|
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
9) Book No. 5 - inside back cover - 18th July,
1944 to 25th July, 1944
Original diary written by NX26331 - Pte. Bruce Hedley HOLLAND.
Transcribed by John Holland.
18/7/44
On 10/7/44 we were shifted to No 11 Ward, and today we are due
to return to Changi.
Housie is run for this hut's benefit and up to date we have
received 8 cigars and about 1˝ lbs of palm oil the oil was
sold at the canteen at 9 oz for 5 cts.
A 2/18 artist chappie named Tom Rogan runs the housie. We cannot
get on our beds before 2230 of a night due to crowds of pommies
they have left me a legacy in the form of several dozen lice.
Transcriber's Note: He is complaining because
the people playing housie sit on the beds. He is suggesting that
the profits from Housie do not warrant losing their beds. JH)
Canteen stores now available are Sago Flour $2.29, Java $2.40,
Coffee (Perak) 7.50, towgay 3.35 and sugar 7.00.
Sgt Mutton (2/20) took $300 to $9 that we would be free by the
22/7/44 he is most optimistic many reckon that he should
transfer to NO 17 (Mental) Ward.
Bert Parsons (2 Echelon) lent me his 2/30 Nominal Roll and I
secured much data that I needed for my casualty list. Hughie
Chalmers (2/40?) is Vic Crawford's brother-in-law, and knew Lou
Toussard when he lived in Lakemba.
The garden stew is better than the camp issue it contains
greens, jack fruit, melons, tapioca, rice (?) and plenty of
salt. The issue is about 1 pint. We voluntarily form
------------- (?)
Saw Capt. Catchlove on 14/7/44 and Rickety Kate (Col. Webster)
on 15/7/44.
Tucker is not so good. For Breakfast we get ž pt of pap (palm
oil) and a level spoonful of sugar. Dinner is ˝ pt of rice, a
weak stew (˝ pt) and a doover and 1 turnover (rice and veg
filling). Palm oil, soya sauce, ------------(?), salt & pepper
transform dry rice into something delectable. However, we have
had no midday stew for 2 days now.
25/7/44:
Conditions have changed considerably in the past week, since our
return to the Con. Depot at Changi Gaol. We were searched by
some of the numerous M.P.'s on arrival and I had to forfeit a
shirt we occupied temporary quarters until 23/7/44 when we
moved into this "100 metre" hut containing 200 men, mainly
limbless and P.U.B.'s (Permanently Unfit) The hut is similar to
those of Thailand but contains no bamboo.
I was classified 3B2 i.e. Light Duty at 25 cts per day. (No
duty in lines receive 10 cts and Hospital 5 cts.) I was issued
with shoes and delivered 4 letters from Kranji personnel. Before
leaving Kranji we received 38 cts from Housie profits 7 nights
play was most profitable.
It is very hot of a night here, but no mossies or flies annoy
us. Water is irregular re flow and canteen prices are very low
the stocks include cheroots .11 and .13, sweets .2, coconuts
.10, gula Malacca 3.50, sugar 3.40, vinegar 1.20, soya sauce
1.60, curry .16, tooth powder .25, pineapple .25, toilet soap
.30, washing soap 2.50, carbolic .10, boot polish .65, razor
blades .65, peanuts 3.00, sewing needles .15, ----- ? --------
rolls 2.00, cigarettes 1.90 and cigarette papers .25.
Jap orders are that no Worcestershire sauce is to be sold (it is
a "luxury") so it is labeled "Java Sauce" and orders are not
disobeyed.
I bought a concoction from a Dutchman a chutney called "Sambol"
comprised of fried peanuts, garlic, chillis it was expensive
but the 10 ct spoonful flavoured 2 meals for me.
Salt is sometimes available in the canteen ź lb max per man at
45 cts per lb. Pepper is very scarce.
Rumours are red-hot and by 20/7/44 we saw a partial eclipse of
the Sun most .
(Source: John Holland - Diary transcript sent
to 2/30 Battalion AIF Association on 6/7/2008)
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Last updated
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