Diaries of Signalman W H L Woodgate spanning November 1941 to October 1945 - Part 9

MON 6/67/42

The Bona job finished much

to everyone's satisfaction we

expect a few easy jobs & today

we got one. We were lucky

enough to click the ration

the cranky hands & heads

party. And I was in a very light

job-crowd. We stopped for about

an hour before starting work I'd

about a ton of goods & then out to the

ford wks.  Whilst waiting a woman

came past & gave us 6 Tins pineapple 2lb

biscuits, 20 Bananas & 1 pineapple all of which

was divided up at dinner time and

was a welcome addition to rice

and veg stew.  We saw today the

result of yesterday's executions - heads

have been placed on stands at

various points.  I saw one at a corner

in Bukit Tima, and there was room

for more.  I don't know what thex

owners of the heads were up to - but they

certainly copped it.  Our market here

is finished the boongs are not now

allowed in.  They started to

whip the prices up & we kicked

and so P.O.W 141. is over.

[*91*]

Tue 7/76/42

A holiday and everyone is resting

and the arguments & banter are

thrown all round the hut.  One 

chap is looking for someone to have

a game of "allies" with. Others are playing

various games of cards & I'm on the broad

of my back writing this hope you can

read it.  Tis rumored that we are getting

Paid today.  And I must get my soap issue

when I can raise the energy to get up

we have been here over a fortnight &

I have enjoyed work for the first time

in my life.  And now for a game of

bridge.  Which didn't mature & I went to

sleep. We got paid $1.60.  I had a word

with one of our Leiuts. "Stewart." Re our

20c per day ex Changi for the 20 days

previous to coming here.  Also re

the money $1 we paid into the mess

at Changi, and for which we recd

one one half tin fish.  And he

assured me that we had had

a whole tin. Now I wonder did we?

no one else here has seen it.

But of course as I have said before

that is what we get all along the

line in this show.  The boys are now

playing 2 up & some dopes are broke

already.  So close  P.OW 142

[*92.*]

WED 8/7/42

Best days rest for a while two

days off in "concussion".  There's a

lot of activity here today. A.A.

& A.F. practice kept the boys on

the jump for a while over 120

altogether.  I'll bet we hear a

few. FURFIES. BEFORE. THE. DAY. IS. OVER. HAD

AN. HOURS. SLEEP. THIS. AM. & 2 HRS. PM & AM. REFRESHED

NOT. MUCH. TO. WRITE. ABOUT. ONE. hAS. TO. GO. OUT.

FOR. MATERIAL. hERE A WE. GE.T. SOME. NEWS. WE

hEAR FROM "FURFS" THAT. ROMMELL. IS. SURROUNDED &

THAT. THERE. HAS. BEEN. A. 5 POINT. LANDING. IN. JAVA

I.THINK. SOMEONE. MUST. HAVE. READ. THE. "TIMES". & THEN.

SET. UP. A. NEWS. REEL. OF. hIS. OWN. PRAPS.?  AND SO. TO

WAIT. NOW. THE. MARKET & A. BOTTLE. OF .SAWYER. SAUCE. &. TEA TIME

WE. ARE VERY. SHORT. IN. SALT. hERE & THIS. SAUCE. IS

THE NEAREST WE. CAN. GET. SO. WILL. CLOSE. P.O.W. 143.  BUT. NOT

QUITE. THE. EPISODE. OF. THE. POM. INTERPRETOR.HAS. JUST

COME. IN. IT. APPEARS. THE. POM. &. THE. GUARD. GOT

ARGUING. ABOUT. THE. WAR. TILL. THE. GUARD. DONE
HIS. BLOCK. ONE. OF. OUR. OFFICERS. CHIPPED. IN. & GOT

A. SLAP. IN. THE. FACE. THE. GUARD. RUSHED. THE. POM. WITH AN

AXE. THE. POM. HOPPED. BACK. OUR. OFFCR. TOLD. HIM

TO. STAND. TO. ATTENTION. HE. KEPT. RUNNING. &. SO. WAS

BOOKED. FOR. REFUSING. A. LAWFUL. COMMAND. FULL

STORIES. BOTH & BOYS. WHO. SAW. EPISODE. THE. POM

& IF. POSS. THE. OFFICER. CONCERNED. ATT. & THE REFLECT

ANYTHING. BUT. A. PRETTY. PICTURE. AND. TEND.

TO. STILL. WIDEN. THE. CONFIDENCE. BREACH.

BETWEEN. MEN. & OFFICERS. AND. SO. TO. THE. MARKET

BUT. ALTHO. EARLY. WAS. NOT. EARLY. ENOUGH & 143. IS. OFF

THUR 9/7/42

AFTER. THE. TURN YESTY. PRIVATE. FLYNN. OF. THE 

MANCHESTERS. LEFT. FOR. HIS. UNIT. & WHAT. HE. THINKS. OF. OUR

OFFICERS. IS. SURE. A. TRIBUTE? I HAVE. THE. WHOLE. STORY

ANOTHER. DAYS. REST. TODAY. & WE. hEAR. RUSSIANS. BEING. PUSHED

AT. KHARKOV. YANK. FLEET. IS ON. THE. MOVE. DOING. OK. LIBYA

AND. THINGS. ARE. MOVING. TOWARDS. HERE. WHICH. IS. A . DAMN

GOOD. JOB. IF. TRUE. A. RARE. TURN TODAY. A. MALAYAN. FUNERAL. WENT

PAST. SURELY. A. STRANGE. CUSTOM. WHEN THE ANTICS. COULD. BE

SEEN. THRO. THE. SMOKE. OF. THE. CAR. THEY. WERE. FUNNY.

A. WOMAN. KICKED ABOUT BADLY

AND AS THE PEN IS DRY. I. CLOSE POW 144

FRI 10/7/42
TODAY. TO THE FORD WORKS WHERE

WE. SWEAT & SWEAT. & SWEAT. FOR

THE WHOLE. OF P.O.W. 145

[*93*]
SAT 11/7/42
AND TODAY. AGAIN. TO THE. FORD. ON. THE
ROAD. &. MORE. SWEAT. ITS. LIKE. A. TURKISH. BATH.
NOT. MUCH. NEWS. KICKING. ABOUT. NOW. WE. hEAR. THAT
1500 MEN. HAVE. LEFT. CHANGI & THAT. TURKEY IS. ON
THE. MOVE. OUR. WAY.? NOTICE. ALL. THE. BOYs are extra
HAPPY. TONIGHT. DON'T. KNOW. YET. WHAT HAS. CAUSED. IT
NOT. MUCH. FRESH. TO. SEE. OR. WRITE SO 146. OVER.
SUN 12/7/42
WHILE. the rest of the mob cop
a day off. Some 6 or 8 of us cop it on
and out we go to the ford works
& hanged if we don't strike "HURRY"
HURRY" & load & cart scrap from the
works to the wharf. We carted one
load & put on another before lunch
& then.. To our great anger & disappointment
we got no lunch thro some mess up
between our fellows & the Japs. Well the
poms came to the rescue & gave
us a dish of tea & some plain rice
which was very acceptable our
Lieut had a bad time trying to
ram his down his throat. twas
like chewing rubber the rice was
nicely cooked, but on its own
it was not too hot. coming home
a passing truck driver handed
me a pineapple which was whacked
up between 6 of us & that on top of
our double issue was very nice. &
again we are full. We met some
dutch & Indian troops who arrived
here today from Borneo: we allso
hear that another 3000 Sigs have left for
overseas. Well I'll do the same some day &
it will be for home. By boat or plane
& it will be soon so on that thought So P.O.W 147
of the 21 weeks hope we don't have to
put up with another 21 weeks.
AT. 11 PM WE WERE PICKED UP. BY. X. & TAKEN
TO. THE 
Hand drawn diagram - see original
WE. WORKED. TILL. 4 AM. BUT. THE
BLOODY. THING WOULDNT. WORK. WHAT. LUCK. WE
TRY AGAIN. THURSDAY. BILL. TONY. BOB. RON ME.
WE. ARE OFF. SICK @ 5.AM. MON
[*94*] 

MON  13/7/42

AM. hAVING. TODAY. ON. SPINAL. EXCERSIZE & ITS. IS

SOME. PLEASURE. BELEIVE. ME. HAVE. A. BIT. OF. SORE

THROAT. & GOT. A. NO DUTIES. OUT. OF. IT. SINCE. I. hAVE

BEEN. hERE I hAVE BEEN. OUT. TO. GET. AS. FIT. AS. POSS

BUT. hAVE. hAD. A. COUPLE. OF. SET. BACKS .DO. NOT. THINK

THIS. RICE. IS. A. VERY GOOD. TRAINING. DIET. IF. ANYONE.

