Pat Ritter. Books

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'His Life Worth Living' - Page 54:

Chapter 8

SUN MAY 24: Reclassification by M.O. this morning. I suppose I will be A1 I feel O.K. again. 500 A.I.F. going away has been increased to 12,000. More kit bags came over and I was very fortunate in getting Jerry’s bag in which I found his spectacles. It was the only article of value left in his bag. There was nothing at all but clothes and a small tin of buttons and badges. I have the sig badge. Have to go to Singapore tomorrow. Supposed to be a working party. The last party was overseas working party. Wonder what the difference is. Spent the evening packing up and after tea went for long walk. Hope it is the last at Changi.

MON MAY 25: All bustle this morning. Early breakfast and already by nine. Left Changi at 11am. 25 per truck which was fairly comfortable. Proceeded to an old camp about 3 miles from Singapore. Camp appears to one of many evacuees’ camps and this one is a fairly large one. Attap huts with two tiers and I suppose it would normally hold 150 natives. There are 60 of us in each camp along side road and some natives, Malays especially, throw cigarettes to men. Camp in very dirty state and took quite a lot of cleaning up. Yaks have been making full use of huts at night by the manure. Others busy digging latrines. Everything seems to be as usual and the native kids look well fed. Things may be short in town but no shortage here. Jap guards around camp. There were 2 but now 7. They are very short and rifle is nearly as tall as they. Hope we are not here too long. Talk of going home seems to be at standstill. Coming past gaol some civs waved to us. Japs are using gaol for interment camp. Wonder how they are being treated. Tea time: Men seem to be doing well with cigarettes. The natives are giving them in quite large numbers and I think they are having the first good smoke for some time. I never expected the Malays to come good. Even the rickshaw pullers gave the boys some. Two Eurasian girls came along rd and went into shop bought 6 pkts each and tossed them to the boys. Another girl gave one of the men a $1. I never realized how much I had missed the civilian population until I came here. It is really good to hear the kids singing out and to see them playing about. There must be more children in Singapore than any other area for its size in the world. I just saw one Chinese woman dressed in the usual black cloth walk along the rd really dignified as usual when suddenly she looked around to see if the Jap guard was looking and gave a man a pkt of cigs and then walked on as if nothing had happened. Usually these Chinese women will not look at us let alone speak which shows that there are a lot of sympathizers left on the island. I think they are very much afraid of the Jap. Saw a Eurasian girl who could speak English who sang out she would do anything she could for us. Japs took 40S from her yesterday but she went into shop and bought $1 cigs for boys. Late after tea we put barb wire around area. 1 roll of concertina.

TUES MAY 26: Up 7am this morning after restless night. Floor very hard and hips sore. Another meal of rice and away in Jap trucks at 9am destination Bukit Timor. Ford works and Hume pipe seem to be Jap H.Q. After a lot of messing about we were taken to station where we had to move tank blocks of cylinders cement ½ and ¾ s ton. We took things steady but fairly heavy work for we were all light duty men. Was very fortunate to buy roll bread for 12 cents, this is bit expensive for me for I have only 70 cents left. We are being paid 10 cents per day about 3½ p. We are paid on same scale as natives but we get food free. Will try to keep my spending down to 10c each day for few extras. We had more rice for lunch and rice for supper with a very little meat stew but hope tucker improves. Bukit Timor Village seems to be bashed about a little otherwise seems the same. Buses are running and everyone seems very busy but I noticed 2 large crowds of natives of poorer class clamouring round shops rummaging for rice. I think money would be very short in the town. Was talking to English soldier and he told me the Eng are getting plenty to eat. Bit different to us. Still Tid.’Apa. Will have a shower now and I think I will sleep very well tonight.

WED MAY 27: Had a restless night. Off to work at 9am at same place as yesterday and found it very hard. Japs not too bad but kept us moving. Navy Day this day and all flags out. Saw a lot of Navy Japs. Must have been having day out in Singapore. Nothing of interest until knock off time when I bought 2 banana fritters 2 cents each and 2 slices 1 cent each and really enjoyed them. Very hungry for tea. Just sat around afterward until Tattoo.
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'His Life Worth Living' - Page 55:

THURS MAY 28: Another day for Jap. Had a good day in morning. Just one load gravel. Rained all day. In evening had to carry cement, sand and gravel for concrete. Had stand over Jap and in the end he got on my nerves. I felt like hitting him. Would very likely get shot if I did. Rain made things very uncomfortable and came home very miserable. Had good meal for tea, stew with lots of leaves and little meat but could have eaten as much again. Some Japanese just bastards some very good. Saw a large dump of petrol when getting gravel. Can’t understand why it was not destroyed. There are a lot of Jap graves all along Bukit Timor Rd. Also saw British Bomber being carted to Singapore. Looked as if it had been on ground for long time and was evidently destroyed on ground. Scored a pkt of lollies after tea. Must have been about 40 in lot but too many mates. I had 9. Fellow waited ½ hr until Jap guard went away and then threw them over wire to me.

