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

[*THUR*]
[*4/3/43*]
O.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.PRO’S
TO.WORRY.A.MAN.NOW. & THERE.EASY.FIXED.FURFS.OK
EXCEPT.STH.THE.FUNNY.STORY.OF.THE.WEEK. IS.ON.TED.KEATS
FOR.A.WEEK.OR.MORE.hE.hAD.BEEN.KEEPING.SHORTY.IN.SMOKES:WELL
SHORTY.CAME.GOOD.(GOT. PAID.) WELL.SAID.TED.YOU'LL BE.ABLE.TO.BUY
SOME.TOBACCO.NOW! NOT.ON.YOUR.LIFE.SAID.SHORTY.MY "BUE" IS. GOING
INTO.TUCKER.IN.THE.POM.CANTEEN. ???.EXIT.KEATS.ONE.SURE
MEETS.SOME. L. P. SPECIALS.HERE.STORIES.OF.LETTER.STG
[*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
& A.FEW.MORE.FRIENDS.& SO POW.383.
[*SAT*]
[*6/3/43*]
A.M.DISCHARGED.TODAY.& BACK.TO THE UNIT. 30 OI.OS.ON
ONE.AMBULANCE. ALF.FINDLAY CAME.BACK.WITH
ME.hE.GOES.TO.CON.DEPOT..I.RUN.FOUL.OF.A.FEW.
BLOKES.hERE.OVER.A.BED.ANYHOW.GOT.A.BED.NOT.TO.
COMFORTABLE.NOT.TOO.POP.RE.COMIN.BACK. N.C.O^S ?
[*SUN*]
[*7/3/43*]
AN.OTHER.BIRTHDAY.LAST.YEAR.I.hAD.TO.IDENTIFY.ME. &
ALL THE.MOB.WERE.hERE.THIS YEAR.THERE.IS.ONLY
PLUGGER.BRIGGS.NOEL.PASSERI. JACK.STEWART. & SELF.FROM.
THE.OLD.GLEN.LAST.YEAR.TODAY.GERMANY.TOSSED.THE
TOWEL.IN.THIS.YEAR.SHE.DAMN.NEAR.hAS.LETS.HOPE.SOON
OVER.TO.hOSP.TODAY.& SAW.A.FEW.OF.THE.LADS. & So hERES
hOPING.THAT.NEXT.BIRTHDAY.SEES.A.BETTER.BIRTHDAY.CHEER
AND.A.BIT.NEARER.THE.FINISH.LETS.hOPE.FOR.??S P.O.W. 385
& WEEK:. 5.5....I.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.I.hEAR.THE.PARTY.IS.CANCELLED.MY
WEIGHT.TODAY 9^S.5^LB DOWN.1^S.6^L. NOT.BAD.FOR.MES.
[*8/2 MON*]
OUR.MOB.FOR DRAFT.NOT GOING MXD FEELINGS.
[*9/3 TUE*]
HEAR.I.AM. GETTING. SOME LETTERS
[*WED*]
[*10/3/43*]
A.M QUIET.DUTIES.HOSPITAL IN.P.M. WITH.BILL BRYCE
BILL MONTCRIEF.RCD.LETTER.FROM.L.F.GET.A
PACK OF.CARDS.THINGS QUIET.ALL. & SYD.hAS.A
PLANE.DAY.SCARE. & P.O.W 388.
[*131*]

