Diaries of Signalman W H L Woodgate spanning November 1941 to October 1945 - Part 11

[*THURS*]
[*4/3/43*]
[[?]] SELARANG TUE. HOSP. WED. & TODAY. ARCH

CLAPHAM. OPTD, FOR APPENDIX YESTY & hE. PUT ON

A GOOD TURN. "GROWSER". ALL THE WAY . THINGS                 

VERY QUIET HERE. TOBACCO IN YESTY. ONLY THE PROS      

TO WORRY A MAN. NOW. & THERE. EASY. FIXED. FURFS OK

EXCEPT. 5TH. THE FUNNY STORY OF THE WEEK IS ON TED KEATS

FOR A WEEK OR MORE HE HAD BEEN KEEPING SHORTY IN. SMOKES

SHORTY CAME GOOD (GOT. PAID) WELL. SAID. TED. YOU'LL BE. ABLE TO BUY

SOME TOBACCO NOW NOT ON YOUR. LIFE. SAID. SHORTY. MY "DUE" IS. GOING

INTO TUCKER IN THE POM CANTEEN ??? [[EXIT?]]. KEATS ONE SURE

MEETS SOME L. P. SPECIALS HERE. STORIES OF LETTER. SIG
[*FRI*]
[*5/3/42*]
& TODAY TO THE M.O. & GET DISCHGD    

[[?]] BLOWN UP RE GOING OUT OF hOSPITAL

EXTRA SPCL. STORY THAT OVER TO SOUTH AREA

SEE. REPAT SHIP LEAVING? ALSO SEE BAS VAN
& [[?]] MORE FRIENDS & SO  POW 383
[*SAT*]
[*6/3/43*]
A.M. DISCHARGED TODAY BACK TO THE [[?]] 30 H.D.S ON
ONE AMBULANCE. ALF FINDLAY CAME BACK WITH
ME. HE GOES TO CON DEPOT 1 RUN FOUL OF [[?]]
BLOKES HERE OVER A BED ANYHOW. GOT A BED. NOT TO
COMFORTABLE NOT TOO POP RE COMING BACK [[10 N.E.OS?]]
AN OTHER BIRTHDAY. LAST YEAR HAD TO IDENTIFY ME &
ALL THE MOB WERE HERE. THIS YEAR THERE IS ONLY
PLUGGER BRIGGS NOEL PASSER JACK STEWART & SELF FROM
THE OLD GLEN LAST YEAR. TODAY GERMANY TOSSED
THE TOWEL IN THIS YEAR SHE DAMN NEAR HAS LET'S HOPE SOON
OVER TO HOSPITAL TODAY & SAW A FEW OF THE LADS & HERE'S
HOPING THAT NEXT BIRTHDAY SEES A BETTER BIRTHDAY CHEER
AND A BIT NEARER THE FINISH. LET'S HOPE FOR??? P.O.W. 385
& WEEK 55 .... HAVE JUST GOT BACK IN TIME TO HERE. A
LIST OF A WORKING OR OVERSEAS PARTY. 60 OF THESE FELLOWS
HAVE BEEN LISTED TO GO & THEY WERE H PICKED ALL BAR 7
& NOW TONIGHT HEAR THE PARTY IS CANCELLED. MY
WEIGHT TODAY 9^s.5^lb DOWN 1^s T_l NOT BAD FOR MES.
[*8/3 MON*]
[*9/3 TUE*]
OUR MOB NOT GOING. MXD FEELINGS.
HEAR I AM GETTING SOME LETTERS
[*WED*]
[*10/3/43*]
A.M. QUIET DUTIES HOSPITAL IN P.M. WITH BILL BRYCE.
BILL MONCRIEF RCD LETTER FROM L.F. GET A
PACK OF CARDS. THINGS QUIET ALL & BYD HAS A
PLANE SCARE & P.O.W. 388
131
[*FRI 12/3/43*]
SYME HARRISS RCD LETTER FROM HOME TODAY.
FIRST BATCH LETTERS IN - P.O.W.390.
[*SAT 13/3/43*]
TWO OF OUR UNIT TO HOSP WITH DYSENTERY TODAY - HOLLAND
& HEATHCOTE, OUR MENU HAS IMPROVED SUMMAT OF LATE.
BETTER COOKS IN. BRIDGE EVERY NIGHT & POW 391
[*SUN 14/3/43*]
THE UNDERGROUND LAST NIGHT PARTIES GO NORTH NEXT MONTH.
A VERY QUIET DAY & WEEK 56 PASSES. WE HEAR FROM THE LETTERS
RCD THAT CHAPS WHO ESCAPED FROM NEAR ON 27 FEB ALSO IN
APRIL HAVE GOT HOME. SPEND A BIT OFF DAY WITH NOEL & MICKEY POW 392
[*TUE 16/3/43*]
THIS LOOKS LIKE THE START OF THE FINISH OF CHANGI CAMP.
TODAY ONE LOT OF CHAPS INCLUDING MICK M^cDONALD
NOEL PASSERI GOT AWAY TO BURMA BY TRAIN/ WE
NOW HEAR THAT ANOTHER FORCE LEAVES IN NEXT
FEW WEEKS. HAD A FUNNY EXPERIENCE TODAY. I WAS
BOOKED YESTY FOR ORDLY CORPL & ARRANGED WITH BILL BRYCE
TO CALL ME FOR REVELLE THEN TO BE @ 08.00. WELL
BILL HEARS ITS @ 0730 AND INSTEAD OF CALLING ME WHANGS
AWAY AT THE GONG AT 0730 & I LEFT MY BED WITH A RUSH.
THE CORRECT REVLY WAS AT 0745 BUT ALL HAPPY &

