Diaries of Signalman W H L Woodgate spanning November 1941 to October 1945 - Part 13

[*MON 25/10/43*]
This day will live long in the
memory of these lads. We get a rest
& 4½ packets cigarettes. We carried a
lot of food from Konkoyta yesterday
& sort of expected at present in
that line. Big doings today they held
the joining of the line ceremony. We have
heard no more of our move from [[?]] &
all are impatient & anxious to get away
M.H.R.s to Bush on his 17^TH. Yasta [[?]]
has gone to [[Tarcano?]] to purchase
1300$ worth of canteen supplies he is [[?]]
rather decent bloke & we may get a good
go. We are back on fish sands again
& so P.O.W. 610. 87TH Wk  Hunter's [[?]] double up.
[*SUN 31/10/43*]
A red letter day for the Ps.O.W
here we lose Muriama and
are supposed to be finished all
work & rest for 6 days, then on to
a camp higher up. We have been
carrying to Konkoyta for most of
the week & all gear is out of here
Have had Sat & today off with fever &
feel pretty rotten. We had a present
of cigarettes & margarene today 15 pkts
per man & about 5 spoons marg
We get the greater Asia paper from up
higher & keep up with News a bit. Yasta is away
on another buying trip & may return 
tomorrow & must record the bet of a dinner
with Lieut Blundell re the weight of the 
rails foot or yard & so P.O.W Day 616 of 88^TH wk
[*FRI 5/11/43*]
The weeks best are. Tom Evans
kicked thro the fence by an Elephant.
(2) The singing parade put on yesterday.
Wednesday 50 of the [[?]] & [[?]] 
to sort and stack the gear and carried 
down. They returned today. Tomorrow
we leave for [[?]] ostensably to
join up with the rest of the force
& then to Changi? we have to carry
26 stretcher cases. Have had some good 
dinner meals lately on the the tins of meat.
& fresh. Rose from Albury died last night
All gear packed & ready for tomorrows march
& so closes the last day here & POW 621
Cholera injection yesterday.
[*173*]
[*THUR 11/11/43.*]
We left [[?]] on Sat 6^th and
104 of us carried 26 stretcher cases 12 kilos
to here what a hell trip. The first 
day I work in the Supply Store 42 of 
us are here & we have at last 
clicked an "ace post" the food is
really wonderful & we have
sweet spuds for morning & 
afternoon tea. Tuesday I rode
a raft of bamboo two miles down 
the river. Wednesday I went
fishing. One bomb & we had
about 1000 fish ½ to 4 lb weight 
bought bananas & various other
things & visited [[?]] village.
today we carried one load bamboo
in am & cleared a little patch 
of jungle in pm we are hardly able to 
realise we are p's.O.W here last
nights tea was fish soup fish
[[?]] stew & banana & rice & the 
fried fish for supper. My runner
mate at present is Ron Boyle???
The deaths in our Force to date is 3000 & rising 
& Ps.O.W. Day 627 closes 89th week.
[*SUN 14/11/43*]
The p.m off acct little toe out. We are
moving back the first train load have 
been selected & go on 17^th I am in a 
later party. This is a good job here
pulling down & Building huts here
& there & working in the store Hear
that Bill Bryce had died "F" force death 
roll now 2.300. Our food is still good &
should be better tomorrow as 5 new
cooks go in & so POW 630 of 90 week
[*FRI 26/11/43*]
We are on our way back in a 
truck on the line we helped to build
and the journey is very slow
we slept out last night & deptd
at 9 am today we are at [[?]]
in the dark 47 KiLOS?? past? 4 POW-642
[*SAT 27/11/43*]
We are at Canburi and are
full of bananas. paw paws boong
food etc & we get a meal it
is a nice night & we sleep out again
We took 36 hrs to do the trip without
accidents & POW 643
[*174*] 