HAD eVeR. TOld. ME. THAT. I WOULD. BE. LIVING. ON. RICE

&. STEW. I. WOULD. hAVE. THOUGHT. IT. ONE. HELL. OF. A. JOKE

BUT. THERE. IT. IS.  THE. JOKE. IS. ON. ME.  SAW. A. COCONUT

COME. TO. THE. QUICKEST. FINISH. "YESTY." THAT. HAVE. EVER

SEEN. &. FORGOT. TO. PUT. IT. IN. LAST. NIGHT. TWAS. JUST. WHAT

IS. ALWAYS EXPECTED. A. DISPLAY. OF. SAVAGE .TEMPER. WE. WEAR

A DAY. FOR. THE. FIRST. TIME. THE. "HOUSE". ON WHEELS. &

ALSO. WE. ARE. GETTING. A. BIT. LIGHT. ON. THE. RATIONS

AND. THERE. IS. NO. PURCHASEABLE. STUFF. COMING. IN. THERE. WILL 

SOON. BE. A. NOTICEABLE. FALLING. OFF. IN. THE. WORK. & IN CONSEQUENCE. A

FEW. MORE. SLAPPED. FACES. TO. CATCH. UP. I. hAVE. BECOME. WELL. SEASONED

TO. THE. SLEEPING. ON. THE. BOARDS. & SHOULD. BE. PLENTY. TOUGH. FOR

ANYTHING. OCCURRING. LATER. ON. AND. TONIGHT. THE. TOPIC. OF

TOM. BILL & SELF. TURNS. TO. "PIGGIE" & IT. DOES'NT. MEAN. PORK.

NO MEAT. AGAIN. TOMORROW. & ON. ALL. THIS. P.O.W 148. IS. CLOSED

TUE 14/7/42

THE. LATEST. IS. WE .hAVE. TO. LEARN. OUR. NUMBERS & BE. ABLE
TO. SPEAK. THEM. IN. JAPANESE. MINE. IS. 862 WHICH. TRANSLATED

MEANS. SOMETHING. LIKE. THIS. HUTCHi.8. YARKOO 100 .ROKO.6.

T00=10. NEE = 2. AND. ALL. EXCEPT. ABOUT. 6. OF. OUR. MOB. GET

THE. DAY. OFF. WAS. SORRY. TO. WAKE. UP. TODAY. WAS. HOME. WITH THE.

WHOLE. FAMILY. EVEN. HAD. MY. DISCHARGE AND WAS. HAVING. ONE .HELL. OF

A. TIME. AID & GWEN. YOU & SELF. WERE. OFF. SOME. WHERE, AID. DECIDED. TO. GO.
BACK. WITH. GWEN. MOTOR CARS & PLANES. BOATS & TRAINS & MANY GOOD. FRIENDS

MUST. HAVE. BEEN. OUR. TOPIC. OF. LAST. NIGHT. THAT. STIRRED. DREAMS. UP. &

PRAPS. TWAS. SOMETHING. GREATER. TELLING. ME. WE. WOULD. BE.

SUCCESSFUL IN. OUR. VENTURES.  WELL TWO. OF. US. HAVE. JUST. CLIPPED

EACH. OTHERS. HAIR. OFF. AND. SURE. LOOK A HANDSOME. PAIR

FEEL. VERY. COOL. IN. THE. "hAID", AND. SO. the day

GOES. ON. UNTIL. SUCH. TIME. AS. SOMEONE. IN 

goes SOME. SPHERE. OF. ADMINISTRATION. TURNS.

ON. THE. USUAL. INCOPETANT. BRAINLESS. TURN. TODAYS

EXTRA. SPECIAL. WAS. PUT. ON. BY. SGT. MJR.

OF. THE. 2/4^TH. MACHINE. GUNNERS. WHO'S. BEST. TODAY. WAS 

TO. SEND. OUT. LIGHT. DUTY. MEN. TO. LOAD. RICE. HE. WAS

PUT. ON. THE. MAT. BY. LEIUT. MICKEY. MOUSE BUT. GOT. OUT. OF

IT. PERSONALLY. I. THINK. HIM & HIS. ILK. ARE. A. MENACE

TO. THE. ARMY. & TO. HIS. COUNTRY. INSOMUCH. AS. his

ACTION. MAY. LEAD. TO. THE. PAYING. OF. A. FULL. PENSION. TO

MORE. THAN. ONE. MAN. OF. THAT. PARTY. & P.O.W. TO - 149

CIGARETTE. ISSUE. TODAY. 1 PKT.

[*95*]

WED 15/7/42

SPENT. THE. whole of the day. writing up

poetry. some of which is good &

some doggerel.  Fred Weeks had and

Pat Ryan both met with accidents

today.  Fred had his arm broken

& Pat his leg crushed. beats me that

any of us ever come back from

the scrap handling.  Its like riding

a surf board.  To ride on top of the

loads & the drivers?  The pineapples

etc (that we have had on orders for

5 days). arrived today.  And after the usual

bungling - were issued out as ordered I got 2 PINES 2 CAKES

GUOLA MALLACCA which is a type of Brown Sugar and

only diff to our own is that this stuff carries

the usual BOONG. taste & smell.  And so I come

to the close of P.O.W DAY 149:150 ON. A. HAIRCUT

THUR 16/7/42

RCD 80c CHANGE &

ANOTHER. DAY AT. hOME & OF ALL THE PAST TIMES).

COULD. FIND. I MUST. SELECT. SIG. WORK. TO DO. & I. hOPE I

AM NOT. WORKING. IN. VAIN. THE. BOYS. ARE. ALL. VERY

PLEASED. "HURRY "GOT ONE. IN. THE. PUSS. & THEY ARE

HOME. EARLY. FOR. A. CHANGE. I. ORDERED. MY. GOODS.

AND FRUIT. FROM NO/6 COYS.SGTS. LAST. NIGHT & GOT. THE

THINGS. TONIGHT. THESE TWO. CHAPS. ARE. 100. up ON OUR

ICOMPETANT. BIRDS. HAVE. THE. MAKINGS OF. A. GOOD

PAIR. OF "RICE BALLS." hERE. SO. MUST. HOP. IN. EARLY & GET

EM. COOKED. NO. NEWS. IN. TONIGHT. & IT. HAS. BEEN A. VERY

QUIET. DAY. ALL. ROUND. SO 151. SUN. IS. SETTING & SO AM. I.

FRI 17/7/42

THE WRONG MOB GOT. CAUGHT. MY LUCK HOLDS

A. FEW. OF THE. LADS. WENT. BACK. TO. CHANGI. TODAY

BET THEY. FIND A BIG. DIFFERENCE. NOW. WE. hEAR. THE. OTHER

FORCE. WENT. TO. BONEO. WOULDN'T. MIND. BEING. WITH. THEM I.

HAVE. SPENT. THE. DAY. ON. THE. MAP AUS. 2000 of CEYLON. 1600of HURRY'S

BOYS. ARE. HOME. EARLY. G.O.C hERE. TODAY. EXPECT. LEAVE.

hERE. SOON. HAD. A. GREAT. RAT. hUNT. WITH. A. FOXY. DOG. hERE

TODAY. THE. FOXY WOULD. MAKE. A. GREAT. RABBITER AT. hOME

AND. hE. STIRRED. UP. MANY. MEMORIES. WE. WERE. TOLD. TODAY

ThAT. ALL. A.I.F WILL. BE. TAKEN. OFF. THE. ISLAND & NOT. TO

EXPECT. ANYTHING. DOING. FOR. THIS. YEAR. AND. THAT. OUR

PEOPLE. AT. HOME. DO. NOT. YET. KNOW. OUR. POSITION. ROBINSON. HAD

HIS. FOOT. CRUSHED. TODAY. BUT. ONLY. RLD. BRUISE & SO

THE DAY. DRAWS. TO. A. CLOSE. AND. WE. ARE. ONE

MORE. DAY. NEARER. HOME. & 152. IS. OVER.

[*96*]

SAT 18/7/42

GONE S. TODAY. AND. A. VERY. GOOD JOB. WE HAD. MET

ONE. WAGNER. TODAY & hAD. QUITE. AN. "EARO"

SESSION. WE ALSO. hEAR. THAT. ALL. OFF. THE ISLAND

WITHIN. 3 WEEKS. I. MAY. GET. A.WAY. A. BIT. SOONER

WITH. AN. OUNCE. OF. LUCK. WE. MAY. GET THERE?

THE. NEWS hEAR SEEMS. TO. hAVE. DIED A VERY. SUDDEN DEATH

AND. NOTHING. GETS. IN. WE. RCD. AN. EXTRA. DOLLAR

TODAY. FROM. THE. CHANGI. MOB. ALSO hEARD. THAT. A

LOT. OF. OUR. OFFICERS. ARE. OFF. TO. JAPAN. SOON. NOT

MUCH. TO. PUT. IN. TODA.Y BUT. A LOT. BUILDING. UP

SO. UNTIL. TOMORROW. & I. CLOSE. P.O.W. 153

SUN 19/7/42

DREAMS. & HERE. FOR. THE 22ND. WEEK.

WE. LEAVE. hERE. AS. USUAL .OUT. FOR. THE. JOB. BUT.

