Diaries and documents of John Dominic Palandri - Part 10

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2024.6.7
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

TONe 20 One anaistutic, nothing else doing all day. Aidge at might, pnal fods in our som. tt f em a a ant Sist a aa ie at June 21 hate Yurs, played bridge c wlbhine, Lanction, blboar then truck oficers ated fom walk withy and 2 ston tot Tobrch a bardia had gook. Falles one wonder. Bretiae at misthe, annal sons honen day of year, b oright Graning 2 Jany have ben at Iner or one yeart.
June 22 An unxesthiton, a quick look at my patients hem was reading the ching in the Dund when the Obenint drove in. He looked at me haod; and I Iust tonch mys hls togither, so laber he complained to fow that I was obviously trying to annor him et He. Ired to su Chifr I lotet, but mihed him. Johing To opor , nay. p mn 62 June 6 23 Conpinion ofan, & Communion, 1/o annistreties, saw fcal H270 who was in about ahin infection on hands ater talled to Clupsos about his colleagie and he was very reasonable. He Explained that. Othough Convention an no prisoner other to salute opicns o holding. power below his muk, officers in hospital on dute [ic. Gennaus) were sinion to prisoner opcen, a tied 10 a pstute, this, of coune, I admitsed to be quite correct, and he was requally constious in admitting my point when I chamld the right to expectcomiterd fromd thon Gennan officers with whom I came into contact. The Oberant is the only one here who has sailed in this rgni the others ar most cored. Hnts Coday of extent of preparetions in England and of magnitude of raids on Coloane a other Gelman Forns. Also inports A numbers A Guans a Welrans in hytia - about 53,000 – s 1310th begin a portrait of me in watercolours. this as a venllt of my asking hum ts do a watercolous of Had from hadphots - destined on the score that it is t difficult Wo do colours from an orignial in black a white. letter ts Glad, pauily, Tie Celestina a Lncia cards to his 2 Box shalls.
June 2 24 Grand day to day, one anaisthetic, then the drought brote with two Ptters o Glad, A 13 farch & 2 April the latter with a small stdi phots o) thull and David Is fine, he both look mawillous - Glad comr a more beautiful e ever with a brshed p hater that sis er down to the ground, and David blooking the piiture health, llond eurly clubby, a langhing] Id that his ath intst Regnd and ank I. ae blot nome Jhi in 7th Lavin tell, poor little divil, was them stllin hospital with a lond uphill read alead other though no mention of the nature of the illuess. Lots N Bob Rattis pals about he place, and Jack hussell, Caude Anderso, Admian Jamer, Hunt, & Butie aim precminably in the bag up north, Ginge, Ian and wdheaked your Pavid in thi pith and glad, Jear Cowdun & Eleu J han taking the Rids so Kalamtmla for the Endi week end Coler ad the ppants. Haskerdag 1o pld, our odely, was announcied for wey on 3duley, or efors to nthin him to day were without luek. dus dil at woonles E poplat. June 25 An andusthake So day which mleh intinanys dear Musure & whreth bke overas ten and continued no until after midday Johing Ane to report except a third sithing to ilef this moning knnre brought me in a snall stand, dumun Pbase And Auble glass hame in which I mounted he plsts of Rad Pand David. It looks absolutely grand, and the hardly ben able to take my cees told it. Wonder what happhnd to Hill.
June 26 Woke nt fuling Cardy, with a soe thusat, gair bur dopes, fund Bd had ad timep of 100.00 so went to And on a coune of hranonl a slept prathicaly all day June 21 frow ord cartiley is powhl - diauliee, orange nne, head lile a buzz saw and fuling like dumD. same. Oo(upduring hs Aftenson as wy tup was mut Indumal a oe thoset Des gone and I was sike of bid amywng. about he only hd that chuned me np was the night of slad's pholesp. I went of Crowtond as I was. Hilopitg a delmss ornge colour myself. gave tloff and her siting this wening. Offie new that about 100 sick Russians are to be brought here in the near future. Bg shap on this Station, which is to tale about 4 ros Chlud reamanged in all denctions.
June 28 Comcmunion at iarly Mars him a later Hars. Per of day parsed imevonfblly Still biling awful Wiik thead and mitkenson. On o Rads madei a some for sang inen fo sane on te wan o 24 5 int th s fet et ous atoer 32 June 2 29 slest loke logs this morning and ao ganais tuis risher b 8 fersn fallenn Ls Rpri ones of Kenifes preparatin in Eala hopes ae beginning I noe for a landing this year. Cstull Illegt to have worden that, this is Gunanys his effort hat the next Your months will be Itinal Dad Dat, if we can hold them especially in ng. A Ezypt. hings will have parsed the it and sw, and ininduntally, can. We can on alps fuling s a li