FRI MAY 29: Off to good start to Bukit Timor. Had a good job today, put pipes down for water to guard hut. Did not do too much work and had descent Jap over us. Brought us down bucket of tea. It was very sweet and enjoyed by all. Knocked off early and it was said Jap had bad news. I think it’s just a rumour. That’s 40c we have earned. Noticed that Singapore seems to have got a good lacing judging by town end of Serangoon rd. Every house and shop had a shell or bomb fall on them and some were razed to the ground. All the roads seem to be patched up.

SAT MAY 30: Back to Bukit Timor today. Struck a good job in morning loading sleepers on to lorry. We got them from bridge supports and I knocked the spikes out. Did not do much lifting. The bridges were not damaged very much. Bad job all through. In evening got another load of sleepers and then went to stn. Making new ramp and fooled around until they knocked us off at 6pm. Had trouble with transport and finished up by running out of juice and had to push about ½ mile and another truck came from camp to our rescue. Got home 7.30pm and had mess immediately such as it was.

SUN MAY 31: Queer day today. All Nippon’s affairs seem to be mixed. First only 1 truck came for 80 men. Then when we got to Ford park there was no work for about ¼ of us so we sat down and proceeded to do nothing all day. It was a good spell and we made the most of it. Had the good luck to pinch 2 tins of milk from the back of truck won in Egypt. Rained coming home and all got wet. It appears that all main soldiers had day off today and only low class soldiers left. Certainly the brains seemed to be away.
MON JUNE 1: Struck another good job today. Went to Mandai Rd for sand and had to paddle in creek for it but had descent Jap over us. He went and got us a cup of coffee each. 10 of us and it was good and sweet. In evening had to carry bag of cement about 200 yds up hill. Rooted me but stood it better than some. Then went for more sand. Jap went on the hunt for bananas and pines but could not find any. Sikhs gave us a couple of coconuts between us. Not so hungry tonight as usual. We passed the oil wells and saw they were well and truly blown up and burnt. 48 of them and each would hold ½ million gallons. Total wreck now. Saw the turn off to first gun position on Mandai Rd and it brought back memories of 4 months ago. Notice Japanese are making park alongside camp. Hope we have not to dismantle them. I did not think it possible to get so many wrecked vehicles in such huge areas. The polo and surrounding grounds are full and various other open places. Had skin and short arm inspection after tea. Latter rather ridiculous.

TUES JUNE 2: Fortunate in getting good boss again today. Was digging trenches, foundations for building digout. Did not work very hard. Struck the dishes coming from Jap mess and had Dixie full of meat stew. It was wonderful. Afraid dignity suffered but it will have to suffer while food is around. Have felt full ever since. Jap sprung surprise on us today. Got us side and half of beef and young piglet about 50lb rations for 5 days. Should be all right if we get our share. Can’t complain about food today. Saw place in drain where I took shelter from M. Gunning aircraft. Looks harmless now.

WED JUNE 3: Same job as yesterday but only worked in morning. Found a shady corner and sat down in evening. Did not do much in food line and very hungry this evening. Japs have double guards everywhere, first time we have seen any. Supposed to be a manoeuvre. Rumour that Russia has declared war on Japan 11pm last night. Maybe something in it the way the Japs are acting.

THURS JUNE 4: Ran into bit of bad luck this morning early. Got caught taking tin of jam. Got couple of slaps from one Jap across face and then taken to guard house. Was confined to guard hut until Fri evening. Got no meals at all first day but was not ill-treated except for lot of throwing off by guard. Think we had guards sympathy although they have queer sense of humour and I think would only if our heads rolled in dirt. The other fellow and I fully expected to be flogged at least. Had to sleep in hut with guard on duty all night. Floor was of blue metal fist big, very hard on back. Not much sleep. About midnight boss of guard woke us up and sneaked us a piece of pine each and then a dish of rice. Was feeling very hungry at time.