SHE. ISN'T. THERE. & WE. GET. SENT. hOME. AGAIN. ALL. EXCEPT

HURRY'S. MOB. THEY. hAVE. THEIR. DAY. ON. TUESDAY

SO. WILL. TRY & TURN. THE. DAY. TO. SOME GOOD. USE

& MAYBE. A. BIT. OF. COURSING. RATS. OR. BUGS. BUT. WILL. WRITE

THIS. UP. LATER. PAY. BOOKS. IN. TODAY? THE. SYONAN. TIMES. TODAY

STATES. THAT. A. SHIP. CONTAINING 1000 AUST. P.O.W's SUNK BY

AN. AMERICAN. NAVAL. ACTION. HOPE. TAE. POOR. DEVILS. GOT. SAVED

WELL & hERES. THE. WAY. TO. RUN. A. FUNERAL. BRASS. BAND & ALL

&. AS. THEY. GO. PAST. THE. JAPS. GIVE. THEM. A TOOT. WITH

A. TOOTER. & THE. DIGS. GIVE. THEM. A. TUNE. ON. A

MOUTH. ORGAN. TAKEN. BY & LARGE hAS. BEEN. A. VERY

SLOW. DAY & NOW AT. SUNDOWN. I. CLOSE. ANOTHER. DAY. P.O:W. 154

MON 20/7/42

WE STARTED. OFF THE. DAY RATHER. WELL. I. COPPED. H.H.MOB

BUT. WE. ONLY. HAD TO. GET. ONE. LOAD. BEFORE DINNER &

EVERYTHING. WENT. WELL. TILL. THE. SARGE. LOST

THE. SHOVEL. THEN. THE. FUN. STARTED H.H.

WENT. THE. BASH. & HANDED. OUT. A. SPLIT. EAR

ONE. STITCH. WAS. PUT. IN. WE GET FAIRLEY. DEFINITE. THAT. MOST. OF

US. GO. BACK. TO. CHANGI. & TT. IM. NOT. IN. IT. IM. SLIPPING

ALTHO. IT. MAY. BE. BETTER. TO. STAY. hERE & GET. AMONG SOME OF

THE. OTHER. BOYS. WHO ARE. STILL. OUT. ON. THE. JOB.  ANYWAY. I. THINK

I'LL. LEAVE. IT. TO. LUCK. I. FINISHED. UP. BY. HAVING. A .FULL. DAY. ON. THE

BANJO. & CANT. SAY. THAT. HARD. WORK. AGREES. WITH. ME.

WE. HEAR. TODAY. THAT. TURKEY. HAS. COME. IN. WITH. US.

ALSO. THAT. THE. GERMANS. IN. ODDESSA. HAVE. SURRENDED

AND. A. HELL. OF. A. LOT. MORE. TRIPE: THAT. MAKES

ME WONDER. WHAT. KEEPS. THIS. WAR. GOING & ME. IN. P.O.W. 155

TUE 21/7/41

TODAY. CONTAINS. EVEN. LESS. THAN. OTHERS

EXCEPT. THAT. WE. WORKED. LIKE. HELL. ALL

DAY. ON. THE. PICK & SHOVEL. TURKEY

TAKES. SEBASTAPOOL. WE. ADVANCE. 30. MILE. LIBYA

ALL. LOOKS. GOOD & P.O.W 156. DRAWS. TO. CLOSE

[*97*]

WED 22/7/42

GOT. A. CRACK. IN. THE. ARM. YESTY. & ITS. GOOD

ENOUGH. FOR. A. DAY. HOME. TODAY. GIVE

ME. TIME. FOR. A. SHAVE. &. A BIT. OF. WASHING

ETC.  WELL. I. COULD. BE. VERY. HAPPILY. OCCPD. AT

HOME. TODAY. & WHEN. ONE. THINKS. IT. IS .ONLY 16HRS

AWAY. SURE. MAKES. ONE. IMPATIENT. AND. SO. THE DAY

GOES. SLOWLY. ON. NO. NEWS. TODAY. HURRIES .MOB. HOME. FIRST. AFTER

ONE HECTIC. DAY. THE. ARM. OK. AND. SO 157. IS. OVER.

THUR 23/7/42

CIGS. TODAY 1 PKT

 WELL. WOULDN'T. IT?  HERE. I. GO. & SEND. MYSELF

TO. WORK. & I. AM. ON. LIGHT. DUTY. LUCKILY. WE GOT. A. DAY

OFF. HURRY. HAS. BEEN. PUT. THRO. THE MILL & LIKE

HIS. MATE. IS. PROBABLY. VERY. SICK. TODAY. THIS AM. FOR BREAK

I. H. RICE. PINE. C.NUT. SUGAR. & GOOLA. AND BELEIVE. ME

TIS. AS. GOOD. AS. STAKE & AIG? I. THINK. THIS. JOB. IS. JUST

ABOUT. FINISHED. & WHETHER. WE. ARE. BACK. TO. CHANGI. OR. OVER

SEAS. I. DO. NOT. KNOW. BUT. AM. PRETTY. SURE. WE. ARE. CLOSE. TO

A. MOVE. WOULD. LIKE. TO. STAY. CLOSE. ABOUT. HERE. FOR. A. WHILE

TO. SEE. THE. CHANGE. AND. SO. THE DAY. GOES. ON. SLEEP. & LAUGH

AND. ON. THE. WHOLE. A. GOOD. DAY. & A. FULL. PKT. CIGS

AND. THE. NEWS. FRANCE. DECLARES. WAR. ON. ENGLAND. WHICH

IF. TRUE. IS. A. DAMN. GOOD. JOB. & SO. TO. CLOSE 158 - I. NEARER. HOME

FRI 24/7/42

NEARLY. MY. LAST. DAY. IN. SINGAPORE. ON. ACCT. AN

WE READ. IN. TIMES. TODAY. ABOUT. 2ND

IRON. BAR. FRONT. QUITE. A. LOT. OF. TALK. AND

I. WOULD NOT. BE SURPRISED. IF. SAME. hAS. NOT. ALREAD.Y OPENED

& IF. IT. hAS. THIS. WAR. WON'T. LAST. TOO LONG. WE. CARTED

CHASSIS. TODAY. TO THE. WhARF. & I. RATHER. LIKE. THE. GAME 

WE. ARE. hAVING. A. LOT. OF. TROUBLE. WITH. TENIERYN.

THE. FORK & ONE. FELLOW. IN. DESPERATION. TIPPED. A. BOTTLE. OF

SAWYER. SAUCE .OVER. HIS. NOB. WELL. HE. JUMPED. IN. THE

AIR. TURNED. A. FEW. KATHERINE. WHEELS & THEN. DASHED. OUT

TO. THE. LATRINES. FOR. THE. BOTTLE. OF. PHENYLE. IT. WAS

SURE. A. FUNNY TURN.  I hAVE. JUST. RCD. MY. DATE. ORDER

& AM. SURE. GOING. TO. TOWN. ON. THEM. ITS. LIKE. A. DAY

IN. LUBRAM. AS. A. KID. & A 1/- WITH. DATES. AND SO. TO. THE

CLOSE. OF. THE 159th DAY. AS. P.O.W.

SAT 25/7/42

TODAY. INSTEAD. OF. STAYING. HOME - I. WENT. OUT. & hAD. A. 

VERY. ENJOYABLE. DAY. A REAL. TOUR. OF. THE. ISLAND

CARTING. TIMBERS. TO. TH WEST COAST ROAD

PASIR. PANGANG. I. SAW. QUITE. A. LO.T OF. SMALL

BOATS. BUT. THINK. THEM. OUT. OF DATE

THOUSANDS. OF. GRAVES. SEEN. & HOME. TO. A GOOD

TEA. AFTER. ANOTHER SLAVE. DAY "160"

[*98*]

SUN 26/7/42

LAST. NIGHT. WE. WERE. TOLD. THAT. TODAY. WOULD

BE. A. HOLIDAY. REVELLE A. 8000. & A. WHOLE. DAYS

REST. IMAGINE. THE HOSTILITY. WHEN. WHILST. AT

BREAKFAST. THE. "SEARG'S" COME. ROUND. TO. DETAIL SOME

MEN. FOR. DUTY.  I. WAS. AGAIN. FORTUNATE & SO. WAS

BILL & WE. ARE. HOME. AGAIN. FOR. THE. DAY. x EVERY. NIGHT

& UP TO. DEPARTURE. OF. A. MORN'G. WE. HAND. IN. OUR

ORDER. FOR. GOODS. x WHEN THE "SARGE" WHO. TAKES. THE

ORDER. CALLED ^OUT FOR. ORDERS. THIS. A.M. ONE. WAG. WHO. hAD

DRAWN. "THE CROW" CALLED. BACK. YES. YER. B. . .  . PUT. ON

YER. BOOTS. &. GO. OUT. & DO. A. BIT. OF. 'SHOVELLIN'. THE 

BOYS. WHO. DREW. "OUT". COP. A FAIR. BIT. OF. BANTER. FROM

THE. MOB. WHO. ARE. hOME. & SO. AFTER. A. LITTLE. BIT

OF. SQUARING. UP. WE. SETTLE DOWN. TO. A. BIT. OF DELOUSING

THE. BUGS. hERE. ARE. PRETTY. HEAVY.x FROM. WHERE

I. AM. LYING. I. GET. A. GOOD. VIEW. OF. THE. ROAD. AND. IT

IS. hARDLY. CREDITABLE. THE. NUMBER. OF. BIKES. THAT. ARE

USED. HERE.  EVERY. BOONG ONE. SEES. SEEMS TO. OWN. A. BIKE OR.

