Diaries of Signalman W H L Woodgate spanning November 1941 to October 1945 - Part 12

[*TUE 22/6/43*]
[*2ND DAY*]
A working party today & do we
cop it. We walk back to the
last camp & carry back a load
I had 5 big shovels. We started @ 10 am
back at 3 pm then back again @ 4 pm
this time I copped a coil of wire
and arrd back flat. We here today.
that 4 of our sigs were killed at
Moulamein. in a British air raid
hope old Stan is OK. Dick Hunter & I do
a bit of house keeping while I was out
today Dick bought 20 Mangoes. & cooked one
in some browned rice. It was good. We
had a bit of meat & made a stew. P.OW 485
[*WED 23/6/43*]
[*3rd DAY*]
A day in camp & up till Dinner
Ive rested now to shave wash
socks etc & we move tomorrow
There has been a dead Yak
in the next hut & its on the
nose over in the jungle there
is a burnt boong (only half burnt)
An experience Big doings on the
islands etc & [[?]] good [[?]] has
been emptied & the race is on
The ripe mangoes were beautiful
have found a way to ripen hot water  486
[*THUR 24/6/43*]
(4TH DAY — 9 KILOS — 2nd stop on return —
Had another whack of fever
last night & @ same time tonight
its hell. We moved in from
Konkoyta to 9 KILOS out not a bad march
but I walk too fast many boongs
lie starving & dying on the road
and we have a fresh Cholera case
This is another Jap Army Camp
holds about 2 [[?]] but the jungle
has all but got it back we still eat
rice & more rice & had some Mangoes 487
[*FRI 25/6/43*]
(5TH.DAY)
After pulling down the tents today
we are told we are not going
on. So up again & I rest most
of the day. We finished our Bananas
today but are still eating OK. Dick
W design a bungalo. Fever still on
last night some of our chaps worked all night
on the yak carts and rice was taken out
to them @ 1 am. This old priest is a marvel
he still goes on.
489
[*SAT 26/6/43*]
(6 Day
YAK. CAMP)
This Am 10/30 we moved out
every man and at the time of
writing (3pm Sun) a great number have
not yet arrd in camp. We were within
3 Kilos of camp when Officer turned back
All but the very sick men & stretcher
Bearers to bring in Nip gear Yak carts
& our own sick & gear. I was up till 2 am
fixing up a feed & bedding down all
the [[Tramoto?]] party as they came in
the road is one muddy quagmire
from start to finish and the distance
15 Kilos. never was such a superhuman
& inhuman effort put up. Cholera patients
on stretchers & dys men who could hardly
walk all out on the mud all night.
and so I close Hell day. 489.  4 more CHOL . 2 Die
[*SUN 27/6/43*]
(14 KILOS) (7 Days) of resting KARRUMPIT.
To bed at 2.15 am & about 3 hrs sleep. Another
cholera case thro the night & Dave
Tasker a Sig is taken to hosp this
am with same. the party still slowly
dribbles in. We get a bit of sun today &
dry up a bit also a wash first good one
for 4 days. We are shifting into a big camp
back about 1 Kilo I bought some bananas
12 @ 1$ & gather some greens & P.OW 490 WK 70
[*MON 28/6/43*]
8TH DAY
Classified re the rupture & no lifting
the fever not to bad we get some
more goula & more rice & so have
plenty of tucker (RICE) carry a few
bamboos in pm & meet Leut [[?]]. We also
move into a tent & the Sigs put it up & as
soon as up in dash the R.A.E. & P.OW 491
[*TUE 29/6/43*]
(9TH DAY)
We get classified this morning & a
good many of us go back to Canbury
I'm in it acct rupture 3 issues [[malerca?]]
I got thro a Dollars worth of goula Melaccas
in two meals. Should live well then
if we get there. not much so [[?]]ow 492
[*WED 30/6/43*]
—10TH.DAY—
Very quiet put pack on. N.D. & to lie
down all day. issue goula. A plane over
here today furfs tomorrow. 1 Chol Death
the whole force warned to move
no other news & P.OW 493
[*152*] 