June 30 Partically B.F. A. Co do all day, and fast is that I apent all aftemon in san, reading a sluping. Still mferny after efect B son. duset a prontonde. Wrote a letter home to prsents to day, and cards to Mis, Boxshalls, Did, a Ron. W. hest noting to tel of this wening Attark of wiles contining in aggaivath form. Dan to Ju4 Ho work in a look knough the wards finished it ofo argn of new Gurriam parttents stew for to day o that gines are scooking towads Alexanddin, while Brotish ane Owripping 2d 21th Ainns in from Syna a Salistine, Question is – Who wins? Rommel's tied Groops with yew muber to excellent onns, or Bint, onfeinor in munderd but much moe porly yquiffed nenk Cold in at 1.35 to night that Iitasofa has A. S Bidar his suming Ballata and d against s Tumbed. Had whim for a change
Juty shot of Happin about to daw again with peparations bor Burnidue Bit 100 and thuch tlo thare Deen translured from their a narterr to a miall now each in and y and Wlhire brnced in with us, most of Ntation s Opationts have come Cup here and Russings are all to go in to Station to be lacked ter by Sabsan And Gennan Sanitateos, on deent. rations, (o, so rumber hasn. Rather a change for him to get this port of Ereetment- rither Gunans whie lost a lo. pisons or t expecting something l dus paved tples again from being shdikied. [ef handed me the rmished pudes to day. I l it: the lest I could do was to sir lin 53 Cld they wish It could have been pomnthing decent. Jul Jo ops. again. Weather wann again though a little overast. irited this morning Oby Iwiss Red & Commission, one Adwly minber Who had been nee belon and a oung doe s whom tony pointed out madequalis a accommodation for Insdical persouncl and a ren sh things. Cheexplained that it was only temporany land du wh innding amoul gss t not his foul ama Aan ie Robet and D baked hus at Fueglaie a little behels plowgite a regues lates which we were not pemintell to enter Gather intrening to notice loh pikes changing in to Watin lors. Dow Cs on anothr sernedo Dy an odd tubles or a Cre Cnk in no one takes any Mnotine and is all done quite skilfully, any w dian enough I supps bht. Ae Bhalles op 6o a distance of Wo0ys from the sror, and full I fore seating grete weed? fo very atractive wts losk. Read in an ocmpred - Frunk papser this evening tat English Ret ly Plex on 29 Inde and parsed through Ther conal.? All pats of reports of parm in official a Onnafficial cirles in PnShand aV.S. A.
July Checked most of my tbs. this morning, guite ho and finme all day gt most I attemon m court in pair of Vs. and di euening shad fagnain Ceon, and Cannegnin to dimerd. Hiles & Walmas did us quite will Danin. Ffor Vembannssi for me ts invite various trench o/.Do. 1 to due withut) Hecomers and all and always have to neglect old Youl. He is a bit of a wisp, but I think hea prematurly sinile, ninely, and mos than a bit potty, and Im my spillon, i would have been an act of chanty on ofer part to oowlod his eccentine and wh impleasent behabiour and to have had lime up. [Zather) late now though, even) we were all agrued on the point. Pannequill comes from the same prt of France as he, and as he spends lot of tume the hind company was begrning ta le regarded wihh some dispponol by so Oamongs us. Hondor, Callot says his a fine chap, and we ad han him up, as as what July Had a B injection reparation, late ofas, and the day. at pr duisus Limhead D Ballaton
July 6 has night was the second hot night in a quite minge One aoemdte his morning. The mjection I yesterlay had a little local effect anth, as or genemal fet, Ensed my cma to llave np - sm epent wio Wlin alin the long-awaite Arsians anived $5. day about 100 tthem gunerally faily will moninghe but stated to be supfling rdeng of them your seur eos that Gennans are halled and pished black a Sit, and being counter attacked 100 kn, west of tlex. reman advance in Sont Russia, and a Kuisfan one er o pron firt independ Tank lombring attack over Hllknd and aad announcimerson for continutal landing. Statement that Peaife is under Antrl. ms whode a lette to Glad, and ands to pannt in ue Condiuns, and one to the kids Ju1y to ancisthatie, noting to repart. Asked at office for loam of mapof England in Cash He pan dabil had wark Chesang. is is asking
July 8 1/o anaes huties, Ie loan If map I) Incland, Stalag says Ho.? ut think iIt wold bo roe me in an ating at inek Der Ho Aprisa much better, and T.A.F. sas o be doing nem swell over Notum Frue & H.W. Genniay and it appeals that we have control of he saciptso JuW 9 to anaisthetics. Had a note this morning from Eis Catolia Hission in Aid O . Owd. forwathing a measage from Lia Clestiia A Ildate- lard mpole, non ho aunts notine the dall Aprill. ipese Cants a cose la ta Janishlia. For bene fied a Bombay. Albracci. Tha Eelestina. iew o dated 15.6.42, address. firsion catholisue prisse en faveur dis prisoaers de Gun, 1300R (3E) to fice is in the bag too! Well, will well! Quite a family halit? I ws womed about him, but at tat his rape. Huds only Dik a Tom Calandon now and Gincoms from he O.S.B. and the picture will be complitte Reterington, begn a Jegon n isleire to fomindater in early a.m. toke io Allank, Max of, & trank ly.