A. BISUNESS.  TRICYCLE. THESE. TRIKES. ARE. BUILT. WITH

TWO. HEAVY. WHEELS. IN. FRONT. & THE. LOADS. THEY. CARRY. ARE

ENORMOUS.x THE. SPEED. IS. NOT. SO. HOT. BUT. AS. THE

OLD. BOONG. IS. NEVER. IN.. A. hURRY. WELL. THE. SPEED

DOES. NO.T MATTER. BOOKS. CARDS. YARNS. &. WAR

STORIES. WILE. AWAY. THE. hRS. DAYS. & WEEKS. OF. TIME. WE

ARE hERE hAVING THE. WORK. TO. GO. OUT. TO IS. A. GOOD

BREAK. & WE. DO. SEE. SOME. OF. THE. CITY. WHICH. BRINGS. ME

BACK. TO. THE. PLACE. x I. MUST. SAY THAT. THIS. CITY. IS

STARTING. TO. LOOK. MUCH. CLEANER. NOW. THAN. WHEN

THE. ENGLISH. hAD. IT. THE. HYGENE. SIDE. hAS

STILL. A. LOT. TO. COME. UP. SAW. A. TURN. TODAY. SOME.

BOONGS. & A. WOMAN. & THE. BOONGS. GOT. BASHED. WITH. A. STICK

AND. THE. BOYS. WHO. WENT. OUT. CAME. BACK. AT. 1500 & hAVE

THE. DAY. OFF. ALSO. AND. SLOWLY. BUT. JUST. AS. SURELY. THE

DAY. DRAWS. TO. A. CLOSE. AND. ALL. ARE. FULL. OF. BELLY. & ON THE

WHOLE. VERY. CONTENTED. AND. ALTHOUGH. AMONG. THE. 300. HERE

THERE. IS. NOT. ONE. WHO. IS. NOT. "HOME". THERE. IS. NO. STRIFE. OR.

DISCONTENT.  IN FACT. ONE. COULD. ALMOST. SAY. WE. ARE. VERY

CONTENTED. WITH. OUR. LOT. AND. COLLECTIVLY. VERY. HAPPY

ALTHOUGH. I. COULD. BE. MUCH. HAPPIER. BACK. THERE. WITH YOU

ALL. SPECIALLY. AID & BID. AND. ON. THESE. HAPPY THOUGHTS - I. WILL

BRING. TO. A. CLOSE SUNDAY. THE 161ST DAY - 23RD WEEK

MON 27/7/42

AND. FROM. WHAT. WE. HEAR - THE. SHOW. IS. ON. AGAIN. UP

NORTH. & THINGS. LOOK. GOOD. SHANGHAI. & CANTON. ALSO - BOYS. IN

GERMAN. ARMY.  RUSSIA. STILL. PUSHING. & WE. ARE. AT. IT. IN BURMA.

15 BOATS. DOWN. 150 MeN. GO. BACK. TO. CHANGI. TOMORROW.

I. DON'T. KNOW. WHETHER. IM. IN. IT. OR. NOT. YET. WE. HAD. A.

RATHER. GOOD. DAY. TODAY & ARE. HOME. EARLY. HAD. A. DREAM

LAST. NIGHT. WAS. IN. A. PLANE. WITH. MOTHER. &. GOT. HOME. IS. IT. AN

OMEN. & SO TO. THE. END. OF. 162 POW

[*99*]

TUE 28/7/42

AND. IM. FOR. CHANGI. & WE. ARE. ALL. PACKED. UP &

READY. TO. GO. & AS. I. WROTE. THE. JOURNEY. IN. I'LL. TRY

TO. WRITE. IT. BACK. BILL. MYSELF. & A. NEW. COBBER. VERN. WELLS

ARE. GOING. BACK. WITH. 147. OTHERS. AND. UP. AS. USUAL. & TO

USUAL. BREAKFAST. WE. hAVING. PACKED. SIT AROUND. THE

HUT. & YARN. ABOUT. EVERYTHING. MONEY. MEAN. RELATIONS.

& DOGS. I. RECOUNTED. OLD. LADY. & SOME. OF. THE HAPPY. MEMS. & SO WE

WAIT. TILL. DINNER. WHICH. IS. NOW. ON. AND. WAS. THE. NICEST.

IVE. TASTED. SINCE. I. CAME. hERE. WELL LOADED. WITH. SPLIT. PEA

AND. A. MEATY. MEAT. BONE. BOILED. IN. IT. AND. SO. BACK. TO. OUR

REST. SPOTS. AGAIN. BELLY. FULL. & CONTENTED. WITH. VERN. TO. TALK

OF. AEROPLANES. & WAIT. OUR. CONVOY. THE. TALK. RUNS. IN. MANY

CHANNELS. BUT. ALWAYS. BACK. TO HOME & WHAT. WE. ARE. GOING

TO. DO. WHEN. WE. GET. THERE.  WE. RELATE. DREMS. BOTH. DAY &

NIGHT. DREAMS. & DOES'NT. HOME. COME. IN. TO. THEM. SOME.

AND. SO. AT. LAST. WE. DEPART. 30 MEN. TO. A. TRUCK. WE

DULY. ARR. AT. CHANGI. AND. FIND. THAT. OUR. OLD. DIGS. ARE

OCCUPIED. BY. SOME. POMS. &. DIGGERS. WHO. WERE. CAPTURED

WHILST. TRYING. TO. GET. AWAY. PRIOR. TO. THE. SURRENDER. SO

WE. GET. DOWN. TO. BIZ. BILL. SAM. BOURKE. & SELF. ARE. IN

THE COOK HOUSE. & WE hAVE. TO. WORK LIKE. BLAZES.

TO. GET THINGS. SET. UP. BY. NIGHT. & SO. ENDS. POW 163

WED 29/7/42

I. WILL. NOT. PUT. IN. VERY. MUCH. TONIGHT. AS

IT. hAS. BEEN. A. RATHER. hEAV.Y DAY. AND. ALSO. I.

AM. GOING. TO. THE PLAY. "THE. DOVER. ROAD. 

WHICH. IS. BEING PLAYED. OVER. AT. THE. POMMIES

THERE ARE ABOUT. 30. GOING. FROM. SIGS & POW 164 OVER

THUR 30/7/42

TO. THE PLAY. I WENT. WITH. ABOUT. 199. OTHER. DIGGERS

WE. LEF.T hERE. AT. 6Pm. & ARRD. ABOUT. 6.30. AND. WERE SEATED

ABOUT. 6.35PM. .AND. THEN. IN. THE. FLASH. OF. A. SECOND. WE

WERE. BACK. HOME. IN. SOME. CITY. THEATRE LISTNING. TO

THE. OVERTURE.  THE. MUSIC. WAS. BEAUTIFUL & UP. TO. IF

NOT. EVEN. BETTER. THAN. SOME. AT. HOME. THE. PLAY

OPENED. AND THE. BOYS. WERE. STILL. FOR. A. FEW. MINS.

&. WERE. SILENT. AND. APPRECIATIVE. FOR. THE REST. OF. THE

PLAY.  IT. WAS. MARVELLOUSLY. DONE. EVERY. ARTIST. PLAYED

PERFECTLY. & THE. LIGHTING. (ELECTRIC). & THE. COSTUMES &

FITTINGS. LEFT. NOTHING. TO. BE. DESIRED. THERE. WERE

TWO. CHAPS. WHO. PLAYED. THE. PART. OF. WOMEN. EUSTASIA &

ANN. & I. WOULD. DEFY. ANYONE. TO. BE. ABLE. TO. TELL. THAT

THEY. WERE. NOT. WOMEN. EUSTASIA. LOOKED. "A. REAL. NICE

BUNCH. OF. CUDDLE. ABOUT. 28. &. ANN. LOOKED. ABOUT

26. IMAGINE. OUR. SURPRISE. WHEN. AT. THE. CONCLUSION 

OF. THE. SHOW - WE. WERE. TOLD. THAT. "EUSTASIA" ANN. WAS. A

MARRIED. MAN. WITH. 3. NIPS. &. "EUSTASIA" HAD. 3. LADS

HERE. WITH. hIM. P.O.W.'s THE. RECEPTION. WAS. GREAT

AND. THE. PLAYERS. JUST. AS. PLEASED. WITH. THEIR

[*100*]

THUR 30/7/42

AUDIENCE.  AS. WHAT. THE. AUDIENCE. WAS

WITH. THEM. IT WAS. A. WONDERFULL. SHOW

& ALSO. IT. DONE. SOMETHING. TO. ALL. WHO

SAW. IT. SOMETHING NOTHING ELSE SHORT

OF. GOING. HOME. COULD. HAVE. DONE. THEN

AT. 9.PM. WE. FORMED. UP & HEADED. HOMEWARD.

SINGING ALL. KINDS. OF. SONGS. AS. WE. CAME.

