Diaries and documents of John Dominic Palandri - Part 4

-5
February
21
Ordinary sort of day. Couple of anaesthetics
in morning, saw my Russians in the afternoon,
and later had a few games of ping-pong and,
a bit of a wrestle with Vanderberg. Was [[ing?]] through
my pay-book cover later in afternoon and found
the last two letters before my capture, one from Glad
and one from Ines, and it was delightful reading
them, especially Glad's, just as though they were fresh.
The remarks re the kids were most amusing, and
Ines's words re my descriptions of Lybia, Barca, etc.,
are interesting, as the fighting is taking place there
again for the fourth time. Bridge to-night with
the two French lads.
This morning the Chefarzt had returned to me
five letters which I wrote on Feb 8 - two to Glad,
one to Mum & Dad, one to in-laws, and one to Des Doyle.
Reason was I mentioned our shift to a 400-bed
hospital from in Berlin from Lansdorf. Must see I don't
do it again.

2
February
22
Nothing out of ordinary again to-day. Had meant
to ask the Chefatzt to enquire from Railway lost
property office re any news of my missing tin box
but out Early and Mass and Communion. Wrote
letter to Glad and note to parents in evening.
French orderlies on their walk split up, one
went on his own, five with guard slipped in for
a noggin, but, as it happened, the bulls were on
look-out and picked them up. The five, whose
mentor stayed incog were reported for being out
without pass, the other for being out with pass made
out for six. Rather funny.
Beautiful day to-day, just like an early
spring, thawing all over the place and snow
slipping off the roofs.
Rumours to-day of declaration of war by
Portugal on Spain, with landing of [[Polish?]] & American
troops in former country - Probably all balls.
German reports of fighting in Lybia about
Marawa & Sloutan & advance along coast to Lyb Cirene.
Interesting to realise that one knows those particular
parts fairly well.

4
February
23
Dope for Owen indirect hernia with decent sac
for a change. Most of cases operated on lately are
Frenchmen with "direct hernias", which, when
opened, show only a bulge of peritoneum, due to lack
of muscular tone brought on by conditions. Would
probably be better to leave them alone & attempt
correction by [[?feeding]] and graduated exercises. Meant
to ask Chefarzt to enquire at railway lost-property-office
re missing tin-box, but left him alone out of respect
for the Monday morning [[?feeling]].
The French tailor brought back my two suits
having made attached collars from their tails, and
a tie from the tail of one of Allan Ballantyne's old
shirts and I feel really dressed once more.
Wrote a card to Des Doyle and one to Ines, and
corrected the rejected letters to Mum & Dad and to
the Boxshalls. It's a relief to write home to one's
families & friends, even though so few letters are
received in return. Hope some more reach me
soon, with photos.
February
24
Anaesthetic this a.m., later saw Chefarzt and asked
him to enquire re my tin box at railway lost property
office. He asked me to write him a note containing
the details. He had just rounded up Stoker and asked
him whether an Arab patient was fit for a spell in clink
for smoking a cigarette in the wards against orders.
Unluckily, or luckily, the Arab is due for appendicectomy
to-morrow. 
Owen, Stoker, and I had a stroll in afternoon and
spent an hour or two in a rubbedy, on both trips, out
& in, my slouch hat drew a lot of attention – would
very much like to get back the cap I lost in my tin-box
Met again the lad who is due for the Navy.
Found on our return that everyone had received
letters but me — Hell!!

February
25
Informed this morning that all future dopes were to be
chlo., so gave a final ether for the last case, chlo
for the second. Ran through Russians afterwards.
French officers walked in afternoon. Repetition of rumours
re Spain & Portugal, and more about Turkey. Said
also that Stabsarzt is coming back temporarily.
Two letter-cards and two letter. sheets together
with five other letters to replace those returned to
me, replie reached me to-day from the heads.
2
February
26
Eventless day to-day. Two chlos, both O.K, but,
the stuff still makes me feel deucedly uncomfortable in
the giving. Found out a couple of days ago that too
large a proportion of the patients were developing
post-anaesthetic conjunctivitis. Since then I've given
them boric in the eyes beforehand and then over their
eyes have put an oil-soaked pad topped by a dry
one and kept in place by strapping, followed at
the end by more drops in the eyes. I hope it helps.
Guess there must be impurities in the dope.
Wrote two letter to Glad to-night, would prefer
a free hand with news and space - about 20 or
30 pages would fill the bill, or, much better, oh
how much better! I'd like to tell her everything
in person.

