|
Contents |
Book No. 3 - inside cover |
Book No. 3 |
Book No. 4
|
Book No. 5
| Book No. 6 |
Book No. 1 - inside back cover |
Book No. 1 |
Book No. 2 |
Book No. 5 - inside back cover
8) Book No. 2 - 15th March, 1944 to 3rd June,
1944
Original diary written by NX26331 - Pte. Bruce Hedley HOLLAND
while in Changi POW Camp, 1944. Transcribed by John Holland.
Covers a short period in 1944 after he returned to Changi from
the Burma Railway in Thailand.
Continued from Book 1
The boot polish, incidentally, is not bought by privates, though
even the officers use the substitute, hibiscus flower, which is
fairly plentiful in the area. The officers do not trust their
cooks, because the cooks bake the pastry for the sweet cup, but
the cups are taken to the officers mess to have the filling
added. Careful men!
Malaria knocked one of the chaps in our company recently. He
went quite dotty and was eventually sent to the mental ward. He
is now quite recovered, happily, and eating his head off while
we go light. It is a wonder there are not more cases, as mental
strain was intense up north. Lice have been found on the other
side of the road we are indirectly to blame and have been
disinfested once again. I am afraid that we have worn out our
welcome down here; some of the stay-at-homes have been heard
to wish that we had not returned to alter conditions and
rations. I wish I could give them a taste of what Thailand was
like! Rumours have it that a party, said to be 400 strong, will
have to return to Kanburi to bring down the men that were left
there. Wild horses would not drag me back there, Changi will do
me for the duration. We recently had to write an essay for the
I.J.A. entitled My Most Thrilling War Experience. I wrote my
own and four others, all very similar. Since my return I have
been surprised by the number of churches and chapels that have
sprung up. The Dutch especially are very devout, they attend R.C.
Mass daily. A Christian Japanese has been helpful in furnishing
the altars. The Red Cross issue has petered out at last, it was
very tastily served out to us the cheese with biscuit and
butter, twice, the pork loaf in a baked doover, bully beef
likewise, and salmon in a fried one. The ham and egg paste was
spread on a biscuit with butter, and jam cooked in a roly-poly.
We had soup powders in the soup and meat gravy, pork loaf in 2
pasties, and a sweet gruel with prunes and pineapple. A chester
cake had prunes, bananas, coffee, sugar and peanuts. We had many
sweet cups butter, sugar and cocoa sweet spud, banana, sugar
and coffee coffee, banana, butter and sugar cocoa, banana
and sugar orange flavouring orange and coffee sweet spud,
coconut, banana and coffee paw paw, banana, sugar, coconut and
chocolate
Notes:
NEILL SELLARS C GP.
MALARIA CENTRE:
BEAN GRUEL
STEW & RICE
THIN STEW
PICKLED SHRIMP HASH
4 DOOVERS (PORK PIE, TOWGAY TURNOVER, FRESH FRUIT CUP, ETC.)
SPECIALS
SAGO TWICE A DAY, BEAN MILK, MARMITE, YEAST & RICE POLISHINGS
16/3/44:
Our platoon is well scattered now, although 8 Section has stuck
together well. We have lost Horace Neill, Sam Watts, Jack
Corley, Mick Murray, Lou Toussard, Charlie Emblin, Harold
Russell, Jack Simpson, Jeff Paterson, Bill Death, Jack Dean,
Dan Cann, Bill Smith, Tom Fitzgerald, Eric Gottaas, Bob Watson
and Sid Pike from various diseases up north, besides Jimmy
Ambrose, Ted Gill and George Phelps during action. At Kanburi we
left Dave Swindail, Frank Dyson, Hilton Blanche, Bunny
Billsborough and Ray Donald, sick or on a job. On A Force,
also in Thailand, are Don Watts, Joe Noble (minus a leg), Vernon
Hicks and Bill McNeill. Merv Dixon is, I think, on A Force. H
Force in Syme Rd has Dick Andrews and Harry Holden, while the
Blakang Mati party includes Dudley Bushby and Sailor Weir. Ray
Brown, Hilton Collins and Harry Wilson left on the Japan
Party. Fred Hodges is in C Group also Lt Don Garret (?). Stan
Waterson cooks for Con Depot, Charlie Coggins and Bert Wills
have transferred to 2/26 BN. At present, in A.G.H. are Vince
Beggs, Jeff Gillespie and Bluey McDonald. Bluey Thompson
went to Japan with C Force, Alf Austin was boarded and
returned home with perforated eardrums, and Tige Sylvester also
got away, in a bad state from mixing it with a hand grenade.
So with the Battalion we have Lt Harry Head, Sgt Jack McLean,
Tommy Yates, Jack Maclay (RAP), Jimmy Walker, Alan Gilbert, Ron
Charlton, Darcy Pickard, Tom Evans, Sgt Russ Perkins, Len Clavin
and myself. There will be some tall stories told when the mob
re-unites again, although the best of us died up north. The
Platoon lost 17 in Thailand, the Company 37, the Battalion, over
200, the A.I.F. about 1000 (out of 3000) and F force has lost
over 3000 out of 6000, mostly English. Men are still dying from
diseases contracted in Thailand, Bill McNamara from pneumonia
and debility due to cholera, and Johnny Donovan from gangrene in
the bowel, since our return to Changi. The food is not
nutritious enough to build up our bodies again, and we long for
another Red Cross Ship, such as built us up before. The
American issue contained only 1 lb of food, not enough to do
much good.
Notes:
tucsan a lot squashi - a little ame - rain birp - beer
yasume - rest kichil - little jadi la - ok tidapa - never mind
birappa? - how much? Etc.
20/3/44:
We have acquired many new words in our associations over here
and they are used continually. From the Japanese we learned
o-cha tea, yoroshi good, warui bad, byoki ill, ichi 1,
arigato thank you, michi-michi food, also many garbled
English words such as speedo, presento, no 1 or 10 genacre(?)
no good-ka etc.
From the Malayan language we have borrowed: makan food, bunyah
bagoose very good, gula sugar, su-su milk, porgi-likas
go away, noko cigarette, and sudah habis finish. Also the
English troops use a Malayan word lagi, to describe a back-up.
I have decided to try and write an account of my travels since
enlisting and have been putting down notes for some days. My
memory is not too good as regards names, and I hope this mental
exercise will improve it. Being in NO 2 (G&W) area we are not on
the spot for many entertainments, - good lectures and concerts
appearing over the road but not in our lines. To cross Changi Rd
we have to wait for a guard with a flag to ferry us over, the
distance is a deterrent and many like myself still have no
boots. We were supposed to shift over on the 15/3/44 but did not
for some reason, maybe the lice, probably the increase in
malaria infections. Housing is becoming a serious problem, as
many as 500 men living in tents which are rapidly deteriorating.
On applying to the IJA for new tents they produced the handsome
number of 1 ½ ! They have increased rations slightly however,
allowing an extra issue of rice, dizu beans and palm oil, but
salt has been cut down. The garden produced only 12 tons last
month, probably accounting for lack of vegetables in issue,
although much of our ration is bought in Singapore. We have been
warned that fruit will be short soon that will be a pity as
bananas add both taste and vitamin value to our meals. The last
time I bought 2 lb of bananas at the canteen I received 38
midgets. This time, with Sippers assistance I received 7 large
ones for the same price. A little influence and the window at
the rear of the canteen works wonders. A curious thing about the
fruit in Malaya is that much of it can be green, but ripe. This
applies to bananas (very sweet), paw-paws, pomelos and
pineapples.
20/3/44 (Cont.): (No notes)
The canteen is at present stocked with biscuits and sweets, but
I refuse to buy at their ridiculous prices.Darcy bought 50 cts
of biscuits and received only about ½ pt, and the sweets, about
thumb-nail size, are 2 cts each. Yesterday I assisted the
kitchen fatigue to pluck a couple of bags of red spinach, a
monotonous job and not very profitable as the small issue it
boils down to is generally bitter, and spoils any soup or gravy
to which it is added. I managed to receive a large piece of
burnt rice while on this job and with the addition of palm oil
and doover scraps, it formed a tasty snack. The kitchen is
still struggling for wood, and occasionally a nocturnal party
disposes of a rubber tree down in the gully. On 18/3/44 we had
crushed corn gruel for breakfast, and the hominy was quite
good, but would have been better with sweetening. The bean
gruel, on the other hand, is better with just pepper, salt and
soya sauce. The sweet banana gruel last night was extra good,
and the corn meal biscuits also. If possible I swap my soup for
a roll or biscuit each night, as the pickled whitebait it
contains does not agree with me. Sipper and Carl Rope have each
bet Tom Yates that he will have malaria before Tuesday, the bet
being a meat doover each. Tom has had fever and headaches, but
throws a negative slide each time. Reg Ducker (?) (C Coy),
like Ted Rickards and myself, had his first dose for 6 mos
yesterday. MTXXXX was the slide, and he was very sick. It seems
to hit all men hard who have not had it for some time. Black
Jack has it at present the first attack since arrival in
Malaya.