[*TH/11 DAY.*]
[*1/7/43.*]
We cop an issue of Jap blankets
very lucky too. As one of mine had
8 holes burned in it last night
by some concrete headed dope

The sorting up is being done for

the march tomorrow, more Chol

death today R.A.E. There is mass today

@ 7.30pm. We had a Tin of herrings for lunch

plus the rice & stew. Then coffee & later we

get our eggs & cig papers I'll be fighting fit in

a few days there is a big stew on for

tea. The mates of the deceased

R.AE. put up a cheap turn today.

Volunteers were called to get a funeral

pyrea ready for his cremation &

until they were were told off by Cpt Dobby

not a man stepped forward. Another

one, the burying commission is on

& until today the officer pockets

were empty today I had my attent

drawn to the following & was actually

dragged over to see. Fish spuds meat

stew & veg bananas goula tins of coffee

cigarettes & [[whatups?]]. Also biscuits??

Sig Tasker. Died tonight & P.OW 494 over

[*FRI 2/7/43*]
12TH.DAY ^__

This Am I helped at the burning of

the two boys. One fellow here he's the

lowest card in the pack. Ford. point

blank refused to assist. Last night we

bought cigaretts @ 12c per packet of RQ &

there rather good. We have eggs for break,

Dinner & tea. I see two blokes eat about

½ bucket of pumpkin for tea. the most

of our chaps moved out today. And the

nips are dead anxious to push us on

also. And now to eggs Supper & bed P.OW 495

[*SAT 3/7/43*]
^__ 13TH DAY ^__

Quite a little do on over. an issue

of money (Malayan Pay) looks like a big

do later on. We all march tomorrow.

I make a discovery of cigarette paper

out of the bamboo. Tis very hot here

no rain for 3 Days & roads local are all dry

And now to pack for the shift. We get a bit of

a laugh now & again. All the whingers are

in one tent. One of the pumpkin kings has a

bellywake today. So now to bed & POW. 497 over

[*133*]

[*SUN 4/7/43*]

We leave Karrumpit & do a 

7 KILO bolt to a half way camp where

we arr @ 2.30pm. We get set for the

night and are very glad of bed

hear all Ps O.W. are being moved

back still no rain lets pray it holds

off. News is all Pom & no one believes it

And so we having finished the (14TH DAY)

also close P.O.W. 497 45 SICK. LEFT. AT. [[?]] ^__

[*MON 5/7/43*]
^__ arr TIAGALOON ^__  15TH DAY

Today we move back 5K to our

base camp we find the lads all

at work FD on the railway LD on

the Jap area the food shows an improv

& we can purchase from Pom canteen

Doubt our stay will be very long

report of the 3 Escapees 2 Dead 1 captured. On

the road today I walked for a while

with Major Parry. & arrd in the Camp @ 3.45 pm

we put up our lean-to & down for

the night & POW 498 (15TH.DAY.)

[*16TH DAY
TUE 6/7/43*]
499 days & we are still Ps.O.W. Hell
when will it break?? 500 Tomorrow
lets hope it breaks happy. Not
much doing put in an order
for Goula & so the day closes
[*WED 7/7/43*]
17TH DAY
I make rice scoops today. We have
moved altogether backwards
44 KILOS. We had an inspection
& Fanger by the Japs today I think
a lot of us will go back to Canbury
had a drop of rain today & this humpy
leaves a lot desired & so POW 500
[*THUR 8/7/43*]
18TH DAY
A lot of traffic goes on up & down
the river here one can here the
motor launches going night & day.
Rained like hell last night & we copped
it. One Cholera case in last night also
Dick very tired to day and blames
the belly. and so POW 501 closes
[*FRI 9/7/43*]
19TH DAY
Peanuts in & Stewart is having a field day
I do a bit more work today. And split
some bamboo for the bed A chap
Bagery. A Train mate died today
POW 502