[*FRI 12/3/43*]
SYME.HARRISS.RCD.LETTER.FROM.HOME.TODAY.
FIRST.BATCH.LETTERS.IN.   - POW 390 -
[*SAT. 13/3/43*]
TWO.OF.OUR.UNIT.TO.hOSP.WITH DYSENTRY.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
[* Drawing of railroad tracks with question mark – see original document *]
A.VERY.QUIET.DAY. & WEEK.56.PASSES. WE.hEAR.FROM.THE.LETTERS
RCD.THAT.CHAPS.WHO.ESCAPED.FROM.HEAR.ON. 217.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.AT.0730.AND.INSTEAD.OF.CALLING ME.WhANGS.
AWAY.AT.THE.GONG.@ 7.30.& .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 JERMANY hAD
FALLEN.???.WE.hAVE.ANOTHER.MOVE.TODAY.& OUR.NOW BACK
WHERE.WE.STARTED.FROM.AND.SO.TODAY.I.MAKE.A REOLUTION.
[*TSUN 21/3/43*]
VERY.QUIET.hERE AGAIN.THE.MOB.TO.BANGKOK.hAVE
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.TO.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 POW 401.
[*THUR 25/3/43*]
WED.1 MORE.FLAT.SPRAYED.NO VERY GOOD.REPORTS.YET
& TODAY.WE.USE.STRAIGHT.MIXTURE. OVER.TO.&.LECTURE.ON.
HYGIENE.TODAY.& MET.BIGGS.FROM.WANGS TONIGHT.TO.A.LECT
BY.A.YANK.RECENTLY.CAPTURED. & TO.CLOSE.OF.POW DAY 403
BET.WITH.RON. TUN FINISHED BY SUNDAY.FORTNIGHT.LITTLE
WILLY.IS.BUSY.WITH.HIS.MAPS. I.SMELL.A.BIG.MOVE.ABOUT.
FORTNIGHT.HOPE.hERE.TO.COLLECT.MY.BET.1.OUNCE NEED NOW.DECD
WIPED
[*132*] 
 

[*SUN 28/3/43*]
RCD.FIRST.LETTER.IN.14 MTHS.YESTERDAY.NO NEWS.IN.IT
OTHER.THAN.ALL. O K.ANOTHER.PARTY.LEFT.FOR
35 HRS DESTINATION.TODAY @ 8. AM.500. A VERY
QUICK.MAKE.UP.& SPCL 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.COOK.hOUSE. & IT.LOOKED.GOOD.
ARCH.CLAPHAM.SLAPPED.UNDER.3 WEEKS.OUT.OF.HOSPITAL AND
PUT.ON.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.THERE.
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. I.SOLD.SOME.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 8^TH 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. I.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.SOUVENIER? 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 WONT.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.. ITS.VERY.SOOTHING.TO LIE.hERE & LISTEN.TO.IT. JUST
hERE. WHO THE.OFFICRS 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.FIT. 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
A. 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.EVEYwhere
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.over.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 Banpong.about.30 miles from
Bankok. We have at first meal
at Gemas. Lunch Cluang -TO K.L.
[*19/4  MON*]
Breakfast @ K.L. 0400 Tired dirty & cold – [*421*]
next meal @ 1600. We work a roster
for sleep tea @ IPOH. Then to Pria
we arr in the dark & purchase a bit of
fruit talk to some Indians & one copped
a bashing some of our chops get a few too
[*20/4/43 TUE*]
@ 0200 we had breakfast. Scenery
very pretty we rearrange for sleep
½ hr halt at Alor Star. But I slept & [*422*]
arr at Border Stn PADANG BASAR
& Rested for 2 hrs & clean up.
When the others arr they'll get bagged
here
[*134*] 
 

[*TUE 20/4/43*]
Good meal & tea @ first Thia
town a long wait. Stn
names are crossed out. The
natives here look a class above
the boong further down & the
women wear dresses & air cond.
hats everything looks clean &
tile roofs priests in yellow
& beautiful mountains one
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 100 yds
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 engine
[*THUR 22/4/43]
Arr at concentration point. No road
we are all very carefully searched
The packs are all sepped out & all but.
mine was searched & what luck??. we
have a wash a clean up & a good feed.
We then go back to the stn & bring up all
the surplus food etc. The "Thias" seem
very cordiall 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 miles
& we will do it at night. @ the rate
of 10 to 15 miles per night. & So settle down
to a good rest. on land & spine after
the most gruelling hell trip I have
ever heard of. ALTINARK??. We do not march
out till Tomorrow. we hear that Bangkok
has been bombed & so P.O.W 424. over
[*135*]