I was talking to George Reid last night and he told me that,
being in indifferent health, his unit supplied him with 1½ pts
of chicken broth and the breast of a fowl. Our galahs are too
tight to even consider such an action. The 2/29 even have their
own fowl run, and it houses 1500 birds. He tells me that Stew
Baxter got 28 days for attempting to do Tubby McGlyn, but was
discharged from detention owing to ill health. He will have to
return to it again when he recovers, the same as Vince Bylos and
Stan Granger after their malaria bouts.
Notes:
PHILADELPHIA EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER
SAN FRANCISCO NEWS
NEW YORK TIMES
BOSTON POST
20/3/44 (Cont.):
Included in the American Red Cross were repair tools and shoes.
The tools have been sent to the workshops in Singapore and the
shoes have been issued to officers, naturally. There were also
pipes and tobacco our area has been allotted 7 pipes and 51
ounces of tobacco. A further issue of cigarettes was stopped by
the Japanese as the packet had on it an offensive slogan. Our
representative asked for loose cigarettes and was informed that
they also had this slogan. A further suggestion that the tobacco
be issued was not gratefully received, and the matter has been
referred to Tokyo. A few days ago, the fit men had to parade in
Selarang Square, to be inspected by General Saito, replacing
General Arimura in charge of POWs in Malaya and Sumatra. He sais
that he would not change the Changi policy unless necessary, and
stressed the need for discipline. We hope that he is capable of
improving our conditions they say he is a hard man, but just.
400 additions are expected to our ranks some time this month
from Kanburi, we shall be glad to welcome our cobbers again. By
comparing a roll dated 31/1/44 with previous ones we find that
Jack Reid has probably passed away. In the AA.G.H. we have at
present Ham Buckingham with a very badly burnt hand. He put a
ladle with a small amount of water in it into a quarly(?) of
palm oil and it exploded. Bill Boyton is in the same ward with a
crook foot. He fell out of the train on our journey down from
Thailand and suffered no ill effects. Jeff Gillespie has
recovered from his attack of dysentery, and Digger Preens ulcer
is now ok, but he has malaria. Vince Beggs and Bluey McDonald
are now recuperating, Bluey in the hospital kitchen or
fattening paddock, also Ted Rickards in the Mental Ward. The
interpretation that the boys put on the initials R.A.M.C.
(Royal Army Medical Corps) is now Rob All My Comrades after
their disgusting show up north. Every Wednesday and Sunday we go
over to the other side to see the Soccer teams playing their
competition games. The Dutch are leading at present. Rugby is
banned because of shortage of medical supplies and high
incidence of injuries.
Notes:
Picket Evans Holland Dingwill Bullen
Maj Johnstone Weve been through the mill together
JB Yes but youse didnt get mangled up like us!
2 minutes silence for each member deceased (Bill McNamara first)
20/3/44 (Cont.):
After the Soccer match we visit the A.G.H. then proceed to the
Con Depot to hear musical recordings, lectures or band recitals.
I have a new job now I picket the kitchen each night, 10:45 PM
1:00 AM or 1:00 AM 3:00 AM, with Tommy Evans and a couple of
others. This suits me, as owing to the increasing humidity I had
begun to suffer from insomnia. The tinea and itch that I brought
back from Thailand have at last been cured by Major Gunther and
his skin clinic. With his improvised ointments he has done good
work, the main items being palm oil and sulphur.
Now being issued are Changi-built mess dixies, cut from 1/16
plate and welded with barbed wire rods. There is a factory
working on toothbrushes and brooms. The brooms are quite good,
soft ones with coconut fibre and hard ones with cane strips.
Toothbrushes are repaired with coconut fibres, a same day
service for 20 cts. per brush. Nearly every man possesses a
brush, either hair, clothes or boot variety. But few of these
are used for their original purpose. The main job is scrubbing
clothes on the concrete floor of the showers, also scrubbing
oneself. Hard on the clothes, but effective.
At present we are grouped in the BN in 3 Companies. HQ forms NO
1, (B and C) form NO 2 and (A and D) NO 3. Major Anderson is
acting C.O. as Major Johnstone is still on rest cure after his
strenuous Thailand experiences. Capt. Duffy is 2 I/C and quite
thin Burma did not agree with him. Capt. Thomson commands NO
1, Capt Maston NO 2 and Capt Morrison NO 3. Capt Kearney has
gone to 3 GP where he is heartily disliked because he tries to
drive the drome works. Our NO 2 Coy is split into B Coy
personell 1 PL and C Coy 2 PL. Officers are Lts Head,
Parry, Parsons and Clarke. C.S.M. is Sgt McMahon & C.Q.M. Sgt
McDougall, both C Coy. Sgts are not a very industrious lot,
out of 37 about a dozen are in jobs, and malaria strikes them
quite often, which throws much work onto the corporals.
Consequently Tommy Yates has at times been acting C.S.M. and
when not holding that portfolio he is NO 1 PLs acting sergeant.
Notes:
JAP CLASSIFICATION
Still B3
Ill wash your clothes
And mend your hose
If you
YOURE A FUNNY OLD CAT!
IF YOURE EVER IN A JAM CALL ON HAM!
Just keep on coping
20/3/44 (Cont.):
We have had a brown out since March 1st and aircraft are
becoming more numerous and active. Precautions against fire are
posted on all buildings (quite laughable instructions) and, as I
said before, 40 P.A.D. trenches have been dug in our BN Area.
The Malay Volunteers who have relations in town have got in
touch with them and they say that conditions are bad, civilians
paying as much as 50 cts per lb for bananas, $1.25 per kati for
rice, (formerly 8 cts per kati) and rioting because we are
employed and paid, and they are starving.
28/3/44:
Rumours have been rife during the past week, the main ones
affecting the food ration. Gen Saito is supposed to have
promised us about 20 oz of rice, 16 of vegs, 3 of meat or fish
besides clothes (on loan) and curiously enough loin cloths and
pencils also, all pigs and fowls are supposed to be eaten by
Easter time, we are supposed to sign non-combatant papers and
receive 30 cts per day. Rice bags have been collected and mats
substituted to enable us to collect this extra rice, and 120
Japanese guards are being installed in NO 1 Area, so there is
some foundation for the furphies. Bluey McDonald has returned
from the A.G.H., he is thin but well. Jack Green is improving
but Vince Beggs is pretty sick, they tell me. We hope the 30 cts
pay eventuates as prices have risen even more, the smokers
suffering most. Cigars which were once 2½ , 3, 3 ½ , 4 and 5 cts
are now 6, 6 ½, 7 and 8. Rumour says that bananas will not be
sold anymore that will be disastrous as we have so few things
to spend the money on. Soya sauce is the best buy for me, my
present bottle has fermented and is a real good brew. Coconuts
are now 85 cts, garlic 4.20, pencils 42 we worked out the cost
to BN Amenities of the last Sunday chester cake. At peace time
rates it contained £8-10-0 of peanuts, £5 of sugar, £10 of
bananas about £30 in all for about 300 cakes which cost 1d
each at home. It gave me colic, so I will probably swap my
future issues swapping is very popular, soup for a biscuit,
roll or fry according to the quality of the soup 2 frys for a
sweet cup meat gravy for a sweet pastie being our system of
barter. Mick Cowan sells his he got 20 cts for a doover and a
rice issue the other day, so as to play poker. To make money -
Notes:
BURN WINDOW SHUTTERS, DOORSTEPS etc
Snails 1 ct Large Ones
28/3/44 (Cont.):
- some men collect snails and sell them as duck food a lot
however go into cooking and high prices are paid when they are
scarce. I visited the Phoenix Theatre and saw Love on the
Dole, quite a good show as regards acting, but a depressing
subject. We have been issued with the same large mosquito nets
that were used up North they are a nuisance at all times, some
were found to contain lice. The supply of quinine is not
sufficient and doses have been curtailed to 2 per day for 7
days. According to ration figures we have 8562 men in Changi
area, 800 on the drome where our BN supplies 19. The cemetery
now has 122, I believe that only 3 died during our absence.
Wally Mason and Jimmy Walsh are our latest BN casualities, Wally
died of cardiac and Jimmy, who worked on the sterilizer, died of
either cerebral malaria, jaundice, pneumonia, or dysentery - he
had them all. Padre Walsh buried them - he looks fagged out by
malaria.
An officer on the drome told Vince Bylos how the Nip contrived
to get our chaps working there. They should not, as it is
military work, but the Nip asserted that it was only a
"playground" and the party is termed "ground-levelling party" -
no mention made of drome at all. It was announced on parade that
many fowls were suffering from "fowl cholera" - dead fowls were
to be burnt, sick ones could be eaten. Wood is scarce and not
good stuff, I spent 1½ hours lighting some fires the other night
when ½ hr should be sufficient. The 26th were caught chopping a
tree the other night and got 14 days Jap pay. Our team - Tom
Yates, Andy Anderson, Nicholls and Farley were caught by Pommy
MPs a couple of nights later, but were not fined. They went back
later and got another tree. We were inspected and some men
ordered to have their hair cut, as General Saito "might order
all hair off if he sees an unkempt specimen." The clippers drag
like hell, too - Alan Gilbert does us all occasionally. The
factory over the other side turns out razors now - not too good
however. Shaving soap is made with common soap and palm oil - a
satisfactory substitute for our occasional shaves.
