Sketch by Jack Chalker

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The World War 2 Japanese Prison Diaries of

Alexander John James

Into Captivity

1942

February

16th - Monday at 1 am we all went down to where the boats were.  Wood was nowhere to be found.  Mitchell and I spent nearly an hour looking for oars, but could find none.  Two other boat loads went downstream while we were there.  We could not find any oars, or anything that could be used as such, and after a lengthy discussion we decided to abandon the idea, and returned to Queens Road. 

It was strange to have a night free from shelling, and by way of variation, excitement was provided by the invasion of the priest’s house by six cows.  They wandered right through the house stepping between and over many sleeping bodies. 

Before going to bed I had fixed up a civilian Austin 7 saloon for Jayoam who got some civilian clothes from somewhere, and temporarily renounced all association with the Indian Army.  With his knowledge of Tamil he should stand a good chance of getting away with it; good luck to him anyhow!

We had to stay in or around the company area all day.  The Japanese started coming into Singapore in lorries and motorcycles, some of the transport being theirs, and some our own. It was at once evident that the civilian Sikhs were giving them as much assistance as they could.  A big fire started opposite the Raffles Hotel, lorries, ammunition and all manner of equipment was burnt.  All the shops were being looted, chiefly by civilian Malays and Chinese, and by I.O. R.’s (Indian other ranks), I saw a grand piano being taken out of a shop window by looters.

A message arrived to say that all Asiatic troops would assemble at Faber Park tomorrow morning, all British troops would go to Changi, and all transport – with the exception of a lorry or two per unit – would go to Buller Camp.  After lunch Mitchell went off with the transport, but at Buller Camp nobody knew anything about the order, so he returned having lost his wrist watch, and on two occasions very nearly lost the Bentley.

The head clerk – Duleep Singh, who has shown amazing fortitude and calm throughout the whole action – has been busy all day making out nominal rolls of the company, about a dozen of which seem to be required by various people. 

During the afternoon the Bentley was restored to its owner, an officer in the F.M.S.V.F. (The Malayan Volunteer Forces).  He was not only not upset about its having been pinched, but was distinctly pleased that it had been taken by someone who really appreciated a good motor car, and not by the Malays or Chinese who would have ruined it. 

I did a recon of the route to Faber Park with Subedar Shaun Hall under whom the company will go tomorrow.  He is very upset indeed over the capitulation and the fact that the B.O.’s (British Officers) will not be with the company.  He and the head clerk are probably the two most loyal men in the company. 

17th  - Tuesday bade farewell to my section, and watched the company march off to Faber Park.  Received a raspberry from Finch White, who thought it more important that I should guard his kit from possible looters, than have a few words with the section that I have been with for six months, on the eve of their departure to a P.O.W. camp.

We packed all our kit and the mess kit into 3 lorries and drove to Brigade. H.Q., which was now in a house just below Mount Echo.  We took turns at guarding the lorries with food on board, as there were numerous Japs wandering around looking at the weapons which were laid out, and pinching wrist watches, wirelesses and anything that attracted them.  We had a combined breakfast and lunch which was very welcome. 

At about 4pm we were informed that we would have to march to Changi at once, and that only one lorry could be used, though it could do as many trips as it could in the time available.  We took three lorries, all well filled with food and kit, and simultaneously the marching party set off.  After about 5 of the 19 miles a lorry gave a lift to Mitchell, Sam and myself, and we arrived at Changi at dusk.  It took us about an hour and a half to locate Brigade H.Q. at N block in `Southern Area``.  After helping unload the lorries, and stow everything in our new quarters, we went to sleep in the porch of the house. 

18th -  Sub/Cor. Sproul, Sgt. Gundy and myself set off shortly after dawn for Singapore with the 3 lorries that were used yesterday.  I led the way in an ammunition wagon from my section.  I was very tempted to have a deliberate accident, as the roadside was already quite liberally strewn with ditched and wrecked vehicles, and if I had run into say a milestone, the two behind me were far too close and going too fast to avoid a multiple accident.   However I did no more than to scrape the side of another lorry pretty vigorously in passing, and soon the roads became too thick with traffic for a staged accident to look accidental.  We had been told to take the vehicles to Buller Camp, but were stopped by a Japanese sentry near Farrer Park and parked the lorries on a bridge crossing the river.  We switched on all lights and left the ignition on to run the batteries down and started to walk back to Changi, thankful that our 19 mile walk had been reduced by about 4 miles by the Jap sentry.

We walked out along the Serangoon Road looking hard for bicycles to pinch or someone to give us a lift. For some miles we encountered neither, but met a very polite Jap officer who wanted to be directed into Singapore, and a very insolent Sepoy whom I ticked off for leaving a lorry parked in the middle of the main road – I had to say something to him, as he turned up as I was on the point of pinching his vehicle to take us back to Changi!  After walking about four or five miles, we at last succeeded in getting a lift in a Standard 10 van.  It was being used by people doing the same job as ourselves.  They intended to ditch the Standard near Changi after dumping us there first.   Having arrived at the outskirts of Roberts Barracks, we sat down under some trees and ate some of our rations, bully beef – biscuits, and then walked back to “N” block which we reached at about 11 am.

Our new billets, now seen by daylight for the first time, seemed very good indeed.  They were probably W.O.’s married quarters in peace time, six quarters to a block, six rooms and an outside kitchen to each quarter.  Brigade H.Q. occupy two such quarters, and the 6/1st, 7/8th, and 6/14th Punjab Regiment officers have a quarter to each mess.   The building has been slightly damaged by shellfire, and the tiles are off in several places.

The block faces almost due north, and the view we get is wonderful.  Immediately below us, some 300 yards away is the shore.  About a mile of water separates us from Ubin Island, a thickly wooded island about five miles long by a mile wide.  A mile beyond the further shore of the island is the coast of Johor.  Looking north-east, one sees Tekong Island, smaller than Ubin, which is joined to the mainland by a boom, part of the naval base defense measures.  Beyond this island the hills of S.E. Johne can be seen.  To the northwest the only prominent feature at the moment is the enormous pillar of black smoke ascending from the burning oil at the naval base, where tens of millions of gallons of oil have been allowed to run to waste and then set on fire.   

Most of the day was spent in scrubbing out the billets, scrounging furniture, and generally getting settled in.  We are very fortunate in having in our quarter a large bookcase full of books – an old regimental library, not very high class reading, but much better than nothing at all. 

19th - Helped fetch water from Link Rd. in the 7/8th water tank lorry, and did various house chores.  Went on one or two expeditions into Changi Village, going around the shops and Chinese houses, looting furniture and any useful odds and ends.  Collected two carpenters trestles and six planks about 7 feet long, from the gun emplacement just below us, and carried them up to N block for use as a bed.  The emplacement is unfinished, and there is quite a lot of builder’s material lying around.  We brought up, among other things, two bags of cement and some cement buckets.  During the afternoon we had a very pleasant bathe.  It is unfortunate that there is no water supply at N block, and all water has to be carried from some distance.  The local pumping station was put out of action by us before the capitulation, and now we have to repair it for our own use!

20th - Did a sea water fatigue, (i.e.) carrying up buckets of sea water and filling a large cask for subsequent use in lavatories.   Started repairing the roof with Ian; we completely stripped and retiled it and cemented the ridge capping tiles.

We did several more looting expeditions in the village, each time going farther afield, and each time our tastes getting lower and lower.   At first we ignored everything but good furniture and tools, but gradually we take more and more of what we previously rejected as being useless.  Bill Watson is a king-pin at this game,  he always seems to have an uncanny intuition regarding the presence of useful loot;  for instance, three or four of us may completely ignore a pile of junk in the corner of a room, but Bill will root out all manner of treasures from its midst.  One day we found a huge earthenware pitcher full of clean fresh water in a bathroom, in a Chinese  shop; we promptly rushed back and fetched towels and soap and had a grand bath.  Sea water is a pretty poor substitute for fresh for washing purposes, and we use every opportunity to wash in fresh water.

All unopened cases of tin food in excess of two days rations have been deposited in a central dump which is becoming the local supply depot.  This resulted – not unnaturally – in a complete orgy just before we handed the food in.  The Japanese will start supplying food - probably rice – when the supply of tinned stuff begins to run out.

The Brigadier and the Bd. Major have been interviewed by the Japanese Intelligence Staff, who asked questions on India – Ceylon – Australia and Great Britain.  They did not get much information, if any. 

I spent many hours mowing the lawn outside the quarters with a pair of Chinese scissors, which raised blisters on most of my fingers in turn.  A few days after I had finished, it was decided to dig up the garden for planting vegetables, and I earned another set of blisters doing that.  It seems amazing that one can work all day under a very hot sun, without shirt or head gear, and suffer no ill effect, provided that the maximum exposure is worked up to gradually; whereas in India 20-30 degrees further north, it was said to be quite dangerous to go without a hat for half an hour in the sun.  We only wear shirts during and after dinner nowadays.