June 20
One anaesthetic, nothing else doing all day.
Bridge at night, usual four in our team. 

June
21
Late Mass, played bridge with Wiltshire, Lanchon,
& Elbaz, then French officers returned from walk with
story that Tobruch & Bardia had fallen - not so
good. Makes one wonder. 
Bridge at night, usual four.
Longest day of year, to-night Germany & Russia
have been at war for one year. 

 

June
22
An anaesthetic, a quick look at my patients
then was reading the "Camp" in the Quad when the
Oberarzt drove in.  He looked at me hard, and I
just touched my heels together, so later he complained
to Fosy that I was obviously trying to annoy him etc.
etc.  Tried to see Chefarzt later, but missed him.
Nothing to report
6.

June
23
Confession, Mass & Communion. No anaesthetics, saw
Neale NZMO who was in about skin infection on hands.
Later talked to Chefarzt about his colleague and he was
very reasonable. He explained that, though Convention
asked no prisoner officer to salute officers of holding-power 

below his rank, officers in hospital on duty
(ie. , Germans) were senior to prisoner officers, & therefore entitled
to a salute. This, of course, I admitted to be quite
correct, and he was equally courteous in admitting
my point when I claimed the right to expect courtesy
from those German officers with whom I came into
contact. The Oberarzt  is the only one here who has
failed in this respect - the others are most correct.
Hints to-day of extent of preparations in England,
and of magnitude of raids on Cologne & other German
towns.  Also reports of numbers of Germans & Italians
in Lybia - about 500,000 – there?
Titoff began a portrait of me in watercolours. This
as a result of my asking him to do a watercolour of
Glad from her photo - declined on the score that it is
most difficult to do colours from an original in black
& white.
Letters to Glad, family, Zie Celestina & Lucia, cards to
Ines & Boxshalls. 

