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- Dark Side of the Sun -



George Palmer's Journey From Prince Edward Island to
Hong Kong and the Omine Camp in WWII


His Story
    Chronology     Capt. Wilson Interview     Dr. Gingras Interview
JANUARY

1 - What a New Year's day.  Thinking of my people.
2 - Very fine day.  The stench is terrible.  We put ground over some of the bodies.
3 - Whale meat isn't very good food and rice either.
4 - Rice and Church service.  Hymns - O God Our Help in Ages Past and Fight the Good Fight.
5 - I am very sick, hope it isn't Malaria.
6 - Much better today, but very weak and depressed.
7 - Feeling good, almost better.  The monotony is the worst.
8 - Sleeping on concrete and that's pretty hard.
9 - Some more of our wounded have come in from the hospital.
10 - Raining today, can't get any news from outside.  Wish to know how things are going.
11 - Sunday Church service this a.m.  Hymns - O God Our Help in Ages Past and Onward Christian Soldiers, All People that on Earth do Dwell.
12 - We had a fair meal today.  Nights are terribly cold.  Only one Blanket.
13 - Made myself a bed with bags, it's hotter than cement.
14 - Paid $8.00 for 2 chocolate bars, but they were good.
15 - Taking course in Electricity, Magnotism and Radio.
16 - The Japs are taking everything of metal away, even the fences.
17 - Very hot today.  I am doing some washing.
18 - Sunday.  No Church service today.  Padre Capt. James Burnett is sick.
19 - The Japs had us formed up and counted us.  Cold today.
20 - Many Jap planes overhead; but they don't bomb us anymore.
21 - There are many Jap warships in harbour.  Hope they get sunk.
22 - The Japs have taken the Indian troops away.
23 - The Hong Kong Volunteers have been taken away.  Grenadiers have come here.
24 - The Middlesex and Royal Artillery have been taken away.
25 - The Navy has been moved here.  Church Parade.  Hymns - O God Our Help in Ages Past and National Anthem.
26 - Very warm day.  Our rations have been cut.
27 - The food is terrible, can hardly eat the darm stuff.
28 - Much Plane activity.  Rice three times a day.
29 - Seven sailors made their escape last night.
30 - News isn't so good today.  Wish something would happen.
31 - Dreamed about Duncan McRae - thought he joined the army.

FEBRUARY

1- Very bad news about Singapore, hope it can hold.
2 - Rice three times a day - Many planes overhead.
3- Wish I could get word from home and know they are safe.
4 - Roof leaked very bad, looks like whale meat for supper - Rainy season has arrived.
5 - Rained last night - Bully beef and rice for dinner.
6 - Rice three times a day would give anything for a good meal.
7 - Washed out our hut.  Had my radio lesson today.
8 - Church Parade - Hymns - Fight the Good Fight and 100th. Psalm.
9 - Rained hard last night, still very foggy.
10 - Weather is still cold and dreary.
11 - We are almost frozen to death and roof leaks awful.
12 - I hope none of my people ever have to go through what I am going through.
13 - No supper tonight.  There will be lots of days like this.
14 - Good B.B.C. news last night.  Lot of enemy ships sunk.
15 - Many of the boys have sore throats and colds.
16 - Dysentry is wide spread throughout the camp.
17 - Singapore fell to the Japs yesterday.
18 - I believe we are going to starve to death.
19 - Very cold rains every night.  Haven't seen the sun for a long time.
20 - Getting a needle for Cholera.  Very bad disease.
21 - Japs have doubled the guard around our camp.
22 - We are terribly hungry.  Just talk about food.
23 - Very fine day, just like August at home.  Time is terribly long.
24 - Very hot and some cases of Malaria and Dysentry also in camp.
25 - Hope everyone at home is well and nothing happens to anyone.
26 - Rice and squid for dinner today.
27 - We wash what clothes we have without soap.
28 - Strong wind.  Wish we could get out of here, time is so long.

