Diaries of Signalman W H L Woodgate spanning November 1941 to October 1945 - Part 3

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
  • Prisoner of War
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
PR00606
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

1988 no 5298 26012t
Ladar we ment and so the Job know the slaw is just aboutiover) & refurned appm great gubilation we moved so fast lest so night & aut afai Sopan We Mavilled Imile to get sed bud t5 you away from where we started from We see the peopa 25 from oou the wise giit o hit ane But? fam larty is cnd out we are doing a wits of walking about dons & yevr so swife rapisce good not poo good yet today I go o board 194 the relsan it ag. Wanderfulship. Am tD strack by the posmess of the god it worse Fen NaO.W pation and tough Isaya Bam aff belson a 2 $30 am had a loatn N9 found Bugspare 4 fident the seips on home DOpan So ind we pase somenie we leave change for. I the last time (uss before leaving be haff the plesude of seedy sbout sos wips march past us. It was a good light. we now look forward to getting aboard guoa & to good muchent an . We have capped the blordy crow again our
and as we sail out dinner was saup tatherii I have my last wot small issue meat + spuds at the Chanlgis fair smell isue Sweat I feel no forg and No. TEH NBREAD RUNERORTAM eventually me see of course the (WE. MW.AVE) osents have theirs the mys wo more of the thrice oused place. are very annoyed We remain af the 52 The sea is likea hand hook in the Day. At & theie is no movement at all on the shat all day. Tucker not H he sittle down to what to good must pecard here we hope wid be a goor my thanks so the Aust hip hee lavede Red gross sociy if one bottle of ber eac to date (as we leftfail ap to dake a few we lneged. walled the roed & of O half sowel Lastbrush cause thats afewt some sweets O pied poat Zrayor blakes Oconb hss battles for us am a mess ardely A$ 300 his we up andor soday - sur meat plevel impovedo a move off. I look back little. A strangedien on sinpal oux you in pears & a rew the stern of teS have misced fulmp or that
Tuesday passes quietly o Today We held of race meeking in Bard a fair interest taking I meet pp with a young pom and score pome shepee snions & some cold coin buf + salad for the lads we are stiel hungi at spm we passed CLambod a at ypu we passed a volcance it was a grand sight. at epn wd passen the Hawkstun wess bound our ship ppoke to ber by sig lamp & we leavned that the Dantison & the Arawat anr famin epoon today. We hope so her patarda had an action ssup parade at 4 pm a few of few t imtably had another inm on the beer last night this beer is either stater from ships stons of is some of our grafint issue. A bloofy time shaw worn any hugle & as I pe aboue they get away with t. sleep for an nour Parade this am re the Do beer stolen Wajos Bridgela& officiate & after as lot of Halk told us we are yllow i He is anxgious o for Te ben frep the thoks spiside. he aras Haruu d wp
Put my feet or 32 aust shows oner again. Puty to Or host lapt round have uuch at Havy HAmeet up Barry Bown grrm Me some Clothing has uss yet and sn ship we are to leare Atxan somnrow Mev. 158 Aa & 1945 the seave fourr a tpoan shadwo other ships ex syngapore rave late today the are asterfor ty tub regiers andi in beeing this fon again alte is a sight tooit seem. The fa nary serally made a job of it about ter of the place ao wiped nt glea PO. Ded Hispital Insun China Swon Pils theatles + pudsed of nouseshave gore 129 raies were madeh place, the Drome copped it heary + p only fir wr left st the honses, las I knew slem Theminge are rife but did not an We went and with
The salvo truck I came back in the an fore sinch we got back so ship AD.30 pm tonight we are off the sop of N.T.S it is getting very cold Bront Jehort received from the lads is the Esperance we are sure on t wrong saip. They get a babble of beer waday chocolate of a lost of other cancessinns of Caurse Black Jach is is slarge ther & we cansexpect much from the care we have leve We held a sweet today 239 list wonde ship Engineer
Blankpases in -his item have ot been F Scanned
ppicodes Didn't rake the boys get on the be a pelest few very trunk tonight Expect repersumng Demper of blaker, per a fight tonight they look like hell today have my ap botthofice Haise a few of the boys are in nosp various ailment. See Ben Rekon he looks bor Two up psarts & one bloke, one $14 don't play myself Blosky beautiful show the eleeopa & one officer. on the booze the miss room Chape quakes if any one asked me how gos these pip 32 pay. just son't & - well know Ros Smithean a sharge of insubordination Hon a bist browned oft with the phoko's performance on the booze told him where he got off. He. Ron. renands CM. When we land. My opinion this slards the ball Galling & its someball The deal refusen Tucher was so eight d bad tinner today that we refused it the Rovas at table at the fime + we went back to Mitche for more god meat again last aightec or booge again
McEV0Y &C WEST. St LeW HILL IVERPoel 2 L. H. Ball IC 61 York St Hanley Atskee on Brent Wits Bill part 139 Mancherte Rd Cufton manchester Eng A. TOSEH. Sanrd NAIX 7.IND COMP R.RIASC GO. SEAC. SINGAPORE MSome R.C. MISSION COMOVN SATANRVLAN WNEVEHY DI IADIA W. MARHALL 22CUAATE. ST LRNCROTT LAVE STOCKPORT Re CHESIRE & L. Moekell singa II MANOR DO STOCKPER) HESHIRE E.H. BOWDLER 0 BRIARBANK Welson OAKHILL BURSELDON Sevmnmeror sanall 16 Samell Rd Stockwest LOUDOV. SW9 FW. MEADER 13 OIELRD HONERTON EG LoNDON

