Diary Major John Kevin Lloyd - 1942-1945 - Part 11

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2022.6.45
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

ar t Pryde and Month-II2 Well te ternded before 190 44 Ibe that D THURSDAT S-315th but little clothing yo the 2n weo the upper sodyto are & fable with flock of my ceek aned fe Rah thue9 1942—28 Days ir FEERUARY 20 FRIDAY, 5I-314 aight 18 the care of herhis hard that we an to get at 10 daysit the fre camp the derrs on top of the back of the camp was a ante right yound to Ne030/2/29 bu. r a up of coffee. I waid that heantie is in this ara lgt thton drbrndemeber veery vany on the Teaham platfurn and saw shu h up the hi Ie at him so athark her atution
2nd Month— 1942 FFEERUARY 2I SATURDAY 52-313 thart receve there days of tee ditment against the Parist and the Catholae Jah suring with up the anti genr h tst hachnever and Werkinan discribed te all the Butch Office upon to wion Japes 2ote ther a hug th FEERUARY 1942-28 Days 26331 Out with N8 to job No 11 hom in ene can see the work for about imil s abut with its 0W nate lephe and paps and the whole wyth in cuttg co nt on bulge Roch from the blashing in the nest euthing fill dengerancly care to same of us attended the confirmshhos hesar bather and eating dru a bet of tranbly with wal feelish mea and an officer and light salious Thene awful mess in there athlig. This wile is het How Flong for my family again m tee natibab
FEBRUARY 2nd Month— 1842 2d 23 MONDAT 54-3II a lovied ann Day I hap 1h vie just to al aber Williams sheeving at tave thoughtithat he ghld o(11 Her declard sarg of was he funt th f FEERUARY 1942—28 Days EESDA30 to campstatin Hille upon that h 14 acting a Buss A2 bad taken offe4 story Jat of the
FEERUARY 2nd Month—1942 2h 25 WEDNESDAY 56-309 aty bods chsr despai I ar thumker the your they Went thgothe hie a4 Attend i the even Wro sible to wash dot thank soap th clian wrecked in the rags no as to cover sor from the plys I am extremely thy to be fir from enfeeted cuts. A nayon whe heaf crt FEBRUARY 1942-28 Days day itfulCS 5308 with to they to b bo I sh the sill iall. Lightine np dirciplor beearrs Magatoris show ife Home Vol4, A3, ane Loleys Viehi Vichi supplie enetly old have t and ahoule get sae backcapies after the war. They are purhd n English. Had a delightful with Atyes, Calles over to fap quarter for inburn by. M.P. Rope concining Williams. Young to WanaHerty Hilsl ht
FEERUARY 2nd Month— 1942 27 ERIDAY 38.-307 Now studying bly Culberr Book on cartiail bridge what a copy back in Anshalias lave Pow accidentally set the your at the back of our camp f mst of the hime It burs oar a pretty preture. Whi ght to the top of to 29th men about the Hil thinks that by e that he m wber ybellow on thei abole the gt fie FEERUARY 1942-28 Days 28 SATURDAY 59-306 WP fy feat app B the bush adi the bp Hlanti heason Clectries the a we Had to do he est that hud f.M St by cire i futa
MARCHNT 3rd Month— 1942 L. March SUNDAE O.-305 y a dayt thee axt ably day hime. unther haw drapt spital but doppe ith wien deoppel ther the coart mn the brrts. The Japs the pe a daylight dopt aga Jof hi 1942-31 Days MARCH 2 MONDAY 61-304 holdiers still dike bilts pe the hospital Williams, the Lyt ascapd with will and the lat w was caught teading have bee As tar of imnt and t abou by the paps. Thrs is an any change of policy! appaiently inti are being observed My sapt DH. Bens be able to at to 1 are the young C0N from base 15 R each ov re 649 A little to being at man