MARCH

We are getting lousy as coots.  We are crowded so close together.
Same old thing day in and day out.
Dull and rainy, we are weak with hunger.
Feeling rotten today.  Hope it isn't Malaria.
Feeling a little better, but weak as a kitton.
Today is Stewart's birthday, wish him luck and health.
Got a slight sunburn yesterday.  Itchy as heck.
Church Parade - Hymn - Unto the Hills Do I Lift Up My Longing Eyes.
The Japs beat some Chinese unmercifully today.
Only rice all day, the men are getting weak.
Japs had inspection.  Still just rice.
Rice and fish sauce, very bad tasting stuff.
Some dirty brute stole my tooth paste today.
We were inspected by Japanese camp Commandant.
Dry rice today.  Church service this evening.  I will attend.
Rice and some eggs, one per man - it's a treat.
Japs are celebrating today - don't know what for.  Squid for dinner.
The Japanese Colonel of all prison camps inspected us today.
Very hot and many Jap planes over here - fast ones.
Crisp breeze this morning - just like at home in summer.
Made myself a bed on the much cleaner.
Church service by Rev. Strong of the Navy.
Rice and water three times a day.
Rice and water again today.  We don't get any tea.
Three months a prisoner today.
Very hot.  Bubonic Plague is widespread in China.
Awful pains in my legs.  Had to go to M.O.
Pains much better - Theumatic pains.
Thunder storm and rain - Church service.
Rice cake for dinner.  Rice and one egg for supper.
Very foggy and bad food, just rice.

APRIL

Bad food and rain all day.
More rain.  Japs are salvaging all the boats.
Very hot and clammy and also rice.
Wash day - we got 200 parcels.  I got a can of jam, 12 oz.
Church service.  Very hot and clammy.
Many Dysentry cases.  Rice all day.
Col. Sudcliff of W.G. died of Dysentry today.
Whale meat and we had a treat - Chinese dates.
Japanese tanker burned in harbour, very hot day - rice and bun.
Rice and dates.  We got about three dates each.
Wash today - we have a bar of soap 1" by 3" for 10 men.
Church Parade - speaker Mr. Strong of the Navy.
Terribly hot.  We are as black as negroes.
The Japs must have suffered some reverses.  They are beating the Chinks.
They are very hostile today - mad about something.
They are putting up wire charged with electricity.
A small dog went against the wire and was killed.
The British Navy ratings moved to Shamshuipo today.
50 more R.R.C. men came back from hospital - a lot in hospital yet.
Hitler's birthday, also Aunt Bessies, many more to her.
Just plain rice for four days, nothing to put on it.
Japs are mad.  Americans are supposed to have bombed Tokyo.
Just rice, nothing on it.  I guess we can take it.
Japanese Red Cross Colonel is supposed to come here today.
Rain all night and all day.  Squid for supper.
Worst rain I have ever seen and the roof leaks awful.
Raining very hard all day.  Fair meal, sweet potatoes and piece of meat.
Still raining, coming down in torrents.  Egg plant for supper.
Rice and bun today.  Still raining.  Mosquitos are bad.
Rain, not many Jap planes around here now.  2 buns for dinner.

MAY

Rice and a teaspoonful of sugar.  Still raining.
Whale meat and rice.  Raining something awful.
Rain coming down in torrents, heavy thunderstorm.
Not much to eat today.  Planes reported over here.
Terrible dream about Grandma and Aunt Blanch, dreamed they were dead.
We had air raid alarm last night.  Japs afraid of coming raids.
Chinese with hands and feet tied.  Still raining.
Must be getting fine in Canada.  Japs are mad, beating the Chinks terribly.
Great Naval battle reported Warship reported sunk.
I had a tablespoon of milk on my rice today.
Very hot.  Japs have a lot of  -------- laying around here preparing for something.
Raining very hard.  Great sea battle in Indian Ocean.
Very hot, cucumbers and rice, one sweet potato.
Japs knocked out a Chink and left him on street in rain all day.  Just before dark bayoneted him; he was alive this morning.
Cool breeze with showers, rice and a few dates.  Hair clipped.
Japs have two Chinese women tied to a post, they have shot their husbands.
Sunday isn't what it was back home, heat is terrible.
British are supposed to have bombed Hanoi today.  Cool today.
Bun and tea made with musty flour.  Raining very hard.
Japanese big shot from Tokyo here today.  Still raining torrents.
Cool and raining.  Dreamed about Mamma last night, she must be worried.
Cool and high wind.  Rice and whale meat today.
We were forced under pact to sign document that we wouldn't escape.
Suffocating heat.  No wood to cook our meals, things are bad here now.
Heat getting bad, 110 degrees in shade.  Mosquitos eating us alive.
One bun made with misty flour, sour as vinegar.
Heat terrible, mosquitos awful.  Japs beat a chink terribly.
Heat is awful.  Got new prison No. 6102.
Still hot as hell.  Japs are working on sunken ships in harbour.
100 degrees in shade.  We got shirts today; we need boots badly.
Heat is still terrible.  Dreamed about Stewart last night.

