INTRODUCTION

David Arthur Jenkins was born in Tower Hamlets, London on the 3rd November,
1911. Before he joined the RAF in 1940 he worked, probably as a clerk, for
Witting Brothers in London. Witting Brothers were glass merchants importing
from mainland Europe. David married Doris Lilian Lawson in 1935. He received
his call-up papers on 28th December 1940 and reported to No 3 Recruitment
Centre, Padgate on 8th January 1941. He spent some time in West Kirby before
boarding the Stirling Castle in Liverpool on the 28th July 1941 bound for
Singapore. Then followed the period documented in his diaries. After his
adventures in Burma it appears he remained stationed in India from mid 1942 to
the end of September 1944. A mess bill for March 1944 is made out to Pilot
Officer Jenkins, RAF Poona. Back in the UK he remained in the RAF for the
duration of the war, probably stationed in Hendon and working in administration.
At some point he was promoted to Flying Officer. After the war he returned to
Witting Brothers where he remained until retirement having become Chairman
and Managing Director of the company.

Doris died on 1st March 1984 and David died on 25th November 1988 from
complications arising from a hip operation a few days earlier

DAVID JENKINS
 DAVID JENKINS’ DIARY 1941-1942

Tuesday 30th September

Disembarked from the Stirling Castle at 9am then a bus to RAF Transit Camp
Seletar. It looks a pretty awful dump, huts constructed from raffia and palm
etc. It looks like a Chinese village. Bad news today, Bill, Joe and George
Pastcher are all posted from here. Stan, Joe and George are off this evening

BARRACK ROOMS, SELETAR TRANSIT CAMP OCTOBER 1941

and they seem to be going to a pretty bloody place by all accounts. Bill is
luckier and is only going 12 miles from Singapore. Received billets and paid $20.
Naafi in the evening, bed at 10pm. Very strange sleeping in a mosquito net for
the first time but slept fairly well.
Palled up with Andie Moss who seems to be a decent sort of chap. Seems as
though I’m going to lose Johnny and Rex who are being posted to HQ. Sent a
cable to Doris today asking her to telegraph that she is ok.

Wednesday October 1st

Parade at 7.30am. Addressed by C.O. and Padre. C.O. Seems to be rather public
school and a fire eater but is, I think, quite a decent chap. Padre seems a very
nice fellow. Lecture on risks of Singapore women at $2 per time.
Visited Singapore in the evening and wasn’t very impressed. Hell of a row in the
Chinese quarter and smell! Thousands of shops, streets full of people all over
the roads, rickshaws flying about the streets. Visited New World - like an
English funfair with side shows. There seems to be dozens of plays etc going on
at the same time but nobody seems to pay much attention to them.

Paid 80 cents for beer. Was propositioned by a Chinese woman to buy her a
drink, apparently one of the $2 touches. Lavender street seems to be the
brothel district. They certainly won’t see me around there. Got to camp at
11pm.

Thursday October 2nd

Balloon went up this morning with a vengeance. Had a bullshitty talk from the
C.O. who apparently attaches great importance to putting on ones toupee and
carrying oneself in an impeccable manner. Fortunately I managed to get myself
a job in the Orderly Room, the others had to do some square bashing all
morning and it was bloody hot work according to reports.

Had a good old scrounge this morning - seven of us on a job that one could do
in about a day. No wonder the war is costing £13 million a day and looks like
lasting for years.

BATHING POOL, RAF SELETAR OCTOBER 1941

Went to Seletar camp this evening. Marvellous place, concrete buildings, cinema,
swimming pool etc. Only hope I am lucky enough to get posted there or
somewhere like it, away from this primitive shack village. The tale is that this
place was originally built for the evacuation of natives from Thailand but it was
stated that it was not fit for natives to live in but it is apparently all right for
RAF men!

Visited Dixie village and ordered a suit from Kong Lee and took washing to the
Chinese laundry. I’m getting a bit browned off with continually changing
underclothes etc and sweating so much. Must get some thin pyjamas soon as
mine are too thick. Saw some nice cameras in Dixie - must get one as soon as
possible.

Got back at 10.30pm. What a dump to come back to after Seletar. Two blokes
at the far end of the hut apparently had $2 worth in Lavender Street. From
what they say it seems about as thrilling as going to the butchers but far more
dangerous. I expect there will be VD cases in this camp very soon.

Friday October 3rd

Still scrounging on 678A’s. Rained today for the first time since we arrived.
Much cooler. Got tickets for a football match. Collected slacks and shorts from
the tailor - quite ok - bought towels, pants etc. Came back in a bus with three
very snobbish white women. The civilian Europeans out here seem to treat the
services very badly, yet another example of the ‘Democratic principles’ we are
fighting for. The lavatories are disgusting. One has to crouch over a hole cut in
a piece of wood beneath which is a bucket. One dare not let ones body touch
the seat because of the danger of disease.

Saturday October 4th

Almost like an English Saturday at home. Football in the afternoon - RAF v

Chinese XII - very good game ending in a draw 1:1. Chinese were very good
footballers, very fast. Saw Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour in “Caught in the
Draft” at Cathay. Excellent film full of laughs, quite a tonic. R.P. Started his
usual moaning again. I’m glad in a way I am not being posted with him. Learn
that we have been posted nobody knows where but will probably move Monday
or Tuesday. Spoke to Bill last night. He seems to have struck lucky again and
has to make his bed and clean buttons and boots and do plenty of laundry. I
wonder if I’m going to be lucky or if I’m going to be posted somewhere in the
jungle. I expect the suspense will end very soon now. It’s a pity we all get split
up like this as it means we have to make friends all over again with new fellows
and sometimes this is not easy.

Sunday October 5th

Parade at 9am. Stand-by fire picket for tonight. Buggered about in Orderly
room all morning doing nothing. Hear we will be posted from here on Monday or
Tuesday but nobody seems to know where. Seems as though most of the good
postings have gone and I’m afraid the rest of us will be posted up country. Still
we will have to put up with it wherever it is. Shades of RAF camps in England!
Tonight we had chicken and roast potatoes for dinner.

Monday October 6th

Well, I have heard today that I have been posted to Rangoon - 221 Camp. All
the other clerks are being posted to Seletar. Just my luck being posted with
nobody I know. God knows what it is like up there. I’m not hoping for much so
I will not be disappointed at whatever I find. At any rate the living conditions
could not be much more primitive than they are here. The only thing I’m really
concerned about is whether there will be any opportunity of Clipper airmail
home. As long as I can get letters from home fairly quickly I won’t worry about
much else. I must say however that I would have liked to be posted somewhere
in Singapore so that I could have seen Johnny and the others now and again.
Still I expect I will soon settle down and make fresh pals where I am going.
Apparently it means another sea trip for about 3/4 days unless we fly up there.
Another striking example of our war effort. Today they had nothing for some of
the chaps to do so they got them walking around the camp picking up
matchsticks and cigarette ends! All skilled men getting 5/- to 7/- a day acting
as scavengers. No wonder one reads in the paper that it will be another 2
years before we can invade the continent. This war seems like lasting another
10 years at our present rate.
Tuesday October 7th

Another day of doing nothing. Paraded for posting at 7am and split up into units.
And then stood about until break at 10am. Had bath, did washing, tiffin, slept
from 12.30 to 4.30 pm. Spent evening in Naafi reading. Only had lime juice and
a sausage roll owing to the necessity of making 62 cents last until Friday. R.P. is
broke as usual and asked me if I thought he could touch Moss for a dollar. He
has about $80 and is as tight as hell with it and seems to be afraid of spending
too much. I wouldn’t borrow from anybody even if I had to stay in for a week. I
must say though that this being broke is a rotten feeling and I have wished
many times I had taken Doris’s advice and brought extra money away with me.
Still once I get settled down I expect I will find things easier. I expect that if
I am going to Rangoon I will have to have rupees and annas again. Perhaps
things will be cheaper there. Outside of clothes and cigarettes things here are
not cheap.

I’m hoping for a reply from Doris to my cable before the weekend, even just a
few words saying she is all right will be reassuring. I would have sent another
airmail this week but I think I had better wait and see when I am going up to
Burma and then perhaps I will send another cable with my address and ask her
to cable me there that she is ok.

Wednesday October 8th

Another day of doing nothing. Purchased tickets for a football match and
visited the Naafi in the morning. Now reduced to 14 cents which means I won’t
be able to do much between now and Friday. Did washing and bathed. This
washing business is tiring. Every day I have to wash at least 3 or 4 things out
and today, after I had put my clean clothes on, I was sweating again. It is
amazing where it all comes from. I find that tea makes you sweat terribly and
I think I will have to cut down on it. I will be glad to get settled down
somewhere where I can unpack my kit and end this continual packing and
unpacking and to get to a place where they have decent lavatories. This place
makes one almost vomit every morning. I wonder what Doris would think of the
sanitary conditions if I was allowed to tell her. Still, in any case, even if I was
allowed to tell her I wouldn’t as she would only worry over me and, after all,
there are lots of fellows who are a lot worse off than me so I shouldn’t grumble.
I often smile when I think of how I used to complain at Pershore when I couldn’t
get a 48 every 4 weeks, what I would give to be there now. Unless anything
happens it certainly looks as though I will be out here for at least 3 years. I
wonder what Doris would say if she knew this. It is just as well that she
doesn’t know and it is better for her to keep hoping I will be home soon as in
any case there is always the chance that something unexpected will happen and
I find myself on the way home much earlier than I anticipate. Went to a
concert this evening - a very poor show.

Thursday October 9th

Doris’s birthday - many happy returns darling. Several chaps have now received
replies to their cables home and some have also received airmail letters posted
in England 14/18 days ago. I look eagerly down the list every day but have had
no luck so far. I hoped Doris would have sent me an airmail letter by Clipper by
this time. Pouring with rain this morning. Nothing to do as usual. I’m getting
quite adept at the art of scrounging or looking busy when there are any officers
about. I am getting fed up with this hanging about doing nothing and will be
glad when I can unpack my kit and know I’m going to be in one place for a few
months at best. These lavatories are getting worse. The smell this morning was
awful. Was delighted to find 30 cents (8d) in my blue tunic this morning. This
means I will be able to go to the Naafi after all this morning.

Friday October 10th

News very grave this morning. It seems to be touch and go on the Russian
front. I wonder whether we are going to let this golden opportunity pass.
Surely we have enough men and material available to make a landing in occupied
territory to give the Russians a breathing space. Our contribution towards
winning the war this morning was to march up and down the same stretch of
road doing turns and saluting. What a farce. It is not difficult to understand
why this war is going to last a few more years if this state of affairs is general
among our overseas forces. They took our names and numbers for about the
fifth time this morning and now new nominal rolls are wasted in the morning.
Incidentally these will be about the fourth lot of nominal rolls that have been
handed in. Even the adjutant seemed browned off this morning with ‘Gregson’s
Grenadiers’ as he called them.
 CANAL IN SINGAPORE

Most of the fellows are feeling very fed up and quite bitter about the state of
affairs out here. It looks as though we are prepared to fight to the last
Russian. We are all anxious to get down to our own jobs instead of bullshitting
about every day for no purpose. If they asked for volunteers for Russia I’m
certain every man in the camp would go like a shot, but we have to play at
soldiers instead of getting on with the job. It’s a good job the folk in England
have not got any idea of what things out here at like in this ‘Fortress of the
East’ as it is sometimes called in the press. Judging by the kites we have here I
hope the Japanese Air Force is not much good otherwise we look like catching it
hot. Very heavy rain in the night but surprisingly enough the rain did not come
in despite the somewhat crazy construction of the huts.

Saturday October 11th

Nothing to do all the morning so did a large ‘dhukie’ - towel, shirts(2) pants,
vests and socks. Very heavy rain early this morning. Went to Dixie and Seletar
Naafi last night and had a couple of Tigers and some sandwiches. Moss,
although he has well over $100, would not have more than one drink and 2 rolls,
the latter only after considerable consideration. I believe he has rationed
himself to about 25 cents a day. What a life! I’m going to try and save $4/5 a
fortnight if I can. It all depends on what things cost in Burma. Incidentally
I’ve had tales of what a terrible place Burma is. I hope it isn’t as bad as it is
painted but in any case, whatever it is like, I will be glad to get away from here
and get down to some work as this messing around doing nothing is getting on
my nerves. The stench from the lavatories is getting worse and I’m afraid of
catching some kind of fever if I stay here much longer. I wonder if the people
at home realise what we have to put up with here. I know there are lots of
chaps who are worse off than me but the conditions here, especially from the

CANAL IN SINGAPORE

health and sanitary point of view, are lousy (in more ways than one!).