431093
825828 ? 863405
Serangoon
3261
M J’s Barker 
 

 

[*16/8/45*]
Today we went out to the 
Job.(We know the show
is just about over) &
returned @ 1 pm great-
Jubilation
[*20/8/45*]
We moved to jail last
night & out again
today We travelled
½ mile to get to a
hut 25 Yds away from
Where we started from
[*25/8/45*]
We see the people
from over the wire
quite a bit now
But?? Familiarty is
to be cut out
[*SEP 1*]
We are doing a bit
of walking about don't
have to swipe tapioca
food not too good yet

 

[*19/9/45 WED*]
Today I go on board
the Nelson. its a
wonderful ship. Am
Struck by the poorness
of the food it’s worse
than Prs.O.W ration
I stay on board tonight
[*THUR 20/9/45*]
Came off Nelson @
830 am had a look
round Singapore a
ride in the stiffs? cart
home @ 6pm to find we
leave tomorrow
[* FRI 21/9/45*]
We leave Changi for
the last time (just before
leaving we had the pleasure
of seeing about 200 nips
march past us. It was a
good sight. We now look
forward to getting aboard
& to good Muckin. 12 noon on
(4pm). We have copped the
bloody crow again. Our 
 

 

dinner. was soup (rather nice)
small issue meat & spuds
Small issue ??? sweats
NO.TEA. NO. BREAD. BUTTER. OR. JAM.
of Course the (WE. MAY LIVE)
Gents have theirs. The boys
are very annoyed.
[*SAT 22/9/45*]
We remain at the
hook in the bay
all day. Tucker not
so good. Must record here
my thanks to the Aust
Red Cross Soc'ty up
to date. (as we left Jail)
we have rcd-
(1) half towel (1) Toothbrush
some sweets (1) piece soap
2 razor blades (1) comb ??
[*SUN 23/9/45*]
At 1200 hrs we up anchor
& move off. I look back
on Singapore over
the stern of the Ship

 

and as we sail out
I have my last look
at the Changi jail.
I feel no pangs. And
eventually we see
no more of the thrice
cursed place.
The sea is like a pond
& there is no movement
at all in this ship
We sittle down to what
we hope will be a good
trip we have had
one bottle of beer each
up to date a few
ratted the hold & of
course thats a few
less bottles for us
[*MON 24/9/45*]
Am a mess orderly
today. our meals
have improved a
little. A strange dream
Ron in tears & a row
have mixed feelings on that. 
 