JUNE

Wrote a letter home through the Red Cross, if the Japs let it through.
Little cooler today, time is terribly long.  Reading Jap propaganda papers.
Inspected by Jap Colonel, nice and cool, light breeze.
Very sultry.  Japs have towed a large ship badly damaged into port.
Japs were on ship which turned over.  Went down taking a tug with it.
Great rumours going around.  1,000 British planes over Germany, 44 reported shot down.
Very hot, mosquitos are terrible.  Can't sleep.  Wish I could get away.
Great naval battle reported in vicinity of Midway, Victory for us.
Very hot.  Washing clothes, trying to get rid of bugs.  Place is full of them.
Played volley ball.  Japs say they entered Sydney harbour and torpedoed ships.
Very hot.  Rumoured we are to move from here.  Can't be much worse.
Very hot.  Cleaned out our camp.  Hope the bugs won't be so bad tonight.
Japs say they attacked the Aleutians.  Bed bugs getting worse.
Church service.  Hymns - Rock of Ages - Lead Kindly Light.  Cool breeze, many planes.
Medical supplies running out.  We all have whabiers itch.
Pouring rain, some men taken out on working party.
Cool breeze, more men taken out on working party.
Played game of volley ball.  Boiled cucumbers for supper with rice.  Very hot - 100 degrees in shade.
Bun and rice for breakfast.  Heat is terrible.  Wrote letter to Grandma.
Very hot, meat pie for supper.  Large tiger shot at Stanley.
Heat is getting worse.  Church service.
Went to Kai Tak to work on airport.  Saw some whites on Prince Edward
Five big bombers over here today.  Reported that Sharnhorst is sunk.
Often heard about tar and feathering a man, but saw it done today.
Very hot.  Col. Holme very sick and gone to hospital.
Bad news reported, Germans are 50 miles inside Egypt.
Heat terrible, we are all terribly hungry; not half enough to eat.
Heat still bad and food worse.  Church service.
Went to Kai Tak airport on working party.  Hard work in this heat.
Food is awful.  Rice in morning, bun dinner - some kind of greens like weeds and egg plant with cayene pepper.

JULY

Went to Bowen Road Hospital.  Saw Eursal Kaine, some boys badly done up.
Raining all day.  3 more tigers at Stanley.  Have very sore throat.
Went to Kai Tak airport to work, rained hard.
We were paid today, 30 yen for 2 days work, about 2 cents in Canada.
Church service.  Hymns O Abide With Me and There is a Green Hill far Away.
Two years in army today.  Also, Heda's birthday, wish her luck.  Good news about Egypt and North Guinea.
Heavy rain, thunder and lightning.  Food very bad.
Heavy showers again today.  Little cooler.
Heavy rain showers, we are still eating out of tin cans.
Went to airport to work, had to come back on account of rain.
Typhoon coming in this direction - heavy rain.
Six fighters here.  Church Service - Breathe on me, Breath of God and Onward Christian Soldiers.
Nothing much going on.  Japs raised a ship in bad shape - will take time to repair.
Heavy rain all night.  Sleep outdoors on concrete, so many bugs.
Rain in torrents, long dreary time.  Thinking of trying to escape.
Rain in torrents.  Reported 11 Jap destroyers sunk in Aloutian Islands.
Raining hard, but cool.  Had tea for supper.  Month since we had tea.
Rain again, terrible sore mouth, everyone has it.  Can hardly eat - no medicine for it.
Very hot.  Lot of men have Malaria in camp again.
Rained all day.  Banana trees are growing in our camp quarters.
Raining, almost a flood.  Mouth still sore.
More rain, has rained every day this month.
More rain, not much going on.  Wish we could get news of some kind.
Lots of Jap planes overhead, both bombers and fighters.
Seven months a prisoner today.  Hope the war ends soon.
Taken to Bowen Road with appendicitis, operated on at 2:30.  Pain is gone, but very sick.
Feeling much better, the nurses are very nice.
Am bloated up and in terrible pain, can't sleep.
Much better today, can move around in bed.
Sat on chair while nurses made bed.
So many cripples here, legs and arms off - some can't move.