FRI JUNE 5: Still in guard house and had some sleep. Mate did not do so well. Has no shirt and skeeters very bad. Not hungry now. Looks as if we will be in here for rest of day. Had scraping of guard tin for breakfast. Did not appease appetite. Slow morning and none of our fellows came near us. Lunch time and no feed so called M.P. Tommy from gate and told him. He sent for interpreter. In meantime Jap gave us some rice and cucumber. Had good fill of it not knowing when our feed would come? Later in morning Jap Commandant CATO came and gave us a talking to and told us next time we would be handed over to M.P. That means execution. Then told us we would be free when our party went home. We were definitely unlucky in being caught for practically all the other fellows had something and the English are taking things as half carcases of beef and full cases of milk and bully. Have to be very careful not to be caught again for I think they will shoot us at least because we got off very lightly with just a bit of starving. Fellows very curious as to treatment when I got home. After tea was paraded to Major but of course not charged. Told us to lift as much as possible but to be careful not to get caught. Last night 2 men A.W.L. also and Japs got on to them. Everyone up until 9pm. Btn parade at dusk with large evidence of civs. Major gave us talking during which he said if there was any hope of escape he would help us but there was none. Also said again to mob to lift all they could but not to get caught. During talk boree was dragging tins down street and several of natives shouted out to them to stop! Be quiet! etc in English as they could not hear what was being said. Wonder what they thought of it all. The crowning piece of all of course was during the whole of the talk Jap was walking up and down lines counting men but of course could not understand a word. After seeing guard through night am certain Jap would never be surprised. Guard does 24 hr duty and have patrolling pickets also. Curfew enforced and all cars held up at barrier. Order by officer came around 4 times and complete black out enforced. Jap very alert whole time. 2 Men still away at btn parade.

SAT JUNE 6: Could have stayed home today but went out. Thought I may be able to get something extra. Went way up to Johore Bahru to get oil. Trip very interesting for first time we had seen what damage we had done. Town was well battered but not razed. Gov building was bashed a bit esp the tower. Causeway was blown up for 15 yds near town and Gate was well blown up. Main rd bridges to Nevere were well blown up and must have caused lot of trouble. Oil from wells ran right down to Straits and must have been one mass of flow. Trees destroyed. Brought 1 load of dieseline in morning and one in evening. Had lunch at 3pm but got extra from Japs. Got home very late but good tea on stewed pork and I had plenty. Very tired this night and think I will sleep well.

SUN JUNE 7: Only 50 men wanted today but thought I might as well go for get nothing staying in camp. Cleaned up heap of rubbish and scored plenty of meat stew at lunch time. Came home at 2pm and had sleep in evening. Boys got large number of cigarettes over wire today. Still quite full at tea time and did not eat any rice. I also got hold of some potatoes and will hang on to them. Rumour that Changi all packed up.
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'His Life Worth Living' - Page 56:

MON JUNE 8: Most uninteresting day doing bit of excavating and carting sand. Got hold of 4 cucumbers. Btn parade at 8pm. 3 pigs for meat ration for 4 days. Go about 45lbs each.

TUES JUNE 9: Day of calamities today. Fell from truck this morning and hurt knee and wrist. Had my watch stolen from shirt? Otherwise uninteresting day. Got paid after tea $1.50 for 15 days work.

WED JUN 10: Shifting Q Store this day. Caught on to pair of boots and sent them home with cook. In evening went for gravel and Jap driver stopped near Chinese, took couple of pines and gave me one. I wanted to pay but no. Said Chinese no good. Very good meat stews these days. Jap concerned about amount food we are buying with $1.50. Think we may be sick.

THURS JUNE 11: Another lucky day. Carting timber in morning and boss in charge same as in charge of guard when I was in. Thought it a huge joke and told all his mates. I seemed to be fairly popular afterwards and got all the light pieces to carry. Had to carry them up 50 steps. Had huge lunch of curry with plenty of meat in it. Shared it with Mick. We buy a pine each day for 5cents each and have it with the plain rice for breakfast. Got a piece of sponge rubber and brought it home to lie on. Rained very heavily in evening and very little work. 2 men who tried to escape are in guard hut. They got as far as Changi. Not much hope of escape I don’t think. Good news of Naval victory today, of Coral Sea, confirmed.
Chapter 9

FRI JUNE 12: Different duty today. Japs have changed completely. Stand over with stick and are especially hard on English. It may be because a couple of Eng were in trouble yesterday. One of them hit a Jap. Then it may be because Japs are suffering reversals in Burma. Rumour has it that we are rolling them back up there and we have them definitely on the go. Confirmation of successful. Naval battle also. Japs are very moody today and they may have had bad news. Got some cooked potato stew lunch time and had sufficient to bring home and fry up for tea with Mick. Very enjoyable. Been very wet all day and have been working with concrete, so airily tired this night. Noticed our fellows still tied up in guard hut this morning but were not there tonight.

