Diaries of Signalman W H L Woodgate spanning November 1941 to October 1945 - Part 5

TUE
31/3/42

WE ARE. ENDEAVORING. TO. MAKE. A. FEW. MORE. HIVES. 

BUT. ARE. A. BIT. SHORT. ON. TOOLS. BOXES. I. HAVE
MADE. AT. HOME. 3. A. DAY. ON. MY. OWN. WE. CANNOT.
MAKE. HERE. 3 MEN. A BOX. A. DAY. ITS. NO. GO. WITH. BOONG.

TOOLS. HAVE. AN. iDEA. THAT. THAT. PLACE. iN. MURPHY. ST. WILL 

COME. MY. WAY. AS. A. STARTER. WHEN. I. GET. BACK. & THEN. OR 

AT. LATER DATE. KuRRLS. WENT. OVER. TO. THE. 2UP. TONiGHT. WiTH 

1. DOLLAR. & WON. A .FEW. MORE. ALSO. HAViNG. FAiR MEALS. NOW 

&. STiLL. HAVE. A. TiN. OF. FiSH. UP. MY. SLEEVE. WE. WERE. iNFORMED. THAT 

OUR. TWO. CHAPS. WHO. GOT. OUT. WERE BEiNG SHOT. TODAY 

BUT. TONiGHT. THEY. CAME. BACK. WiLL. APPEND. THEiR TALE 

AS. A. SEPERATE. ISSUE. TOMORROW. SAW BAZIL & NOEL. TODAY 

& DONE. SOME. WASHiNG. iT FAiR GETS. ME. UNDER. THAT. GAME

WED
1/4/42

APRiL. FOOLS. DAY &. THE. LADS. HAVE. NOT. FORGOTTEN. THE 

FACT. AT. REVALLY. THEY. ARE. PUTTING. THEM. OVER. JAVA 

IS. DEFiNATELY. DUTCH. NO. RXEN'S. TO. JAVA. & .YANKS. iN 

SUMATRA. THAILAND. HAS. CAPiTULATED & GOODNESS. KNOWS 

WHAT. NOT. SOME. OF. THESE. BLOKES. REALLY BELEiVE. THEM. iTS 

BEYOND. ME. HOW. IN. HELL. THEY. THINK EM. UP. BY. THE. LOOK 

OF. THE. MOVEMENTS HERE. THE. STORiES. FALL. SORT. OF 

FLAT & SO. THE. DAY. GOES. ON. ONE. FURF. AFTER. ANOTHER.

SPENT. THE. AFTERNOON. QUiETLY: PREPARING. LECTURE. NOTES. 

WE. HAD. A. RATHER GOOD. TEA. TONiGHT. BUT. THE. MORE. WE. HAVE 

THE. MORE. WE. LEAK. THiS. iS .THE. FIRST. AFTERNOON. SMOKELESS- 

[*"BEER. PRAWNS. ETC"*]

THUR
2/4/42

AND. TODAY. I. HAVE. HAD. A. FILL OF. MAKING. BOONG. BEE 

BOXES. WHAT. WITH. CHASiNG. THE. TOOLS. ETC. WHiCH. ARE. ALWAYS 

TAKEN. BY. SOME. OFFiCER. (TRADiTiONALLY SiGNALS) (WHOSE. 

MANNERS. ARE. USUALLY. SLAVE. TO. HiS "EGO.") WHO. NEVER. 

SEEM. TO. REALiZE. THAT. iT. SHOULD. BE. RETURNED. AND 

IN. CONSEQUENCE IM FED. UP. TODAY. WAS. MY. FIRST.. SMOKELESS. DAY 

AND. IT. iS. NOT. TOO. HOT. I. WILL. MAKE. AN. ENDEAVOR TO. GET. THE. SMOKE 

POSiTiON. RiGHT. OUT. OF. ME. DURiNG. EASTER. & SHOULD FiNiSH. UP. WITH. 

SOME. GOOD. OUT. OF. BEING. A. P.O.W. THESE CiGS ARE. COSTING A 

DOLLAR. A. PACKET. HERE. & ALTHOUGH. I. HAVE. A. FEW. DOLLARS. I. 

WILL. NOT. SPEND. ANY. ON. SMOKES. iT. LOOKS AS. THO. THE. BUYING. IS. DONE 

ON. THE. ROAD. THERE. iS. AN. "iNDiAN" SENTRY. ON. DUTY. OUTSiDE & 

OUR. OWN. PROVOS. iNSiDE. THE. WiRE. SOME. OF. THE. LADS. LOST. BiG. AT. IT.

FRI
3/4/42

GOOD. FRiDAY. BUT. NO. HOT. CROSS. BUNS. MARVLS. HOW. ONE. MISSES 

THE. OLD. TRADiTiONS. & HOW. YOU. FEEL. FAMiLY. TiES. GREATER. ON 

THESE. DAYS. AND WONDER. AGAiN. HOW. LONG IT. WILL. BE. BEFORE 

WE. GET. BACK TO. THEM. ID. LiKE. TO.. KNOW JUST. HOW. THE. YANKS. ARE 

GETTiNG. ON. WiTH. THESE. BLOKES. WE. EXPECTED. THIS. CLASH. FOR 

MANY. YEARS. BUT. DID NOT. EXPECT. TO GET. CAUGHT. UP. IN. ITS. VORTEX 

I. SPEND THE. AM. ON. BEE. BOXES. &. AFTER. DiNNER. WE. GET. READY. FOR.

THE. STATIONS. OF. THE. CROSS. & AT. 4. PM WE. ALL. GO. OVER. TO. OUR 

CHAPPLE. SITUATED. AT. THE. MACHiNE. GUNNERS.  (11) 

IN. A COCONUT. GROVE. THERE. iS. SITUATED. A. LiTTLE SHELTER 

MADE. OF. BAMBOO. POLES. & ROOFED. WiTH. FRONDS. THiS. LiTTLE 

PLACE. SHELTERS. OUR. ALTER. AROUND. iT. STAND. ABOUT. 1000. MEN 

TO. ATTEND. THE. CELEBRATION. OF. THE. SERViCE. IT. iS. A. FITTING PLACE & 

A FITTiNG. DAY. FOR. SUCH. A. SERVICE. THE. SERViCE. STARTED & THE

SKY. CAME. OVER. CAST. HEAVY. BLACK & WiTH. LIGHTNING FLASHING 

IN. THE. NEAR. DiSTANCE. A. STORM. iS. COMING. UP. PUTS. ONE. IN 

MiND. OF. THAT. DAY. ON. CALVARY. & AS. THE. SERVICE. FiNiSHES THE 

STORM. BRAKES. RAIN. POURS. DOWN. NOT. A MAN. MOVES. & ALL. ARE 

DRENCHED. TO. THE SKIN. iN. A. FEW. MiNUTES. THERE. iS. NO. SERMON 

NONE. iS NEEDED. TO. CREATE. A GREATER. PICTURE. iN. ONES. MIND 

OF. WHAT. iS. THE. BASE OF. OUR. FAiTH. WE. COME. BACK. TO. BiLLETS. & CHANGE 

INTO. DRY. CLOTHES. IT. RAINED. UNTIL. LATE. INTO. THE. NIGHT. 

THE. NEWS. WE. HEAR. TONiGHT. DEALS. WiTH. MANY. PLACES. WAVELL. IS .

GETTING. A BAD. SPiN. iN. THE. NORTH. WE. ARE. OK. iN. THE. SOUTH & 

THE. YANKS CLAIM. A. MAJOR. NAVAL. ViCTORY. ROOSE. iS. TO. OR. HAS. MADE 

A. SPEECH. & iT. LOOKS. ACCORDING. TO. ALL. THESE. FURFiES. THAT. 

WE. MAY. NOT. BE. HERE. VERY. LONG. I. HAVE. MADE. BETS. WITH RAY 

GILMOUR £1. JIM SMILEY £1 PAT. LAKEY. 1 BOTTLE. WHISKY. THAT. WE. ARE 

STILL. P.O.W. BY. THE. END. OF JULY. I HOPE. I. LOSE. BUT. DONT. THINK 

THAT. I. WILL. TONiGHT. I. BOUGHT. A. TiN. OF. FiSH $2. AND. WE 

HAVE. AN. EXTRA. FEED. I. THiNK. A. LOT. THESE. LAST. FEW. DAYS. OF 

PAW-PAW & HOME. & THE. GOOD .FEEDS. & DESERT. ON PAW.PAW

SAT
4/4/42

EASTER. SAT. NOT. MUCH. TO. CHRONiCLE. TODAY. SOME. OF. OUR. 

LADS. LEFT. FOR. SINGAPORE. TODAY. TO. MAKE. UP. A. WORKING. PARTY 

OF. 3000. MEN. FOR. SHiFTING. IRON. ETC & CLEANiNG UP. SOME 

STORY. OF. A. GENERAL. SHiFT. BUT. DOUBT. THAT. VERY MUCH 

SAW. THE. iNSiDE. O.F OUR. SARGE. TODAY. & WAS. RATHER. SURPRISED. BUT 

NOT. DISAPPOINTED. WE. HAD ANOTHER GOOD. FEED. TONiGHT. & HAD. SOME 

PEPPER. iN. THE. RiCE ALSO. SALT. & PAW.PAW. IT. WAS. ABOUT 

10. UP. ON. THE. COOK. HOUSE. MEALS. AND. ANOTHER. TOMORROW 

.I. BET. WE. GET. PACK. DRILL. FOR. IT. BEFORE. iT. ENDS..I. HOPE. SO ANYHOW

SUN 5/4/42

MASS. THiS. AM. & NOT. MUCH. DOiNG. TiLL. DiNNER. WHiCH. iS 

NOT. TOO. BAD. 1. PEiCE. FRiED. RiCE & A GOOD. iSSUE. OF. SWEET. RiCE 

&. MiLK. FANCY. BEiNG. ABLE. TO. EAT. RiCE. 4 TiMES. A DAY 

&. STiLL. LiVE. & STRANGE. TO. SAY. WE. ALL. LIKE. IT. & LOOK. FOR. IT.