AUGUST

The food is awful, just rice.  What stuff when sick.
I got up when nurses are not around.
Had stitches out today, hurt awful.
Side much better.  It's cool up here on mountain.
Nurse caught me up today and bawled me out.
Doctor's told me I could get up today.  I have been getting up for 4 or 5 days.
Very fine, side feels good.  I have the plaster nearly off.
They are taking lot of wounded back to camp and some of them are not fit to leave hospital yet.  Darn Japs.
Feel okay, may go to camp anytime now.  Food is terrible.
Came back to camp today, just 14 days, quite sick.
Have taken all nurses away from hospital, conditions getting worse.
Man died.  No meat for 3 weeks, many going blind - gradually getting weaker.
Grandma's birthday.  Hope it's a happy day for her, may she see many more.
Hong Kong volunteer died today, very hot.  Itch and berri berri getting worse.
Diphtheria is camp, hope I don't get it.  We are in a bad spot.
Conditions unbearable, we will all die in this awful place, bugs eating us alive.
100 degrees in shade.  Nights just as hot.  More have Malaria.
Cooler today.  This date, a year ago, we landed at Quebec from Newfoundland.
Fierce wind and rain.  Jap guard house blew down.  Our hut leaks like a sieve.
Four men escaped last night, one sargeant, corp'l and 2 privates.
This is Mamma's birthday, hope she is well.
Haven't heard if they caught the escaped men or not.
Very hot.  Heard the Japs are massing on the Manchurian border.
Heard news about a battle in Solomon Islands.
Very hot.  Two Jap destroyers went through harbour today.
Big Jap officers went through camp today.  Very hot, nothing to read.
Hot, 100 degrees in shade.  Two men died last night.
Still hot.  I have awful pains in my legs, hope it's not berri berri.
A little cooler.  The Japs have taken 3 Sgt's. away in reprisal for the men who escaped.  They may kill them.
Japs have us on parade from 1 o'clock till 8 in morning and it poured rain all the time.  Many men played out.
Japs.  My side was sore this morning from standing in rain so long.