Went to football this afternoon. A very good game and RAF won 4:2. Met
Johnny and R.P. in the evening and saw “In the Navy” a very funny film. R.P. cut
up rough as usual when we came out. He gets on my nerves and I’m not sorry
I’m not posted with him. One chap who is at AHQ wants to change with me and
go up to Rangoon. It might be possible to arrange it but I think I will take a
chance on Rangoon in spite of the fearsome tales I have heard about what a
terrible place Burma is to be posted to. I hear we will probably be leaving here
by about Wednesday next. I hope I get a reply from Doris before then as I am
rather worried at getting no reply to my 2 cables.

Sunday October 12th

No parades today. Had a lie in until 7.15am. Spent rest of the morning lazing
about doing nothing. All the chaps who have not been posted, mostly fitters 11E
and 11A are being put on to X party for 3 week’s rifle bashing etc. It is
disgusting when one realises that these chaps have had anything from 5 to 9
months technical training and now they have come 10,000 miles to do an
untrained infantryman’s job. The more I see of conditions out here the more I
despair of our chances of winning this war, at least for another 5 years or so.

Monday October 13th

Another day doing nothing except walk up and down for an hour or so this
morning. Told we will probably be going from here about Wednesday but I
shouldn’t be surprised if we are still here this time next week. Several of the
chaps have received replies to their cables which they sent at the same time as
mine including R.P. I hope I get a reply before I leave here as otherwise it will
be some time reaching me if I have left. It worries me when you get no replies.
Have heard some fearsome tales of Burma and what a terrible place it is. Well,
whatever it’s like I’ll be glad to get away from this place and get down to some
work. Went to see “Penny Serenade” at Seletar, very good film indeed.

Tuesday October 14th

Working in the carpenters shop making dummy wooden guns. I believe we have
more dummy guns than real ones out here. The other chaps were put on drill
first thing this morning and then on picking up bits of paper around the camp.
Just imagine coming 10,000 miles to do this sort of work. Every day I hope
that we are going to hear we are moving off as, like everyone else, I am
completely browned off with this place which is an absolute maze of chaos and
inefficiency which seems to characterise our war effort right through. C.O.
suddenly decides he wants an extra guard mounted at 2.30pm and 18 of us were
collared for it. When we met on duty we found the usual guard had arrived and
after we had messed about for nearly an hour we decided we were not wanted
and we cleared off. Every day one realises what a hopeless state of chaos
things are at this camp. Nobody, including officers and NCO’s, seems to have the
slightest idea of what is to be done and every day one gets orders to do a job,
five minutes later you are told to do something else and then later you are asked
why you are not doing the first job! Yesterday we were ordered by an officer
to report to the carpenters shop and he would follow us. After we had waited
there for an hour and a half another officer gave us a lecture for standing
about. Apparently the first officer had forgotten all about us. All this would be
funny if it weren’t so tragic. When one thinks that this sort of disorganisation
and chaos runs right through the services it makes you despair. The people at
home can have no idea of what is going on otherwise I think even their morale
would collapse.

Wednesday October 15th

Carpenters shop in the morning. Went to see Bitter Sweet in the evening with
Johnny and Jeff Wilkins and had a meal in the Red Shield Club. A very nice
evening out. Arrived back in camp at 11pm.

Thursday October 16th

Another day in the carpenters shop doing nothing. Feeling pretty queer today
as I have an attack of diarrhoea due probably to a chill in the stomach. Feel as
though my stomach has been turned inside out. Still no reply from home but 2
more chaps in the hut have received cables. What with getting no news and my
stomach, I am feeling about as wretched as possible. Unless I’m a bit better
tomorrow I will have to report sick for the first time since joining the RAF.
Spent evening in the Naafi, bed by 8.30pm feeling pretty lousy.

Friday October 17th

Reported sick this morning. They told me they had no medicine for me until the
afternoon. Anyway after 2 doses I feel a lot better. Understand our sailing
orders for Burma have been cancelled owing to the Japanese tension and it
looks as though we may be here for some time yet.
Saturday October 18th

Half day. Went into Singapore in the afternoon and saw “Man Hunt” at Cathay,
very good film. Had a meal in the YMCA - a very pleasant evening. Still find it
practically impossible to save any money out here. As soon as you change a
dollar it seems to go. Still no reply from Doris so sent another SFM cable from
Singapore GPO. I hope I get a reply to this one before I leave here as I am now
getting very worried.

Sunday October 19th

Open air church service this morning. Sat on ground sheets under rubber trees
and got bitten by dozens of different kinds of insects. Did washing - pyjamas, 2
shirts, vest, pants, 2 towels and handkerchiefs. I bet Doris would have a good
laugh if she could see me with my packet of Lux and a nail brush scrubbing
away. It’s a good job I wash them so frequently as they are not dirty, just
sweaty. I can’t send any of them to the dhalia as I might be leaving here any
time now, although it looks as though we shall be here at least until next pay
day. Spent afternoon lying on the bed and went to the Naafi in the evening.
Played draughts and had a very depressing time discussing how long we were
going to be out here. The general idea seems to be it is 4 years for single chaps
and 3 years for married men. I hope to God I’m not going to be here for 3
years or even 2 years. Still, I am certain that if the war is over within the
next year we shall be going home as soon after that as possible. At any rate
that is what I’m hoping and you have to hope out here otherwise you would go
barmy if you just thought how long you were going to be away from home. I
never realised how much my home and Doris were in my life. It seems a big
slice has been taken out of my life, something I will never get back.

Monday October 20th and Tuesday October 21st

Two absolutely similar days. Carpenters shop in the morning and afternoon and
Naafi and letter writing in the evening. Have discovered the reason why I am
not getting any replies to my cables or any letters. Apparently, although we
have not yet left for Rangoon, all our mail is being sent up there. Went to see
Orderly Room corporal this morning in an endeavour to stop it but I don’t know
whether I will be successful. There is quite a lot of mail coming through from
West Kirby now and I feel very fed up as I see all the other chaps around me
reading their letters. I hope I get either a letter or a cable within the next
two or three days otherwise I shall be feeling really depressed. I am feeling
fairly fed up right now as I have this diarrhoea trouble again. Several chaps
have it and I can’t think what can be the cause of it.

Wednesday and Thursday October 22nd and 23rd

I went to Singapore on Wednesday evening and saw “Moon over Miami”. Feeling
terrible and was heartily glad to get back to camp. Have this diarrhoea very
bad this time and feel also as if I have flu as I am aching all over and have a
bad headache. Went sick in Thursday morning and excused duties. Took
medicine and laid in bed all day and had no food.

Friday October 24th

Feeling a lot better this morning although still have diarrhoea pretty badly.
Reported sick again. Same medicine and excused duties. Learned today we are
definitely leaving for Rangoon on Saturday. Went out to Seletar in the evening
and had a few beers with Johnny and Rex as a farewell celebration and saw
Bing in “Rhythms in the River” for the third time! Strangely enough, each time
I have seen this film I’ve made a move. The first time I saw it I was with Doris
at the Trocadero, Elephant and Castle on Feb 14th the day before I joined the
RAF. Then I saw it in Worcester a week before I was posted overseas and now
just before I leave for Rangoon. I am sorry I’m splitting up with Johnny as he is
a very decent lad and very even tempered and easy to get on with but I’m
afraid he will not have an easy time with Pearce as he is too moody.

Saturday October 25th

Have nearly recovered from the sickness. Left transit camp at 9.30am this
morning (thank God) and came aboard the Karon at about 10.30am and sailed at
4pm. Conditions aboard seem to be very good as we are billeted 4 to a cabin.
Food is excellent and, wonder of wonders, it is eaten off a white tablecloth and
is served up to us by waiters! We don’t queue up for it neither do we use our
own mug or irons! It is strange to be living and eating like civilised beings after
spending nearly a month in the filthy atmosphere of transit camp. It is an
absolute scandal that Englishmen should be billeted in such a place. If it was
miles out in the country far away from any town one would realise the
difficulties, but when you are on the outskirts of a modern town like Singapore
and you know that in that town Europeans are living in ease and luxury, hardly
realising there is a war on, it is very galling having to put up with the conditions
in transit camp.

Notes on Singapore

Singapore is full of the most snobbish and ill mannered Europeans I have ever
met. Apart from the people who run the canteens the remaining Europeans, who
are all fairly well to do, look on the Services with contempt and absolutely
ignore you in the streets. If war does break out here and Singapore gets
bombed it will certainly shake them out of their complacency and snobbishness.
It hardly seems possible that these people and the people who gave us such a
wonderful time in Cape Town are all English. I wonder what the people at home
would say if they knew the state of affairs in Singapore. So much for the
“pukka wallahs” of our far flung empire. All they care about is the extra profits
they are getting out of their rubber and tin. Now that I have left Singapore all
I can remember of it is the smell of the drains and I prefer that to its
Europeans.

Sunday October 26th

It’s uncanny! Tea in bed arrived at 7am. It’s difficult to realise we are still in
the RAF. This morning’s breakfast also shook us considerably, Quaker Oats,
fishcakes, 2 rashers, 2 eggs and chips, bread, butter, marmalade and tea. It
seems too good to be true. Had a long talk this morning with Ogden who seems
a very decent chap. We talked about the furniture trade which is his business,
discussing various firms which quite brought back old memories. Grub continues
to be excellent but, as usual, some people must complain. Sat with an army CSM
for dinner and he complained about every course. Judging by his speech I
should imagine he came from the east end of London and had never had grub
like it in his life before. Apparently he is going back to England soon and he is
another one who is going to get a shock. A party developed in the lounge
during the evening getting rather noisy on several whiskies etc. I didn’t join in
but did some letter writing instead. Expect to arrive at Penang tomorrow where
we may be allowed ashore for a few hours.
Monday October 27th

Arrived in Penang at 6.30. am. Quite a small quayside. It is strange how small
all these docks seem after one has been used to the huge quays and cranes in
London docks. We certainly don’t seem to have made much of an attempt to
improve the port facilities of the FMS ports if Singapore and Penang are
anything to go by. Apparently there is some hitch in our going ashore and it
looks as though we may miss it. However, went ashore at 4 pm and spent an
interesting afternoon looking around all the Chinese shops etc. Once again
regretted my shortage of cash as there were a lot of things I would have liked
to have bought. Saw some beautiful designs in silks etc that Doris would have
loved, also some lovely gold and and real jade brooches of exquisite
workmanship. It was amazing to see the way in which the Chinese shop
assistants used their frames of beads for calculating at a terrific speed. Had a
very enjoyable taxi trip out to see the Snake Temple. A very disappointing trip
as far as the temple was concerned as it was a very ancient building with
simply a few very tired looking snakes draped around the place. It was worth
going for the ride as it was beautiful scenery all the way. Actually Penang is a
rather more attractive place than Singapore as it seems to be cleaner and in

NATIVE QUARTERS PENANG

certain aspects more modern. The shop keepers are extremely courteous and
obliging although their lack of knowledge of English sometimes produces amusing
results. Yesterday for instance, Ogden wanted some flints for his lighter and,
after he had explained what he wanted at some length to the shop keeper, a
knowing grin spread over his face and he disappeared into the rear of his shop
to return with a packet containing a F.L. Apparently he thought that was what
was wanted. We had a very good meal at the Swiss Cafe at a very reasonable
price although Martin as usual had to air his continental knowledge by ordering
a Wiener Schnitzel and then telling us at great length of the last occasion he
had it on the continent. I have never met anybody who tries so hard to impress
you with his social standing and worldliness. He is forever talking about his car,
his business and his bank and what he is going to do to make the Air Ministry
release him immediately the war is over. One gets sick of hearing it over and
over again with variations. Came back on board with 5th engineer who is a very
decent chap and invited us up to his cabin for a drink. Sat there jawing until
midnight and went to bed feeling very tired. I wish I could have bought
something as a small memento for Doris. Perhaps I may pick up something
tomorrow or I may wait until Rangoon and when my financial position has
improved. After all I am going to have plenty of time to look around to select
what I want to either send or take home. This money business is going to be
rather difficult as things out here are pretty expensive but there are so many
lovely things that one sees and would like to buy. I have to remember, however,
that I am on service pay and spend accordingly. I would like to get a camera
however to take some snaps as a reminder of the places we have visited.

