Account of escape by Norman Patrick Higham - Part 2

9 
We slept on the island under the palm

trees & everything was so quiet & peaceful with xxx that it

sounded strange not hearing bombs falls & shells

exploding & the natter of machine guns in fact

I couldn't sleep at all that night but later on

eventually became use to the quietness.

Tuesday 17^.  Dawn came & we breakfasted on

once again 2 biscuits & 2 sausages as we had to go very

easy on the food, because we didn't know just where

we would eventually xx end up so it was 2 meals

a day with the exception of a landing & picking up

some extra food. By this time our fuel was

beginning to run short & this was our biggest worry

& worry it was indeed for where were we to get

petrol the natives had none but told us they had

some kerosine & seeing that the engine was convertible 

from petrol to kerosine we gladly bought it. 

The natives told us (in their own language) that they could possible get
us some more petrol from another island so Sid

Cashman & myself went for a canoe ride for several

miles to another island. When we arrived they said

that they had not had any stores from Singapore for

some time & couldn't understand why, so we then

informed them of what had happened & I have never 

witness such a sad scene they all huddled together
talking as though some great disaster had befallen 

them

1 Tin Kerosine & 2 Gallon Petrol

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11 

Well once again the planes passed overheard

this time in larger formations as we all thought to

bomb Somatra or Java, at that time we didnt care

what they intended bombing as long as they left us alone.

We eventually got under way & sighted a small craft

with several natives in, who were fishing so we made

after them. We spent almost a couple of hours trying 

to talk with them and find out what direction the

island of 'Morro' lay & offered them 40 Dollars approx £6

to guide us to the island which they eventually did.

We eventually reached our destination approx 6:30

& tied up at the wharf where just about all the

village turned out to meet us & one chap in particular

was very nasty & told us to be on our way because 

if the Japs saw any soldiers on the island they would

be bombed but we were just in the humour for this

kind of talk & told him just where to get off.

The head boy of the village came down & asked

for the skipper & handed him a book in which was

written instructions. It was the first that we had

heard off & later found out that a Captain had

left Singapore before Capitulation & had forseen

just what was going to take place & had made

arrangements at various points for food & petrol

to be supplied if necessary (Petrol was never found)

& food we had enough left so we didnt bother

to take any leaving it for the more unfortunate.

(Read instructions from letter)

12 

As it was getting late we decided to stay

on board & once again had a very small meal of

biscuits & for a change bully beef. 

Thursday 19^th  We left the island and once again

headed for the open sea which would we hoped

bring us to Sumatra. This was the fourth day out

& we were all getting on one anothers nerves some 

times. it was so bad I thought that it would

bring on a fight but the skipper managed to

handle things very efficiently. One chap (the cook) every

now and again started a fight but this was caused

through Malaria & when not fighting used to

jump over board & on a couple of times [[?]]

the rest of us because the seas were very rough

but managed to pull him back on board.

Wxxxxx In the distance we saw

the coast line of Sumatra & we were happy we

all thought that that was the end of our troubles

but it wasnt - they had only just begun. We eventually

marked the coast approx 12-30 & called at the

village of Sainjie (Sonju) where we went in search

of the head boy. We found to our delight that we 

could purchase kerosine & food to carry us through. 

It was a funny kind of village built of out of

the water funny looking shops but we were able to

buy biscuits & hot coffee which we were badly in

need of. In fact they even had a billiard table in

one of those huts. As we had not shaved for some

time several of us asked for a shave & haircut.

Back of envelope

R.A.A.F. Station

426063

LAC.DILLON H.N.

Group NG 71

C/O AFPO 71

Townsville

3/10/42

Dear Chickaboo

I have been told that you

are not getting any chocies now - 

never mind when I come home again I

will bring plenty big big chocies, but

don't eat too many mulberries or you will be ill. 

So Sandy has a new baby

brother. Is he a nice baby? Does 

Mummy read you stories from your books?

Did you get the box of 

strawberries that I had sent from Brisbane?

Were they nice? Would you like some

more?

Don't forget to say your

prayers at night when you go to bidey boo.

Here is a Dollar Bill as a curio.

Night night Chickaboo

Dad

14 

ad 'ant next port of call they had been picked

up by another boat & put safely ashore. Some had

to be carried on stretchers others had to be helped

and many we left in hospitals, Their clothing was

torn & dirty. bagging was used for shoes & they

looked as though they had not eaten for some time. 

but the people were excellent & they gave us everything

we wanted in the way of food & water. These delays

followed us all the way but it just work out

nicely in the end.)

After finding that we were lost

we decided to camp the night on the river & it often

reminds me of the rivers I had seen in the pictures

of S Africa & the mosquitos were terrible & as

we were unable to land we slept or I should have

said stayed on board. Sleep being out of the question

& last but not least the main bearing was

running hot & decided to seize & it made us

all wonder if this would mean the end of our

adventure. 

Friday 20^th Next morning Mr King had a look

at the engine & found that the metal had

welded itself together so he decided to undo the

stays & let the whole thing revolve round this

did the trick and we breakfasted on board not

stopping, just another couple of biscuits & Bully Beef.

We eventually reached the small river and turned

into it, well of all the sinister looking places I have

ever seen this beat the lot one expected a large

python to drop down from above or a cralligator

to come snapping up at us. We had to almost

Sketch - see original document

Birthday Greetings

3

BY AIR MAIL

PAR AVION

ON ACTIVE SERVICE

Sketch - see original document

Miss J.D. Dillon

Cnr George & Arthur Sts

Roma QLD

[*R.A.A.F. CENSOR

[[?]]

675*]

16 

our masters. We bought some more hot coffee

& found some petrol in some of the boats which

had been abandoned & off we went again.

The trip up to the next stop was uneventful
& pulled in alongside a large ship about 3000 Ton

but we were old that It was at this stop we saw those

poor misfortunate people women included who had been

maroon on the island. We were told that we could embark

on this ship & go the rest of the way which was approx

another 60 miles, but once again Mr King decided to 

stick to our own little boat. The Skipper decided 

that we would only stay for a snack & then to be off

for the last & final stage of our boat trip. This part

of our trip was very monotonous & 60 miles was a long

way to go the sun was extremely hot & to sit & steer

for hours on end was certainly a discomfort.  We made

camp approx 6 oclock but stayed once again on board

to sleep.

Sunday 22  We left next morning approx at 8 oclock

after having a hasty meal & after approx 6 hours travel (as

the boat was only doing approx about 6 knots) we finally

reached our destination. As each party arrived

they were give in turn a number & as the number was

called out so they enbussed for the first stage

of our overland trip. The We spent the rest of Sunday

wandering around the village & I slept stayed the

night on board boat along with a couple of other

chaps but sleep was out of the question the heat

was intense & the mosquitos were terrific in fact

it was impossible to keep them off no matter what we