Base. He claims it
was Sunday morning. Borrowed
15 Rs from KINNEBURG. Visited
hospital and saw another
great crowd at football match.
Sunny day and had a sun-bath.
A few days ago I saw a brown
and black pheasant near the
great pagoda and a blue and
brown kingfisher at the drome.
Rumours of early Br attack on
this peninsula and sinking of
Japx ships nearby.

AUGUST    8th Month—1942
8 SATURDAY 220-145
Another very fine day. Went
to drome with 399. No news.
Men almost lost all their
dupatties to sentry. Found
grave of Schuberth. Our men
are unloading themselves of
Indian money for Jap money.
Probably due to move rumour
going about. I feel very
fit. Had my first drink
of palm juice from SENG.
Told by C.O. that I may be
sent forward with first
300 to TAVOY. As they will
be all Br Bn I do not
relish the job.

1942—31 Days   AUGUST
9 SUNDAY 211-144
Very fine day. Mass
& H.C. Sunbath, washed clothes,
read Beverley Nichols "The fool
had said". I will be surprised
if he is not converted to the
Catholic Church. CO spoke again
to the camp before the concert.
How would the A I F show
attacking aircraft that we are
P.O.W. [[Shirt?]] still in. Burman
merchants beaten by new Jap
guard for selling salt, curry
powder and dupatties even tho
approval had been given.
Burman military "forces" believed
to be giving Japs trouble. Early
morning and late afternoon
are very like home in the
autumn. Good to be alive.

AUGUST 8th Month—1942
10 MONDAY 222-143
Fine day. Went to
drome with A I F only - 364. Showed
Bostock around and had a swim.
Plane dropped message. Told
to go with first party of 500
tonight but later I was with-

drawn. All "C" Bn 430 and
Capt Carey (of TAMWORTH) with
"C" Coy 70. Marched to wharf
with the band. Troops were
lifted across to steamer by a
river craft - 60 at a time. Bn
officers remained till last. Only
one Jap soldier went aboard
whilst we were there. Could
the ship be taken over? I
think not. Did not get back
to camp until 0330 hrs.

1942—31 Days    AUGUST
11 TUESDAY 223-142
Packed up ready to move. Pde
for Jap comd. Addressed by [[?]]
and Imari. Prizes and certificates
distributed for diligence. I got
8 tins of milk and 500 cigarettes
which I distributed within
the Bn. Evening meal at 1600
given we were off at 1645. Concert
in 2/29 Coy. Drink of milk
with C.O. Bn & Coy. bands as a
farewell gesture. The Jap
attitude of goodwill is
baffling.

September
14
This afternoon 70 men came to us from Camps
404 and 517 — had just been deloused, quite
a number still had eggs, naturally, and three
actually had live lice!! Sent Smith across to
report this to Kommandant, who replied by thanking
me for the trouble I was taking over the health of
the men and the speed with which the inspection
was done, declaring that he would report the
lice to Stalag and would tick off the delousing
centre. When Smith told me the first part, the
only thing that prevented me from falling over
was the fact that I was sitting down.
What's come over the bloke!
Paid to-day.
 

September
15
Nothing new, except that I stayed in till
midday — bad back!
Had bridge in the afternoon and Gowrie
and I converted the week's deficit xxx -20
into +18.
Read "The Murder of Steven Kester",  one of the
two books from Glad.

AUGUST   8th Month—1942
I4 FRIDAY 226-139

[*Jap officer on TAKU MARU = MYOSHIDA
Jap Comd = ITU*]
Poor looking town
with many incomplete
buildings, either burnt or never
finished. Arrived at the camp
about 0300 hrs. School with
several attached houses. Had
been occupied by Dutch, but
now by 700 A.I.F. from Vic Pt,
under Major Green. Met West
and Rummer. Caught up with
Carey and "C" Bn. Japs counted,
we sorted up men into their
own coys. and settled in. P O W
at Vic Pt were well treated.
Allowed freedom of village for
one month until arrival
of new Commdr. Dutch were
dirty. Officer's gear had to be
left behind when they went to YE

1942—31 Days
AUGUST
15 SATURDAY 227 - 138
Feast of the Assumption.
Went to Mass & H.C. under a tree
in the drive. Father Marston ^CORRY of
Dominicans, East C'well. Usual
problems of hygiene, kitchen,
boiled water, light rations. 270
from VP went off to YE in
trucks in the morning and 313
balance of VP force arrived - Ned
Leandor also. Sent 200 to aerodrome
as W.P. Chipped grass & made
contact with Brig Varleys 700 when
returning tools. Approx 300 of TAVOY
force had already gone to YE.
Turner & West came for yarn and
we drank all my brandy. Felt
very hungry all day. How
long now am I to live this
life of purgatory. I accept the [[?]]