Tuesday October 28th

Went ashore at 10am with McLaren, Ogden and Yaxley. Had a nice morning
poking around the shops. Nearly bought some slippers to send home but decided
to leave it until Rangoon. Had lunch at the Naafi - very nice building. Yaxley is
a bit of a bind with his camera, forever talking about the quality of his shots
and deprecating other people’s efforts. Surely if a chap just wants a snap and
not a technical masterpiece that is his own affair. I thought there was going to
be some unpleasantness between Y and McLaren as they interchanged some very
cutting sarcasm. Came aboard at 2.30pm and sailed at 5 pm. Spent the evening
in the dining room writing letters.
Wednesday October 29th

The new OC troops apparently believes in plenty of “bull”. We have to have 2

roll calls each day now at 9 am and 6 pm and a parade at 11am with life belts
and have to keep on deck after breakfast until 11am. I suppose this is done
just to remind us we are in the service in case the unusual nature of this trip
should give us ideas! I bet if he could stop our early morning tea he would as it
must rile him considerably to think that common rankers are being given
privileges that should only be accorded to “officers and gentlemen”. “Democracy
where art thou?” Yaxley is a particularly credulous individual. He told me in all
seriousness this morning that he thought the war would end next spring and
when I asked him why he said “well Ogden and McLaren both say so and they
are men of the world”. McLaren is a clerk and Ogden is a furniture dealer. I
bet they would be amused if I told them Y’s faith in their opinions owing to
their being ‘men of the world’.

Thursday October 30th

Nothing of importance. Ate, slept in the afternoon, played cards in the evening,
bed at 9.40. This idyllic existence is coming to an end tomorrow as we are
expected to dock tomorrow morning.

Friday October 31st

Pilot came aboard at 7.35 - docked at 11.30 am and came ashore at 12.15.
Came along to Mingaladon to get some grub and then go back to H.Q.221 Group.
arrived Mingaladon at 1 pm had tiffin and then told we would be staying there
tonight. Allotted hut No. 92 and got sheets and netting erected and then I am
told that I must report to 221 today without the other 3 RTO’s who are
supposed to be going there. However, after seeing the Orderly room, it
transpired that I was to be ready to leave tomorrow at 10.15 am. Have been
told that Sale Barracks where I am going is a terrible place, lousy with bugs,
food is shocking etc, all the usual details. Apparently they are building some
new quarters which will not be ready for a few weeks. Still I will find all this
out tomorrow. Some of the chaps complain about this place but after Transit
camp it is luxurious with showers, ablutions and flushing lavatories. The food
does not seem too bad, the usual RAF grub. Went in Naafi in the evening and
picked up some good and some duff gen about mail. Will have to make enquiries
about mail and cables tomorrow.

Saturday November 1st

Told last night I have to be ready to leave for H.Q. tomorrow morning at 10.15.
I am the only one going. The RTO’s are not going because they have no
equipment at H.Q. for them! I was brought down to H.Q. in a van in solitary
state. Saw S/Leader Andrews who then delivered the bombshell by telling me
that I would be stationed at H.Q. for about a month or until February during
which time I was to learn all I possibly could about the work and I would then
be sent to a station about 400 miles up country right on the Indo-Chinese
border called, I believe, Namsang which, in his own words, is a pretty awful
place. Well after getting that birthday present my next job was to be taken to
Sale Barracks where H.Q. staff are billeted with the army. We had been told
what an awful place it was and by God it is true. They have no electric fans in
the place and the air is cooled by large mat like things swinging from the
ceiling. These are full of bugs, beetles and other insects which drop on you
from above during the night and bite chunks out of you. The sleeping quarters
are filthy and there are some chaps sleeping outside in the verandah. But to
cap all this the food is so bad as to be almost uneatable and you have to take
your tin plate down, have the first part of your meal, wash your plate and get
your sweet if any. I can see I shall be spending most of my money on food as,
quite apart from the quality of the food, the eating quarters are filthy. Spent
the afternoon and evening wandering around Rangoon which made me even more
depressed as it is a filthy place and it makes you feel lousy just to walk through
the streets. Had a meal in the Continental and went to the cinema in the
evening where I paid I rupee, I anna to sit in a very uncomfortable chair and
see a film “Third Finger Left Hand” which was about 12/18 months old. Finished
the evening in the Services club by having a shower and a meal. This seems to
be the only place worth going to and fortunately it is only about 10 minutes
walk from here.

Sunday November 2nd

Had a fairly peaceful night with only slight attentions from the bugs. Had a
lousy breakfast and decided to miss dinner and had some fruit instead. Spent
the morning writing and putting up some of my feelings in writing. I hope it
doesn’t make Doris worry too much but I feel I must let myself go as I am
feeling more depressed now than I have ever felt since I joined up. Still, I
expect once I get over the initial shock I will settle down to things. It seems
as though my lucky star has deserted me for me to be picked out of all the
clerks/GD to come to Burma and be earmarked for this outlandish up country
station. If the Japs do decide to start anything I will be right in the front line
with a vengeance. I am not there yet and it is quite possible that I may never
get sent there. At any rate whatever happens I am quite resigned to it. I have
had an unpleasant feeling lately of some trouble happening to me but in what
manner I don’t know. It is just an awkward sort of presentiment which I hope
is wrong. One of the things that makes me feel even more depressed is the fact
of not knowing anyone here so I am on my own the whole time. If Sparrow or
Sprange or any of the chaps from Transit were sent up here it would be better
as I would have someone to knock around with. I have been told they are all
going up to Mingaladon so it seems as though I shall have none of them down
here at all which is a rather depressing outlook. I am rather looking forward to
the trip up country as I have heard that in some of these isolated stations the
conditions are quite good although this place where I’m supposed to be going
was reported to have had to be closed down some time ago owing to the malaria
and other diseases being so prevalent there. What a life! If anyone talks to me
about the glamour of the East or says how lucky I am to travel like this when I
get home I will murder them. Finished up a thoroughly miserable day in the
Services Club, the only bright spot so far in my two days here.

Monday November 3rd - 30th Birthday

Started work today. After about 4 attempts they finally decided to give me a
month going around the various departments to pick up all the gen I can as I
am apparently to run the whole show up at Namsang including pay cheques.
Well I will learn what I can but I am certainly not going to worry myself for
4/6d a day particularly having regard to the conditions in which we are living.
The position here is really serious - the food question and the health question.
Every chap is spending at least a rupee a day on food owing to the food here
being inedible. Also, out of about 30 men in quarters, nearly 20 of them have
either ringworm or some other form of skin infection. Two more chaps have
gone into hospital today. One of them only came out this morning and has had
to go back again. Incidentally I’ve been sleeping in his bed for the past 3 nights
so it is odds on me catching something. I have got to the stage now where I
don’t care what happens to me. I am going to have a good try tomorrow to get
out of this place on the excuse that there is no accommodation for me here.
Even if I have to pay my own fare it will be worth it as at least I wouldn’t have
to spend a rupee a day on food as I am doing now. I don’t intend putting my
back into my job unless I am given a square deal. Naturally the officers have no
desire to move as they are very comfortably billeted in hotels. It is a grand life
for them. They ought to spend a night or two in our quarters and have a few
meals here. Went to Services Club this evening to get something to eat. I would
have eaten much more but couldn’t afford it. Met Ogden, McLaren and Yaxley
there and told them how lucky they were not to have been sent to 221 group
as Mingaladon is a palace compared with this dump. Everybody here is fed up
and I don’t think one of them really puts his back into his job and I don’t blame
them. This is the headquarters of the RAF in Burma! God help us if the
Japanese army start anything out here. You can see another Dunkirk and
Greece fiasco standing out a mile and unfortunately this time I shall be right in
a front row seat. All I can hope is that if anything does happen I will be lucky
enough to escape injury and if and when I do get back to England I will do all I
can to let people know the true state of affairs, although by that time the war
will be over and, provided we have won, everybody will be far too busy enjoying
themselves to listen to my complaints. Incidentally I am writing this on the bed
onto which are continually dropping all sorts of insects and I can count at least
6 different sorts crawling about. And so to bed at 11.15.

Tuesday to Thursday 4 - 6 November

Each day exactly the same. Worked at H.Q. during the day, hardly touched the
meals at Sale barracks and went each evening to the Services Club to have at
least one decent meal a day. The rest of the chaps from Transit arrived and, as
I thought, most of them were sent up to Mingaladon except 2 P.A. clerks, Weare
and Painting who seem decent chaps. They arrived on Tuesday. I have now got
my own bed out on the verandah which is fortunately a new one and is
comparatively free of bugs etc. I have also managed to get some sheets and a
mosquito net and things are now looking a bit better although I will never like
this place. We had the offer of moving to Mingaladon and several of us jumped
at it but most of the others turned it down chiefly because it is too far from
Rangoon (it only costs 4 annas by bus) and also they thought there would be a
lot of bullshit. What a view to take. Surely it is better to have a little bull and
eat decent grub and sleep decently rather than no bull and live like we do now.
I was so mad I told one chap that you have lived in filth and eaten shit for so
long you have forgotten what decent grub and clean beds are like.

Friday November 7th

Paid today, posted letters to Doris and others. Had steak and onions at the
Continental and needed it. The bugs have really got to work on me now. I am
covered in bites all up my legs and arms and also some on my face. Have palled
up with Painting and Weare who have just arrived from Transit. They both seem
very decent chaps and it makes a lot of difference when you have someone to go
around with and talk to. Sent cable home with address.

Saturday November 8th

Another Continental steak and went to the pictures with P and W. Saw “Sea
Wolf” quite a good film. The cinemas here are pretty rotten dumps, very dirty
and uncomfortable places. Met Sparrow and Sprange and others in the Services
Club and told them how lucky they were to be up at Mingaladon. Apparently
they may also be sent up country later on. Heard some more tales of what a
terrible place Namsang is but, as usual, I am not paying any attention until I see
for myself. If I can stick the conditions under which we are living now I don’t
think Namsang will worry me. If I am to get malaria perhaps it will mean my
getting away from here altogether. I hope I do manage to keep my health. If I
can go on without getting any serious complaint I will be very lucky indeed. I
often sit and wonder what effect this climate is going to have on my health
when I return to England. I expect I shall have a pretty rough time during my
first winter after I return. I am missing Doris so terribly these days.
Sometimes I get awful fits of depression when I feel I am not going to see her
again. I try all I can to throw them off but it’s not easy. I wish to God this
business was over and done with or at least the end was in sight. What makes
it worse is that nearly all the chaps who came out with me have received
several letters from home and I have only had one dated August 6th. One
letter in nearly 4 months! I hope there will be some more coming along soon to
cheer me up. The food continues to be absolutely vile and the first thing I have
had to do with my pay of 31 rupees is to earmark 15 rupees at least for food
for the next fortnight. So after I have paid for laundry and a couple of visits
to the pictures I will have hardly anything left at all. It seems I won’t be able
to get a camera before I go up country unless any money arrives from home
which is very doubtful.

Sunday November 9th

Spent a very lazy day today, missed breakfast had tea from cha-wallah. Went
out in the afternoon and had a haircut - about the best I have ever had.
Wandered around Rangoon. What we saw didn’t enhance my liking for it.
Finished up at the Services Club in the evening.

Monday November 10th

Went to the entertainment that is given every Monday evening for the troops
and had a really good time. Plenty to eat and drink and a variety show all free.
After spending an evening like this it almost makes one forget the circumstances
in which we are eating and sleeping until you come back to them at night.

Tuesday November 11th

Am now doing some work in P.Staff owing to one chap being ill. I think this H.Q.
is the most inefficient and badly run place I have ever been in. Nobody seems
to have any authority and they all seem to treat their work as a joke. I wish I
had an opportunity of working there. I believe I could make a good show. Had a
pleasant surprise this evening. One of the chaps asked us if we would like to go
along to dinner with some European people. He had an invitation every fortnight
for 6 people. We went along and had a grand evening with Mr. and Mrs Clark.
He is in the I.C.S. and they are a very nice couple who gave us plenty of beer
and a good dinner. Once again being treated like this once in a while helps one
to put up with the conditions here. Incidentally, as a result of us taking a tin of
bugs up to H.Q. the beds were all beaten today but they are still as bad as
ever. They are so full of vermin and so old the only way to get rid of them is to
destroy the beds altogether.

