Diaries and documents of John Dominic Palandri - Part 8

May
11
Fosy had dressings to do this morning, so I assisted
Ellaz at a hernia, while Macqueen 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 Ellaz that she considered me a bit
timid - I'll say!!
Americans claim a victory for us over he 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 does  [[?]]
 

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 [[?]]
quite easily picked up. It was very overcast, rained a bit,
so did no 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 "Volkischer Brobachter" contained a wonderful
diatribe against Churchill and an impressive list of our
defects 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, [[?]],
Roques and I, and about hall 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. Eight of the Italians
prompted me to ask Kurtze to get in 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 [[?]] in London, riots in Italy.
6 Several German generals have deserted,
7 7,000,000troops 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 [[?]], crossing
water by ferry. I did not go, as I was busy
aspirating chest until 2.20.
[[?]] 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 was
so, he was "caput". Probably right, as he's a Tb.
Bowls in afternoon, bridge at night with Wilshire,
[[?]], & [[?]], enjoyable.
I seem to have lost the cigarette-case Glad gave me
for my birthday three years ago.
Blonde died this evening.
Vines negative to albumen.
Xxxxans claim fall of Kurds.
 

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 soon 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. [[?]], and
Lanchon.
Russians claim strong counter-attack about Kirch
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.
 

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, Boxshall’s, Frank Wallace, and Officer i/c Kirsten,
Alex., this to ask him to send my stuff either to Swindon
or to Glad.
Barretson, 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 Bennetson 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 tuned 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 & [[?]]
most of it nonsense — must kelp 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 Lansdorf.
 

1 1
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
Student 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 [[?]]
Synopsis of Medicine, Text-Book of Anatomy, [[?]]
French Grammars, and German, French & Italian
Dictionaries, Grammars Co be [[?]] -
substitutes to any or all if necessary
Began a small classified system of dossiers
of my patients.
Grosse, Maincourt, & Lanchon to afternoon tea, and
bowls afterwards
Italian lesson for Wilshire 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 Maincourt to
afternoon-tea, and international skittles afterwards.
french – Lanchon, Grosse, Talbot, and Maincourt, wiped
us up in first game - Wiltshire, S.M. Duguid, S.S. [[?]]
and me. We were leading in second, unfinished.
Return-match to-morrow.
Drizzly weather yesterday & to-day.
 

May
23
70 ops. Spent morning and Brit of afluson
doing complite cheak up on patients, and thking his ay
If nd mumps.
I hate monting Sabsun examined station generally
and kicked np Imny h because in his opinion it
was tillin, and e place for an hour ahemads was
Med Loyilling s giting it Sraighteneh up
Fabsan nd Ot o Bulrian ordelieo doing our
wasiid. Othat layd bugger Chapman hat handes
it on to thim, he litte turg.
Reaular fosd parcels to.dhy, 50 cgs (urnel) and
anoffed half tim I Claces with lony or 25 more.
Lansion & Talloor dibtnd in acain r Menon Ven
and later we sok Hn down parall of dined pruint.
st., of which we have plenty.
Chapman's hopelers - cans even boik wat i.
I reanudged all or bod enploard to day, and
ill bet hill have it all enfesed up in Two
moreblest the Stalsent for schargth& Hedger!
Beat Frenc at Shitler 1oday.
Boider with Willshire, Balla e/ 2 Tubeed and
Co pinsh Geng gnard came in and told us wders
in the war has to be shet – Cbelabs orders?
Ill check up with the Cefary on Vop Boday
 

Munday
May
24
Penturont (hit) Sunday, late /ass. Looked around
patints; and that was about all for the day
Frenauged food lcand talnd he dulves
wo to wod mering hing
24
na
 

May
25
Holiday for Runans and herefore one for us, hongall
days are mr like Fruc ateon ou, but
sol stayed in, and we played ths shiles.
in timeiokals and then whockek us in listh.
ontiaia e dama n Co Pans factones.
long salar Wo Eeard Hamam in svenig.
has se a let A English Monlists in France Cekp were
were improdoutble Occondict of some of them was given
him a bold supession of all. Oish Aed Oy Chaon
s Greop tare 1940 inm Toe, and
Ank by ras o Cull of Mrcish forces
182 1ay H was at Ddkere and snd to h
ht hee a rd o m-to. ap he shold have
at pon though he believes extrely well with
sendien a the whice get on quite Iwl
he ish in my expenince, but ffve illucions n
her ow mind is 1to what part France plays in the
disigus of Minsn politiciaus nd friannur mr
natial affairs.
 