.I. STiLL. FEEL. TERRiBLY TiRED & WEAK IN THE LEGS THiNK. I'LL. HAVE. A 

DONGA. TODAY. & GET. MY. NOTES. READY. FOR. TOMORROW. AM. OUT OF SMOKES

AGAiN. NOW. & AM. GOiNG. TO STOP. OUT. BY. iSSUE. ON. FRiDAY. I. WILL. HAVE 

GOT. THE JOB. WELL. iN. HAND. TODAYS FURPHY. RUSSiA .HAS. DECLARED. WAR. ON 

JAPAN. TONiGHT. WE. HAD. ANOTHER. GOOD. FEED. THE. SMOKE. SiTUATiON. iS. A. BIT. HEAVY 

NOW. BUT. BY. NEXT. SUNDAY. WILL. BE. RIGHT. PAST. iT. &. WiLL. BE. OK. PLENTY. OF 

SHiP. MOVEMENT. HERE. SO. IT. LOOKS. AS. THO. WE. ARE. NOT. TOO. HAPPY 

GOT. SOME. CHEESE. TONiGHT. & ADDED. SOME. TO. THE. BAKED. RICE. & SUPPER 

WAS. OUTSiDE. WiRE. WiTH AGRIC. GROUP. TODAY. & ALSO. ON. MY. 

LAST. DOLLAR. AGAIN

(12)

MON
6/4/42

[[?]] FOR. IT. AM. TO. GiVE. A. TALK ON. APiCULTURE. THiS. PM. I. ATTEND 

A LECTURE. ON. SOiLS. THiS. AM. BUT. DO. NOT. GET. OVER. MUCH. VALUE. FOR 

IT. THE. LECTURE. AREAS. HERE. ARE. DiViDED. IN TO. 4 GROUPS. A.B.C.D 

HAVE. TO DO. A. 1445. & B. 1600 Hrs TODAY. & INTEND. TO. DiVIDE. THE 

LECTURE. iNTO. SUFFiCiENT. SERiES. TO. PROPERLY. COVER. THE. WHOLE 

SUBJECT. "A." AREA. NORTH. OF. 2/30 BN BARACKS. "B" LAWN EAST. OF. 22^ND BGDE HQ

"C" VERANDAH. A.I.F. MEDiCAL. STORE ORDNANCE. "D" LAWN. AT. SiDE. OF. EDUCATION. 

CENTRE. BUILDING. SHARP. A 1445. I. WAS. ON. THE. JOB. FOR. THE 

FIRST. GENERAL. LECTURE. ON. BEES. THE. FiRST. PLACE. WAS. A & THERE.

WERE. ABOUT. A .THOUSAND. CHAPS. THERE. BUT. I. GOT. A. GOOD. HEARING. 

FROM. THE. MOB. & AFTER. I. WAS. FINISHED. WAS. BESEIGED. BY. A. COUPLE. OF DOZ &

WAS. NEARLY. LATE. FOR. MY. SECOND. SPASM. AT. B THERE WERE. NOT. SO. MANY. AT. B. BUT 

IN. COMPARiSON. THERE. WERE. MORE. ENTHUSIASTS &. ONE. CHAP. KELLY. FROM 

THE. 18^TH iS. VERY. KEEN. HE. HAS. TWO. HiIVES. & THEY. ARE. DOiNG. RATHER 

WELL. I. CONGRATULATED. HiM. ON. HiS. LUCK. THE GROUP NOW. HAS. 7. 

HiVES &. OUR. COBBERS. iN. HOSPiTAL. MAY. GET. A. FEED. OF. HONEY. YET 

I. ALSO. HAD. AN. EXPERiENCE. LAST. TO-NIGHT. WAS. COMiNG. DOWN. THE 

BANK. iN. FRONT. OF. OUR. BARRACKS & CAME. SUCH. A SPiLL. I. FELL 

ABOUT. 12 FEET. & SKiNNED. MY. ELBOW & BRUISED. ABOUT. ALL. THE. REST. 

WE. HAD. A. FEED. CAME. BACK. & YARNED. FOR. A WHILE. & SO. TO. BED. 

& SO ENDS. EASTER. MONDAY, OF 1942. FOR. A. P.O.W. IN. MALAYA. &. I. AM 

STiLL. FEELLING. WE. HAVE. NOT. LONG. TO. WAiT. OR AM. I. GETTING. USED. TO. iT.
[*WHiSK. & DUTCH? BREAD & CHEESE*]

TUE
7/4/42

THE. FiRST. THiNG. I. HEAR. TODAY. WHAT. WOULD. YOU. BE. DOING

BACK. HOME. TODAY. STAN & STAN. GAVE. A. PRETTY. FAiR. DETAIL. OF.

WHAT. HE. WOULD. BE. DOiNG. THEY. ARE. ALL. THiNKiNG. HOME. ALL. DAY

ALL. TiMES. THiS. PM. .I. GAVE. SECOND. SERiES. OF. TALKS. ON. BEES. & THATS

THE. LAST. FOR. A. FORTNiGHT. I. MET. MiCK. McDONALD. FROM. SPRiNGS. TODAY

HE. LOOKS. OK. FOR. RiCE. DiET. TO. MAKE. UP. FOR. OUR. DEFICIENCY. iN. SALT.

WE. HAVE. A. PARADE. WiTH. BUCKETS. DiXiES. ETC. TO .BRiNG. WATER. FROM.

THE. BAY. FOR. COOKiNG. THE. RiCE. ETC. MOSTLY. RICE. THE

SCROUNGE. PRiCES. ARE. DOWN. TONiGHT. 4 TiNS M & V. BULLY. ETC

FOR. $5. WHiCH. iS. A. BiT. DiFF. FROM. 3.50. A. TiN. WHiCH. I. HAVE

SEEN. PAiD. IMAGiNE. 10/- FOR. A. TiN. OF JAM? WE. HAD. A. FEED. OF

RiCE & M & V. TONiGHT. ALSO. CHiNESE. SPiNACH. PAW PAW & COFFEE. &

FEEL. WELL. FiLLED & SO. TO. BED. AT. 9.30 PM. THE. END. OF. ANOTHER. P.O.W. DAY
WED
8/4/42

THiS. AM. WAS QUiETLY. SPENT. iN. LOOKiNG. OVER. ALL. THE. BEES. & MAKING.

FRAMES. WiTH. KELLY. I. ALSO. SAW FRANK. PLAiSTED FROM. CHILTERN. LAST

TiME. I. SAW. HiM. WAS. iN. THE. HOSPiTAL. THE. NiGHT. WE GOT

OUT. THiS. PM. I. WENT. OUT. TO. THE. VEG. PLOT. BUT. WE. DiD

NOT. DO. ANY. DiGGiNG. ACCT. OF. RAiN. WHEN. iT. RAiNS. HERE. IT

SURE. GOES. TO. TOWN. COMiNG. BACK. FROM. THE. PLOT. WE.

MET. A. BOONG. SELLING. A. KiND. OF. BiSCUIT. IT. iS. MADE. UP

OF. COCONUT & RiCE. FLOUR. & BAKED. iN. OiL. 20. FOR. 1$ & THEY

ARE. BEAUTiFUL. I. SPENT. MY. LAST. DOLLAR. ON .THEM. SHARED

WITH. STAN. WHO. WiLL. BUY. TOMORROW. MUST. HAVE

A. GO. AT. EM. SOME. OF. THESE. DAYS WAS. TOO. FULL. FOR. WORDS

AFTER. TEA. THESE. CAKES. FiLL. ONE. UP. PRETTY. GOOD & SO ANOTHER DAY. NEARER AUSSIE

[*(13)*] 

THURS
9/4/42

LAST. NIGHT. I. DREMED. A. DREM. I. HOPE. COMES, TRUE. IM. NOT. LIKELY

TO. FORGET. iT. SO. ON. AM. WAS. OVER. AT. A. LECTURE. STAN. GAVE. ON.

THE. DRiED. FRUiTS. iNDUSTRY. WiSH. I. HAD. SOME. OF. THEM. HERE

NOW. OR. BETTER. STiLL. WAS. AT. HOME. AMONGST. THEM. MACHiNE. GUN

PRACTiCE. ROUND. THE. WiRE. TODAY. NO. DOUBT. ABOUT. THiS. FELLOW

HE. IS. EFFiCiENT. AND. ONE. CAN. ONLY. ADMiRE. HIS. WORK. I. HAVE

BEEN. ENLiGHTENED. BEYOND. WORDS. AS. REGARDS. THE. JAPANESE. HE. iS

A. GENTLEMAN. TO. THE. CORE. AS. FAR. AS. IVE. SEEN. OF. HiM. & THATS.

PLENTY. WE. HAVE. A. FAiRLY. GOOD. FUND. iSSUE. COMiNG. OUR. WAY. BY. THE

SOUND. OF. THE. STORY. 8OZS CHOC. 8OZS BOiLED SWEETS. 4 PKTS. CiGS

TOOTH. PASTE. ETC ETC. ALSO. HEAR. MAiL. MAY. GET. THRO. BOTH. WAYS

BUT. DOUBT. THAT. VERY. MUCH. THE. DiNNER. TODAY. WAS. RATHER. GOOD. WE

HAD. RiCE. OF. COURSE. BUT. IT. WAS. ALSO. BUILT. UP. WiTH. A VERY. NICE. STEW

WENT. OUT. WiTH. THE. AGRiC. MOB. PM. &. BOUGHT, SOME, OF. THOSE. LiTTLE

CAKES. AGAIN. THEY. GO. VERY. WELL. I. HAD. 28 SOLD. ALL. BUT. 5. & ATE. 4.