Notes:
VISITORS FROM "C" GP
ECK HOLDEN
ARTHUR MEADOWS
FRED HODGES
28/3/44 (Cont.):
Malaya Command, where the officers sit out on the lawn in a half
circle of easy chairs, has been christened LIDCOMBE, quite aptly
named. I filled the exercise book in which I am writing my diary
on the 25th have to wait till pay day (about 2/4/44) to get
another. Was sent to Ordinance the other day for boots, but got
knocked back. My size in those awful narrow Indian boots was
11.5. I have been about 10 mos without boots now, my feet have
probably spread a bit.
Black-out exercises are being carried out at present they are
a nuisance as when the alarm sounds not only do lights go out
but all traffic ceases over Changi Rd. We had to wait for the
"all clear" yesterday when going over for our fish ration 66
lb of pickled shrimps, the rotten things. We have had our last
issue of tempi, I think, as beans are scarce. It was not a
success and had to be minced and "doovered". The officers buy
theirs from the Dutch, and it is beautiful stuff, about 1" thick
and full of fungus. Owing to vegetable shortage we have to mince
even the tapioca peelings for the soup now beans and greens
are the other ingredients. The best greens are Ceylon Spinach
and Sweet potato cuttings, but we get most of a red-leaved plant
which is called Amaranthus and is grown as a flower in
Australia. We are informed that 23 pigs were slaughtered during
February giving 3.86 oz per man. On 22/3/44 we had a (?) meat
issue 68 lb of beef and 68 lb of pork the beef being used in
a meat stew and the pork in a "grouse" meat pastie. The beef is
from water buffaloes as we received a fore-quarter complete with
hump. We have to clean and return all bones now, otherwise we
get no further meat issues. Salt is scarce we realize now why,
in olden times a man with salt and oil was considered rich. Salt
water is carried back from swim parades to cook our morning
gruel, rubber stumps also. We missed our opportunity to get a
good supply of salt out at the A.G.H., there were bags of it for
the taking for quite some time. We got plenty of pepper, but in
the form of peppercorns, and have to grind them ourselves.
Notes:
BILL BAILEY LES GALLARD
PHIL CAREY
ARTHUR GODBOLT
BILL MACNAMARA
BUNNY BILLSBOROUGH
28/3/44 (Cont.):
As vegetables are practically non-existent the veg fatigue has
had an easy time, but now they have a new job which is not as
hard but takes time gristing corn for gruel or flour. The
other day we had a real "corny" day for breakfast a pint of
corn gruel dinner was rice, corn stew and crushed corn and
bean doover tea corn soup, 2 crushed corn doovers, fish and
corn turnover, banana and corn turnover, crushed corn biscuits
with pork fat and sweet corn gruel. We shall be crowing like
roosters soon if this keeps up. The advantage lies in the fact
that 3 gals when cooked makes 9 gals and it minces easily and
takes flavours readily. An English private, who lived in
Singapore for 6 months after the capitulation, gave us a lecture
the other night. His motto, which carried him through, was
"B---- Baffles Brains." He certainly put a lot of it over to
last that long.
Wally Mason's death brings out a point on which many speculate
should brothers enlist and be close together in action or should
they stay well apart? In some cases it has been disastrous, in
some it has been alright. The 3 Careys in "Don" Coy, the 3
Baileys in HQ, the 2 Mitchells (and 1 in 2/18 BN), the 2 Ferrys,
the 2 Rickards, the 2 Georges, and many others, are all together
still, but Sam Watts, both Fred and Arthur Collett and Jimmy
Ambrose have been parted from their brother; in Jimmy's case his
father. There are many men in the Company who never saw their
children, Mossy Doolan, who died at 3 Camp, Sid Pike and Fred
Campbell, who died at Kanburi and Athol Nagle, killed in action
at Gemencheh. Also Ray Brown has received a letter which conveys
sad news his first son, born at the start of the Japanese war,
has died of meningitis. Ray has had his share of trouble 19
bayonet wounds (superficial only) about his head and shoulders
at Gemencheh , a shrapnel wound in the leg at Katong A.G.H. and
amoebic dysentery to boot. He went on the Japan party with Dick
Noble, Hilton Collins, Ernie Bray, Harry Wilson, Legs Hall,
Speed Hollingsworth, Bill Clancy, Ted Lutz and others.
Notes:
W.O. GAME I.M.D.
5/4/44:
We are now installed in new quarters, having moved over on
31/3/44. The house has a fine situation on top of the hill near
NO 4 Gate, with shady trees, lawns, mess tables, and beds for
the lucky ones. We have a fine view of the Straits, the drome
and the A.I.F. Cemetery just over the Changi Rd. The quarters
were filthy when we moved in (having been formerly occupied by
English officers), but we soon cleaned them up. The house is
well peppered with shrapnel and bullet holes; it must have
presented a good target to the Nip Air Force during the blue.
The front lawn is out of bounds to us privates as the officers'
mess overlooks it and also it is a miniature golf course. On our
verandah (covered in with palm fronds plaited together), we have
Chum Douglas, Alan Gilbert, Ray and Arnie Ferry, Darcy, Tommy
Coombes, Jimmy Walker, Earl Rope, Tom Yates, Jack McNamara and
myself. Tommy Evans has gone to A.G.H. with the " bug" his
bronchitis is pretty bad, too. Harry Ritchie owes his life to
his marvelous constitution as the M.T. bug that he harbours
would have killed a less robust man. A patient "died" yesterday
in the Malaria Centre and was prepared for burial. A few minutes
later he was seen to be moving, and with the aid of adrenaline
and artificial respiration he recovered, and is taking "Nutrine"
and receiving a blood transfusion. I am having trouble with my
kidneys and, having no medicine, the new M.O. Capt. Catchlove
(2/20) told me to drink 8 quarts of liquid per day. Quite a
contract when beer is unprocurable. Beri-beri is coming back to
my ankles also, but again, no treatment is available bar the
local "grass soup" lalang grass chopped and boiled. I had a
bad dose of colic on my first night over here and had to give my
tea back-up away. Wouldn't it? The R.A.P. is using many
substitutes, fresh rubber latex being used in lieu of sticking
plaster quite satisfactory, too. Band-Sergeant Ringwood has a
quite good recipe for boot polish soot, palm oil and banana
skins it polishes up well. Boots are inspected at least twice
weekly on the evening check parade, as supplies are just about
exhausted. Clothing also has to be handed in for repair
immediately the slightest wear is apparent. The practice of
scrubbing garments with a brush is now forbidden as it wears
them out too rapidly. I heard a sergeant giving out his recipe
for a smoking mixture yesterday. He mixed 1 oz Perak (now 70 cts),
1 oz chopped dried paw-paw leaves, 10 cts, Gula Malacca (or ½
spoonful of sugar) and 2 spoonsfull of water. Quite a POW blend.
I.J.A. orders have been received that no lectures are to be held
in the open in future, that officers' pay is not to be used for
amenities, quarters must be clean and kits uniforms (?) and
hospital patients are not to be paid. Also, among other orders
was one relating to saluting. In future we must be given these
orders in Japanese KIREI salute or attention, NA ORAI
down, YASUME stand at ease or sit down, KUSHIRI MIGI eyes
right, KUSHIRA NAKA eyes front, KUSHIRA HIDARI eyes left.
All English notice boards have been removed and all ranks must
learn these words. It was funny to hear Maj. Johnstone last
night as he lisped "2/30 BN! - Attention! kirei! na orai!!
yasume!
All maps in the unit have been burned, it is a serious offence
to be caught with one from now on. We have been promised an
increase in pay on a sliding scale LD WO's 45 cts per day,
N.C.O's 35, privates 25 Full duty WO'S 60, N.COs 50, privates
45 and extra for special tradesmen. This is supposed to apply
from 1/4/44, we hope it eventuates. Rice is down 2 oz per day,
despite promises of an increase, and rations are painfully
scarce. For 319 men we drew 76 lb (including bone) green bananas
40 lb and tapioca 3 roots. Vegs are short delivered 33,000 lbs
for March and the gardens cannot produce any at present. Meat
has increased however to 3 oz per day, and probably we will get
an issue every day.
We have tried some new dishes on the menu, the most unique being
"banana-skin stew". The green bananas are boiled, skinned the
fruit going to the midday stew, the skins fried then boiled into
a soup, which is quite tasty. A pity to waste good bananas,
however. I tasted some "home brew" the other day, made from corn
and bananas. It had a fair kick I bet it would give one a
headache. I also had a small tomato, green but luscious.