[*SAT 10/7/43*]
- 20TH DAY -
Last night was the worst we
have had 3 men died Badgery
collapsed suddenly and did not
regain consciousness Another died
Respected [[Ty Munro?]] But worst of all
& nearest to home was Les Webster
from Springs he died from Cerebral Malaria
They are all lying together now
10 Yards away from where I am writing
God rest their Souls, and help the rest
of us. We are in a bad way; Fine
fresh Cholera were taken over Also
This am Dick & spent making a bed so
I expect to shift very soon. And now
The talk has turned to the best way
of making damper & scones We got
another of [[?]] for Dysentry this PM. and
up till 7 pm 5 men have died POW 503
[*SUN 11/7/43*]
- 21ST. DAY -
Very quiet today & bad belly pains a bit
of scours later took my last M & B hope to
God it does the job. We are in quarantine &
so the nips have the lads working on
the line which runs thro the side
of the camp our canteen is held
up acct quarantine & PO.W 504 - 72 wk
[*MON 12/7/43*]
- 22ND DAY -
Two more chaps died last night. "Kangor"
the wardin was one strong rumors past.
round that the boongs from Malaya are
coming in to relieve us. Lets hope offs have
a share we can get out of this. This camp
This camp is on top of a small hill one
has no trouble cutting down on wet
days but coming up is a series of spills.
from where I sit I can count 8 little
shacks made of bamboo sticks & ground
sheets & MUD. by the pm look down the
hill one sees just a quagmire the Cook
house is at the bottom. I have never been
so unwashed for years. The food this last five
days has improved very much & we should pull
out of our troubles here. We had another Cholera
injection last night. The name of the joint is
- TARGALOON - & so POW 505
[*155*]
[*TUE 13/7/43*]
I spend the pm erecting tent in
the Cholera Isolation. not very much
doing & our Goula comes in and I promt
boil & start to use it half spilt and
POW 506 23rd Day.
[*WED 14/7/43*]
24TH DAY
Looks like I left out the Stewart
peanut episode spend most of the
day making stew scoops some
more of our Canteen orders have
come in more goula & soap etc. The
Poms have turned out champs they
bring the stuff about 25 miles to us only
for them we would be in a bad way
One more typhus death tonight 8 pm
The nips are at last showing a bit of
interest in us? & P.O.W. 507
[*THUR 15/7/43*]
25TH DAY
The workers go out at 2 pm today
nearly everyone is up off the floor now
The Cholera is abating a little bit there
is plenty of dys & Diahoaror on. We have
two courses left to us. one is 10%
precaution & 90% Luck & trust in God for the
rest and POW 508. over
[*FRI 16/7/43*]
A Very quiet day sore throat.
only thing to record sleep most
of the day and only 3 smokes
the food here is still slipping back
I brown all our rice and eat a few
grains also we make coffee from burnt
rice & to the close of POW 505 26TH DAY
[*SAT 17/7/43 27 DAY*]
Scotty Gould goes to Cholera & in
a bad way too. two in for the
last 24 hrs. Feel much better today
may go on LD tonight & then to work
which if is the case gives one a rather
good hook for a pension back home
No big news yet. it has rained all night & we
are as wet as shags 2 Chol Deaths today POW 510
[*SUN 18/7/43*]
- 28th DAY -
The nip Psychology cuts down the food to the men
in Camp to force them out to work not
many fell for it today. More Cholera yesty (3)
more boongs & coolies from Malaya passing
thro yesty. Still N.D. Still no tents from Nips
POW 511
3 MONTHS. OUT.
FROM. CHANGI.
[*156*]

