Diaries and documents of John Dominic Palandri - Part 17

November 

7

Sunday, Dec. 13, 42

A day of settling in, scrubbing of floors, cleaning of rooms,

rearrangement of their personnel, haggling for larger stoves

in M.I. Room and our bunk, arranging for shelf space in

both, and a dozen and one other details. A Cyp L/Cpl

who did not get on well with compatriots, was told by

Sgt. Mackay he would have to join them in their room

and leave his English pals. This was an old-standing 

arrangement, and not an order of "Muscles", but the

fellow complained of victimisation, threatened "Muscles" 

and refused to obey both him and the S.M.. He

shifted eventually when told to by the Gerries.

The Sanitater showed up well by turning up

with a few instruments to help us out. He did it "off 

his own bat", which is something the one at Staaken

would never have done - read James Hilton's book,

"Random Harvest", and found it excellent. 

[*1*]  Dec 14

Gave Sanitater list of names of men whose papers I need

in a hurry, and another of instruments ditto. Stanway 

went to Stalag and got a lot of bulk, an Oberstabsarzt

looked us over, could not give us a bigger M.I. Room but 

was helpful in other ways - Card from Swiss Catholic Mission

Fribourg, of Nov 26 -  "La Angina Maria, raccomanda pervero]

presto. Angura ottima salute e notizia di sui engini. Sta 

bene. Dominco prigioniero Bombay (India) Giacomo Australia

nessuna notizia. Affetuosi - Signa - Maria Adolfina, Manfrediani.

[*2*] November
8

Dec 15 - 42

To-day was distinguished by arrival of two letters, one

from Glad and one from Ines, dated 1 Sept and 12 [[?]]

Glad's was very short but good, they're all well, which

is a grand comfort. Ines's was longer but contained 

old news. Our late Kommandant visited us and

Max M.'s son is 2 yrs old - Paid R.M. 36 to-day or 

yesterday. 

Dec 16^th

David is two years old and I'll bet he's a bonny

kid, older now than Mark was when I left and most

probably speaking too. I'm missing the best years with 

Glad and the kids, all because I didn't have a chance

to run. A Stabsfeldswebel from 404 apparently 

Sanitater, came in to-day, decent old chap, who 

told me that on the breaking up of his camp after

X-Mass he'll probably come here with 9 of our Medical

personnel. Should be enough for 3-4 in the M.I. Room

and one each to the principal working parties.

Our Kommandant-elect called in this day and 

seems to be of a very good type - an Oberleutnant.

[*1*]  Dec 17^th

Note from unclaimed parcels office saying that

mine on List 18 had been sent me on 26 Aug. Must have been one

of two I received 30 Aug or 1^st Sept - though neither had

any indication of whence it came.

November 

9

Dec 18

Got up at 0555 to go with Sanitater and

Roy Walkerden to Sanitatspark to collect instruments, etc

though we did not leave till 1000 hrs. Baxter, with

injured foot came with us, so that our first stop was

Res.Laz III, Tempelhof, to have him X-Rayed. Got there

by bus, train & foot and quite enjoyed it. Hospital is a

big place, staffed mainly by nurses, of an order I've

not seen before, thence by foot & train to the

Sanitatspark. Saw a goodish bit of Berlin, and in

many places crowds of people in streets buying fir

boughs to act as Christmas-trees. At the depot they

gave me a grand spin, and everything I asked for.

All I lack now is rubber gloves, enima outfit, and

one or two other items. Our Sanitater appears to

be a good chap, very helpful, and as different from

the one at Staaken as chalk from cheese. Three
Russian girls were in the train on the way back

and a crowd of Frenchmen, and the comments of

the latter on the former were much what I might

have expected. 

Quite tired and hungry at the end of the day, got

home at 1745.

One week to Christmas.

November

10

Dec 19

Made up for yesterday's early rise by sleeping

in until 1300 hrs., enjoyed every minute of it, too.