HOPE. TO. GET. SOME. MORE. TODAYMORROW. HAD. A. TALK. ON. THE. POSSiBiLiTiES OF

STARTING. OUT. ON. BEES. AS. A. LiViNG. TONiGHT. WITH. A. CHAP

WHO. iS. GOiNG. TO. GiVE. iT. A. FLY. WHEN. WE. GET. BACK. WHiCH. WiLL. BE. A. LONG. TiME

FRI
10/4/42 

WELL. TODAY. STARTS. OFF. WiTH. THE. OBSERVANCE. OF. A. VERY. BEAUTiFUL

SUNRiSE. NO. DOUBT. THiS. PLACE. WOULD. BE. iDEAL. UNDER. PEACE

TiME. CONDiTIONS. IT. iS. REALLY. MOST. BEAUTiFUL. THERE. iS. A

BiT. OF. AiIR. ACTiViTY. HERE. THiS. AM. WiSH. THERE. WAS. TONS. MORE

BUT. AFTER. HEARiNG. THE. FURFiES. LAST. NiGHT. AM. QUiTE. RESiGNED

FOR. AT. LEAST. 12 MONTHS. DAMN. iT. & THE. ULTiMATE. OUTCOME

WELL. SOMEBODY. WiLL. HAVE. TO. WAKE. UP. DAMN. SOON. OR. iT. WONT

BE. OUR. WAY. NO. A. BiT. OF. A. SCATTER. CAUSED. iN. THE. FOOD. SCROUNGE.

QUESTiON. THE. OFFiCERS. HAVE. BEEN. CAUGHT. OUT. ONE. OF. THEM. HAD. THE. AUDACiTY

TO. CRiME. A. COOK. HOUSE. FOR. HAViNG. CURRY. WHiCH. THE. LADS. HAD. BOUGHT. & PUT. IN. TO.

ENABLE. THEM. TO. EAT. SOME. OF. THE. SOUR. RiCE. WE. WERE. GiVEN: IN. CHAP. 4. I. WROTE

OF. THE. LACK. OF. CONTACT. BETWEEN. OFFiCERS. &. MEN. I. HADN'T. STARTED

TO. LEARN. THEN! THE. FURFiES. TONiGHT. ARE. SWiNGiNG. BACK. THE. OTHER.

WAY. NOW. OUR. TWO. NEWS. BOYS. ARE. AGREEiNG. WiTH. EACH. OTHER.

AS. TO THE. NEWS. THEY. HAVE. AS. I. SAiD. BEFORE. THEY. WOULD BE FUNNY. iF.

THE. REPURCUSSiONS. WERE. NOT. SO. DEEP. BUT. AS. IT. iS. THEY. ARE. JUST

BLOODY SiLLY. THE. CAMP. iS RATHER. QUiET. WiTH. SOME. OF. THE. BOYS. AWAY

ON. JOBS iN. SiNGAPORE. MiCKEY. MACDONALD. WENT. iN. TONiGHT. & I.

MET. ALF. FiNDLAY. TODAY. I. REMEMBER. HiM. NOW. AS. A. KiD. WHO. USED. TO. BRING

THE. MiLK. THEN. AS. THE. YOUTH. WHO. WAS. VERY. FOND. OF. DANCiNG. THEN. AS

A. P.O.W. & HE. iS. NOT. ALTERED. MUCH. & SO. ANOTHER. DAY. NEARER. HOME

SAT
11/4/42

THERE. WAS. NO. TOBACCO. iSSUE. YESTERDAY. SO. ALL. ARE. LOOKING

FORWARD. TO. THE. iSSUE. TODAY. WENT. TO. THE. R.A.P. THIS. AM. TO

GET. A. CROOK. ANKLE. DRESSED. ITS DAMN. SORE. MUST. TRY & GET. SOME

BREAD. TODAY. BUiLT. THE. BANK. UP. A. BIT. YESTERDAY. HAVE. A. TiN. OF. FISH

FOR. MYSELF. & MAY. BE. ABLE. TO. GET. A. FEW. OTHER. DELiCASiES. THE. CANTEEN

STUFF. HAS. ARRiVED. I. BELiEVE. I. THiNK. ILL. BOOK. UP. A. FEW. MORE. MARELLA

ADDRESSES. I. SAW. A FEW. MORE. OF. THEM. TODAY. MAC. OF. PERTH. EPiSODE

& SEVERAL. OTHER. LADS. 12 L.C.'S ON. TODAY. I. WONDER. HOW. THINGS. GO

[*(14)*]

SAT
11/4/42

I WAS. UP. BEFORE. SUN UP. TODAY. AGAiN. TO. SEE. ANOTER. SUNRISE

NEARER. HOME. & SO. FOR. THE. DAY. AM. R.A.P. & ADDRESSES

MUST. GET. 29^TH. & PAY. CORP. TOMORROW. TODAY. OUT. TO. THE. GAREN

.SOME. MORE. LITTLE. CAKES THESE. CAKES ARE. COMPARABLE. TO OUR

COCONUT. MACAROONS & iNSTEAD. OF. BEiNG. BAKED ARE. BOILED. IN. OIL.

WILL. TRY. & TAKE. HOME. THE. RECIPE. ALSO. SPOSE. BETTER. TAKE. THE. NUTS.

BUiLT. UP. THE. CAP. BY. $1 TODAY. &. A. BETTER. OP. TOMORROW. NOW. THAT.

I. HAVE. A. BiT. TO. WORK. ON. WE. HAVE. SARDiNES. FOR. SUPPER. TONiGHT

THE. NEWS. TODAY. NOT. TO. HOT. I. THINK. A. NEGOTIATED. PEACE. IN. FEW

MONTHS. DEMOCS. HAVE. FAiLED. TO. HELL. ALLOWS. TO. MUCH. SCOPE

FOR. THE. ONE. MOB:? NOT. MUCH. TO WRiTE. ABOUT. I. HEARD. A. STORY

OF. A. LiTTLE. FEUD. BETWEEN. THE. A.A.S.C. &. THE. FIELD. BAKERY.

IT. APPEARS. THAT. THE. BAKERY. WAS. SELLING. BREAD. TO. SOME. OF

THE. BOYS. &. THE. A.A.S.C. SENT. THEM. iN. WELL. NOW. THE. F.B

IS. TELLiNG. A. FEW HOME. TRUTHS. ABOUT. THE. A.A.S.C. WiLL. CHECK. UP

TOMORROW. & IT. SHOULD. MAKE. A. GOOD. CHAPTER. ALSO. WHiLE. ON

IT. FRANK &. THE. COOK. HOUSE. DOOR. MUST. NOT. BE. MiSSED. iTS. GOOD.

THERE. iS. SOME. RATHER. GOOD. TYPE. HERE. WHiCH. I. MUST. NOT

MiSS. SO. FROM. TOMORROW. WiLL. SPREAD. A LITTLE. MORE. ON. P.O.W. SINGA

SUN
12/11/42

2. MONTHS. P.O.W. TODAY

UP. AS. USUAL. AND. TO. MASS. ANOTHER. NiCE. MORNING. AND. MADE. A.

BEE. BOX. TODAY. FOR. GATHERING. ONLY. WONDER. HOW. MICK & JACK

ARE. DOiNG - HEAR. THE. PHILLiPiNES. HAVE. FELL. ANYWAY. WHAT. COULD

ONE. EXPECT. THESE. NiPPONS. HAVE. THE. WEiGHT. OF. THE. YANKS.

LOOKS. TO ME. AS. THO. THE YANKS. BLEW. WITH. THE. USUAL. WiND

AND. GOT. CAUGHT. IN. THEIR. OWN. MESS. SOMETHING LiKE

THiS. PLACE. TOO. MUCH. MONEY. SPENT. iN. LUXURY. & WHEN

ONE. REMEMBERS. IT. IS. THE. COLONiES. TAXPAYER. WHO. HAS

PAiD. IT. MAKES. ONE. NEARLY. GLAD. TO. BE. A P.O.W. iF. IT.

WAS. NOT. FOR. AUST. TiES. MANY. HERE. WOULD. BE. GLAD. ANYWAY. WE

HAVE. HAD. SOME. GOOD. MEALS. LATELY & AM. GETTiNG. A. BIT. OF

WEiGHT. BACK. BUT. IT. iS. ALL. SOFT. FAT. & I. COP. A. BiT. OF. INDIGESTION

LATELY. WiLL. BE. PLEASED. TO. GET. OUT. OF. THiS. WE. GET. A. HEAVY. RAiN

STORM. HERE. EVERY. NiGHT. & IT. SURE. DOES. RAiN. WAS. OUTSIDE TODAY

BUT. DiDNT. GET. ANY. PATTiES. PLENTY. OF. CiGS. ABOUT. OUT. @ 65c 

WHiCH. SHOULD. MAKE. A. GOOD. THING. FOR. THE. BOYS. HAVE. NOT. HEARD

ANY. FURFiES. TODAY. BiLL. BARKELL. WAS. OVER. TONiGHT. HE. iS. NOT.

TO. HAPPY. ABOUT. THE. POSiTiON. BUT. iS. QUiTE. OF. THE. OPiNION

THAT. WE. WiLL. BE. HOME. WiTHiN. 6 MONTHS. I.HATE. TO. ARGUE. WiTH

ANY. OF. THEM. BUT. IT. iS. A. SHAME. TO. SEE. THEM. DiSALLUSIONED

AFTER. THE. FURF. iS. BLOWN. OUT. WELL. LOOKS. LiKE. ANOTHER. P.O.W. DAY. OVER.

MON
13/11/42

TWO. NEWSBOYS. THiS. AM. HAViNG. QUiTE. A. CONFiDO. ON. THE

LATEST. FURFS. ALL. NEWS. OF. COURSE. THAT. WAR. IS. OVER. IN

EUROPE. THAT. iS. NEARLY. AS. GOOD. AS. GERMANY. CAPiTS. OR

RUSSiA. HAS. DECLARED. WAR. ON. GERMANY. NO DOUBT. ABOUT

THESE. TWO. ALWAYS. FiRST. HERE. WiTH. A. NEW. FURF. iF. THEY

DONT. BUY. A NEWS. AGENCY. WHEN. THEY. GO. HOME. ILL. GO. HE

(15) 

MON
13/4/42

PM & GOT. TO. THE. CABBAGE PATCH. AND. GOT. 3.4-1.50. THE [[?]]

iS. SLOWLY. COMING. UP. AGAIN. ALF. FiNDLAY. CAME. OVER. TODAY

&. WE. ALL. WENT. TO. THE. MARKET. THiS. MARKET. OF. OURS. TAKES

THE. CAKE. BREAD. & BULLY. CHEESE OR FISH. iN. BETWEEN. $1. VERY

TASTY. BUT. iT. iS. EATING. MONEY. ALSO. THE. CiGS. 3 - $2. THEY. HAVE

RATHER. HEAVY. PRiCES. ALL. RiGHT. THEY. COP. ABOUT. 100%. USUALLY.

