Diary Major John Kevin Lloyd - 1942-1945 - Part 5

AUGUST
2 SUNDAY 
Heavy rains
have gone. Mass, Confession
& Holy Communion. Another
attack of diarrhoea. Jap navy
did considerable amount of
firing. Went to hospital for
short visit, and saw a few
of their ships through the mist.
CO called all the 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.
AUGUST
3 MONDAY
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 tubes and one old
tyre. One plane flew past
Mergui. One freighter in
harbour. Game of contract
bridge. Feel very depressed.
Will I ever 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
4 TUESDAY

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
Jap officers through canteen.
AUGUST
5 WEDNESDAY
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 An 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.
AUGUST
7 Friday
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 KINNEBURGH. 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 Bn attack on
this peninsula and sinking of
Japs ships nearby.

AUGUST
8 SATURDAY
Another very fine day. Went
to drome with 399. No news.
Men almost lost all their
dupatties to sentry. Found
grave of Lehuberth. Our men
are unloading themselves of
Indian money for Jap money
Probably due to some rumour
going about. I feel very 
fit. Had my first drink
of [[?]] 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.

AUGUST
9 SUNDAY
Very fine day. Mass
& H.C. Sun bath, washed clothes,
read Beverly 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 AIF show
attacking aircraft that we are
P.O.W. Third 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 afternoons
are very like home in the 
autumn. Good to be alive.

AUGUST
10 MONDAY
Fine day. Went to
drome with AIF 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 withdrawn.
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. Br
officers remained until last. Only
one Jap soldier went aboard
while we were there. Could
the ship be taken over? I 
think not. Did not get back
to camp until 0330hrs.

AUGUST
11 TUESDAY 
Packed up ready to move. Pde
for Jap comd. Addressed by Comd
and Imam. 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
xxxxxxxxxxx off at 1645. Concert
in 2/29 Coy.  Drink of milk
with C.O, Bn & Coy Comds as a 
farewell gesture. The Jap 
attitude of goodwill is
baffling.

AUGUST
12 WEDNESDAY
Ordered to move "B" Bn 338,
A Bn 153, Comd 9. Evening
meal at 1545 hrs. formed
into 70s and left camp at 
1645. Embarked in the
TATU MARU and settled in
just before dark. About 350
down the one hold, packed
like sardines. Brought with
us our cooking gear and 10
buckets of rice. 3 majors taken
up to crew quarters under
the bridge. Slept on deck
on a mat. Cold and rained
just before dawn. Weighed
anchor at 0400hrs 13 Aug.

AUGUST
13 THURSDAY
Mass  breakfast
at 0900hrs. Capt gave us coffee
bread & steak & kidney pudding.
About 50% of men were sick
including myself. Loaf of bread
per man and 1 tin of beef
for 14 men. Could see the
mountainous coast now all
the way on one side and many
islands on the other. Drooped
anchor at 1430 and had to wait 
until 1700 for lighters. Loaded
all baggage, food and men before
dark and then worked until
18 2030 before moving Chugged
up river to TAVOY arriving at
0130 hrs. Unloaded everything
and men marched to camp.

Jap officer on TAKU MARU = MYOSHIDA
Jap Comd = ITU
AUGUST
14 FRIDAY
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 Turner. Caught up with
Carey and "C" Bn. Japs counted,
we sorted up men into their
own coys. and settled in. POW
at Vic Pt were well treated.
Allowed freedom  of village for
one month until arrival 
of new Comdr. Dutch men
dirty. Officers gear had to be
left behind when they went to YE
AUGUST
15 SATURDAY
Feast of the Assmptn.
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
Condon also. Sent 200 to airdrome
as W.P. Chipped grass & made
contact with Big 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 [[?]] 

Jap Officer Thoi NARITA
AUGUST
16 SUNDAY
Mass & H C at 0830
hrs. About 100 attended - this
is very poor. General settling in
going Bn. Yaks & goats which
stray into grounds are killed.
Tyres are used for repair of boots
Private fires forbidden. Meals
improving. Petition the removal
of kitchen staff - nonsense.
Grounds extensive. 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.
AUGUST
17 MONDAY
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
18 TUESDAY
300 AIF including
Comd HQ arrived from Mergui
at 0600 hrs. 200 of B Bn
marched out under Carey to
airdrome for 10-15 days work
Mergui 300 counted by Japs.
Read Walter Duranty's book
on Russia (1917 - 1935 approx)
"I write as I please". Purchase
from the town were fish,
rice cakes, dahl, gurla,
salt, curry powder, tobacco
leaf and cheroots. Camp food
still improving in quality
and quantity. Moved out of
my room to main room
occupied by Vic Pt officer.
Charlie O'Brien with me.
AUGUST
19 WEDNESDAY
Very comfortable in my
new quarters. View of range
of hills about 1000 feet
high, often capped with
clouds. A magnificent gold
pergoda illuminated at night
is quite close to our grounds
Col Ramsey took command
after conference of Bn Comds.
Eggs arrive for first time.
Told I must accompany
another 200 AIF to airdrome
tomorrow, and so packed
up. Concert party and the
band were given a very
warm reception.

AUGUST
20 THURSDAY
Marched out with 200 of B & A
Bn to TAVOY aerdrome. Left
portmanteau behind with uniform
greatcoat, dressing gown, shirts,
books etc. Even then I got there
with my valise with difficulty.
Quarters on corner of drome about
¼ mile from main camp. Brig
Varley commands. Selected cooks,
arranged collection of water, built
latrines, organised into 4 Pls with
[[A?]], Plunkett, Weller and
Wagstaff in comd and with Lovett
as A, & Blair as Q, arranged
Canteen, visited other camp.
Col Anderson, Eric Campbell of New
Guard fame, Kerr, Smith SSO, Everdell
[[Dr?]] [[interpreter)?]]
AUGUST
Cpl Ward died at TAVOY 2/24
Received visit from Father SMITH
2I FRIDAY
Reveille at 0745 and
sent off 4 & 100 to drome. All 
others were engaged on camp
improvement. View from officers
quarters in magnificent - 180°
of mountain ranges extending
back 40-50 20 miles and rising to
4000 feet. Often cloud-capped. One
waterfall appears like white
rear on the mountain and the
inevitable pergodas dominate
prominent peaks. Native life
on road outside is also interesting.
Natives are afraid to speak. They
carry the usual heavy loads.
Padi fields show light & bright
green carpet covering the
valley flats below us and
are studded with houses