Rest of day was quiet though, but managed to get

three shelves put up in our bunk - mine I have

filled with all my books, which it takes very nicely.

[*6*]  Dec 20 Sunday

Got three extra blankets, used two to make a

curtain between our "Kitchen-diner" and our "bed-sitting",

and the third as a table cloth in the latter. Makes the

whole place quite cosy. Bill Hurst came to-day, and

had a quick cup of tea in our bunk - trying to get

Fr. Scarborough here on Christmas Day.

Wrote two letters to Glad, cards to Mum & Dad, to Ines,

Maria and Giacomo - accumulation of two weeks, as there

was no issue last Sunday.

Get a lot of fun out of "Ludo" these days, didn't

think I'd ever return to it at my age.

Dec 21

Nothing doing to-day - batch of new battle-dress

trousers & jackets arrived from Stalag

Boys fixed up a basketball court outside

during the weekend. No 4 working party has

already stopped work for Christmas.

[*2*]  November
11

Dec 22

Was lying in this morning when the Oberstabsarzt

came and looked about - I handed him another

list of medical requirements.

Received two letters, one from Mr Troy, general news

and information that Australian Red Cross was

sending a supplementary 200 cigarettes per month

to Australian Ps.O.W. The other, from Ron, written

on 22 Nov., was very cheerful, and hinted at

good news all round - said he was making arrangements

to send the things I had asked for, and wanted

to know whether cigarettes from Rothman's 

had started arriving yet. Sorry to have to tell

him they've not. - Baxter's X-Ray → fr. of Post-metatarsal

Another party has stopped work, and ten

men began clearing a stretch of ground outside

the front gate as a football pitch.

Dec 23

Stanway was at Stalag again to-day, asked

permission for Fr. Scarborough to come on X Mass day

but had no luck - told he was coming on

Sunday 27. German guard had XMass Dinner in Hall

- pork chop & potatoes.

November 

12

Dec 24^th - X.Mass Eve

Issued with Christmas Red + Parcel - to last

till Tuesday, very good.

Put a toe-to-knee plaster & walking-iron on

Baxter, then, late in afternoon had attached to us an

RAMC Sergeant and a N.Z. medical orderly, both from

404 Dabendorf. They were to have come on 28^th but were

given a ½ hrs notice after the whole of 401 Neukölln

walked in on them, about 160 in number. Others will come

to us later. Now that 401 have combined with 404

it's hardly likely that the latter will come to us, and

instead of my being joined by Capt. Annan, he is

joined by Capt. Readman.
General festivities all round to-night, bags of
local beer in barrels - would not be out of place
at a Sunday-School picnic, and, as quite a few of
the boys resemble the proverbial fiddler's bitch it
might be suspected that the rackets have followed
us from Staaken.

Small party in our room - S.M., S.M. Dobson, Sgts.

Mackay & Stanway, Jimmy Ellis, Feldwebel and I

which thanks to the F.W. was not a flop. He's well

disposed, quite helpful, and equally browned off.

In spite of a glorious dyspepsia this afternoon, I

ate well, including steak & kid. pud, smoked and drank

and to my amazement, felt better for it. Thought of Glad 

& Kids most of evening.

November

13

Dec 25^th, Friday

Christmas Day

Very cold this morning, no snow, but a white

hoar-frost and fog. Scotland beat Wales 9-2 at

football in morning, and then in afternoon, while

Ireland were doing same to England 4-1, who

should come in at the gate but Fr. Scarborough.

He was surprised at not being expected and I don't

know how the mix-up took place, but we went

across to the Hall and he commenced Confessions

while waiting for the football to end. Mass afterwards

commencing at some time after 4p.m, which, 

with Confession & Communion, just made the day

what it should have been. He came across to

bunk afterwards and had Christmas dinner with us

and left at 6 o'clock - hardly what would have 

happened at Staaken. Dance and Cabaret in

evening.

