Diaries and documents of John Dominic Palandri - Part 8

May
11
Fosy had dressings to do this morning, so I assisted
Elbaz at a hernia, while Macqueron gave the anaesthetic
and rather well, too. Sister brought me up short again
by the freedom and self-possession she showed in bringing
up in a chatter about love the subject of - cunnilingus!
She remarked to Elbaz that she considered me a bit
timid - I'll say!!
Americans claim a victory for us over the Jap fleet,
deny most of the losses said to have been inflicted on us,
and say that Yank bombers are pursuing the retreating
Japs. Local papers, of course, pooh-pooh the whole thing.
Loafed the rest of the day, finished "Five Red Herrings"
by Dorothy L. Sayers, and played bridge till 11.30
after appel with his new French docs & Fernhead.
May
12
Extremely quiet day, not even an "assist" this morning, as the
Oberarzt was operating. Finished this week's check-up on my
cases and found a couple of my Tbs. with very large cavities
quite easily picked up. It was very overcast, rained a bit,
so did not go out his afternoon - Fosy was the only one to take
the walk.
I slept until 4, and after dinner took a note down to
Talbot and met the latest new French M.O., a beautifully
built 6' 2-3" specimen, blonde hair, from the Midi. He has
finished 5 yrs. of his course at Toulouse, and is not yet
qualified - Dr. Roques.
Spent most of the evening making a pocket-book from
old X-Ray film and Z.O. strapping - it's to hold pay-book
and cash, etc..
To-days "Vőlkischer Beobachter" contained a wonderful
diatribe against Churchill and an impressive list of our
defeats and disasters from Norway to the Far East.
 

May
13
One anaesthetic
Nothing of interest during rest of day, except that
our batmen didn't hit it off very well, and will have to
rearrange things.
May
14
Nothing in theatre this morning. Fosy, Robert, Manicourt,
Roques and I, and about half the English orderlies
went off to an old theatre and had X-Rays done of our
chests - apparatus with a Zeiss Ikon 35 mm. attached
giving a small negative – natty idea. The floor of the
theatre was a barrack for Italian workers - trip there
and back by underground. Sight of the Italians
prompted me to ask Kurtze to get me Italian illustrated
papers - he promised to do so.
 

May
15
Two anaesthetics and a batch of rumours -
(1) Japs lost 29 ships in Coral Sea battle
(2) On Russian front Gerries lost 240 planes as against
60 Hurricanes.
(3) Crete retaken by Americans
(4) Mussolini told Hitler in last conference that he could
give no more help because of lack of food in Italy.
(5) Ciano in London, riots in Italy.
(6) Several German generals have deserted,
(7) 7,000,000 troops ready in England, where morale
is very high.
(8) Local morale poor.

(9) British landed and stayed 2 days near St. Malo.
The three others had day out at Grunau, crossing
water by ferry. I did not go, as I was busy
aspirating chest until 2.20.
Manicourt showed me batch of photos of wife
and 22 month old daughter. Very good, she
seems a little imp. Received two days ago.
Allan pointed out to me that I had mild
oedema of ankles.
May
16
One anaesthetic.
All Russian patients who can walk or sit are to go to
another hospital, presumably in a Russian camp - one came
to me to-night and gave me to understand that, if this was
so, he was "caput". Probably right, as he's a Tb.
Bowls in afternoon, bridge at night with Wiltshire,
Fernhead, & Ballata, enjoyable.
I seem to have lost the cigarette-case Glad gave me
for my birthday three years ago.
Blondē died this evening.
Urine negative to albumen.
Germans claim fall of Kerch.
 

Sunday
May
17
Fosy's birthday. Late Mass.
Sleep & bowls in afternoon after visit by Fr. Scarborough
who comes from same commando as Eric Cooper and
Annan. I went to Confession
Bed early.
Accusations by both sides that others are using gas.
Sgt. Keller remembered my leaving my cigarette-case on
the bureau examination-couch after having slept there, and,
on searching, I found it sure enough, tucked away under
the leather pillow.
May
18
Two anaesthetics, a round with the Stabsarzt, an
Italian lesson in the afternoon for Wiltshire, bowls, and
bridge at night with Wiltshire, Staff. Fernhead, and
Lanchon.
Russians claim strong counter-attack about Kerch
with recapture of a couple of towns, and strong Russian
attack in centre of front. Report that Germans lost 2000
planes in first fortnight of May.
 