SEPTEMBER

Rain and mud.  First man of my section died with Dysentry.
Fine with stiff breeze.  Wish I could hear from home.
Japs reported to have lost 2nd. battle of Solomons.  I hope it's true.
Very hot.  Japs say they caught men who escaped, but I guess they lie.
Hot.  Jap Foreign Minister has resigned.  Things must be getting bad.
Very hot, bad thunder and lightning storm.  chinese army reported near Canton, 100 miles from here.
Another man died.  (Pomeray) 4 Jap fighter planes here.
7 British soldiers escaped, but were caught - 5 were shot.
Cyril Ross died today - cause of death, Dakkina Itch.  German's haven't got Stalingrad yet.
Another man died.  Half have dysentry or berri berri, we will all die soon.
100 degrees in shade.  More men falling sick every day.
Another died today, we wrapped him in sheet, buried him across the road.
Heat bad.  More men fall sick every day.  I'm lucky so far, haven't had dysentry or berri berri.
Another death from my platoon, pneumonia (Buster Coffin)
Still hot.  Big Jap transport passed here today, hope its sent to the bottom.
Jap inspection today.  Cloudy with rain.
Hot today.  Reported Japs caught the Canadians that escaped and beheaded them.
Very hot.  Party went to Kai Tak today to work on airport.
Very hot.  Men dying rate of 3 a day.  Malaria, Dysentry, Diphtheria fever.
Nice breeze.  I think yesterday was Papa's birthday, hope he is well.
More sick, some going blind, others can't walk.  3 died today.
Very nice day.  The British are being taken away, don't know where to.
Lot more wounded and sick, came in from hospital.
I have a terrible toothache and fever, hope it isn't Malaria.
Got my tooth out, very sore.  We are supposed to move to Shamshuipo tomorrow.
Went to Shamshuipo, the barracks are bombed and shelled, not a window left.
Very hot.  We are cleaning up the place, very dirty.  We are supposed to go to Japan soon, can't be any worse than this.  More dying with diphtheria.
Very hot, fever is getting worse.  Won't be many of us get out of here.  Rice with no meat.
Another death today.  Some men can hardly walk, weak and sick.
I had to go on working party, up at 4 o'clock in morning - get back at 8 o'clock at night - tired.

OCTOBER

3 more deaths today.  Too bad to die after living through all this mess.
Another death, diphtheria.  Blowing hard and raining.
Out on working party, another man died - diphtheria.  Hope I don't get it.
Another death in our company, J.E. MacArthur - diphtheria.  The Japs won't give us any serum or medical supplies, we are in bad spot.
Very warm.  Three more Canadians died today - 2 with diphtheria, 1 with gangerin caused from Barber's itch
Another death today, they are sounding last post and reville as I write.  We don't know who will be next.
More deaths.  I am 30 years old today.  Had rice and water for my meals.
Three more deaths.  One fellow from Tide Head Barkley, 1 from Madeline Island.
Only one death today, we get 5 oz. of bread per man per day.  Jap papers say a new treaty is being formed.
I have taken diphtheria.  I'm placed in an old building with windows along with 200 other fellows.  Some dying every day, all lying on cement floor, the suffering is terrible.
Can hardly write, so sick.  Tonsils big as eggs, can hardly breathe.
Feeling a little better, but had bad night.  Three died last night, Ralph Huntington.
Only one death last night.  I am thankful to be as well as I am, some poor fellows covered with sores, big as silver dollars and with dysentry or diphtheria and the Japs won't do anything about it.  I'll curse a Jap as long as I live.  I want all my friends and relations to do the same.  The North American Red Skin in his worst, could never equal the slant eyed brutes.
Feeling much better, except my nose is swollen twice it's size and so sore.  I have gargled Potassium.
One of the Grenadiers died.  I feel much better.
Cpl. Chenelle died.  Had an air raid alarm, didn't see the planes.  Cpl. Vermette from Campbellton just died.
One man died last night and the Japs beat up about 40 of the orderlies.  Also Major Crawford made them take off their shirts and beat them with a wide rubber band.  Two more died this afternoon, getting worse.
Just one death last night.  Very fine day.  Rice with no salt.
Two Navy men died last night.  Bugs eating us alive.  Just plain rice daily.
Many planes overhead today, expect an air raid.  It's one year today since I haven't heard any news about anyone from hom.  I left for Valcartier just a year ago - Papa, Mamma, Jackie and Edith drove me to Carlisle station.  I mentioned in my diary that I would be gone a long time and was going far away.
Many planes over there today.  It's very fine.  I am getting better, but some of the boys are not so strong and can't take it, but its starvation thats the chief cause.
Japs keep planes overhead all the time.  They must expect an air raid.  I hope at that, it's raided soon.  One death.
Just one death.  Very cold and a drizzle of rain falling, like an October day.
Two deaths.  Japs have moved all diphtheria patients to the Jubilee building.  It's a large 5-story army office, but was badly bombed.
It's cold in here, but much better than those windowless huts, we are five in a room on floor, no beds.  19 Jap fighter planes overhead as I write.  I guess this place will be bombed soon, they are afraid the British or Americans bombed here today.  10 planes flying high, the bombs didn't miss here by much, but they sounded good.  The place was covered with smoke and the fire shot high in the air.
Very nice morning.  The Allies bombed here again last night.  I was asleep when I heard the drone of planes and the whistle of bombs, real heavy ones, flames went up hundreds of feet.  It was reported by the Chinese that Whitfield Barracks were hit with 6 bombs and 1800 Japs were killed or wounded.  Hundreds of Chinese were killed.
Nice and quiet today, no planes.  They didn't even go up when the planes were over here yesterday.
11 a.m.  The British dive bombed the ships in the harbour.  They came right down, almost to the masts.  One man was wounded by falling Ac Ac shrapnel and one man shot in the chest by a guard.  They will pay for all this.
Very quiet, no air raids.  One man died.  Food terrible, not fit for dogs, plain rice.
Very quiet, no air raids.  A large naval battle reported in Solomon Islands.  Japs have lost two air craft carriers.
Lovely weather, clear, lots of sunshine.  No air raids.  I hope they come over tonight.  Two deaths, Noble and Barkley.