NOT MANY GROUCHED. WHAT MAN COULD AT ¼ HRS
LOST SLEEP. TRYING TO SELL A PACK OF CARDS TO THE
OFFICERS. A $ IS WORTH MORE IN TUCKER THAN IN CARDS
& So P.O.W. 393 DRAWS TO A CLOSE.
[*WED 17/3/43*]
ST. PATRICKS DAY. IT WAS NOT MENTIONED LAST YEAR BUT IS
QUITE IN THE FORE THIS YEAR. FORGOT TO MENTION YESTY OF
THE OBJECTION RE MY HOSP PAY. A CHEAP MOB ELEMENT
TRY TO BLOCK IT BACK BUT THE MEN UPHOLD THE PAYMENT.
KHAKIV HAS FALLEN. LAST YEAR WE HEARD GERMANY HAD
FALLEN??? WE HAVE ANOTHER MOVE TODAY & OUR NOW BACK
WHERE WE STARTED FROM. AND SO TODAY I MAKE A REOLUTION.
[*SUN 21/3/43*]
VERY QUIET HERE AGAIN. THE MOB TO BANGKOK HAS
GOT AWAY. THE LITTLE FELLOW HERE IS STILL MAKING A LOT OF
NOISE BUT MAY MAKE MORE AFTER TOMORROW. & SO WE COME
TO THE END OF POW 399 & END OF 57^TH WEEK.
NO LETTERS RCD YET.
[*TUE 23/3/43*]
LAST NIGHT THE LECTURE ON THE BATTLE FOR BRITAIN. TODAY
TO THE EYE SPEC AGAIN & STILL IIB. TODAY MARKS ANOTHER NO
SMOKE TRY. SATURDAY WE MADE UP 4LBS DERRIS & SPRAYED 1 FLAT
YESTERDAY. TODAY ANOTHER HALF FLAT & ALSO MADE UP 3LBS SPRAY.
WE MIGHT SHIFT THE BUGS. & So P.O.W.401.
[*THUR 25/3/42*]
WED 1 MORE FLAT SPRAYED NO VERY GOOD REPORTS YET
& TODAY WE US STRAIGHT MIXTURE. OVER TO A LECTURE ON
HYGIENE TODAY & MET BIGGS FROM WANG TONIGHT TO COLLECT
[[?]] RECENTLY CAPTURED & TUOLOSE [[?]] POW DAY 403
BET WITH RON TUN FINISHED BY SUNDAY FORTNIGHT LITTLE
WILL V IS BUSY WITH HIS MAPS. I SMELL A BIG MOVE ABOUT
FORTNIGHT. HOPE HERE TO COLLECT MY BET. 1 OUNCE WEED NOW DEC
[[WHED?]]
 

[*SUN 28/3/43*]
HAD FIRST LETTER IN 14 MTHS YESTERDAY. NO NEWS IN IT
OTHER THAN ALL O K. ANOTHER PARTY LEFT FOR
35 HRS DESTINATION. TODAY @ 8 A.M. TODAY. 500 A VERY
QUICK MAKE UP of SKL SELECTION. MASS @ 8.30 TODAY.
TOM EVANS & SELF HAVE SET UP A COOKERY NOOK & DO WELL.
SEE A MAN HAVE A FEED OF SNAILS & EGGS. ALSO A SNAIL PIE
WAS PUT ON FOR NO 3 COOKHOUSE & IT LOOKED GOOD.
ARCH CLAPHAM SLAPPED UNDER 3 WEEKS OUT OF HOSPITAL AND
PUT IN A TRAILER PARTY. SYM HARRIS LEFT TODAY OVER TO HOSP
& HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH SGT. YAPP. HE TRIED TO ESCAPE
FROM BANGKOK & WAS CAUGHT. THEY FEED WELL UP HERE.

LEFT SOME DOE WITH ROBBIE FOR FISH. HOME TO TEA
& OVER TO ALF FINDLAY & DOOVERS & P O W 406 OF 58^TH WEEK.
[*30/3/43 TUE*]
TO A LECTURE ON SEPTIC TANKS ETC. PM. GIVEN
BY S/SGT BIGGS FROM WANGARATTA. BOUGHT 2
COCONUTS & TOFFEE. | SOLD PAPER TODAY $2
STILL HAVE MORE OF IT & P O W 408

[*FRI 9/4/43*]
VERY QUIET THRO WEEK 59 & U P.O.W. D. 413 & UP TILL
THUR 8TH WHEN WE ARE TOLD THAT ANOTHER PARTY
IS TO LEAVE THE ISLAND & THIS MORNING WE ARE
GIVEN PARTICS. 3300 GOING NORTH BY TRAIN.
ACCT. FOOD SHTGE. HERE. ONLY 80 SIGS WILL BE
LEFT. PUT OUT ON THE GRASS BY BUGS LAST NIGHT. WE 