[*MON 19/7/43*]
29TH. DAY
Easy till 10 am & then I give the job ago
but its no go & have a hell of a day these
nip tally clerks, a wonders home & to
sick parade & ND. for days two Choleras
died today one was Sig Sexton there
a about 40 odd in Chol Isolation & the tally is
growing daily. Johno gets philped on his
tally. Was the only funny incident of the
day. & we worked till 8 pm & POW 512 closes
[*TUE 20/7/43*]
30th Day
Am very busy shifting our villa in Am
& pm is occupied making a hospital bed
for grizzling Charlie Albert. Bought 25c peanuts
and got an issue of goula so alls well
on POW 513 Also hear again re the Canbury
party. Three more Chol deaths last night
The nip strategy of good meals for the
workers & [[?]] for the sick failed in a day
& so now we are all getting bigger & better
feeds 4 now just hear call for 3 men to come
& bring Yaks to the cook house & POW 513 over
[*WED 21/7/43*]
31st Day
And again we move this moving is becoming
some joke. Every time a nip gets an idea we
all move round some how today we turned
out with all our gear packed and sat on
the bank whilst the place was sprayed
& limed and until the rain started we
then were seperated sick from fit and a
fence was put up between us. We had
rather good meals today & tea was a very
good yak stew. if he keeps this food up we'll all
be working or walking soon? So to bed & POW 514
[*THUR 22/7/43*]
- 32rd day -
We all now two seperate camps in one
The tucker we hear is to be the same break
was not too bad Yak broth stew. All are busy
making disinfectant basins out of
bamboo These are placed about one
to every tent. And the little nips sees
they are supplied & kept topped up. POW 515
[*FRI 23/7/43*]
- 33rd DAY -
Nothing of note except that food has slipped
again We are back to 3 plain rice
& [[?]] vegs meals for today
hundreds more boongs came
thro going north & POW 516
[*157*]
[*SAT 24/7/43*]
- 34TH. DAY -
This "am" the river is up about
8 feet on yesty's mark. Terry
O'Brien died 3 am today. blood
poisoning after Chol. Treatment
(Record the hands in the rice some
of our fellows are lower in
statis than the boongs) & today
have two fangers my bottle got broken
latest order is that we must not
go to the river and we call on the
Cooks for all water. We store will be
popular Weak dried spud & M Extract stew
for dinner. To give a description of this
place. We are on the top of a pair
shaped hill 105 paces long by 65-80 wide
Diagram - see original
& we are about 600 strong. the filth &
squallor of the place indiscribable at
present the rats are everywhere & up todate
3 deaths from typhus. The tents are Japanese
except where we have our own villas. & POW 517
[*SUN 25/7/43*]
- 35TH. DAY - 74 week
Money is running out & smoke [[?]]
are in the running. about 5 on to me
since breakfast. but I was out [[?]] days
ago myself, We had another chol death
today . Up to date we have lost a bigger
% of men than we did during action
And the day turns out to be one of
much doings. Firstly we are again put
on two meals a day & secondly 70 men
are kicked out to go to Canbury. I was
on the list but was pulled 
as there were others worse off than
me. hope to be on the next lot
[*MON 26/7/43*]
- 36TH DAY -
I assisted the Canbury mob down to the
barge of men who were to assist right
thro are turned back. Have caught
a beaut cold. Major Parry was on the
lot that went south & that marks
the finish of Parrys Pedestrians or sorry
looking crew now Thousands of
boongs from Malaya have gone up
about us and more come thro
every day. We are still on two meals
and so POW 519
[*158*]