6

May
19
No anaesthetics, and nearly all my Russians went
this morning - said goodbye to them before they left - many
of them were good lads.
Spot of bowls his afternoon, otherwise all quiet.
Wrote to-night to Glad and Dad & Mum, cards to
Ines, Boxshalls, Frank Wallace, and Officer i/c Kit Store,
Alex., this to ask him to send my stuff either to Swindon
or to Glad.
Barnetson, our "assistant-batman", leaves on Friday,
so Allan arranged with a lad named Kimberley to
take his place. This is Kimberley's second visit to the
hospital, fits of depression each time with threatened suicide.
May
20
One year ago to-day – 'chutes over Crete.
No anaesthetics
This morning at 6 Barnetson woke us with the news
that a Russian had climbed through a window of the
passage on our floor (3^rd) and thrown himself out on
to the concrete courtyard below. It turned out to be
no Russian, but - Kimberley. Poor devil.
Reallotment of patients in TA, I have 27, and a
full round with the Stabsarzt.
Quiet afternoon & evening.
Found Sister alone in theatre this morning, talked
to her for a bit, mainly in bits of French & signs,
most of it nonsense — must keep an eye on myself.
I'll be trying to wrong otherwise.
Two Russian nursing-orderlies have arrived, just
as nearly all the Russians have gone - nothing
like system to keep things running smoothly.
Russian Capt., Ustinov, died to-day.
Padre Bill Hurst came in to-day for a service, was
not allowed to visit our room, but had a short talk to
him. Father Berry still at Lamsdorf.
 

May
21
Captured for first time a year ago to-day and I'm
now 34. One or two, I think two, anaesthetics this
morning and I received two a letter from the Geneva
Students' Aid people telling me that they had sent
some weeks ago a Synopsis of Medicine, &, lately, French
& German dictionaries. None yet arrived. I filled in
an attached form and asked once more for Spalteholz
Synopsis of Medicine, Text-Book of Anatomy, German &
French Grammars, and German, French & Italian
Dictionaries, grammars to be Otto-Gaspey-Sauer -
substitutes to any or all if necessary
Began a small classified system of dossiers
of my patients.
Grosse, Manicourt, & Lanchon to afternoon tea, and
bowls afterwards
Italian lesson for Wiltshire to-night.
xxxxxxx
Ticked Chapman off to-day for being bloody
awful at his work – found, besides, that he
had been farming laundry out to Russians, and
judging by hole in our bread reserves, I know how
he's been paying them
Rumours that British are 80km. into Holland
Cricket going strong in the yard.
May
22
Two anaesthetics this morning, rest of my working-time
finishing my dossiers. Landchon and Manicourt to
afternoon-tea, and international skittles afterwards.
French – Lanchon, Grosse, Talbot, and Manicourt, wiped
us up in first game - Wiltshire, S.M. Duguid, S.S. Fernhead
and me. We were leading in second, unfinished.
Return-match to-morrow.
Drizzly weather yesterday & to-day.
 

May
23
No ops. Spent morning and part of afternoon
doing complete check-up on patients, and taking history
of new mumps.
Late morning Stabsarzt examined station generally
and kicked up merry hell because in his opinion it
was filthy, and the place for an hour afterwards was
filled by yelling Jerries getting it straightened up.
Stabsarzt found one of Russian orderlies doing our
washing. That lazy bugger Chapman had handed
it on to him, the little twirp!
Regular food parcels to-day, 50 cigs (usual) and
swopped half tin of tobacco with Fosy for 25 more.
Lanchon & Talbot dropped in again for afternoon tea,
and later we took them down parcel of dried fruits,
etc., of which we have plenty.
Chapman's hopeless - can't even boil water!
I rearranged all our food cupboard to-day, and
I'll bet he'll have it all buggered up in two
more - blast the Stabsarzt for discharging Hedger!
Beat French at skittles to-day.
Bridge with Wiltshire, Ballata, & Fernhead, and
to finish off, Gerry guard came in and told us windows
in the ward has to be shut – Chefartz's orders!!
I'll check up with the Chefarzt on Monday.
Sunday
May
24
Pentecost (Whit) Sunday, late Mass. Looked around
patients and that was about all for the day
Rearranged food locker and tabulated the shelves,
hope it helps Chapman to avoid messing things up too
much.
 