SAT JUNE 13: Struck lucky day again today. Carting concrete in morning but did not work too hard. In evening 2 of us washed 2 fairly clean cars. Sat down most of morning. All Japs fairly easy on us today. Tightened up on us scrounging for we are herded into heap for feed and not allowed to leave area. No wandering about, marched to job by Jap and brought back by armed Japs. Think it is because of Jap being knocked about by English. Good news in Burma and elsewhere confirmed. Escapees sent to Changi gaol under Jap M.P.

SUN JUNE 14: Another Sunday which is not a Sunday. Excavating again today to form a road. Most uninteresting job and time dragged. “Fetch It” came to light in evening by giving us some rice and tea and knocking us off early. Just a day. Chinese allowed to draw 30% of their money out of Shanghai bank. This is first payment.
MON JUNE 15: Cheers. I had day off. Had good rest and did some washing. Would much rather go out for time drags so in here.

TUES JUNE 16: Another day in camp. Was lucky to be one who was picked. Rested all day. Chinese ladies handed parcels of clothes and a parcel of biscuits over the fence. Clothes not need but food greatly appreciated. Chinese showing up very well.

WED JUNE 17: Went with B Coy today to a wrecked car dump. Had job of hauling wrecked cars to top of mountain of cars. Tractor pulled them up by cable. Must have been hundreds and this only one dump. Mormons did the work of dragging cars to pieces. Cars tied to a tractors hooks on and pulls. Japs using all good parts. Take engine, electrical parts, gears, diff, chassis. Rest is dumped on scrap heap. Object of Jap seems to be to demobilize as many vehicles as possible and take rest with him. Saw what looked like perfectly good cars just dragged to pieces. Armoured car there with charred bones still in it. Saw X2 No 4555 on heap with all bullet holes along driver and car body. Floor was covered with maggots and smelled to high heaven. No graves for these I’m afraid.

THURS JUNE 18: At Ford works today, just a day of cleaning up. Don’t think we will be working here very much longer. Just about finished. Jap still escorts us everywhere to and from work and is with us all the time. Few fellows got a whacking today but from facts seems it was their own fault. Jap very handy with stick all the same. Slapped 2 Chinese ladies for handing parcels over fence.

FRI JUNE 19: Another day of cleaning up. Very little actual work done. My lucky day. Jap gave me pork this morning. Evening I asked for and got 7lb sweet potatoes evidently meant for him. At tea time got big piece of meat in stew. Jeto busy again in camp. Chinese lady handed over parcel for boys. Japs allowed it and let woman go. Indians brought her back in and made Jeto flog her. Evidently belong to Gestapo. I think we hate the Indian more than the Jap if that is possible. More rumours floating around camp. Supposed to move within day or two and we are going to be allowed to send card home saying we are well. Hope this is true. Extra barb wire around area this evening. Why?

SAT JUNE 20: Another day at Ford works. Just cleaning up and cutting grass. Rained heavily in evening and did nothing. Good meat stew for tea. Japs are keeping meat up to us. Getting cards tonight to send home. Hope they arrive. Sores on legs are long time healing. Started from scratches. Blood must be in bad state.

SUN JUNE 21: Japs had pay day yesterday and most of them on leave this day. Easy day in morning moving earth and no boss in evening so good cleanup around our house. Lot of men did not go out today. Nearly a “Sunday” for us.

MON JUNE 22: Earned my 10c today. Working in quarry getting blue metal for rd. Very hard shovelling. 140 men came from Changi today and place seems very crowded. Few of our fellows came. They have been paid $3 since we left and are due for another pay. All men well. Heard today that 3,000 English soldiers left for Nth - destination unknown. Tubruck and Sebastopol have fallen to Germans. Rumours.
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TUES JUNE 23: Napoleon on toe today. Slapped Capt in face and was angry with all officers. Rained all night and delayed start for half an hour. More cleaning up and very tired in feet tonight and a bit hungry. All rumours seem to be bad, hope tomorrow is brighter day.