NOVEMBER

Very nice weather, too nice to be a prisoner cooped up in a small building.
Nice and warm, but no bombers.  I wish they would come soon again.
One death.  No working party for three days.  I believe they are taking out and their draft to Japan.  I won't be taken on account of having diphtheria.
Fine again.  This place is blacked out now.  Great Naval battle reported in Solomon Islands.  Hope Japs are wiped out.
Two deaths, Albert Clapperton died last night - dysentry - starvation correct.
Nice and fine, no working party today.  Hear bombs exploding or heavy gun fire in the distance.
Cloudy day.  This is Philip's birthday, hope he has a better time than I am having.
The Japs took the R.C. Padre of the Royal Scots out of camp yesterday and beat him with big clubs, until he fainted and when he would come too, they would beat him again till he would pass out.  They did that over and over, then brought him back to camp almost dead.  They are brutes of the worst kind.  I weight less now than when I was 15 years old, but some men are worse than I am.  Just skeletons and can hardly walk.
Nice day.  One man from our company died today, but he is better gone as he was badly wounded and his wounds never healed.  That's eleven months ago.  His name was R. Forsyth - Toronto, Ontario.
Japs told us about a month ago that there was Red Cross parcels for us in Hong Kong, but never give us any of them.  Two more deaths, only the strongest will survive.  I am one month in here today with diphtheria, weak yet.
Fine day, my throat is sore today and Rhabies Itch is giving me lots of trouble.
Clear and fine, no bombers over here, wish they would come.
Nice day.  Some of the men in a terrible state with their feet - can't walk or sleep.
Very fine.  Good news that the Allies have moved into French Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.  Met little resistance.
Heard that Germans moved into Vichy France.  Cloudy with little rain.  There are a lot of Jap camouflaged boats and a large Red Cross ship.
Foggy and rain.  More Jap troops are being landed here from big freighters, then they go by ferry up river.  There was a loud explosion last night.
Dull and cloudy.  My throat is still sore in mornings.
Very foggy.  There are a lot of old camouflaged tankers in harbour.  Wish the bombers would comd and bomb them.  We are suffering from lack of Vitamin B.  Some of the men can't walk, they are getting out of shape, they even cry with the pain, no rest at all.  If we don't get out of here soon we will all be dead or cippled.
Rain and fog.  Bert Sweetman died last night, don't know what he died from but he had a bad head wound and was in hospital 10 months - was nice fellow.
Just one death today.  No working party today on account of rain.
Was moved to isolation ward, will be here a month.  One death, Joe Whalen.  Japs were moving mechanized equipment all last night and there is a lot of large ships in harbour.  Looks as if they are taking the stuff from here.
Harbour is full of large ships.  Very fine day.
Nice and clear.  Jap fighter planes up all day circling overhead.  They must expect a bombing raid.  I hope they come by hundreds.
Very clear.  Jap planes up since day break, they are using up their gas.  About 35 planes here now, not all fighters planes.  There were about 15 planes overhead all day.  Two deaths, Arthur MacAllister died, he had electric feet, but he took dysentry too.  I have a terrible sore mouth and ringworm &     itch, so I have a bad time.  Only the strongest will get out of here, we are guarded by Formosians now.  We got some Red Cross stuff today.  One ounce of bully beef per man per day and one ounce of raisins and we get 1/3 ounce of cocoa a man per week - not bad.
Very fine.  Jap fighters just keep circling the place.  One death.
Cloudy and rain.  One death.  Ursal Naine came from hospital.
Very fine.  Lindsay Mann died.  Most everyone have bad feet now.  We had air raid alarm, but it didn't happen.
Breeze of wind.  Jap planes are still up.  News we got about North Africa is very good and the Free French.  We won't give up.
Three deaths today.  We got a Red Cross parcel today weighing 15 lbs.  12 oz.  fig pudding, 12 oz orange marmalade, 10 oz bacon, 10 oz meat gelatine, 12 oz milk, 10 margarine, 10 oz biscuits, 2 oz tea, 3 oz cheese, 3 oz sandwich spread, 6 oz sugar, 1 bar soap and 3 oz chocolate.
Still eating my food from the Red Cross.  It will save a lot of lives.  Cloudy.