May
25
Holiday for Germans and therefore one for us, though all
days are much alike. French officers' afternoon out, but
some stayed in, and we played two more skittles
"internationals" and they whacked us in both. xxxxxx
xxxxxxxx Confirmation re damage to Paris factories.
Long chat to Elbaz & Manicourt in evening. Elbaz
has seen a lot of English tourists in France before war
where unpardonable conduct of some of them has given
him a bad impression of all. Highlighted by behaviour
of some troops before May 1940 in northern France, and
confirmed by withdrawal of bulk of English forces from
15-27 May - He was at Dunkerque and seems to think
that they're a mob of sh-ts. It's a pity he should have
that opinion, though he behaves extremely well with

us. Frenchmen on the whole get on quite well with
the British in my experience, but have no illusions
their own mind as to what part France plays in the
designs of British politicians and financiers in international
affairs.
9
May
26
One anaesthetic, a look around the wards, and

that practically finished the day. After lunch I went
with Grote to the Chefarzt who adopted my suggestion
that the Tb's windows should be left open subject to the
light globes being taken out.
In afternoon I wrote a whole lot, letters to Glad, parnt
parents, & Ines, and cards to in-laws, to Geneva for a copy
of Bing's Compendium, Julie Wheeler, Eileen Noonan,
the Cowders and Harry Slim (for Bing also).
Looks as though we may get Holt as batman.
Bridge for a little over an hour at night with Wiltshire,
Ballata, & Staff.
Checked over Lybia, Egypt, and Crete.
 

May
27
One anaesthetic. Slipped on Holt as batman - Oberarzt
apparently has a fancy for him and will not allow his
transfer from Station ^../II. As a substitute Fosy dug up a
Cypriote who speaks fair English — mechanical engineer and
quite a decent lad. Told Chapman to take a couple of
days off, with intention of keeping the Cyp. and Neale
on permanently.
Played French ^orderlies skittles in afternoon & lost twice.
Have Mess accounts up to date, actually very
simple.
Took a watch I was given in Lybia to French N.C.O.,
Bernard, who pronounced it N.3.G. - bunged it out.
Bill Hurst called in to-day for short service - not allowed
to afternoon-tea, and did not see him.
May
28
Domestic affairs no good at all. Neale was whisked out
of the hospital at a minute's notice, so Chapman had to
come back. The little bugger is still taking our laundry
to the Russian Sanitater, such has mislaid a shirt, a
towel, singlet, socks, and hanks of mine. Readman
was in this morning, chatted to us in our room where
the Chefarzt found him and firmly but politely
told him that visiting of officers in their quarters was
not allowed without his permission. Saw Sgt. Johnston
of 2/1 Fd. Amb. also, and he told me that all the
Aussies he knows in the Stalag have received
clothing parcels from Australia House - I've missed
so far.
All our X-Rays have returned as O.B. saw mine
and think there's more than normal striation on
rt. side in lower lateral field - probably O.K..
One each skittles against Frenchmen to-day.
Bridge at night with Wiltshire, Ballata, & Fernhead.
Bernard overhauling my pocket-watch.
 

May
29
Finish of my first year's captivity. One anaesthetic.
Check-over of cases.
Renoux pressed my pants to-day, and Chefarzt
departed from hospital with two bags of spuds and
one pane.
Bridge to-night with Padre, Robert & Fernhead.
Allan found my missing washing tucked behind
my cupboard.
Drizzled all day.
Finish of two years since the evening I drove to
Northam Camp with Les and Tronchet.
May
30
Two anaesthetics, then found returned to me a
letter I had written to Glad on 6 May - I mentioned
walks to Grunewald and Grunau.
Captured one year ago this morning.
The four of us had dinner this evening with Elbaz
Robert, Grosse, Manicourt, Talbot & Lanchon - the chief
dish of the evening was snails – Glad would have the
horrors at the mere thought, but they were grand.
They're allowed to clean themselves in salt water for several
hours, then they're boiled and taken from their shells,
and trimmed, and he shells thoroughly scoured. Next
they're sandwiched in a sauce of butter and garlic in
their shells once more and recooked, and they're jolly
good. The courses were – sardines, salami, escargots,
beans & "singe" (bully - and jolly good), cheese, and
pineapple and biscuit. Two bottles of German beer
each, and coffee and cigarettes to finish with. I weighed
before and after and discovered a difference of 1.6 kilo
or 3½ lbs. Just as well a show like that is not usual.
A lot of the discussion of the evening was on the possibility
success for Capt. Monell in his search.
Final reports of German success in Charkow battle,
240,000 prisoners claimed!!