MARCH 15 3rd Month— 1942 STUESDATTO-303 29 inari ight at the hrr y couithed 1942-31 Days MARCH 30 but again with w ar a Churte fap mae. Very difficuet wart for the min as they are andednto ob. Went for a spoll up the Aby. Laulrey m here is very antly fo bridges another 150 men sent off to hospe the same as yesterday. Wrther h in visiting us for 2 days Runn of a turfie does of 22 ship by the was Now Bralam and of further ofensin along the noholes Kusnar fient Berlim was hearty bamber. rybody eaha. The ship intut wee sunk wan amnhurst wer snt by naval action Even Turina is ou was again An chuilst. steaws
3rd Month—1942 MARCH S O to day Ht a Mararrd Holy Co infleou at that I offens them up for hany and our dear onrs. I wish vare ould s the sitting. draw is celebab some olstumbe for an octor, in unddle of a dusty pavde grnd. the sgle gust at the bark is deson ih the drest from the road. all his athure ane some igual and wabh from io away. a mathan. the a Dubl offren da the and t bad br Tansag 41 i affe 1942—31 Days MARCH E B mas the ptale dart Theatindan was goods lalier, hat. banngand I sit R to hav for tebnes for 2129 kn. men and gaving tp each to in hese an camps uea him shils last toight becar he sendies attemptie to arrea can who was dinach bbut who slipper through there fingers aas adetfie labe but ba punished. The Basher (a Jap hurb as responsible for mast of our thoubles Assan again to been by Tathn Souith. I have another ath diarrhoca; and have teapp all wak for the day
3rd Month-1942 MARCH 7 SATURDAT 66-299 dars H.C. again at 0770hro. Warrch, Deepings ot the dowr the sor whe hu5 yarolwo ren y hown and slilter a afe who be bill h isband, I feel guiter will again Mrany small lais loads of naturs went out along the road; I heard tthey are conrcupts tabo from Moulinein. Wod has cam from Bari of a further borln with ar any disvarce yesterday but it pours foafo to s alibict 1942-31 Days MARCH tona S SENDAT 67-298 therative are blasting just near the camp. Marry wornen and children work among the men. I obtained same yeast and will bup it going Did alsety laps of the pool today without effortMy darly 8 must be doing my a lst of good Warr 1.25 at bridge yesterday and 55 today. We obsarved a yesterday ane al what was left a today, The Burnre work any all these children Den in to the job with thes they play about all day they are lovely to wath just th ed over. Or the wo funishingth 4 i
3rd Month—1942 MARCH 9MONDAY 68-297 only 219 wm stippd out for work today gaps demanded another 150 and got 56 Capt Invill the returnd from his bour ps. It would appar that Pow are being granfut with this ymen wan art on pool Majon O.B laps of t. 5 we ispeshat an to give a 24 n pateh ned is patched up a the Johes Wick 1942 1842-31 Days MARCH 10 well is bout all hold to their m foud to she the plys cd. Ric wd som and which Starbed Duperys Bs of the wa Woods. The setting and plat so forciably of feffer Fair orks, Dubh Bust arro today a Capesian. He wis aby ang Ser erful. Father adme. Yourd with him his Dubh bonfrers until bsh