Tomatoes can be bought for planting, but uncertainty as to
movements has stopped us from investing. Our mess tables are set
under several "Malayan Cherry" trees, and we often sample the
small berries. They are delicious when ripe but not quite as
good as the "Malayan passionfruit", as we call it a small
fruit about as large as a marble and growing on low lying vines.
I was lucky to scrounge some beef fat, it is simply delicious in
the morning gruel, and essential to health also. Palm oil is
just as good when it has been cooked in several times. We sample
sweet coconut "doovers" last night they reminded me of Arnotts
"macaroons". "Bomb happy" Maston brought some "lemon grass" over
to plant in our garden when steeped in tea it imparts quite a
pleasant lemony flavour to it. Our kitchen is a good one except
for the oven which takes a limited number of trays and eats up
wood. Consequently we have received a fair number of fried
articles and they have been "grouse", especially the meat
"boats". The "left-over" back-up races round now, as more
doovers are available the reason being that wood-cutters,
kitchen fatigue etc. are banned from the actual kitchen. Herb
Bullen, who has the last shift every night, does pretty well
he receives a "legi" for helping the cooks from 3 AM onwards.
We move again on the 9/4/44, I hope that our gang sticks
together. I have a mess table for a bed and am afraid that the
kitchen will claim it and put me on the concrete floor again.
Two-up pennies are fetching $2 apiece now. I have a dozen but am
keeping them for a better price.
We can see the "Changi Tree" from our house, it presents a
curious appearance with its top blown off. The Chinese legend
regarding it seems to be true, also. Rumours have it that we
move from our house (NO 151) to a similar one on Valley Rd near
the Con. Depot. I hope we do as it will be more central and
convenient to the A.G.H., sports and entertainment.
Our Company now numbers over 100 actually on parade, many are
still in hospital. Captain Duffy is OC and Capts. Kearney and
Maston, Padre Walsh, Lts. Head, Clarke, Parry and Parsons (?)
are the officers.
"Stinker" Jones is in hospital again he will probably join us
when he is discharged. Sgt. Sid Knight is back in the R.A.P.
again with Phil Bailey. Sipper and Darcy are now permanent
fatigues in that they mess in the kitchen. They are in a good
paddock, not quite as good as Carl, though.
Notes:
HOUSE 164:-
Cpl Purvis F. Fell
I. L/Cpl Streatfield
R. Pte Wilson J.
" Cantor B. " Bylos V
Pte Douglas R.M.
Pte Lister G "
Larkin S. "
Jarrett H "
Gilbert A
" Walker J Cpl Yates T
Pte Coombes T "
Ferry R
Cpl Farry A Pte
Holland B " Rope
C " Charlton R
Pte Pickard D "
Tedmond W "
Armstrong N "
Alan Good
L/Cpl Maclay J
27/4/44:
Much has happened since the last entry in this book we have
been shifted to house 164 and I have been admitted to A.G.H.
with diarrhea. A dysentery scare has been raging and the wards
are full maybe that is why I got such prompt attention,
including 8 M & B's just after admission. Tucker is the "light"
variety I still have my appetite but had to subsist tonight on
½ pt of palm oil gruel for tea we get 3 extra gruel meals per
day, however, so never get really ravenous.
When at the last house (151) we underwent many changes. IJA
orders now forbid bugle calls the "boob" has been abolished
(an IJA one to replace it) sports have been discontinued the
Changi Rd has been diverted and lined, on our side, with 7 ft
posts, dannert (?) on the bottom, wire on the top and attap for
only 3 ft down, and a new Burma Rd built inside. For Easter the
IJA made us a "presento" of 70 cts each, and the unit bought 3½
oz of sugar with it. On 16/4/44 the Changi-"promoted" N.C.O's
were reverted Sgts Stoner, Johnson, McDougall to Corporals
Sgt Thorburn to the rank of Private and others from Corporals to
Lance Jack, etc. Darcy lost his job in the kitchen he was seen
handing a parcel to me to take to Tom in the A.G.H. and was
summarily dismissed. Carl threw his job in the work was too
hard and Waite too pig-headed, and Sipper got in a blue over
extra "doovers", was dismissed reinstated then sacked
himself and went onto the drome. I lost my kitchen picquet on
9/4/44 I had it from 18/3/44 so had a good bludge and good
pickings while it lasted beef fat, palm oil, grilled tapioca,
gruel, salt and doovers at various times. Alan lost his barber's
job, but gladly, for only one razor is available for about 300.
Sipper was 25 on 10/4/44 and Tom Yates 30 on 5/4/44 we are
getting old! Jack Hodge (8 Div Provosts) has died at A.G.H. he
was our "gun" on contract work up north and wore himself out.
Malaria has become more serious in the area it is not so
prevalent, but is more dangerous also the necessary chemicals
for blood films are running low. M & B's are being pumped into
all bowel cases they intend to stop dysentery before it gets a
hold on the camp our ward is in quarantine, too.
Sulphanilamide ointment (crushed M & Bs + palm oil) is extra
good on infected sores, too. Beri-beri is increasing as the
vitamin and protein value of our issue has fallen below standard
the corn is no substitute for beans in these respects.
Notes:
27/4/44
McWilliams
Blood film
Cockroaches
Lt Clarke
"Cachou nuts"
With feathers
27/4/44 (Cont.):
Officers have new powers platoon commanders can levy
punishment on the spot, up to 7 days Jap pay and 7 days C.B.
Company commanders to 15 Battalion Commanders to 30 and Group
commanders to 60. They have been ordered to put their pips up
again the Jap is going to abide by the Geneva Convention, he
says, the 1907 one, not the 1929. Ken Gay received this new
punishment when caught with a stray fowl that he could not
account for, also Sipper and Pick for plucking fruit (30 days).
Tidiness is insisted on in quarters for the I.J.A. threaten to
deprive us of any house found dirty accordingly, on C.O's
inspection a fine of one day's pay is levied on any man who
offends. W.O. Purdon has been employed in building an attap hut
just over the road we will probably move again before he
finishes. His work in the limb factory was a good show he
invented and manufactured artificial legs for 43 men, legs that
bent at the knee and ankle automatically. He will be going back
when the "down-country" men are ready to be fitted. Our house
(64) was originally occupied by 18 officers now houses about
200 men our officers are to be segregated from us they are
at present swapping their clothes for new articles from the
store we will get the worn ones. I still have no boots the
largest size available is 8, only. The drome works 3 shifts now
8 to 1, 1 to 8 and an all day shift, 9 - 5. The position has
been improved as 700 fit men have arrived from Sime Rd., an
exchange for 700 sick men from our area. Ron Foster has come
back, as big as a house, and into Sime Rd went Tom Evans, Ray
Streatfield, Alan Good, George Hill, Clarrie Graham, Eck Lane
Red (?)! "Happy" Kinchler, "Bunny" May, Frank Dowley, Sgt
Surtees and others. They left on 22/4/44 an ominous date the
anniversary of our move to Thailand. Conditions are good in
there full pay (45 cts) plenty of tucker and little work.
The combined death rate for "F" and "H" forces to Nov. '43 is
officially listed at 4590. A new Japanese word has been
introduced "KIOTSU-KE!" or Attention! Capt. Duffy gave us a
lecture, with illustrations, of the correct behaviour and paying
of compliments to I.J.A. personnel they are insisting on it.
Tom Coombes has a good job in the I.J.A. garden he works in
the cookhouse and gets plenty of buckshees.Jack Maclay has been
on a constant job at the General's house, and in a good paddock
too he arrives home often with bags full of tapioca, Malayan
pears and apples, cigarettes, etc. The Malayan apples are not
very nice, but the pears (reminding one of a small potato) are
delicious when rotten ripe. Darcy had his watch fixed at
ordinance they put in a glass, winder, hands and regulated it
to keep proper time. He had ambitions of a private garden and
planted onions and tomatoes but when in A.G.H. someone "done
them over". Our tucker in lines has improved but was woeful
for long enough when we had no vegetables and subsisted on stews
containing, at times, fried banana skins, green paw-paws, peanut
plants, egg fruit, coconut, green jack fruit, cachou nuts and
innumerable greens. Raw Chinese cabbage is delicious cooked in a
turnover, or chopped with salt, pepper and sauce mint leaves
are obtainable in the garden also. In vitamin value "chickamanus"
comes first, then amaranthus with Ceylon spinach (the most
tasty) a poor last. For days we have had abundant tapioca 400
lbs per day for 360 men and have had to dice it into stews
the oven being incomplete. Deficiency diseases are appearing
again none the less. A picket has to be maintained on the garden
to prevent theft of greens, coconuts, paw-paws, bananas etc.
before coming over the road the 2/26 stripped their area of 3 to
4000 coconuts our officers stopped us. We eat under the
verandah at "Bomb-happy House" where the rest of the Company is
billeted having mess tables and forms. Breakfast is now about
1⅓ pts of corn gruel dinner , about 1 pt of sloppy bean,
tapioca, jack-fruit gruel + 1 ½-size doover, and tea, about 1 pt
of good meat or veg stew, Ό pint of "Nazi Goering" hash (rice,
fried tapioca, beans, greens, etc.), two fried doovers + meat or
sweet turnover and 1 biscuit. Pickled whitebait or shrimp are
extra good on the fried hashes. Canteen prices have changed
again Sandshoes are $12, tooth-brushes 2.85, pencils 47,
peanuts 3.60, towgay 2.60, soya sauce 80 per pt, Perak 95, Java
1.55, cigars 13 cts, gula cakes 60, 65 & 70 for the old 10 ct
size the promised raise (19,22 &30) cannot come too soon.