BILL. BARKELL. WAS. OVER. BUT. I. MiSSED. HIM. 57. OUT. TODAY. I. WONDER. WHO

IT. iS. THE. MEALS. TODAY. HAVE. BEEN. GOOD. & PLENTIFUL. BUT. MOSTLY. RiCE & A [[PoW?]]

TUES
14/4/42

WOKE. THiS. AM. TO. LOOK. OUT. MY. WiNDOW & SEE. iN. CLOUD. FORMATiON

ABE. LiNCOLNS. FACE.. A. MOST. PERFECT. SiLHOUETTE. IS. iT. AN. OMEN?

LATER. IT. GAVE. WAY. TO. STORM. CLOUDS. iN. THAT. DiRECTION.

WONDER. iF. AUST. WiLL. GET. THiS. ViSiT? THE. SECOND. BATTLE. OF. MALAYA. iS. ON

& SO. THE. FURFS. GO. ON. AN. EPISODE. OCCURRED. TODAY. 4. DiGS. WERE. OUT

ON. A. SCROUNGE. AND. LiKE. A. LOT. MORE. OF. THERE. iLK. HERE. ARE. PURE

CONCRETE. FROM. THE. NECK. UP. WELL. THEY. CAME. ALONG. THE. ROAD &

ALTHOUGH. THE. PATROL. CAR. WAS. STANDiNG. AT. THE. GATE. THESE. MUGS

MUST. HEAD. RiGHT. INTO. THE. CHOWS. HOUSE. & 2. OF. THE. PATROL. PERSONEL

ARE. iN. THERE. THEY. GOT. CAUGHT & WERE BROUGHT. BACK. & MADE

SiT. ON. THE. BANK. WiTH. THE. GUARD. THEY. STAYED. FOR. A. WHILE

& THEN. OFF. 2 MORE. GOT. MiXED. UP. iN. THE. BLUE & REST. TO. MEMOS

ALF. BiLL. RUSS. CHAS. & SELF. HAD. A. LiGHT. SUPPER. MOST. ENJOYABLE

INDEED. MEMS. OF. HOME. & BAKED. iN. ASHES. SPUDS. & MANY. MORE.

HAVE. BEEN.CROOK. ALL. DAY & A. FEVER. TONiGHT. ASPROS &. TO.

BED. & UP. iN. FEW. MiNS. FOR. USUAL. & SO. ENDS. ANOTHER. P.O.W

WED
15/4/42

STILL. ON. THE. TROTS. & FEEL. PRETTY. ROTTEN. NOT. MUCH. DOiNG. TODAY

WENT. OVER. TO. 2/15. RE. OBS. HiVE. TODAY. BUT. UNABLE. CUT. GLASS. MET

A. PROFiTEER. ON. CiGS. & TOLD. HiM. UP. &. LiSTENED. TO. A. LECTURE

TODAY. ON. WATER. NOT. TO. HOT. PM. OUT. TO. CABBAGE. PATCH. BUT

NO. DiG. NO. SCROUNGERS. OUT. TODAY. TOO. MUCH. PATROL. ACTY.

SAW. 3. TiNS. FiSH. TODAYS: BiLL. OVER. TONiGHT. HE. iS. OFF. TO. BUCKA. TiMAH.

TOMORROW. UP. TO. R.A.P. & PADDiES. MKET. WiTH. ALF. & BED. & ANOTHER. POW

THUR
16/4/42

ITS. A. MARVELLOUSLY. SMALL. WORLD.: I. WENT. TO. R.A.P. THIS. AM.

& STANDiNG. iN. THE. LiNE. I. HEARD. THE. NAME. OF. A. C.

HOLLINGSWORTH. I. CHECKED. HiM. UP. &. MEET. AGAiN. AFTER

22. YEARS. WE. HAD. A. COUPLE. OF. EPiSODES. YEARS. AGO. MUST

HAVE. A. LONG. YARN. WiTH. HiM. TODAY. iF. POSS. I. WiLL

CANCEL. MY. BEE. LECTURES. FOR. TOMORROW. ACT. THiS

ROTTEN. "DiOR". CANT. RUN. AWAY. FROM. THERE. EVERY. FEW. MiNS

THE. FURFiES. LAST. NiGHT. DONT. GiVE. MUCH. AWAY. &. iF. ANALYSED. OUT

ARE. JUST. AMBiGUOUS. ALTHOUGH. I. THiNK. FRANCE. MAY. YET. FiGHT. WiTH

GERMANY.? JUST. HEARD. PAT. LAKEY. REMARK. ON. FEED. AT. HOME. I. WONDER.

IF. ANY. OF. US. EVER. FORGET. THERE. iS. PLENTY. OF. INDUSTRY. ABOUT. HERE. BUT. FOR.

MiNE. MUST. LOOK. ON. THE. TOWER. ONE. STORY. WORTH. WHiLE. iS. FROM. THE

HOLE. TO. THE. HOLLOW. THE. HOLLOW. OF. EVERY. CITiZENS. HAND. IN. AUST. IT. IS. REGS.

THE. PACK. DRiLL. AND. ALL. ONLY. FOR. OFFENCES. AGAiNST. THE. & A. TURN. OVER

IN. HERE. TODAY. BELEiVE. ME. THiS. DiV. IS. A. WASHOUT. CHAS. DONE. MY. JOB. TODAY

2. TINS. FiSH. TODAY 1 LGE. 1 SMALL. WELL. NO. SCROUNGE. NOW. MARKET. QUIET.

& SO. TO. CLOSE. ANOTHER. P.O.W. DAY

(16)

FRI
17/4/42

[[?]] MARCHED. OUT. YESTERDAY. ONLY. GOT. AS. FAR. AS.

[[?]] & WERE. RETURNED. HERE. AGAiN. SAW. BiLL. THiS. AM

THINGS. GENERALLY. SEEM. VERY. QUiTE. FURFS. ARE. STiLL

COMiNG. iN. HiT. HAS. LAVAL. TO. FORM. A. GOVMENT. BUT

OTHERWiSE. NEWS. STiLL "AMBiG & RiDiC". NONE. OF. THESE. MONGERS

SEEM. TO. WANT. TO. STEP. TOO. HiGH &. WiLL. NOT. COME

BACK. TOO. FAR. EACH. DAY. HERE. MAKES. THE. POS. LOOK. MORE &

MORE. DANGEROUS. FOR. AUST. ONE. MUST. LOOK. THE. FACTS. STRAiGHT

&. THESE. WOULD. BE. STRATEGiST. YOUTHS. MAKE. ONE. SiCK. WiTH

SOME. OF. THEiR. iDEAS. JUST. HAD. A. VISiT. FROM. KELLY THE

BEE. CRANK. BUT. CUT. HiM. OFF. IN. 2. MiNS. DEAD. I. BET. HE

WONT. WORRY. ME. AGAiN. BETWEEN. PARADES. DAMN. THEM

I. DONT. OR. DiDN'T. GET. ONE. MiN. TO. MYSELF. TILL. I. KNOCKED. THEM. ALL

BACK. & KEPT. AWAY. FROM. HOME. BUT. THEN. I. DiDN'T. GET. TiME. TO

DO. ANY. WASHING. OR. ETC. SEE. A. LiST. TODAY. OF. A. HOLiDAY. CARAVAN. TRiP. IN

NORTHERN. AUST. FOR. TWO. MEN. AND. WiLL. JUST. FOR. THE. SAKE. OF. IT. PUT. IT

IN. 4. DOZ. TINS. BACON. 4 DOZ. CAMPiE. 4 DOZ. CHEESE. 2. DOZ. JAM

5. DOZ. M&V. 3 DOZ. MiLK. 1. BAG FLOUR. 1 BAG. RICE. 5 LB. TEA. & 5 LB

COFFEE. COCOA. 12 LB. SALT 2 LB. PEPPER. 3 DOZ. BUTTER

-20 LB. MARGARiNE. 6 LB. BAKING SODA. 3 CREM TATA. SAUCE. VARiOUS

PiCKLE. 1 GAL. ViNENGAR. 70LB. SUGAR. SWEETS. CiGS. GROG. AS. POSSiBLE.

TOBACCO. PAPERS. ANY. OTHER. FOOD. PROCURABLE. WATER. BARRELS 30 OR MORE. GLS MACCARONI.
2 AXES. 2 GUNS. ∧MACHES. LAMPS. AMMO. 4 GROUND SHEETS. 1 FRY. PAN 4 SAUCEPANS. 3 BASiNS. 2 TiN. DiSH

2. BLOWERS. 5. TiNS. KERO. AS. MUCH. PETROL. AS. POS.

2 DOZ. VARI. FiSH. LiNES. 12. DOZ. VARI. HOOKS. QTY. LEAD. "LiNG. OR. SALT. FiSH"

TWiNE. NEEDLES. ROPE. SPARE. TARP. HND. SAWS. HACK. SAW. BLOW LAMP. BRASS ETC.

TWO.CLAW. HAMMERS. PLiERS.VARI TOOLS. CROSSCUT. SAW. ViCE. "LE.VEL.ERS"

- 4 DOZ OR. MORE. BULLY & BiSC HARD. OiLS. FOR. FRYiNG

ALAN CHAS. I. RiCE. FISH. FOR. SUPPER & SO. TO. BED. NO. FURFS. NO. NEWS. & SO ENDS. P.O.W. D. WITH 3 DOSES 

[*& A. MAN. iN

THE. 18^TH GUTTER*]

SAT 18/4/41

LiSTENED. IN. TO. A. LECTURE. ON. FiTTING. UP. A. FARM. AND. FENCiNG.

SOME. OF. THE. IDEAS. ARE. VERY. GOOD. & CHAS. IS. BOOKED. TO. HELP. ME. REFENCE.