£5 bet with Bryde that the German

will be finished before 19 February 44.

FEBRUARY                           2nd Month - 1942

 

                      Friday

                 19 THURSDAY 50-315

I bel that                                           they will be.

Put Hessi in his place last night

concerning his poor opinion of the Br.

and Aust. Burmans have very little

clothing or property. Their clothing

usually consist of 2 sarongs - the 2nd

one being used as the upper body cover,

a blanket and for head wear. There are

some women among their workers.

Had an attack of diarrhoea with

some pains. Disturbed a flock of

wild fowl yesterday near my creek.

Dutch from 30 kilo camp and Aust

from 35 kilo camp called yesterday

to collect their share of the water.

They were thirsty for any news we

may have.  Rats are very active

around their quarters.

 

 

1942-28 Days                                  FEBRUARY

                        Saturday.          

                   20 FRIDAY     51-314

Last night was very cold and our

W.P. figures are low than normal.

The call of a monkey in the jungle

on the hillside is very pleasing to

hear and takes one back to Kahang.

Word from Base has been receive

that we are to get back pay & that we

move in about 10 days to 65-85 kilo

camps.  The full moon rising through

the trees on top of the hill at the

back of the camp was a beautiful

sight.  I yarned to NCOs of 2/29 Div

over a cup of coffee.  I heard that

Frankie is in this area.  Sgt Hutton

and Osborn remember seeing Nancy on

the Graham platform and saw her

pick up the [[     ]] I threw at her

to attract her attention

 

 

FEBRUARY                          2nd Month - 1942

                               Sunday

                        21 SATURDAY 52-313

Filled in some of the blank spaces

on the walls of my summer [[    ]]

Finished "These days of [[     ]]

a powerful indictment against the

Nazis, Facists and the Catholic

Church in Germany with special

reference to the anti Jewish

program.  The Germans are extremely

brutal, dishonest, treacherous and

nasty. Workman described how he

with all the Dutch Officers

were called upon to witness the

execution of 7 Dutch who tried to

escape, & were beheaded with a sword,

1 bayoneted by 4 Japs & shot 17 times

and 3 others shot. 2 other escapees were

beheaded. 1 other had his jaw 

smashed and died.

 

1942 -28 Days                       FEBRUARY
          22^Monday SUNDAY 53-312

Out with WP to job No 11. from

here one can see the work for

about 1 mile. It is a busy scene

with the POWs, natives, elephants

and Japs and the whole length is

cutting, embankment or bridge.

Rock from the blasting in the

next cutting fell dangerously

close to some of us. I attended

the conference, [[/]] rosary before

bathing and eating dinner. Hell

a lot of trouble with meterage,

foolish men and an officer,

and light rations. The natives 

make an awful mess in their

cutting. This [[?]] [[?]]

How I long for my family again

especially when I see native babies

 

FEBRUARY                    2nd Month-1942

23 ^Tuesday MONDAY 54-311

A Soviet Anniversary Day I hope 

they smash thru the German

lines just to celebrate. Williams

who was convicted of thieving at Tavy

has disappeared. It is thought that he

went out to rob a Burman and was

killed or injured. Had supper with

Bendix and [[?]]. Weighed myself

at 68 kilograms = 150 lbs (1 pd =

453 grams). Started to read "England's

Hour) by Vere Brittain being 

experienced in England after declaration

of war and including the blitzkrieg

on London. Obtained a branch of wild

fruit the colour of orange-red from

some "flame" trees. They are very bright

 

1942 - 28 Days                     FERBRUARY

                24 TUESDAY ^Wednesday 55-310

Williams returned to camp stating

that he had been set upon by 4

Burmese whilst collecting wood and

had been robbed of Rs900 and

taken off to their village. His

story is being investigated and 5

Burmans are here now. Jap Lt Col

Nagatomo visited us with Brig

Varley and 5 other P.O.W. officers. The

Jap sentries are blitzing us again

for all sorts of reasons. men late 

on pde who were working late

were slapped, men cannot pass the 

sentry incorrectly dressed or smoking,

men must stand up to every Jap

soldier, etc. I have now only Rs1.40

and find it hard to watch some

of the others frying eggs & tomatoes.

 

FEBRUARY                 2nd Month-1942

         25 WEDNESDAY ^Thursday 56-309

A holiday today and the Padre is

conducting his usual ch service.

I am trying not to despair

altogether by praying and thinking

of the great joy which will be

mine when I have my wife and 

family once again. How the young

ones must be changing daily an

will I know them and they me.

Went down the creek with 9 other

officers and had a swim. Attended

the usual concert in the evening.

It is impossible to wash clothes

clean without soap. This is most

marked in the rags which men

use to cover sores from the flys.

I am extremely lucky to be free from

infected cuts. A razor like leaf cut

 

1942 - 28 Days                    FEBRUARY

             26 THURSDAY ^Friday 57-308

 

my hand the other day without any ill

effect. The CO has gone 

to Thanbuzayat with Williams who

has turned out to be a Catholic.