[*FRI 23/4/43*]
Good friday But no one knew it
till after lunch & we had only
Yak meat to eat & soup & rice with
sugar & a big march ahead. So?
I spend most of the day repacking
& now have my typewriter to carry
apt Ben Barnett takes it over when
I go thro. & To get it home. I ??S. The
following mob arrd to-day & 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.& 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. I have a
collab with cpt. Meederson on the
trip & Bring it up to date - 
[*425*]
[*SAT 24/4/43*]
We rest all day & during the am the
other 600 move up. And we restam
& sort our gear for the march.
AT.12 mdt we start off. we carry 4 Dixies
& 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 ruckus
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 arr at our destination @ 9.30 am. Jap [[?]]
& promptly go for a swim. the river is
100 yds away. we then pack & have a feed
of fried eggs & 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 spasm
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
[*(12)*]
[*136*] 
 

[*SUN 25/4/43*]
And today at home the old ANZACS
march & we march our hell march
we started out @ 10.30 pm & our
first spasm was of 25 mins & spell
of 30 mins & Tonight the march is
such a nightmare. Oh My God its terrible
the night is hot & sultry & men drop
outright & slept. We nearly drop I am worn
out by 2am & just fall down asleep
whenever there is a halt. We all put in
[[?]] 2 bare bicycle rickshaws to carry
the sick & the gear on. my feet are a
mass of blisters & the muscles & bones are
paining badly. we arrive at our camp
At 10/30. And have the screed read
to us “To P^SOWs & coolies Etc Etc. we go
for a swim and came another   [* (15) *]
thud. its a mile to the river. Back
with hard boiled eggs coffee [[?]]
etc. we are out in the 
[[? ?]]  clear compound. Tis hell
I have a good sleep and have tea &
down on the back again & P.O.W 427. of 61
[*MON 26/4/43*]
Boots, Cherie Helmridge – For $3
Today We After a good nights sleep
I arose from my Earthern couch @ 9am
& poked about the camp till 2 pm when
we went up to the hospital ? miles away
for injections & rcd 1 puncture in ear
for malaria test. 2 a fanger for Dystentry
3 injection for plague (4) ? Vaccination
cuts we march back & prepare for the
tap off. I gave Father Dolan a pair of
socks today. Hand knitted brown grey We
get away to a good Singing Start
at 10/30 pm. We leave 29 more men  [* 12/39 *]
behind here for 10 days cooking
Plugger Briggs caught up to me today
& the last I.saw OF.hIM.HE had just topped off
another bottle of whiskey ?? I sold 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 hot weak
tea by the I.J.A. & I bought hot coffee
[*137*]

[*TUE MON 27/4/43*]
Cooked eggs & Bananas. & then on again.
we are carrying the hospital panier
again today .& it will get a few ^on the road
& it did we carry a man on
the stretcher for the first time. & at
12.30 Tuesday he is still out & I skimed my
Ankle today on a stone & it gives me hell
it was an eventfull night one chap
was attacked by robbers (& I went to sleep)
7 Pm & have had tea. & am now ready for road
Would like to stop at this place awhile
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 @ 930. after another
Hell trip my feet had no feeling by
1 am. Even the little nip was all out
one of the roughest roads in my Exp
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 food. 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
[* 30/47 *] [*430*]
[*THUR 29/4/43*]
[*12/59*] 
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 and
I have kept off all but Eggs & Banana
We leave @ 8 pm today. For a camp where
most of B Force is & POW 431 is on the hike
[*FRI 30/4/3*]
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
Tent heat terrible & are on the road
again @ 8pm 
[* 10/49 *]
[*138*]
 