& WATCHING THE. FLIGHT. OF. MILLIONS. OF. FIRE

FLIES. WHICH. IN. ITSELF. IS. AN. INSPIRING. SPECTACLE

SO. TO. THE DOINGS. OF. THE. DAY. WE. WERE. RATHER

BUSY. AGAIN. TODAY. MAKING. PASTIES. ETC & PUT. ON. A

VERY. GOOD. LUNCH - SOUP. STEW. RICE. & A FLAPJACK. &

FOR. DINNER. WE. HAD. STEW. RICE. & A MEAT. PASTY

WE. GET .TWO. ISSUES. OF. MEAT. PER. WEEK. I. HAVE. JUST

ABOUT. GOT. THE. COOKHOUSE. SHIPSHAPE & HAVE. BUILT

MYSELF. A. BED. A. DOOR. FITTED. ON A WINDOW SILL

& A TABLE. &. SKEETER. NET. UP. I. MET. A. CHAP

TODAY. DES. ANDERSON. TWAS. hIS AUNTIE. WHO

TOOK. hOME. CHAPTER. 4. & SOME. LETTERS

TO. YOU. ALL. THERE IS. A. LECTURE ON. HERE. TONIGHT
BY A. CAPT. FROM. THE. R.N. MOSTLY. ON. hOW. WE

LOST. THE. TWO. BIG. SHIPS. WE. KNOW. & SO. I. COME. TO

THE. END. OF. P.O.W 165. ANOTHER. DAY. NEARER HOME.

FRI 31/7/42

TODAY. I. PUT. THE. WATER. ON. TO. THE. COOKHOUSE

& MADE. A. SHOWER. ROOM. WHICH. I. SUPPOSE. WILL

BE. USED. & ABUSED. I. CONVERTED. ON.E OF. THE

OLD. COOKHOUSES. & ITS. NOT. TOO. BAD. & ALSO. SAVES

ME. CARRYING. BUCKETS. OF. WATER. 100 YDS. OUR

MEN. LEFT. HERE. TODAY. FOR. CONCENTRATION. PRIOR

TO. BEING. DRAFTED. TO JAPAN. THERE. IS. NOT. MUCH

TO. REPORT. ON. THE. GEN. DOINGS. OF. THE. DAY. HAVE

MET. SOME. ENG. AIRMEN, ARMY & NAVY. MEN. & hAVE.

hEARD. SOME. REMARKABLE. STORIES. NO. DOUBT. WE. GOT. A.

PROPER. hIDING. hERE. I. WILL. ENDEAVOR. TO. GET.

SOME. OF. THEIR. STORIES. INTO TYPE. BEFORE. I. LOOSE. SIGHT

OF. THEM. & SO. WILL. CLOSE. P.O.W. 166. NEWS. ABOUT. SAME

SAT 1/8/42

A. DAY. OF. NO. CONSEQUENCE. hERE. NOTHING. DOING

SPENT. LAST. CENT. ON. SMOKES. PAY. DAY. TUESDAY. ATT

NAVAL. LECTURE. TONIGHT & SO P.O.W 167. FINISHES

SUN 2/8/42

- THE 24TH. WEEK. A .P.O.W. -

I. WENT .TO. MASS. TODAY. OVER. IN. THE. LITTLE. CHURCH. ACROSS

THE. GULLY. THERE. ARE. NOT. MANY. MEN LEFT. NOW. & THERE. ARE

NO. FURFIES. KICKING. ROUND. EITHER. PLAYED. MY. FIRST. GAME. OF. BRIDGE

ALSO. & SPENT. THE. REST. OF. THE. DAY. IN THE. COOKHOUSE. WE. ARE

ON. PRETTY. LIGHT. RATIONS. AND. WITH. NOTHING. TO. WRITE. OR. TALK

OF. I. CLOSE. P.O.W 168.

[*101*] 

MON 3/8/42

SO. ANOTHER. DAY. OF. NO. IMPORT: IS. DRAWING. TO. A. CLOSE

THIS. AM. TO. THE. SKIN. SPECIALIST. HAVE. SOME. PIMPLES

ON. THE. FACE. AND. AM. SHAVING. THE. "MO" OFF. TOMORROW

& IT. HAS. TAKEN. 3. WEEKS. TO. GET. TO. THIS. STAGE.

THE. JAPAN. DRAFT. HAS. NOT. YET. LEFT. & THEY DON"T LOOK

LIKE. GOING. FOR. A. WHILE. EITHER NEWS NOT. LOOKING. TOO

GOOD. THIS. MONTH. OR. NEVER. FOR. 2ND FRONT & SO 169. IS. OVER

TUE 4/8/42

AND SO. THE. SUN. SETS. ON. ANOTHER. DAY

A. VERY. SLOW. ONE. AT. THAT. THE. ONLY. BRIGHT

SPOT. BEING. A. CIGARETTE. ISSUE. WENT. TO. THE.

CONCERT. TONIGHT. BUT. IT. WAS. VERY. SLOW. & P.O.W 170 CLOSES

WED 5/8/42

TIME. MARCHES. ON. AND. ANOTHER. DAY. GOES

WENT. TO. A. SHIP. BUILDING. TALK. TONIGHT. NOT

BAD. RAHTER. DRY. SCOTCH. DELIVERY. & P.OW 171.

THUR 6/8/42

WE. hEAR. TODAY. THAT. TWO. AIRMEN. &. SOME

OTHERS. WhO. GOT. AWAY. FROM. hERE. ARE. BACK.

AGAIN. LEFT. AUSSIE. 4^TH JULY. NEWS. NOT. TOO HOT.

LOOKS. TO. ME. LIKE. RUSSIAS. LAST. MILE POST. AND. OURS

MAY. NOT. BE. FAR. OFF. IF. 2ND. FRONT. NOT. OPENED. SOON 

I. HAVE. A. DAY. OFF. TODAY. & EVERY. 3RD DAY. AS. LONG. AS. I. STAY

IN. THE. COOKHOUSE. WHICH. .I DONT. THINK. WILL. BE. VERY. LONG. WE.

WORK. LONGER. & hARDER. THAN. ANY OF THE. REST. & GET. NOUGHT

FOR. IT. WE. WERE PAID. TODAY. $4.35 & POW. 172. IS. OVER.

FRI 7/8/42

NOT. VERY. EVENTFUL. TILL EVENING. WHEN. HAD. A 

TALK. BY. ONE. OF. THE. P.O.W.'s ABOUT. HOME. YANKS

SEEM. TO. BE DOING. WELL. MISSING. IN MALAYA. IS

NOT. TOO HOT. & GEN.NEWS. NOT. TOO. GOOD. IF. "MULGA". CAN

BE. BELEIVED. SOON:- DAMN. SOON. OR. NEVER. P.OW 173

[*102*]

SAT 8/8/42

A VERY. QUIET. DAY. BUT. BUSY. IN. THE. COOK

HOUSE. WE. ARE. BURNING. GREEN. RUBBER. WOOD

&. ITS. THE. LAST. THING. ON. EARTH. WE. PUT. A. CHAP

ON TO CUT. IT. BUT. hE'S. THE. BIGGEST. BLUDGER. IN.

THE. PLACE. SO. & ON. THAT. NOTE. I. CLOSE. P.O.W 174

SUN 9/8/42

TODAY. MARKS. A RATHER. STARTLING. MILE

STONE. IN. MY. LIFE. I. WENT TO. MASS. THIS. AM

& THEY. ARE STARTING. A "NOVENA" WHICH. IS.

TO. LAST A. WEEK THERE. ARE. DEVOTIONS. &

ROSARY. EVERY. NIGHT. I. JOINED. THE. HOLY.

NAME. SOCIETY. & ALL. WHO. JOINED. HANDED IN. THEIR

NAMES. TO. BE. SOME. DAY. FORWARDED. TO. OUR

HOME. PARISH. & INCLUDED. IN. THOSE. ROLLS.  I. ALSO. MET

A. CHAP. NAMED. HOGAN. WHO. USED. TO. PLAY FOOTBALL

AGAINST. ME. "PRAPS" & hE & I. ARE. BOTH. TO. PLAY ON.

WEDNSDAY. WE. ARE. PLAYING. THE. A.G.H. SO.

WILL. PROBABLY. BE. PLAYING AGAINST. JACK STEWART

WE. HEAR. TONIGHT. THAT THE. YANKS. HAVE. TAKEN. THE

SOLOMAN. ISLANDS & THAT. THE. 'PACIFIC'. OFFENSIVE. IS

NOW. ON. LETS. HOPE. IT. IS & SO P.OW. 25TH. WEEK. 175

MON 10/8/42

YESTERDAY. I. HAD. A. DAY. OFF. & AM. NOW

OUT. OF. THE. COOK. HOUSE. FOR. GOOD. THANK

GOODNESS. OH. & I. FORGOT. TO. MENTION. THAT

ON. SAT. NIGHT. BILL. FELL. OUT. OF. BED.  HE

LANDED. ON. A. CONCRETE. FLOOR & THATS. THE

FIRST. TIME. IVE. SEEN. SPARKS. FLY. OUT. OF. CONCRETE.

I. THOUGHT. hE. LANDED. ON. A NEST. OF. FIRE FLIES.

HE SAYS. TODAY IT. WAS. NO. JOKE. I. RECKON. TWAS. A. BEAUT

AND. NOW. WITH. A. NEW. TUBE. IN. THE. PEN. I. CONTINUE

THE. "MULGA." TODAY. LOOKS. GOOD. DOWN. SOUTH. THE. POMS & (AUST.

DESERTERS.) HERE ARE. ABOUT. DUE. TO. MOVE. TO. JAPAN.

TOMORROW. OVER. TO. THE. ROSARY. TONIGHT. NOTE. THE

NOVENA.. STARTED. YESTERDAY. & SO DID. THE. OFFENSIVE

& THE. TIDE. TURNS. OUR. WAY. 25 WEEKS. AFTER. CAPIT.