DECEMBER

Very fine.  One death.  This Red Cross stuff only makes us want more.
Col. Tagonaga inspected this camp today, he is a big fat D           .
Nice day, we hear that the Allies are doing good.
Still quiet, nothing going on.  Taganaga visited camp.
Weather turned very cold.  At least we find it cold on account of low vitality.
Little finer today, but not much like Sunday.
Very quiet.  Not many deaths lately and no air raids.
One year ago today the Japs started bombing us and kept it up all day.
Jap planes are up again.  We hear that the Germans are on the defensive.
Very cloudy, we were having a bad time of it one year ago today.
Still cloudy and cold.  Planes up all day.  One death.
Still cold and foggy.  One Navy man died today.
Not so cold, but very hazy - can't see very far.
Misty and warm, just like a hot day in July at home.
Two deaths.  So many men can't walk, its terrible.  No one would believe it if told.
Nice and hot, but the time is long.  The Japs are doing a lot of slapping, they must be getting the worst of it somewhere.  Rice 3 times a day.
Fine and a lot of fighters up today.  Xmas is coming close, but  I suppose we will get rice for dinner.
Very fine day.  The suffering getting worse, men cry with pain in feet.
Many Jap Planes up, must expect air raid.  Hope they come soon.  3 men died, Maxwell Mann and    .
It's a little cooler today.  They expect some big shot from Japan.
There was two Red Cross guys here today, they must have seen plenty.
Japs beat up the Brigade Major and an Officer from the Winnipeg Grenadiers, had to carry them to hospital, badly hurt.  They are worse than animals.
We recieved 10 yen from the Canadian Government through the Swiss Red Cross.  It's a great help.
The yen before war was worth 14 cents Canadian, we buy eggs at 30 cents each.
Not much like Xmas at home, no turkey, no fruit cake, but we got a double helping of rice.  Hope all are well at home and we may be together next Xmas.  This time last year we were fighting for our lives, we were ordered to attack the Japs who had broken through the Middlesex Regiment at Stanley Village.  Two platoons of us attacked them in some houses and in the graveyard.  We attacked with 70 men.  26 were killed, 37 wounded and 15 got out who were able to walk, but we must have killed over a thousand that afternoon.  We just poured machine gun bullets in their troops; they were piled up in places; it was fierce fighting, hand to hand.
It's nice and warm, about 10 degrees above, some are out in sun without shirts.
We were inspected by 6 Jap Generals.
Those Generals look like a bunch of coolies.  Wish we could get away from here its terrible.
Fine, just like August at home.  No air raids for long time.
Very hot, we just go around with shorts, no shirts.  Not so many deaths lately.
Still hot and clear, last day of 1942, hope 1943 will see us out of here.  Men are so sick they just cry and walk up and down, some go mad and have to be held down, others go blind.
1942 - LANCE ROSS (R.R.C.) DIARY

1941
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