On check parade 25/4/44 we were officially told of our next move
to Changi Gaol all P.O.Ws on the island to be concentrated
there. We shall have to leave all our gardens have just
planted 70,000 tapioca shoots (5 cts each) but maybe the
hospital (which does not apparently move) will get the benefit.
Wouldn't it! The oven has just been finished after strenuous
efforts on the part of Sgt Pluis and is a good job we cannot
take it with us, worse luck. The inside is lined with iron
gratings to hold the heat, and it has double walls, each about
6" thick and packed with sand between as well as a hot water
pipe running through the fire hose and supplying steaming hot
water at any time.
2/5/44:
I finished the third volume of my diary on 30/4/44 am waiting
for some pay to resume, as the hospital days pass quickly when
engaged in writing. I am learning chess, it will take some
concentration. I got 12 M & B's altogether, and they made me
very sick for two days am still not well. "Scotty" Ureau
lectured us on his guerilla experience last night this is the
third time I have heard the same subject, but it is most
interesting he has a great opinion of China and the Chinese.
Bugs are bad as usual in the iron bedsteads, they are being
banged on the concrete floors all day to try and dislodge them.
I was on light diet for two days, and was it light! Breakfast
was ½ pt palm oil gruel (sweetened), morning tea the same
(unsweetened) dinner white gruel with grated cheese, afternoon
tea, palm oil gruel, tea, white gruel with shredded pineapple
and supper meat soup. The first night I got a pork and barley
soup but never enough of it. On heavy ration I now get for
Breakfast Ύ pt corn gruel, morning tea ½ pt corn gruel, dinner ⅓
pt "modern (?) hash and 1 fried doover (excellent), afternoon
tea ½ pt corn gruel, tea ½ pt meat soup or stew, or ½ pt hash
and 1 fried doover, 1 baked pastie and 2 coconut rock cakes a
cup of tea 3 times a day and no supper. Back-ups are rare
there being a gruel back-up, hash back-up, doover back-up, ward
back-up etc. the orderlies and heavy duty men (Bluey Neill is
one) eat better they eat outside. My cravings have returned
for European tucker mainly for savoury dishes such as eggs,
sardines, baked rabbit, saveloys, frankfurts, salmon and
always for tomato sauce. The American newspapers contain whole
pages of delicious-sounding recipes and build vivid pictures in
our minds of feeds we will enjoy when free once again the
thought of waste is horrifying now I would gladly swap my
rations for those that "Pincher" receives he wouldn't eat
rice, though the dogs here do. Small men are lucky they need
less food and are more satisfied.
On 28 and 29/4/44 the Kanburi contingent arrived I saw, from
my second storey vantage point, quite a few familiar faces
Major Hunt, Capt Elliman (2/29) Lt Eaton, Vince Wallace (2/4
MG), but have seen only Terry Trevor from "B" Coy. He is as fat
as a fool, as are all the mob that returned, Dave Swindail, Ray
Donald, Frank Dyson, Hilton Blanche, Don Garner, Harry Collins
(A Coy) etc. Les Marshall was unfortunate he died on reaching
the A.G.H. Many have been admitted to the wards but there is
nothing seriously wrong with any of them they lowered our
rations for 3 days, as they were on our strength and not drawn
for. Norm Waugh died up there, he was alive, but a sick man when
I left in December 1943.
5/5/44:
Today is the day that we shifted to Mt Pleasant, two years ago
but what a difference. The old mob has been smashed up
irrevocably, I fear. I.J.A. orders command us not to look
"disagreeable or downcast" when in sight of Changi Rd quite a
contract. It has been settled now that the 22 Bde personnel
occupy the actual gaol buildings and we (27 Bde) the huts
outside. Trailers are being drawn over every day loaded with
essential gear kitchen, hygiene, & hospital equipment. There
are 25,000 letters being censored now for the A.I.F. I should
get at least one. We will be in companies of 100 and groups of
1000 when we shift one officer to a company. Accommodation is
a great problem and churches have been converted into sleeping
quarters for Kanburi personnel there will be no church
services and no amusements when the move comes off. Porky Moore
was caught "ratting" in the Ordinance area and received 20 cuts
with a cane corporal punishment will not deter many they
prefer it to 30 days pay + 30 days C.B.
The Corporal in this ward (188B 2nd storey No 7 Bldg) was once
a porter at Lakemba Railway Station Darky Hamilton. Major
Stevens is my M.O. once again he gave Jeff Gillespie a good
spin when he was in this ward with dysentery. I received the new
pay yesterday 11 days @ 19 cts = $2.09 from the unit and 4
days @ 5 cts = 20 cts from the A.G.H. - $2.29 is the largest pay
I ever drew no amenities deducted as 4 days is the limit. I
have received $49.74 in 2 years 5/5/42 5/5/44 about £7
Australian. At the old rates (3/6 per day + 2/- deferred) I
should have £285-15-0 to my credit in Australia something to
build on.
I glanced through a cookery book (Mrs Beeton's) the other day
and was surprised to see "Typical Australian Dishes" including
"Bandicoot Stewed in Milk", "Blackfish in Batter", and "Apricots
and Rice". Someone must have a good imagination.
We have received no meat for a week dried fish is tasty as a
substitute but meat stew would be appreciated. The A.G.H. cooks
indifferent pastry but their fried doovers are the best in
Changi. I saw some of the "special diets" the other day they
made me homesick with their familiar odours thick meat stews,
boiled cabbage for one diet and salmon and rice, bananas and
milk for another cheese, asparagus, eggs, preserved meat,
marmite, milk, butter, cocoa are all still available for the
really sick men. We often surmise how we will be fed on release
some reckon we will have to undergo a rigorous "milk diet" to
tone up our gastric juices again mine are still O.K. they
bite me just the same. We all have special recipes written down
for future use each has his own especial favourite and
enlarges on it when the topic of conversation is food as it
always is now "All roads lead to Rome" they say, well, "All
roads lead to makan" for us.
Notes:
NZ WHITEBAIT "ST GEORGE" 12 oz tin 2/9
SGT MONTAGUE
5/5/44 (Cont.):
I have lists of many new dishes to try, and old ones to
cultivate also picked them up in my travels in the Army and
wrote them down to comfort me when I was on my back for 2 months
in Thailand. George Reid (2/2/9) told me most he was a
pastry-cook and ran a hamburger shop in Parramatta before the
war he described most lovingly the various Chinese dishes at
the Nanking Cafι, poultry, pork and omelettes, the quick service
at "Bert's Better 'Ole", toasted sandwiches, toast in batter,
omelettes, devilled tomatoes, pig's trotters, black or white
sausages, "Paloma's", Jewish cucumbers, Yorkshire pudding,
cream-layer lamingtons, chocolate ιclairs, wine trifles and
sundaes I have yet to try any of them, but am determined to do
so. L/Cpl Wally Bell (A Coy) was my bed-mate for about 6 weeks
being a country boy he enthused over gramma pies, pumpkin
scones, fried sweetbreads, pork chops, pickled pork, fried
sheep's tail, baked stuffed heart, baked stuffed pumpkin, roast
sucking pig, devilled paw-paw (wine, jelly or ice cream), banana
fritters with cream, curried lobster also Fernando's fish
meals and "Dad's" Bisconuts all strangers to me. Len Mason
(North Coast) recommended oyster patties, oyster sauce, oyster
soup, beer with salt, "prairie oysters", corned beef and cream,
jam or pineapple, tomato cream and sugar, and cold meat salad,
cream and olive oil he could afford the cream, coming from
Taree. "Robbie" (Dr Roberts 2/2 M.A.C.) while on cholera
convalescence, would declaim on Melbourne's "American Cream
Pie", also French coffee, American "Grape-nuts" and Edgell's
"Petit Pois". Frank Morgan (8 DIV SIGS, also a VX), talked about
pork pies, asparagus (fresh cooked), silver beet, gorgonzola
cheese, egg flips and "double Malted milk specials Owen
Matthews (also Sigs) liked potato cakes, pork saveloys, fried
hamburgers and cake and milk and A Shadbolt (2/29) recommended
'flake' (flat fish such as gummy shark), raisins in gin,
mutton-birds, barracouta and N.Z. Blue Cod and Whitebait also
Melbourne beers. Plugger Briggs, 2/2/9 cook, was a connoisseur
of wines and made my mouth water often I resolved to try all
kinds of Australian wines on return. Queenslanders had their
say, too Bert Mills from Cardwell describing appetising
kidneys and tomatoes, fish & egg omelettes, braised giblets,
smoked salmon, mackerel, barramundi he loved condiments
Leggo's sweet pickles, "Palms" mango chutney, his own brand (⅓
of jam, sauces), sweet curries and IXL 's jams especially
Jones' "Pride" and "Favourite" plum jams. Horrie Neill spoke
often of Brisbane's crabs, grilled flounder, fried egg fruit,
and Cairns beer. Frank Dyson (from Aramac) of scrambled emu's
eggs, rosella jams and pies, fried scones (puftaloons) with
syrup, fried fruit cake and sugar and bully beef "cutlets"
(cooked in batter) also bread, bully beef and raspberry jam.