ARE HAVING A TRYING TIME WITH SLEEP LATELY. HEAT & BUGS
MOSTLY THE DERRIS ROOT IS NOT A SUCCESS. DALY SPRAYED
MY BED AT 5 PM & GOT HELL. WE PUT IN & COMPLETED
A CHLORINE SCHEME YESTY TOO LATE AGAIN,TO THE
CON. DEPOT FOR A LECT ON GREECE LAST NIGHT. 411

[*SUN 11/4/43*]
MED. BOARD TODAY & MAKE THE GRADE. AM KEEPING
THE TICKET AS A SOUVENIR? THIS LOOKS LIKE MY LAST
SUNDAY IN CHANGI. MET ALF FINDLAY AT MASS TODAY.
4 OF US ARE BUSY TEEING UP FOR THE TRIP.

WE ALSO CLEANED UP THE AREA COCONUTS. WE
CAN TAKE UNLIMITED LUGGAGE SO WON'T HAVE TO LEAVE
ANYTHING BEHIND. YESTERDAY UMPIRED A BASKETBALL MATCH
BETWEEN SIG & R.A.A. OFFICERS & IT WAS A PROPER
DONNYBROOK. WILL MISS OUR SUNDAY MUSIC WHEN WE
GO. IT'S VERT SOOTHING. TO LIE HERE & LISTEN TO IT JUST
HERE. WHO THE OFFICERS ARE LT. HENDERSON ANDERSON MAY STEWART
& CPT. BARNETT ALSO COL. KAPPE & CPT. STAHL. THOSE WHO ARE LEFT
ARE 3 LTS. 20 FIT MEN & ALL THE UNFIT. P O W 413 OF 59^TH WEEK

[*WED 14/4/43*]
TODAY WE HAD A VACCINATION ON R. ARM CHOLERA INJ. ON L.
ALL THE FIR BAR 7 ARE GOING. WE ARE WARNED FOR TRAIN 4
ABOUT TUESDAY. & P.O.W. 416 OVER.
133

[*SAT 17/4/43*]                                         

419
AT 1200 WE RCD WORD THAT WE WOULD
BE THE FIRST PARTY TO MOVE OUT & THERE
IS A WILD RUSH TO PACK ETC. FROM 2 PM ON RIGHT
UP TO MDNT. THE COOKS ARE HARD AT IT. WE ARE
CARRYING AS MUCH FOOD AS POSSIBLE & ANY
EXTRA WE CAN GET AT CANTEEN. THERE IS
NO SLEEP. WE ARE DETAILED TO LEAVE
AT 2 AM SUNDAY.

[*SUN 18/4/43*]
AT 2 AM WE LEAVE THE OLD BARRACKS WE HAVE
KNOWN FOR 15 MTHS. ARR AT THE SQUARE AT
2.30 AM. TIS RAINING HEAVILY & WE ARE GETTING
BADLY WET. THE WATER IS AN INCH DEEP EVERYWHERE.
I swap shirts & say good bye to ALF
Findlay. have a dry shirt but not
for long by looks of things. The trucks
arr & we depart @ 4.30 AM for Singapore.
All except 70 Sigs are on this trip & am
glad to be in it. We arr at SINGAPORE
Stn. @ 5.45. @ 6 am we are off.
27 men to a truck & we are packed
like sardines. The truck is 7ft wide
by 18 long a bit of 7 SQUARE FEET
per man. We sort out our gear etc
& settle down. I sleep and waken
just as we clear the causeway. Off
the island at last & on our
way to AUST? We are going to a place
called Baukong about 30 miles from
Bankok. We have at first meal
at Gemas Lunch Gluang [[10 KL?]]

0400

421
[*19/4 MON*]
Breakfast @ K.L. 0400. Tired dirty & cold -
next meal @ 1600. We work a roster?

for sleep tea @ 1 Pott. Then to Pria

we are in the dark & purchase a bit of

fruit & talk to some Indians & one copped

a bashing some four chops get a few A&O

[*20/4/43 TUE*]

00200 we had breakfast. Seemed

very pretty we rearrange for sleep
1/2 hr halt at Alorltor But I slept &

arr at Border Stn PATONGRASA

& Rested for 2 hrs & clean up.

When the others arr they'll get bogged

here

 

[*TUE 20/4/43*]

Good meal & tea @ first [[?]]

town a long wait. Stn

[[?]] are crossed out. The

natives here look a class above

the boong further down & the

women wear dresses & [[?]] cone

hats. Everything looks clean &

[[?]] priests in yellow

& beautiful mountains [[?]]

has a monument on top. The

place is full of the most marv

uniforms. everybody wears one.

[*WED 21/4*]

Last night the mosquitoes nearly

ate us they were as big as

flies & some of the lads were

very ill.  Breakfast on train

was plain rice & next meal

was at 1630 hrs. very tired. We

had our meal off the train

and had a walk of about 100ft.

these brilliant uniforms we 

see our first working elephant

the railway is very up to date

& we have a talk with some

Thias. Wood fuel for light.

[*THUR 22/4/43]
Air at concentration point. No food

we are all very carefully searched.

The packs are all sepped out & all but

mine was searches & what luck?? we

have a wash & clean up & a good feed.