THE. PLACE. WHEN. WE. GET. BACK. VERY. HEAVY. RAiN. THIS. AM & FLOOD OUT

AGAIN. NO WINDOWS. IN. P.M.TO. THE. GARDEN. BEAT. AGAiN. FOR. THE. CAKES

CHAS & THE. POWDER. COMFORT. DO. A. BIT. OF. A. DiG & HOME. TO. TEA. OF. "RiCE". TONiGHT

WE. WENT. TO. THE. MARKET &. iT. iS. FiNiSHED. THiNGS. HAVE. GOT. TO. TOUGH. FOR

THE. BOYS. BOTH. iNSiDE & OUT. THE. LOW. MONGREL. SELLiNG. THE. STUFF. FROM

THE. KiT BAGS. FiNiSHED. THE. GAME. FOR. GOOD. WE. HAVE. A. FiSH. RiCE. SUPPER

& FINiSH. VERY. LATE. NO. LATES. AGAiN. ANOTHER. LAD. HAD. A. RACE

WITH. [1st?]. JAS. TONiGHT & WON. BY. A. STREET. THE. FURFS. TONiGHT. ARE. THAT

SPITFiRES. MACHiNE GUN. PEOPLE. iN. OCPD. FRANCE?. RUS. CAVLY. FiGHT. GER. TANKS?

JAPANESE CONVOY. ARR. RANGOON. AMERICA. NOW. READY. LAUNCH. ATTACK. RAAF

BOMBiNG. AS. FAR. AS. JAVA.? THE. WHOLE. DAMN. LOT. iS. A. CONCOCTiON.

BECAUSE. SOME. OF. US. KNOW. DiFF. BUT. THE. ARE. WORTH. WRiTiNG. IN. FOR

MEMS. WHEN. WE. GET. HOME.? WONDER. WHAT. PiCTURES. THE. FAMILY SEE TONiGHT? & iF

THEY. GO. HOPE. THEY. ALL. DO. WOULD. MAKE. ONE. FEEL. BETTER. & SO ANOTHER

P.O.W.D.O

.[[S Fraser?]]
(17) 

SUN 

19/4/41

AND SO. ON. iNTO. OUR. 63. DAY. AS. P..O'.W. AM. OK. AGAIN. TODAY

FEEL. FAiRLY. FiT. THESE. EXTRA. BiTS. OF. SCROUNGE. ARE

NOT. BAD. MUST. SCAG. SOME. CURRY. SOME WHERE. SOME. HOW. WOULD.

GO. RATHER. GOOD. CURRiED. RiCE. SPCLY. WITH. COCONUT. TO. REPORT. TODAY

O.C. NO. 3. COY. WHAT. A. MAVELOUS. ARMY. SENT. OUT. TO. FiGHT. UNTRAINED. THEN

KEPT. iN. REF. TILL. 9. WEEKS. AFTER. THE. FiGHT. FiNiSHED. REPORT. TO. CAPT. OF

No 3 BUT. AM. ASKING. TRF. TO. No 2 ANTI. TANK. BRIGADE. GOOD. TUCKER. WHILE. WE. ARE

HERE & A. GOOD. MOB. TO. WORK & FiGHT. WiTH. WHEN. WE GO. INTO. BiSUNESS

WiLL. BE. OVER WiTH. ALLAN FiNDLAY. MiCKY. MACK & A FEW. OTHERS. FROM. ROUND

KOONY & HOME ETC. THOUGHT. WE. MiGHT. GET. A. TURN. FROM. THE. COOKHOUSE

TODAY. AS. WAS. THE. LAST. MEAL. BUT. WE WERE. DiSSAPPOINTED. THESE

COOKS. ARE. TO. DAMN. LAZY. TO. DO A. DAMN. THiNG. WiLL. HAVE. TO

DO. A. BiT. OF. PACKiING. TODAY. & TRY. FiX. THiS. THERMOS. UP. QUEER. THiNG

WE. WAIT. FOR. 9 WKS. TO. MAKE. THE. CHANGE. OVER. I. FEEL. THERE. iS. SOMETHiNG. iN

THE. AIR. MAYBE. AN. EXCHANGE. OR. SOMETHING. THE. JAPANESE. ARE. BUILDING. A. BIG

MONUMENT. TO. ALL. SOLDIERS. ON. THE. BECKA. TIMYAH. ROAD. SAME. 3. HAD

ANOTHER F SUPPER. TONiGHT. & HAVE. PACKED & TO BED. FOR. THE 63 POW DAY

(2)

MON
20/4/41

UP. EXTRA. EARLY. TODAY. TO MY. NEW. SECTiON. BREAKFAST. BROWNED

RICE. PORRiDGE. PLENTY. OF. IT. & TEA. DiNNER. SWEET. RiCE. NO. TEA

TEA. LARGE. SERVE. RiCE &.STEW. 1 LARGE. PIECE RiCE &. PEANUT. PiE

SWEETENiNG. ON. TOP. THE. BEST. TEA. I.VE. HAD. SINCE. I. CAME. HERE

THE. AM. I. SPENT. TiLL 11.30 ON. THE. KiT. TRUCK. I. SAW. A BAG OF. FOUNT

PENS. & SOME. OF. THEM. WERE. BEAUTiES. ALSO SOAP. SHAVE. CREAM. & OTHER

PERSONNEL. iTEMS. HARD. LUCK. CHAPS. HAVING. TO. LOOSE. THAT. STUFF

& SOME. OF. IT. PRESENTS. FROM. SOME. THEYLL. NOT. SEE. AGAiN & ALSO. TO. CHAPS. WHO

HAVE. BEEN. KiLLED. iN. ACTiON. PM WAS. SPENT. GETTING. SWARM. OF

BEES. ALSO. SAW. FRED. MATHEWS. BASIL. WARD. iS. iN. SiNGA. FOR

A. FEW. WEEKS. CHARLiE. GRANT. GAVE. ME. A. FELT. HAT. TODAY. SO

FEEL. BETTER. DRESSED. THAN. WHEN. IN. THE. TiGER. SHOOTER

WHiCH. I. MUST. GET. AUTOGRAPHED. HEARD. TONiGHT. THAT. CALLAGHAN

HAD. GONE. BACK. TO AUST.? FURFS ARE. HEAVY. BOMBiNG. OF. JAPAN

BUT. DON'T. BELEiVE. THAT. NO. OTHER. NEWS. WiLL. SURE. MiSS. NEWS

BOYS. SMiLEY & TREG. NOW. WE. ARE. SPLiT. UP. I. AM. WRiTiNG. THiS

WHiLE. THE. BiLLY. BOiLS. 2010 HRS. CHAS &. ALF. ARE. THE. COOKS. &

BY. THE. SOUND. OF. THE. SNiFFELS. THE. FiRE. iS. A. BiT. TO. ABSTRACT

THE. LANGUAGE. iS. HEAVY. TOO. BOONG. CIGS. 5c. A. PACKET. OF. 20

BEiNG. SOLD. TONiGHT. FOR. 5c. EACH. iN. THE. MARKET. OLD. FOZZA

WANTS. ME. TO. GET. SOME. SUGAR. WELL. ILL. GiVE. IT. A. GO. TOMORROW. ALL

THE. BOYS. IN. THE. ORDNANCE. WiTH. FRED. & CHARLiE ARE. WELL. FED. UP

HARRiS. IS. THE. CO. ONE. SON. WHO. WAS. ON. THE. MARELLA. WITH

US. WAS. A. 'V' MAN. TiLL. THE. WEEK. WE. SAiLED. THE. OTHER

WAS. A. CORP. OVER. HERE. TiLL. THE. DAY. WE. CLOSED. UP

HE. WAS. MADE. A. LEiUT. IS. IT. ANY. WONDER. WE. ARE. NOT

TAKiNG. A. TRiCK. STiLL. THE. SAME. GAG. OF. WHO. YOU. KNOW.

IN. THE. ARMY. NOT. WHAT. YOU. KNOW. ALSO. HEAR. THAT. DOPE

SHAW WHO. BROUGHT. US. OVER. DESERTED. AT. THE. LAST
WELL. THiS. COVERS. A MULT. OF. MEMS. SO. ANOTHER.

P.O.W. DAY. "LOSES"

(18)

TUE
21/4/42

[[OVER?]] TO HOUSE. 46 TO THE. SWARM OF BEES. THERE.

[[?]] PAT. LAKEY. WITH ME. & SPENT. A. VERY. ENJOYABLE MORNiNG. SAW

QUITE. A. LOT. OF. THE. MARELLA. DRAFT. BOYS. OF. THE 27^TH ORD MOB

AM SEEiNG. QUiTE. A. LOT. OF. THE. OLD. MOB. LATELY. EVERY. DAY. I.

GET. 3. OR. MORE. OF. THEM. OR. SOMEONE. FROM. HOME. HAD. A. CUP

OF. MORNiNG. TEA. WiTH. THE. BOYS. THE. CHEW. OF. A. BONE. THE 

BONES. ARE. BOiLED. TO. JUST. GRiSSLE & BONE. BUT. THEY ARE. SHARED. UP. SPLIT.

WITH. AXE & ARE. KNAWED. AT. WiTH. RELiSH. THEY. CERTAINLY. STIR. UP

THE. DiGESTIVE. ORGANS. AND. "WHATS-WOULD-THEY-SAY-AT- HOME-IF.

THEY-SAW-US-NOW." LOOKED. FUNNY. TO. ME. TO. SEE. JONESY & THE REST. OF

THE. BOYS. I. SHARED. LAST. XMAS. DiNNER. WiTH. KNAWING. BONES. I. 

WONDER. WiLL. THEY. EVER. FORGET. iT.? THERE. IS. NO DOUBT. THE. "QRS"

HERE. iN. J. SECT. ARE. GOOD. THE. CROWD. ARE. DECENT. &. THE. FOOD. GOOD

WiLL. TAB. MEALS. FROM. YESTY. ON. BRK. CRUSHED. RiCE. MiLK. TEA. L. LUNCH DINNER ^& TEA. STEW. GREENS. RiCE. BIS "4".