One afternoon Mitchell and I had a mutual hair cutting session.  It was quite successful as regards the actual haircutting, but was marred by the fact a Jap dislodged my spectacles from an apparently impregnable position on a chair, and walked on them, breaking one lens and the frame.  Fortunately I had another pair made at Poona before leaving India. 

We get plenty of sea bathing, at least once a day.  The water is reputed to be fairly well infested with sharks, but nothing untoward has occurred yet.  We have made several attempts at fishing, both with hook and line, and with a shrimping net, made out of mosquito netting, but all efforts have been unsuccessful. 

About ten days after our arrival we lined the roads, clad in our Sunday best, while the Japanese Commandant in Charge drove past.  There were about a dozen cars in the procession, one of which carried a cine camera unit, and two of which carried Japanese soldiers, sitting rigidly to attention, with fixed bayonets held vertically between their knees.  The last vehicle was a Japanese lorry full of soldiers, and with an L.M.G. mounted on the roof of the cab.  The parade was made rather laborious by a long wait in scorching sun before the procession arrived.  The Commandant in Charge was a very fat person, with a tremendous array of medal ribbons, and a well-polished Sam Browne.

Less than a week after this parade, the Japanese Naval C. in C. arrived on the island, and thought he would like to see all the prisoners of war; so the whole performance was repeated for his benefit.  We confidently expect the arrival of their Air Marshal next week and Civil Administration with week after!

Rations are becoming rapidly worse; the percentage of tinned food is dropping daily, and the percentage of rice increasing proportionately.  We are trying various experiments with the rice, and have evolved quite a good rice cake or biscuit with a mixture of boiled rice and flour, which is kneaded and rolled like pastry, then cut into circles and cooked on a chula (Indian clay oven) or iron plate over the fire until it is brown on both sides.  This eaten with butter or marmalade is very good.   Kedgerees (Indian fish dish) of various types are quite frequent items on the menu.   We still have a fair supply of tinned stuffs of our own, but it will not last very long, and then it will be rice and nothing but rice.  There have been one or two attempts at making bread, without much success, and at the expense of quite a lot of flour.

While bathing in our usual place one morning, we suddenly heard LMG (light machine gun)  and Tommy-gun fire about two hundred yards away, on the beach beyond the Changi River.  The firing was intense and went on for about five minutes.  It turned out to be the mass execution of over a hundred Chinese, who had been accused of taking part in guerilla warfare against the Japanese.  On the following morning Mitchell & Nodder and I swam across the river and walked along the beach a short way, we saw the body of one man, with his hands tied behind his back, there were bullet wounds in his thighs.  We did not go much further, as the beach has been placed out of bounds, and is under observation from the gun emplacement on the hill behind “N” block.  Later in the day an officer obtained permission to go and bury the Chinese.  The burial party found three of the men still alive after 36 hours exposure.  They were in a very bad way, and were surreptitiously taken to our hospital, where I believe all three died later.

While on the subject of shooting, another incident that occurred recently should not be forgotten.  Three gunners took it into their heads to walk out of the camp area into Singapore.  They were caught there, given a fair trial, and shot, all three being tied together for the execution.  I think this was in the nature of an example to others; it certainly cannot be said that the punishment was undeserved, as it was an idiotic thing for the men to do. 

Every evening we go for a walk in the locality, and quite often in the afternoons we go right down to the coast about half a mile below the boom, were there is a coconut plantation.  We have a wire hook on a long pole, with which we pulled down the nuts, de-husk them on the spot, possibly eat one or two and take back eight or ten for the mess.  It seems all wrong to be able to walk for three or four miles anytime we like in a POW camp.

I doubt if any batch of prisoners of war have ever been less trouble to their captors.  We do all our own organization, fatigues, guards, and we are beginning to erect a barbed wire fence around our area to prevent ourselves from escaping!  The nearest Japanese are at Changi Gaol, and there is only a handful of them there.  Many people question this policy, saying that it is our duty to make as much nuisance of ourselves as possible, but personally I think this would only result in serious cuts in the meager rations, and possibly executions.  Forty men and two officers from Southern Area were caught outside the wire somewhere near the gaol.  They were put onto a tennis court, with high wire all round, and kept there for 48 hours with no food and no water.  I think it pays to do what one is told, (and flatter the Japanese a little when necessary).

We have had to hand in all cameras, binoculars and compasses, annoying, but not unexpected.  I have four films of photographs taken on the island, and hope to get them developed and printed someday.

The question of enforced idleness and boredom has shown no sign of arising yet, there always seems to be masses of work and odd jobs to be done.  Chopping and hauling wood keeps one quite fit.  We have constructed a field-oven out of an old 40 gallon oil drum, and fitted it with a precast cement door working on a pulley, like a sash window.  Having got well settled into our quarters, built an oven, accumulated large supplies of firewood, and generally prepared for a long stay at “N” block, it was only natural that we should be ordered to move out.  

March

5th - Sure enough on March 5th a preliminary order came out.  There are to be many movements within the area, and when they are completed, each formation will be confined to the boundaries of its respective area.  There was a bad scare that we were to be included in a very small area to be occupied by 14,000 men.  It worked out that each man would get a plot 6’ x 4’, and every inch of the ground would be occupied.  Fortunately plans were altered, and such a cage never came into being.

We did several trips fetching coconuts from Selerang, each time thinking it would be the last opportunity.  On the corner where we turn off the main Singapore road to go down to the coconut groves, a very fine bit of looting has been done.  There was originally a row of shops, about 60 yards long by 30 yards deep.  There is now a slab of concrete 60 yards by 30!  Everything has gone, not only the contents of the shops, but the buildings themselves.

Just beyond the level crossing on the Singapore road is the P.O.W. Cemetery; when we arrived in Changi there was one grave, but it is already filling up at the rate of three or four a day, mostly with people who have died of wounds since the capitulation, and with dysentery cases. 

7th - We had our first really heavy rainfall since our arrival at Changi.  Almost at once there was a line of people all along the front of the block, having a grand bath in the water which steamed off the roof.  After bathing ourselves, we filled every receptacle full of fresh water, for washing clothes and for use in lavatories etc.

10th -  We got up very early and started moving to our new quarters.  These consisted of the Police Station and its surrounding buildings in Changi Village.  The office and its verandah will become our mess, the lock-up will be the pantry, and the armory the store.  Officers will sleep in the married quarters, warrant officers in the constable’s unmarried quarters, and orderlies in the kitchens of the married quarters.  In many ways the accommodation here is better than “N” block, and there is one tremendous advantage – running fresh water, there are six taps altogether, one for the cook house, two in bathrooms, and three in the yard between the married quarters and their kitchens.  Another advantage is that we have no close neighbours, as the compound is surrounded by a wire fence.  Furthermore there is quite a bit of land which could be used for growing vegetables.

We spend most of the day transporting all our kit, and cleaning out the old quarters, which are to be occupied by MQ Southern Area, General Keith Simmonds and his staff, and in settling into our new quarters.  On the following and subsequent days, we made many trips into the kampong alongside the river on scrounging expeditions.  We went chiefly for food – bananas, pineapple, tapioca, papaya, coconuts etc., but we also obtained innumerable useful odds and ends, such as;  rope, buckets, screws and nails, tools, bowls & cooking utensils, chairs, a large supply of reeds for jaroos (sweeping brushes), firewood, and a dozen more items.  From the shops in the village we took glass showcases to use as cupboards and wardrobes, and glass shelves.  All the buildings in the village are now occupied by the British Battalion (Leicesters and Surreys), the 2nd Argyle & Southern Highlanders (12th Brigade), RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corp) , and RAOC (Royal Army Ordinance Corp) , and a small contingent from the Navy.

Barbed wire has now been erected all round Southern Area, and passes through our compound just to the rear of the orderly’s quarters.  It is a triple Daunert fence with a single apron on each side.  It took us about three minutes to locate the easiest place for crossing it, and thereafter was only an annoying inconvenience.  However, it is obviously for a purpose, and sooner or later there will be a definite order about the observance of bounds. 

18th - The anticipated order has been given, and we are now confined within the wire, and anyone outside it will be shot on sight.  There are however some flags, Southern Area has five, and when one of these flags is taken, it is permissible for parties to proceed outside the wire from one area to another.  There are altogether six areas, the Australians, 18th Div., 11th Div., Hospital Area, Temple Hill, and Southern Area.  At the entrance to each area there are sentries, ours, not Japanese; and at various points in the “no man’s land” between areas there are Sikh sentries.   These Sikhs are working for the Japanese, some are from the civil police force, and some are from the 14th Punjab Regt.   All these Indians who have gone over to the Japanese are living in a camp near Changi Gaol, under a J.C.O. (Junior Commissioned Officer) regular army, Captain Dhillan.  They are of course all guilty of bearing arms against their king, and we all intend to do our utmost to see that they get their just deserts after the war.