Hope this will be last X-Mass away from home.

Persuaded myself that I was giving presents to Glad &

kids by giving Feldwebel fags for his wife, and him

& Sanitater chocolates for their kids.

November

14

Dec 26^th

Christmas spirit still in the air - Scotland put

it over Ireland, 5-0, to their great delight. It was

a good game, not so one-sided as indicated, with

a lot of barracking and excitement.

Was told by the S.M. that I was to play tomorrow

for N.C.Os. against privates - It'll be some match.

Another dance & caberet tonight. For the last three 

nights the lights have been left on like the place has

been a bedlam and the Gerries must think the boys

are all mad.

[*3*]  Dec 27^th - Sunday

Mass & Communion at 10 a.m., Father Scarborough

stayed to lunch and offered to come back should I need

his attentions after the match. Nearly did too, though I

felt better after getting rid of half my lunch. The Ref

was conveniently blind throughout the match which

finished up as combination of 3-4 codes, & also a draw.

Wrote a letter to Glad this evening, and cards to

Ron and Mr. Troy - asked the latter about changes since

April 41 in our rates of pay, family allowances, deductions

for German pay, Income Tax, claims for lost kit, etc..

Was paid R.M.36

November

15

Dec 28^th

Had game of basketball, enjoyed it, and

finished up very stiff

Dec 29^th

Played basketball morning and afternoon

& followed it with a walk in company with S.M. Mackay

past through Grosbeeren after skirting 520 and so home.

Hard frost to-day.

[*1*]  Dec. 30^th

Up early to Dabendof ^404 with the dental patients for

Eric Cooper, whom I saw, together with Bill Hurst,

& Annan & Readman. 401 is doing nothing & none will

know there for 2/52 whether or not either 401 or 404 is to
come to us. S/Sgt. Johnstone of the 2/1 AFA is with Readman
there and, in any case, we may ask for a change
taking him and another for Jones & Tocker. Stanway
& party went to Stalag for costumes, etc..
Light snow.
Stanway brought note from Stalag saying I
could not have electric cooker - Lagerfuhrer had
suggested I apply for one as stove in barrack too small
to cook on
November 16
Dec 31
Slept in, nothing of interest, except
visit of Obertstabsarzt, until evening. He
looked about, talked a lot, promised a
few things, including an early beginning
with Smith 10091 who is ill mentally
& physically. In the evening the
lads celebrated with a dance-concert,
not at all bad, and then a racket
for the change-over of 42-43. Lights
on till 12.30. Light snow falling all day.
Ah well! so passes 42, my first full
year in Germany and, I trust, the last.
Drank to the kids & Glad at the turning
and thought of Mum & Dad, Ines & in-laws.
John 6 in 2 days, and Glad & I married

7 years in 6 more days.
My return-ticket is good for
this year!! 
(P.T.O) 

November
17
Sheila of local cook present in Cucina - quite

a stir

November

18 

November
19
November
20 

November
21
November
22 

November
23
November
24 

November
25
Frost left on working-party this morning, good
luck to him. The day passed by much as
usual — announced that Red + parcels
were to be reduced to one in 8 days per
man. Thought we might break up into
smaller parties of twos and a three to facilitate
rationing - table agreed, but only if we
could get 3 parcels to-day to let groups start
off scratch.  After wangling, the parcels duly
arrived and then a few changed their
mind and we are still rationing as a
body - pity - certain amt. of ill-feeling
might have been avoided.
Went to black and white class for
beginners, first subject was choice of "parcels
distribution" or "card-game"!  Decided to
continue at lectures, but persuaded
Hughes-Stanton to tutor a few of us in
officer's quarters.  Played bridge in evening
November
26
Good news - three of B. Co. received letters
from home yesterday! - Curtis, Jones, & Banks.
Won't be long now.  Hughes-Stanton started
us this morning with a general talk on
pictorial composition, promises well.