[*SUN 28/11/43*]
Was on the wood heap all today
I made $[[12?]] am eating well & am
living high. Food is good & plentiful
we have been down for a swim.
take the wood job on permanant
& P.O.W. 644 of 92 week  Meet Levinsher
$1.50
[*MON 29/11/43*]
The first 1000 have been selected
for Malaya? & the first mob are
to go on 2^nd very quiet & POW 645
[*MON 6/12/43*]
The week has gone very fast &
I was on & off the next draft
for Malaya Am eating very
well, fish, eggs & fruit and in better
nick than ever. I'm now in Changi
draft. The only trouble is a sore shin
A swim every day very acceptable
There's a real "Paddies" market on the 
beach of the river and a fair bit
of buying & selling goes on most of the
chaps have plenty of cash, gold
& English notes are high news in
rice. & POW 642
[*THUR 9/12/43*]
Another draft for Malaya are off at
once. Meet [[?]] very pleasing chap
"Coffee up" is the call from the camp.
All day a man falls into the latrine. Up
at 3 am. Fever on again 102.4 Temp
Bit of a dinner with Dick Benson Fritz [[visit?]]
by Feb 1^st inc & POW 655
[*SAT 11/12/43*]
Deaths "F" Force 3226 and still rising. The whole
of "H" Force have moved back and some of
our chaps have sent with them. Am
on the last dollar again?? Say Bill what did
you do with that encyclopedia you had?
Smoked the bastard"? says Bll. Capts Barnett &
Stahl have dumped the unit and have
been given a job at the hospital? Dick Hunter
is dead. & POW 657
[*SUN 12/12/43*]
Mass today first for 6 months. Have
bad cold. All very quiet &
POW 658. 94 weeks
[*175*]
[*MON 13/12/43*]
At 4 pm today we were told
to get ready for deptre @
10 am tomorrow the camp
must be cleared in 6 days
hospital & all. A furf tea & the
war in Europe is over??
We are warned to pack &24 POW 659
[*TUE 14/12/43*]]
We deptd from Canburi @ 12.30 pm And left the
Stn @ 3.50 pm, 29 men to a truck & its some
pack. We buy food at the first stop [[only?]]
only 10 mile away. the country here is
very flat and very productive & fruit etc
is cheap. I spend my last 10c of the typewriter
money at this stop, but have lived well
all the way. Sell a few more articles & have
''doe" again. The latrine facilities are
very restricted & so the lads ''hold
each other out"?? We arr at the Junct
@ 6.10pm & dept 11.50pm. Thro Bampong @ Mdt
& so now. 660 closes on the move.
[*WED 15/12/43*]
We stop @ 3.50 am & rcv two meals, one we
eat then & the next about 9 am. They
were Break & dinner for today. We
are somewhere on the Isthmus when
day broke & were buying eggs fruit etc.
when sun rose. At 4pm we stop for
a meal at our first rest place. On the
down journey we again draw two meals
which were of fish & rice very light & POW 661
[*THUR 16/12/43*]
At 6 50 am we stay at another small
place where we buy fish & eggs. We are
at Kan Bon @ 11 50am. This is the only stn I
have been able to read the name of
We had dinner @ 3 pm & crossed the
border at & POW 662
[*FRI 17/12/43*]
We crossed the border @ 3.am Arrd [[?]]
8 am Since two pm yesty we have been
running thro rice fields, thro spuds of acres
of it we arr @ Pria @ 450am & have a meal
very tasty but light. No fruit has been available
since we crossed the border Dep Pria @ 1 30pm
arr I.POH 8/30pm & meal & dep 10/30pm. & POW 663
[*176*]

[*SAT 18/12/43*]
We arr @ K.L. @ 7.45 am & dept 8 30 am we
had a very nice meal here curried pork
stew & rice. We arr JEMAS. 1.30pm & had dinner
& drew tea meal. & dept @ 2.30pm. Bisuness
seems to be at a stand & there is very little
stuff to buy, & what there is. is as dear as
poison we cross the causeway @ 11 50 pm
& so POW 664
[*SUN 19/12/43*]
We arr Singapore @ 12.45 am and are
loaded into the trucks for Changi
33 men & gear to a truck. We leave the
Station @ 2.15 am & arr here @ 3 am
have a cup of tea & so to bed @ 3.30am We
are up about 8/30 & I have a good wash the
best and only for 2 days. Our meals
here are very light yet. @ 5.45 pm we shift
from the Garage to the huts. Clean Arr
floors & electriclights & we celebrate by playing
floors Bridge till lights out @ POW 665 & 95 WEEK
Meet Bob Ensor & try to find Bas Vandemeyer
[*MON 20/12/43*]
Take on the Hygene job & a whole crew of
sigs. We have a rather heavy raw here
& get away to a good start & POW 666
[*THUR 23/12/43*]
Off again with malaria and so bang
goes the job for a while all anticipatn
for Xmas but we have a bad lot
of cooks and loks like strife in that line
& POW 669
[*FRI 24/12/43*]
Xmas eve & I am in hosp with Malaria
May get a good dinner now at least. lighs
out go a 23 59 & it looks like a lively night
It is coming in our gear is steralized for
lice & by the powers there are more lice
& bugs here than in any boong hut I have ever
seen I am awake @ 11 59 pm & POW 670
[*SAT XMAS 25/12/43*]
I had two hrs sleep for the night. This am some revellers
were put in quite a lively show & a good bit of noise.
The lunch was a "poor Ad" Another turn after lunch
is the "SISTER? one of the best impersinations Ive seen
& a lot of the chaps fell for her for a while.
It promises to be a rather dreary XMAS DAY.
DID not turn out too bad & the Unit brought
over a Doover (Jam) tonight we had a very
good TEA. & So XMAS.DAY & POW 171 -
[*177*]
[*SUN 26/12/43*]
Hear there is a collect of Diaries?? Bugs
nearly ate me again tonight last night
they are here in millions. A [[?]] in
the next bed died at 1.30 today
just as we were eating (louse & Malaria)
I am to stay in for another 10 days
Meals are very good & So POW 672 of 96 week
[*WED 29/12/43*]
We hear from Padre that there is a
red cross food & clothing shop in. Just
in time for the men who came back
Furfs are good and [[?]] is going on
I rcd an ounce of tobacco from the
unit today. Also [[?]] up re our XMAS
smokes & So POW 675.
[*THURS 30/12/43*]
We were all vaccinated today
for Small pox. There has been
a couple of suspected cases in
we hear rumors of Geneva Conv
being observed at Syme Road the
Red Cross ship seems to have been
a myth. All [[?]] & POW 676
FRIDAY 31.12.43
The end of another year and we
do not seem to be any closer to
the finish. 1943 has been a bad year
for most of us. Let's hope for better
do in the New Year. I weighed myself
today 9.2 . 23lb underweight
and must sit in to rebuild it
Les McMahon died of pneumonia 5pm today
Tis a "late light" night & the lads make
merry & so ends 1943 P.O.W 677
SATURDAY 1.1.44
And so into the new year the last
one brought only misery to all F. force
men & death to over 3090. Lets hope
for better things in the New Year
I was over to the basket ball match
today Aust v America. Aust won
54-28 Also to a soccer match after
tea tonight (Eng v Scot. & Eng won
5-0. We had a very good meal
tonight & the year starts on a
happy note & so P.OW 678
[*178*]

