Page 172 of 511

Re: Pat Ritter. Books

PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2016 9:53 pm
by patritter
'His Life Worth Living' - Page 29:

THURS FEB 19: Arms still here in large heaps. R.H.Q. with usual stupidity place picket on 15’ gun. It’s blown up anyhow and no good to anyone. Things getting in order now. First parade this morning. Help to carry rations to Bty from A.A.S.C. Only half mile. Some talk of having to carry them from Singapore. Played bridge in evening. Went for stroll before going to bed. Jerry and Ken good mates. We are restricted to two meals a day now. I can scrounge the rest for time being. One cup of tea each day. Better than we expected.

FRI FEB 20: On to Jap time now but have altered times and meals to suit same. General attitude of men seems very disgusted with B. Gov. but “Frd Apa” things could be worse. All very thankful that so few casualties in Regime. Bit short of water today. Jerry and I missed water cart yesterday and it has not come around today. Be careful in future. Went hunting in evening. Found 2 pawpaws and 3 coconuts – felt quite satisfied. Found good drinking water. That problem solved.

SAT FEB 21: Was talking to men who tried to escape. Did not leave the island. Japs everywhere. Treated with consideration and told to walk back here. They looked very weary. Went with Lionel looking for something to eat in evening. Got more green pawpaws and coconuts. Found some yams. Very good cooked. Japs through lines in night.

SUN FEB 22: Had to count days back to find out what day it was. No Padre here. Ours went through beginning of war. Am satisfied S.A. are only men to do any good during times of stress. Heard that 18,000 killed in Singapore last Sunday. Still pulling dead from ruins. Had bad attack of dysentery. Making me very weak. Spent most of day on back. Conditions still very bad in Singapore. All A.I.F. here at Changi together now. Hospital in Singapore evacuated. English having very bad time. Concert staged in evening on Padang. Successful. Was not there.
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Re: Pat Ritter. Books

PostPosted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 10:14 pm
by patritter
'His Life Worth Living' - Page 30:

MON FEB 23: Just read good passage in book. “For your comfort, my son, let me tell you that I have laid hold upon a truth powerful enough to sustain me until I die. I know that in spite of all the painful circumstances I have met, my course is upward. I know that the universe is on my side. It will not let me down. I have been detained at times – but eventually – I go on through.” Men today are very cheerful and speculating on probability of marching to docks. Wishful thinking. Water for drinking restricted to one bottle each day for two men. Our party not short – we have 8 gal drum and boil it each day. Boys found some old crusts of bread and are cooking it today. Wish I was well enough to go scrounging. Our party consists of Jerry, Lionel, Ken, Ernie and myself. Annexe Alec, Johnno and Len. As good mates as any one could wish for in times like these. Still very bad with dysentery, but forced myself to go on scrounge. Had good luck. Got bag of cassavas (yam). Alec bag of pawpaws. Ken made some rissoles from the crusts of bread and tin of bully. Most delicious we have ever tasted. Seen M.O. and seemingly quite concerned. Have to take medicine every 4 hrs. Went to see Capt. Gill about my sick pay. He was occupied so did not intrude. Number of Chinese shot. We have to supply burial parties.

TUES FEB 24: More burial parties wanted. 150 Chinese shot by M.G. on beach. We have to bury them. Party to go to Singapore to help clean up. Med. from R.A.P. doing me good. Feel very weak. Had but 3 biscuits for breakfast. News has leaked out of a Nowata Shell having hit the Cathay where the H.G.H. was. Entered the roof of the theatre and killed 24 instantly and 150 injured. Many died since. This was on day of Capit. Our boundary areas defined and picket place on our part of boundary. Lionel cooked cassavas with tin of bully and was enjoyed by all. Had big dose castor oil from R.A.P. Hope it cures my complaint.
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Re: Pat Ritter. Books

PostPosted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 10:22 pm
by patritter
'His Life Worth Living' - Page 31:

WED FEB 25: Had bad night but feel much better this morning. A tiny breakfast. Boys had horrible task yesterday. They buried 99 Chinese shot by Japs. Bodies were 24 hrs old. Surmise they were pro-British for it seemed they had been dragged from their bed some were naked. Exempt from big parade ordered by Tojo for this evening. Evidently a triumph and victory march for Tojo Generals. Big indignity for us. Await comment from boys when they return. Squiggles still very sick. Relapse from malaria. Tojo lost over 9,000 with malaria. Parade over. Men indifferent. No loss of dignity. Went on the Padang after tea. Air cooler up there. Feel very much better but very weak. Impromptu concert. Items by pris would not have disgraced any board.