[*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.just 
opened my roll & fell on it & slept till
11.45 abt 7 hrs the food here is rotten
& the place is like a pigsty we were
within 60 miles of coast last night at [* 10/69 *]
first stop & are travelling in hard
mountain country we leave today @
6 pm for our next & 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
@ 6.30pm & @ torrential downpour
hit us @ 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 at our feet. we arrd
at our camp at 6.30 am having taken
12 hrs to do the 12 miles men fell out
everywhere & we arrd with all stretchers
full (4) & other men being carried.
@10/30 we went for a swim & I bought
some eggs & peanut toffee. we stop
here overnight this is our 2^nd nights
rest for the trip. my feet are not
too bad but am very legweary
& tired all over. It rained again
about 8 pm but we (Tom & I) had made
a bit of a lean too & are not to bad
off & so I close on the Toughest day of my [* 12/81 *] 
rife. seeming our pig & so POW. 434
of the 62^nd week is over
[*MON 3/5/42*]
[ * "rest day"  *]
Do not feel too badly after a good
nights sleep. in which I dream of
escape capture & escape again
not much hope of that just here.
We go to the river 1 ½ miles again
but could not by any eggs. we
rest up until 6 30 pm When we will
move off again. The food is damnable
rice & rotten veg. stew. & so P.OW 435.
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 5 Am I out with the
roll & had a good sleep on the
roadside we arrd in camp @
8.15 Am & to sleep right away in all
we had a rather good run only
one man fell out & he was a case before
we started. the meals here are  [* 10/91 *]
rotten & putrid onion Stew & rice for
two meals @ this camp & 22 KILOS to go
feet feel rather good & so now after
swim & a rest till move off. P.OW 436 closes
[*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 big
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^S.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  [* 10/101 *]
where we slept for two hrs. we arrd
in camp at 8/30 am & 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. I close P.O.W. D 437
[*THUR 6/5/43*]
Boom crash. we are camped in same
place as yesty & blasting is going on
up about ½ mile. the barges went
up the river @ 10 am to the next camp
Not much to write except that one of the
offcrs just in copped a bashing & So
we. rest till 6pm when we move
off on the next 10 KILOS OF. OUR Trip
& POW Day 438 comes to a close.
[* 0/106 *]
[*140*] 
 

[*FRI 7/5/43*]
We moved out @ 6 pm yesty
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 rain after the drying halt
& we arrived at dest @ 6/30am
We had good meals here as   [* 10/111 *]
they go. we move off from here
at 6 pm for an 18 KILO hop 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 spell for 1 hr @ pom camp 2 hrs on
rest point & arr @ 4.30am. We rest all day
toady & perhaps on again tomorrow. we
are very near if not at the end of our
Journey (or some of it). Tom got onto some
nice big 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 midy & ready to sleep. and
now @ 9/30pm with the camp fire dying &
the myriads of fireflys coming in & not
a murmer in a tired camp I close
POW 440
[*SUN 9/5/43*]
Mothers Day ? not here by the look of
the stew its the most nauseating
mess one 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 tonight
to our last camp. And have packed
& am ready again. We stew a river
muscle today & its not bad.
We will have fried Bananas for
supper. & So POW 441 of 63RD week.
[* [[12/135 ?]] *]
[*141*]

[*MON 10/5/43*]
Our march was to be only 10
Kilos but it stretched out into
23. and at last we arr at the base
camp where were were sat out in
the sun from 10/40 am to 1 pm 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 9.30 pm & 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 Tents
We are to be a road repair gang
There are plenty of Bananas in the
bush so now I pack. We move up
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 flies
we are carefull where we tread & POW 443 [* (150) ? *]
[*WED 12/5/43*]
MARCHING - 1^ST.DAY.ON. JOB – FINISHED
We Started work at 9 am today
we are building a bridge. & told
that it is to be finished in 6 days
The food is awful rice & onion stew
with a few white bait. We work till
1.15 then 3.30 till 7 pm the piledrivers
worked till dark  Im carpentering
that’s sawing logs squaring & carrying
them & so P.OW 444 161 miles up
[*THUR 13/5/43*]
We went out to work too early today
& the Boss went crook. Our chaps
will learn soon. We finish very
tired at 7.15 pm. These barracks
are not for P^S.O.W. & the rail & road
are for the big swine. Am trying to buy
some extra food from the boongs
no luck so far we also try to catch
fish & Tomorrow. will try new idea. POW 445
[*FRI 14/5/43*]
Still cutting & Hauling logs on
rice & onion stew. its a hell of a ---
life. Think go thro soon & we had fish for tea
[*142*] 50c each from the boongs & P.O.W
& he who speaks no English speaks    446 
 