[*FRI 7/1/44*]
I am discharged from Hosp.
today and feel 100 per for the
spell. The tucker here is rather
light of late so am pleased to
be out furfy are still good.
Back to the[[?]] & have Rcd another Stripe
A good tea & on the floor again & POW 684
[*SUN 9/1/44*]
To Mass in am and one told
of 11 am that I am transferred
to Unit @ 2 pm. My [[?]] [[?]]
being?? Am sorry to leave the lads
tho I am at Unit @ 3 pm & camp
with some ordnance chaps much
to my satisfaction the tea here
tonight was Number 1 we had
stew of Fried shot towgay - @ 4Y2Y ½ fried
of fish - 3 savoury  De Ouvres - 3 sweet [[?]]
& I was in the back up. no wonder
these blokes are fat. Sleep on the
concrete & POW 686 of 98 week closes -
[*MON 10/1/44*]
Rcd a new pair of boots & socks
today and visited hospital
saw old Bill Hendrickson &
had a good supper and home
at 10/30 pm P.O.W 687
[*TUE 11/1/44*]
This camp looks today more like a gigantic
poultry farm about every hundred yds
or so in any direction are accs poultry
pens. Altogether there are 8000 head of
ducks & hens etc in the place.
Some of the stories (re the feed & food supply
for the birds) are very interesting. I saw
at one place a dish of real good rice being
fed to them. The nips are going crook
about the lack of swill for the pigs it
also is being used for the poultry
for the individual I hear the pigs are
for the A.I.F.??? For the lack of comaradere
and the amount of utter bloody selfishness
this place would be hard to beat:
Most of the chaps here are thirsty for news
of our trip all have lost mates up there
Furfs still good & so POW 689
[*179*]
[*THUR 28/1/44*]
Rced a letter from home today &
more to come. The camp is full
of wild rumors, we are going to
nip. officers to G.B. hospital to
Singapore & goodness knows what
else one [[?]] wants to bet 500$
that the show in Europe is over
Meat came in yesterday & of course
that started a heap more
Charlie Hill & a few more & self tee
up a fishing coy. I meet some [[?]]
& see some beautiful carvings & arrange agency
after war. Also fire up the Clarionette for safe
Went to the Malayan command concert tonight
Roman Rackets. & so to POW 706
[*FRI 5/1/44*]
Another dose of fever on 31^ST & have
had 4 days down sofar this makes 16th
dose in lines & attention POW 714
[*WED 16/2/44*]
Our 2nd P.O.W Anniversary yesterday
returned to N.O/2 area on 11th we
are getting a fair supper of food
here now and meat 2 or 3 times
a week. I have supper every night
with two Dutchmen Sold the Clary
$10 and am living well P.OW 724
[*SUN 27/2/44*]
Red Cross supplies arr today not a very
great amount but an issue. All Yank
things are very good here & we hear
that we are go get increase in pay. The
smoke position has improved. Am
getting interested in Imports & international
politics also take up a course of acctcy
have been missing [[life?]] for a week & have
yards of material. The peanut that fell
back into the pot is the high story.
of the week. All war essays have been
binished?? and P.O.W. 735 of week 105 closes
[*MON 7/3/44*]
Eye clinic with left eye & into M.C
with Malaria in pm. BTT & good meals here
Birthday today? & 17TH Dose of the Bug
Not much doing & so POW 744
[*180*]