 

[* WED 26/9/45*]
Tuesday passed quietly
Today we held a race
meeting on board.
a fair interest taken
I meet up with a
young Pom. And score
some chops & onions &
some cold corn beef &
salad for the lads we
are still hungry.
At 3 pm we passed Lamboch
& at 7 pm we passed
a volcano it was
a grand sight. at 8pm
we passed the Hawksbury
west bound - our ship spoke
to her by Sig lamp
& we learned that the
Duntroon & the Arawak arr
Darwin sipm today.
We hope to Arr Saturday
had an action stins
parade at 4pm

 

[*THUR 27/9/45*]
A few of the Untouchables
had another inning
on the beer last
night this beer is
either stolen from
ships stores or is
some of our gratuist
issue. A bloody fine
show from any angle
& as I refd above
they get away
with it.
I sleep for an hour
[* SAT 28/9/45*]
Parade this am re
the 25 Doz? beer stolen
Major Bridge and officials 
& after a lot of talk
told us we are yellow?
He is anxcious to find
the beer (ref the "Choko"
episode. We arr at
Darwin @ 10 pm 
 

 

[*SUN 30/9/4*]
Put my feet on
Aust. shores once
again. Out to Air
port. look round
have lunch at
Navy HQ meet
up Barry Brown
from Mentone
Clothing has not
yet arrd on ship
we are to leave
@ 6.30 am tomorrow
- Mon. 1.ST Oct 1945-
We leave Darwin
@ 6/30 am. The two
other ships ex
Singapore leave
later today they
are faster than
this tub.
Reflects on Darwin
Seeing this place

 

again after 4 years
is a sight worth
seeing. The japs
have certainly
made a job of it
about 5/7 of the
place is wiped
out clean
P.O.  Old Hospital  “Ins & Outs”
China town  Pub's
theatres & hundreds
of houses have
gone. 129 raids
were made on the
place  the Drome
copped it heavy &
only props of
there left of the
houses as I knew
them. The mangoes
are ripe but did
not have any.
We went out with 
 

 

The Salvo truck
& came back in the
Air force truck.
We got back to ship
@ 5.30pm –
Tonight we are off
the top of N.T. &
it is getting very
cold. From reports
received from the
lads ex the Esperance
we are sure on the
wrong ship. They get
a bottle of beer per day
chocolate & a lot of
other concessions
Of course Black Jack
is in charge there
& we can’t expect
much from this cove
we have here.
We held a sweep
today. £39 first
won by Ship Engineer 
 

 

- Episodes -
Didn’t take the boys
long to get on the
beer a select few very
drunk tonight. Expect
repercussions.
A couple of blokes had
a fight tonight. they
look like hell today
Have my Jap bottle stolen
Quite a few of the boys
are in hosp various
ailments. See Ben Re Ron
he looks bad.
Two up starts & one
bloke  one £14 don't play
myself.
Bloody beautiful show.
the elect & one "Choko?
& one "officer". on the booze
with in the mess room
Choko quotes "If any one
asked me how I got
these pips Id Say.

 

I just don't F— — well
know.???
Ron Smith. on a charge
of insubordination
Ron a bit browned off
with the "Choko's"
performance on the
booze. Told him where
he got off. He. Ron.
demands. C M. when
we land. My opinion
this starts the ball
rolling & its some ball.
– The meal refused –
Tucker was so light
& bad dinner today
that we refused it
the "ROUNDS" at table
at the time & we went
back to kitchen for more
got meat.
Again last night 26th elect
on booze again. 
 

 

P.J. McEVOY
25 WEST ST      4 L.C
LOW HILL
LIVERPOOL 7

C H. Ball
61 York St        L.C
Hanley
Stoke-on-Trent "Staff’s" 

Bill Hart
139 Manchester Rd
Clifton
Manchester
Eng

NAIK. A. JOSEPH. SAMUEL
7. IND. COMP. PL. RIASC
C/O. SEAC.
SINGAPORE
or Home R.C. MISSION. COMPOUND
SATANKULAM
TINNEVELLY D T
-INDIA-

 

W. MARSHALL
22. CURATE. ST         }
TURNCROFT. LANE}
STOCKPORT             }   Ron
CHESHIRE                 }     &
E. MORRELL               }   I.
11 MANOR RD          } Singa
STOCKPORT             }   
CHESHIRE                 }

E.H. BOWDLER     P.O
BRIAR. BANK.         on
OAKHILL               Nelson
BURSELDON
SOUTHAMPTON

J.R. Overall                 LC
16 Damell Rd
STOCKWELL
LONDON. SW .9

J.W. MEADER          LC
63  OIEL RD
HOMERTON E.9
LONDON 
 

 

 

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