Diary Major John Kevin Lloyd - 1942-1945 - Part 10

JANUARY   1st Month— 1942

30 FRIDAY Saturday 
The arrival  I heard at the
creek a few days ago was a monkey

probably.  Chinese [[yak?]] is always

wrapped in leaves and tied with

bamboo threads. Burmans take

away the entrails [[?]] from our

slaughter yard. I obtained the

milk guts of one beast and 

will cook it. I am feeling rather

ill either a fever or an internal

upset due to eating seedy bananas.

My skin is thoroughly tanned all

over but I still have some 

acne, worst of all on the ^out sides

of my buttocks. My hair is going

grey - Mum asked me "Not to come

back a grey-haired old man"

I will be grey but much fitter 

than I was 3 years ago,

 

1942-31 Days   JANUARY

31 SATURDAY  Sunday 31-334

I am spending a day in

bed as I am temporarily unwell.

Rain is falling lightly, the first

for months and will be very

welcome. Read "Elizabeth and 

Essex" by an unknown author.

An excellent historical sketch

of the young Essex the Queens

favourite aided by [[Francis?]]  and 

Anthony Bacon scheming against 

Lord Burghley and his son Robert

Cecil - the Earl of Salisbury. 4

water buffalo caught a few

days ago, are a welcome addition

to our diet. I wonder when Germany

will show signs of cracking

internally. A continuance of their

existence depends on Russias defeat 

of Germany.

FEBRUARY   2nd Month— 1942
I February SUNDAY Monday  32-333
Participated in the distribution of 

soup from a ox's head and brown 

peas. Even this is too rich for my

stomach. Dutch are unhygienic,

douching himself in his mess tin

and immediately afterwards using

this same tin for his mess, and

eating rice scrappped from the

used plates of Japs and POWs.

No wonder they contracted dysentery.

Yarned with Lieut Workman of the

DELI COURANT - a Dutchman. He 

estimated the Dutch army's strength

in "India" as 80,000 including 27000

Europeans. My tummy is upset

probably from eating seedy

bananas. Opened a tin of fish in

honour of Rex's birthday.

 

1942-28 Days   FEBRUARY

2 MONDAY Tuesday  33-332

My tummy is still 

upset. There was another light

shower this morning. The Japs are

forcing us to produce 50-100 men

more than we send out normally.

This morning only 330 out of our 860

went out voluntarily. Yesterday

Watmuff and Gabriel were bashed

by a drunken Jap elephant driver.

Saw a brilliant light in the sky for

about 1 second. Jap lesson in the evening.

When Jap car carrying an officer approachs

a guard house the driver blows the

horn and the guard literally screams

out some recognition and present arms.

I feel alternately well and tired.

Rumours of very successful Russian action.

Healy has gone to base to organise

sport. Signed agreement to [[hand?]] pay to me.

FEBRUARY   2nd Month - 1942

3 TUESDAY  Wednesday 34-331

Felt very tired at reveille. Had a lesson

in electricity from young Knight.

Did my PT on "golf course" instead

of the usual. Jap, bridge, history

completed the usual day. Am

reading "Action for Slander " by

Mary Bondun. This is not a good 

story, and is not well written.

Cold is no longer felt, winter seems

to be over. I am airing out my 

blanket now. Japs have threatened

to send out men off the sick

pde. Officer visited camp yest

and said sick men may now

be moved to base. P.O.W.  officers

may now stay now their

quarters to 2300 hrs.

 

1942-28 Days FEBRUARY

4 WEDNESDAY Thursday 35-330

Out with W.P. to railway. I 

feel awful- flu and tired

feeling. Took my coffee pot 

with me and brewed two lots

of strong black coffee to buck

me up. Work did not finish

until 1945hrs. After a bath, some

dinner and coffee, vitamin [[N?]] I 

felt much better. Went to bed 

early, read and had a splendid

sleep. I seem to possess the happy 

nack of being able to keep these

Japs in a pleasant frame of mind.

So far I have been able to obtain

useful concessions for myself and

for others and have never been

bashed. Please God my good fortune 

will continue.

FEBRUARY  2nd Month— 1942
5  THURSDAY Friday 36-329

A holiday for all, with the usual
late reveille and Prot. Ch. Service
accompanied by the band. I feel
much better, but still ^have one or two
bad spots of acne. I am beginning
to hope for an earlier release, possibly
of within 12 months. It is amazing
how the prospect of seeing Nancy and
our dear ones again buoys me up
in an otherwise awful existence. I 
live only because I hope to hold them

all again in my arms before I die.

The intervening years until I return to

them are sheer waste of time. Nancy's

birthday is approaching and once more

I am unable to send her a present.
Council of [[night?]] Officer who visited 18

kilo camp now allowed to speak to one

officer only.
 