WED JUNE 24: Was putting fibro cement in room today. Day passed quickly. No news this day. Lorry broke one of our men’s legs and he was taken to Jap R.A.P. Afterwards was taken to Changi Hosp. Double guard on area. Some manoeuvre on.

THURS JUNE 25: Cleaning some ground in morning. Slipped with log and cut knee. Did nothing in evening. Napoleon in bad humour with officers all day. Insists on them learning Japanese. English fellow lashed out with shovel. His own fault fooling with Japs. Great air activity all day. Saw few fighters and bombers and 2 flying boats.

FRI JUNE 26: Both days gone on which we were supposed to be leaving here. Still saying not too long. Had very interesting day. 2 trips into Singapore. First to take empty bottles to brewery and in evening to get beer for Japs canteen. Rather envious. Still got plenty of pines, five in all. Gave three away kept the two to eat at breakfast. Mick and I got the beer from Guthace Keppel harbour. Most of main part of Singa seems to be very little damaged and what was is being rapidly repaired. Round the Great World and down Keppel Harbour is not very much damaged. Must have been many casualties here. Whole warehouses are opened up and many buildings just destroyed. 43 of our men at Godown and are having a wonderful time. Plenty of tucker of the best and smokes. No need for them to take anything. Most of the boys were playing cards or messing about while we were there. Not many Japs around Singa considering. I was in one place for hour and counted 50 passing, mostly M.C.O. in cars. Lot of our men and English have hard work in there. Saw large parties mostly on building or clearing. Could not contact any of them. Split up into 3 working parties of 50 men now and much more satisfactory. Am in 2nd and usually get any odd jobs round place. Noticed Raffles Col well wired in and wireless mast. Must be very important place. None of our fellows are there. Seems to be plenty of men going about in trucks yet saw girls round drain of Jap camp getting rice from kitchen drain so must be lot of poverty.

SAT JUNE 27: Had day on top of m’t. Supposed to be mixing concrete for M.G. pill boxes. Very little work & Gen Tarido came. We had to sweep rds and then went away and sat down till lunch. Afterwards poked around on top until knock off time. There are 5 Breen guns on hill. Had hurried parade at tea time and man missing. Turned out to be miscount and all O.K. Upset tea though and fairly hungry tonight. Used to it now.

SUN JUNE 28: Had day off and enjoyed it. Real Sunday. Bit of washing. Only 50 went to work. Read most of day. Had piece of cheese given me? Marvellous. Bought tin of sardines and lived like king. 25 Jap ordered us to fill in questionnaire. Raised plenty of s but I think there is underlying reason. I did not fill one in. List of questions – a. State your opinion of a. Jap Officers. b. Jap N.C.O. c. Soldiers. 2. Mil’ discipline of Japs – 1. Dress 2. Bearing 3. Punctuality. 3. Jap Army Commandant decentralization. 4. Training. 5. Compare expectations of our army with reality as proved. 6. Jap army standard of Civ. A. Commonsense b. Humanitarianism c. Morality 7. Other remarks.

MON JUNE 29: Had another dull day and except for trip for sand in evening, very uninteresting. Our ration seems to be cut down and we are feeling rather hungry so in low spirits. 2 men who tried to escape and were imprisoned are back and have had a very bad time. Were not sent to Changi Gaol but Indian camp. Have been on rice and water for 3 weeks and have not had wash or out of their clothes since been in. Have big growth of beard on and are pale and weak otherwise O.K. Had to fill in Questionnaire in evening. Made some pointed remarks re. Food. Hope it has results. Judging by questions Japs are suffering inferiority complex. M.O. read out on parade danger of Cholera. Ordered not to eat fresh fruit. Not too good for we only get pines and bananas and as we get no green vegs we must buy these. Japs being inoculated believe T.A.B. Had very easy day today.

TUES JUNE 30: Working on side rd. Japs did not worry us all day and work was in shade all day. Rumour is that plane flew over island last night and dropped leaflets. Hope it is true. Issue of cigs at evening. Changed mine for curry powder. Most of cars seem to have been taken away from park. Saran Rd. Report that large number of ships in Keppel Harbour.