[*TUE 27/7/43*]
37TH DAY. - 520
The temp is about 110 in shade & two
blokes have a fight. One Eng Sgt makes
some very caustic remarks re the
hosp Volunteer orderlies meals. And
we sit in the humpy & talk houses
all the lads are talking of building
homes & I see one big boong when they
get back. 3 more Cholera's burnt today
The greatest barbaric action up to date
is the giving of 1 full meal rice & stew
for breakfast no dinner & half ration
for tea. But more to that later? POW 620
[*WED 28/7/43*](38)
And the meal position becomes
really. inhuman we get half ration
at 7.30 am & another half ration @
7.30 pm. But this war wont last forever
we vacate our two man villa today &
Dick has to do the work in flat out with
a fever. This is the fourth dose of the thing
We move into a tent and a good mob are
in here. Ford is at last caught out on his
doubling up in the meal parade. Ive mentd
him before as the glutton pig of the unit
but he'll make good copy with no [[?]] -
I see the Dr & he puts me back on that
damn quinine & so P. OW 521
[*THUR 29/7/43*] (39)
A good nights sleep Dick's BEX.POWDER
YESTY worked wonders & he'll get a case
of the best [[?]] XMas while Im in the Glen
The [[?]] stil "Barbary" But, we
have enough to Short circuit our
little "Boy friend". another Fanger today
no startling news & P.OW 522.
[*FRI 30/7/43*]
40th Day
Today negotiations for pay complete
and the moving in the camp also
canteen but started. Fern still on
meals improve but still on 2 not
much to do & P.O.W 523
[*SAT 31/7/43*]
41ST. DAY
Great events. We get paid. Men
$3 & N.C.Os $3.50 & so on up the line.
The incident of the day was a good
fight between 40 idiots & the nips
hopped in & both got bashed the
Doc also copped a couple but the
MAN. in him. cowed them back P.OW 524
[*159*]
[*1/8/43 SUN*]
- 42. DAY - Retreat. "15 WEEK".
The "boongs" bring us in some good news
wisely all ours. Musso is out & the bears
go ahead "look out Say" "soon come news."
This news is still good amusement. I
noted the same story on 31/5/43 - Bernie
Mahoney died @ 3 am today. Another
man murdered. And so the [[?]]
goes on lets hope the tide turns soon we
rcd a supply of eggs in today & have
ordered ½ Doz tis a very wet day & the poor
wretches out working in it look like
wet chooks & about as happy & P.OW 525
[*MON 2/8/43*]
- 43rd Day -
Still raining like fury the river is up
about 12 feet but out to work again
go the chaps. This line to here is to be
finished in 10 days? I spend the day
desining a camping tucker box. Bluey
Tayer fell over a bridge tonight no
reports yet. Dick not too good & so P.O.W. 526
[*TUE 3/8/43*]
- 44th Day -
Have been eating peanuts since 4 pm
yesty & still going strong. & @ 5 pm
The actg DSM goes sick & chucks
me the lot. Feel everythings happening
Sick Parade 9 pm. 90 men required by the nips
from the sick lines for work things are
only muddling & Pow 527
[*WED 4/8/43*]
- 45th Day -
90 Men out of sick lines can you
beat that? Am as busy as a flea
all day. Len Morrison Sigs first
Chol case died yesty @ Karumput
[[?]] the river washed the officers out
and so the day goes rather fast, for
everyone they stopped on their own POW 528
[*THUR 5/8/43*]
46th Day
Reville & Cpl Woodgate? is the first scream
I hear & have been hearing it all
damn day. Am 6. pm for the day
& its no criterion. Its worse than
out at work. We sent $3 out today
for some tinned fish & the joker comes back
with a tale that his mate has moved
off. So looks like we do the "doe"
Hell of a mess on early mess. We buy
some dry fish @ 10 pm & POW 529 over
[*160*]