[*SAT 15/5/43*]
Still hauling & sawing the job
goes on apace. The boongs all
moved away today. & left their
stink flies & sandflies behind & POW 447
[*SUN 16/5/43*]
And we work on. another 600 P’^SOWs
passed up last night Levinston
among them they are going up
about another 20 miles. The road still
runs on our N.E. Same old grind
& POW of 448 of the 64^th weeek. [* l l l l l *]
[*FRI 21/5/43  453*]
And so the days pass on still on
the bridge work & plodding among
the hills for decking which
is getting scarce. Up @ No 2 camp
we have lost 4 Aust 1 Pom with  [*453 *]
cholera. but believe that all is ok
now. the food is still the same
got back the towel (that I lost 6 camp
back) Today. had enquired quite a bit
for it too. Am having a day off. Bashed
my shoulder yesterday.
Tom & I are now camping under the
floor got flooded out of the bay we
were in. have had no luck in the
selling of my Parker 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. On Wednesday. we had
another heap of coollies put in most of
them come from Burma and the lads do
quite a bit of dealing with them. Mostly
in tobacco. I swopped an old singlet I
had for about 3oz of weed, its not very
good tobacco. but it does make a smoke
& saves one botting. We have been
trying out some jungle foods with varied
results. The "cascara" been gave the
same results in all cases. last night first
Real taste of rain & creek & river up 3 feet
& so P.O W. 453 is closed.
Ruptured THursday 20/5/43
[*143*]

[*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 but 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 till night &
no hope of getting dry or of drying any
of our clothes its a bad do. Looks 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
in Short Sun P.O.W 455 of 65^TH week looks Blue
Bn & work in it still goes on & Tonight Col
Kappe gives a recital ? on no escape & POW Day over
[*MOM 24/5/43*]
And on top of Col Kappe's don't go.Speech Away go the
First 3. Clem Miller Symons & Benoit. They
Are well on thier road to ? Good luck to
them. There'll be others soon on the same
track. We have no more onions after
today & no rice after tomorrow So
looks as if. we may have to get out. We
can't live on rice. I have the belly ache.
and am going to try and live on fish.
from now on. 54 out of 106 Sigs here are
now in dock sick. & each day the total
grows. And the Bellywaker still persists.
with intense vigor & P.O.W 456 is closed
[*TUE 25/5/43*]
Revellie & a warning. We are in Quarantine
& have had our first Death from
Cholera –. We have our first issue
of salt gruel today rice boiled up
sloppy & salted (I had a good feed @
dinner time its not too bad & the belly
pains since are not so acute. The
fence & the warning are around us
now & anyone trying to escape will be
shot & Freedom is 600 miles away is it worth
it ? No work out today & George tells the
C.O. He's a Silly Bastard & is now on the mat
went to Mass pm but twas finished by
time I got there & So to the close of POW 457
_ But still no fish_ 
[*144*]
 

[*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 is 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 make 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 Colnel is coming down
to see Kappe re 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 30/5/43*]
– All washing now done in the rain.–
Mass in am. and not much to record
We are just hanging on.? I make a bed
& that is usually an indication of a
shift. Lets hope the precedent holds good
food today Rice & Beans & P.O.W 462 Week 66
[*MON 31/5/43*]
Bits of furfs filter in^Alutian Island Musso is out. And
Froty still drops back. The more hungry we get
the more we think of good food.
Todays spcl 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 & toste
of a nice bottle of Fosters. And one day I'll have
it. Tom & Bill are still in Hospital & Im still
dongering 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 &
P O W 463
[*145*]