I should have £700 owing to me by

the army by 31 July next. I wonder

will I get it all. Japs have definitely

tightened up disciplinary measures

because we made such a poor

showing before Nagatomo "Japan

Times & Advertiser", "Home Life"

Vol 4 No 3, and "Tokyo Nichi Nichi"

have been supplied - 5 months old -

and I should get some back copies 

after the war. They are printed in

English. Had a delightful swim

with Atyes, Called over to Jap

quarter for interview by M.P. Cope

concerning Willimans, Yarned to

Fitzsimmons, Hikkery, Workman [[?]]

 

FEBRUARY           2nd Month -1942

     27 FRIDAY ^Saturday 58-307

Now studying Ely Culbertson "Gold

Book" on contract bridge. I must get

a copy back in Australia. Some

PO.Ws accidentally set the jungle

at the back of our camp on fire.

It burns slowly most of the time

and at night was a pretty picture.

It has burnt right to the top of 

the hill. Yarned to 29th men about

the war. The Jap thinks that by

making a lot of noise that he

impresses most. Sentries posting

each other absolutely bellow out

their commands. An animal stole

the gut out of my can over the 

fire during the night. How time

drags on wearily - only we can

realise the monotony.

 

1942 - 28 Days                   FEBRUARY
           28 SATURDAY ^Sunday 59-306

W.P. figures are well down. A 

few clouds about may bring rain.

Yesterday some strange planes

appeared overhead. They could be our

own, quiet easily. Had two swims

and no P.T. This pool is proving to

be a pleasant diversion. The fire

on the hills are almost burnt

out now. Arranged with Cpl

Clark to receive some lessons in

electricity and wireless daily.

The natives are now working

alongside the camp on an embankment.

Had a sleep and felt awful

afterwards I prefer to do P.T. after

lunch because at that time of the

day one does certainly feel sleepy

 

MARCH                     3rd Month- 1942

            1 March SUNDAY ^Monday 60-305

Still extremely dry. A dry season

here means a madly dry time.

There has been no decent shower

since we came here. Rumours of

trouble with the Siamese at the

other end of this railway are rife.

Last night several of our planes were over

Thanbuzoyat. One plane circled the depot

for an hour, dropped flares near the

hospital but dropped its bombs up 

north between 1-3 kilos. The remainder

dropped their bomb loads in 3 lots

on the coast somewhere and shook 

the hits. The Japs give no opposition.

The previous day our planes conducted

a daylight raid coming over us first

and then dropping the bombs on the

coast again. Many Jap sailors &

 

1942 - 31 Days                         MARCH

             2 MONDAY ^Tuesday 61-304

(cont)

soldiers still wearing life belts passed 

the hospital. Williams, the Sgt who

escaped with Mull and the Sgt who

was caught trading have been sentenced

to terms of imprisonment and hard 

labour by the Japs. This is an amazing 

change of policy. Apparently internal 

[[?]] conventions are being observed.

I am now learning the names of a

few stars from Capt D.H. Bernards's 

chart. I want to be able to point 

them out to Nancy and the young

ones. CO returned from base

and brought 45Rs each of our

back pay. Gave %Ps to Knight

There is very little to but at

present, oil and beans,

 

 MARCH                     3rd Month-1942

             3 TUESDSY 62-303    

Out with W.P. One man buried 

under fall of earth and had 

two ribs broken. Sgt Dukmiss

who attempted to escape with

Mull was shot yesterday. This 

means that there is no change

of policy as we had thought.

C.O. has introduced a little

more discipline into parades

My initial school which he dropped

when he came. I did not reach

camp until after 8. Man who

came in with last party of 50

was pulled out of load for a 

[[?]] at 11 o'clock because 

they were 3 might at the [[?]]

All bags collected.

 

1942 - 31 Days             MARCH

     4 WEDNESDAY Thursday 63-302

Out again with WP and a [[?]]

Jap Guard. Very difficult work for

the men as they are crowded on to a

small job. Went for a stroll up the

gully. Railway all along here is very

costly in labour and timber for bridges.