Bundaberg "Red Heart" rum was declared the best Advocat
recommended too. Western Australia produced a 2/4 M.G., Jim ?
who told us we had missed much in Perth, including crayfish
rolls, bacon-stuffed steak, barbecues and V.M. Wallace (also
2/4) advised trial of a "sweet portergaffe" Paddy mentioned
tinned "ready-peeled" prawns also. Vern Hicks reckoned that
"yellow-box" was the best honey, Donkey Bray was sold on his
"Drummer-Boy" Pickles, and Harry Ritchie produced the most novel
counter-lunch two slices of fruit-cake with a slab of cheese
between. Ted Rickards produced baked porcupine and other
doubtful delicacies Jeff Gillespie rabbit baked with bacon
also spuds boiled in milk and curry Gordon Sawyer (8 DIV
Provosts) oysters stewed in milk, or boiled in vinegar, and
apple whipped with egg white. Padre Polam drew a "grouse"
picture of pork and green peas, Maclay of Scotch haggis, Wiener
schnitzel Mick McHugh of Adams' porterhouse steak and silver
grill. Tom Yates had leanings to baked oysters and fried
garfish, Paget to spaghetti and melted cheese, Ray Brown to
Welsh Rarebit, "Wacko" Walker to mushroom omelette, Collins to
caviar, pate and champagne, and Darcy to fried mullet, fish roes
and ox-tail. Sipper's specials were fried brains, brain
sandwiches, Cornish pasties, "Rocky Road" chocolates, Murray
cod, and lamb's fry and bacon. Jimmy Walker's were mince stew on
toast with a fried egg and tomato sauce, roll stuffed with
bananas, "monstereo delicioso", and camp pie, tongue and mustard
pickles Tommy Evans were lobsters, pikelets, and fried chicken
and Jack Dingwall's "Cherry Ripe" chocolate and milk. Harry
Jones (2/20) spoke of "Old English" style bread, with double
yeast, and Brian Gehardy (2/29) of "chilli con carne" Arthur
McEvoy reckoned "condensed custard" was good and Bill Duncan (8
DIV Sigs) drank lots of "Black Velvet" stout and port wine.
The Pommies had strange tastes apple pie and cheese, cheese
scones, fried scallop sandwich, and "apple pie without cheese"
they reckoned "was like a kiss without a squeeze". U.S.A.
newspapers paged cinnamon honey butter, stuffed frankfurts,
skinless frankfurts and egg fried in pineapple ring.
Quite an ambitious list to eat my way through but as I am now
I could do the lot. I have tasted many new dishes and grown to
like them in the Army jam and cheese, condensed milk, coffee
and milk, Jack Maclay's tomato juice, Russ's blackcurrant jam,
pickle roll, Jeff Jackson's frankfurts, Jimmy's baked spuds and
Tom's Napoleon cake also the old MacConochie's stew, tinned
bacon, Ideal Milk, and the "Johan's" fried haddock not to
mention the Dutchmen's Orange Bols. P.O.W. life has enamoured me
to fried whitebait, shot towgay, Gula Malacca, soya
Notes:
KOW-TOW BLUES !
5/5/44 (Cont):
-sauce chilli sauce, salt fish, bully beef and beetroot, "nasi
goreng" and "tempi" from the Javanese, garlic, Libbi's Fruit
Cocktail, banana and sugar, fried greens, sweet stew a la Nippon
and peanut toffees (since I ceased to smoke). In Thailand the
delicacies were ma-mee, braised steak, liver, bullock's blood,
pig-oil, Birma sandwiches, raw eggs, egg stew, preserved
bananas, sago and baked eggs. Red Cross highlights were cheese
and chocolate, Mokela porridge, and pineapple and tomato jams.
We often had a "sweets session" and described favourite
confectioneries "Nestle's Honey and Almond" being my pick
Jimmy Walker and Ted Lutz both work at Nestle's Jimmy draws
wonderful pictures of the sweet things there. Bill ? , an R.E.
sergeant in Kanburi hospital, was an expert in curries, and woke
in me a desire to sample all types Malayan, Chinese and
Indian. Most of the chaps who gave me suggestions have passed on
Robbie, Plugger, Horrie Neill, Paddy (WX), Harry Jones, Bill
Dineen at No 3 Camp, Russ at Wupang, Wally and Jeff at Kanburi
also Gordon Sawyer but I remember them by their special
likings. (also Mick McHugh at Kanburi Hospital)
6/5/44:
I saw the A.I.F. concert "I'll Take You" last night a good
show. Sime Rd personnel have arrived at the A.G.H. among them
Dick Andrews and Red Hanlon Red was working on the wood-heap
on light duties! and beri-beri got him down. Conditions
dropped when 700 sick men arrived there and the 700 fit men left
for here naturally enough. We had a recital of new American
gramophone records 400 have been received as well as machines.
I saw "Scarlet Neill" (2/10 R.A.A.) he is just down from
Kanburi and as big as a house. Young Donohue is down too he
brought me over a letter last night from Myrtle Hodges I
would like one from home, now.
Kanburi personnel got their American Red Cross packages today
and had to split them straight away it was terrible when the
pleasant odour of pork loaf salmon, bully-beef, cheese, etc.
began to waft past our noses but we enjoyed ours better than
they will, - they have to eat practically all at once. Dave
Swindail has just brought over another letter, from home this
time it is dated 29/9/43 and is only 24 words in length, but
tells me a lot. I am glad to know all are well, including Cliff
and Frank that there has been an addition to the family
young Bruce and that one, at least, of the four missives I
sent has arrived safely. The family is still at the same address
this and other items are good to know. Tige is mentioned in
just about every other letter received from our parents etc.
he must have circulated a fair bit
11/5/44:
I will probably be an inmate of this ward for a long time
subsequent to a sigmoid examination Capt. Cahill informed me
that I had chronic bacillary dysentery, that he had nothing to
treat it with and that I would have to be patient. So I will not
join the boys at the gaol will probably accompany the A.G.H.
to its rumoured destination (Kranji and J.B. are hot
favourites). On 9/5/44 the first 1000 (22nd Bde) moved into the
gaol (a favourite saying is "See you in gaol"), and soon our
boys will follow on this, the "2nd last move", as some affirm.
The unit has been moved around a bit, some have been sleeping in
the open owing to congestion the concert is finished and the
hall available for sleeping quarters also the Con Depot is
soon to be disbanded. Don Wilks was here yesterday Bert Park
is in with malaria and tells me that "Abbo" is dead and Bill
Bishop has lost a leg. Arthur Piper is still convalescing, Don
Sutherland is in this ward but doing ok. Dave Swindail is as big
as a house he was O.C. mess orderlies in Ward 2 at Kanburi.
Mick McHugh is dead he will not have that day out with me as
he promised at 3 Camp. Jack Hodge (19 stone on enlistment) was 7
stone only when he died, and Harry Collins is as big as Lou
Brown.
Rumour has it that 20 more bags of mail have arrived. I hope I
get another. It took about 14 mos for my first postcard to get
home (and about the same for me to get my first letter), only 8
mos to get the second, so here's hoping a third is close behind.
Exercise books are unprocurable, I don't know what I'll do when
this one runs out in this ward many men spend days sketching
plans of their future homes they are mostly too ambitious
also business schemes are hatched how they will go in a
post-war world is unpredictable. Jap issue of corn ceased on
8/5/44 and we got the rebound today no more gruel. Meat has
been consistent (beef and pork today) and the meals as follows:
Breakfast Ύ pt corn gruel morning tea ½ pt corn gruel (lime
flavour) Dinner meat, green and bean stew (very tasty) + 1 fried
"modern girl" doover Afternoon Tea ½ pt corn gruel (lime
flavour) Tea "Modern Girl" hash or fried lime hash (½ pt) 1
fried "Modern Girl" doover, 1 meat pastie (minced meat, towgay
and rice filling) 1 meat roll (ditto), 1 sweet cup (banana,
paw-paw filling) and 1 coconut and lime rock cake, or 1 biscuit
and sugar or 1 slice of lime fruit cake. Limes are in everything
nowadays, the cake is tasty and even looks good. "Mixt. Diarrhea"
provides the "liqueur" after each meal but has little effect on
my complaint. Soya sauce (now 60 per pt) is good in most
everything, being very salty. Special diets (about 40) have been
living on braised steak, baked potatoes, fried greens, pearl
sago and sugar and milk they need it, poor devils. Aub Heath
(2/20), who occupied the next bed, reckoned that his best meal
was as follows: grilled flounder, porterhouse steak and a bottle
of Bass Ale. Marmite issue is now about 1 fluid tablespoon a day
patients receiving it do benefit, for one could read the gaol
clock time the other day, the first time for 5 mos. Aub said
that when in Singapore before the blue, he was told by everyone
that Edgell's tinned vegetables (especially green peas) were the
best in the world they were in great demand and hard to get.