Shortly after coming into the police station quarters, Mitchell and I decided to improve our room by the addition of a window.  Although there is a door on each side, and a window on the verandah side, the room is rather dark & gloomy.  Accordingly we scrounged some wood for a window frame, and pinched a window out of an unoccupied hut, and having assembled everything, we started to knock a hole in the wall immediately after breakfast one day.  By tea time the frame was cemented in position, and as soon as the cement was dry, we screwed in the window, and colour-washed the new cement to match the existing wall.  The whole job looked very neat, and certainly improved the lighting of the room enormously. 

The British Battalion (Leicesters and Surreys) have started various classes, which take place in their mess.  I am doing German and Farming, two periods of each a week.  There is a great shortage of paper and notebooks for us at these lectures.  Fortunately I have been able to collect one or two books of various sorts from Chinese shops.

Another education scheme is being started, known as Changi University; it is being partially run by the professors from Raffles College in Singapore.  I had an interview with the head of the engineering faculty, and was put down for the basic engineering course, and a few items of civil engineering. 

Seven naval officers have been billeted on us; they have just arrived on the island, some from Sumatra and some from Saigon.  They were with the last convoy to leave Singapore before the capitulation, apparently not one ship got away.  Many had women and children on board, and most of these went to Sumatra, whence some escaped to Ceylon, and others were interned at Palambang.  These officers also tell us that an organized avenue of escape across Sumatra to Padang, and thence to Colombo, was working for two or three weeks after the capitulation; had this been known, far greater use could have been made of it than actually was.  It appears that General Gordon Bennett of the A.I.F. (Australian Imperial Force) gave the show away in a broadcast from Australia, having himself made good his escape, it is said, before the capitulation.   One of the officers – Heale – had a party on his ship whose description tallies with the party from our company which left on February 13th; the Jermadar and a few sepoys were killed when the ship was bombed, and on the island to which they all swam, Mavildar Gunuph Singh was wounded, but did stout work nevertheless, he would; the survivors are all in the P.O. W. camp at Padang.

April  

A disturbing incident has occurred just outside Culvert Gate, one man has been killed and one wounded, by a Sikh sentry.  What exactly happened nobody seems to know, but the Japanese are very annoyed, and claim that the men attacked the sentry. 

We are cultivating the ground in the compound, and growing sweet potatoes and tapioca; besides these two main items we are growing pineapple, banana, papaya, Indian corn, brinjal (Indian name for aubergine) cucumber and coconuts, and have access to supplies of ginger, jackfruit (durian) and bamboo shoots.  These things form a very welcome supplement to our rations and should eliminate all danger of beriberi, of which there are already many cases in the hospital.

Our livestock forms quite an interesting assortment.  A mongrel which we rescued from the RAF bungalow in Holland Road,  one kitten, about 7 or 8 chickens, a varying number of pigeon, and two swarms of bees, one of which unfortunately buzzed off, but the other is doing fine work in the attic of the mess.

Mitchell and I laid concrete paving stones between the kitchen and the W.O.’s (Warrant Officer) quarters, where the ground was getting churned up and soggy.   Later I laid similar stones around the two water points in the village.

2nd -  Tthe Southern Area Education Officer, gave a lecture in the mess on Chinese customs.  It was very good, but disappointingly brief.

The first batch of troops to go overseas is about to leave, and includes a thousand officers and men from 122 AA Regt.  Their destination is unknown. The Brigadier saw them off at Culvert Gate before breakfast on morning.  

5th - Easter Day, I went to M.C. at Changi Cinema at 8 am.   I have completed a pair of wooden heels, and screwed them to Finch White’s shoes.  They are serviceable if not beautiful.  He appears to be quite unable to perform such a simple task for himself, and has now developed a sprained ankle, which ties him to a chair all day long to everybody’s disgust.  He is almost the only person in the whole mess who never, or very, very seldom, stirs a finger for the common good.  He not unnaturally complains of being bored stiff, and says he is fed up with the food, and that two years of this life will drive him mad!  It probably will.

Recently fatigue parties have been going into Singapore every day for various clearing up jobs for the Japanese.  They leave southern area at about 9:30 am and return at about 7 pm.  Collins and Nodder have both been in once, and had quite an interesting time.

14th - It was Tuesday and I was detailed to go with an RAOC fatigue party to Singapore.  I had an early breakfast, and went down to Culvert Gate with a pack and a haversack (for food).  Shortly after 10 a.m. the Japanese lorries arrived, and we em-bussed and started off.  All went well till about 2 miles before the Airport, on the Gaylang Road; at that point there was a really first class smash in which 3 lorries, all Japanese driven, were involved.  Our lorry skidded wildly across the road to avoid one vehicle which was out of control, and we were hit fair and square amidships by an Australian Ford 3 Tonner, driven at a colossal pace by a Jap.  I was sitting on top of the cab of our lorry, admiring the view, and was thrown by the impact of collision into the Ford, and bounced straight out of that out onto the road.  I picked up my cap, which fell close to me, and went to help a man lying in the middle of the road; he was unconscious and had a broken arm.  I got him to the side of the road and parked him in the shade, where he died some 15 minutes later without recovering consciousness.   There were about six hospital cases, one broken leg, a broken arm and various other minor troubles.  I discovered I had a deep cut on each leg, both which were bleeding very freely.  All the wounded were attended to by a very helpful Malay doctor, and his assistant, who appeared out of thin air immediately after the accident.  I recovered my pack and haversack, which had helped form a bed for one of the stretcher cases, and set about buying foodstuffs from the local hawkers.  A lot of tinned stuff was bought, and my pack was soon nearly full, I also bought some bread.   While this was going on the Japs were having a tremendous argument as to whose fault the accident was.  Some of them had been quite badly cut by the glass from the windscreens.  

After about ¾ of an hour’s delay, more vehicles were produced for us, and we proceeded on our way.  Singapore looked perfectly normal, most of the debris had been cleaned up; there was a notable absence of Europeans, but quite a number of Japanese soldiers and naval ratings, who were wandering around the streets shopping.  In the Cathedral Close I saw the Bentley which Mitchell and I used before the capitulation, and shortly afterwards. I saw one of my “A” section ammunition wagons being used by the Japs for delivering bread!  We were taken to the docks, and entered by the gate opposite 17 and 18 godowns.  We started work by clearing the quayside of timber, which had been discharged from a Japanese transport.  The latter was now loading up with troops and their equipment, including several of our lorries and cars.  We stopped work at 1:30 for lunch.  I ate the remains of one of the loaves I had bought at the scene of the accident, and then went on a foraging expedition.  I walked out of the main dock gates, past the Jap sentry, and up the road to the town till I came to a lot of food stalls where Japs, Malays and Chinese and Indians were all rubbing shoulders and buying food.  I rubbed shoulders too and elbowed my way amongst the throng and bought tins of pineapple, a currant cake, and some Fraser-Neave’s orange crush, and was given a piece of soap by a Tamil stall holder.  I walked back to the docks, swapped a bottle of orange crush for a boiled egg, and made a hearty meal out of the cake.   I then wandered along the dockside to No. 14 godown which was being cleaned up by B.O. R.’s (British Other Rank).  I walked in, giving an impression that I belonged there, and collared some tinned milk, custard powder, Ovaltine, 2 dozen pencils and a shirt and walked out just as the Jap guard returned from their lunch.  I walked back along the quay to our party with my haversack, pockets, shirt and hands all full, and fortunately was not stopped or questioned by any of the Japanese.

At 3 o’clock we resumed work and I was put in charge of 5 lorries which we loaded with Post Office equipment.  These were then driven through Singapore to a dump near the P.O. telephones department.  On the way there we lost 2 of the lorries and stopped to allow them to catch up.  By a lucky chance we stopped opposite a chemists shop, and I made frantic signs to the Jap N.C.O. asking for permission to go in, he agreed, and I went in and bought toothpaste, shaving cream and a bottle of Dettol, all of which are badly needed.  We continued our journey, and having reached the destination, unloaded all lorries.  After a delay, caused by the reluctance of some of the Jap vehicles to motor, we returned to the docks, collected all our kit and re-embussed for return to Changi.  We arrived safely at about 7:30, in time for a late supper.  I handed over 32 tins of food and sundry other items to the mess, and gave the toothpaste etc. to Tom Ellis for subsequent distribution.  So ended an eventful and happy day. 

On the following day Bill Watson and Tom Ellis went into Singapore, and bought back a much better haul of food than mine, including 40 loaves of bread, and on the 17th  Conductor Newbury, W. Cpl Smith, & Pike went in, and came back with another lot, some looted, but mostly bought.  I got some soap and boot polish from Tom, as my share of the spoils. 

We have just heard through a naval officer who has just come in from Padang in Sumatra, that Tier, of the 6/14th Punjab Regt. who “disappeared” a few days before the end, and spread a rumour that 44th Brigade had been wiped out, got away from Padang to India, and is probably spinning the same yarn there. 

Japanese light tanks sometimes come past, through the village, chiefly for show purposes I should say, as the road leads nowhere but to Fairy Point.  They look pretty flimsy sort of things, and have only one gun in the turret.