AUGUST 8th Month—1942
16 SUNDAY 228-137

[*Jap officer Shoi NARITA*]
Mass & H.C at 0830
hrs. About 100 attended - this
is very poor. General settling in
going on. Yaks & goats which
stray into grounds are killed.
Tyres are used for [[?]] of [[?]]
Private fires forbidden. Meals
improving. Petition re removal
of kitchen staff - nonsense.
Grounds expansive. Must have
been a large school in its
day. Frank McCaffery is here
as a Pl Comdr MG Regt. Service
Mass. Was Staff Corps. Jack
is in Australia as Lt Col and
Jim is prisoner in Germany
from the Greek campaign.

1942—31 Days   AUGUST
17 MONDAY 229-136
W P of 200 to drome.
About 270 marched out to YE
Numbers now would be:-
YE 1300 Dutch 540 + 270 AIF
TAVOY. 460 AIF balance of Vic Pt party
420 480 Br - "C" Bn from MERGUI
580 AIF from Mergui
TAVOY AERODROME - 730 A.I.F.
MERGUI. 60 Br. 400 A.I.F.
Petition to replace Staples
and his staff in the kitchen
left in Carey's office. Sheer
nonsense.

August
29
Off to 119 this morning at 8.15, Capt. Morrel checked my eyes
and wrote a scrip for glasses. Took the opportunity of
renewing acquaintance with everybody. Found that Duguid
has been sent off on the first leg of repatriation on account of
age - he's 48 and a grand-dad, and that Crepon is being
transferred somewhere where he can practice his specialty as
stomatologist, and went to Confession to the Padre.
Got back at about 3 p.m and arranged for a two-
hour walk – Commandant agreed to phone Stalag re
permission to swim as well.

[*IP.5*]

August
30
Fun commenced last night soon after I had finished
writing in my diary. A lone plane came over from
north to south, did the trip twice and had everything
thrown at him. From the angle at which we were
watching he seemed to be smothered in nastiness but
he flew serenely on, though in the lights all the time,
and finally went his way. Smell a decent show
tonight. Two sections of Stanway's opposite numbers
have become our neighbours overnight not forty yards
away, and they may turn out to be quite entertaining.
Father Scarborough turned up unexpectedly to-day,
so we had Mass and Communion. None of the old
Kommandant's rudeness and lack of taste to spoil
things either. He was no advertisement for Germany, a
rare old b—d to everyone, including his own men.
Two-hour walk with Smith to day and watched
the youth and beauty of the place out bathing. These
dreams I have! - had very dishonourable intentions on
two wenches, Glad turned up and saved me from disgracing
myself, as usual, and just as we were coming together. I
woke up —oh Hell & Damnation! Oh Glad, if I could
only be with you! I was never intended for the celibate
life. Received two books, presumably from Glad, and addressed
to Kokinia. "The Murder of Steven Kester" and "The Man from
Madagascar". Letters to Glad, the kids, Dad & Mum, Ines, and Geneva
re sending letters here and not to VIII B.