[*FRI 6/8/43*]
47th Day
Slept like a log and have had a
good feed today (we bought some dried
fish last night all soyer beans and
granted some onions had boiled 
fish soup & soyer & onion soup. with
Rice & it was good. We have grilled fish
for tea with more beans & so POW 530
[*SAT 7/8/43*]
48th Day
Very quiet generally & nothing to
record the canteen gets BM Goods
& thereto hangs a [[?]] [[?]]? & so POW 531
49th Day 8/8/43 POW 532 76 Week
50th Day 9/8/43
[*MON 9/8/43*]
We had a remarkable turn today
the Poms from the Jap Slaughter Yard
gave the hospital two legs of yak.
It was too much for them & so they gave
to the (4) units one leg.? 25 steaks were cut
and only luckily the fact was aroma
The nip in the slaughter yard woke up
to the fact that the two legs had gone
off. and after the poms said they had
given it to the Aust hosp the nip sent them
over to get it back. They took it back &
when he saw it He say OKee OKees take back
& we eventually got our stew & so P.OW 534
[*TUE 10/8/43*]
51 60th Day
We were put out on parade
this am & the nips came along & picked
men out at random didnt matter
how ill they were the Dr fought hard all
the way & succeeded in getting a few
released. I was out on a cremation
party this am we have now burned
close on 40 men since we came to this
camp 3 died last night & today. I was
up until 3 am cooking yak & am as tired
as blazes Dicks [[?]] re the goula are
[[?]] beyond [[?]] for some days Ive
been on the outter & have nipped hell
out of him. [[?]] in goula Brown Sugar &
everything else that comes & when [[?]]
[[?]] he gives??? I give up, one [[?]] is that
of the two goula spoons.
P.O.W 535
[*161*]
[*WED 11/8/43*]
Very quiet today most of the lads sent
out by the nips. Are back in again
I have a good sleep in Pm & POW 535
[*12/8/43 THUR*]
This morning we are again out in
the cutting & Cpt Muriama himself
does the picking out (Some hits with
the stick & some terrible cases sent to
work & others ordered for tomorrow.
Spuds a bloke that buzzes about like a
blowfly sells a pair of shorts for 5 bucks
We get three meals today the dinner @ 2 pm
consists of gruel rice only. The pm. I
spent bargaining with boongs. Looks rather
comical to see officers carrying rice P.OW 536
[*FRI 13/8/43*]
Again duty boy & Actg [[RSM?]]? for this
camp its not a bad job today
as there are no officers left in to
keep screaming @ one. The men
have to work till after midnight
tonight & we cook some bones for soup
but its on the nose & P.O.W 537
[*SAT 14/8/43*]
The boys got in @ 3 am. Wonderfull hrs
thats what we are up @ here.
The stew was all eaten & no one
is ill yet. We are put off meat
again because Muriama says
it causes Berri Berri??? The Asiatic mind
again. Not many [[furfs?]] etc & POW 538
[*SUN 15/8/43*]
Today we dug a grave for a
chol death. Leiut Dobby of [[Eng?]]
died today. At about 2 pm we
got word of the trip to Tarn
but again I miss out 150 names
handed Cpy & only 80 go - Am putting
on weight again But old Dick is still
skinny & another "S" - & So P.O.W 539
[*MON 16/8/43*]
Waiting for something to break. We
C.S.M's? are to stand by on camp to "T" up
the 200 who move 2 Kilos Tomorrow. the mob
for Tarn have left Sampson nearly died on
the way to the barge.
[*162*]

TUE. 17.8.43 [[?]] [[?]] [[?]]
[*THUR 19/8/43*]
Thur 19/8/43 This am I meet young
Jack [[Hibble?]] - from [[?]]
this [[Cpt?]] of two days [[?]] have gone
to the [[?]] for our canteen
supplies. Have had some good meals
onions tinned [[?]] fish fried [[?]]
brown Sugar & [[????]]
[*FRI 20/8/43*]
To the pom canteen Sergt [[?]] sold
the Parker Pen & Pencil for $42 not
much doing & so POW 544
[*TUE 24/8/43*]
65TH DAY
Today is one of calamity I had
returned from Pom Canteen & put my
cash on the bed two minutes later
it had gone and suspect one "S"
and so much for POW 548 
[*THUR 26/8/43*]
67TH DAY
There is a movement on some
move for Tarso rest camp & some
for Concoyta again no sign of
the cash yet. Had sick Parade tonight
and as we were going on, Kirts fell off
the second span of nip bridge about
15 ft drop rcd broken pelvis & POW 550
[*FRI 26/8/43*]
68TH DAY
The blitz re my cash is on about
5 blokes being interviewed by Capt
Curlewis no nett results & POW 551
[*WED 1/9/43*]
- 173rd day -
The boys from here who were luckey
enough to click the Tarso trip were
luckier than they new as there
is appearently no more to go. This am
went to the barges and McLeod & self
bought a bottle of [["?"]] and that [[?]]
for the bad writing believe me its
hot stuff. Am going again in few [[?]]
but no more [[?]] & so Pow.556
[*163*]
[*SAT 4/9/43*]
To the groans & snores of sick
& dying boongs. Am lying in 
a boong hut. We are on the
road back to Conoyta
which we left full of hope
about 10 weeks ago and are
at fresina, camped in the dirtiest
part & fly ridden place possible
great strides have been made in
[[?]] with the line & rails Should
be thro in a few days. the walk in
yesterday was not so bad we
come 15 Kilos. [[?]] [[?]] cries the boong &
the boys fly out. so get ribbed
We rest [[?]] today & move on tomorrow
have had a rather good day. Thanks
to Bananas etc [[?]] [[?]] [[(?)]] 