WED JULY 1: 2 years in Army this day. Working on top of hill. Lot of air activity all day. 3 Flying Boats heavily laden went east. Planes practicing stunts until late and then in night again. Heavy explosions heard Kranji all afternoon. 2 troop’s ships in dock and Japs seen making way to dock. Saw 2 truckloads myself. English saw lot marching. Believed to be leaving here. Rumour that leaflets dropped at Changi very strong. Rumour that American marines in Java. Chinese doing well in north. Report that sabotage going on in works by Chinese. Had look in room where capit was signed. Shows table where various but named in Japanese. Pictures on wall of Percival and Aide with U.J. and white flag walking up hill. Another of Percival signing pact.
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'His Life Worth Living' - Page 58:

THURS JULY 2: Had good job at Rato’s house today. Very little work. Got a little curried meat at lunch from Jap. Heard what was supposed to be B.B.C. news in evening. English ship was firing one up. Heard Germans 71mls from Alexandria and whole lot of news not to our benefit. Maybe dud station on air. Lot of air activity last night. Explosions heard yesterday supposed to be ammo dumps at Seletor aerodrome. We had post cards given at last and I filled mine in and I only hope it gets home. At least Eva will know I am still safe. Could not say much it was just to let them know I was still O.K. All in print.

FRI JULY 3: Very trying day. Frightfully hot and in the sun all day excavating for new rd. Got blocks in morning very heavy work. Have had very good tucker all day and feel very well this evening. Some of our fellows been talking to Indians. Found that Indians have been pressed into service without options. Different with Sikhs. They are just traitors. Gurkas will attend to them I think.

SAT JULY 4: Was carpenters mate and had good day. Carpenter knew nothing and I did not want to know. They are building a ju jutsu ring with a pagoda affect. The Jap carpenters have the Chinese in a frenzy changing their mind every 5 mins. They have to finish the job on the seventh for a tourney so they have everyone in a hurry working hard. Not much news today. Just before dawn heard lot of planes (sounded like bombers) go over and about lunch time saw 10 fighters. Various odd ones through day. New guard in camp. Have worked for most of them at works and they are not a bad lot.

SUN JULY 5: Cheers. Was lucky to get another Sunday off. All days off taken alphabetically and this is my turn again. Had good days rest, washed clothes, played cards?

MON JULY 6: At Kutos house today. Very easy. Ball ring seems to be just about finished. Big day for Japs tomorrow. Wrestling and plays. Believe they are putting one on making English look very ridiculous. We are not working so I get 2 days off this week. At Bukit Timor village Japs have placed a head of Javanese as warning to all. Appears 7 of them killed Japs. There are 7 heads scattered about the place. Not a nice sight but seemed to attract number of Chinese etc. onlookers.

TUES JULY 7: Holiday today and extra half hour in bed so did not see sunrise for first time since been here. Pay in evening for 29 days. $2.90cents. Hawker comes into camp and we queue up. Got lot of dates. Little air activity today. Flags are out.

WED JULY 8: Number of big guns this morning. Ac Ac practice all morning. 48 bombers, about 20 fighters eventually went E. returned after 1 hr later. All seemed to be heavy laden. At 5pm Nap put turn on, made us all work back. Appears interpreter got into argument with Nap. Told him we would be free in 2 mths and Japs would be working. Nap said, “If I say men work late, they work late. If I say men have no rice, then we have no rice.” Nap lost temper, abused officer and then struck him and threw him “ju” over concrete pipe. Not a nice sight, Inquiry by C.O. after tea. L Gnn remanded to his own C.O.

THURS JULY 9: Work at Kato’s house. Mostly concrete not hard though. Heard that on July 4 Americans sent 1400 planes over Japan. Seem to be holding them O.K. in Libya. Rumour that A’s have sent convoy away with landing rafts.
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'His Life Worth Living' - Page 59:

Chapter 10

FRI JULY 10: Digging trench to plant hibiscus. Very hot and am sunburnt. Heard U.S. had landed convoy at Solomon Isles. Germans back to Mirza M. Russians back to fixed positions at Don. Few arrivals from Changi for B troop. Talking to men carting scrap to Keppel wharf. Saw numbers of Japs embarking and more disembarking. Plenty of ships in harbour. Bringing rice and taking away scrap metal. Few aircraft practising in air today.

SAT JULY 11: Just another day on hill. Saw convoy in far distance from W. into Singapore. Was told later 3 transports, 1 trans converted to aircraft carrier, 4 planes. Talk after tea on route from Alice Springs to Birdsville.

SUN JULY 12: Some mix up with Japs today. No trucks turned up so had day off. Had good clean up and played bridge. Was thinking how remarkable thin veneer of civilization is in Jap. Our guard wakes men up who are not covered with bedclothes. Afraid they may catch malaria. Yet as a warning to recalcitrant natives they chop the heads off and exhibit them in a public place until flesh falls away from bones.