1942—28 Days  FEBRUARY
6 FRIDAY Saturday  37-328
Out with W.P. of 126. CO will not
allow me to continue my system
of dividing up into job parties on
the Pde Ground. Several planes passed

over at odd intervals . The Japs hope to

have this railway completed by 1 Jan

next. It seems to be for military

purposes only. Finished up very late & I

enjoyed the walk back to barracks in

the shade of the evening. My cold is

improving and my tongue is not so 

painful. Argued world problems until

midnight with Black, Bartock, Kieran .

& Co. We have christened a pack of cards

 "T.B." from the 2 prominent breasts of the 

female figure on the back.

FEBRUARY 2nd Month— 1942. 
7 -SATURDAY Sunday 38-327
A day in camp. My cold or flu is
rather heavy on me. The moon
arose last night, a very thin crescent 
with a brilliant star just 
beneath it.  An  elephant has
invaded my [[creek?]] and pool and

has crushed down vegetation on

all sides. Fed the fish with meat 

on bones once more. I have lost 
my pocket knife at last. Nancy

gave it to me many years ago

and I treasured it.  Won 15 cents

at Contract. Jap photographers are

making much of this railway. It 

would appear that this is the only

construction work they are doing

in captured territory. 
 

1942-28 Days  FEBRUARY
8 SUNDAY Monday  39-326
My dear Nancy's birthday anniversary.
May God Bless her and help her
in her arduous work of raring 

our 3 loved ones and looking after

our property without assistance.

She is 35 years old - in her prime.

How we will have fun together

when I am released. The separation

and our experiences while apart

will increase our ability to live 

our lives very happily together.

Celebrated Birthday by reading Charles

Barrett's "Australia - My Country"  . It is

a delightful echo of the past. I am 

familiar with almost all the

settings . Nancy will love it -

when I present her with a copy.
 

 

FEBRUARY  2nd Month—1942
9 MONDAY Tuesday 40-325

Sat up very late last night outside at
a table near the bamboo and
wondered what I should do after the
war. I must confess that ambition
dies hard in me. Flu still heavy on 
me. Bridge yesterday with [[Hensland?]], &
Hesse &  Rex. Jap lesson I have not
done any P.T. for 2 days now - 
a rest may help my flu. Yarned
with Dutch officers. Hesse states
Japs will take own lives for honour

much more than we will. Jap

girl factory workers are more efficient

than any continental weavers. The 

oriental mind works differently to

ours. Bush fire on range about a 

mile away.
 

1942-28 Days  FEBRUARY
10 TUESDAY  Wednesday 41-324
 I wake up weary in the extreme.
Perhaps I am drinking too much
coffee. Bought some shark flesh
for 1R.  Saw a colony of birds about the
size of a dove, brown feathered with white
heads. Reminded me of [[Tasmanians?]] . Did

some P.T. again and did not feel any
ill effects. Hesse killed a snake
in our passageway last night.
Hesse is very wrathful about a
poem against the Dutch written
by an A.1.F. Lieut at Batavia. I found
some purple flannel flowers to place
before the photo of my family.  A tiger
was seen at the other 35 camp. If
rumours of success in R. SWP and NWA  are

true then another year may see us out

of this mess.
 

 

FEBRUARY  2nd Month— 1942
11 WEDNESDAY Thursday  42-323

A Nip holiday. The anniversary of the
beginning of this era 2603. Started 
to read " Richard Carvel"  by Winston
Churchill - a story of the American

war of Independence. Watched a 

Baseball match played by the yanks.
9 or 10 men to a side, 3 bases, pitcher, Catcher

and 3-4 fields. 3 strikes out, 4 no balls and

striker takes one base. Complete run counts

1 . 3 out and sides change. 9 innings each.

strikers in rotation.  Foul ball is one

outside 1st and 3rd bases. Ball caught 

on full is out. Lieut Hamilton Lamb

is along at next camp with Pioneers.

He wrote the poem against the Dutch.

Rex & I were beaten at bridge by

Workman & Hesse. Most Asiatics do

not grow hair up their face or body.

 

1942—28 Days  FEBRUARY

12 THURSDAY Friday 43-322

And so the  year rolls
on. I enjoy writing up this diary

every morning as I think of it as my 

letter to my dear wife, and can

visualise reading it page by page to 

her in the comfort and seclusion of

our own home. When I sing the old

songs we used to enjoy together I

feel that Nancy is near, that I am 

singing them to her and will soon

really do so. I picture myself

making love to her as I did when 

we first met, by songs which seem

to express my feelings so much

better than mere words.

