Diaries of Signalman W H L Woodgate spanning November 1941 to October 1945 - Part 10

FRI 11/9/42

AN.EXTRA.QUIET.DAY.AND.FURFS.OF N.G.NOT.TOO.HOT

SAME.TALE.AS.HERE.WHAT.ARE.OUR.WINDY.Y.s.DOING?

HAD.A.BIG.TEA.TONIGHT.UNCOMFORTABLY.FULL.HAD

A VERY.QUIET.P.M.& BET.SMITHY.3.BEER.RELEASED.PRIOR.29 DEC 42

SO.TO THE CLOSE.P.O.W.208

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SAT 12/9/42

NO ENTRY TODAY VERY.QUIET.NOT.EVEN

ABLE.TO.INVENT.A.FURF.AND.P.O.W.209.OVER.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUN 13/9/12

MEAT.TODAY

MASS.A.M.SINCE.THE.POMS.HAVE.MOVED.INTO

THE.SQUARE.OUR.LITTLE.CHURCH.IS.VERY.HEAVILY

TAXED.& THERE.ARE.ABOUT.4 TIMES.AS.MANY.MEN

OUTSIDE.AS.WHAT.THERE.ARE.INSIDE.TODAY.

THERE.WAS.A.PILGIMAGE.TO.THE.A.I.F.CEMETRY

ONLY.A.SPECIFIED.NUMBER.FROM.EACH.UNIT

& AS.ONE.OF.THOSE.WHO.DREW.IN.HAD BAD

FEET.I.TOOK.HIS.PLACE.& WENT.I.WAS.FORTUNATE

IN.GETTING.A.PROGRAMME.OF.THE.EVENT.

A.VERY.IMPRESSIVE.CEREMONY.THE.TWO.ESCAPEES

ARE.NOT.YET.IN.THERE.TO.BENIDICTION.AT.7.30PM

& THEN.HOME.TO.SUPPER.I.GET.THAT.MUCH.FOOD

THAT.I.GIVE.SOME.AWAY.TO.TED.FOX.HE'S.IN.THE

OTHER.COOK.HOUSE.& THEY.ARE.NOT.SO.FORTUNATE

& SO.OUR 30TH.WEEK.IS.UP & 210.IS.OVER.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MON 14/9/42

CIG.ISSUE.TODAY

HAVE.GOT.THAT.FAT.THAT.HAVE.TO.DO

SOMETHING-ABOUT.IT.SO.HAVE.VOLUNTEERED

FOR.ANY.EXTRA.PM.JOBS.& THIS.PM

COLLECTED.A TRAILER.TO.BRING.HOME.THE

GREENS.& VEGS.I.BET.I.LOST.A.STONE

THE.SWEAT.POURED.OUT.OF.ME.THIS.AM.I

PLANTED.16.PAW.PAW.TREES.AROUND

OUR.GARDEN.WILL.PUT.IN.ANOTHER.BATCH

TOMORROW & SO ANOTHER.DAY.NEARER.HOME 211

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TUE 15/9/42

A.GE.MED.EXAM.TODAY.THE.OBJECTIVE.

BEING.TO.INSURE.THAT.NO.MAN.WHO.IS.NOT

100%.FIT.IS.SENT.ON.A.WORKING.PARTY.I.WAS

RULED OUT.ACY-PSYEASTS.OF.FACE.ONLY.ABOUT.10.FIT

MEN.IN.OUR.UNIT.& SO POW 212.OVER

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WED 16/9/4

ALL.UNFITS,TODAY,WERE.WEIGHED.& ALTHOUGH.I

LOOK.FAT.I.WEIGHED. 9st6lb ONE.STONE.DOWN.ON

NORMAL.WE.HAD.AN.ISSUE.OF.MUTTON.TODAY

AND.TIS.QUITE.A.CHANGE.FROM.THE.BEEF.ONLY.NOT.ENOUGH.