1
1
February
27
Anaesthetics again this morning, still chlo.
& still no trouble, than heavens!
The lads walked this afternoon, but I stayed
home, and collected one letter, from John in
Swindon. He expects to go into the army by now
and his only regret is that the business will
probably go bust. Francis sent his best wishes,
and I'm terrifically glad to know that
Aunty Lucy is still alive.
February
28
Two dopes his morning, both a bit shaky on the
breathing, but came through O.K. Had our
first shots of antityphus vaccine, and the immediate
effect was very marked pain - Allan B. was
nearly sick but got away with it, but everyone
who took a shot felt the pain and said so.
Some local reaction, a little general reaction, but
not much. First shot of 1 cc., followed by two more
at weekly intervals.
Saw the Padre later and asked him to get me
a few things, including a Heinkel automatic razor.

February 29

Sunday
March 1942
1
Early Mass & Communion. Rest of day uneventful.
Rumours to-night that Russians have taken Vilna and
that English parachutists landed on French coast,
overpowered a coast-guard station and were taken
off by sea.

2
March
2
Not even any anaesthetics this morning. Rest of the
day just as quiet. Wrote letters this evening to
Glad & to Mum & Dad.
Dr Elbaz to tea with us this evening

3  
March
3
Oberarzt operating this morning, and he wanted
the French dentist to give the dope for him. As it
was he didn't come in until close on midday.
Bit of fun otherwise, as one of my Russians, in whom
I had queried a typhus came back a positive
Wiel-Felix, which caused a stir in itself, added
to which some goat on our floor faked the temp.
of a patient who was due for discharge and was
found out. Result was a bit of a stink for me, with
the suggestion that N.C.Os should check temps
daily & M.Os twice weekly, after which a
genuine T^o chart might allow of early diagnosing
of possible Typhus. Chefarzt took to Stoker, too, re
Russians & fact that W.Fs were no done on all.
Said an order to that effect had been given (never
reached us) and that anyway; our own common-sense
should have told us. Not bad, seeing
that our orders are that investigations on Russians
are to be kept down to minimum. The Ruskis, if
they're so suspect shouldn't be in this hospital.
I should have got the kicks, not Stoker.
Cards to-night to Ines, Ginge & Ian, & Cawleys.
Boys walked to-day, I stayed home.

March
4
Nothing to-day except news that Russians are
doing well and have surrounded a German army
in the north numbering about 96,000 men.
Beautiful day, lovely & warm
March
5
Snowing again to-day, Spring apparently still
a considerable way off.
R.A.F. bombed Paris, probably after [[?dromes]] &
factories. Germans report 600 killed and 1000
wounded!
Played bridge with he French to-night,
enjoyable evening.

March
6
A dope this morning, then checked through my
Ruskis, one of whom has been given a diagnosis
of Tb by the German radiologist. The lad with
the recurrent pleural effusion is obviously another.
Took a book of his down to one of the French M.Os
in the afternoon and promptly went to sleep on
a bed in their room.
Confirmation of news of encirclement of the
German army in the north, rumours that
another is suffering the same fate, and that
Anglo Yanks are massing in Iran.
Vanderbeck & Viellat came to tea with us this
evening & stayed on to bridge afterwards.
No letters yet.
Titov, the Russian artist, produced the first of his
pictures for our room this evening, nude of a girl
sitting on a stool - jolly good.
Report, to-day I think, that Japs bombed Broome.
Probably do more damage to local Japs than other
persons or property.

March
7
Finished anaesthetic, a lousy chlo. with the lad
continuously blue, light, and spasming, to find
that the Weil-Felix tests done on the Russians
gave seven results positive in titres ranging from
1/100 to 1/800, five from 1/150 to 1/800 going to Biersdorf.
I went along afterwards to the pharmacy and through
the chemist order a set of Spalkholz, a Bing, and
a stethoscope. The rest of the day passed off quietly
except for four reels of film in the evening, fairly
interesting, but nothing to write home about.
Couldn't find the Padre to hear Confession this
evening.
Had our second antityphus injection to-day, still
quite painful, but not so much so, as last week's.
Had it subcut. in the rt. breast this time.
Just about due for a top-up of T.A.B., too.

6

Sunday
March
8
Slept in this morning and went along to 10.30
Mass, the rest of the day being as exciting as usual.
Padre Dunlop, the Anglican chaplain for the local
Stalags had a service here this afternoon and came in
to us for afternoon-tea, seems decent chap of about 45
I spent most of the afternoon writing letters to Glad,
Mum & Dad, and Zia Celestina, and cards to
Zia Clementina, the Parkers, and the Birds. All these
letters should bring a few in return in time. Advised
Glad and the family that Glad & the kids should
go to them in case of necessity.
{*Reached Parkers 22^nd July*]
March
9
Blank day. Bit depressed. Two anaesthetics &
a French exercise

March
10
Two dopes, otherwise S.F.A. Began reading
"The Good Earth", but the Lotus episode, or its
beginning promised to be so tragic, and made
my depression so much more marked, that I
gave it up.
Dad's Birthday
March
11
All quiet. Couple of dopes.