Canteen prices are now Sugar $3.30, Onions 4.10, Garlic 4.50,
Prawn Dust 1.40, Razor Blades .50, cigars 14 cts, shaving sticks
3.25, Vinegar 90, Paw-paws 40 per lb, Sago Flour 2.20, and gula
Malacca 1.60 only. Not much else in stock if we had money
(which we haven't) we could not buy a decent feed ducks are 5
or 6 dollars each but are only a meal for 1 man.
Now I.J.A. orders are that the following procedure be complied
with when an inspecting officer approaches a party the P.O.W.
officer shouts "SAGYO YAME ! " (stop work !), then reports
"SHOKO IKA (say SAN-JU) MEI ! (Including officers, 30 men !).
On acknowledgement, he then shouts "SAGYO HAJIME ! " (start work
!), salutes again and carries on. Our "shokos" and "gunsas" have
to keep their wits about them now it is the direct order of
the General that these Japanese orders be learnt, used and
understood.
Jack ford has been over to see me he heard that I had died up
north I am glad to be able to correct him. He was at Shimo
Lymonta (below Nioke) and Takanoon with Div Sigs and 2/29 BN.
Bill Bailey has passed away (12/5/44) cerebral malaria and
dysentery being responsible.
14/5/44:
There are Italian P.O.W.'s in the camp when pulling trailers
the Ities are indistinguishable from our men they were
submarine officers till the Nip commandeered their craft.
Rumour says that 2 godowns full of Red Cross tucker are to be
made available to us wishful thinking enlarges the number
every hour. We had pork yesterday in a bonser stew and and a
pastie it is about the last issue I am afraid, they are
getting rid of all the pigs. A tasty dish that some chaps
enjoyed the other night was a stew made from ducks' heads and
legs, onions, coconut juice, and curry. Bert and I bought ½ lb
of gula and ate it immediately it was poor quality stuff, but
beautiful to our starved palates.Bert says his first meal in
Australia will be one that haunted his dreams when in Thailand
4 sausages, 4 fried eggs, mashed spud, green peas and tomato
sauce. My craving was for cold mince slice with tomato sauce
it nearly drove me mad at times, when confronted only with sour
rice and tasteless beans. I wish I could get beside a Jew when
the pork is on, but most would let their religious views slide,
I am afraid. Paget, our prize vegetarian from Quambone, was in a
quandary at Caldecott Hill when confronted with pork sausages,
but soon overcame the difficulty by asserting "They're full of
bread !" he ate them anyway. He is at Blakang Mati with Cpl
Sullivan, L/Cpl Johnson, Sailor Weir, Dud Bushley, Dick Simmonds,
Dick Henderson, Don West etc. they are expected back any day.
Our party (2/26 and 2/30) move into the gaol on the 25th, they
say the Kanburi personnel have joined the companies they
originally came from. Bunny Hillsborough looks well he lost
his father at Kanburi Hospital, however. The 2/26 is suffering
from another epidemic of the "runs" they have been streaming
in steadily since last night.
Notes:
Doug Mather
Concert party
Amputation
DON WILKS
TAMBAYA
AMPUTATIONS
4 SURVIVORS
PADRE BENJAMEN
NEWS
21/5/44:
On 15/5/44 all Changi personnel, hospital patients included,
were paid to 6/5/44 at 20 cts per day, less amenities 20%. I
received $1 but cannot spend it as the canteen is hare (?). On
31/5/44 we will be paid to 20/5/44 then no more till 23/6/44
once a month is the new system. I am definitely on the "Kranji
list" and have been shifted to 173C (Top Floor No 3 Bldg), under
Major Stevens. 1200 patients and 300 staff are on the list, the
date of our departure is now 10/6/44 it may be altered again.
I have been on several jobs grass-cutting, sweeping etc.
yesterday I was spud-bashing and enjoyed an extra doover, half a
dozen bananas, half a pineapple, besides about 1 lb of onions
for future use. The onions are only thumb-nail size but go well
in a fried doover or turnover. There are pickled shellfish in
now, they are small and leathery but have a good flavour. When
in 188B I looked after a 2/18 chap named Cliff Olsen and he used
to give me the doovers he couldn't eat sometimes 3 or 4 a
night I ate well for a week, but am back on the old ration
again now that Cliff has been discharged. I have had an
extremely sore ulcer on my palate and it is responding to the
treatment quite well arsenic paint 3 times a day.
A news summary was read out in the ward, 4 big pages under the
headings of sport, racing, crops and weather, prices, wages,
movements of well-known people anything of general interest to
be gleaned from the thousands of letters received. Sipper
borrowed a set of my pennies to begin a two-up game it is the
rage now Jimmy Walker won $20 on 3 cts., the lucky cow. I was
talking to Alan Hudson and "Pig's-ear" Geike last night about
the old 20th I.T.B. days Alan had news of Bruce Stanton (33rd
BN) he returned from Syria, went to New Guinea, and then
returned once again to Aussie.
The Pommy Advance Party to Kranji took their fowls and tomato
plants with them they looked quite funny perched on a heap of
gear and surrounded by greens and chickens.
The casualty list for 2/30 is now officially 229 dead on "A",
"F" and "H" forces a large percentage of this Kranji force is
2/30 also we will be under British administration when we move
28/5/44 is the latest rumour.
Rumours are many and fantastic a Red Cross ship waiting at
Lisbon also at Lorenco Marques or Vladivostok, or actually in
Singapore harbour (take your pick !) also, we are supposed to
be all in Japan by August to be fed by the Red Cross at Kranji
and to be joined by "A" and "D" Forces in the near future.
Black Jack is at a conference in Singapore today maybe
something will come of it yet.
We had a bonser pineapple jam doover tonight the jam was as
good as home-made (or tasted as good to our sensitive palates)
but it never satisfied us.
Notes:
MAJOR STEVENS
2/40 TIMOR
BARNEY MURPHY
MESS ORDERLY
22/5/44:
Black Jack farewelled us today but gave no startling information
rumour says that the 160 men at present working at Kranji each
receive 16 oz of rice plus abundant fish and vegetables it
will drop when the sick men arrive there. This ward (173C) is
filthy dirty we squee-jee'd it ourselves this morning
luckily our old mess orderlies from 188B have re-joined us
(including Cec Blacker) they will keep the place in better
order. Sipper and Darcy came over last night with a dixie of
rice and Nip stew + a doover Darcy wrangled a job, in a Nip
cookhouse, in the gardens, and cleaned up big. I hope he keeps
it up.
Tucker today was excellent a double meat issue helping
greatly. Breakfast was the usual Ύ pt of rice gruel, Dinner
about ⅓ pt of rice, ⅓pt of tasty meat stew and 1 meat and towgay
roll and Tea, the same issue of rice and stew, a spoonful of
greens, Ό pt of fruit salad (bananas, pineapple and limes) 1
fried "Modern Girl" doover, 1 meat and towgay pastie and 1
pineapple sweet-cup also I got a back-up of fruit salad, so
have a more complacent attitude towards life in general.
Many men are unraveling old sock-tops and scarves to knit
themselves socks I have one on each side of me no use my
emulating them, I still have no boots.
Sipper got another letter telling that Mum had been down to see
his mother, also Myrtle Hodges and that they are "all very
happy" so it looks as if news has got through of our continued
good-health and survival. There are, in that case, several
thousand homes whose joy will be dashed to the ground many men
whose post-cards are just reaching home have been dead for many
months this unnecessary mental cruelty is another score we
have to settle.
24/5/44:
Today, two years ago, Sipper and I had our "Singapore Day" we
swore we would get drunk on this anniversary but will have to
defer it till next year and get twice as drunk to make up.
Sipper has been over the last few nights with a bonser "green
stew" each time he says he will bring one each night till the
supply cuts out. Darcy is dreading re-classification, as it will
involve abandonment of his new sinecure and cessation of "bunyah
makan" for me. He brought over some "Malayan cheese" and I ate
it in the dark so cannot describe its appearance but it
contained dates amongst other ingredients and had a pleasantly
"sharp" flavour we will try anything in the makan line now.