DiNNER. SWEET. RiCE. MEAL.& BCUIT. & VEGS NOT. BECAUSE. OF. DISSATISFACTION. OR. HUNGER. BUT. FROM

THE. POiNT. OF. GENERAL. INTEREST. & SOME. RECiPES. TO. MAKE. WHEN. IM. HOME

AGAiN. & ALSO. I. HAVE. AQUiRED. QUITE. A. LIKiNG. FOR THIS. RICE. THESE CHAPS

MAKE. A. GOOD. JOB. WHEN. WE. LiNE. UP. TO. THE. COOK. HOUSE. HERES. A. BEAUTiFUL.

SLiDE. OF. WHITE. RiCE. & THE. WHAT. NOT. EXTRAS. MAKES. LIFE. WORTH WHILE

THEN. THE. GRAMOPHONE. GOiNG. iS. RATHER. GOOD & WE. HAVE. SOME. VERY

GOOD. NUMBERS. TOO. HAVE. JUST. MET. A. CHAP. FROM. S.A. VERY. DECENT. FELLOW

KNOWS. JOHN. LEWiS. &. A. FEW. MORE. GOLF. ENTHUSiASTS. HE. GAVE. ME. A. SERVE. OF. COND

MiLK. FOR. MY. RiCE. AT. DiNNER. I. MUST. GET. A. TIN. IT. IS. VERY. GOOD. MAY. CASH. A. FEW. BONDS. I.

HOLD. & GET. A. BANK. VR AGAiN & GO. OUT. & BUY. ALTHOUGH. MONEY. iS. GETTING. LOW. NOW

A. RUMOR. HAS. GOT. GOING. THAT. ALL. MEN. OVER. 35. ARE. BEiNG. RELEASED. MANY. BELEiVE. IT.

&. ARE. QUiTE. PLEASED. WHAT. A. NASTY. THUMP. THEY'RE. DUE. FOR. & SO ENDS. P.O.W D 65

WED
22/4/42

UP. TO AN. EARLY. SHOWER. THiS. AM. &. SHAVE. BEFORE. ROLL. CALL. 0815

THIS. COOKiNG. HERE. IS. NOW. TAKiNG. EFFECT. & ONE. IS. NOT. UP

& DOWN. ALL. NiGHT. LONG. HEARE THE. COMFORTS. FUND. iSSUE. IS. iN.

&. READY. FOR. DiSTRIBUTION. BREAK. PORRiDGE & GROUND. BROWNED. RiCE.

MET. DON & WENT. TO. A. LECTURE. OF. OUR. OWN. OVER. UNDER. A. TREE. THE. ETERNAL.?

CAME. UP & WE. DEF. DECiDE. WHAT. WE. ARE. GOING. TO. DO. WHEN. WE. GET. HOME

BACK. TO. A. FAiRLY. GOOD. DiNNER. WHiCH ALTHOUGH. LiGHT. WAS. NiCE

SWEET. RiCE. MiLK. BLOOD & BONE. SPRiNKLED. OVER. THE. TOP. ALSO. 1. CRUMPET. & SLiCE

PM. SPENT. DOWN. WITH. CHAS. A 6^TH L.S. iF. WE. GO. BACK. TO. THE. JOB. I.

INTEND. TO. JOiN. UP. WiTH. THEM. THEY. ARE. A. GOOD. MOB. OF. CHAPS.

NO. NEWS. YET. TODAY.@ 1800. TWAS. ON. 25^TH APR. THAT. WE. HEARD. OF. THE. CANTEENS. AND

TODAY. BRiNGS. US. VERY. CLOSE. TO THE. FIRST. iSSUE. THE. 29^TH GOT. THEIRS. TODAY

WILL. HEAR. PARTiCS. FROM. BiLL. TONIGHT. SUPPER. FOR. 5 TONiGHT. HOPE. BiLL. HAS.

TOBACCO. ALTHOUGH. IM. JUST. ABOUT. WEANED. OFF. THE. SMOKES. NOW. THEY. ARE

WORTH 2/11 iN. ACTUAL. CASH. ILL. HAVE. THE. CASH. NOW. THANKS. BiLL. OVER. TO

SUPPER. FiSH. RiCE. TONiGHT. TOO. MANY. COMiNG. iN. NOW. RUS. ALSO. OVER. DOING

A. BiT. OF. BiZ. WiLL. GET. PARTiCS. TOMORROW..THE. NEWS. SEEMS. RATHER

GOOD. & AUTHENTiC. & IF. IT. KEEPS. UP. WE. WILL. HAVE. A. BiT. OF. A

CHANCE. AFTER. ALL. WELL. SO. MUCH. FOR. TONiGHT. & SO P.O.W. D.66

ENDS. ON. A. NiCE. FULL. BELLY. & A GOOD. FEELiNG. OF. CONTENTMENT.

(19) 

THU
23/4/42

GETTING. GOOD. ON. THiS. RISING. BIZ. SHOWER

BEFORE. ROLL. CALL. AGAiN. TODAY. &. VOLENTEER. FOR.

A. JOB. ON. THE. KiTS. MY. CAPE. iS. RATHER. LARGE & COULD

DO. A. SWAP. A. MEETING. HELD. TODAY. REGARDiNG.

THE. MEAL. iSSUE. &. I. THiNK. THiS WiLL. GO. THRO.

ARTUR. HOLLiNGSWORTH. iS. CHAiRMAN & A COMMITTEE

HAS. BEEN. FORMED. WAS. OVER. TO. SEE. RUSS. & HIS

MATE.. A. BiT. OF. 2ND. HANDING. GOiNG. ON. SO. MAY. SHY

CLEAR. OF. iT. THiNK. IVE. LOST. A DAMN. TiN. OF. FiSH.

BILL. OVER. NO. SUPPER. TONiGHT. & TOMORROW. NiGHT. LAST. FOR. SOME. OF. THE

MOB. iTS. GETTiNG. TOO. BiG. HEAR. WE. BOMBED. JAVA. &. WON. NAVAL. BATTLE

ALSO. ADVANCiNG. IN. NORTH. ALL. FURFiES. BUT. MUST. RECORD. THEM.

FOR. THE. FUN. OF. IT. WAS. AT. THE. MARKET. TONiGHT. BUT. iTS. HARDER

TO. SELL. THAN. TO. BUY. NOW. THEY. ARE. CLOSiNG. IT. UP. SO. WILL

TRY. WORK. UP. A. PRiVATE. SALE. THESE. BOONG. CiGARETTES. ARE. A

BiT. OF. ALL. RiGHT. THEY. GO. OFF. EASiLY. & ARE. A. GOOD. TURN. OVER

SPENT. THE. PM. AT. GARDEN. THE. MEALS. TODAY. SAME. AS. YESTY. MEET

A. KEEN. YACHTING. ENTHUSiAST. TODAY. MAY. HAVE. POSSIBiLiTiES. OF

A. GOOD. MATE. HERE. WE. HAVE. A. BiT. IN. COMMON. SO ENDS. P.O.W. D.67

FRI
24/4/42

DO. A. BiT. OF. TRAVELLiNG. THiS. AM. & LOOK. UP. A. FEW. MATES

ALLSO. GET. A. LOT. OF. ADDRESSES. TiS. RATHER. CHiLLY. TODAY. RATHER

SURPRiSiNG. HOW. COLD. SOME. OF. THESE. MORNiNGS. CAN. BE. ALTHOUGH

THEY. ARE. RATHER. NiCE. WENT. TO. EDUCATION. CENTRE. TAKE. LECTS.

AGAiN. NEXT. WEEK. ALSO. SAW. RUS. GOT $7.20. NOW & MORE. TO. COME. WiLL. SOON. HAVE

ALL. MY. OWN. BACK. BREAKFAST. TODAY. PORRIDGE. TO. DiXiE. RIM. WITH. MiLK. LUNCH. RATHER

LiGHT. RiCE. B&B & MiLK. 1. SLICE 2x3 RiCE & B&B. BAKED. THE. B&B. HERE. MENTiONED. iS. PEANUT.

GRINDINGS. WAS. PUT. iN. TO. USE. AS. FERTiLiZER. BUT. SOMEONE. FOUND. THAT

IT. CONTAiNED. I. THINK. 20% OF. ViTAMiN. B & SO. iT. HAS. BEEN. USED

ONLY. FOR. EXTRA. FOOD. IT. HAS. A. VERY. PREGNANT. PEANUT. FLAVOR

&. THE. WAY. iT. iS. SERVED. HERE. iS (1). IT. iS. GROUND. UP. HOT & SPRiNKLED

ON. TOP. OF. ONES. RiCE. ALSO. BOiLED. INTO. RiCE. USED. AS. A. FILLING

FOR. PASTRY. WHiCH. IS. OFTEN. MADE. ALSO. iN. CRUMPETS. OF. FLOUR

& RiCE. FLOUR. & THE. RICE. CAKES. IT. iS. RAiNiNG. HEAViLY. TODAY &

WE. DO. NOT. GO. OUT. TO. THE. GARDEN. FOR. WHiCH. I. DO. NOT. THiNK

WE. WILL. EVER. HAVE. ANY. NEED. AS. WE. SHOULD. BE. OUT. OF. HERE

BY. TiME. STUFF. iS. GROWN. SUFFiCiENT. FOR. PRACT. USE. THE. TEMPO

OF. THE. WORK. HAS. DEFiNATELY. SLOWN. DOWN. THE. COMPANY. GARDENS

iNSiDE. THE. WiRE. ARE. JUST. GOiNG. TiS. REPORTED TODAY. THAT. THERE. ARE

TWO. DEATHS. FROM. BERRI. BERRI. & SO. WE. ARE. GOING. TO. GET. "TODDY". ISSUED

TO. US. (BET: A. FEW. GET. DRUNK) TO. COUNTERACT. THiS DESEASE. I. AM. UP

TO. NOW. ON. OUR. 10TH WEEK. VERY. WELL. & CONTENTED. AM. GETTING. VERY

LiGHT. MEALS GENERALLY. BUT. WE. MANAGE. TO. GET. A. TiN. OR TWO

OF. STUFF. NOW & AGAIN. & THAT. HELPS. ALONG. I. AM. TRYING. NOW. TO. BUILD

UP. A. BiT. OF. A. BANK. SHOULD. MAKE. ABOUT $4. A WEEK. ONE WAY CiGS. &

A. FEW EXTRA. OTHER. WAYS. RUS. OFFERED. ME. THE. LiTTLE. BUS. FOR. £20 TODAY. WiLL. SEE. iF

SMOKELESS. P.O.W. DAYS. CAN. BUY. IT.? PORRiDGE. FOR. SUPPER. & SOME MiLK. & DAY 68 ENDS

(20)