MON JULY 13: Top of hill again. Nothing interesting happened. Natives are showing remarkable energy in their gardens. It seems they have to grow or starve and they are determined not to starve.

TUES JULY 14: Another day cleaning up rubbish. Spent most of evening unravelling mess of twine. Just wasting time. No news or rumours. Kato had look in at camp 6am this morning. No Chinese at work today accept few essentials.
WED JULY 15: Kato’s house bricklaying and plastering. Must have made good job for had names taken to keep going. Bit of news today. Turkey supposed to have declared war on Germany. Java said to have fallen to us. No Chinese at work today accept essential workers.

THURS JULY 16: Kato’s house again. Most interesting day’s work learning cement. Few rumours. Libya nearly finished 1,000,000 yanks Burmese border. Notice lot of new Japs about place. Fellow, ours, said number landing here.

FRI JULY 17: On road Kato’s house and did fair days work. Feel tired this evening. Lot more Japs moving about generally making for wharf. Gen’s Percival and Callaghan appeared to have visited camps in Singapore. Rumour that all ranks Maj up going to Japan. We have 95 sick and off duty today. Saw very large plane very high circling overhead. Several fighters appeared to be going up.

SAT JULY 18: Did hard days work today on Kato’s wall. Most of others in yard cleaning up. Was pushed very hard and large number of accidents. 2 fell off truck, 1 overcome with heat. Bad day. Trouble with mess again. Officers doing well. G.M. sent resignation in. One of our sgts accused of making money out of buying things. He is M.P. Not sort of man to do it. Have every confidence in him myself. Fined $1 a month, says it will mean court martial eventually.

SUN JULY 19: Turn up for all hands today. Was raining when we went to work. Got there and came home again. Such is Jap administration. Rumour that last overseas contingent has been sunk. Will wait for confirmation. Change in Q.M. personnel so must be some dissatisfaction up there also. Rations very light must be on ¼ meat ration. Our diet is about 95% rice so must be some nutriment in it. I am buying dates at 30c a Kati and occasionally a tin of sardines @ 30c. Dates I have with breakfast and sardines on meatless days.

MON JULY 20: Rumour we are moving. All bustle at works today cleaning up. Some new Gen coming Wednesday. Nothing of importance otherwise.

TUES JULY 21 : Still cleaning up and had job to keep us all going. Lot of men of A.I.F. in K.L. Rumour of loss of 1000 Australians on torpedoed ship confirmed. Very sad if true. Rumour that Sevastopol has already fallen again to Russians. Turkey on our side and marched in Romania. Party including all Field Rank and upwards at Changi are going away. Thought Japan. We are supposed to be going to another camp end of week. Omitted to say we have all been numbered and I have to wear cloth badge with number mine so. Duties of supposed loss of A.I.F. contingent July 1.

WED JULY 22: Had most interesting day. 3 loads of scrap to Keppel Harb from works. Civil buildings hardly touched. Cathay still has hole in side high up. Very little business going on despite efforts of Japs to clean up place and keep things going. Many shops refitted but empty. Saw big yards of scrap and breaking up cars. Wharves full of scrap waiting to be loaded. 5 ships in this morning. This evening some had gone out and convoy had arrived. Saw at least 5 more. 1 was hosp ship. New arrivals unloading rice. Saw ship going out with some Jap troops. Saw one of our planes other side of harbour evidently cont. Saw yard consisting of crashed planes and many were Jap, some were N.1. Farther ration of petrol according to Syonan Times “owing to panicky destruction by us”. Gurkas working on wharf. Saw number of Jap women sightseers. Report from K.L. some of our men imprisoned there. Some had to march 70 miles some in bare feet. Seem to have had tough time. Lot of R.A. and A.I. Early parade after tea followed by a sing song. There is lad comes along road every night playing favourite and popular tunes on mouth organ.

THURS JULY 23: Kato’s rd today. Just a day. Some went to wharf and saw some boat unloading rice. Another with horses and cars went away. Trucks had (diamond symbol) on back. One man injured on scrap iron today. Didn’t feel well this evening.

FRI JULY 24: Another relapse. Suspected it last night. Off work today and taking 30 grams (8) quinine each day. Feel bit better in evening. Just headache and heavy cold.