All things go back as the sun & bring up all

the surplus food etc. The "Thias" seem

very cordial toward us. We have another

good feed Yak stew & rice. & a tin of

pineapple. My what a shame we are

told that we have to march 120 mile

& we will do it at night. @ the rate

of 10 t- 15 miles per night. & so settle down

to a good rest. on land & spine after 

the most gruelling hell trip. I have

over heard of ALINARK?? We do not march

out thill tomorrow. we hear that Bangkok

has been bombed & so P.O.W 424 on 135

[*FRI 23/4/42*]

Good friday But no one knew it

till after lunch & we had only

Yak meat to eat & soup & rice with

sugar & a big march ahear. So?

I spend most of the day repacking

& now have my typewriter so save

the Bon Baynett takes it over when

I go thro & so get it home??? The

following mob and today & they look

a pathetic mob have had no food

for past 16 hrs. Plugger Briggs is with

them they have been well contacted

& the search can be on or off? I have

been trying to sell a watch all day

but have no luck yet. Its a good little

job too. Last night a Thia was stuck

with a bayonet whilst trying to

buy stuff from the boys & we were

warned to be careful. There [[?]]

collar with Cpt Melderson on the

trip & brings it up today.

425

[*SAT 24/4/43*]

We rest all day & during the am the

other 600 move up. And we rest

& sort our gear for the march. 

At 12midd we start off. we carry 4 baskets

& a panier of medical gear weighing

about 1 cwt. Two carry at a time & we have

15 miles ahead of us & The HELL march

begins. All well till daylight & then the rains

started. The panier was the cause of it

as it was so heavy for two tired men

blistered feet are the order of the day

we are at our destination @9.30am. [[?]]

& promptly go for a swim. The river is

100 yds away. we then pack & have a feed

of fried egg & onions. Oh Boy the march is

forgotten. Fruit is plentiful & I nearly

sell the typewriter for $60. We prepare

now to leave on our second [[?]]

we have hired a hand cart for

$40 to carry our paniers & sick mens

gear. And we get away @ 10.30pm

for a 16 mile hike& what a hell

walk it proved to be & POW 426

136 12

[*SUN 25/4/43*]

And today at home the old ANZACS

guard & we march our hell one, 

we started out @ 10.30pm & our

first spasm was of 25 miles & spell

of 30 mins & Tonight this march is

such a nightmare. Oh my God its terrible

The night is hot & sultry & [[?]]

outright & slept. We nearly drop I am [[?]

out by 2am & just fall down a steep

[[?]] & there is a well [[?]] All put on

a bicycle & rickshaws. Go easy

the sick & the gear on my [[?]] a

mass of blisters & the muscles & bones are

[[?]] badly. we arrive at our camp

at 10/30. and have the [[?]] read

to us. To ^25 POW casualties etc etc. We go

for a swim and come another 15

[[?]] plus a mile to the river. Packing

with hard boiled eggs coffee [[?]]

lit a fire and put in rice [[?]]

[[?]]

I have a good sleep and have [[?]] of

[[?]] on the back again & P.O.W 427 of B1

[*MON 26/4/43*]

Boots [[?]] for $3 

xxxx After a good nights sleep

I arose from my Earthern couch @9am

& poked about the camp till 2 few when

we went up to the hospital 2 miles away

for injections & rcd 1 puncture in car

for malaria test. 21 a[[?]] for Dysentry.
3 injections for plague (4) 3 vaccination

cuts we which back & prepare for the

[[?]] off. I gave Father [[?]] a pair of

socks today. Hand knitted [[?]] We

get away to a good Sing [[?]] Stake

at 10/30pm. Phil leave 29 more men

behind here for 10 days convalesent

Plugger Briggs caught up to me today

& the last I saw of him he had just topped off

another bottle of whiskey?? I shed some

more stuff but still have the typewriter

The sanitary arrangements at any of

these camps is deplorable. talk about 
stink its putrid.)  We got about 4 miles

along & struck loose gravel & then hell broke

loose. men just fell. @ 3.40am we arr at

a village where we were given lots of weak

tea by the I.J.A. & I bought hot coffee

[*TUE MON 27/4/43*]

Cooked eggs & Bananas. & then on again. 
We are carrying the hospital panier

again today & [[?]] will get a few ^of the poor

& it did we carry a man on

the stretcher for the first time. & at

12.30 Tuesday he is still on & I skinned my

ankle today on a stone & it gives me hell

it was an eventful night, one that

was attacked by [[?]] (& I went to sleep)
7 Pm & have had tea. I am now ready for road

would like to stop at this place [[?]] 

right on the river. Fish flashing in it

my feet are terrible & doubt I make it

10/47   429

[*WED 28/4/43*]

We arrd in this camp @9.30. after another

Hell trip my feet had no feeling by

1 am. Even the little [[?]] was all and

one of the toughest roads in my ex

We are still on the same river and have

made a hole in the jungle where am

resting. I slept from 10.00 till 5pm. had

a 10^c Drink of cheap whisky. a swim a

feed and am now boiling the billy for

tea. This place is no good for foods. very few eggs

& a very low class of native. We are now

in the hill country and the hills look

somewhat similar to home. 
The moral of the troops is pretty high

he wont break our hearts but we'll

break his seems to be the motto

& so now to bed

430

[*THUR 29/4/43*]

I slept till 9am today & have rested

since breakfast very stiff in the 

left leg. have had it rubbed twice

the boongs are still selling here bird

I have [[?]] off all but Eggs & Banana

We leave @8 pm today. For a camp where

most of B force is & POW 431 is on the [[?]]