SAT
25/4/42

[[?]] writing long hand from now. on both for

speed & practice. Won't be able to write at

all if I keep up that blocking. Today is

"ANZAC DAY". And we held a dawn service which

was very impressive most of the division was there

Revellie went at 06.30. (After a false alarm at 05.30 which

made a lot of us very hostile) And we paraded @

1 am and marched to the parade ground at the

educational centre where the ceremany was held

is was opened with the Hymn and followed

by a short address by the G.O.C. which was very

much to the point. This was followed by a

short prayer. And then the wreaths were

laid. First by members of the old A.I.F. who were

present and some of them were men who took part

in the original landing. Tough old guys who appear to

be weathering the conditions here rather well. The

"last post" was sounding by a duet of bugles one mins silence

was observed and we returned to our respective barracks

Twas then 8am and I had a wash & off to mass @ 0830 hrs. There

was no sermon & home to break of "porridge tea & condensed milk

I have not yet ever mentioned our living quarters & will

now try to describe them. They are the buildings which

were previously occupied by the English regments

which were daily garrison duties here at "CHANGI"

"BLUFF" They used to call it CHANGI. FORT. but Ill call

it Changi. Bluff because that is all it was. The bldgs

themselves are all built of brick & have mostly tiled

roofs. Some of the store sheds etc have Fibre Concrete

corragated roofs. All the floors are either of unglazed

tile or concrete, and those who sleep on the

floor find it rather hard. These bldgs we are in

were the married mens Qrs and consist of 3 up &

3 downstair rooms lav ^& BATH on top floor washhous

detatched at back. No doubt the place has been

a rest home in peace time but copped hell in Air

raids. The surroundings are very pretty all were

very nicely. laid out & all planted english lawn

grass, Lots of it are now dug up & planted in

beds for the A.I.F. have had a rather busy day & am rather

sick of the caper covered about 10 miles today & its too

heavy for the amount id told Alf he is very hostile

but he won't do any himself met two W.A's today they

have a little humpy over in the coconut grove it

is a very pretty setting heard some furfs tonight

about the Javan battle but doubt them all someone

will write up if true. Plain supper & so bed for P.O.W 69

(21) 

SUN
26/4/42

Up & showered @ 0745 today & to mass we had

an early coy parade & the other denoms go to church

I am writing up this & then will do some washing

2 pairs pants & 2 pairs socks. Hell Ill be glad when

this caper is over its a fair "b" by the news. Yesty

things are looking rather bright of course

do not know how true they are so am not at all

elated. will wait & see. TODAY the routine has been

changed & Sunday except for essential duties is a day of

rest again. Went down to the gutter & washed & came back

made or started to make a balance & was disturbed

so am going to draw some house plans. Queer how one

gets hold of ideas here. Some of them may mature

but tis better I think to let them run on & do all

one can about them it keeps the mind more at

rest than by cooping them up. Just hear 30 blokes

were caught outside last night wonder if

my friends after the pigs got thro OK. Some

of the C.O's of vari units show a lot of nous

by closing their eyes to some of this scrounging

& as I will, aid Aust. That any man who dies

or contracts "berri berri" after being penalized

from & for scrounging his disease or death can

be laid on the toes of that man. But more to

that later, we are not yet out of the wood

Told us that there were no duties but here I am

copped for a kit party. pushing the trailer with kits

all our kit bags with unnecessary gear was put

into a store prior to going into action we

have not seen them since. Anyway I

went on the kit job and am very pleased that

I did. got a belt and am on the watch?

The job only lasted half an hour we carted

one load & the job gave out so all happy

went to the market tonight its just

about finished Boong cigarettes are all

right but Lions are no go. Home at dark

and looked up my two cobbers in the

M.G's in their hut. had a cup of tea & home

to bed & so ends another P.O.W.D. No 70 10 WEEKS 4

MON
27/4/42

at the midday write up. Have spent the am

over at the 2/15 & 2/20 & we talked bees

all day. Saw Stan Ronel & got a tin of Milk

must try & get myself more of this. It will

keep one more fit. Also some fish etc

Im looking after no one now. Fall out

was detailed for a Singapore working party

today but was pulled off a/c the Bees.

(22)

MON
27/4/42

[[cause?]] for which I was very pleased

I don't want to go in there now have too

much gear to risk my drill & typewriter are

too good to lose by any unnecessary

risk Took a go on the garden today two tins

fish. 1.20£ is damn dear Mr Boong will shed

a few profits later if I know some of our

chaps. This garden I mention is being done

by the lads for the benefit of the whole lot

we have planted sweet potato & tapioca

but I don't think we will be reaping the crop

I hope not anyway and by the tempo

of things looks as if the heads think the same

way. An officers school started today & don't

they get hell. hrs of it. 5 more of our chaps

left for Singapore today went to the market

tonight & got cleaned out Quick havent. a smoke

for myself even. back to bed & so P.O.W. 71 Ends.

TUE
28/4/42

Well for pure blooded boneheadedness

this A.I.F. takes the cake the latest

starting today is P.T. ¼ hr before breakft

every second morning. every other mng

we do squad drill now when one just

conciders for a ½ min that we are all 80%

below par, on strange food, the whole system 

undergoing a change, lack of sleep a/c getting up

and that 23 men collapsed on the Anzac

parade just from malnutrition, well it sort

of takes ones breath. no wonder we lost here

too much parade ground attitude & not

enough war bisiness was our downfall.

AM. saw Jack Archer & talked a bit of Bing will

be out late tonight have to see the pom also

tonight. Have washing to do this evening so will have a

go at the house plan. If things work out ok will have

a few necessaries for it when I get home and heaps of ideas

which should come good had a good issue of meals

today B plain rice milk & sugar & porridge breakfast. Lunch

1 tin herrings I had four. Sweet rice & dressing also B&B.

have got into the habit of weighing the news against

the observations here. And when one sees planes doing

routine practice it hardly bears and the fact

that we have retaken all the places we are

supposed to. Well now for our Dinner A very nice

Stew Sweet rice with charred coconut on top. beautiful

am on the wire with Jack Archer tonight & a good

cop in it too. to bed 1200 & So ends P.O.W 72

(23) 

WED
29/4/42

Up a bit late this am feel a bit tired

wire walking is not what its cracked

up to be. done a bit of canvassing today

done a 110 Deal net 6 not bad for a day.

if this can only keep up twill be good

but things are getting pretty tough and

as do not build any false hopes but expect

to have a good dinner tomorrow and

a supper tonight. BREAK. today plain ground rice

porridge & milk but with added salt & sugar twas

very nice have sufficient sugar for couple

of days. hear there is a peace conference.

the furfs have it that there will be peace in

14 days. Well lets hope so twill do me in

one way. Bazil Ward is in hospital

with Berri Berri. No work today a/c

Emperors birthday. pm spent with Jack

& Charlie Grant. No outside today &

no smokes & not much to write. A funny

one occurred late last night we

were sitting just inside the wire

when along came 3 poms. They were

half way through when we stood up

.AH. ejaculated one pom. Are you Aussie

? We ∧answered 'yes'. he started to come on

and then had another look.

.X.? Japs the x? x?ers. and got back thro

the rolly holly & the strand just like

a bird flies thro trees. We were quite

a while convincing them of their

error they are as timid as rabbits.

Another mob were pinching coconuts

when we came up on them. and

frightened 6 years growth out of them

one fellow up the tree two on the ground

they talked for a while till the bloke

in the tree cramped & gave the show

away. Well a coconut for the picquet

seems to be the usual. I got the shell

& am going to cave it as a souvenir

our gramophone is going again and it

makes one feel just like home with the

wireless going. Am making great strides

with my house design & how Girlie

meet saw Russ & collected all in now but

$1.50 which will get tonight. So till Pommys

with what the night brings in happiness & supper

etc will close the 73 P.O.W Day.

(24)

THUR
30/4/42

A very quite day. Knock around a bit in

[[the?]] am and the pm to the garden patch.

brought in quite a heap of wild mint

This plant somewhat resembles mint

and we are using it for greens same

which we are very short of. I do not know

what food value is in the plant but it

goes in & personally, I get as much as I can of

it. Do a bit of Biz talk with Bryce tonight

he's giving the wire a go & Im not. The news

or furfies tonight shows a distinct reverse

Preps by enemy for attack on Moresby Japanese

advance in Burma Russian advances & to

large American Revs to Aust. "OH Yeah" the

place will be full of damn yankees by then 

and it won't improve the tone of Aust much?

Saw Jack & gave him a decent order don't think he

is too keen. Mate Can go with him tomorrow night &

must get some smokes tomorrow & so now to

rest a bit in the bunk till Don brings in

the supper. Rice & I have some sugar must put

the days menu up B. PORRIDGE LUNCH. UNPOLISHED RICE & very light

tea. Stew Soyer Beans & Rice & not much. POW 74 Ends

FRI
1/5/42

May day. well hope Russia makes a day

of it over there. Went up to the 2/10 ENGRS

& met a chap Kells. his brother Bluey

deserted when we came back to Sydney

it fair knocked him over when I told

him what had happened. Am getting a pie made

today out of M&V & pastry have a cobber with

a camp order? & he's doing the cooking Im splyi

the ingredients M&V $1. but its worth it. Jack

gave me two pkts smokes today. can sell one

& that clears both. This job is taking some keeping

up with Bill Bryce over with Jack I at concert & a

very good turn out. Too the last item "ALWAYS" forever was

an absolute gem. The pie 13" long 4" wide 1½ deep

was a job for a gourmand & I wasn't I laid

back both ears & at it it lasted 40 min and

don't I feel well. Hope I get the plum kind &

lollies & Biscuits they and sugar pretty good

with the present tucker. The meals today

were also wonderful Break & Lunch lighter

but good "[[Dejunier?]]" Sweet Rice Stew & Greens & pasty which

was the best I have tasted since oneday in Rglen

when on leave to Nathalia & so Ends POW 75

SALT & MARG

(25) 

SAT
2/5/42

Well this is mavellous Bill & Jack do

their stuff & I do mine we have a plum

pudding supper at 01.30 plenty of smokes

Bill brings in tin milk tin fish tin

cheese. I sold the cheese for him for 2.50 &

we ate the fish for Dinner which made

5 course meal soup & Greens sauces Rice & Pineapple

(we get 5 tins each spread over 10 days) & fish & Rice

topped off with a drink of tea & some coconut

to chew after. Struth its good to be here

now wine got going and the eats came in.