& NOW. I. THINK. WILL. CLOSE. FOR. P.O.W 176.

TUE 11/8/42

THE DAY. STARTS. WITH. A. KIT. INSPECTION. LOOKING FOR

MOTOR. PARTS. BUT. NONE. FOUND. NOTHING MUTCH

DOING. FOR. THE. REST. OF. THE. DAY. &. I

WENT. TO. THE. CONCERT. & ROSARY. TONIGHT.

THE. SHOW. WAS. EXTRA. & SO POW 177. NEARER. HOME

WED 12/8/42

PLAYED. MY. FIRST. GAME. OF. FOOTBALL. FOR. MANY. YEARS

TODAY. & AM. AS. GOOD. AS. I. EVER. WAS.?  WE. PLAYED. THE

A.G.H. & THEY. BEAT. US. BY. ABOUT. 12. GOALS. NO. NEWS

OF. ANY. KIND. TODAY. & SO. TO. SUPPER & P.O.W 178. IS. OVER.
[*103*] 

THUR 13/8/42

FEEL. AS. TIRED. AS. THE. PROVERBIAL. DOG. THIS. AM

& AM. GIVING. THE. OLD. BED. A. BIT. OF. A. SHOCK. & READ. A. BIT

AND STUDY. THE. MAP. A. BIT. & DO. A. BIT. OF. DESIGNING

NOT. MUCH. ELSE. TO DO & SO. THE. DAY. WEARS. ON. TO. LUNCH

& IT. LOOKS. RATHER. GOOD. MAY. DO. A. BIT. "MORE". PRACTICE

AFTER. LUNCH. AM. A. BIT. SLOW. AGAIN. BUT. hAD. A. FEW

hRS. SHUTEYE. INSTEAD. PM. WhEN. I. AWAKENED I. WENT. OVER &

BOUGHT [$1 WORTH] OF. TOBACCO. 2½ OZ. & IT. LOOKS. ENOUGH

TO. LAST. ME. A. MONTH. IT. IS. A .DUTCH. BREW & SMOKES. RATHER

GOOD. ALSO. BOUGHT. A. COCONUT. & THAT. BRINGS. ME. TO. OUR. TEA.

TONIGHT. "TOMATO. SOUP. GREENS. SWEET. SPUDS. & RICE. & NOW

SWEETS.  A. BIG. SLICE. OF. PLUM. PUD. WITH PEANUTS. THRO. IT. ALSO. COCONUT

& RAISINS. A. PASTY. CONTAINING. SWEET. POTATO & A. BISCUIT

HOWS. THAT. ITS. "THE FIRST MEAL. THAT. BEAT. ME. hERE & P.OW 179 CLOSES

FRI 14/8/42

TIME. MARCHES. ON. AND. ALTHOUGH: EACH. DAY. IS. ONE. NEARER

HOME. THERE. APPEARS. TO. BE. STILL. MANY. MORE. TO. GO. AND

TOMORROW. IS. "OER. 6 MONTHS. UP". TO MASS THIS. AM. THEN. TO

SKIN. SPEC. WITH. THIS. RASH. ON. MY. FACE. TONIGHT. TO

A. CONCERT. OVER. AT. 11^TH IND. DIV.A.BIT. SEXY. & So END P.O.W.180

SAT 15/8/42

I. GIVE. RUSSIA. ABOUT. ANOTHER. 9 WEEKS. IF. 2ND

FRONT. NOT. OPENED. AS. FOR. THE. YANKS. 8 DAYS. NOW. ON

ONE. JOB. & hAVENT. GOT. IT. YET. GRANTED. THE. FIRST

WILL. BE. THE. HARDEST. AND. TODAY. MAKES. US. 6 MONTHS

P.O.W.'s LONGER?? I. JUST. FINISHED GRATING & ROASTING

½ A. COCONUT. FOR. MY. DINNER TONIGHT. BUT. IT. LOOKED. SO

NICE. I. BOGGED. IN & ATE. ABOUT. hALF. OF. IT. NOW. NOTHING. MUCH

DOING - ABOUT. HERE WE. WENT. OUT. FOR. A LOAD. OF. WOOD

THIS. PM &. GOT. WET. & SO I CLOSE. POW 181 & MY FIRST 6 MONTHS OVER

SUN 16/5/42

AND. TODAY. MARKS. THE. PASSING. OF THE. "POMS". THEY. LEFT.

TODAY. FOR. JAPAN.  I. MADE. 3. FRIENDS. WHILE THEY. WERE

HERE: AND HAVE. MADE. A. BET. WITH. FRED. RUDKIN. THAT.

I'D. BE. HOME. BEFORE. hIM. 1 C/S. OF ENG. BEER. TO. A BOTTLE

CASE. OF. AUST. WINE. (1 DOZ EACH). ALSO hEARD TODAY. THAT

OUR. CARDS. GOT. HOME. ALSO. THAT. WE. GO. OFF. THE. RICE & ON

TO. OUR. OWN. FOOD. FOR. A. MONTH. ALSO. THAT. SHIPS. ARE. ROUND

BETWEEN. hERE & STH. AFRICA. AND. THAT. WE. WILL. BE. ABLE

TO. GET. LETTERS &. PARCELS. FROM. HOME. WHICH IS. NOUGH

SAID.  I. HAVE. AQUIRED. A NEW. SPRING. BED &. AFTER. BURNING

THE BUGS. OUT. I. hAVE. MADE. IT. UP. & TRIED. IT. OUT. &

TIS. THE. GOODS. I. ALSO. HAVE. A. DOOR. OFF. A WARDROBE PLACED. ON

TOP & THAT DOES. ME. FOR. A TABLE. hAVE. ALSO AQUIRED. A. LANTERN.

& KERO & OIL. FOR. SAME. SO. WILL. hAVE. A. BIT. OF. COMFORT. hERE. OF

AN. EVENING. ALSO. FOR. THE. FIRST. TIME. I. HAVE. A BOOK. & AM. NOW

IN. THE. RUNNING. FOR. SWAPPING. SO. HOPE. NO. WORKING. PARTIES

TURN. UP. WENT. OVER. TO. THE. SQUARE. TO. "DEPART". THE. 3 POMS & THE PLACE

HERE. IS. LONELY. & QUIET. WITHOUT THEM. SO. WILL. CLOSE. POW 182.

104 & THE 26TH WEEK IS OVER.

MON 17/8/42

TODAY. WE. hEAR. GEN. GOOD. NEWS. INCLUDING

THE. STORY. THAT. WE. WILL. GET. NEWS. FROM.

HOME. ALSO. PARCELS. WITHIN. THE. NEXT. FEW. WEEKS

WELL. OUR. "NOVENA." DID. NOT. GO. FOR. NOTHING. - & IM GLAD

I. WENT. AS. OFTEN. AS. I. COULD. WAS. OUT. ON SALT. WATER

PARTY. TODAY. &. SEE ONE OF. OUR. MINES. LYING. ON

THE. SAND. NOT MUCH. NEWS. IN. PARTIC. OUR MEALS. ARE.

RATHER. GOOD. HERE. NOW & EVERYONE. SEEMS. CONTENTED. WE. ARE

HAVING. QUITE. A. CARD. TOURNAMENT. &. P.OW 183.

TUE 18/8/42

GO. JUMP. IN. THE. LAKE TWICE YER. B. . . & SO. THE. REPARTEER

GOES. ON. NOTHING. DOING & ALL. IS. QUIET. TOO. DAMN. QUIET. I. 

haVE. A. PERM. FATIGUE. IN. THE. GARDEN. x THAT. OCCUPIES. THE

A.M. FOR. ME. C/ THE. PM .IS. "DONGER" WILL. PUT. IN. MOST. OF. THIS. PM

DESIGNING. ME. A. NEW. BOAT. 16. FOOTER. GEORGE. GRIFFITHS & hAYWOODE

THE. NO1. SECT. COOKS. GOT. TOSSED OUR. BLOKES. HAVE. BEEN. PUTTING [[?]]

TOO. GOOD. A. TURN & CAUSED. Ax BIT. OF. STRIFE. SO. NO. 1. IS. GOING. TO

CLEAN. THE CUPBOARD. UP & TRY. A. FEW. NEW. COOKS. QUITE. A. BIT

OF. THE. COMFORTS. HAVE. BEEN. STOLEN. & SO POW 184. OVER.

WED 19/8/42

NEW. G.O.C. CALLACHAN. (COMMONLY. CALLED

"BLACK. JACK.") HAS. TAKEN. UP. THE. JOB. WITH. A.

VENGEANCE. FIRST. ORDER. MUST. SALUTE OFFICERS. AT

ALL. TIMES. (QUOTE. STANDING. ORDERS. OCT 1941.) THIS

IS. OU.T OF. ORDER. HELL. BUT. THIS. PLACE. IS. BOILING. OVER.

AT. THE. MOMENT. WHAT. WITH. A. MIN. PENALTY. FOR. THIS

THAT. & THE. OTHER & NEW. ORDERS. & FINES. OF. JAP. MONEY.

SALUTING & WHAT. NOT. THINGS. ARE. "UPTA" & DISSAFECTION. RUNS. HIGH.