THURS FEB 26: Did duty as picket on railway line all day. Found good cassavas. Near 15’ gun all day, the English made very good job of destroying. Jerry had veg cooked when we got home and enjoyed them. All very hungry. Big rice ration now. About lb each day. Heartily sick of rice the way our cooks do it up. Wish the wife had hand in cooking.

FRI FEB 27: More rice for breakfast. Horribly cooked – something will have to be done about it. Feel pretty well now. Bit weak. Big discovery of fish. Enough to give all in Reg. small portion. Got them in pool with wire netting. Have to see what I can do on my own. Tojo reported to be leaving admin to Civil, leaving for other fields. Went looking around in evening. Met few Japs near water front. Found our boundary anyhow. Fish for tea was wonderful. All enjoyed it. Full for first time since we have been P.O.W. Fish supposed to be taken from Tamil Sacred Pool. Sacred fish taste good anyhow.
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Re: Pat Ritter. Books

PostPosted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 7:37 am
by patritter
His Life Worth Living' - Page 32:

SAT FEB 28: Feel really well again. More Chow food. Played bridge nearly all day. Found the various spices to make curry. Pears getting ripe. Went for stroll around barracks after tea.

SUN FEB 29: Went to communion service. About 100 present very impressive although vestments crude. Ken sick with a cold. Regimental Church Parade. Boys found sweet potatoes today. Still plenty of rice. Will have bellies like poisoned pups before long. More burial parties about 30 Chinese. Rained all afternoon. Went for a stroll on Padang.

MON MARCH 3: No more scavenging. May be shot for looting, gave a couple of bags of potatoes to kitchen. Took rest down in bush. Have to cook them in secret. Felt very cold in morning. Think I’m in for relapse. Dinner time temperature very high. Go to sick bay and bed.

TUES MARCH 4: Feel much better this morning. Temp normal. Quiet here in sick bay. Quiet day. M.O. says I can go out tomorrow. Jerry came up in evening. Had knotty problem to solve. He fixed it. Yesterday, Parade for Navy.

WED MARCH 5: Out in my dates, will have to alter all previous dates and add a day on. Am writing this Thurs. Had very bad night Tues. In morning more shivering then high temp. Very bad relapse. Started Quinine course. Should have been on it before. Normal again in evening but bad headache and very weak. Jerry, Ern and Alec came up through day.
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Re: Pat Ritter. Books

PostPosted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 10:16 pm
by patritter
'His Life Worth Living' - Page 33:

THURS MARCH 6: Feel quite well this morning. Bit giddy when I get on feet. Memo – Had one lesson on book-keeping on Monday. Have missed rest. Bit of a head ache most of day. Could not eat. Meals mostly rice with no salt. Very tasteless. Ernie came up in evening when I felt much better. Felt pretty heady through night.

Chapter 5

FRI MARCH 7: Had very restless night. Mostly hunger I think. Very good breakfast and felt much better afterwards. Had two small cubes of fresh meat, very delicious. Large number of warships in last night – could see them. Many more on horizon. Two transports, probably food left. 2/26 and has been loading for last week. Some talk of us moving. Rumours that Eng. having own way on continent with R. against G. Talking to R. Cross fellow of the ghastliness of scenes in Singa. Many men now dying from gangrene. Moved back to hut in evening, still very weak, but able to get about again. Good to be back in hut with mates again. Still off my tucker and very thin. Must make effort to eat as much as possible. Having full course of malaria treatment with no duties of course.