Feb 15^th — Confession, Mass, & Communion, another day like the rest. Russians going ahead.
Gerries pushed Yanks back 18 miles in central Tunisia. Very few of our men still
remaining here at Grossheisen. Received a letter from Invalid Comforts Section
of the B.R.C. enquiring about   , of whom I've never heard, and also
I think is at 404.
Feb. 16^th —Mass & Communion. Quiet day at Grossheisen. At Teltow was visited by
Chief Confidence Man, S.M. Seward, and discussed at some length the question of
using excess invalid food supplies for relief of general food shortage, and also
the question of attempting once again to have the handling of medical matters & medical supplies
in the hands of M.O's.. I pointed out to him that he was not justified in his recent action of issuing medical
i.e., invalid, foods to Camp Confidence Men for general use without first asking the M.Os (there being no official
Senior M.O. of Stalag), and that had he sought this permission he could have received it with little difficulty. He
is to arrange at Stalag soon for both of us to interview Stabsarzt Wieckes on medical affairs, and, if no satisfaction
is obtainable, I shall report the position to the Swiss Legation on the occasion of their next visit. — While at Teltow
was told those of us remaining at 520 were to return to 528 to-morrow morning, sick & med. staff, K in p.m.
Yanks advanced 6 miles on 50 mile front in Tunisia.
Feb 17^th — No Mass this morning, as things had to be got ready by 0930 hrs, — In vain as it turned out, as
the Reichbahn's only available motor-truck broke down somewhere, which removed any hope
of transport for the sick. Eventually at about 1500 hrs., two hand-carts were produced, one
from each camp, my own and medical gear, and gear of most of Kds 3 chaps was piled on, and away we
went, leaving behind Sgt. Jones, Pte Tockar, and five of the sick. I found on arrival that I was to
occupy the equivalent in B. Block of my old room in A, the M.I. Room was staying put, with the Review to be
in same room in B. Block as it was in A before. Was told that Reichbahn would not sanction subdivision
of large rooms for Sanitation & M.I.Room, so that will eventually occupy our old M.I. and Review rooms, with
Sanitation probably in the room I occupy now.
Feb. 18^th — Settling down again, though will not do so completely until we are settled in permanent
quarters. It appears that we are to have 1-200 men sent here from Dabendorf 404, which is to
be broken up. Oberstabarzt came to-day and saw a few of the lads. News that Charkow has
fallen to Russians, that they've reached sea 100 miles west of Rostov, and that Germans have pushed Yanks back another
100 miles in E. Tunisia - ascribed to terrific dive-bombing which stopped Yank counter-attack on 16^th and the
fact that Yanks are unseasoned. Lorient, St. Nazaire, NW Europe and Italy, all being bombed. I'm to
give the camp a shot of T.A.B. soon. Bags & bags of parcels coming in lately, though the food position is
bit tight. Most of parcels are cigarettes.[[?]] It appears that our mail is to be flown to Germany from Lisbon, and to
come no longer by air.
Feb. 19^th — Our air-raid shelter is complete and a better one than at Grossheisen 520. Had a long
sleep-in to-day. Barrack A going ahead, but will be a goodish time before completion, a week at
least. I'm to start T.A.B. injections to-morrow, and there's to be a heavy weeding-out here of
permanent light sick and non-workers and those likely to be frequently sick, and I have to check through
them all to-night. The San. Hauptfeldwebel came in to-day, told me, amongst other things, that Capt. Auman of
404 is probably going to Res-Laz 128, and that information from Stalag is to the effect that we shall be
allowed only one med-orderly for each 200 men. This proportion is far too small and the H. Feldwebel
is very much of the same opinion.
Feb. 20^th — Big afternoon, did T.A.B. injections for the whole camp, and, with a bit of
organisation got the whole camp through in 3 hrs - 400 men. Most of the
night spent in preparing list of men not fit for heavy work - they'll
be sent to non-working camp, some good lads going amongst them, too, sorry to lose them.
Feb. 21^st — List of blankets missing since bomb damage, and Lager-Fuehrer
is trying to
[*IP. 4*] make men pay for them, 250 blankets down. It appears obvious that the men
are not at fault, though the silly buggers have got down on a lot of hand-towels,
etc., which they don't need, and for which they'll have to pay, so most of the morning was spent
in check-parades & searches - some funny business somewhere. Rest of the morning taken up by
a photographer who put the camp through in batches of 15 - I was in with Sanitation & Dominions
chaps. Fr. Scarborough came in p.m. - Mass & Communion - and brought me a parcel containing
chess-set and two packs of cards, probably from John Stefani. Wrote letter to Glad, cards to
Mum & Dad, and to John. Weighed most of men in camp. Rumours that Kiev & Odessa have fallen!!!
Wrote to Stalag applying for Fr. Scarborough's transfer here.
Feb. 22nd — Spent considerable part of day preparing & finalising list of light-workers to
be presented for German M.O"s consideration.