TIS. EASY. TO. BY. ARGUMENTS. ANYWHERE. hERE. ON. ANYTHING. AT. ALL

WE. ARE. GETTING. FRESH. FISH TODAY & HAVING. IT. FRIED. FOR

DINNER. TONIGHT. WHAT. hO. A. PIECE. OF. MURRY. COD????

THERE. IS. A. PARADE ON. TODAY. FOR. THE "J" OFFICER IN

CHARGE. OF. PRISONERS. OF. WAR . I. AM NOT. ON. IT

FORTUNATELY TRAILER. PARTIES. HAVE. BEEN. BUSY. THIS 

AM. & MORE. PM. BRINGING. IN. COMFORT. SUPPLIES

THE TWO MEN. CAUGHT. FOR. THE. THEFT. OF THE. SUPPLIES

WERE. GIVEN. $5 PAY. CASH. FINE. 28 DAYS. CLINK. £5. PAY BOOK

RATHER. DEAR. TINS. OF. JAM.?. THE. LADS. GOT. BACK. FROM. THE

INTERVIEW. LATE. & SOUR & SO WE. COME. ANOTHER. DAY. NEARER. HOME. P.O.W.185

THUR  20/8/42

WE ARE NOW REAPING. THE. BENEFIT. OF. OUR. GARDENING WORK

OF. SOME. MONTHS. AGO. WE. ARE. NOW. USING. SWEET. POTATOES.

& THEY. ARE. RATHER. GOOD. WE ARE. HAVING. BAKED. POTS & FISH

AS. SOON. AS. THE. FISH. COMES. IN. IT. DID. NOT. TURN. UP YESTERDAY.

I'D LIKE. TO. RIDE. A FERRY. NEARLY. STARTED. A. SCRAP. WE. RCD. OUR. ISSUE. OF

LOLLIES. & CARAMELS. TONIGHT. ALSO. hAVE. HAD. OUR. JAM. ISSUE & OUR. MEALS

ARE. WHAT. ONE COULD CALL. VERY. GOOD. NO. FISH. TODAY. SO. I. SPENT. THE. PM

DESIGNING. A. BOAT. TO. CATCH. SOME. DAY. & NOW. POW 186. OVER

[*105*]

FRI 20/8/42

TODAY. IS. VERY. QUIET. WE. RCD. AN. ISSUE. OF. SPCL

CARAMALS. YESTERDAY. SENT. US. BY. THE. SOUTH. AFRICAN

RED. CROSS. & BELEIVE. ME. THEYRE. THE. "GOODS." & ARE. VERY

RICH. IN. VITS. AND AS. SLOW. AS. IT. hAS. BEEN. P.O.W. 187. CLOSES.

SAT 22/8/42

A. NICE. BIG. BOILED. DUCK. EGG. FOR. BREAKFAST. &. A BIG

PLATE OF. RICE. PORRIDGE. & MILK. & ALL. ARE. hAPPY

TO. THE. GARDEN. PATCH IN AM. &. AGAIN. PM. WE. HAD. THE

RED. CROSS. ISSUE. OF. SOUP. AT. LUNCH & IT. IS. GOOD. TOO

WE. HEAR. TODAY. THAT. THE. AUST. RED. CROSS. IS. SENDING. MED.SPLIES

COMFORTS. FOOD. ETC. hOPE THEY. SEND. A. LETTER. FROM. HOME &. A

PARCEL. OR TWO. WHAT. COULD. I. DO. WITH. A POUND. OF CHOCOLATE

NOW.?? WE. ARE. HAVING. OUR. FORMAL DINNER. TOMORROW. NIGHT

I. WILL. TYPE. UP. A. FEW. SOUVENIER. MENU'S. TOMORROW. AM.

& WILL. HAVE. PINEAPPLE. FOR. BREAKFAST. SO. LOOKS. GOOD. TO ME

DINNER. IS. TO. CELEBRATE. OUR. FIRST 6 MTHS. P.O.W. & 188. IS. OVER.

SUN 23/8/42

AND. THE. DAY. OF THE. DINNER. HAS. ARRIVED. ALL. THE. MORNING

OLD. SCOTTY. BILL. BRYCE. & KEN. CARLESS. HAVE. BEEN. WORKING LIKE

HELL. MAKING. PASTIES. STEWS. ETC. THERE. IS. PLENTY. OF. JAM

IN. & PLENTY. OF. EVERYTHING. SO ANTICIPATION. RUNS. HIGH

THE. MEN. WHO. WERE. UP. COUNTRY. LIFTING. MINES - ARRD. BACK

LAST. NIGHT. THE. hAD. SOME EXCITING. TIMES. TRUCK. TIPPED. OVER. &. A

MINE. THEY. WERE. LIFTING. EXPLODED. KILLING. 3. AUSSIES. & 6 BOONGS

AND. SO. WE. MOVE. ON TO. THE. DINNER.  which I think should

be explained a bit.  Now. as to who

started the idea we are a bit hazy on

But the cooks took it up and everything

was got going. and by 5pm today all was

in readiness.  at 5.30pm we took all

the eats to the mess hut. as it is some

distance from the cook house.

The tables (starting cloths & all) were laid

and just before the time to "go over"

the 6p.m. who by the way is a bit of a 

diplomat. had the officers down to

have a look.  Well they were absolutely 

astounded.  Well the menu's were

on the table and after a few words

by some of the Seargents - we set to

I lasted to the Windup & blew out & still

have all the rest of the things

here under my hat (not shirt). Life in

a P O W camp hasn't been too bad

up to date after all & I hope it keeps the

same way & so to a Sing Song & close of P.O.W 189

& so is the 27th week

[*106*]

MON 24/8/42

TODAY LIKE MANY OTHERS. VERY. SLOW. WE

COMMENCED. P.T. TODAY. & GAMES. ARE

ALSO. IN. THE. RUNNING. AS. A. LEADER. TO. hEAVIER

STUFF. THE. FACE. IS. RATHER. BAD. TODAY. & SO ENDS P.O.W 190

TUE 25/8/42

HAD. ONE. hELL OF. A. NIGHT. LAST. NIGHT. FACE

DAMNED. NEAR. BURNT. OFF. THESE. ROTTEN

SKIN. AFLICTIONS. WE. GET. ARE. HELL. ABOUT. 300

EVERY. DAY. ARE. UP. TO. THE. SPECIALIST. AND. IF

LOT. OF CURES. ARE. AFFECTED. "RICE. BALLS". SEEM

TO. HOLD. PRIDE. OF. PLACE. & ONE. CHAP. DIED. FROM

THEM. LAST. SATURDAY. I hAD. TO. KNOCK. THE. P.T. BACK

TODAY. WAS. DOWN. FOR. SALT. WATER. & ONE. CHAP

JOHNNIE. GRAY. GOT. CAUGHT. WITH. TWO COCONUTS.

BUT. MORE TO. THAT. LATER. CIGARETTE. ISSUE 

TODAY. & SO WE. CLOSE ANOTHER. DAY. NEARER. HOME POW 191

WED 26/8/42

A. FIVER & 28. DAYS. WAS. WhAT. GRAY. GOT. FOR. THE

TWO. COCONUTS. AND. DISCIPLIN. IS. COMING. INTO THE A.I.F.

FROM? DIRECTION. THE. FACE. STILL. CROOK. THE "FURFIES"

TODAY. MAKE. IT. LOOK. LIKE. "HOW. MUCH. LONGER. WILL

THIS. FARCE. hOLD. OUT. CAN. hEAR. THE. SOUND. OF

HAMMERS. TWO. OF. OUR. CHAPS. ARE. BUILDING. A 

DUCK. hOUSE. FOR. OUR. DUCKS?  ALSO hEAR. THAT. ALL

THE. WORKING. PARTIES. ARE. COMING. BACK. TO. CAMP

AND. ANOTHER. P.O.W DAY. CLOSES. 192. IS. OVER

THUR 27/8/42

LAST. NIGHT. I. ATTENDED. THE. FIRST. OF. THE. CIVIC

LECTURES. EVEN. THE. LECTURER. HIMSELF. SMELLS

A. BIG. CHANGE. IN. AUST. POLITICS. TODAY. WAS

SLOW. AS. USUAL. WE. hEAR. OF. A. FEW. LIVELY. TIMES

IN. THE. S. 5. CHAPS. CAME. bACK. FROM. WORKING

PARTIES TODAY. THE. UNIT. GROWS. BIGGER. EVERY

DAY. NO. CHANGE MUCH IN. MY. FACE. ITS. STILL PRETTY.

SORE & MUCH. SWOLLEN. I. SHIFTED. UPSTAIRS. WHERE

IT. IS. MUCH. COOLER. & SO. WILL. CLOSE. P.O.W 193.  ANNIV

FRI 28/8/42

ITS. A. LONG. LOOK. BACK. FROM. hERE. IN. SINGA

TO. 18 YRS. AGO. IN. NATHALIA. BUT. THATS. WhERE

MY THOUGHTS. ARE TODAY. THE NEWS. WE hEAR. IS

GOOD. & LOOKS. LIKE GEN.L. "MOVE. IS. ON. NEW. PARADE. TIMES

START. FROM. TODAY. NOTHING. OF. IMPTNCE. SO P.OW194 OVER.

ALSO. M.L.D 6570?
[*107*]

SAT 29/8/42

AS. USUAL. ANOTHER. DAY. ON. WHICH. NOTHING

HAPPENS. THE. FACE. STILL. IN. SAME. CONDITION.