Owing to the scantiness of the salt rations we are having to use seawater for cooking and evaporating it in trays.  One day a calamity occurred in the cookhouse, when the pots of water intended for making tea got mixed up with the one to be used for rice, one being salt water, and the other fresh.  The rice ration is being reduced from 16 oz. to 12 oz, and 4 oz. of flour added. 

The wire, which has hitherto run on the west side of the road from the school to Fairy Point cross roads, is being put across to the other side, between the road and the sea.   This will about treble the range of our evening walks; it is about ¾ of a mile from Culvert Gate to Cross Roads Gate, and the new portion gives a far more pleasant and interesting walk than the previous bit.

Gulteridge, one of the naval officers, has just been sent to an unknown destination; it is believed to do some work connected with shipbuilding, for the Japanese. 

20th - University started, no seats or desks, and the only blackboards are improvised pieces of wood, and doors.  Four periods of 50 minutes, and 10 minutes between each, starting at 2:30 pm, by the end of the last period one’s bottom is entirely numb.  I have 21 lectures a week at the university, and two – on farming – with the British Battalion.  The university lectures per week are as follows;  Pure Maths 3, Applied Maths 2, Chemistry and Physics 3 each, geology 2, and Applied Mechanics, I.C. engine, Building Construction, Principles of Survey, Structural Steel Design, Highway Engineering, Hydraulics, and strength of materials & Theory of Structure once each.

In order to alleviate the numbed bottom situation, I have made myself a folding stool, out of bits of scrap wood, canvas, and two large bolts.  It is very firm and strong, and quite comfortable, but the backside still aches a bit towards the end of the afternoon.

Nodden and I spent two mornings doing a thorough scrounge in the gun emplacement above “N” block.  We brought back masses of screws, some cells for electric lighting, an adjustable stool, some cordite for fire lighting, and various useful odds and ends.  On another day we had a grand screw and tin tack scrounge in the Morris 8 and the Ford 10 in the sand pit.  We used nails faster than we can get them as a rule, especially small ones, but we are amassing a very good selection of screws, and odd fitments such as hinges and window catches etc. 

We have a new oven, made out of a steel cupboard surrounded by brickwork, it seems to be very successful, but eats up a lot of firewood.  We had bread – a great luxury – for breakfast one morning, as soon as the cement was dry. 

29th - Birthday of the Emperor of Japan, a general holiday, no classes at the University; about a dozen car loads of big noses drove past, no parade this time fortunately. 

May

1st - Went to Southern Area’s first musical revue, produced and played by the “Mumming Bees” at Changi Cinema; the show is called “Red Bright, and Blue” and is really first class.  Bombardier Butler made a ravishing leading lady as Gloria d’Earie, and Jack McNaughton as the star comedian was very good indeed.  The dresses were excellent, especially the female ones.  The show took one right away from Changi for over an hour, and we returned to reality in the form of a cup of milkless tea, and a cattle cake biscuit.  They have just started issuing the latter commodity under the name of Vita-meal, the rations is 1 ½ ounces a day; it is pretty vile stuff, but we have learned to make biscuits of it mixed with ginger, thereby killing the taste.  The issue of tinned milk has stopped altogether, and all tea is Japanese green tea, very different from China or Indian tea.  The rice is nearly always full of mealworms and weevils, and often mouldy into the bargain, the flour ration of 1 1/3 oz. per man per day is also alive with weevils.

I have made myself a pair of shoes, which after sundry alterations and refits, are in daily use, and giving excellent service.  The wooden soles have bicycle-tyre on the bottom, and webbing uppers exactly like chapplis (sandals).  The upper chaffed a bit at first, hence the minor alterations. 

Nodden has fixed up an electric light inside the big Chinese lantern in the mess.  It looks grand, and lights up the room fairly well.  The electric clock is still going well on the original torch batteries.

Bill Watson accompanied Nodden and myself on a scrounging expedition through the wire in the houses between us and the sea.  We collected various oddments, and prepared a heap of firewood ready to throw over the wire, under cover of the next heavy rainstorm.

Some people appear to be suffering from boredom here, notably those who have never learned to do things with their hands, moreover they fail to recognize the beauty of their surroundings, consequently they regard this life as an absolutely wasted period of their existence, to be forgotten as soon as they return to normal life.  Personally I have not yet had an opportunity to be bored, my list of “things to be done” is usually fairly full, and I only get time to read a book during the evening.  The university naturally takes up a lot of time that might otherwise be hard to fill.

One afternoon we went on a foraging expedition into the Kampong, taking with us “Coconut Jones” an Anglo-Indian from the R.A.M.C. . He used to work for the post office in India, and can climb up coconut palms as well as telegraph poles.  We collected 40-50 nuts and papaya, jackfruit, limes, ginger, tapioca and banana.

6th - A Court of Enquiry, of which I was a member, was held in the lines of the British Battalion, to investigate the accident in which I was involved while on the way to Singapore with a fatigue party on April 14th.  We merely recorded the evidence of 5 witnesses, as a finding was not required.  Apparently another man has died of the injuries he received.

9th - Worked all morning on our new rice grinder, drilling metal plates etc. for the mounting.  We fixed it very securely to a heavy butchers’ table, and got it working in the afternoon, it is very good, grinding the rice quickly and quite fine, and owning to the length of the handle it is not very hard work.

No rain for over a week now, which means watering the tapioca and sweet potatoes every evening, rather a tedious job.  There is plenty of rain about, but somehow it always seems to avoid Changi. 

John Hare is down with Dengue fever, and I have taken on his task of woodcutting, which occupies me for about an hour and a half after sunrise, wet or fine.  It is quite a pleasant job, affording plenty of exercise, and a view of the sunrise each morning.

10th –  My idea of spending Sundays in reading or doing personal jobs never seems to approach accomplishment; today I spent all the morning fixing up a draining board outside the cookhouse.  A frightful panic was caused in the evening, by the arrival of representatives of the civil police, who have been ordered by the Japanese to reopen the police station.  We were at once faced with the dreadful prospect of being turned out when everything is organized, gardens planted and flourishing, a large pile of firewood accumulated and our individual rooms fitted out.  We produced strong arguments against the whole idea, and eventually the representatives departed to take up the matter with the Japs.

13th - The repeated visiting by various Jap officers, to the road leading past our compound to the river, has culminated in the arrival of a lorry load of Japanese, who in a very businesslike manner made a breach in the wire, constructed a knife rest wire road block ( yes there is such a thing- used by military) to fill the gap, settled themselves into the houses alongside the road, and proceeded to build two machine gun emplacements, one pointing out to sea, and the other directed to fire up the road.  Unfortunately we were not able to remove all of our stock of wood from the houses in which they are living.  The Japs came in and borrowed two of my saws and the axe, but returned them all, then they came in and demanded furniture, chairs and tables.  We gave them some chairs infested with bed-bugs and a kitchen table; they collected a lot more from the British Battalion mess.

The list of decorations awarded during the campaign has been published, Col. Morrison of the British Battalion has to D.S.O. (Distinguished Service Order) , Newlands the M.C. (Military Cross) and there are 3 D.C.M.’s (Distinguished Conduct Medal) and 2 M.M.’s (Military Medal) in the battalion. 

More large parties have been going into Singapore on permanent fatigues, and now out of 14,000 all ranks in Southern Area there are only 1000 officers and 2,000 O.R.’s left and it is rumoured that we may shortly be sent to Selerang where the A.I.F. are.   We hope not. 

Dengue fever seems to be claiming us one by one; Nodder, Barker, Danger, and Hare are all down with it now.

15th - Attended an excellent concert given by the F.M.S.V.F. at “W” block; they even managed to rig up stage lighting.  

The cricket match which had been arranged with the Brit. Batt. has had to be cancelled, as we were unable to raise a team, the B.M. (Brigade Major)  and Arthur Sam have both succumbed to dengue.

17th  - Three months of imprisonment now behind us, and just to celebrate the fact I contracted dengue.  I felt pretty rotten, with a hefty temperature and headache. To my horror, I was sent to Roberts Hospital along with Arthur Sam.  He walked, and I was wheeled on a stretcher, as my temperature was 4 or 5 degrees higher than his!

We were placed in ward U3; a top floor ward for officers only, and we both got beds on the verandah, with a good view over to Selerang, with the tower of Changi Gaol in the distance.  For two and a half days were on “slops”, and felt pretty rotten, then we were put onto “ordinary diet” which consisted almost entirely of badly cooked rice.  We read a lot, talked a good deal, and sat and thought a lot.  An officer in the next bed but one to me died very suddenly one morning, he had been a surgical case, and had malaria, beriberi, and dysentery on top of it all, but was actually much better, and well on the way to recovery, consequently his death was very unexpected.

Mitchell joined us in hospital with dengue, and also Finch White whose ankle is still giving trouble.  Every evening, once my temperature had dropped a bit, Arthur and I would go up on the flat roof, and take some exercise, admire the view, and watch the sun set behind the hills of Jahor.  Some of the sunsets here are really superb.