Wednesday November 12th

Received 2 cables dated 22nd and 29th October from Doris which cheered me
up considerably because now I know everything is OK. What I would like now is
to get some letters giving me all the news. Some of the fellows received airmail
letters dated 15th-20th September on Friday. I have got to wait for my letters
to come up from Singapore as it will be some weeks before I get letters
addressed to Rangoon. Painting received a reply on Thursday to the cable he
sent with me last Friday so I know mine has got there OK. Went to see Hudson’s
Bay on Saturday evening and finished up in the Services Club. It has been
awful down there the last few nights as the insects have been terrible. They
swarm around the lights in millions and drop all over you as you sit there.

Sunday November 16th

Had quite a good day today and spent the morning in the zoo. Very
disconcerting to see leopards, tigers, alligators and pythons all of which are
apparently to be found up country in Burma. I hope I don’t meet any of them in
my stay there. Had tiffin in the Continental and went round Suthi market in the
afternoon. Baxter and Jack bought some cheroots at 10 annas a hundred or 10
a penny! Apparently they are quite good in spite of the price.

Monday November 17th

Received two letters, one from Russill and one from Mum and Dad but still no
more from Doris which is strange. The old man has had a week’s notice after
being with Poulters for 38 years! The reward for faithful service. Still he
managed to get another job straight away at Chessington. Not much news from
Russill except that Annie Raven has left W.B. I shall be very surprised if they
are still functioning after the war. Went to usual Monday night entertainment
and sing song and had a very good time. These occasional evenings out help to
make this place tolerable. Handed my name in for the trade test next week.
Hear it is a stiff paper but I will have a go at it as I have nothing to lose and I
might be lucky enough to get my props. It may be fortunate if I do as the
establishment at Namsang is for a Corporal and one D.C. Clerk/G.D. It is quite
possible that I may not go up country as they are badly in need of clerks down
here.

Tuesday 18th - Saturday 22nd November

Same old round every day. Service Club in the evening and a bit of genning up
for the trade test next Tuesday. Hear that I am going up to Namsang on or
about the 1st December. From what I hear the GD’s who are going up are a
pretty tough crowd including a couple who have done detention for stealing.
Apparently they are going up next Tuesday to Heho until Namsang is ready for
opening and I am going up to Heho later. It seems as though the Japs are
about to start something in Thailand so I will be going up to a fairly
uncomfortable spot as I will be quite near the Thailand frontier. One way and
another I haven’t been very lucky so far as I always seem fated to travel alone
and leave my friends behind at each station. Still it is no use grumbling,
perhaps it will turn out OK.

Sunday 23rd November

Spent today roaming around Scott market bargaining. Bought some cheroots to
send to Russill provided the duty isn’t too heavy. Spent the afternoon at the
Seaman’s mission. Not a very grand place.

Monday 24th November

Heard today that I am leaving for Heho on Saturday and going on to Namsang
from there. Apparently an officer from Heho is going to take over command of
Namsang.

Tuesday November 25th

Sat Trade Test this morning. Pretty stiff paper but feel confident I have done
fairly well although I may not get enough for my LAC.

Wednesday November 26th

Went to dance and supper for servicemen at Gymkhana this evening. As usual it
was run in a very patronising manner. There was free beer, food and cigarettes
and dancing, but the whole time you had the impression that it was all being
performed as a duty rather than a spontaneous effort. As soon as it finished at
9.15 the ladies all disappeared and left us to clear off.

Saturday November 29th

Moved off today for Heho en route for Namsang. Felt rather sad at leaving Sele
Barracks in spite of it being such a dump. It wouldn’t be so bad if I were going
with somebody I know but once again I was on my own. I seem fated to travel
alone every time. The rotten part is that you arrive not knowing anybody at all
and it is not always easy to get friendly, especially on this trip as I have heard
there are some pretty tough eggs amongst the Namsang crowd. Left Sele
Barracks at 3pm with Holden and Curtis, a C & B and ‘store bashed’ from
Mingaladon. They seem fairly decent chaps. We had a glorious trip up here
although the rail conditions were rather primitive. As there were only 2 bunks
we tossed up who should sleep on the floor and it fell to Holden. I slept on the
top shelf and slept quite well considering the circumstances. The scenery was
marvellous as we gradually climbed up to Kalum where we were over 4000 ft
above sea level. The air was lovely and cool and the hills were covered in tall
pines and other trees. Our train slowly wound its way zigzag fashion to the top
and we could then see below us the way we had come with the track twisting
and turning below us. We could see wild flowers growing in the hillsides and at
each little wayside station we were able to buy oranges, lemons and guavas
which I tasted for the first time. I didn’t think very much of them. We
travelled up with a very educated Burmese named Ba Chit who had visited
London several years ago and also France and Germany. He told us quite a lot of
interesting details about this part of the country and, from what he says, it may
not be such a terrible place as it is made out to be.

Sunday November 30th

Arrived at Heho at midday. Met by a lorry who collected us and some of the
chaps who had been in the bazaar which is held every 5 days. The main thing
of interest seems to be the rustic knives which can be obtained in all sizes up to
sword sticks. Most of the chaps seem to have bought them. Saw Stacey as
soon as I arrived. Got fixed up in a billet with the rest of the Namsung crowd
or at least most of them. Some of them seem all right but there are apparently
two or three blokes who go mad as soon as they get some beer down them.
When I come to a fresh place like this I often wonder if and who I am going to
pair off with. At the moment I don’t see anyone who is at a loose end and they
all seem to be in little cliques. Made bed up using three blankets which I am
assured I will need. It certainly strikes very chilly up here after the heat of
Rangoon. This is not surprising given the height of Heho.
Monday December 1st

Very rough dinner last night. Spent most of the evening in the Institute, a
building where they have a wireless, table tennis, darts and a few books. There
is no canteen of any kind here. A very cheerless spot and got an insight into
several of the Namsang crowd. They seem to be a pretty rough lot, f-ing and
blinding all day. There seem to be one or two decent chaps among them
however, but I think they are about the worst crowd I have struck so far.
Verdant the Oi/c came into the Institute and had a jaw to us last night. He is a
very decent chap and told us some very interesting tales about this country and
India where he spent some years in the army.

The news today seems very grim and it certainly seems as though the Japs are
about to start something and it is not very comforting to think that their
airfields in Indo-China are only about 120 miles away. If they start here we
won’t stand a dog’s chance and I expect we will be turned out of here in double
quick time, unless we try and hold these landing grounds for our own planes to
use. Altogether prospects are not too good at the moment but I’m hoping
everything will turn out all right in the end. I don’t mind being in a war when
you have a reasonable chance but I have no desire to figure in a scrap where
the Japs will have tanks and guns and we will nothing but a few rifles.

Tuesday December 2nd

Put in an hour or two in the Orderly room this morning with Spencer the clerk
at this station. Picked up some more gen which will probably be of use.
Apparently Sides is at Namsang and is expected back today when we will no
doubt learn when we are going to Namsang.

Wednesday December 3rd

Saw Sides today for the first time to speak to and he seems a very decent
bloke. Spent today at the Orderly room getting Namsang stuff straightened out.

Thursday/Friday December 4/5th

Working in the Orderly room and managing to get things fairly ship shape. As
no money had arrived for Namsang pay, had to arrange temporary payment of 5
rupees each. All went through ok. Some of the chaps appreciated it but, as
usual, some of them had a moan about it.

Saturday December 6th

Am now going around with Jock Stewart, Peter Stirrup and Curtis. The first two
are very decent chaps and apparently they are glad to be able to get away
from the rest of the mob. As the money had come through we had a pay
parade this afternoon which went through successfully. Spent the afternoon in
Heho roaming around and buying one or two things. It is a pretty little place
with 2 or 3 shops that sell practically everything. Had some tea and cakes, sent
a Christmas cable to Doris and bought some biscuits between us for a nosh.
Actually the food isn’t too bad here although at times it could be better. We
were told today that all men on field service rations were going to get an extra

JOCK, DAVID AND TICH

2 annas per day to buy food with. It doesn’t sound a lot but you can get quite a
lot out here for 31/2 rupees which would be the daily allowancel for our lot.l
The walk into Heho takes 45-60 minutes but it’s worth it as the scenery is
grand. At times you can almost imagine walking through English fields.
 DAVID AND JOCK

Sunday December 7th

Church parade and service held by visiting padre. Quite a good address very
well delivered. After church service I put my washing in a bath with some Lux
and boiled it over the fire. Seems quite strange doing my own washing again.
One thing I am thankful for is that one does not have to change ones clothes so
often here as in Rangoon. If Namsang is anything like this place it will suit me
ok. I don’t mind the monotony or quietness, in fact I prefer it to Rangoon. The
only snag is if the Japs start anything. We now have to carry our own gas
masks and steel helmets with us wherever we go which seems to indicate that
they are expecting something to start at any time. If anything does happen I
should imagine that we will be right in the thick of it straight away. Namsang
is actually about 100 miles nearer the Indo-Chinese border than Heho. We still
don’t know when we shall be going up to Namsang but I know I won’t be in the
advance party which will go up to open up the place.

Monday December 8th

Well, the balloon has gone up now. The CO told us on parade this morning that,
as from last night, we are at war with Japan and that already Singapore had
been bombed and that Japanese troops had landed in Northern Malaya and
were advancing on Katch Burah aerodrome. Some of the chaps I knew on the
Stirling Castle were posted up there. I wonder how they are getting on now.
Also the Japs have attacked Manila and Honolulu so it looks as though the USA
are in it with us. Our position up here is very sticky as apparently the Thais
have turned it in and this will bring the Japs right up to the Burmese border
and it would not be difficult for them to cut right across Burma and thus cut us
off from Rangoon. As far as we know, if this place did become untenable, the
only line of retreat would be northwards into China which is a good way from
here. Another bit of encouraging news we had this morning is that our total
defence for the 70 men on this station, apart from about 100 Punjabis, is 3
tommy guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition. So, if any trouble does reach
here, we shall be in a hopeless position. While we were listening to the 7.30
news this evening the siren sounded causing something of a panic but it was
only a practice alarm.

Tuesday December 9th

Advised that we will be moving up to Namsang within the next day or so

depending on the arrival of transport from Rangoon. Advance party going up on
Thursday.

Wednesday December 10th

War news pretty bad. Japs have landed in north Malaya and heavily attacked
the Philippines and marched into Thailand.
Thursday December 11th

Advance party, Hemings, Curtis, Stirrup and McGhee left with Sides for
Namsang. More bad news today. Repulse and Prince of Wales sunk off North
Malaya.

Saturday December 13th

Our transport arrived from Rangoon last night. The remainder of the party left
for Namsang today. Had the most hair raising ride I have ever had in my life.
We climbed up to about 7000 ft amid the most wonderful scenery I have ever
seen. It was a miracle that we arrived safe and sound as at times we were
doing 60 miles an hour and 25 miles an hour round hairpin bends with a sheer
drop on one side of us. Still, we arrived at Namsang to find they were not
expecting us and had no food ready. There is no water supply laid on and no
electric light until the end of the year. After rustling around we managed to
get a meal which we ate off the tops of empty boxes by torchlight. We also
managed to get some mattresses, sheets etc and all went into one hut for the
night.

Sunday December 14th

We had another al fresco breakfast this morning and then split up into two huts.
I am with Stewart, Stirrup and Curtis and the rest of the crowd from our hut
in Heho. They are a rather noisy bunch but not bad chaps. I think I am going

VIEW FROM THE WINDOW BY THE BED

to like this place when we get settled down. I have a corner bed and the view
from my window is marvellous. It seems somewhat warmer here than at Heho.

Monday December 15th

Started work in the Orderly room. Nothing at all except a typewriter to start
off with. God knows when the stationery will arrive.

Friday December 19th

Have been working hard in the Orderly room all this week. There is certainly
plenty to do and it is difficult owing to the lack of stationery but I expect we
will get organised in a few weeks, provided the Japs let us alone. The news
doesn’t seem quite so bad although the Japs seem to be making some headway in
N. Malaya and in S. Burma. I expect that things will soon get moving up here
but I’m hoping it won’t get too hot. There have been the usual moans about the
grub but, on the whole, it’s pretty good although we could do with more of it.
We don’t do so badly as the four of us buy extra luxuries such as biscuits which
helps out. I am enjoying the life up here immensely in spite of there being no
lights. We play solo by candle light every night.