OVER.TO.CURS(?) CLASS.TONIGHT.WONDERFUL.LECTURER

& P.O.W 213 CLOSES

111

THUR 17/9/42

ON GUARD.AT.GATE.3. & as I write this

I am sitting in the shelter looking

at the Indian Guardhouse -

we work 1 hr on in 4 & I'm No 1 striker(?)

at 10/30 & finish @10/30 tomorrow we

had a feed of shank for dinner & so far

it was very nice. Yes. Young grey(?) 

& carpet (?) shanks weighing about 2lb

each. The day is very (?). And 

this is a (?) job we when not on

post (?) or read & so the day

draws on at 8pm it rains & (?) 

on again & I am sheltered in (?) as I

write this (?).  The Indians have just 

been picked up & so P.O.W 214 closes

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FRI 18/9/42

TEN THIRTY.&THATS THE.FINISH.OF.THE.GUARD.IT.WAS

ONE.OF.THE.COLDEST.NIGHTS.I.HAVE.EXPERIENCED

SINCE.I.CAME.HERE.LATE.LAST.NIGHTS.BED.TIME.STORY

THE.SIGS.WERE.POSTED.AS.INFANTRY.IN.THE.GARDENS.

& WERE.TOLD.THAT.THE.HILL.MUST.BE.HELD.TILL.THE

LAST.MAN.FELL.& TO GET.DUG.IN.THEY.COMMENCED

DIGGING & WERE.PULLED.UP.WITH.A."DON'T.DIG.THERE

THEY.ARE.VALUABLE.PLANTS!SHELLS.& HELLS.BELLS & SING (?)

THAT.THE.PORK & THE.BUTTER.??

THE.CHANGING.OF.THE.GUARD.HERE.IS.TO.BE.A.CEREMONIOUS

TURN. & THE.INSTRUCTIONS.COVER. 4SHEETS & "20100" WORDS

MORE.PRISONERS.ARR.FROM.TIMOR.TODAY.MEET.AN.R.AAF

F.O.MACALLISTER.KNOWS.SMITHY & FRANK.SPOONER & CO.

TWO.BLOKES.RUN.THE.GAUNTLET.FOR.THEIVING.ONE

TO.HOSPITAL "NEW GUINEA" & STALIN.GRAD HAVE GONE

NOT.MUCH.ELSE & SO POW 215 OVER

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SAT 19/9/42

A.VERY.QUIET.DAY.NOT.MUCH.DOING

A.CRICKET.MATCH.TOMORROW.ENG.V.AUS

POMS.HAVE.NOT.WON YET.BUT.& SO POW 216 FINISH

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUN 20/9/42

TODAY.AM.TO.MASS.OUR.PADRE.DOES.NOT.TAKE.TOO

KINDLY.TO.THE.PROPOSED.COMPULSORY.CHURCH.PARADE

THE.POWERS.THAT.BE.STILL.CONTINUE.ON.THE.SAME

LINES.? VOLUNTEER.FOR.A.TRAILER.PARTY.TO.PUSH

OUR.LIMBLESS.MATES.OWN.TO.THE.CRICKET

MATCH & @ 13.30 WE PUSH OFF FROM.THE.TRAILER.PARK

AND.PICK.UP.OUR.FARES.AT.THE.CON.DEPOT.THERE

ARE.14.ALL.TOLD & THE.ONLY HOPE.THEY.HAVE.OF

GETTING.OUT.IS.WHEN.WE.PUSH.THEM.ON.THE

TRAILERS.COMING. "HOME" WE.INSPECT THE CEMETRY AIF

THE.POMS.WON.BY.ONE.RUN.& POW 217 OF THE 31ST WEEK.

