Diaries and documents of John Dominic Palandri - Part 3

1942
February 
1 
Slept not so well last night, mainly because of back,
Mass & Communion early, slept most of morning, since
lying down is most comfortable position. Hope to meet
most of French M.Os later, and, if I can manage it, will
look around wards.
Spent rest of day doing. S.F.A., slept a lot
and felt sorry for myself and my back,
otherwise nothing.
Bed reasonably early
Met a new French M.O. (regular) who
speaks Italian - captured in Syria by Aussies
whose main job appears to have been to protect
them from De Gaullists -  sent back to France
and then on here to relieve an older man.
February
2
Did not sleep particularly well last night - woke
up with a bladderful in the wee sma' hours
and nearly had a most embarrassing accident
as the room was in complete darkness and I
couldn't find the damned door. In desperation
I had to resort to the wash-basin. Confessed to
the lads in the morning and the laugh was
on me.
Chased the Stabsarzt around the medical
wards with Allan (he & I have been put on
Station 1 (med)) and that was the whole of my
work for the day. Weston is to be O.C. hospital
and is also on Station 1, and I'm trying hard to
be put on anaesthetics, as at present they're being given
by a French officer-cadet, all chlos!! Walked in the
quadrangle with Owen at 5 p.m. and had a
wonderful 1½ hrs, with a German guard – will remember
my introduction to Berlin. Played Bridge with two
French officers in the evening, Weston and I, and had
a pleasant time
Had infra-red & ultraviolet to my back this
morning and it feels a lot better already.

February
3
Spent time in theatre this morning watching Fosy
and French surgeon do a couple of jobs assisted by
very pleasant German theatre poster - Continental
system of anaesthesia, strapping down of legs and
tying down of wrists made me gasp a bit. Went
on then to room corresponding to O.P. or M.I. room
which Allan and I will eventually run and
saw them work for a bit - will have to be a
linguist to hold down this job, a working-knowledge
at least of French and German.
Slept in afternoon and played bridge again
at night, after which I asked the French surgeon
to arrange for me to give anaesthetics. He's to see
the Oberarzt about it
Chefarzt popped his head into Fosy and Stoker's
room to-day, where we mess, and told us that our
new room should be ready for occupation to-morrow.
February
4
Were awakened late to-day and so just missed the
first op. this morning, but saw the second, appendicectomy
by Frenchman – at first incision the only thing that saved
the whole caboose was the strap on the patient's legs, otherwise
he'd have kicked over the whole caboose – objected quite
a bit vocally, too, but the show went on just the same.
Found out afterwards that the oberarzt vetoed my offer
of anaesthetics, said that as there was now an extra
English surgeon, he could give the dopes. Means I
stick to the medical side, blast it. To-day started
in on taking history of three Russian cases, all
"war oedemas", malnutrition gross, per medium of a
Serbian officer who speaks Italian & Russian. This
place takes about 400 cases, about 150 of whom are
oscillating the piombo. This is so because of Gauls
consider it is O.K., but many others in Stalags are
probably waiting to come in and something will soon
have to be done about it. These men, according to
Stabzarzt, suffer from thyreotoxicosis also, which is O.K.
according to them, suits them down to the ground, they
like it.
Mess-meeting to-night, decided to leave two beds in
mess-room to discourage any possible attempt to take it
from us, the four of us to go to new room.
Frenchmen (officers) had their weekly walk to-day, said
to enjoy it for more reasons than one. 