Wednesday 24th December 1941

What a night! We all went down to the village as it was Christmas Eve with
stirring results. A few of the lads had too much “sham-shon” to drink with the
result that some of them had to be carried back to the camp. Included in these
was Curtis who wanted to fight everybody including myself and Pete. Well, we
finally managed to get him under control, and carried him back with the others

ARRIVING FOR WORK, NAMSANG

and put him to bed. I myself and Jack and Pete stuck to tea and I am very
glad that we did as the stuff the other lads drank was pretty potent.

Thursday December 25th

Awoke at 4 am this morning to hear the air raid alarm going and the sound of
heavy kites overhead. The all clear went about 15 mins later and we heard
nothing drop. Day off today and had our Christmas food. Tiffin was quite good
and we had chicken for dinner. The Xmas pudding was a very white doughy
affair but we enjoyed it. In the afternoon we went down to the river about 6

SWIMMING XMAS DAY 1941 - DAVID IN SUNGLASSES

miles away for swimming and took some photos. We all went up to Sides
quarters in the evening and had a bottle of beer each. I have been thinking a
lot today of Doris and home and wondering how she has been spending her
Christmas. This is the first Christmas I have spent out of England and I hope it
will be the last.

Friday 26th December to Thursday January 1st

Still no action around this part of the world although some of the RAF stations
down south at Tavoy and Mergui seem to be catching it pretty badly. We have
had one or two reccos over but nothing further has developed but I expect
things will get moving soon particularly of we get a squadron up here which
seems likely. Played RSMC at Laine on Sunday 28th Dec. Drew 1-1. Received a
letter from Doris dated 20/8/41.

Friday 2nd January 1942

Mail plane service now running between here and Rangoon every other day.
Nothing of importance happening around camp. Still in dispersal and camouflage
of petrol dumps.

Sunday 4th January

Worked this morning as there was a lot to get ready for the mail plane at
midday. Received notification from 221 group that I got 86% in my trade test
and am now LAC. This means another 6d a day and no more trade tests as the
next step is corporal. I wonder how long that will be. Plenty of work these
past few days owing to returns etc for end of month and end of quarter.

Monday 5th - Wednesday 7th January

Nothing of importance on drome. Bombs arrived Wednesday. Pete went into

hospital. Light and water came on on the 13th. Things are much better now we
have the wireless and the Institute to go to every evening. We have table
tennis and monopoly etc which certainly helps to pass the time pleasantly.
Finding it rather difficult to keep a diary these days as nothing is happening.
The war situation seems to be getting worse every day. The Japs seem to be
walking through Malaya to Singapore in spite of our ‘wonderful’ defences. I
certainly have been lucky so far in being shifted from the hot spots just in time.
We have had Jap planes over in recco two or three times a week, usually flying
very high. Getting used to this crowd now and find they are not such a bad lot
after all. There are one or two pretty rotten specimens as usual but generally
they are a pretty decent crowd. I get on best with Jock. Although Curtis
usually knocks about with us neither of us is too keen on him. He is forever
binding about his forms and inventory and has a bad attack of swollen head.
One of these days he is going to be very badly shaken.
January 21st

Am now getting very worried at the complete lack of news from Doris so, in view
of the delay in EFM cables, I sent a DLT today of 32 words for 10 rupees. This
should reach England in about 5 days and I hope to have a reply in 2 weeks.

Sides has been promoted to F/O and now to F/Lt acting unpaid. He has certainly
earned it as he has worked unceasingly since we arrived here. The Japs have
now cleared us right out of Malaya and into Singapore. It seems as though my
fears when at Transit camp about the inadequacy of our forces in Malaya have
been proved correct. After all the talk of the “Citadel of the East” it has come
as rather a shock to everybody to find that the Japs have been able to walk
through Malaya in less than two months. The position in southern Burma is not
too good. We have lost three aerodromes there and the Japs are attempting to
cross the Salween where they will only be 100 miles from Rangoon. Once again
my lucky star has watched over me as I was nearly sent to Tavoy, one of the
first stations to fall in South Burma. I wonder how Johnny Dawson, Joe
Hutchinson and the others in Singapore are getting on. Their chances of getting
away are not too bright and it is very doubtful whether the island will be able
to hold out until reinforcements arrive.

January 31st

Sides has recommended me for promotion to Corporal and also Taylor and
Marshall. I hope I am lucky enough to get it but, as I have only been LAC for
about 2 months, I am not too hopeful of my chances.

February 1st

Things seem to be getting lively around here these days as we have W/C and S/
Leaders arriving and leaving by plane nearly every day. Have now received
confirmation of the story that U. Sam, the Burmese prime minister who recently
visited London, has been interned with most of his cabinet as they were
apparently preparing to sell out to the Japs.
February 4th

Bags of panic today. About 5.30 pm there was the noise of planes in the sky
and I rushed out with Jock, complete with tommy gun. We really thought it was
our lot and that they were Jap kites. However, we recognised them as
Lysanders. There were 11 of them escorted by 2 Buffs just returning from a
raid on a Jap drome in Indo-China. They landed ok but one of the Buffs hit one
of the ditches on the edge of the runway and cracked up. 2 of the Lysanders
also were unable to take off. The Lysanders were from No 1 RAF Squadron and
No. 28 Squadron.

LYSANDER AT NAMSANG

LYSANDERS AT NAMSANG
February 5th

All kites left today. These last few days have been fully occupied and one
begins to realise we are in the war.

February 7th

Still no reply from Doris to my cable of 21/1. Bill Lemon received a letter
posted in Walthamstow on the 3rd November. My last letter from England was
dated 15th September and from Doris dated 20th August. H.Q. tell us that a
large consignment of mail has just arrived in Rangoon but we also hear that the
PO in Rangoon is piled high with undelivered mail so it will be some weeks
before we get our letters, if ever. At any rate I have made up my mind that
any mail addressed to APO 435 (Singapore) is definitely lost.

February 8th

Sunday - working as usual today. Nothing much happened. Seems more than
ever likely that this is going to be a big station. The news is certainly pretty
lousy these days. Our great offensive in Libya has again petered out, Rommel
has driven us back out of Benghazi and it looks as though we shall be back on
the Egyptian border again very soon. In fact the only bright spot is the
Russians. They are certainly putting up a marvellous show and are still driving
the Germans back. God knows where we would be it it wasn’t for them. We are
still apparently in no position to carry out an invasion of the Continent and, as
far as I can see, never will be. The AVG and RAF are putting up a wonderful
show over Rangoon having so far destroyed 122 Japs for 12 of our own. Our
number of kites is so pitifully small that it is extremely doubtful whether
Rangoon and Singapore will be able to hold out until reinforcements arrive.

9th February

More Lysanders in today. Apparently they are carrying out out a raid from here
tomorrow. 4 Jap reccos over this morning and one this afternoon about 25000
ft. Nothing on drome when they were over.
 10th February

6 Lysanders bombed up this morning and took off at 11am for a raid. All
returned safely. Just to think the total weight of the bombs carried by the 6
planes was 3000lbs. One Wimpy could carry as much and more. We heard
today on the radio that the Japs have landed in Singapore and we have carried
out the usual withdrawal. The usual drivel is being put out from London about
the enemies “extended lines of communication” difficulties of supply etc.
Apparently they do not or will not recognise that, at the moment, the Japs
control the sea and air in the South Pacific and the USA fleet (what is left of it)
and Air Force do not dare show their faces. One speaker said that the Japanese
landing in Singapore “showed the usefulness of dive bombers”. It makes me sick
to death to listen to such drivel after over 2 years of war. God only knows how
long this war is going on. The way we are fumbling and muddling one cannot
see any likelihood of it ending in our favour. Rangoon is still holding out simply
because the Japs have not made a serious effort to take it, but as soon as they
have finished with Singapore I expect the fun will start. Out if the 12 kites
supposed to carry out the raid today 6 were u/s and thus only 6 were available.
In our battles around Singapore we are using a/c that have not been seen in
England for about 6 to 9 years.

February 12th

A memorable day today. I received a Clipper letter from my darling dated 5th
December enclosing three 20/- postal
orders, a photograph and a letter from Mum
and Dad. It has lifted me right up to the
skies to hear from home after so long.
Thank God everything at home is ok. Now I
won’t worry so much at not hearing for a
little while longer. I have devoured every
word of the letter and looked at the
photograph until my eyes almost popped out.
It is a lovely photo, just natural with that
lovely smile. It is heaven just to sit and look
at it.

Mum says that she has been sending me an

DORIS JENKINS
airmail letter every week but I have certainly not been getting them. I expect
they have all gone for a Burton at Singapore. Still, now I have this one I am
happy again but I only hope I don’t have to wait so long for the next one. I will
send a cable this weekend just to let her know I have received the letter ok.

The news of Singapore last night was pretty grim and I expect it will fall within
the next 48 hours. Another example of our “brilliant brass hats” and their Boer
War mentality and method. More postings to this station, w/ops this time. It
seems as though we are going to try to make some sort of a stand in Burma. I
hope we are better equipped to make a fight than we were in Malaya.

February 13th

Big pay parade today. More bad news on the radio. The much bombed
Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen, have gone from Brest to Heligoland and,
in attacking them, we have lost 42 planes and still haven’t sunk them. It seems
incredible that these ships are still able to float after all the bombs we are
supposed to have dropped on them. It looks as though Singapore will be all
over in a few more days from now. I expect it will then be the turn of
Sumatra, Java and Rangoon when they have finished off Singapore.

February 14th

Sent a DLT cable to Doris today acknowledging her letter, photo and money. So
far I’ve not received any answer to the cable I sent in January 21st but now I
have the letter I’m not worrying.

February 15th

Well, it has happened. Singapore surrendered tonight at 7.50 pm. It was quite
obvious from the time the first shot was fired that our chaps never stood a
chance. What a fiasco! The Japs have walked right through Malaya and
captured this “impregnable fortress of the East” in a little over 2 months.
Churchill has had to make apologies as usual. Now that Singapore is finished
the Japs have commenced a large scale attack on Sumatra so it looks as though
they are following up and not giving us a chance to collect ourselves and make a
stand. They are evidently not going to make the same mistake as the Germans
after Dunkirk. Well, Namsang village is now out of bounds from dusk till dawn
because Tubby and one or two others can’t behave themselves and have
apparently frightened some of the women down there.

Evacuation plans for this station were discussed today and the way things are
going it looks as though they will be put into effect in a very short time. Still
if it does come to this I hope we will get a better chance of getting away than
the lads at Singapore. I wonder how Johnny Dawson, Rex Pearce and Bill
Symons got on. I hope they managed to get away or at least are uninjured. I
wonder if I will be able to get in touch with them after the war.

Posted letters to Doris, Mum and Dad and Len and Doris today. I often wonder
what is happening to our letters from here and if they are really being sent
from Rangoon. We hear that over 1000 bags of mail arrived in Rangoon about
a month ago but God knows when, if ever, they will get our letters up here to
us. Apparently as soon as the raids started all the native sorters cleared off
and haven’t come back. Another recco over this afternoon at about 3.30pm.

February 19th

2 more ‘Lizzies’ in today out on reccos. The Japs have crossed the Salween and
the Belir rivers and it seems as though it is going to be impossible to stop them
reaching Rangoon. There have been a lot of Chinese troops passing through
Namsang recently, some of them going down to the Salween front and some to
the Thai border. I saw some of them tonight and was surprised at their youth.
Some of them seemed little more than 14 years old.

February 20th

Everything seems to be pointing towards our making a speedy getaway from

here at some not too distant date. Plans have been completed for the firing of
all petrol dumps etc before we leave. Had instructions to send all our bombs
back to Rangoon immediately. This does not look too good as it seems as though
they are running out of bombs down there.

Received a letter from Doris and Russill dated 25th November this week. Doris’s
letter had a 5/- stamp by Clipper and Russill’s a 11/2 stamp. Doris gives me all
the news in hers. It seems as if everything is going ok at home and, what is
most important, although all her letters to me have gone astray, all mine have
reached home ok including the stockings from Cape Town. Len, the mug, says he
would ‘give his ears’ to be with me. The feeling is mutual! I am glad Doris is
apparently reconciled to my being overseas for up to 3 years. I have been
particularly careful not to mention any time in my letters. The way we are
carrying on it may well be about 6 years before this war finishes.