[*FRI 30/4/43*]

We travelled by easier stages all

night 8pm to 9am about 15 miles &

the first one I saw on arr was PASSIERI

We had a swim & a feed & sleep in the

ten. heat terrible & are on the road

again @8pm

[*MAY 1/5/43*]

Another month over & we are

worse off than ever. On the march &

this "am" we rest for 15" & march 25

We have two stops 1 @ 6K 2 @ 6K &

reach camp before daybreak. I 

opened my roll & fell on it & slept till

11.45 abt This the food here is rotten

& the place is like a pigsty we were

within 60 miles of coast last night

first stop & are travelling in [[?]]

mountain country we leave today @

6pm for our [[?]] & so P.O.W 433

[*SUN 2/5/43*]
If the rest of the trip was hell this

12 miles was double hell. We started

at 6.30pm & @ torrential downpour

hit us at the same time and we

started off wet to the skin. it rained

on & off all night & when we stopped

for a rest we just fell down & slept

in the mud, sat our feet, we arrd

at our camp at 6.30am having taken

12 hrs to do the 12 miles. men fell out

everywhere and with all stretchers

full 4 & other men being carried

@10/30 we went for a swim & I bought

some eggs & peanut toffee. we stay 

here over night & this is our 2nd [[?]] to

rest for the trip. My feet are not

too bad but am very legweary

& tired all over. It rained again

about 8pm but we (Tom & I) had made

a bit of a lean too & are not to bad

off & so I'll [[?]] for the toughest day of my

life seem [[?]] our pig & so POW 434

of the 62nd [[?]]

[*MON 3/5/42*]

"rest day"

Do not feel too badly after good

nights sleep in which I dreamed of

escape, capture & escape again.
not much hope of that [[?]] here.

We go to the river 1 1/2 miles again

but could not buy any eggs and

rest up until [[?]] When we will

move off again. The food is damnable

rice & rotten veg stew & so POW435.
 Tom cut my hair?? so I shaved 

his. one bright spot any way.

139

[*TUE 4/5/43*]

We moved off @ 6.35 pm & marched

for 4 miles & 1 hrs rest @ 12.30am we

halted until 5am I out with the

river & had a good sleep on the

roadside. We arrd in camp @

8.15am & to sleep right away in all

we had a rather good time only

one man fell over & he was a case before

we started. the meals here are

rotten & putrid again. Stew & rice for

two meals @ this camp " 22 Kilos to go

feet feel rather good & so now after

swim & rest till move off POW436 [[?]]

[*WED 5/5/43*]

We set off @ 6.50pm and all went well

till just before the half way stop

when the strangest thing of this

war occurred. We got lost

the guide guard? took the wrong

turning & we finished up at a [[?]]

camp a mile out of our course

We turned back & after going about

2 miles the guide was not happy

so he & his mate left us. 500 P.O.W

on the road while he went back

for directions. can you beat that

Well after we had waited there an

hour he returned & we went on

another mile to the 12 Kilo stop

where we slept for two hrs. we arrd

in camp at 8/30am & had meal

at 11am. rather efficient & all that

goes with it here. A dutchman

died here this P.M. We are unable 

to buy anything as barges are not

up yet. and now as the camp

fires die down & quiet comes close P.O.W. D437

[*THUR 6/5/43*]

Boom crash we are camped in same

place as yesty & blasting is going on 

up about 1/2 mile.  the barges went

up the river @ 10am to the next [[?]]

Not much to [[?]] except that one of [[?]]

officers just copped a bashing & so

our rest till 6pm when setting

off on the next 10 KILOS of OUR trip

4 POW Day 438 comes to a close.

140

[*FRI 7/5/43*]

We moved out @ 6pm yest

and were about 4 mile out 

when rain set in. We were made

to sit in a paddock for 1 hrs

while it rained like hell. later

we halted again & lit huge 

fires to dry off. I had a bad fall

on the track & cut shin badly 

no more pain after the drying [[?]]

& we arrived at dest @ 6/30am

We had good meals here as

they go, we move on from here

at 6pm for an 18 KILO trip and it looks

like a good night. & P.O.W. 439 is over.

[*SAT 8/5/43*]

We moved 16 Kilos at a real

good clip the scenery here is

very beautiful & we follow the 

river all the way. on the track

of the new line we are to build

We shall for 1 hr @ [[?]] camp 2 hrs on

rest point & arr @ 4.30am. We rest all day

so far & perhaps on again somehow. we

are very near if not at the end of our

journey (or some of it). Tom got onto some

rice and bananas today & they're

lucious after a shortage of some days.

We pitch our tent & after a swim

& a feed we are at this moment lying

in the mad & leafy to sleep. And

now @ 9/30pm noting the camp fire dying & 

the myriads of fireflys coming in & not

a murmer in a tired camp. I close

POW440.
[*SUN 9/5/43*]
Mothers Day? not here by the looks of

the stew, its the most [[?]], eating

mess are ever saw. The second

big mob moved in this am one

man fell over a bridge & broke an

arm. We have only 10 Kilos to go [[?]]

to our last camp and have packed

& am ready again. We stew a river

muscle today & it's not bad.