February
5
Rather unusual working in this hospital – Patients
are French, British, Russian, Serb, speaking French,
English, Arab, Cypriot, Russian, various Slavonic
tongues, and German. Numbers are in order mentioned
with French easily predominating. I have charge of
a few Russians and speak to them through a Serbian
officer who knows Italian. Their unofficial O.C. is a
young private from the Russian Tanks who speaks German
and keeps them in pretty good order.
This hospital is half of what was a big school, of
four floors and a basement - basement contains cellars,
boiler, carpenter-shop, mortuary; Ground floor the German
offices, kitchens, etc., 1^st floor Station 1 (med) in
charge of Allan & some French M.Os, O.P. (French officers)
2^nd floor Station 2 (surg) Fosbrook and French surgeon
with a few of my Russian medicals stuck in there, the
linen-room, used as theatre for weekly movies being
on 1^st floor as is the eye-department under French M.O..
2^nd floor, too has movie theatre, and lab and minor
theatre next one another. 3^rd floor contains V.D.
& skins, and infections block (Stat. 1A), and there
most of my Russians are. Two other British M.Os' and
our new rooms are on 3^rd floor, our present rooms &
French quarters being on 1^st floor. All swabs, smears
blood-sugars etc., X-Rays are done outside, lab. here
being able to cope with simple stuff. Maj. Weston is in
charge, but, with mixed staff, position at present is
rather unsettled.
February
6
Visited to-day by The Mackay, Maj. Mackay,
late 2nd Cameronians, who is the only male-issue
of his family in Scotland this generation. All others,
strangely enough, are in N.Z., where they are known to
Owen Hetherington, Approached the Chefarzt to-day re
a walk this afternoon, but apparently arrangements
should have been made yesterday. He was very decent
about it and mentioned my desire to give anaesthetics,
and thought that he might do something about it.
No sign of my tin box yet, bit of a bugger as it
contains chocolate, cigarettes, rations, steth., prayer books,
collar, pyjamas, dressing-gown, sand-shoes, bridge
notes, and quite a lot of small things which I
miss a lot. I'm losing hope of ever finding it.
No letters since we left VIII B, of course, and I'm
developing quite an itch for some. By all accounts there
was a terrific stack of letters when we left, and as they'll take
a considerable time to sort, I'll not be expecting my issue
for some weeks yet. When we left, however W.O. Sherriff
promised to notify Geneva of our change of address, so
that later mail should not be delayed.
Quite comfortable here – Red + parcels and better rations
than at Lansdorf, better housed, warm & dry, hot baths and
lib.. Light snow most days, and weather grey & dull.
Days & nights uneventful.
First French lesson to-day from Dr Vanderbecq. 

February
7
Nothing much doing to-day - had our walk
this afternoon, Fosy, Allan, Davies and I. Feature of
life in streets is marked quiet for a big city, few
pedestrians, practically no cars, a few Jews remaining
yellow 6-pointed star and "Jude" on the left breast,
and great number of kiddies playing about in the
snow on their little sleds - John and Mark would
love it. Very little to be seen in shop windows.
To-night was shown the second half of the 1936
Olympic Games film, quite good, ending with the
caption - "And so the youth of the world will meet
again in 1940 in Tokyo"!!
[*8*]
February
8
Padre was to call me for early Mass this morning
but as he failed to turn up I went to the 10.30
Missa Cantata, where most of the congregation was French
and it was quite an experience to hear them all singing
Our batman, Crane, played the piano, but I do not know
whether he is a Catholic or not. Spent quite a lot of time
this afternoon writing letters, two to Glad, one to Mum & Dad
one to Boxshalls, one to Des Doyle, cards to Ines, Tom Meagher,
Geneva re change of address
Am reading "Imperial Palace" by Arnold Bennett
at present and find it most in interesting. This evening
after the French officers' walk in the afternoon, we had a
customary visit from Lt Vanderbecq, who is a most interesting
young chap to speak to in his broken English – concerned
mainly morals in general, the pros & cons of prostitution
& the morals of French in particular. His views are very
refreshing to say the least of it, and his stories of
happenings to them since capture extremely illuminating. 

February
9
Eventless day - slept in till very late, had lunch,
saw my patients in afternoon and then read for
quite a while. Shifted up into our new quarters which
have a floor-space slightly less than that of our old
room, and settled in. The four of us are to sleep here
all of us are to mess here, leaving small room for
Fosy and Stoker to sleep in.
February
10
Slept in again, and, as luck would have it,
Chefarzt came in, when I was shaving in pyjama
pants, to have a look around the rooms. He made
no comment, but came back almost immediately to say
that I should start giving anaesthetics as from to-morrow.
I wonder whether the site of me reminded him of the
subject, or whether it was a pointed indication that
he does not approve of idleness at 10 a.m.? No matter
I get my point.
Had first meal in new quarters this aftenoon
complete with table, chairs, stools, and new crockery.
French lesson this evening from Vanderbecq, who is,
I learn, not a lieutenant, but a medicin auxilier,
i.e., not a commissioned rank, but carrying work.
and priviliges of commission without its pay - he
says this system in the French army is particularly
rough on men without independent means, as they
have to live up to officer standards without adequate
means to do it. 