May
26
ad
ms, and cards to in.I
Bings lonMendino Julie whaler, Erlim Ooons
lonsds and Hany Shin (for Bing also).
Looks as though we Amany get Hollhs batman.
Bridge for a litle over and hour at night with wiltourey
Ballate, adstaf.
Checked over hylia, Grupt, and Cole.
 

May
27
One anausthetic. Hiffed on Woll is butman - Oberan
apparently has a facr for him and will not allow his
Fraster John Stakish IAs a substitute fon dug up a
bytrethe Indhs spals fair English — michnnical en ner and
ua dicent End. sold Chebman to take a copple)
says of wih intention of huping he Cyp. and Hocl
on Pandmkey adies
Clayed Thh Sibles in a Mimon a lost hre.
Have Ofees accounts up to date, actually very
mple.
✓8
100k a wath I was awa in hybia to trunch 78.0
Bemard, who promonnced it &S. B)- banged it out.
till tunt called in to day for that gervice - De tallowed
to aftenon lex, and did not s him.
 

May
28
Domislic affain no good at all. Heels was whicheh out
2 be hospital at a mildutis notice as Chapman had to
e back. The like bugger is atill taking our Prunday
to the Rurnan Samitaker a has misland () shit, aO
Eswel, snight, socks mid hans of mine. Geadman
was in this morning, chatted to uh in ouro where
de Chesart found Chrm and limely but politely
gold t hat inting of officer thi guar in s
not allowed without his pemmon. Sus S.. Jhnster
of 2/. H. Aub. also, and he Cold me that sell he
Alsssies he know in the Stalas have received
clsting parcels fom Anstralia Hon - We missed
ar I
All our X. Kays have returned as I.B. saw
and trink hired wore than nonal striation
w side in lower lateral field - probably O.K.
One each i skiles against Frenchu] Co. day.
Bridge at night with OWiltshin, Ballata a huntead
Bemald onthanling my pocket. watch.
 

May
29
tiish of my nt year's captivity. On anaw thtie.
Chuck over b) cAred.
Renoux (pressed my pants to day, and Chesan
distited from Chosp tal Crh twoe boag of spnds tand
me pane,
Bridge to might with badd Golew, a tunkead
Allaw found my missing washing Pucked behand
y cupbddod
Lo Wate
Nizled all day.
hin of his years sine the evening I dit to
Jorham Camp wirth hes and Tronde.
 

May
30
Two anaistreties him found returned to me a
letter I had writen to Glard on 6o May - I muntioncd
walks ts Grunewuld and Connan.
Captanld one year ago his monning
the hon of us wad dinder this evenined wt Eellas
Golert, Hoe, Wfaman, Tallo a hantion the chie
dish of the evening was snails – Gad would have bee
homors bt he mere hought, but thy were grand.
thyoe allowed to clean Kuselves in p wateh for swend
houd, then hayre boiled and takeng from heir shills
and tnmed, (and he shills thooght scomed, Vext
heare sandwished in a samce of buth And earlie in
hid shalls once more and meoolled, and thinke jotly
good. The conneswen – sandines, salame, esch
Claus & sin (Cully - and sbly esad), chuss, and
prisapple and lisant. Tuo Rtls of Dunan ber
sach, and coffe and iiganthes to punss with. I wiished
before and after and discouned a diference A1.6 k
or B2 lbs. Ihat as well a show like that is ot maud
A lot of the discusion of the wvening was on the posslalt
misene for Cept. pouill fon his peachh.
O Sinal Reports Sf Gunnan Eneuss in Charkon lable
225000 prisoners ebned?