21st February

Have certainly been working at pressure these last few days. Last night was at
the Orderly Room from 8 to 9 pm. Sides is certainly being harassed these days
and has earned his promotion. Things have eased off a bit today. Am not
feeling too good myself. Was bitten on the stomach a few nights ago and it has
gradually got worse. Have had hot fomentations on three times a day but it
does not seem to improve and is particularly painful this evening. I have just
passed my first anniversary on February 15th. I hope that by the time the
next February 15th comes round I will be back in England.

February 22nd

Bite on my stomach was so painful today that I had to go into Sick Quarters and
remain in bed. It gradually got more painful and they finally decided they
would have to incise it. The doctor seemed to know nothing about it and I was
not too happy about his being able to do it. Fortunately however, it burst itself
on the 28th and I was very thankful as I was very worried about it. I came
out of Sick Quarters on the 28th just in time to get the news we have been
expecting for some time. Sides, who has been queer himself, sent down the
Institute at 8pm for about 8 of us and told us that instructions had been
received from H.Q. now at Magwe, that all surplus personnel were to move to
Lashio immediately and only a few men with the C.O. to remain to refuel any
visiting aircraft. I will be staying in for about 5 days more.

Sunday March 1st

The first batch of 15 fellows left for Lashio this morning.

Monday March 2nd

Second lot of 11 including Jock and Tich left at 11.45 am for Lashio. Freddie
Thorpe and Geordie arrived back at 8pm as the petrol tanker burst a tyre on
the way and nearly went over the side of the mountain. Have been clearing up
outstanding jobs in the Orderly Room bringing everything as up to date as
possible. It is very disheartening to realise that we have had all our work in
starting this station go for nothing. Sides must feel it particularly. It seems at
the moment as though the Chinese are going to take this place over as an army
garrison. The Japs have crossed the last river before Rangoon and are also
reported to be very active at Chiang Mai in Thailand which is only about 80
miles from here by road. It is doubtful what is going on farther south at
Mandalay but it seems as though the Japs are pushing towards there so I hope
we don’t leave it too late before we get out as there is only one road to Lashio
from here and if the Japs damage that we have had it.

March 3rd

Still getting things straight in the Orderly room. Sides is still feeling pretty
queer and cannot concentrate on any work.

March 4th

Just as we were getting ready to go this morning the mail kite arrived with
news that a considerable number of planes were coming in. Shortly afterwards
they began to arrive the total being 2 Tomahawks, 4 Buffaloes, 7 Hurricanes, and
5 Blenheims. One of our bowzers had broken down on the way to Lashio so we
had only one bowzer to refuel with. During the afternoon another bowzer
arrived but we found that was u/s. Just another example of the chaos at H.Q.
First they tell us just to retain enough men to refuel occasional visiting planes
and the next day in come 18 kites. It was only the merest luck that we had
not already left for Lashio in which case there would only have been 3 men on
the station.

March 5th

More Hurricanes in today. Was working up to 8pm last night refuelling and oiling
and out again at 6.30 this morning. The Blenheims took off at midday on a raid
and all came back ok. They seemed to be very vague as to what they had
raided and whether they had hit anything at all. Sides has now decided to keep
the rest of us here in case this is going to be a regular occurrence.

March 8th

Heard on the radio tonight that the Rangoon situation is very serious and our
losses have been heavy. Apparently British tanks have been in action but as
usual seem to have arrived in too small numbers and too late to have any effect.

March 11th

Arranged to bring kit back from Lashio. Rangoon is now in the hands of the
Japs, our forces having carried out another strategic withdrawal. The Japs have
also captured the D.E.I. and have landed in New Guinea. It seems impossible to
stop them at present and if we and the Americans don’t liven our ideas up they
will soon be landing in Australia and India. It is very difficult to know what is
going to happen to the Air Force in Burma. Apparently the most likely move is
from here to Lashio and thence by air to Calcutta but this is not at all certain.

March 13th

Not much happening lately. Have had the Jap recco kite over a few times. More
units of the 5th and 6th Chinese armies have passed through Namsang. They
are an amazing crowd, some of them being only about 14 years old but they are
full of enthusiasm. Sides seems to have recovered from his illness.

March 17th

Started off for Lashio this morning at 11am with Freddie Thorpe in G.O.2.
Arrived after over 7 hours journey over the worst roads I have ever been on so
far. It is about 204 miles from here.

March 18th

Still at Lashio. All the lads with two exceptions are wishing they were back
here (Namsang) again. Apparently there is a lot of “bull” and the grub is
terrible (in Lashio). What we saw of the place was enough and, for my part, if
 LASHIO MARCH 1942

we do have to go up there I hope it will not be for some time yet. We went
into the town during the day and in the evening. I was very disappointed at the
place as, in view of its importance, I imagined it would be a fairly modern town
but it is a very dirty, tumbledown place. There are a lot of Americans there and
consequently prices are sky high. Players cigarettes 1 rupee for 10, polo 11 and
12 annas. Tea 4 annas a cup. No wonder our fellows want to get back. There
seem to be plenty of brothels and prostitutes, prices ranging from 3 - 10 rupees
for the average Burmese and Chinese woman.

This brothel business has surprised me since I have been out East. I never
imagined it was so wide spread. I should say that out of an average crowd of
British service men out here well over 60% have been with women and in the
army troops who have been out East for several years the percentage is
probably about 90%. There is, of course, a lot of V.D. but, after what I have
seen and heard, I’m surprised there is not more. So far I have not been
tempted and I am going to take good care I am not. I wouldn’t have the
courage to face Doris when I got home if I had been with any of these women
out here. Every time I am feeling very loving I always have a look at the photo
in the front of my album and I know that there can never be anybody else for
me in the world.

March 19th

Left Lashio this am at 9.30 and arrived back at Namsang at 5pm. Very glad to
be back again. This place is like a palace compared with Lashio. Nobody seems
to know what is happening as far as we are concerned. The general idea seems
to be that we are going to stay on here through the monsoon period, always
provided the Japs allow us to do so. At the end of the rainy season they hope
to have accumulated enough men and materials at Lashio and other places in
northern Burma to enable us to take the offensive. Personally I doubt if we
shall be able to hold the Japs off until then. The gun position at Namsang is
pretty rotten as we are about the furthest east of any of the troops and, if the
Japs did start a push from Indo China or northern Siam, we would have to move
pretty quickly unless the Chinese on the border could hold them.

PAGODA NEAR LASHIO

March 20th

Back at my old job again. Nothing much to do all day except jaw to Sides.

March 22nd

More trouble. Last night I woke up suddenly in bed with a severe pain in my
left testicle. I had no sleep all night and the pain was very bad.
March 23rd

The doctor seems to think it is a strain. I’ve got to stay in bed for some days.

March 27th

I’ve been in bed since the 22nd but am feeling no better. It is terribly swollen
and I am beginning to think it is a rupture. Sides took me into Loilem to see Dr.
Segrave but he was not there and I saw a Chinese doctor instead. He says it is
either a strain or else it is some poison from the bite on my stomach. He gave
me some medicine to take and I have got to take things very easy for at least 2
weeks. I certainly seem to have struck a bad patch of health this last month or
so.

March 28th

As I will not be able to get about much for the next 2 weeks Sides has shifted
most of the OR over to our billet so that I can carry on. I am glad of this as I
would sooner have something to do all day than sitting or lying about doing
nothing. We had 10 Tomahawks of the AVG in on the 24th and they carried out
a dawn raid on Chiang Mai drome in Indo China. As we have no flare path they
took off about 5am by the headlamps of lorries lined up in either side of the
runway. The raid was very successful apparently as they shot up between 40
and 50 kites on the ground. One Tomahawk failed to return. The pilot was seen
to bail out this side of the border however. According to news brought back
from Lashio, the RAF in Burma is now non existent. Apparently the Japs raided
Mergui the other day on two occasions and on the second raid no warning was
given, it later being found that the wires had been cut in 4 places. The Japs sent
100 fighters and 80 bombers and wiped out our entire Air Force in Burma, about
20 odd planes. All we have left now is 2 Hurricanes, 1 Blenheim and 1 u/s
Wapiti. What a chance we stand! Sides went off to Heho this pm and arrived
just after they had been raided by about 20 bombers. They dropped several on
the runway and near the petrol dumps but there were no casualties.

It is fairly obvious that our turn will come soon and it is not a very pleasant
prospect, particularly as they have taken away the 4 half-inch guns which were
our only means of defence. All we can do is to sit and wait for it and hope we
all get off unhurt.

Sunday March 29th

Well, as I thought, we got it this morning. The warning went at 10.30 and they
came in from the direction of Chiang Mai flying at about 15/20,000 ft, then
down it started to come. Almost the first bomb hit one of the small dumps and
up went about 30,000 gallons of aviation petrol. Shortly after that they hit No.
1 dump which meant that over 2000 drums, or about 80,000 gallons went up.
The smoke column went up hundreds of feet into the air. They seemed to clear
off after this but about 3 minutes later we heard another lot approaching but
they dropped all their bombs on the satellite about 5 miles up the Morgenai
road. After the raid was over it was found that there were over 140 craters on
the drome. Their aiming was pretty accurate as all the bombs landed either in
or near the 2 runways. Nothing dropped near our side of the camp.

JAPANESE RAID HITTING A PETROL DUMP

March 30th and 31st

Most of the lads have been busy filling in the craters on the runway and also
removing petrol from under the trees and splitting it up into small dumps.
Dispersal under trees, while offering excellent concealment, is dangerous as, if a
dump is hit, the trees help to spread the fire.

1st April

Freddie Thorpe and Lemon returned from Lashio tonight. Lashio was raided
yesterday and today fairly heavily. It is quite obvious now that we are fighting
a hopeless battle as the Japs have complete control of the air and we haven’t
got a single plane out here at all now. The A.V.G. Kites are apparently at Loiwing
in China and only carry out isolated raids in Burma. The lads at Toungou had a
pretty bad time as their C.O. told them when the Japs were 4 miles away that
everything was ok and when they woke up the next morning the Japs were
surrounding the station. They all piled into a lorry and shot their way out. Out
of the 30 chaps there one was killed and several others were wounded.

I hope we don’t have the same experience. So far practically every one of these
stations have had to fight their way out with practically no arms. Now they
have taken away our 4 5” AA guns we are almost defenceless against air attack
and as regards personal defence we have 3 tommy guns and 2 very antiquated
rifles so if it does come to the push we look like having a warm time.

April 3rd

Several reccos have been over this last 3 days but no further attacks have
developed although I expect we shall get another pasting at any time. The grub
situation is getting pretty serious as we have had no meat, bread or potatoes for
the last 2 days.

April 4th

Am feeling a lot better this last few days. The swelling seems to be going down
and is not nearly so painful. We had another scare this afternoon. 3 planes
came over very low, so low that we thought they were ours. They were Jap
kites however and I thought they were going to machine gun the place.
Apparently they were only having a look around and flew off in the direction of
the satellite. When they passed over my trench they were no more than
5/600ft up. That is the worst part of this place. They can come over and do
whatever they like and we just have to get into a trench and wait for it. We
have no defences whatever. They gave Mandalay a pasting today and have also
raided Lashio again. It is difficult to see what is going to happen to us out here.
As far as I can see our chances of eventually getting to India are not too bright
and it seems more than likely that we shall eventually move on into China.

NAMSANG S.S.S. BURMA

Friday April 10th 1942

Received signal from Burwing Lashio that all at Namsang, with the exception of
1 N.C.O. and 2 airmen, were to proceed immediately to Meiktila taking all
equipment except one hand pump. Nobody seems to know exactly where this
place is except that it is in central Burma and appears to be right in the path of
the advancing Japs and has, in fact, already been vacated by by 154 M.U. some
time ago. Cpl Brizier, Bob Lemon and Alf Taylor are staying on and it is difficult
to know whether to be glad or sorry for them. The Japs have been paying us a
little more attention lately at Namsang and recently we had two planes over at
about 150ft and they swept up and down the runway having a look to see
whether we had repaired the damage of the recent raid. We all opened fire
with our rifles and tommy guns but to no effect. If only they had left us our
half-inch AA guns we couldn’t have missed them. A large convoy of lorries
arrived from Lashio this evening to commence removal of oil and petrol stocks
and also ammunition and bombs.