25th -  I was discharged from hospital to-day, but Arthur was kept for another day.  I cannot think why as he was better before I was.  However, I returned in high spirits to the Police Station to find that the Brigadier, Ellis, Watson, Nodder and Readwin were all ready to move on a new overseas party, destination and date of departure unknown.  This was rather depressing, and I did a lot of agitating to be included in the party.  The garden – especially Bill Watson’s little plot near the wire – was looking grand, and I set about doing much needed grass clipping. 

26th - To my joy, the Brigadier informed me that I am to be included in the overseas party.  There after much looking over kit and preparation for packing.  Finch White, now out of hospital, was of course very annoyed at first, but later cooled off, and officially allowed me to go.  Nodder and I went to the dentist, but all his equipment was used up, and he could do nothing for us.

We are due to leave on 30th or 31st according to the latest rumours.  

29th -  I went over to the hospital to say goodbye to Mitchell, but on my return found that the date had been postponed till after the middle of June.  Unpacked everything again.

Went over to Temple Hill to see “Arms and the Man”.  Unfortunately a cloudburst washed it away in the middle of the second act.  We walked back in the rain, getting soaked to the skin, in spite of Macintoshes.  I had bought two large slabs of washing soap (40cents each) at the canteen on the way, and these formed a fine lather in the inside of my mac’s pockets.

30th -  I had my boots studded at the Ordinance lines, and bought £3 for $25 from a naval officer in the Argyles mess, in preparation for our anticipated departure.

In the evening I went with Nodder and Arthur to the latest show at the Changi Cinema – “Hells a Buzzin” – it was excellent, especially good were Jack McNaughton, L/Bdr. Butler, and an Australian who at very short notice took the other leading lady part.  The dresses, particularly the female ones were very good indeed, some looted, some made locally.

31st - Sunday.  Arts and crafts show at “D” Block.  Some very good exhibits of wood and metal work, chess sets, dominoes, drawings and paintings, and an excellent scale model of a 30ft cutter made by Brigadier Selby.  During the evening a terrific storm, almost a hurricane occurred, under cover of which Nodder and I put up a wire fence to keep the Japs from wandering in and out of our barracks, we were wet through in an instant, and got pretty cold before we had finished. 

June

1st   Wood cutting fatigue in the morning, at the timber yard below “P” block, darned hard work, sawing big wet logs with a rotten cross-cut saw.  My weight by the ration store scales is now 12 stone 1lbs., so I have lost 4 lbs. during May.  If I can keep above 12 stone (168 lbs.), I shall be happy. 

We quite often see parties collecting snails to use for food.  Personally I am quite satisfied with the meager meat rations and the worms and weevils in the rice. 

The wire which Nodder and I fixed up seems to have had an unexpected affect on the Japs, they are becoming more amicable, and hardly a day passes without them passing some food or cigarettes over the wire, and they do not come in and loiter around our rooms as much as before.  The orderlies rather tended to make matters worse by encouraging them to come in.   There is one lascivious blighter who can be counted upon to produce some cigarettes or food for any lewd pictures, when a particularly good one is produced, some hectic bargaining takes place in grunts and pantomime!

Woodcutting this week is pretty tough work, Danger is cooking, and uses masses of wood, about as much as Finch White used to; with the oven going they often get through two hundred weight a day, which means two “wood bashes” a day for me. 

Lack of salt is becoming evident, and producing a restless feeling, one cannot settle down to any job, and one gets tired easily; it is almost impossible to get up a decent sweat, as there is not sufficient salt in the body to produce perspiration.  As a result we are using salt water for cooking rice, and trying to evaporate sea water in flat pans, this however is not very successful, as it usually rains at the critical moment, and re-dilutes the solution. 

4th - Some clothing arrived to-day, and the overseas party had first pick.  I was issued with an Aussie type drill working jacket, a pair of stockings and three handkerchiefs.  I spent some time in repairing these, and sewing on buttons etc.  A rumour has come in that the whole P.O.W.  camp is to move into Singapore, with the exception of about a thousand who will remain in the hospital area.  To this end companies about a hundred strong are being formed, for ease of administration should a move come at very short notice.  The overseas party are of course not included in this. 

6th - Major Finch White departed (un-mourned) to live with the RASC in “V” block.  Having amassed a small sum of saved money, I went to the canteen and bought a tin of fish for 65¢, two pieces of Lifebuoy soap 50¢, and a pound of peanuts for 25¢.  The latter, as usual being full of weevils, but nobody worries about that nowadays though I prefer them dead and cooked to live and kicking!

8th - 11th Div.’s concert party gave a show at the cinema this afternoon.  They had one very good pianist, and a first class comedian, but the remainder of the cast were rather “also ran” and the show was not up to the Southern Area standard. 

A party under Robert Thoms went into the Kampong on a fruit forage.  Like most of Robert’s efforts it was fruitless, they only got a few cashew nut fruits, and lost my canvas bucket, a great blow, as it is very useful indeed here.  However, I got the flag before breakfast next day and went to look for it.  I found it under a banana tree to my joy. 

Nodder and I went down to the dentist again as we had heard that he has got some more equipment.  He smoothed  down a few jagged edges where bits of tooth had broken off and cleaned up a bit, then pronounced my mouth as being quite sound. 

10th - Walked over to the hospital area with Tom and Bill and heard a lecture on “The Himalayas” by Brig. Simpson; it was not a very good lecture considering the subject, but well worth the walk.

We are now finding our rice ration of 16 oz. per man per day, rather meager, in fact we could do with half as much again.,  Many people, self included, are cultivating “rice bellies” which vary according to the length of time since the last meal.  Mine disappeared completely while I was in hospital, but returned when I got back to normal diet.

The Japanese are going to give us some “Amenities pay”, ostensibly for the purchase of necessities such as soap, razor blades etc.  The rates per month are to be $7. for officers, $4 for W.O.’s and $3 for other ranks.  Our seven dollars has about the spending power of seven shillings, a bit less if anything, under local conditions;  however, to most of us it represents undreamed of wealth, and will at least enable us to buy sufficient food stuffs to improve the meals a little.  Doubtless mess subscriptions will be levied, but provided they are wisely spent nobody will grudge paying them. 

11th - Had an early lunch, and accompanied by Nodder walked out to Changi Gaol with a party from the Brit. Battalion, in order to collect tyres for making shoes, and odd bits and pieces which we require, the Japanese having said that the stuff could be collected from the Gaol.  Unfortunately there was a hitch in the organization, and having arrived there we found that the local Japs knew nothing about the order, so after a wait of about an hour and a half we returned to Changi empty handed.  However the 6 mile walk was well worthwhile and it made a welcome change to spend an afternoon outside the wire. 

12th - Received $7 amenities pay for May, in Japanese notes printed by the hundred thousand at negligible cost.  $4 will go to the mess, and the remainder is mine to spend as I please.  My first purchase, therewith was two pounds of weevilly peanuts.

The Brigadier has been gleaning some information on the “overseas party” situation.  It appears that it is still definitely on, and that our destination is not Saigon, as was at first supposed, but to some place where there is not a lot of westernization, and consequently we must lay in a good supply of such things as soap, toothpaste, razor blades etc. (Actually the destination was later found to have been Borneo.)  With what I have bought at the canteen recently, I can shave for at least a year, wash for about seven or eight months, clean my teeth for about three months, and my boots for about six months.  Razor blades are scarce and expensive here, but I bought a large stock in India just before coming out here. 

14th - On Sunday walked over to the Australians with Tom Ellis to try to get some Aussie hats.  Unfortunately the man who might have got them for us was attending a lecture, so we sat and watched some cricket for awhile, then wandered back to the gate and caught the next ferry across to the hospital areal.  It was a good walk, but rather warm. 

In the evening we tried to get into the Cinema to attend the latest line in Sunday evening concerts, now run by the Southern Area Concert Party, and called Fun Fare, but by the time supper was over we were too late to get in.  It appears that in order to get a seat, one has to attend the evening service, which is held in the Cinema immediately before the concert.  The padre said that in one week his attendance at the service jumped from 20 to 200! 

15th - On wood fatigue in the morning, cutting down rubber trees below the O.P. (Observation Post) outside Culvert Gate.  After cutting down a couple of rubber trees, Danger and I got busy on a coconut palm with about twenty good nuts on it.  After a few minutes sawing; it came down with a terrific crash, and there was a stampede for the business end of it.  We got six nuts off it, and were busy chopping out the cabbage when the hour for returning came and we had to leave it.

During the morning a fine crop of rumours had arrived at Brigade H.Q., and these were later confirmed.  Firstly the overseas party is to be composed entirely of Aussies, and is therefore cancelled as far as we are concerned.  Secondly, there is to be a big move up the mainland, by rail; and included in this party are all the officers of Brigade H.Q.  who were not on the overseas party, with the exception of the Brigade Major who always slides out of anything likely to lead to a bit of discomfort.  They are to move on 22nd, and take 24 hours rations.  The ex-overseas party will stay here, but possibly move to another billet in Southern Area. 