[[?]] about 50 [[?]] [[?]] in the

bush which [[?]] [[?]] [[?]] 50 [[?]] [[?]] [[?]]

(made from [[?]]) & [[?]] & was not too bad. We

cook eggs for tea & hard boil some

for the tea [[?]] tomorrow & POW 559
SUN 5/9/43

On the road @ 9.15amtoday (AND

WHAT A ROAD. Up to our [[?]] in mud

& water from the start. We [[?]] 

CRAN CRR @ 7.30 from 10 KILOS of hell & [[?]]

[[?]] & [[?]] The place is hardly

recognizable. the [[?]] are on [[?]] &

this [[?]] where [[?]] counter

[[?]] [[?]] [[?]] [[bedded?]] [[?]] [[?]] [[?]] 

[[?]] [[?]] [[?]] &[[?]] [[?]] the

meals are a level [[?]] after

what we have had. Beef [[?]]

baked pumpkin stew plenty of meat

etc no bashings are the [[orders?]] of

this camp. Sleep in with the Sgts

and they are very chaps. We

have a good meal [[?]] [[?]] [[?]]

coffee a good chat & no bed for POW 560. 80^TH [[?]]
MON 6/9/43
we depart from the best camp since

we have been up here and move

off into more mud & slush it rains

off & on but we are used to it now

we arrive [[?]] & a & keep on going

and on to Lower [[?]] where the

[166] original camped for months when we

first came [[?]] [[?]] [[?]] this

MON 6/9/43

our destination [[?]] [[?]] [[?]] 

& have to go on another 5 kilos

to Upper T. We arr in camp at

8/30pm 21 kilos up for the day. What a

day. The hut we are in is about 100M

long half is occupied by boongs

& half by us. The latrines are very

close - too close for nostril comfort.

We get meal of rice & fish soup &POW 561
TUE 7/9/43

Miso 8/30am & had only half eaten

it when we get pulled out for a

barge [[?]] & [[?]] party & I get caught

up in it we had to carry gear etc
Well it was one [[hell?]] of a job. 5 return

trips for the day 1½ each way 15 [[?]] up

& loads up to 100 lbs. On one occasion I had

[[?]] nip on one end & ? The fit camp men [[?]] 

tonight. Also our canteen goods which

came by barge. I am looking [[?]] [[?]] [[?]] &

towards the Boong end and am looking

at the wildest looking boong Ive seen

he looks like one of those Golly Wong

dolls the kids have at home. The boongs

gamble squabble & fight & we settle to sleep. POW 562

WED 8/9/43

Revelle 7.40. Tanko 7:50 Miso 8am then a

nip run [[thru?]] , was lucky enough

to miss out & have the day in camp

Sold the canteen biscuits this pm @

5 for 10^c and make a neat profit of 15^c

5 tins of the other companies sold at

the rate of 4 for 10^c & did not keep

any for the men at work. Some

of our in company missed out

& some of the workers missed

out. Finish sales @ 10 pm & P.O.W. 563 over

THU 9/9/43