R. E. Jones Wartime diary: View pages

Windy with occasional rain, warmer.

Took G’s luggage to go-down am.

4 Pkts cigs issued, Canadians’ luggage inspected aft.

Chorus for Phil. ((who?))

Talk with Steve after.

G to supper with O.B. & S.S. (("O.B." is also mentioned in Jones' diary for 23rd July, where Barbara Anslow suggests he may be referring to Oscar Basham. Not sure who "S.S." is.)) Took stencils for them.


Fine & much warmer.

Cut stencil for Eve. Took it to G 2.30pm. She went to R.C. farewell gathering.

Talk with Steve pm.

No news.


Fine.

Aired bedding.

1lb rice issued to residents. Took G some rice & ground some for her.

Sandwiches at Mary’s with G. Mutton very good. Took her sunglasses back 8pm & had tea. Wanted to stay but daren’t broach the ? What was she thinking I wonder.

Own cooking finished, now attached to A1, 2 & 3 from pm meal.

Hatori’s letter asks us not to keep complaining re food due to inability of Japs to get food & that we are on larger rations than ordinary 3rd. nationals in town. Council had decided to batter away just the same.


Rained off roof 5.30am. Windy but fine.

Saw G at noon & arranged to say Cheerio 8pm but fresh orders delayed. Now they do not board till Thurs 23rd. Talk with Steve pm. G called too.

Food from A1, 2 & 3 pretty good.

Choir practice 5-6pm.


Windy & wet.

Saw G a.m. for a little while & had cup of tea. Talk with Steve pm. G there. Went up to see her & say Goodbye at 8pm but so many people being there spoilt it. We kissed Goodbye at 9pm but I couldn’t say anything of what I had thought of saying.

Tae-a Maru arrived 8.15pm & anchored in the bay.


G 28 today. With her all forenoon shifting cot to Os etc. She left at 12.15pm & so ends a long period of friendship that ran the whole gamut of all feelings & emotions. Goodbye & God Bless you Girlie darling, good luck wherever you go. XX.

Weather improved a little & Canadians went on board at 5pm. Talk with Steve pm. G going has left a big blank in the Camp for me now. Tei-a Maru left at 9.30pm.


Fine, cloudy, warm.

Choir practice 11.00 to noon.

Talk with Steve pm.

Olive arrived down there too. ((Who was Olive? She is mentioned in following days' entries too, first as "Ol", then just "O"))

Russians in Poland, Germans evacuated Greece, Jap attack on Aussie collapsed?


Hot & fine.

2 planes flew over very high to the west 11.30am.

4 Pkts. cigs issued.

Called on Ol. 5.45pm.

Talk with Steve pm.


Fine, hot.

Did nothing all day.

Talk with Steve pm.

Talk by Brown. “Astronomy without a telescope” 8.30pm. ((There were lots of Browns in camp - any ideas which one gave the lecture?))

Germans evacuated Kuban bridgehead.


Fine, hot.

Painting cases for O. am.

Played softball v Plce”B” Won 12-9. Talk with Steve after.

Allied landings in Norway & Denmark. Plebiscite in Germany?


Hot.

Many Canteen tabs returned, owners had no money.

Painting for O.

12oz marmalade issued free.

Bulletin rather gloomy re no food on return of Teia Maru.

Choir practice 5-6pm. Down at Steve’s after. E.P. there too. ((Who is E.P.?))


Windy but fine.

Saw R re painting case. ((Who is R?)) Willcocks re cleaning bathroom.

Played softball I.Qs & lost 18-8. Started late but got in 5 innings. Saw Steve after. E there. ((Who is E?))

Bit of an argument re yesterdays paper contents & 5 landings being reported.

Rations came by ferry today.


Painted initials for Rita. ((Who is Rita?))

Rations by lorry again.

Choir practice in Quarry 1PM.

Allowance arrived.

Dr Mrs Carnaval to town. Dr Talbot from gaol to Camp Hosp.

Good news re food in Teia-Maru.

Talk with Steve pm. E there too.

Posted card to Marj.

Read a couple of good books this month.


Fine & hot.

Allowance of Y25 paid out.

Choir practice at St Stephen’s 11-Noon.

Played I.Q. softball & lost 11-18.

Americans sent telegram to S of S. USA requesting food to be diverted to us in Teia-Maru.

Steve to choir practice. Talk with Mary & E


Choir practice in St Stephen’s 9.30-10.30.

Cleaned bathroom first.

Choir practice in I.Qs kitchen 6-7.30pm.

Talk with Steve after. E there too.


Painted case for Mary.

Saw O & got some more jobs for next week.

Talk with Steve pm.

Lecture on stars etc 8.30pm in the Hall.

Fine & dry, cooler.

2oz Tob. 3 boxes matches 4Pkts cig papers 2.20 = 11/-


Fine, cool, very dry.

Odd jobs for O.

Choir practice 1.15pm.

¼ lb. brown sugar  93 sen. 4/7 ½ .

With Steve pm.

With Eve home 8pm.


Fine, cool, dry.

Canteen with Willcocks.

Gate for O & cup of tea after. 

Choir practice 5-6pm. very good too.

With Steve pm.

E home 8pm.

Jap paper lousy.


Gate for O. Bag for Hackett.

Choir practice, final for Concert 11-12 noon.

Pancakes with Steve & E after viewing chickens with O. With Steve pm.

No news.


Cot for O. Bag for Hackett.

Hungry as hell all day. Meatless day & no paper.

Concert cancelled.

Japs screwed up on their old “grouping order”. 

With Steve pm. Home with E.