16th - The move announced yesterday has been cancelled as far as our officers are concerned, their place is being taken by officers from 12th Brigade; so now we are right back where we started, except that there is no overseas party to look forward to.

I walked over to the Garrison Theatre in the hospital area with Nodder, getting drenched by a sudden storm on the way.   We heard a lecture by Major Muir entitled “My experience in the Sappers & Miners”.  Actually it was more a lecture on India and Burma than on Sappers & Miners, but was very interesting.

7th - One of the Jap guards came in with a broken hatchet, I removed the remains of the broken shaft, and took him over to the pioneers in the British Bn.  who fitted a new one for him.  He was pleased, and bowed and saluted profusely.

Tom, Bill and Nodder went out on a local purchase fatigue today, and were quite successful.  I had given Nod $3 with which he had bought a tin of fish and a tin of biscuits.

19th - Got the use of the flag from dawn till 10am, went out with Nodder to the O.P. at the top of the hill outside Culvert Gate.  We did an excellent scrounge of screws and electric cable and returned for breakfast.

I opened the tin of biscuits that Nodder bought, and found it to be a pretty average swindle, but quite edible, and the present rate of consumption they will not last long.  The Jap guard gave us some rice today, as we have run right out of it.  Their rice is grand stuff, infinitely better than the rubbish we are given. 

20th - Tremendous excitement today, our long awaited postcards have been issued by the Japs, one per man, not three as originally stated.  We may only send short messages concerning health.  Their composition takes more effort than writing a long letter.  After much thought I wrote; “I am in good health and quite happy.  We are being treated well by our captors.  No more worrying please.”  

In the evening Nodder and I went to a gramophone recital of classical records at “D” block.

21st -  Maj. General Heath gave his lecture – “The Malay Campaign” in the mess of the 2nd A. & S.H.  (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Most of us attended it and found it very interesting indeed. 

22nd - Had a hot bath, the first for exactly six months!  Also a tin of fruit, the first for over four months.

The ration situation is getting worse, apparently we have been over eating our rice ration, and we have now got to save up an emergency ration out of the daily issue which is now 17 ounces.  This makes life a very hungry sort of business.

25th - Went over to the Garrison Theatre for a lecture by General Percival on the “The Fighting in France in 1940”.  It was quite good but very brief.  The theatre was very crowded, and the Brigadier and Tom Ellis were unable to get in, consequently Nodder and I got a raspberry for gate crashing. 

In the evening I went with Nodder, Arthur, and Mitchell to the first night of the new show at Changi Cinema, called “New Pins and Needles”.  As usual it was a first class show, Jack McNaughton and Gloria d’Earie were again on their best form, and the dresses as usual were excellent.   On the following night seats were allotted to Brigade H.Q.  so I went again, but it was not as good as the first night.  (Jack McNaughton was a professional female impersonator actor/singer before the war and was much adored by many of the troops)

27th - Went out on a coconut scrounging expedition outside the Culvert Gate, got 10 coconuts, several jackfruit (durian) , and some firewood.   Attended the usual Saturday night classical concert on gramophone records at “D” block, and watched the sun setting behind the hills of Johor.

28th - I went on my first local purchase fatigue.  After an early breakfast, we paraded at 9am at the supply depot, where we were divided into parties and allotted trailers.  We – the 44 Brigade party – were lucky enough to get the “Changi Flyer”, a chassis which in better times had been a Ford staff car or station wagon.   I acted as driver, i.e. manipulator of steering wheel and foot brake; the idea is to push on the level & uphill, and coast down hills.  After waiting at Artillery square, and loading up with empty containers, we set off down the Beting Koosa Road.  About a mile outside the wire we entered a kampong, and loaded up with coconuts, and coconut oil.  After the loading was done we had the opportunity to buy stuff for ourselves;  I collected three bottles of oil at 40¢, almost all of it being for the mess.  I also consumed on the spot, several cups of coffee and banana fritters and many other cake-like things, and was given two coconuts by a Chinaman.  The local inhabitants are far worse off than ourselves, rice is very scarce and very expensive, and there is a cholera scare on, as a result of which fishing – their main means of livelihood – has been stopped for an indefinite period, so they can only try to eke out an existence on the coconut plantations.  They are definitely hostile to the present regime, but are not optimistic about an early return of British rule. 

There was rather a lot of waiting about while the other trailers were loaded, but even so it was a very enjoyable outing, and a great change to be right away from the camp for six hours or so.  We were fortunate in that the Japanese sentry who accompanied us had no objection to our buying whatever we could in the kampong, apparently some of them do not permit any individual purchases. 

We unloaded at Artillery Square, and at about 4pm took the empty Changi Flyer back to Southern Area supply depot.  It rained during this last stage, but that only served to cool us down a bit, and made cornering more interesting. 

On my return to the police station, I was given $2.50 amenities pay for the first half of June, one dollar went to the mess, and the rest is mine. 

From 8:30 pm till 10 pm we sat outside “Z” block listening to a very good accordion recital by Russell Waite of the British Battalion and watching the sun set, and the moon rise. 

29th - Eggs are now available at “Local Purchase”, I am in the midst of an egg-orgy, as they are only 9¢ each, and very good value, they are all large duck eggs, and taste a bit fishy owing to the diet of the ducks who inhabit the mangrove swamps.  

Shortage of crockery and cutlery in the mess has reached an acute stage, so after breakfast each person was issued with a knife, fork and spoon, a bowl, two plates, and a cup.  We will do our own washing up after each meal, and take the necessary crockery to the pantry – look up of the police station – to collect the food for each meal.  Nodder and I promptly made ourselves trays to simplify the transportation question.  The Japanese guards have been very generous today, giving us yams and quite a lot of other vegetables, and a pot full of rice.

In the afternoon I went with the B.M. and Bill Watson on an expedition to try to buy some Gula Melaka (sago pudding) outside the wire.  We went to the kampong on the Beting Koosa road, where I went yesterday, but drew blank.  The Malays who are scared stiff of the Japs would not sell anything to us without the presence of a Jap sentry.  We were just making contact with another Malay who looked willing to help us, when a lorry load of Jap troops came along the road from one direction, and a car load of Jap officers from the other.  While the Malay made themselves scarce, we prominently displayed our flag as token of authority for being outside the wire, and saluted the officers, who made shooing signs in reply, in other words we were a bit too close to one of their posts.  Accordingly we walked back into 18th Div. area, and thence along inside the wire to the next road leading to the sea, where we used to go for coconuts before the wire was put up.  We went down to the sea, and explored what used to be a lovely house, belonging to a retired planter, but now stripped of all it’s contents, and a lot of its woodwork.  It really was a grand place with a beach of its own, a good sea view, and a fine garden through which we wandered in search of fruit.  There were too many Japs in the vicinity to approach the kampong again, so we walked back to the Singapore road, and thence, outside the wire again to the hospital area along the railway line leading to Fairy Point.  We kept along the railway, pausing to eat a durian fruit on the way, till we reached a track leading to what used to be a large ammunition dump.   Ammunition and explosives of all types lay everywhere, from .303 to 15” shells.   There had been five underground dumps, now there are three enormous craters, one half blown up dump, and one still perfectly intact and containing 480 15” charges, and also two boxes of guncotton, quite sufficient to send the whole lot sky high!  If there had been some fuse there we might have done something about it.  On top of the hill, in the side of which the dumps had been, we found the remains of an R.E. (Royal Engineers) workshop, and spent a pleasant half hour searching for useful junk, but all we could find of any use were some electric light shades which I took along.  Thence we entered Temple Hill area by a gate near the Fairy Point workshops and returned to the police station somewhat late for supper.

30th - While doing my daily woodcutting before breakfast, I was given a bowl of rice by one of the Jap guards; it was cooked with soya bean sauce, and was quite good, a very welcome addition to breakfast. 

During the morning I completed a sawhorse which I started making yesterday morning.  It is comprised of four long pieces of coconut palm sunk four feet into the ground, and connected and braced by stout planks.  It is very successful, and makes the sawing much more easy.

July

2nd - The Jap guard is again on good form, and gave us a good whack of vegetables and a bowl of rice, which was shared between Bill, Nodder and myself.  The Jap asked me for some coffee, so I gave him some tea of which we have plenty.

3rd  Bought half a bottle of curry powder from Bill for a dollar.  Helped to knock down the partition wall between his room and Jones’s, Jonah having moved into the end room of our block, which used to be the office.  This gives Bill a fine room with two windows, all to himself.  Bought a tin of sausages from the canteen for 65¢.

4th - In the evening, Arthur, Sam, Nodder and I borrowed a trailer from the pioneers, and pushed it up to the Link Road, near the Volunteers M.I. (Medical Inspection?) room.   There we left it under the supervision of Arthur, while Nod and I climbed the hill up to “D” block, and after a careful reconnaissance carried off one of the large metal cupboards which we have coveted for so long, and which are being used as a makeshift partition wall in “D” block.  We staggered down the hill and dumped it thankfully on the trailer, and returned streaming with perspiration for another.  We just about managed to get the second one down before Nod’s fingers gave out completely.  Besides being cumbersome, the cupboards are surprisingly heavy.  However, once on the trailer, it was very little trouble to get them both back to H.Q. and off loaded and returned the trailer.