112

MON 21/9/42

AFTER.OUR.CRICKET.PUSH.WE.RCD.THE

VERY.HEARTY.CONGRATS.FROM.ONE.OF.OUR

OFFICERS.BEN.BARNETT.TO.BE.PRECISE.YES

IT'S.VERY.NICE.TO.THINK.THAT.ONE.IS.FIT

ENOUGH.TO.BE.THE.PUSHER.WHEN.ONE.COULD

VERY.EASILY.HAVE.BEEN.A.RIDER!.BUT..i.WONDER

IF.THE.SAME.GENTS.EVER.THINK.THAT.SUCH

A.GESTURE.BY.THEM.WOULD.DO.MORE.TO.REGAIN

THEIR.LOST.PRESTIGE.THAN.ANYTHING.ELSE.THEY

COULD.THINK.P?.TODAY.I.PUSHED.A.TRAILER

LOAD.OF.WOOD.&.DAMN.NEAR.BUSTED.6.OF.US.ON

A.TRAILER.UP.HILL.WITH.A.TON.OF.WOOD?

NEWS.FURFS.NOT.TO.HAND.TODAY.&.STILL.NO

PAY.&.SO.NOW.FOR.A.READ.&.POW 218.OVER

TUE 22/9/42

PAY.&.CANT.WE.DO.WITH.IT.THE.PAY.IS.A.BIT

BEHIND.TIME.THE.AMOUNT.RCD.TODAY.IS.THAT

FOR.THE.PERIOD.IST.TO.10^TH.I.WENT.TO.THE

EYE.SPCLT.FIND.THERE.ARE.TWO.SPOTS.ON.THE.LEFT

&.AM.NOW.ON.OIL.PILLS.YEAST & EYE.OIL.& P.O.W.219.IS.OVER

WED 23/9/42

HAD.MY.FIRST.SWIM.TODAY.& ITS.A.GOOD.BEACH.NOW

WHERE.WE.SWIM.SEE.QUITE.A.LOT.OF.TROOPS.ABOUT.

TODAY.NO.NEWS.TO.THE.CIVIC.LESSON.TONIGHT

TONIGHT.IS.ONE.OF.THOSE.FULL.MOON.NIGHTS.THAT.ONE.READS

ABOUT.WE.SPEND.MOST.OF.THE NIGHT.ON.THE.LAWSES.POW 220.

THU 24/9/42

WE.ARE.TOLD.THAT.WE.ARE.SHIFTING.OUR.OR'S

TIS.A.DAMN.PITY.THEY.WOULD.LET.US.SETTLE.IN

ONE.PLACE.FOR.A.WHILE.THIS.DAY.ALTHOUGH.STARTING

RATHER.PROS.FINISHED.RATHER.DRAMATICALLY.WE.HAD.BEEN

RECOUNTING.STORIES.OF.HOME.AND.ONE.OF.MINE.BROUGHT.A

MEMORY.TO.TWO.CHAPS.ONE.FROM.COBRAM.& ONE.FROM.NATHALIA

HAMILTON & JIM.MATHEWS.AND.THEN.WE.TALKED.OF.HOME

& VARIOUS.ONES.TILL.LONG.AFTER.L.O.& THE.MEMORIES

DUG.UP.ARE.TOO.MANY.FOR.HERE & SO POW 221. ENDS

FRI 25/9/42

THE.LAST.DAY.IN.THESE.QUARTERS.& HORSE.PLAY

SEEMS.TO.BE.THE.ORDER.OF.THE.DAY.WE.PACK.ALL

OUR.GEAR.&.I.SPEND.MOST.OF.THE.DAY.

GETTING.PIPES & FITTINGS.READY.FOR.THE.NEW

QUARTERS.& SO.POW 222.OVER

SAT 26/9/42

WE.SHIFT.INTO.OUR.NEW.QUARTERS.&.AM.THE.PLUMBER

FOR.THE.FITTING.UP.OF.THE.SHOWERS.ETC.