February
11
Couple of chlo, anaesthetics this morning, both
went well though one later developed a fair dose
of conjunctivitis. Rest of the day more or less uneventful.
great discussions amongst us during the day on all
sorts of questions - the Irish question, the question
of education of Catholic children with remission of
education tax. Very interesting, discuss any subject to
pass away the time.
News that Singapore has fallen, bit of a jolt, made
me think a lot of Glad & kids – hell how I wish I
were there, should be doing a job of work at home or
near it. Not right to be here.
February
12
Gave an anaesthetic this morning for the Oberarzt -
he was half an hour late, and then, because the
induction was not complete when he was ready to
start he became a little uppish, gave a lot of orders
as to how I should carry on, and generally behaved
as though he had left his old-school-tie at home.
Most unpleasant. To make it worse, the patient, though
lightly anaesthetised, refused to breathe for quite a long
time and looked very much like passing out. I
definitely do not like chlo.
Had our walk this afternoon, and enjoyed it
thoroughly, spent a few hours in a rubbedy, guard
oke, all for getting us flossies and all the trimmings
but we, that is Stoker, dissuaded him. Hooch pretty
innocuous, eight noggins not enough to raise a spark,
but excellent afternoon as a break from our normal
routine.
Latest news is that only town of Singapore has been
taken, not the fortifications, so I think I'll sleep better
to-night. 

February
13
Nothing to report except that I used ether for the
first time and felt much happier for it.
Nine new Russian medical patients in to-day - some
job fixing them up.
New Stabsarzt going about the place to-day, previous
one gone to another hospital.
February
14
Ether again, shall certainly stick to it while it lasts
shall stick to chlo induction, however, until a drop-dip is
available, since my one attempt to induce with ethyl-chlo
to-day without the special spring-top to the tube was not
a happy one.
Nine Russians still cluttering up the passage as no
beds are available in the rooms.
Very interesting French lesson from Vanderbecq this evening
after which I went to Confession with the French padre.
Am trying to work out some means of fitting up a
cream-can apparatus for semi-closed ether-anaesthesia 

[*3*]
February
15
Up at 7.30, Mass & Communion at 8, a spot of
breakfast, then back to bed, where I slept until
lunch. Pottered about in afternoon, saw to my
Russians, most of whom amongst new ones are running
fairly stiff temps.. Bath at night, then wrote to
Glad, to TONDS EUROPÉEN DE SECOURS AUX ÉTUDIANTS,
13 RUE CALVIN, GENEVA, SUISSE re Spalteholz, Bing,
German & French grammars & German, French, & Italian
dictionaries, and to the Commandant of VIII B re my
tin box and to ask him to relay to Capt. Butram a
request to forward me a copy of John Hulton's bridge-notes.
No hunting for Vanderbecq to-day - anniversary of his
engagement.
February
16
Usual stuff to-day - anaesthetics in a.m., Russkis in
afternoon, and an emergency-dope in evening for a
Frenchman with a belly-ful of pus and a perforated
gangrenous appendix - he'll probably die.
Feeling horribly blue all day, worst in evening
thinking of Singapore which has almost certainly
fallen, and of its effects at home – It's awful being
so far away, in our circumstances, and being unable
to lend a hand to help our own folk. Hope
Glad and the kids and the families will continue
permanently safe & sound. 

February
17
Gave two dopes this morning, chlo induction, ether
follow-up and they were, respectively the second-worst
and worst I've ever given. To make it really ripe, the
second was a difficult appendicectomy, who persisted
in going into spasm in the early stages, and so
remained dreadfully congested and tight almost
throughout, which left Fosy in almost as bad a sweat
as I was. Then to make the chase more binding,
the Oberarzt stalked in, failed to see my "welcoming"
nod, then kicked over the traces because I had not
curtseyed.
Checked through my Russkis again after lunch
one of them having a very dull left chest, from
which I aspirated about 250ccs of fluid – chart,
signs & symptoms appear to indicate a Tb rather
than a pneumonia. Had a few games of ping-pong
on the Frenchmen's table with Vanderbecq and
Weston, lost every one, but enjoyed them very much.
French lesson this evening - good, and altogether,
don't feel as blue as I did last night. Allan, Owen
& Stoker walked this p.m., but I didn't join in,
didn't feel up to it, and had work to do.

February
19
Usual couple of dopes this morning. During
day we were informed that our senior was to
be ready for transfer as M.O. to working-party.
Thinking of volunteering for job, as I'd do better
work there than running this show as I might
possibly have to do, being next in seniority. Owen
would be the natural pick having been a
hospital superintendent in civil life.
Two members of Swiss embassy, one a Doc,
came around to visit the place and look
into conditions here.
W
February
20
Nothing of interest much to-day except that I
tapped my Russian's chest again and withdrew
600 ccs.. He fills up so rapidly that I guess he
must be a Tb..
This evening while we were chatting Fosy gave
me a little book containing, fixed in it, about
a dozen transparent envelopes for holding snaps.
I accepted it gratefully, and put all my snaps
of Glad and the kids into it. I can carry
them around with me now quite comfortably.
Got about 120 French & Polish cigarettes
each from canteen to-day. Not bad ones.
Walked on about 6 miles around suburbs.
Received first "blurt" from a civvy, they are
quite decent all-round.