5th - In the morning we washed out our cupboards, and I made a frame to fit inside mine, and take three shelves; with these I can fairly easily get in all my clothes.  When the Brigadier asked where it had come from, I tactfully turned the conversation into another channel, but I think he has a pretty shrewd idea that it was pinched. 

A dreadful rumour has floated in that Brigade H.Q. may move to “P” block, and the RIASC back to “U” block or thereabouts.

Went to the usual Saturday night concert at “D” block, actually it was a piano recital, not a gramophone one as usual. 

6th - Dreadful rumour now confirmed, Collins, Mitchell and myself are to move to “T” block.  Finch White is making arrangements.  A pretty ghastly outlook.  We went to have a look at our new quarters and found them to be not too bad, two of us will share the back room upstairs.   In the evening Collins and I and Sgt. Bentley had great sport trying to get some honey out of the bees nest which we discovered some time ago in the roof above the mess.  We made an abortive attempt to cut down the nest and put it in a sock, but after that attempt failed we were subjected to an onslaught by about five million ferocious bees.  We retired accordingly to plan.  It was not until an hour or so later that Collins made the interesting discovery that the bees did not sting, and thereafter we brought down large chunks of the nest, and got a little honey for our pains, but not much. 

8th - Packed up everything in the morning and took down all our fittings etc. After lunch we got hold of a trailer and started moving our stuff up to “T” block.  We found that the room was to be occupied by three, not two as before; unfortunately we all have rather large beds and are going to be mighty cramped.  We got all our stuff up in three very heavy and bulky loads.  Getting my newly acquired green cupboard up the stairs was no mean feat, and the showcase was not too easy.  However, by nightfall we got things more or less straightened up, and had our last meal at the police station.

The Brigade H.Q. members took their first load of stuff over to their new quarters in “P” block, and Barker will sleep there tonight.  The Brigadier expressed his regret that I was leaving the mess, and said it was no wish of his; he is overjoyed to see the back of Mitchell though.  The move has been brought about by the Brigade Major and himself (Mitchell), and entirely against the wishes of the rest of us.  The BM started it by talking a lot of tripe about mosquitoes and dengue, the man wants rooting.

July 9th - First day of messing in the new mess.  Collins is chief cook, and Mitchell and I have volunteered for wood cutting, actually I would far sooner do it by myself.  For the first day of a brand new mess the grub was very good, plenty of rice, I hope they keep it up.

Before lunch we went down to Brigade and collected a table and two chairs.  The BM would not even let us have a chair each, which considering the fact that I helped to produce a dozen chairs, and repair every one, is damned stingy.  I told him so.  I spent most of the rest of the day in rearranging the furniture, adjusting mosquito net wires, and fixing up a light and switch, and a hundred-and-one small jobs. 

11th -  Bought some overripe bananas from local purchase at 5 cents a pound, and indulged in the biggest banana orgy since the journey from Bombay to Bangalore in March 1941.  Went with Arthur and Nodder to a concert at “D” block, the newly formed Changi male voice choir sang four songs very well indeed.

12th - Did a lot of woodcutting and put up a shelf in the cookhouse.  Went to the auction of the kit of a deceased Signals officer.  One could buy for cash or sterling cheques.  Some of the prices paid were colossal.  With the exchange fixed at $8.50 to the £,  £12  was paid for a camp bed,  £1  each for 3 handkerchiefs, £3 for a pair of mess tins,  30/- for a pair of army socks, £2/15/  for 11 razorblades, £13 for a pair of boots in only fair condition, an numerous other examples.  I wish I could sell a few pairs of socks for 30/- !

Brigade H.Q. have now completed their move, and are settling down in their new quarter in “P” block.  Jones and Arthur, who were to have occupied an unused, and very nearly unusable, room in “Z” block have obtained permission to remain at the police station, and will mess at “P” block.  They are lucky, as they will doubtless get masses of extra food from the Japs , and will have the pick of the vegetables in the garden. 

13th - Attended the second of a very interesting series of lectures on Nazi Germany given by a S/Sgt. Ross, who was a German until a year or two before the war.  He worked for some time in a consular office in Karachi, and knows India quite well.

14th - On local purchase fatigue.  After waiting outside the gaol for some time, we retraced our steps – at about 20 mph going downhill – and turned off to the right just opposite the Sikh camp.   We stopped at a small shop, and drank coffee.  I bought some Gula Malacca (a sugar from the Coconut tree), we then loaded up with sacks of sweet potatoes.  Human nature and our appetites being what they are, about 5 or 6 lbs of potatoes strayed from the sacks into my pack; and consequently Collins Mitchell and myself supplemented our supper with a potato each, leaving plenty more for future meals. 

15th - A rumour of a party going to Japan, said to include all senior officers, and to be departing sometime next week.  Sounds interesting.

16th - The rumour is now confirmed, and it appears that the party will be 3,500 strong, and is to include all officers above the rank of Lt. Col., and Royal Engineers  and technicians.  I saw F. White and said I wanted to volunteer, naturally he was all against it, but after some argument, put my name down on the list to be submitted to O.C. RASC, in case any RASC (Royal Army Service Corp) officers are to be included in the party.  Bill Watson, Tom Ellis, Nodder, and Robert Thomas and of course the Brigadier have volunteered from Brigade.

In the evening I attended a lecture by an ex MP called Page Gourley entitled “My Political Career”.  We were not impressed.

17th - Out on local purchase all morning.  We went to the 10th milestone on the Singapore road.  The loads were pineapple, bananas and kanghong.  While the loading was proceeding I sat as close and as unostentatiously as possible to the heap of bananas, and had an excellent feed while keeping a wary eye on the Jap sentry.  After loading, we were allowed to buy stuff.  I bought sundry cakes – banana fritters and some Gula Melaka.  The journey back was very hard work, our load of kanghong being very heavy, the sun very hot, and the gradient most unhelpful.

When at last we arrived back, Finch White spoke to all RIASC officers.  He asked for volunteers to go with the Japan party, and made it very clear that he did not wish any of us to do so, saying that the numbers could easily made up from the RASC personnel.  Vining was the only one to join me, and F.W. spent some minutes trying to make us change our minds.  But mine was definitely made up by then, and Vining would not alter his decision. F. W. used the most ridiculous arguments to try to stop us, and as usual talked a lot of bilge about patriotism etc. 

As we are due to leave on 22nd, I started making preparations for packing and getting hold of some warm clothing. 

19th - On local purchase again, fortunately only a short trip, as time is scarce, and there is a lot to be done in the way of washing clothes and other preparations.  We went to the shops between the gaol and the Sikh camp, and took on a load of soya bean sauce and biscuits.  I bought two tin plates for the voyage, a pot of paint for marking my kit, and a notebook.  We got back by 12:30 and did some washing before lunch.  In the afternoon I went to the last of the lectures on Nazi Germany by S/Sgt. Ross; he has had to condense his lecture programme a lot, but it has been very interesting indeed. 

20th - In accordance with instructions issued very late last night, we paraded at 8am and marched to Artillery Square via Culvert Gate.  After a lengthy wait in the sun on the square, a lorry load of Japanese medical personal arrived and a medical examination took place.  A stool test was taken with a glass rod by a British M.O. (Medical Officer), and a Jap soldier took a blood test from the ear.  It was all over in less than four minutes.  At 12:30 we marched back to Southern Area.

I purchased a 2oz bottle of Bovril and a scrubbing brush at the canteen, and some sugar at local purchase.  While at the latter place I met Chris Holinyard from Clevedon, he recognized me but could not place me, and it was some time before we actually remembered each other and where we had met.  He is a regular officer in the Manchesters.  We swapped home addresses when he found I was bound for Japan shortly.  His father now lives at “Larch Wood”, West Hill, Wraxall (Bristol).

I bought a pair of good flannels from McKeller for £1, and Major Chamberlain bought another pound note for eight dollars, so I am left with only one to dispose of.   I also collected $5 as pay in arrears for the last 20 days, and comparatively speaking I am rolling in wealth, which is just as well, as we will probably get the opportunity to buy stuff either during the voyage or on our arrival in Japan. 

 21st - Started packing my case and wooden box – the latter being 44 Brigade. Transport officer Coy. Mess property but appropriated for my own use.  We are allowed a bedroll plus one case or kitbag, but I am going to risk taking the wooden box as well, filled with nonessentials.

Bought 20 eggs - $2 – at local purchase for hard boiling, and taking with me.  After supper, when everything was ready for a departure on the morrow, word came that the move has been postponed for 2 or 3 days.  Rather a disappointment.