Yesterday and today I feel much better,

the flu is leaving me. I am not so

tired and my tongue is not sore. 

FEBRUARY   2nd Month— 1942
13 FRIDAY Saturday  44-321

Out with WP to Job. No 7. Another day
should see the end of this work.
Yarned last night with 2/29 men at

their fires. Yarned to Lieut Davis, Sig

Off of 2/40 Bn captured in Timor.

No 2 Independent Aust Coy about 250 strong

landed in Portuguese Timor at Dili on

occupied capital thereby infringing neautrality.

They took to the hills with some Dutch

troop in all 750, when Japs shelled

Dili from the sea & landed troops.

They are still fighting in the hills 

supplied from the air. The Timor

Tigers. 2/40 stood in defence of Koepang 

harbour and the aerodrome a few miles

inland, supported by 350 Dutch and

2 [[Fockers?]] guns - Leggett in command.

Japs landed 25000 tps about 25 miles

 

1942-28 Days      FEBRUARY

14 SATURDAY Sunday- 45-320

south and some

800 paratroops beyond the aerodrome

the latter a little later on the same

day, 20 Feb. The mobile coy ordered

to intercept the beach landing were 

stopped and sent back to meet the

paratroop + 250 from the ships. All

but 75 Nips were killed. The Dutch

got lost and disbanded. 2/40 fought

for 3 days beyond the aerodrome

and capitulated.

Out with WP again. Sundays

mean nothing here. Capt Mull

and 2 others escaped 2 days ago. May

God send them safely through.

Moulemein was  bombed 3 days

ago. Kept on the job until 8 .10.

Finished "Richard Carvel" - a splendid

story.

FEBRUARY 2nd Month - 1942

15 SUNDAY Monday 46-319

A holiday . Recieved pay but after

paying all debts I have only R3.20

left. A yank had to run the gauntlet

for being drunk last night - a Jap

instruction. I am now feeling very

well and of course more reconciled

to the life. I hope now that this

war will be ended  by next Christmas.

A race meeting was held in the afternoon,

Bamboo course, a barrier, judges

box, hurdles, wooden horses with heads

tails & 4 legs, jockey caps & jackets,  tote

with [[puttee?]] indicators , bookies, coffee

stall, a governors [[fund?]] with wives and

a naval aid, bamboo field glasses,

a lance and wire chariot, litter and

wheel barrow taxi service, the band,

a boxing booth between races, ( cont)
 

1942-28 Days   FEBRUARY
 16 MONDAY  Tuesday 47-318
" Ladies Toilet" " Gents 

Toilet" , ladies, " just women", clerk

of course, 3 stewards including myself, 

weighing machine (height) etc. Japs

provided shorts and shirts - dutch

native uniforms - for the needy.

A day in camp and back to the

old routine. Every morning 20 or so oxen

waggons go E laden with rice bag right

out to the yoke. They pass just after

daylight and several supply elephants.

horses & yaks.  Yarned with the Dutch

and Fitzsimmons about the efficiency 

and capabilities of native [[?]]. Burmese

now pick up tools from our camp 

daily. Japs are tightening up everywhere

[[tenkos?]] for workers back in camp, [[warnings?]]

visits by sentries
 

FEBRUARY   2nd Month— 1942
17 TUESDAY Wednesday  48-317
Clothing issued is very small. Lovell

6'4" is really comical. Half our hut

was stripped off ataph and I am left 

outside. The end wall and eves afford

me protection from the sun and as

there has been no rain for months

I should be comfortable. Heard joke 

about the 2 clergymen who happened

 to meet at breakfast the morning after

their first night of married life - "

Delightful Spot" " Yes but so cunningly

concealed " Started to read " These days

of travail" by PRIOR(?) - a story of

German domination of Austria, [Tirol[?]]

and the Jews. Stung by a bee on the

arm. My clothes and footwear are

in a deplorable condition - ragged and

stained the colour of mud from lack of soap.
 

1942-28 Days  FEBRUARY
I8 WEDNESDAY Thursday 49-316
The bush fire about 2 kilos north 

is a very brilliant sight at night. It 

is steadily burning its way in this

direction. Increased my exercises to 100

times the easier movements, 20 times the 

harder ones and 200 for the arms bind

and stretch . Rumours are rife that Rostov

& Kharkov have fallen to the Russians and

that they are now recovering lands lost

the year before last. The threat to Aust

does not appear to have come to

anything and I am greatly relieved.

Rex is not yet well and looks thin

and pale. Heard from Fitzsimmons 

that Adrian Knowles was lacking in 

guts to deal with the japs as [[interpreter?]]

Played bridge with Graham, [[?]]

& Trevellyn.