Saturday April 11th

After spending nearly 3 hours deciphering a signal from Burwing HQ we left for
Meiktila as follows:

Oldsmobile - F/Lt Sides and Sgt Kerr

Chev. - Stoker and Cpl Thomas
B.14 Tanker - Thorpe and Thompson
G.02 W/T Van - Dickson and Jackson
G.03 Ford - Stringer and myself
We left Namsang at 14.30 hours. I felt quite a wrench leaving after 4 months
there where I had been very happy in spite of the warnings I had received in
Rangoon before coming to Namsang. We had a string of bad luck with our
lorries on the road, particularly with the two tankers and we didn’t arrive at
Heho until after 21.30 hours.

Sunday April 12th

We had an early morning surprise as 3 planes came over very low just as we
were going in to breakfast. They swept along the two runways but did no
machine gunning. We decided that we had better get away from the drome as
early as possible and left about 10.00 hours and parked our transport about 3
miles up the road. We had more trouble with the B.14 tanker and Sides and one
or two of the others went back into Taunggyi to see whether they could pick up
any spares. When we passed through the place yesterday it looked like a
graveyard. It had been raided about 5 days previously and had been badly
knocked about. No efforts had been made to clear the place up and bodies of
people, bullocks and dogs were still lying about the place. The smell was
terrific. We had some tiffin cooked over a camp fire and set off again only to
have more trouble with the tanker. It looked as though we would have to
abandon it but it finally managed to get started and we set off for Thazi via
Kalaw. We stopped in Kalaw for an hour buying provisions and reached Thazi at
dusk and put up for the night in a P.W.D. Bungalow.

Monday April 13th

I changed over to the Oldsmobile and went ahead with Sides into Meiktila this
morning. We passed through Thazi on the way and it looked the same as all the
other bombed places. Absolutely deserted with bodies lying about. We noticed
that on the way to Meiktila there were isolated groups of Chinese soldiers and
learned that the army were on the point of moving out and handing the place
over to the Chinese. When we arrived at Meiktila we were supposed to contact
the S.S.O. but had great difficulty in locating him as he and his staff were busily
packing and moving out. After some considerable time we managed to locate the
A.I.L.O. A Captain Chaplain who seemed to be expecting us. He told us some
very hair raising tales of how Jap planes had been coming over for the past 2 or
3 days sweeping up and down the runway and machine gunning bushes and
 THE OLDSMOBILE

trees. He was of the opinion that they had been able to get hold of a copy of
the code as they had not been near Meiktila landing field until the cable was
sent to us instructing us to proceed there. While we were talking to him the
siren went and we immediately dived into a ditch near a tree where we were
standing. In view of the A.I.L.O.’s statement of the fondness of the Japs for
gunning under trees I didn’t feel very happy. However, the planes flew right

REFRESHMENTS IN HEHO HEHO

over us very high, apparently on their way to Mandalay. We then tried to find
somewhere to live which was not easy as civilian evacuees were living in what
used to be RAF property and in any case the quarters were too near the drome
to be comfortable. So we decided to occupy a disused brick maker’s house just
away from the drome and it was just as well that we did as we had only been
in the place for about an hour when the sound of planes could be heard. We
dashed outside to have a look as usual and saw 4 planes coming very high
towards us. Just as we were wondering what they were after we heard the
swish of falling bombs. We all threw ourselves through a narrow doorway and
fell flat just as the bombs hit the deck. It sounded uncomfortably close but, as
we subsequently learned, the nearest one fell about 250 yds away from us in a
field. One of the funniest things I can remember is the way 6 of us
simultaneously burst through the door which was only about 2 ft wide and
Jackson simply dived head first into a bush which proved to be extremely prickly.
We found later that afternoon that 3 of the bombs had fallen about 20-25 yds
from the billets that we would have been occupying had they not already been
filled so it seems they have got wind of our arrival. We had another piece of
bad luck today as Cpl Thomas was hanging on the side of one of the wagons as
it turned into a bay and got crushed between the side of the lorry and a
wooden post. We took him to hospital and he seems to have fractured two ribs
and have sustained other internal injuries. It is a great pity that it should
happen to him as he is a very popular chap. We decided it was too hot for us
where we were and tomorrow we are going to try and find a place a little
further away from the drome on the other side of Meiktila.

Tuesday April 14th

Slept out in the open last night as it was so hot. We have dropped over 4000 ft
since leaving Namsang and it is like an oven down here, sweltering hot like
Rangoon. We found out today what we have been sent down here for.
Apparently, with what is left of the RAF out here, they are going to carry out
recco flights from here. The Japs are reported to be on the outskirts of Magwe
which is about 80 miles south of Meiktila. Our job is to act as a refuelling
party. We managed to find a good place today on the other side of the town
with plenty of trees to act as cover for our transport. We passed through
Meiktila and it was the same as all the other places that have been bombed. It
seems to have been quite a decent sized place before it was knocked about.
They have had a lot of trouble with spies and fifth columnists in this quarter
and last night they caught a Japanese woman with a small radio transmitting set
and she was shot this morning.

The kite we are going to refuel is a Hurricane which comes in every night from
Lashio after 18.00 hours and we have to refuel it right away and then drag it
to dispersal under some trees. Next morning we have to tow it out onto the
runway. It then takes off, does it’s recco and then returns at about 7/7.30 am.
We then refuel it and it takes off for Lashio. It is not a very pleasant job as it
is pretty certain that the Japs will soon tumble to the fact that it is operating
from Meiktila and they will soon try to follow it in.

Wednesday April 15th

This morning we got the kite off and after it had returned at 7.30 am and taken
off again, we came back to our camp which was about a mile or so from the
runway in some bushes. Just as we were settling down for some tea, two kites
came over very low and circled our place two or three times. As they were only
about 100-150 ft up we were pretty certain that they had seen some of our
transport and particularly one of the tankers. Capt. Chaplain said that they
would almost certainly report our position to their bombers so we decided it was
about time we made another move. We found another spot about 5 miles up the
road and moved into a P.W.D. bungalow. We are keeping the tanker down near
the drome in a well camouflaged pagoda where it should be ok. It is a bit more
comfortable here but the heat is terrific. We have to take 3 hour turns at night
on guard and then we have to be up at 5 am every morning to refuel the kite.
There is plenty of hard work on this job but we are all enjoying ourselves and
there is surprisingly little grumbling as we all feel we are doing something
although I’m afraid we are on a pretty forlorn task.

Friday April 17th

Several reccos have been over today. We think that they may be possibly
getting a D/F from our W/T van so we are keeping it well away from our camp
and changing position every few hours.
Saturday April 18th

Received a signal last night at 23.45 which took us until nearly 2 am to decode.
The instructions are now that we are to move to a place called Myittha which is
about 40 miles further north up the Mandalay road where there is apparently
another landing ground. Spent the morning loading up our lorries and set off at
midday. We were told by an army officer to keep a sharp look out as the Jap
kites had been flying up and down the road machine gunning any military
transport, so I spent the journey laying on my back on top of the lorry looking
through field glasses for kites. The temperature was about 112 degrees so
certainly no pleasure trip. We are getting very fed up with our diet which
consists almost entirely of tinned sausages so we went out and shot a young calf
this morning, skinned it and cooked in straight away. The flesh was very tender
and certainly made a very welcome change after the eternal sausages. We
arrived at Myittha at 16.00 hours this afternoon and found another P.W.D.
bungalow about 5 miles from the drome. The kites arrived at 18.30 and, in
addition to refuelling it, we had to act as guards all night sleeping in the lorry
up on the drome. Two of us to a guard did 2 hours on and 4 hours off. Got the
kites off on Sunday morning ok.

Sunday April 19th

Feeling dead tired today but it is impossible to sleep during the day owing to the
extreme heat and one gets very little sleep during the night on the floor of the
lorry. We got hold of a sheep today and killed it but unfortunately some dogs
pinched most of it while we weren’t looking. One hears all sorts of rumours
owing to the lack of any radio or newspapers. The news today from an army
despatch rider is that they have captured Magwe and are advancing on
Yenanyaung, the centre of the oilfields. More recco kites over today having a
look around. It seems extraordinary because the local inhabitants tell us that
they never saw a plane so near until we arrived. It seems as though someone
is tipping them off about our movements.

Monday April 20th

Our kite arrived this evening as usual and damaged its tail wheel on landing. It
couldn’t carry out the recco but managed to take off and return to Lashio.
Same pilot came back last night but on landing after the recco this morning he
overshot the landing strip and tipped up on his nose. He smashed one wing tip
and damaged the under carriage - the machine was u/s. Returned to Lashio
with Thorpe and Thompson by road. Slept in a bed last night for the first time
since we arrived here. Things are not looking too good around here as all the
civilians are moving out and we are apparently going to take over their houses.
I wish we were getting out of here as well as we are all getting fed up with
this business what with all night guards and the heat of the day. We are just
about whacked.

Notes on the last week

It has been a considerable change from the comparative comfort of Namsang to

the conditions under which we have been this last week or so. Although at
times our tempers have been frayed, we have, on the whole, enjoyed ourselves.
For the first 3 days we had sausages for every meal with an occasional egg.
The Japs have complete control of the air out here and are able to bomb and
machine gun from as low as they like without fear of opposition. If only we had
some planes out here we could alter the whole course of this war. It is awful
to have to crowd into a hole and just sit and wonder whether they are going to
hit you. It is altogether different to being in England where at least you know
that you have the protection of fighters and an A.A. Barrage.

Wednesday April 22nd

No kite in today. Thorpe and Thompson returned from Lashio today with news
that Namsang and Heho have both been evacuated. Apparently the Heho party
were at Namsang helping to refuel some A.V.G. kites that had come in to destroy
the petrol and bombs when some Jap kites came over and machine gunned them
destroying two machines and killing one pilot. A staff officer then told our chaps
and the Heho lot to clear out at once and they left immediately leaving the
place just as it was without having time to destroy any of the stocks of petrol
or the billets. The news tonight is very grave and the Japs have started pushing
up the Hispaw road towards Lashio and are expected to reach there soon. They
are also pushing from Thazi and Yenanyaung to Meiktila and other parties are
reported moving up the river towards Mandalay. Our position is therefore
serious as, unless we make a move within the next day or so, we look like being
cut off. In any case, even if we were to move, it is very doubtful whether we
would reach Lashio as the Japs are trying to cut the road between Lashio and
Mandalay.

Thursday April 23rd

We had a talk with Mr. Sides last night and again this morning and we have
started to load up our supply lorry with kit and grub ready for a quick getaway.
The Dacoits have been busy looting and we were asked by police today to help
them catch some of the looters. We chased them in our jeep and managed to
catch three of them after firing several rounds at them with our rifles. We took
them back to the village and the police inspector insisted that we shoot them.
We lined them up against a wall and bandaged their eyes and, after thoroughly
frightening them by firing our rifles into the air, we handed them over to the
tender mercies of the police. I’m not at all sure whether we would have been
kinder to them in the long run if we had shot them as the police will certainly
give them a rough time. This afternoon some more looters set light to a building
full of rice about 250 yds from our bungalow. There is a railway line running
alongside the bungalow where we are staying and there have been 10 wagons
standing in a siding ever since we have been here. Our peace of mind wasn’t
improved when we learned today that these wagons contain, amongst other
things, about 1800 lbs of gelignite and also a lot of other explosives and
ammunition. The Japs apparently just missed hitting this lot at Thazi junction
when they bombed that place. Since it arrived here there have been several
recco kites over looking for it. If they were to hit it everything within a few
miles of this place would go sky high.

We have been discussing possible events at some length today and the general
opinion seems to be that our only way out of Burma will be via the new road
into India. This road seems to be of the mythical kind as one can only meet
people who have spoken to people who have in turn met other people who claim
to have travelled on this road. We have heard that it is impassable for varying
distances from 30-90 miles of its length. Anyway if we do go that way we look
like having an exciting time before reaching India. I am certainly getting my
share of excitement these days and I have to smile when I think of the time
when I imagined that, as a clerk in the Air Force, I would always be in a position
of comparative safety. At the moment our little party of 10 are about 200 miles
nearer the Japs than any other personnel in Burma. Sometimes I have a
presentiment that something is going to happen to prevent me from seeing Doris
again but I try to cheer myself up by remembering that so far my luck has held
out and I hope it will continue to do so.