SAT MARCH 8: Much better this morning. Still off food. Still rice. Rested on back most of day. Still talk of moving. Rumours that Germany has unconditionally surrendered with Italy. Later in evening went on Padang with Jerry, Squiggles and Lionel.
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Re: Pat Ritter. Books

PostPosted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 9:57 pm
by patritter
'His Life Worth Living' - Page 34:

SUN MARCH 9: All Arty to be shifted out of area by 2pm. Eng. moving in. I moved over on my own. Had to make two trips. Moved to where 10 A.G.H. are. They have not moved out yet so we built bit of shelter with groundsheet in case of rain. With Jerry and Ernie. Felt weak after carrying my gear but better in evening. English are putting barbed wire around whole of area. All very hungry. Had 2 biscuits each and tin of bully for 4. No rice thank heaven. Rested in shelter most of afternoon. Many patients in 10 A.G.H. Some looked very ill. Must be very thankful that there were so few casualties in our unit. Good view of part of Straits of Johore from hospital. Saw one cruiser go out. Japs purported to be loading a lot of metal on to merchants for Japan. Rumour seems definite that there is peace in Europe.
MON MARCH 10: Had lazy morning reading. Still out in open and looks as if we will be for another day. Slept in afternoon and walked around buildings after tea. We are supposed to be enclosed by barbwire but have not seen any yet, only on road.
TUES MARCH 11: Rice absolutely tasteless for breakfast. Had very little. Sound of G.F. after which there were a number of planes about. Men go on coconut hunt and brought back large number. A.G.H. nearly cleared out now. Looks like we will be in tomorrow. Met couple of acquaintances from Div Sigs and they recounted experiences on west coast and at Muir. Claude had pear for his shade over eye. Told how heads were having conference and bomber cleaned them all up with one bomb. Chris told how he had to bayonet an Indian to stop him running amok. When leaving they had to run over dead A.I.F. who fought a division although but a battalion. Japs lost 50 to 1 but numbers told. At crossing of Riv M. had to walk over drowned bodies of mates. Men from Dunkirk says worse than ever they experienced.
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Re: Pat Ritter. Books

PostPosted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 10:48 pm
by patritter
'His Life Worth Living' - Page 35:

WED MARCH 12: Still in open which is just as well from all accounts. Give time to wash and clean hospital of all disease and dysentery which was very bad there. X moving on top floor. Many planes overhead doing exercises. Played bridge in evening and listened to all rumours. Think we will be moving in tomorrow.
THURS MARCH 13: Moved in floor of building this morning. Jerry and Lionel each side. Plenty of air. Room frightfully overcrowded. Dysentery very bad in camp and every precaution will have to be taken. Saw man dirty his trousers twice this morning. Will make mess bag as soon as possible. Rained just after we moved in. Very fortunate. Everyone busy making bed. Some very comical.
FRI MARCH 14: Finished making bed and very comfortable too. Feel fairly fit again except for hunger. Told M.G. I was fit for duty. Did some book-keeping in evening and played bridge. Had 3 good meals today with not much rice this day.
SAT MARCH 15: Finished lesson on book-keeping before breakfast. Carrying wood fatigue in morning and did some washing later. Very hard without soap. Book-keeping class in evening. Played the usual evening bridge with Eric, Ken, Lionel. Big concert over M.T. lines. Crowd seem to be enjoying it. “Organised Noise” must cease after dark according to Japs. Suppose they mean concerts.
SUN MARCH 16: Month today since being P.O.W. Went to communion. Felt very sick half way through and had to sit down. Memory service for dead and missing comrades. Jerry had saved breakfast (rice) for me but could not eat much. No duties today. Felt better later in morning. Rest of mates very busy barbwire. We are wiring ourselves in and must be finished by 19th. No Jap guards on of course but they have wind of wireless set and threaten to search barracks any time. Ken has put in for butcher. May be able to scrounge a bit of meat or eggs. Big memorial service in evening. I was not present. Read names of dead and missing and played last post. 40 dead in Arty in Malaya 6 in our regime. Remarkably few considering. Very heavy rain all day and looks like plenty more. Stayed indoors on bed all day.
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