SAT JULY 25: Still off duty. Not as bad as last dose. Boys tell of huge underground oil storage tanks in what we thought were quarries. I have passed the fence often. They are built into solid granite. One chap contacted an English man who was in charge of works. He is out on parole of course at $20 per mth. Told of 322 women and 52 children out at Changi gaol. 2 births since imprisonment. Men are segregated from women and are allowed to see their wives once per month. Younger married men rig up a plank over 15’ drop to see their wives more often. All sorts out there from jockeys to Drs. Treatment same as ours. What a dreadful experience for those women and children.
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'His Life Worth Living' - Page 60:

SUN JULY 26: Still not too good. Day off for boys. 150 men to go back to Changi. Hope I am not among the number. Rather amusing incident last night. Our mouth organ player felt braver and with the aid of guitar gave impromptu concert on other side of rd. Had native beside us. Enjoyed it until 11.30 when noise of clapping must have roused guard commando who came over. Made dive through barb wire, missed jump and fell into muddy drain. Was a clatter of tins then no boongs in sight?

MON JULY 27: Still at home. Feel much better. Told to have my gear ready all day tomorrow to move back to Changi. Rumour 1000 F. Fortresses to Eng. 10 lost. Had to hand our Jap tickets in.

TUES JULY 28: All ready for Changi. Had egg for breakfast. 10C. Had my boots soled with rubber tyre. Found that there had been a wireless set in B and a battery in A. Neither knew. Such is fate. Left 157 available working men not counting essential duties and 150 required each day. Left Saran in early evening. Camped in iron hut in M.T. sect of Changi. Very comfortable. Very few left here and party standing by to go to Japan. Seem to live fairly well here. In camp are Dutch from Sumatra. Airmen and trps from Sumatra. Should have some amusing and interesting tales to tell. Dutch tell that last party including Nurses who left island went to Sumatra straight into hands of Japs. They were machine gunned and bombed and many killed. So Sumatra fell before we did. Airmen said we bagged 187 Jap planes. Our own they did not say.

WED JULY 29: Seen M.O. this morning and must continue to take quinine. Mosquitoes worried me last night so I had bad night. Went to concert by A.I.F. last evening and it was very good. Met and had yarn with Maj Bucknell who is in great spirits. Many Dutch soldiers and air men present. Dutch anthem played before ours. Went to Con Depot and yarned away with Bob Nason.

THURS JULY 30: Saw Doc this morning and he told me I had to have 2 mths Atebrin. Went for salt water in evening and had swim and got coconut. Went to lecture given by Naval Officer on Navy’s part in War. Proved very interesting but one fact came as a great surprise. 50% of Jap ships are sunk and half of what are left are damaged. Very good news indeed.

FRI JULY 31: Nothing of interest. Was a rice gristle in morn? Went to talk in evening by Dutch Gen, point worth noting. He ranks Gen Chan Kai Check with Roosevelt and Churchill.

SAT AUG 1: Went to work in morning. Talk on evaluation of Navy by P.O. in evening. Very interesting.

SUN AUG 2: Went to Communion in early morn and Church after breakfast. Again at 7.30pm. Church built by engineer and a very noble effort considering difficulty in obtaining material. Part of dispatch from Wavell to Percival. reg. ‘def of Singapore. Must be held at all costs and regardless of civilian casualties. There are far too many first class fighting men wandering behind the lines who must be forced if necessary up to front line leaving only essential services behind. We must not let these gangsters overcome us, for gangsters they are, inferior both in quality and quantity.

MON AUG 3: Had quiet day. Went to excellent concert after tea given by violinist, pianist and tenor. All artists. Violinist in London Philharmonic Orchestra. All very good music and a real treat. Wish they would put that sort of music on more often. Kreslins Caprice was best I thought but thoroughly enjoyed every bit.

TUES AUG 4: Gen cleaning up. Concert A.I.F. in evening. Just a day.

WED AUG 5: Went for wood in morning. Princess Irene birthday and Dutch celebrating. Special parade at 5pm. I think the Dutch are the most patriotic crowd I have ever met. The spirit of camaraderie between officers and men is simply wonderful. They are as fine a set of fellows as one wish to meet.

THURS AUG 6: Just ordinary day but in evening fellow from G.W. came out and told us of happenings in there. Seem to be living well. Norm Ferrow seems to have got fair drilling. Caught drinking tin of milk and accused of stealing and selling. Got terrible knocking about face and head with riding crop. Tied him up to fence all night. Also after knocking him about dunked him in tong until he was nearly drowned. Put him in hospital for while. Same would have happened to me with jam episode so I must consider myself very fortunate. Heard very bad news. The list of Prisoners of War still not arrived in Australia. People must be very anxious.
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