 [*FRI 31/3/44*]
Am in Malaria Centre again have
been here 10 days Today the unit moves
to new huts. All very quiet. POW 768
[*181*]
2
1
0 40
    35
    25
4.00
1
   50
   20
    18

    12
2 00
Director J. Flippo
[*182*]

183
D.T. Jape
South Arm
Bowraville
Nth Cst NSW
RECLAIME & IMPORTBUREAU
HW.VAN. DOOTINGH
BURGEMEESTER. COOFSWEG 72
BANDOENG JAVA.
Director J. Flippo
[*184*]

MARELLA. DRAFT. CONT. PAY. CORH
VX64335 R.G. MACDERMOTT
9. x IRVINE CRES
WEST. BRUNSWICK
VX64333 D.L. BRUMLEY
79. CLOW. ST
DANDENONG
VX61425 W.G. .MORRISON
C/o S.R. & W COMM
BALLARAT
VX     A.W BAKER.     C/o HERALD OFFICE.
SX15111 R.B. LESLIE
E.J AYLOTT. C/O MRS BARTRAM
BUSHY COMMON. GRESENHALL.
EAST DEREHAM. NORFOLK. ENG
½ POMELLO. ON. TRACK.PY. TIMOTO.TARGANOON
last talk to Les. Webster this day Les died
two days later.
G. Bauman
347 Canning St
Nth Carlton
MENARY OF. TRIP. ALBURY TO MURRAYBRIDGE
DAY
1&2 On Day up Murray 1 Day back to Weir
3  To ALBURY and on to Cowlong for Tea
4  Cowlong to Rutherglen overnight
5  Rutherglen to Yarrawonga Lunch Harriss
6  Yarrawonga Tocumwal Tea Pub
7  Tocumwal to Bure Tea Pub
8  Bure Echuca Tea Pub
9  Echuca to camp Koondrook Breakfast Pub
10 Koondrook Camp to Camp or Swan Hill
11 Camp to Swan Hill Tea Pub
12 Swan Hill to ^Euston or Mildura} meals in town
13 Mildura
14 Mildura to camp Renmark
15 or Berri Camp to Camp or Morgan
16 Camp to MurrayBridge Mr McLean
17&18 Murray Bridge to Bar & Back
19 Arr Adelaide
20.21.22  Adelaide
23 Port Pirie - Pirie
24 Port Pirie
25 Pirie to West Aust
35 Adelaide to Melbne
40 Melbne Rolen
47 Rolen North
61 Return Rolen
[*185*]

NX67852 PTE. H.J. HOGAN
TURNER. ROAD
BEXHILL. VIA LISMORE
NX59888 SIG. D.E. FLEMING
C/O G. FLEMING 11.A BARWON.ROAD
LANE. COVE.
WN6856 G. DOUGALL.
RLYS. C.T.M's OFFICE
W.A.G.R. PERTH
SX8859 CPL C.L. EARLE
35 CAMBRIDGE. TERRACE.
UNLEY 'ADELAIDE' SA
SX8597 W.W. WEEDON
18 LOCH. ST.
ST. PETERS. SA
SX10344 F. FORBES
OROROO
SA
SX8414 V.J. WELLS
ELIZABETH. ST.
MURRAY. BRIDGE
NX.42271 L.G. MCMAHON
BOX. 43 C
GLENAIRE
UNGARIE/ N.SW
A. CORNELIUS
THE HILL.HOUSE
DAWLISH
STH. DEVON.
ENG.
1112201 A/C J. KIRK
50. MILL. LANE
GILDERSOME LEEDS. YKSRE
F.L. RUDKIN
24. COMPTON. ROAD
CULCHESTER. ESSEX ENG.
[*BET-
 1 C/S. WINE
TO
1 ENG BEER.
THAT. IM HOME
FIRST*]
VX62500 CPL MAT NOLAN
9 KINROSS AV
CAULFIELD
NORMAN. ROBB
29 EDITHVALE. ROAD.
EDITHVALE
[*2/9
FIELD AMB
SHERRY
& MXD*]
A.A. SAUNDERS
MEADOWLANDS
GLENGARRY
- VIC
[*STAYING. THAILAND*]
Frank A Pain
59 Stamfordham Road
Fenham
Newcastle-on-Tyne
England
Reece Mowbray
Newcastle
N.SW
[*18 BAILEY ST
ADAMSTOWN
NSW*]