 

2
2
June
24
Grand day to-day, one anaesthetic, then the drought
broke with two letters from Glad, of 13 March & 2 April,
the latter with a small studio photo of herself and David.
It's fine, they both look marvellous - Glad younger & more
beautiful than ever with a brushed-up hair-do that suits
her down to the ground, and David looking the picture
of health, blond, curly, chubby, & laughing. I'll bet he's
an imp! Reg W. and Frank W. are both home, Julie
in 7th heaven. Nell, poor little devil, was then still in
hospital with a long uphill road ahead of her, though no
mention of the nature of the illness. Lots of Bob Plater's
pals about the place, and Jack Throssell, Claude Anderson,
Adrian Farmer, Bruce Hunt, & Bertie Nairn presumably in
the bag up north.  Ginge, Ian and red-headed young
David in the pink, and Glad, Jean Cowden & Eileen Noonan
taking the kids to Kalamunda for the Easter week-end.
Poker on the up & up.
Yesterday Miles, our orderly, was announced for "weg"
on 3 July, and our efforts to retain him to-day were
without luck.
Ines still at Woordes & popular.
June
25
An anesthetic to day, which, unlike yesterday's
clear sunshine & warmth broke overcast and raining
and continued so until after midday
Nothing else to report except a third sitting to Titoff.
This morning Kruze brought me in a small
stand, chronium base and double glass frame in
which I mounted the photo of Glad and David. It
looks absolutely grand, and I've hardly been able to
take my eyes from it. Wonder what happened to Nell - 

 

June
26
Woke up feeling bloody, with a sore throat, gave two
dopes, found I had a temp of 100.6° so went to bed on a
course of Prontosil & a slept practically all day.
June
27
Prontosil certainly is powerful - diarrhoea, orange urine,
head like a buzz-saw and feeling like hung-game.
Got up during the afternoon as my temp was sub-normal
& sore throat was gone, and I was sick of bed anyway.
About the only thing that cheered me up was the sight of
Glad's photograph. Went off Prontosil as I was
developing a definite orange colour myself.
Gave Titoff another sitting this evening.
Official news that about 100 sick Russians are to be brought
here in the near future. Big flap on this Station, which
is to take about 40, rooms being rearranged in all
directions.  

 

June
28
Communion at early Mass, then a later Mass. Rest
of day passed uneventfully. Still feeling awful with a
thick head and indigestion. One of lads made me
a frame for my map of France.
2
June
29
Allan and I slept like logs this morning and
missed Appel. Gave two anaesthetics. Sister back from
her holiday.
Wrote letters to Glad and Nell.
Marsa Matruh has fallen & the Gerries are legging it for
Alex. Rumours of terrific preparation in England and
hopes are beginning to rise for a landing this year.
Churchill alleged to have broadcast that this is
Germany's big effort, that the next four months will be
critical and that, if we can hold them, especially in
Egypt, things will have passed the turning-point.
We can only wait and see, and, incidentally, can't
help feeling a bit glum. 

 

5
June
30
Partically S.F.A. to do all day, and fact is that I
spent all afternoon in sun, reading & sleeping. Still suffering
after-effects of sore-throat & prontosil.
Wrote a letter home to parents to-day, and cards to
Ines, Boxshalls, Dick, & Ron W.
Last sitting to Titoff of this evening.
Attack of "willies" continuing in aggravated form.
Seems to be general.
July
1
No work - a look through the wards finished it.
No sign of new Russian patients.
News for to-day is that Gerries are scooting towards
Alexandria, while British are whipping 9th & 10th Armies
in from Syria & Palestine.  Question is – who wins?
Rommel's tired troops with few numbers & excellent arms, or
British, superior in numbers but much more poorly
equipped?
Guard told us at 11.30 tonight that Sebastopol has
fallen.
Bridge this evening, Ballata and I against Wiltshire
& Fernhead.  Had a win for a change. 

 