We will have fried bananas for

supper. & so POW 441 of 63RD week.

141

[*MON 10/5/43*]

Our march was to be only 10

Kilos but it stretched out into

23 and at least we are at the base

camp where were were sat out in

the sun from 10/40am to 1pm We

nearly melted at long last we were

drafted into the huts. 12 men to a 

bay which is 8 feet long by 9 wide. We

had to erect tents to protect from 

rain. We got squared up by 9.30pm & down

for the night. the food is onion stew & Rice

it would be hard to find much more

inhuman treatment & POW 442 over

[*TUE 11/5/43*]

And we move again 100 Sigs. & 5 Lieuts

We are to be a road repair gang

There are plenty of Bananas in the 

bush so now I pack. We moved

7 Kilos further on and into a very

big unfinished camp no roofs on

& Boongs Yacks stink & flies all round

& over us to say nothing of the fleas

we are carefull where we tread & POW 443 150

[*WED 12/5/43*]

MARCHING - 1ST DAY ON JOB - FINISHED

We started work at 9am today

we are building a bridge. & told

that it is to be finished in 6 days

The food is awful rice & onions, stew

milk, a few white bait. We work till

115 then 3.30 till 7pm the pile of [[?]]

worked till dark [[?]]. Carpenters

thats sawing logs, squaring & carrying

them & so P.O.W -444 1 Bd [[?]]

[*THUR 13/5/43*]

We went out to work too early today

& the Boxx went crook. Our chaps

will learn soon. We finish very

tired at 7.15 [[?]]. These barracks

are not for P.O.W & the rail & road

are for the big swim. Am trying to buy 

some extra food from the [[?]]

no luck so far we also try to catch the

fish & tomorrow will try new idea. POW 1145

[*FRI 14/5/43*]

Still cutting & [[?]] logs on

road [[?]] Its a hell of a

life. Think [[?]] this soon we had fish for tea

142 50c each from the boongs & POW

& he who speaks no English     446.

[*SAT 15/5/43*]

Stuck hauling & sawing the Japs

[[?]] apart. The [[?]] all

moved away today & left their

stinky flies & sandflies behind & POW447

[*SUN 16/5/43*]

And we work on. Another [[?]] POW

passed up last night. Levinston

among them they are going up

about another 20 miles. The road

runs on our[[?]] 8. [[?]] old [[?]]

& POW of 448 of the 64th week.

453

[*FRI 21/5/43*]

And so the days pass on still on

the bridge work & flooding among

the [[?]] for decking which

is getting scarce. Up @ [[?]] 2 camp

we have lost 4 Aust, 1 Pom with

cholera but believe that all is ok

now the food is still the same

got back the towel (that I lost 6 camps

back) today. had enquired quite a bit

for it too. Am having a day off [[?]]

my shoulder yesterday.

Tom & I are now camping under the

floor got flooded out of the bay which

were in. I have had no luck in 

selling of my [[?]] pencil so have decided

to hang on until really forced now this

is the first time I have used it & its

rather a good job. Awful [[?]] we had

another heap of [[?]] put on most of

them came from Burma and the lads do

quite a bit of dealing with them. Mostly

tin tobacco. I swapped an old singlet I

had for about 3oz of weed, its not very

good tobacco but it does make a simple

& saves one botting. We have been

trying out some jungle foods with varied

results. The "cascara" been gave the 

same results in all cases. I got intel & first

Real taste of rain & creek & river up 3 feet

& so P.O.W. 453 is closed.

[[?]] THursday 20/5/43

[*SUN 23/5/43*]

I am still at camp with a bad leg

and the rain is still falling. Some of the

lads had to go pull a truck out of a

bog this pm. Our food is getting worse

there is no fish at all in the stew

now just rice & onions. how long this

will keep us up God knows. I do

know I'm off @ the first oppor. when my

leg is OK. One may as well die on the

road as from malnutrition here.

we are wet from morn til night &

no hope of getting dry or of drying any

of our clothes its a bad do. Look to me

as if the rains have come early this year.

Lets hope they have we will either get 

right out or into this turn with them

up short. Sun P.O.W 455 of 65^TH week looks Blue

Bn & work in it still goes on. Tonight Col
Kaffe gives a recital on [[?]] & POW Day over.
[*MON 24/5/43*]
And on top of Col Kaffe's don't go there [[?]] and [[?]] the
first 3. [[???]] Benoit. They
are well on their road to? Good luck to
them. They'll be at [[?]] sport on the same
track. We have no more [[?]] after
today & no rice after tomorrow. It
looks as if we may have to get out. We
can't live off rice. I have the belly ache.
and am going to [[?]] and live for fish.
from [[?]] on. 24 out of 106 Sigs here are
now in dock sick & each day the total
grows. And the belly ache still [[?]]
with intense vigour P.O.W. 456 is closed.
[*TUE 25/5/43*]
Revellie & a warning. We are in [[?]]
& have had our first death from
cholera - We have our first issue
of salt gruel today rice boiled up
[[slappy?]] & salted (I had a good feed @
lunch time its not too [[?]] & the belly
pains since are not so acute. The
fence & the warning are around us
now & anyone trying to escape will be
shot! 160 [[?]] out today & George tells the
C.O. He's a Silly Bastard & his [[?]] on the mat
Went to Mass pm but twas finished by
time I got there. So to the close of POW 457
144
_ But still no fish_
 