[*TUE 1/6/43*]
Just as 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 issue
& 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. Col: Pond left
today for higher up the line to
contact the Jap COL. re our 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. R15.00 And Ron Relf & I talk
bisuness.Carrying.Bees & Mail Run. a
partnership is mooted. The Popes carrying
200 Hives. The Blowlong mail run. A wood supply
to the town. I see from here big possibilities
& P.O.W 464.
[*WED 2/6/43*]
– 500.DIGS.& THE.YAK.GOT.AWAY – 
''11 am" & 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 Spclst
is here today, Tom makes a bed
see a fish 7 lb - we still think of food
Tea Tonight very sloppy rice. P.O.W 466
[*146*] 
 

[*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.
Tom & I talk refrigeration all day &
Ron Relfe is to supply the jilionite when
we get back. What o the fish? We
killed a yack & the nips took it so we promptly
collected another & then got back ½ from
the nips? We have a late soup & meat
(NOT.TOO.MUCH MEAT.) Supper & so to bed full bellied on 467
[*SAT 5/6/43*]
Not too bad we came back on to
3 rices per day. Bryce the dog 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 b------ 
and so P O W 468
[*SUN 6/6/43*]
Put on full light duties again today.
Will see how the job goes tomorrow
may shift 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 700 men got the fore portion
50 nips get the hind. We had mass
@ 8.30 pm. tonight. & So P.O.W 469 of 67^th week
[*Mon 7/6/43*]
Last night we had our 5^th Cholera
death Sapper Price. I do a small spot of
work this "A m" collect bamboo find
greens for the cookhouse. no move today
I have a talk with Jack. Brennan & Ray Long
on a very interesting subject We got on
to some more yak to-day. 470
[*147*]

[*TUE 8/6/42*]
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 here 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 10/6/41*]
No doubt this is one hell of a
place put in a bad night.
the boys done over two
yaks last night and we had
two pieces of meat & some broth
for breakfast & have. another big issue
axx for dinner. don’t feel too good today.
There are not many smiles or
laughs here, but. today we were
Killing a yak (3 = 24 hrs) & the bloke missed
his stroke 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 Dioreahea
We have had two days
sunshine and it sure bucks
one up. More men are moving
up tomorrow. We are having some
fun with the “China Set” & 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. & we do another yak
Mickey MILLER. Died to.day "Chol" P.O.W 475
[*148*] 
 

[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 & 1. ¼ 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. & 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 am re Yaks.
Am off the quinine. & FIT again.
We are starting to talk bees.
We rcd for tea our "lost Stew"
and heres how. There was none
of the "Qrauter" Yak for us last night &
the 29^th appearently had some of thier
"too much" issue go bad & from that our
stew was made, This must be verified
and correction or otherwise slater. We
killed another yak today. And it was
That damn thin it fell over as
it arrd at the killing point. P.OW 477
[*TUE 15/6/43*]
Meals today good. We even had coffee & Sug
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 7 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" & POW 478
[*WED 16/6/43*]
Very quiet today another mob 95 move
north and are packed to capacity. We
go Sunday I think. I plan my Ideas.
all day and am Swinging between
Kurrles & the Joint in Murphy St. and
a biz for Gwen. No work at all today
gather my greens & So misery day 479 over
[*THUR 17/6/42*]
3 Meals of meat today. we killed yak yesterday
Pond said let “her go” So. Things very quiet
only thing to stir us is rain thro
this Jap tent. Wish something would
happen with a bang here
& so P.O W 480 is over
[*149*]

[*FRI 18/6/43]
Feast or Famine land. 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 up top also we
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
& during the pm we. try to
take a truck thro to 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
on out this am 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 boongs are thro & So POW 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*]