I gave two lectures yesterday on Bees

& one today got a good reception at D Area

Rain spoiled the turn at "C" today. Met

Plugger Briggs & he sold some cigs for me

Plugg gets two cigs per packet out of

them I have been trying to stricke a

Balance today But its a hell of a Job

must put it up properly tomorrow or

will be in a hell of a mess. The news

is not too healthy lately but there is

some more going on for a shift from

here & some talk of Timor Island. I smell

something doing. last night & some very

violent explosions were heard sounded

like earthquake disturbance to me I was

asleep & it woke me up. Bazil Ward home from

hospital today. Had three very full &

good meals today Bread for Breakfast with

jam & condensed milk spread on it Bread

& milk & Rice & stew for dinner talk about feeds

its marvellous. Hope things keep up like this for

a while. I am quite happy & well fed and hope

they are same at home & that they are at &

enjoying a picture show tonight. Im

writing this by torchlight & waiting for

Bill. Wonder if Little Jew goes to the picts

with Aid yet, Hope to take home an

electric drill for Buck Have ordered a

supper tray from a chap he is also

making me a matchbox cover & inscribing

it. Must be something in the Air on the extra

tucker that is making me write like this Anyway

tis very nice to have the old urge again but

there gas lights out & must see Bill praps

some lollie date? or maybe a plum pud &

Biscuits again. And so to hoping for the best

and putting out the light (no oats) we are small

P.O.W. DAY 76 close

(26)

SUN
3/5/42

11TH WEEK

A Day of Queer happenings & plenty of good

men. To start off with at 04.20 today two GORDAN

HIGHLANDARS woke me up and asked where I lived

a marvellous coincidence. They left me 21 better

than when they came and will see me

at 2300 tonight. I made a balance this am &

have built a dollar up to 20 in a week not a

bad effort & should do better yet. Went to a cricket match

Engl. V Aust to day & we won thats 10/- old Syd Humphries

at Springtown & owes me twas a beautiful day for a

game & I had a bit of a look round & met two

poms who are interested & interesting. They are

breaking thier necks to get some bread over there

its very hard to get. There seems to be a definite

move towards home here & there. All kinds of

Rumors being thrown about Meals today on the up

B PORRIDGE & (we had bread) L- soup sweet rice (we had fish) Dinner Good

a 3 course meal (1) Soyer bean Soup (2) Fried rice risole (& fish) (3) Sweet

Rice (PINEAPPLE) the bracketted items are supplied by us & co

Well the day started well & kept up the tempo

all day long. I went to the wire with the Gordons at

11pm & waited a good while eventually Jack & Bill

turned up & they have a hell of a load about 4 deep

in one the Gordons take their lot out of it &

we drink a bottle of Beer Just think of it. A real

drink of real beer. a good feed of dates & after delivering

me get home to barracks & have a good feed & so to bed

highly contented and so ends exciting & Happy POW day 77

MON
4/5/42

Looks like Ill be dumping Archer he wants it all

his way a bit of a [[Sevicer?]] this big is starting to

turn his head a bit so & no cigs last night

& no com from the Gordons load AM Gave demo on

taking hive from tree. without cutting and have

been requested to start class. But do not think it

worth while some move is on Hope its a prisoner

exchange. If it had not been for the sell out by England

& the Yanks who started this we wouldn't be prisoners

& I agree with any negotiations aust will make for

our release. There's no doubt about the treatment we

have received here although some of the troops have

had their "ego" somewhat blunted which is all

to their good. We will be able to take back a few

lessons in manners & dicipline when we go home

Manners must be another special cultivation in

Japan. As well as scoffing had a fair issue of meals

today especially the crushed rice pudding which

was delicious. Donga more or less PM & so end P.O.W 78.

(27) 

TUES
5/5/42

The load last night was very poor

and prices are no good the Gordons did

not come in & we have not yet quitted

the load at 0900. Bill ran fair into Jack &

now a bit of fun will start. Am on a salt

water party this am first time Ive copped a

job since Ive been here but I am always

first to start & last to finish on the bees. a big

mob of our chaps left for Singapore today getting

a new camp ready I believe. looks as though

Ill lose my bet with Pat Lakey. I hope so any rate

AND. OF. ALL. THE. LUCK? WELL. WOULDN'T. IT. I click a Singa Party

myself we are going to Johore Baru on the Mainland

to build stables for horses arty. and we leave

we are taken by transport to our new

abode and hang me if it isnt the Johore GAOL

And we get in (after an inspection by the camp

commandant) at about 7. pm. We are billeted

in the VAGRANT block but leave that for more

congenial surroundings. its my first taste

of iron bars since Ive been a prisoner. we

are very comfortable more so than at home

we had to get rid of our load at cost

and done $6 each. And gave 4lb flour into

our cook house. I left my typewriter

& drill with Robinson the A.M. seargent he

works in the G.P.O Melbne Ron. &

Mr Gittings the Luet have also agreed to keep an

eye on it for me. Great bit of fun over a

tin of Bully Roby gave me they told me on the

road that it was excess & I put it back in

the cook house. now one hungry old bugger

is running round whining as to its

whereabouts. If I tell him again I must make

each syllable with a thump in the ear

and even he's settled down now & the capt

has put him right re the rations. We have

had a good feed & are now for bed. I don't expect

the variety of food here that we usually get

but I hear there is plenty of it. We get a good

cup of tea which is an asset. OUR hours are

rise 06.30. And a cup of tea, on to the job at 07.15 &

work till 10.00 then rest till 14.00 then work till

19.00 & back to tea. Meals are Break 10.30 LUNCH 14.00 &

DINNER 19.30. It looks as though things will

be a rather good cop and so having

had such a cow of a day will close. P.O.W 79 & 2 [[?]]

(28)

WED
6/5/42
Woke up at 6.30 & get our cup of tea &

[[?]] out to the job. They will have some

fun here when the horses are brought

in. The place where they are built is

more or less floating in a swamp.

we strike water (in the post holes) at about

12 inches & the ground shakes like a jelly when

ever a log is dropped on it. No doubt these

chaps have an efficient army and the

discipline is very rigid & the morality is

very high. They treat us with great respect

and here is a lesson in manners for some

of our blokes. It is now 1200 & we are knocked

off for the first spasm & have a look over the

place. I have seen the condemned cell

& have worked the drop the rope seems to

have had a fair bit of work too the place

is bigger than I first thought we had our break

at 10.00 & had sugar in our tea as well as in

our rice Bill & I have cond milk which is

an asset to us & now we wait for LUNCH. I am

lying out on my bed on the verandah & have

been looking at the tiles above me. And the

wonderful splash of color they make. There

are pictures in them such as we see on our Xmas cards

at home even the common old brown tile shows

some scene. I can hear the trains running back

& forth all the night & it makes me feel a bit like

home. Heres to lunch Well the day is over & the

pm was spent digging a trench we scoped rather well

in the way of cigarettes and are on rather good

terms with our captors. There is a fraternity arising

between Japanese & Aust which augment well for

the future of the two peoples we have not been

very broadly educated. And this is doing the

world of good to a lot of us. We had a good tea

tonight a big issue of stew & plenty of Rice

a bath & so had a lot of exercise will do us a lot

of good. I can do with it anyhow. One thing

about this job there are plenty of smokes laid

on every time we rest they hand round

cigarettes. I am writing this on t lying

on the broad of my back & using my torch

We have been issued with mosquito smoker

a coil something like a little snake which

when lit will smolder for 5 hrs I hope it burns

all night & Ill sleep well for the rest on P.O.W. 80.

(29) 

THUR
7/5/42

It has been a very heavy day & Im

as tired as a dog that's been chasing rabbits

all day & that reminds me As I lay

here in the Johore Gaol how is

Aid & his speckie dog & if the kids

ever get a rabbit now. Just turned

over on to my belly to write this

but the old "bell" is too full to stand

much of this. Wonder how Aust is doing

& what is the war position in general. My

thoughts bounce back a lot to home

these days does it augment well or bad?

Anyway we can't do anything about it so

will pass it up again. We are paid 10c per day

here & some of us classed as carpenters

get 20c Ive bought some cigarettes today $0 25c

per pkt of 20. they are pretty tough but

are better than nothing. The Japanese soldiers

get an issue from the Army of 2 cigs per

day but there is an issue somewhat after the

comforts fund issue from home. The dinner

here today was a washout but the

tea was a beaut I had enough toostew

to do me & then on top of that I had a

scone & plain rice & Bill & I had milk on

only we still have a good issue of milk

on hand & in the morning we open

our tin of jam for the scone at 0630 am

it should be rather good. We got a

pig from the J. Army cook house tonight &

are getting some fruit down from up the

country tomorrow fresh pineapple

it ought to be good. There is a concert

on here tonight but Im wiriting this

up feel too tired to go to the [[turnout?]]

anyway. They are now singing "Gundagai"

& my thoughts fly back to the old motor

bike days in Nathalia. It's a long way

from here to there but I hope they

here it & get a bit of help to us [[?]] soon.

One thing no man here who has been

in contact with the chaps will feel like

fighting them again. Well Ive filled up

another double lined page so I think Ill close.

also will have to cut the space down or will

have no space by time I get out of here so

Hoping all at home & All friends in Aussie OK POW 81 closes

(30)