Tucker has improved in quantity although we have had two
meatless days the dishes have been very tasty. Today was
Breakfast Ύ pt rice gruel, Dinner ½ pt rice and ⅓ pt vegetable
stew + 1 vegetable pastie and Tea ½ pt "nasi goreng" (rice,
towgay, tapioca, greens and pickled mussels), 1 vegetable roll,
1 fried "Modern Girl" doover, 1 banana and paw-paw sweet-cup, 1
pineapple and sugar sweet-cup and 2 baked "rock-cakes" with a
ward back-up of 1 pineapple & sugar sweet-cup.
There were two canvas screens on our verandah but now they have
just "disintegrated" and disappeared I got my share and have
already utilised it in patching my pants and making dilly-bags,
etc. The new rates of pay (monthly payment) are 45, 50 and 60
cts per diem less 20% mess fund that will be approx. $10.80
for a 30 day month if we ever get it. The canteen has little
to offer Maize Flour 2.30 and Sago flour 2.20 being new items
no gula, sugar, sauce, coconuts, garlic I gave Sipper $1.77
as I could not spend it and he could (on smokes) he still pays
his fine but should finish soon. When he comes over we go up on
the roof, and when I have polished off the makan we sit in the
twilight till visitors are turned out (9 PM).
Our daily routine is as follows. (Tokyo time, not Malay time)
Reveille 0800, Breakfast 0830, Dinner 1230, Tea 1730, Lights Out
2200 hrs. Visitors are allowed only between 1630 1730 and 2000
2100 they cannot actually enter the ward as it is full of
amoebic dysentery cases but we can go out to them.
26/5/44:
Sipper went to the gaol today last night we sat on the roof
and talked for hours in the cool darkness before saying "au
revoir" and parting once again. I was separated from the mob for
3 months on 25th May 1943 here's hoping it will not be for
that long this time rumours say not, anyway. The furphies say
that "A" and "D" Forces are in Singapore that there is a
pineapple plantation and tobacco farm adjacent to our new camp
that two truck-loads of bully beef were seen in the camp that
we will all have to be out of Selarang by 31/5/44 at the latest
and that the "mystery-man" at the gaol is a high-rank officer.
The "Ities" have dropped in favour they receive no invitations
to formal dinners since it was discovered that they are still
Mussolini's henchmen.
Private cooking is flourishing the amount of "greens" that is
consumed in this ward is astonishing I wish I could get onto
them. Our beds have been stacked downstairs to facilitate
loading routine we are on "biscuit mattresses" on the floor
last night I slept better than for a week previous no bugs and
a hard bed assisting. My dreams have been real nightmares lately
mainly about home and with hideous situations. I sewed a
pillow case for myself today, so expect to sleep more soundly
also sharpened my knives and a needle on an improved (slate)
emery stone. Pat Flanagan (2/10 R.A.A.) has an ordinary
stainless steel table knife sharpened to razor-edge keen-ness
he shaved with it today. My mouth is nearly right now I have a
boric & phenol wash twice daily.
Pat's favourite meal is as follows partly fry sausages then
slice in rings, add tomato, onion and water to form thick gravy.
The onions that I acquired ran out last night 5 days supply
they were "grouse" while they lasted. I received a letter from
Doris this afternoon, 28/4/43 only 13 mos old but full of news.
That makes 5 altogether, (2 from Myrtle Hodges as well as 2 from
Mum & Dad) some chaps have received amazing numbers one 2/29
rep receiving 74 to date he got 13 in one batch and went crook
when one he was expecting did not eventuate. Major Snyder (2/19
died on "D" Force) received 37 in one batch when the first
letters commenced to arrive in March April '43. Young Jackson
was over tonight he told us that Harry Rhodes & Ken Gay
dropped a coconut palm to obtain the cabbage only 70 yds from
the Bn orderly room. Result 30 days Jap pay, a fair whack now
for it means the loss of $13.50. Cabbage palm is called the
"rich man's salad" as the tree is destroyed to acquire it the
trees take 4 to 6 years to bear and produce 40 to 60 nuts a year
for 60 years.
Rumours persist about a "Mersing Party" to build roads on an
aerodrome, in the near future that would be a death-trap as
even in peace-time with all prevention measures the malaria was
the worst in Malaya at Endau and Mersing. The 22nd Bde suffered
up to 75% casualties the 2/10 R.A.A. were up to their 9th
reinforcements and under strength after only 4 mos in the area.
Harry Head looked me up tonight to say "au 'voir" he tells me
that there are over 70 of 2/30 BN in the Kranji party, including
Major Anderson and Capt Jones they have several hundred
dollars to help unit members who need special foods etc. I do
not know their names, but know by sight most of the 2/30 men in
this ward they include Sgts Bladwell and Jack, Cpl McMochol
(?), Ptes Eric Stanton, Fred ("Popeye") Chandler, Red Hanlon,
George Gallard, Arthur Piper, Cec Blacker, Cec Howard, "Watty"
Yates and Clarrie Woods. I saw a memorial plaque for Gordon
Sawyer today, from his cousin A.B. Kennedy
29/5/44:
We are now installed in our new Kranji quarters I am in ward
47 with Red Hanlon and 39m other dysentery patients the
remaining Aussies are in WARD 43 and, also, a few are sharing
WARD 39 with some pommies. Before leaving I saw Captain Taylor
he looks fit and assures us that we will be better off in these
quarters. We were warned to move early on 28/5/44 then
postponed then moved in a hell of a hurry, but with the
minimum of "shemozzle". The General inspected us and our bedding
before we were shifted then, 30 to a 3 tonner we left Changi
once again. Haversack rations were 3 small baked doovers and a
piece of pineapple the latter did not last long as it was
already over ripe and would not travel well. The gaol looked
formidable and unpleasantly secure as we whizzed past huts and
gardens were evident in the adjacent grounds. All along the
Changi, then East Coast Rd were now cultivations, but in
Singapore the shops were sparsely stocked with food-stuff the
whole island seemed deserted, the absence of children being most
noticeable.
Notes:
188B E3
173C F17 47
A1 10 35
11 36 CON
189
Bukit Timah shrine looks neglected the grass encroaching on
the gravel paths 5 Camp is boarded in and renovated and new
buildings are evident everywhere. I saw our possie on the main
road and the house where we scrounged 5 cases of pineapple
this camp is right on our old Bn position it is an old I.G.H.
and has recently been fenced in. The huts are old but well
built, showers are outside at a central "tong" and water and
electricity are laid to each hut. Mosquitoes are slightly
troublesome but conditions will be good when we settle down. An
I.J.A. check parade delayed tea till 9.30 last night, and then
it was only ⅓ pt rice and the same of very watery stew the
sudden shifting of 1200 patients in one day upset "Q"
organisation and we left behind our mess containers and the
evening's doovers several thousand "lagi's" for those back at
Selarang. Breakfast was about ½ pt rice and a spoonful of sugar,
and Dinner ½ pt rice and ½ pt of stew composed of corn, soya
beans, banana skins, paw-paw, etc., while Tea was a little more
rice and a meat and corn stew. We hope they get organised soon
we miss our pastry.
The electricity comes on at 8 PM and only works for 3 hrs but,
unlike Changi, the water supply is constant. The late parade was
our 5 missing men !
3/6/44:
On 31/5/44 I was paid $5.05 what a shock ! but have nothing
to spend it on as the canteen has only cigars, .14 cts, sugar
3.30 and tooth-powder, boot polish etc. Two-up, dice and poker
are flourishing the pommies are learning two-up the hard way.
Private cooking has been dealt its death-knell pommy R.P.'s
have grabbed several of our chaps for cooking rice on the
sterilizer (?) fire. Jack Basterville (Belmore Federals) is an
orderly in this ward and told me news of the football in Sydney.
We have few drugs as we brought none, and yet were expected to
have a week's supply Outram Rd patients have been returned to
Changi and two I.J.A. check parades are held daily.
It makes me quite homesick to hear the train whistles and the
traffic noises on the adjacent road and railway-line. Rumour
says we move in 6 weeks time to Nee Soon Hospital the guards
on us here are from Kami Sankurai I have whetted my
snapped-off pocket knife till now I can shave with it. This is a
"half ration camp", and we know it but after a blue yesterday
the rice issue has risen. Dysentry patients get no corn. That is
bad as it is good bulk. I see an officer throwing rice to his
fowls every day. He ought to be starved and the fowls should be
eaten.
On 1/6/44 we had fresh fish, pineapple for dinner and a black
bean (! ! ) pasty for tea. Yesterday was Breakfast ½ pt palm oil
hash + 1 spoonful of sugar, Dinner ½ pt rice and ½ pt tapioca,
beans and banana stew, while Tea was the best yet (in Kranji)
½ pt rice, ½ pt meat, banana and "dehydrated tapioca" stew + 1
vegetable hash doover and 1 meat pasty. I got a big bone and
chewed it like any dog. I eat my breakfast with pepper and save
the sugar but ate the lot today.
(Source: John Holland - Diary transcript sent
to 2/30 Battalion AIF Association on 6/7/2008)
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