TED. FOX. & 4 OTHERS. CAME. BACK. TODAY. hAVE. NEWS

OF MORGAN. & CO. WHO. SEEM. TO. BE. DOING. OK. ALSO. hEAR

THE. PETROL. STORY. & SO. TO. THE. END. OF. P.O.W. 195.

SUN 30/8/42

UP. WITH A. FACE. LIKE. A FOOTBALL & OVER. TO. MASS

& HOLY. COMMUNION. SUNDAY. BREAKFASTS. ARE. NOW. AT.

9.30AM. WHICH. IS. A. GOOD. IDEA. THERE. IS. A. SWARM. OF

MALAYAN. ROCK. BEES. HANGING. ON. A. RUBBER. TREE.

OUTSIDE. MY. WINDOW. BUT. THINK. THEY. CAN. STAY. THERE

FOR. MINE. IVE hAD. ALL THE FUN. I. WANT. OUT. OF. THESE.

AND. NOW TO. THE. CLOSE. O.F THE 28TH WEEK & P.O.W. DAY. 196. ANOTHER. NEARER. HOME.

MON 31/8/42

TODAY. ALSO. VERY. QUIET. JOKE (1). ALL. ON. SICK. PARADE THIS. AM

& ALL. N.D. TO. THE. "SPCLST" & TRY. OUT. A. NEW. DOPE. DO

A. SALT. WATER. PARADE. PM. & GET. (1)APPLE. (1)CARROT

BUNCH OF ONIONS. BEECH. COMBING. PARADE. TOMORROW

WERE ASKED. YESTY. SIGN. PAROLE REFUSED. P.O.W 197. OVER.

TUE 1/9/42

REVELLIE. AT 7.AM. BREAK. 7.30 CHECK PARADE. @ 9.30 & WE. LEFT.

THE. PARADE. GROUND. AT. 12.00. WE. hEAR. SOME. GOOD. FURFS.

TODAY SOUTH. LOOKS. GOOD. RUSSIA. HOLDING. ALL. FRONTS & PUSHING

BACK. ON. OTHERS. NO. CIGS. IN. TODAY. & ONLY. 3 EACH. AVAILABLE

TOMORROW. NO. PAY. & WE. WE. BLOCK. BACK. FROM. THE. SALT. WATER. PARADE

THESE. BLOCKS. ALWAYS. OCCUR FOLLOWING. REVERSES.? I. GIVE. US. ANOTHER

TWO. MONTHS. hERE. IF. NOT. SHIFTED. IN. MEANTIME & POW 198. CLOSES.

WED 2/9/42

AND it's fallen thick & heavy Our. CO. was out

to command @ 4 am today. and was told that as

we would not sign the parole. we would be

put into a concentration camp and at

midday we rcve notice to move to the Square

We The A.I.F. occupy one building. which in normal

times held 120 men 1900 are here now & 17000 Poms

we are in a square or rectangle 282 yds by 174

rather tight? We started to shift at 2 pm & for

the next 4 hrs there was a continuous flow

of men till 6 pm when we had all to be in

what sights every vehicle was pressed into

service & what couldn't be carried. was

dragged. the [[?]] & all and so we arrived

I am sleeping out in the open with all the rest

of the Sigs. It hasn't rained yet and as for

mosquitos, well! A conference tonight. Our king

will not let us sign. & in civilized countries this

question was asked 4 men shot for trying to escape

& P.O.W 199 is over & what a day?

[*108*]

THUR 3/9/42

Our first day in concentration camp

and we are getting down to rock bottom

Funny story of the day. (1) All our officers

are camped on the ground close by the

building and all floors are full.  Some

water came from above and one of the

officers. "Hey is there an N.C.O. up there? Yes came

the answer. "Well don't thro anymore of that

water down! Repeated up top. "A. VOICE tell

'im it aint water its piss.  And so far

thats as far as they have got with us. 200

isolation cases where marched in on us

today. Dip. etc. We are having a big

combined concert here tonight & its

good. We are now threatened no food

till we sign so thats that and as we

have enough tucker for a few days! POW. 200.

FRI 4/9/42

Today is one which will do down in

history.  We sign up. on our honour not

to attempt to escape under any

circs. what else could we do when

our tucker was cut off. and. close

contact in these quarters is not too healthy

& so at 7.30 pm we signed under orders from

Colonel Holmes O/C Malayan Command & also from 

our own O/C.  It rained today & we all

stripped off & had a wash.  The smell of

the latrines is pretty high. but even with

the stink & the rain everyone is in good

spirits I am on guard till 6 am tomorrow

our duties are to prevent anyone escaping

we are posted in front of the Japanese

guard house where there are at least 180 men

J & Indian?. & So P.O.W 201. comes to a close
SAT 5/9/42

On guard at 6am & talk with the C.O. Detention

Barracks.  It is rather a revelation to our

officers.  The stuff that is really in this Div

& he had to admit that half or more of his

tenants are there through the tactlessness

of officers & N.C.O.'s A rather decent admission

will they have come together a bit now &

I hope they remain so. As was expected

we move out of the square back to

our barracks today & we are in a "new"

house. there has been quite a bit of -

[*109*] 

SAT 5/9/42

reshuffling as it is desired to keep the

Barrack Square cleared of men for a 

few weeks. The latrines are being

filled in. & the place cleaned as we

move out.  The acreage by the way is

about 10. rather small? suppose there is an

romance in this somewhere praps but

up to date I fail to see it. A bit of ROMAN. But

Anyway we are out & P.O.W x 202. is over.

- THE 29TH. WEEK - TODAY.

6/9/42 SUN

More OR. LESS. SETTLED. DOWN. & MORE. OR. LESS. CONTENTED

TODAY. WE. SHIFTED. THE. SPARE. CLOTHING FROM. THE. SQUARE. TO

HOUSE. SO. WE. DONE. TWO. TRAILER. LOADS. 5-CHAPS. SMART.

FELLOWS. FLOATED. & ARE. FOR. IT. HEAR. TODAY. A GREASY STORY

BUTTER. IN. THE. MESS. NOW FOR. (COCONUT. BUTTER) & POW 203. ENDS
7/9/42 MON
VERY. QUIET. AGAIN TODAY 7 MORE. CHAPS. COME. BACK. FROM
ADAM. PARK. WORK. PARTY. WE. START. TO. SHIFT. OUR. GARDEN
TO. OUR .NEW. QUARTERS. THE. POMS. ARE. MOVING. INTO. THE. SQUARE
NEWS. TODAY. HOLDING GOOD FILLIPINES. TIMOR. OURS ONLY. TWO. HALF
CIGS TODAY. & A. TRAILER. PARTY. THIS. RM. NO. MORE. UP. THE. TANK. & SO POW 204.OUT
TUE 8/9/42

(LATE. PARADE?)

AND. BACK. TO. USUAL. AS. USUAL. & WE. GET. PAID. AS. USUAL. ONLY. WE

ARE. A. BIT. BEHIND IT. & GET. PAID. 80 CENTS. TODAY. I. STRAIGHT. AWAY

HAD. A. BUST? 1. PINE. 3 BANANAS. 19c. I. ALSO. PAID. 10c. FOR. MY. MENU

NEWS. RATHER. GOOD. AS. USUAL. EVERYTHING. TODAY. CIGS. SOAP. PAY

AND. AN. OPEN. SEASON. IS. OFFICIALLY. DECLARED. AND. CONGRATS & P.O.W 205. IS. OVER
WED 9/9/42
OUR. FAMILY. hAS. NOW. GROWN. CONCIDERABLY & IT
HAS. BECOME NECESSARY. TO. START. ANOTHER. COOK
HOUSE. CARRYING 29. 29. 30. & as. eACH. DAY. OTHER
MEN. ARE COMING. IN. IT. WILL. NOT. BE. LONG. BEFORE
ANOTHER. STARTS. NOT. MUCH. I WAS. ASKED. WHAT. THE
CANTEEN. PRICES. WERE. LIKE. LAST. NIGHT? & SO. THE
DAY. COMES. TO. MY. CIVIC. LECTURE TIME & P.OW 206 over

THUR 10/9/42*]

FACE. BACK. FIRES. A BIT. TOO. CLOSE. TO. THE. FIRE.

YESTERDAY. TODAY. I. PLANT. A. BED. OF. BEANS THEY

ARE. LIKE. OUR. INDIA. RUNNER. THE. GARDEN. GEN.LY. LOOKING

GOOD. THE. KITCHENS. NOW. 3. COME. INTO. FULL. SWING.

TOMORROW. TODAY. WE. PUSHED. OUR. DOZEN. WATER

CARTS. OVER. TO. ORDNANCE. COY. DISTANCE. ABOUT. ONE MILE

LONGEST. PUSH. I'VE. EVER. HELPED. IN. FURFS? TODAY. SHOW. NO.

IMPROVEMENT. AT. ALL. LOOKS. LIKE. XMAS. DINNER. HERE?

NOT. MUCH. DOING. OUR. WOOD. hAS. BEEN. RATIONED & WE

ARE. ALLOWED. 3LB. PER DAY. PER. MAN. AND. SO. NOW. TO

THE CLOSE OF P.O.W 207. ANOTHER. NEARER. AUSSIE

[*110*]