The Japan party is the basis of almost all conversation nowadays, the date of departure, the actual destination, the means of transport, whether or not officers will get cabins, the pros and cons of going, the climate in Japan, chances of escape, the reason behind the move, all are among the manifold points which are discussed daily a dozen times over.  Meanwhile we are kept in an awkward state of semi-preparedness, neither packed nor unpacked.  I am continuing to scrounge as much warm clothing as possible, and have got a grand blue naval jersey, a small scarf, a balaclava helmet, some socks, a vest, and a thick shirt.  

30th - We were kept on tenter hooks until the following Tuesday when we heard that the move is definitely indefinitely postponed; very disappointing news.  A fairly strong rumour says that the ships on which we were to travel are 8 days overdue from Japan.  Sounds like a bad outlook for us if we do get going.

Allied aircraft over the island today, presumably on recon work.

31st - Started making a hammock out of charpoy (bed) string and tent ropes, partly to satisfy my desire to be doing something with my hands, and partly in case it may come in useful on the voyage.  Attended an interesting lecture on the New Guinea Police.

August

1st - Saturday   On woodcutting fatigue all morning, quite pleasant and not over strenuous.  Continued hammock making in the afternoon, and went with Nodder to the gramophone recital at “D” block in the evening.  We were issued with new embarkation numbers, mine is 328.

2nd - Finished the hammock, and slept in it, quite a success, but needs a few minor alterations. 

3rd - On woodcutting fatigue for the whole week.  Went to a very good lecture by Major Nicholson R. E. , in which he told all about the varying fortunes of those who tried to make a getaway on the night of, and the day after the capitulation.  It seems that about 1500 got clear away to India, and about the same number were caught in Sumatra and other small islands.  He himself, had very bad luck, he and a small party tried to get to Ceylon in a 35 ton junk.  They were more than halfway across the Bay of Bengal, when they met a Japanese tanker which took them aboard, and brought them back to Singapore.

4th - Spent most of the woodworking period in exploring the houses above the quarry.  They are married quarters for senior officers, very elaborate, and with an interesting design, and of course being on top of the hill a grand view in two directions.  In the afternoon Nodder and I went over to the Garrison Theatre for a very good lecture on Canada.

6th - Went to “Fun Fare”, the latest “Mumming Bees” show at Changi Cinema.  All the members of the party who are going to Japan were of course out of the show, including Jack McNaughton as Gloria d’Earie, Jackie Brown the trumpeter, and one or two others.  It was a very good show, but not quite up to the previous standard.  Bobby Spong, now the leading lady was very good.  

8th - Did some washing, as the woodcutting fatigue was  ‘off ‘ today, and went down to the Ordinance Clothing store in the village, and tried to get Capt. Westaby to have my Lotus shoes nailed.  In typical R.A.O.C. fashion he refused point blank to do anything for me, and was somewhat rude in doing so.  As soon as his back was turned I went into the shoemaker’s shop and had them efficiently nailed and tipped for five cigarettes.  On the way back I borrowed Bill’s Mansion polish, and polished all my leatherwork, case, valise straps and boots.  In the afternoon Nodder and I again went over to the Garrison Theatre, this time the lecture was on ‘Submarines’ given by Comdr. Alexander, a very interesting lecture; and in the evening we went to the Saturday night classical concert at ‘D’ block. 

9th - Sunday went to H.C. at Changi Cinema at 8:30

10th - On woodcutting fatigue for the week again, while working there I had a good look around the OP and rangefinder on top of the hill.  The rangefinder is a huge Ban and Stroud, the largest in the whole of the East, all the lenses and useful portions have long since been removed. 

Started going to geography lessons at the university.  Paid a second visit the ‘Fun Fare’ with Dick Vining.

11th - Another excellent lecture at the Garrison Theatre, it was by a Captain Turner of the Argyles, and his subject was “two months at large in Malaya after the Capitulation”.  In the evening we went to a similar lecture outside ‘P’ block, given by a Sgt. Pilot of the R.A.A.F. who came down in the sea with a bullet in the arm, and his crew dead, while attacking transports off Endau on 31st January.  He was kept by Chinese and fed by them until March 15th when they were put in a concentration camp, and he was eventually sent to Changi.  Both lectures emphasized the loyalty of the Chinese and the treachery of the Malays.

13th - A very good lecture by Gunner (!) French F.R.I.B.A. (Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects )on the development of the English Cathedral.

14th - Marched to Artillery Square for another medical test by the Japanese, only the cholera and dysentery test this time, no blood test.  All over quite quickly, and I got back in time to do some washing before lunch.  It is now officially rumoured that embarkation may begin on Sunday.  We have been divided into A and B parties, of which A party is subdivided into the “special party” containing the brass hats and R.E. (Royal Engineers) officers, 400 all told, and the remainder.  I am in B party, whose strength is 1000.  For the last two or three days a large vessel has been lying five or six miles out, and has been brilliantly lit up at night, we think it may be the Asama Maru which is carrying Japanese diplomats etc. from Africa to Japan on an exchange scheme. 

15th - Did some more washing.  Received $2.25 amenities grant.   At about tea time a warning order was issued saying that we will probably move tomorrow morning, all baggage to be ready at 6am, and personnel to fall in at 7 am (it does not get light until 8am).  I did all my packing in the evening, and got it finished in time to go to the gramophone recital at ‘D’ block, after which I went to ‘Z’ block and said goodbye to all the brigade officers that were there at the time.  Only B party and the special party are going tomorrow, and unfortunately Bill, Tom, and Nodder are in the remainder of A party,  however we may be reunited in Japan.  Made final preparations for an early start before going to bed for the last time in Changi.

16th - Got up at 5:30 am packed up all that was left to be packed, and stacked my luggage in the porch by 6, when it was collected by the orderlies who are going with us, and taken by the Changi Flyer down to the village.  Vining and I had a good breakfast, cooked by Collins and O’Dell, who nobly got up very early to cook it, said goodbye to all the NAAFI (Navy Army and Air Force Institute) officers – the rest were all asleep – and bundled off to R block where we paraded at 7am.  We had just started marching off to Culvert Gate, when I remembered that Collins had my watch in the kitchen.  I managed to dash up and get it, and catch up the party.  We assembled in Changi Village according to our lorry numbers.  The RASC party was allotted no. 24 lorry, the very last of the convoy.  We all hoped that 25 would appear, not 24.  While waiting there I suddenly remembered my fountain pen, which I had left in my room in ‘T’ block, very annoying, as it was a good one, and I used it a great deal; however it was too late to fetch it, and there it had to stay, doubtless Mitchell will sell it for some cigarettes.  By some strange fluke the lorries appeared promptly at 8am, and there were 25 of them.  We were not unduly crowded with 10 officers, 16 O.R.’s and masses of kit on board.

By the light of a glorious sunrise, and with many a farewell wave to friends who came to see us off, we moved off, leaving Changi behind for good, and bound for an unknown destination.  We all, I think, took a last look at the P.O.W. Cemetery with its ever increasing number of neat graves, well-kept paths and grass verges, and its general air of serenity and orderliness that make it seem something quite apart from any prison camp.  I sincerely hope I may be able to revisit it when the war is over. (Alex did make it  back to Singapore in the early 1970’s)

After a short delay at the gaol we continued our way to Singapore, going by the coast road, through the Eurasian quarter, and past the civil airport.  There were parties of Indian troops at work on the flying field, who returned our waves, they looked very ill clad, but cheerful.  There were very many Jap planes, both bombers and fighters, also some troop carriers, on the field, and the remains of a bomber that had crashed on landing. We drove through the town, and eventually entered the docks beyond the station, at about 9am.

We de-bussed opposite the site of number 3 godown, and settled down to await our turn for decontamination.  The docks were fairly active; a lot of Japanese Red Cross goods were driven away in lorries while we were there.  Some Indian troops were assisting to flatten out some scrap metal for easy packing, I have never seen troops do less work in a given time that they did.  At 1pm. The ‘Special party’ arrived from Changi, and we rather feared they might beat us to the decontamination ship, but that did not happen, and at 2pm our turn came. 

We had to carry all our kit to the quayside, where the heavy kit was stacked near the bottom of the gangway leading to the decontamination ship.  We went on board with our light kit.  We undressed, and put all our clothes into bags which were subjected to steam sterilization.  We ourselves spent five minutes in a bath of disinfectant followed by a cold shower, quite the most pleasant few minutes of the day so far, as we were all sticky and dirty.  After recovering our clothes, and dressing we returned to the quay and collected our baggage which had been disinfected in our absence.  The whole business took about ¾ of an hour, and theoretically we are now bug-free.

While we were waiting in the morning we had noticed a small ship berth just forward of the decontamination ship, she looked about 4,500 tons and bore the number 639.  To our horror,   she was only a nominal cargo vessel; we approached this vessel, and after some time started to embark.  The R.A.S.C. party adopted the ill-advised policy of waiting till the end of B party, consequently we found ourselves in No.3‘ tween deck on the hatchway, surrounded by hordes of B.O.R.’s, piles of kit bags, thousands of flies, and several Japanese, and with no accommodation of any sort.

Goto

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