Another 150 men sent off to hospital

the same as yesterday. Father Smith

is visiting us for 2 days. Rumours 

of a terrific loss of 22 ships by the

Japs near New Britian and of further 

offensives along the whole Russian

front. Berlin was heavily bombed 

Everybody is elated. The ships which

were sunk near Amehurst were sunk

by naval action. Even Tunisia is

giving our war again. Am I clutch

straws

 

MARCH                          3rd Month-1942

           5 THURSDAY Friday 64-301

Holiday  today

Confession, Mass and Holy Comm

at last. I offered them up for Nancy

and our dear ones. I wish Nancy

could see the setting. Mass is celebrated

on some old timber for an altar, in

the middle of a duty parade ground.

The jungle just at the back is discoloured

with the dust from the road. All

nationalities attend and some

Burman squat and watch from

the road 20 yds away. A Maltion

service. Mass and a Dutch officer

translate an announcement. The wine

is served in a meridian bottle and the

bell is part of a bicycle bell. I had

some excellent PT and a glorious swim,

It looks as if Field Officers will go off

to Japan soon.

 

1942 -31 Days                        MARCH

              6 FRIDAY ^Saturday 65-300

Mass & H.C. again in the pitch 

dark. The attendance was good.

Labier, Lovitt, Bonney and I sent 7

Rs to Base for tobacco for 2/29 Bn

men and gave a rupee each to 5 

men here in camp. Several [[?]]

were turned out last night because

their sentries attempted to arrest a

man who was drunk but who

slipped through their fingers. He

was identified later but has not been

punished. the Basher (a Jap Turkey) is

responsible for most of our troubles.

Rosary again taken by Father

Smith. I have another attack 

of diarrhoea and have scrapped

all work for the day.

 

MARCH                      3rd Month -1942

                7 SATURDAY Sunday 66-299

Mass and H.C. again at 0730 hrs.

I am reading Warwick Duping's 

"The Woman at the door", the story

of John Luce 45 year old who rents

a lovely tower and shelters a

neighbour's wife who has killed her

husband. I feel quite well again.

Many small bus loads of natives

went out along the road, I heard

they are conscripted labour from

Moulmein. Word has come from

Base of a further bombing within

hearing distance yesterday. It never

rains but it pours; for a fortnight

now I have lived on rations. Today

we acquired eggs, tomatoes, onions,

a tin of ilk and a rice cake. I had 

supper to celebrate and dreamt heavily

 

1942 - 31 Days                      MARCH
                8 SUNDAY Monday 67-298

The natives are blasting just near the

camp. Many women and children

work among the men. I obtained

some yeast and will keep it going.

Did sixty laps of the pool today

without effort. My daily PT

must be doing me a lot of good

Won 1.25 at bridge yesterday and 

.50 today. We obtained a tripe 

yesterday and ate what was left

over today. The Burmese working

women bring all their children

on to the job with them and

they play about all day long.

They are lovely to watch - just the 

same the world over. Our men

are finishing their daily tasks

rather early now.

 

MARCH                                  3rd Month-1942

              9 MONDAY ^Tuesday 68-297

Only 219 men stepped out for work

today. Japs demanded another 150

and got 56. Capt Trevallyan

returned from his tour of the

camps. It would appear that POWs

are being grouped with their own

countrymen. Swam another 60

laps of the pool. Major O'Brien

gave e for 5 cents a new pair

of tropical shorts and I was able

therefore to give away 2 pairs of

my most patched shorts. Had 

my shoes patched up again. I 

heard the nightingale again unexpectedly.

Read the Jap account of the 

capture of Java in the Tokeo Nichi

Nichi. May 2nd & 3rd 1942. Yarned 

with

 

1942 - 31 Days                            MARCH

    10 TUESDAY ^Wednesday 69-296

Americans and British, about 200

all told, marched out to their

new camp at 35 kilos. Their baggage

was transported by truck. I am

forced to work under my net as

otherwise the flys pester me very

much. Received some peanuts 

and 7 bananas which are very 

welcome. Started to read

Warwick Dupings " Boss of the 

Woods". The setting and plot remind

me forceably of Jeffrey Varnol's

works. Dutch Priest arrived

today. A Capusian. He wears

a brown habit, is young and

cheerful. Father VRAN^VERGEEST is

his name. Yarned with him and

his Dutch Confiers until bedtime

 

 

 

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