[*FRI 28/5/43*]
Have been too crook with the 3 day
fever to do anything. Yesterday we
burned our second cholera case
sickness of all kinds is rife in the
camp & there are not a dozen fit men
We had an episode today. @ 7 am the Jap
sentry took after a bloke who had a bag of
rice he got away and as they could not
find him the put us all on parade & kept
us without a meal till 3 pm he
eventually gave himself up & we ate 3 meals
of rice & onion soup in 6 hrs. We are
still in quarantine and no work is being
done on the road & so P O.W 460
[*SAT 29/5/43*]
Its one marvellous trip to the latrines
when it rains. I [[made?]] a couple of trips
myself last night stopped at a fire
to watch the fun nearly everyone who
makes the trip has a fall. the surface
here is like a greased board. Hear
today that the Jap colonel is coming down
to see Kappe ref our food position. I feel
much better today no temp & no pains
so will do some more fishing. But the creek &
River are both out of bounds. And today
we burn our third Cholera death. Sapper
Haywood of the R.A.E. We are having mass
here in the morning & tonight I went to Conf.
And now to close P.O.W. 461
[*SUN 30/5/42*]
All washing now done in the rains -
Mass in a.m. and not much to record
We are just hanging on? I make a bed
& that is usually an indication of a
shift. Lets take the precedent [[?]] good
food today Rice & Beans & P.O.W. 462 Week 66
[*MON 31/5/42*]
Bits of furfs filter in.^[[?]] Island Musso is out. And
[[?]] still drops back. The more hungry we get
the more we think of good food.
Todays [[?]] for mine would be fried onions
& Tomatoes with grilled steak minced & mixed with
3 eggs. fried & then fried in batter garnished
with cheese Worcester & tomato sauce & taste
of a nice bottle of Fosters. And one day I'll have
it. Tom & Bill are still in hospital & I'm still
[[?]] here. 49 Cholera deaths further up &
another here last night making our 4^TH & so to the
end of May not a merry month here.& 142
P.O.W 463
[*TUE 1/6/43*]
Just for a change before
I lend the pen to Cpt Barnett
I'll give the pencil a spell
todays big Argument is on the
backup. One day there is a small
backup left & a large backup [[?]]
& the next will be a lot of rice left &
only a spoonful of a backup issue
& its probably too great a mental strain
for the Q.M. to arrange an equal
proportioning. Which if the same
size mugs were used would not
be a very hard job. [[?]] Pond left
today for higher up the line. As
contrast the Jap Col [[?]] an issue
here. Two meals only again
today. After having used this pen
I don't think I'll be selling it
on the road. Unless the belly
gets very tight.  xx 15.00 Ron [[?]] & I [[?]]
[[?]] [[carrying?]] Bees & Mail Run. A
partnership is mooted. The [[?]] carrying
200 [[?]]. The [[?]] mail run. A wood supply
to the town. I see from here big possibilities/.
P.O.W. 464
500 DIGS & THE YAK GOT AWAY.
[*WED 2/6/43*]
''11 a.m." & Am still in bed. Why get up
there is no meal, till 1200 & then
very little of it. Tom back from
Hospital 1 pm. Talk of buying a yak for
the unit. About 30 of our lads suffering
from Malaria were sent out from the
next camp 6 miles south of here. they
collapsed on the road & a big [[contg?]]
of our chaps had to go out to
bring them in. and they arr a pathetic
looking lot & so POW 465
[*THUR 3/6/43*]
One sure thinks a lot on this job
todays scheme a refrigerator on a
big scale. The Indian Cholera [[?]]
is here today, Tom makes a bed
[[?]] of fish 7 lb - we still think of food
Tea tonight very sloppy rice P.O.W. 466
 