NEARLY.HAD.A.FIGHT.WITH.A.CORP & SO

THE.DAY.CLOSES.& POW 223.IS.OVER.113

SUN 27/9/42

PLUMBIN.TILL.3.30PM & THEN.TO.A.FOOTBALL

MATCH & PLAY.AGAIN & WE.WIN.4.7 - 3.3

WE.ONLY.PLAY.3 QRS.20 15.MIN.& 10 10.& WITH

THE.OLD.MURCURY.AT.95.ITS.QUITE.LONG.ENDING

& HOME.TO.TEN.THE.BEST.WE.HAVE.HAD.UP.TO.DATE.ABOUT

HALF.LB.MEAT.PER.MAN.& THEN.TO.BENIDICTION.

& SO POW.OF.THE.(22ND.WEEK & DAY 224.IS.CLOSED

MON 28/9/42

AFTER.A.VERY.RESTLESS.NIGHT.WE.ARE

BACK.ON.OUR.PLUMBING.& ITS.A.HELL.OF.A

JOB.I.AM.LUCKY.IN.HAVING.A.GOOD

MATE.&.WE.GT.THRU.QUITE.A.BIT.OF.WORK.

ILL.HAVE.A.HOLE.DAY.OFF.AFTER.I.CUT.OUT

I.FORGOT.TO.RECORD.AN.ISSURE.OF.ROBACCO.YESTERDAY

&.ALSO.PAY.70 CENTS? & P.OW 225. IS.OVER.

TUES 29/9/42

VERY.QUITE.STILL.PLUMBING.& TO.THE.EYE.SPECLST

WE.HAVE.A.SCEARCH.SCARE.LATE TONIGHT.& ALSO.TOLD

THAT.A.SEARCH.& INSPECTION.OF.GEAR.WILL.BE

MADE.TOMORROW.ALSO.INFORMED.THAT.HODOO PALSARE

IN.SINGAPORE.FOR.US.ANY.GOOD.& SO POW.226.OFF 

WED 30/9/42

THE.END.OF.ANOTHER.MONTH.& ANOTHER.NEARER.HOME

THE.INSPECTION.MADE.TODAY.AND.ALL.OK.WE.

SPENT.HALF.THE.AM.PUTTING.OUR.STUFF.OUT.&.

HRS.PUTTING.IT.BACK.BET.TED.FOX.12.POTS.TO.12.MILKS

WE.ARE.POWS.AT.XMAS.&.ILL.MAKE.ANOTHER.BET.WITH

MYSELF.THAT.SOMEONE.GETS.HURT.HERE.BEFORE.LONG.

TOO.MUCH.HORSE PLAY.IN.TOO.SMALL.A.PLACE.I.PUT.MY

TYPEWRITER.IN.TO.THE.ORDERLY.ROOM.FOR.USE.WHILE

IM.NOT.USING.IT.&.P.O.W.227.FINISHEDS AT.CIVICS.CLASS

THUR 1/10/42

TODAY.FLUES.TO.THE.COOK.HOUSE.WE.START.A.BIT.OF.JYM.WORK.

WITH.A.COUPLE.OF.STICKS.ALSO.SELECT.A.VOLLEY.BALL.TEAM

FURFS.GOOD.MEALS.GOOD.AND.ALL.HAPPY.GET.A.GOOD.VIEW

OF.THE.GOAL.FROM.HERE.SOME.OF.THE.BOYS.ARE.PLAYING

CARDS.& SMELL.SPOILS.THE.PLAY.& ANOTHER.DAY.NEARER.HOME.POW 228

"33 WEEK"

SUN 4/10/42

FRI.&.SAT.HAVE.PASSED.AND.NOTHING.DOING.TO.RECORD.LAST

NIGHT.I.ATTENDED.A.I.F.CONCERT.NT.A.BAD.SHOW.AT.ALL

TODAY.ON.A.TRAILER.TO.ARTILLERY.SQUARE.FOR.RATIONS

.GOT.WET.TO.THE.SKIN.AM.GOING.TO.HOSP.MAY.PLAY

FOOTBALL.THIS.PM.PAPER.IS.GETTING.SCARCE.HERE

SO.WILL.WRITE.UP.EVERY.3.DAYS.FROM.NOW.ON.POW 231