July
2
Lot of flapping about to-day again with preparations
for Russians. British N.C.Os and French N.C.Os have
been transferred from their quarters to a small room each
in VI, and Fosy and Wiltshire bunged in with us,
most of Station 1 patients have come up here, and
Russians are all to go into Station 1 to be looked
after by Stabsarzt and German Sanitaters, on decent
rations, too, so rumour has it. Rather a change for them
to get this sort of treatment - either Germans have lost a
lot of prisoners or are expecting something.
Just saved Miles again from being sacrificied.
Titoff handed me the finished study to-day. I like
it. The least I could do was to offer him 50 Gold Flakes
wish it could have been something decent.
July
3
No ops. again. Weather warm again though a little
overcast.  Visited this morning by Swiss Red +
Commission, one elderly member who had been here before
and a young doctor, to whom Fosy pointed out the
inadequacies of accommodation for medical personnel
and a few other things. Chefartz p explained that
it was only temporary and due to impending arrival
of Russians. I guess it's not his fault anyway.
Allan, Wiltshire, Robert and I bathed this afternoon
at Muggelsee, a little beach alongside a regular
baths which we were not permitted to enter. Rather
intriguing to notice both sexes changing into bathing
togs close to one another screened only by an odd
bush or a tree-trunk - no one takes any notice, and
it's all done quite skilfully, anyway. Water was
clean enough, I suppose, but quite shallow up to a
distance of 100 yds from the shore, and full of
fine floating green weed. Not very attractive to look
at.
Read in an occupied-French paper this evening
that English fleet left Alex on 29 June and passed
through Suez Canal. All sorts of reports of panic
in official & unofficial circles in England & U.S.A. 

 

July
4
Checked most of my Tbs. this morning, quite hot
and fine all day, spent most of afternoon in court
in pair of Vs. and this evening had Magnani,
Crepon, and Pannequin to dinner. Miles & Palmas
did us quite well again.
Most embarrassng for me to invite various French
M.Os. to dine with us, newcomers and all, and always
have to neglect old Morrel. He is a bit of a twirp, but
I think he's prematurely senile, anyway, and more
than a bit potty, and, in my opinion, it would
have been an act of charity on our part to overlook
his eccentric  and often unpleasent behaviour, and to
have had him up.  Rather late now, though, even if
we were were all agreed on the point. Pannequin comes
from the same part of France as he, and as he spends
a lot of time in his company, was beginning to be
regarded with some disproval by some amongst us.
However, Talbot says he's a fine chap, and we did have
him up, so that's that.
July
5
Had a TAB injection this morning, 1 cc. of French
preparation, late Mass, and a loaf during the
rest of the day.
Bridge at night in dentist's surgery with Wiltshire,
Fernhead & Ballata. Pretty scratchy.

 

5
July
6
Last night was the second hot night in a row,
quite muggy.
One anaesthetic this morning. The injection of
yesterday had a little local effect, and, as a general
effect, caused my coryza to flare up - same effect
with Wiltshire & S/Sgt. Erzelius & others.
The long-awaited Russians arrived to-day
about 100 of them, generally fairly well-nourished,
but stated to be suffering, many of them from scurvy.
News that Germans are halted and pushed back a
bit, and being counter-attacked 100 km. west of Alex.,
German advance in South Russia, and a Russian one
N. West of Moscow, first independent Yank bombing-attack
- over Holland, and allied announcements of preparations
for continental landing. Statement that Pacific is under
control.
Wrote a letter to Glad, and cards to parents, ^& Ines, in-laws 
Ines, Cowdens, and one to the kids
Ju1y
7
No anaesthetics, nothing to report. Asked at office
for loan of map of England in Cash-Office,
Hauptfeldwabel had to ask Chefarzt, who is asking
Stalag! 

 

July
8
No anaesthetics.
Re loan of map of England, Stalag says "No!"
Must think it would be of some use in an attempt
at escape.
News from Africa much better, and R.A.F. seems to
be doing very well over Northern France & N.W. Germany,
and it appears that we have control of the Pacific again.
1  1
July
9
No anaesthetics.  Had a note this morning from
Swiss Catholic Mission in aid of Ps.O.W. forwarding a
message from Zia Celestina of ? date -
"Caro nipote, non lo arreto notizia tue dall'Aprile.
Ti penso tanto e cosi la tua famiglia. Noi bene,
Nico a Bombay. Abbracci.  Zia Celestina".
German Fribourg note dated 15.6.42, address -
"Mission catholique suisse en faveur des prisonniers
de Guerre, 
FRIBOURG (SUISSE)."
So Nico is in the bag too! Well, well, well!! Quite a
family habit! I was worried about him, but at
least he's safe. Needs only Dick & Tom Palandri now,
and Giacomo from the U.S.A., and the picture will be
complete.
Hetherington, Higgin, & Rogers & Misolevic to Konigsvater
in early a.m.
Note to Allan K, Max M, & Frank G..

 
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