[*FRI 4/6/43*]
Today we killed a small yak
only to have the nips take it
all. We have mouldy rice &
water stew. Well we are at
least winning the war so?
All the fit men went out to
work today but were too weak
to do much & most of them are
back in camp. Much more of this
we will be too weak to walk out?
The wash problem is acute only get
one when it rains heavily enough.
Tim & I talk refrigeration all day &
Ron Relfe is to supply the [[?]] when
we get back. What o the fish? We
killed a yack & the nips took it. We promptly
collected another & then got back ½ from
the nips? We have alate supper & [[?]]
(NOT TOO MUCH MEAT) supper & to bed full bellied on 467
[*SAT 5/6/43*]
[[Not?]] too bad we came back on to
3 rices per day. [[?]] the [[?]] woke
me too early to day. Just as well
we get some compensation. Two
more Cholera c/s reported this "a m" all
the other patients are doing well.
Theyve changed their minds again we
are back on 2 meals the rotten [[?]]
and so P O W 468
[*SUN 6/6/43*]
Put on xxx light duties again today.
Will see how the job goes tomorrow.
May shifts up 10 kilos with the mob
of 250 tomorrow. All our cholera now
doing well and today we had a test
by the nips. Another yak is killed
We got 700 men got the fore portion
50 nips get the rind. We had [[?]]
@ 8.30 pm. tonight. & So P.O.W.469 of 67th week
[*Mon 7/6/43*]
Last night we had our 5th Cholera
death Sapper Price. I do a small spot of
work this "A.M." collect bamboo & found
greens for the cookhouse. No snow today.
I have a talk with Jack. [[?]] & [[?]] Long
on a very interesting subject. We got on
to some more yak to-day.
470
[*147*]
[*TUE 8/7/42*]
The mob moved off to the
higher camp today. And a
big mob also moved up
stream 7 Kilos back. Our
fellows go 6 miles. Others 14
and it will be some walk
the roads are just a quagmire
More rice than we could eat
Tonight [[?]] today that
George Griffiths Died on
the road & so ends POW 471
[*WED 9/6/43*]
Got another issue of the
fever today Temp 104 can still
eat like a horse tho another
one of the boys died yesterday today
472
[*THUR 10/6/43*]
No doubt this is one hell of a
place put in a bad night
the boys dont [[?]] two
yaks last night and we had
two pieces of meat & some broth
for breakfast & have another big issue
xxx for dinner. dont feel too bad today.
There are not many smiles or
laughs here, but. Today we were
killing a yak (3 = 24 hrs) & the bloke missed
his stoke away went the yak &
a dozen of our blokes went after it
and came back with a YAK
& so P.O.W. 473 closes
[*FRI 11/6/43*]
Feel a bit better today
except for a bit of diarrhoea
We have had two days
of sunshine and it sure bucks
one up. More men are moving
up tomorrow. We are having some
[[?]] with the China Sea, & so P.O.W. 474
[*SAT 12/6/43*]
The Yak stew for breakfast is burned
to a frazzle it's "too good" for me
Tom went on today, & we send a fatigue
back for coffee & sugar. & me [[?]] another yak
Mickey MILLER Died today "Chol" P.O.W. 475
 

[SUN 13/6/43*]
Greetings of the day to Gwen. Yesty
we sent a fatigue for coffee etc.
They brought back their load & it was
equitably "Jap" shared up" we rcd ¼ the
Nips ½ & [[?]] to go to next camp. The joke
is we haven't got the ¼?
Am now "OK" And we have had 3 meals
of yak today, and good meals at that. And
so ends P.O.W. 476 Week 68 & 18 yrs ago tonight HASTINGS ROAD
[*MON 14/6/43*]
Spcl parade this a m re Yaks.
Am off the quinine. & Fit again.
We are starting to talk [[?]]
We rcd for [[?]] our "lost stew"
and here's how. There was none
of the "Quarter" Yak for us last night
the 29^th, apparently had some of their
"too much" issue go bad & from that our
stew was made. This must be verified
and correction or otherwise  later we
killed another yak today. And it was
that damn thin it fell over as
it arrived at the killing point. POW 477
[*TUE 15/6/43*]
Meals today good. We even had coffee & [[?]]
for dinner. P.M. I collected some greens
with Bob Markham and cooked them
for tea they were very nice. A mob
went back to Konkoita today & brought
up cases of Aust tinned Tongue for
the Nips and two cases gun cotton
I was wiped off the go on draft today
praps for the best. A yak came into the
lines tonight and application was made
by the Colonel to kill it. "NO" P O W 478
[*WED 16/6/43*]
Very quiet today another mob 96^th move
north and are packed to capacity. We
go Sunday I think. I plan my Ideas.
all day and am sure imaging between
[[?]] & the joint in [[?]] St. and
a [[?]] for Gwen.No work at all today
gather my greens & so misery day 479 over.
[*THUR 17/6/42*]
[[?]] meals of meat today. We killed yak offer to [[??]] day
Pond said let he go so. Things very quiet
only thing to stir us is [[?]] then
this Jap sent. Wish something would
happen with a bang here
& so P.O.W 480 is over
149

[*FRI 18/6/43]
Feast or famine [[?]] yesterday
3 meat meals, today 3 meals
plain rice and cut down one
third. A general exodus from
the north has set in. All
the Penang Indians are coming
back from [[??]] also from
here our chaps are returning
tonight. And going south tomorrow
I suppose we will also move
I sold my ring today to a
Chow going south for $20 now
have $25, so should live well
for a while at least. 1 Yak killed
today we'll stew yak tonight?
[*SAT 19/6/43*]
out on a work party today &
what a job. All morning we
shovel muck off of the road
& driving the [[?]] we try to
take a truck thro [[?]] the
next camp. We got a mile & a
half along the road the thing
became hopelessly bogged. And we
had to abandon it and pack
gear thro 7 KILO & back to camp
Tea @ 9 pm one hell of a day &
also there is a general evacuation
south: what it indicates?
and so P.O.W. Day 482 TYMOTA
[*SUN 20/6/43*]
The mobs from the north are
coming thro as fast as can
be got thro Our boys who
came in last night moved
camp out this a.m. they take their
own gear to next camp & then
come back & take Jap gear on
I am resting today and need it
All in  how we move on this food
beats me We move tomorrow 7 kilos
All the [[?]] are thro & so P O W 483
[*MON 21/6/43*]
(1st DAY) 1^st stop from TIAMOTO - 7 KILOS -
Occupied the day moving to the
new camp the jungle has all
grown up around the huts
again & there are millions of sand
flies. We settle in & so ends 484
150