Thursday evening April 23rd

There has been a constant stream of evacuees from Myittha all this afternoon.
We have also heard that the Gloucesters and other British troops are being
moved out from the front line and back to Mandalay and beyond. If this is so
we shall be the only British south of Mandalay very soon now which is not too
good. This afternoon about 27 Jap kites passed over here going north east and
returned about 20/25 minutes later, probably having bombed Mandalay or
Maymyo. Things here are certainly getting very warm.
18.30 hours. Another recco kite of ours has just arrived so it looks as though
we shall be here for some little time yet. It is just another example of how
quickly fortunes can change as only a week ago we were commiserating with
those left behind at Namsang and now they are at Lashio and are certainly in a
much healthier position than we are.

Sunday April 26th

Nothing much happened these last two days. A continual stream of traffic
moving back from Mingyan. Apparently the 17th Division are moving back.
Received orders this morning to move out of Myittha. 8 Jap bombers passed
over this morning heading towards Mandalay. We all moved off at 9.30 am to
Shwebo which is about 100 miles N/W of Mandalay. I rode in the back of the
jeep acting as air spotter as there has been a lot of machine gunning on this
road the last few days. It is amusing to think that I have often read of the
‘Road to Mandalay’ but never in my wildest dreams did I think that one day I
would be riding along it lying on my back in a jeep with field glasses glued to my
eyes looking out for planes. We had to cross the Ava bridge across the
Irrawaddy. The Japs have been trying to hit this bridge on several occasions
but without success. As we were crossing it one of our tankers broke down right
in the middle and held up a string of traffic of all kinds. A very ticklish moment
particularly as there was an alert on at the time. We had just got about 3
miles the other side of the river and stopped for some tea when 4 fighter
planes came down to a few hundred feet and started machine gunning the road.
I remember diving into a ditch with my eyes shut and my arm in front of my
face. Nobody got hurt. About an hour later 10 bombers passed overhead
heading for Shwebo and we learned on arriving there at 18.00 hours that they
had bombed the town and railway station. We managed to rustle up some tents
from an army unit and bedded down for the night.

Monday April 27th

A very heavy raid on the town this morning at 10 am. Took my usual position
crouching in the bottom of a slit trench or ditch. All the bombs fell around the
railway station and caused fires. It is an extraordinary thing that nearly all the
Jap kites seem to drop their bombs at the same time and they never hang about
after a raid. I expect that we will be getting plenty of raids now that they
have captured airfields at Magwe and Heho. Today’s raid appeared to be by 15
machines. We found that there is another RAF party of 17 men who have been
servicing and refuelling DC3’s and Blenheims which apparently come in here from
India so there does not appear to be much here for us to do. I’m not at all
keen on stopping here as this place looks as though it is going to be a very
unhealthy spot in the near future. Army HQ are moving to here and nearly all
the troops being withdrawn from the south are coming here. Also the place is
full of refugees. It is pitiful to see them all plodding along with their few
possessions and sleeping by the road side. We have managed to get fixed up
with some sleeping accommodation in a pagoda near the airfield. We are still
sleeping on the floor and I have almost forgotten what a bed is like as it is
about 3 weeks since I slept in one. We met one of the remnants of the Duke
of Wellington regiment today who told us some tales of what they have been
through out here. There seems to have been a terrific amount of chaos and
inefficiency and, as usual, these errors have had to be paid for in the lives of
men. When one hears of what some of these chaps have endured I realise that
we have had a picnic so far. Our little retreat in the pagoda doesn’t look so
good tonight as dozens of army lorries have been parked in and around with
little or no attempt at concealment or camouflage. It looks like there will be
trouble tomorrow if the reccos have a look.

Tuesday April 28th

We decided to disperse our lorries today in case there is any trouble. Nobody
here seems to have any idea of what is going to happen to us. The general idea
seems to be that we are going to get from Burma into India. There are
supposed to be two roads from Burma into India, one of which can be reached
from here but it is all very vague and one can never meet anybody who has
actually travelled on the road. There is also a report that the RAF are going to
collect the whole party in a DC3 but I doubt very much whether that will
happen. At any rate we have tonight been issued with rations and told that, at
any time now, it might be a matter of every man for himself so things do not
look too cheerful. With regard to this supposed road, we now hear that there is
a stretch of about 70 miles which can only be covered on foot. Apparently they
commenced evacuating refugees by this route from India but had to abandon it
as the water supply was too bad and caused cholera.

Wednesday April 29th

We have been told today to be ready to move at a moments notice. We have

got to abandon all our transport as we are apparently leaving here by rail for
Myitkyina about 240 miles from here in a NE direction. At 6.30 pm we were
told that we had to leave at once and everybody had to chase around loading
stuff onto the lorry. We were then taken to the river 15 miles from Shwebo to
the SE and had to unload two lorries, our own and the other party’s and carry
the stuff down to the water’s edge. We then had to load it into one boat which
took it across the river to another boat and we then had to unload it and load
all the kit and rations onto the other boat. We were then told the full story of
what had happened. It was intended that we should travel from Shwebo to
Myitkyina by rail but Burmese saboteurs had removed large sections of the
railway lines and had also damaged the railway engines so it was considered too
risky and that we should go as far as possible by boat. Unfortunately the only
available boat had had its engines sabotaged by Burmese and could not move.
We then managed to get hold of a petrol tanker to fix alongside and tow us. It
is not a very healthy proposition as the Japs have been doing a lot of bombing in
the river and a tanker is a very obvious and attractive target. However, it is
that or nothing.

Thursday April 30th

Slept on deck all night. Did a guard from 2-4am. The scene at the place where
we boarded the boat will remain in my memory for ever. The beaches were
absolutely packed with thousands of refugees waiting in hope of getting
transport away from the advancing Japs. It was impossible to get any more on
 THE IRRAWADDY APRIL 1942

the boats and one almost had to tear them off the sides as we pushed off. God
knows what will happen to them as there is nowhere near enough river craft to
take them away. The other crowd with us are mostly 17 Squadron and are

ON THE IRRAWADDY APRIL 1942

apparently some of the mob that got the RAF such a stinking name in the bolt
from Magwe. They certainly seem a pretty queer crowd. We are without any
bread and our diet is cheese, sausages and dry biscuits. Owing to the risk of
fire we are not allowed to cook or smoke while the tanker is alongside. We stop
twice a day and the tanker moves off so that we can have a smoke and get

ON THE OTRANTO APRIL 1942

some grub ready.

Friday May 1st

Still progressing on our journey. Apparently we are going to disembark at a

place called Katha which is 150 miles from Myitkyina then we hope to catch a
plane from there.

Saturday May 2nd

Arrived at Katha and received some bad news. There were 5 hospital ships in
the place and all the wounded were being taken by rail to Myitkyina and from
there to India by air. The CO told us that it was impossible for us to get any
transport from Katha as there were no lorries and all the trains were reserved
for the wounded. The wounded were in a terrible state as most of the
attendants had deserted them. The position appears to be that if we want to
get to Myitkyina we will have to walk the 150 miles. Even if we did get there it
is doubtful whether we would be in time as the Japs are now reported to be
nearing Lashio. Even if we did beat the Japs there it would be extremely
doubtful that we would get a plane as all available air transport is needed for
the wounded. We finally left at 6.30 pm after destroying nearly all our kit and
equipment. We walked about 5 miles and settled down by the roadside for the

START OF THE TREK MAY 1942

night. We certainly looked a motley crew when we set off. Nearly everybody
had dumped the majority of their kit and I carried only a couple of blankets, a
rifle, a water bottle and a side pack with a few tins of rations. I expect we will
have to abandon a lot more very soon.

Sunday May 3rd

We walked about another 4 miles this morning and then we were lucky enough
to find a lorry that had been abandoned as u/s by the roadside. Some of the
lads got busy on it and we managed to get it going again. We all piled on board
and proceeded to Katha. When we arrived there we saw straight away that it
would be useless trying to get on a train for Myitkyina as all the trains coming
up from the south were full of wounded and, in addition, there were many
wounded on Katha station who were unable to get on a train. I talked for a
while with a young chap from the Wiltshire regiment who had been flown from
 STUCK AGAIN! MAY 1942

India to Burma and had gone straight into action. He had been wounded and
brought back as far as Katha but the train in which he was travelling had been
derailed by fifth columnists just outside Katha station (they were still removing

REPAIRS TO THE ABANDONED LORRY MAY 1942

bodies while we were there). He had been lying on the station for two days
unable to get on a train. We decided it was useless waiting and decided to try
 ANOTHER BREAKDOWN MAY 1942

and push on with the lorry as far as we could. The extraordinary thing about
this business is that nobody seems to have the slightest idea of any route. We
pick up scraps of information as we go along and just hope for the best. We
had a brush with the army this morning as they tried to get our lorry off us
saying it was theirs. We pointed out that they had abandoned it and we had

NEGOTIATING A BRIDGE MAY 1942

repaired it and got it going again. They finally let us go but told us the road
was only passable for another 10 miles and we would then have to abandon it.
However, we pushed on and on the way picked up 2 Cameroonians and one chap
from the Inniskillins who were separated from their regiments and were trying
to make their way out. The road was a terrible series of potholes and, in view
of the fact the lorry was carrying 36 men with some kit and rations, we had to
go very carefully. The bridges were only light bamboo efforts and we had to
get off every time we came to one and walk across in case the weight was too
much. Some bridges were too frail for even a partly empty lorry to cross and in
these cases the lorry had to be driven through the water which, at times, came
well over the top of the wheels. However, we managed to negotiate all today’s
bridges successfully.

Monday 4th May

Learned last night that the journey is actually about 250 miles to Imphal and
we will not be able to take the lorry any further than Manse which is about 40
miles from here. Reached Manse after a hazardous journey today and were
told that, if we went down to the river village about 8 miles away, we could get
rafts to take us to Homalin where we cross the Chindwin river. On our way
down Kalichendes injured his heels very badly on the side of the lorry and it
looks as though we will have to carry him all the way. We had to abandon the
lorry as we were unable to go any further. I started off with Jennings to find
the village but got hopelessly lost in the jungle and finished up sitting round a
fire cooking out and feeling fed up. Two natives appeared out of the jungle and
offered to guide us to the village. They lit some bamboo torches and took us
first to their own village where we made tea and they brought us a huge melon.
Then we went on to the other village and found Sides and Chaplin already there.
We also learned that there were no rafts available and we would have to walk
the 71 miles to Homalin.

Tuesday May 5th

Started off tonight with Curtis carrying Watkins and 4 carrying Kalichendes.
We had a very gruelling day. It was very heavy going climbing and having to
cross and recross the river dozens of times. Every time we had to take our
shoes off and then dry our feet and put our shoes and socks on again. Finally
we were walking quicker in our bare feet. Sides was feeling pretty queer so I
stayed behind with him and 7 others at night as we couldn’t reach the main
party before dark. We camped by the side of the river and slept on sand.
 ENJOYING THE RIVER MAY 1942

Wednesday, May 6th

Joined up with the others this morning and found that Jennings and Benton and
10 others had got on rafts to Maing Kaing. The rest of us started off in the
afternoon but only did about 4 miles before camping down for the night.

Thursday, May 7th

Left early morning for Maing Kaing and reached there about 6.30 in the evening
after very stiff walking through thick forest. Fortunately there were no minor
injuries. Had no sleep at night owing to insects, particularly ants and mosquitos.

Friday May 8th

Started off at 6 am for next point on the way to Homalin. The disheartening
part of this trip is that, as we go further, we learn that the distance we have to
cover is greater than we first thought. Several of the fellows are feeling pretty
done in and their feet are very bad. So far, apart from feeling tired, I am ok
and my feet are all right. We were joined by Jennings’ party today. Their raft
trip was apparently not a success.
Saturday May 9th

Started off this morning at 6.00. Learned that it is not much use going to
Homalin as the hills on the other side of the river are about 6/8000 ft high and
there is no food in Homalin and you cannot get any supplies there. We will have
to make for a place called Tonne which is about 30 miles south of Homalin and
cross there. The food situation is getting pretty bad as we are almost out of
tinned stuff and for the last few days we have been living on rice. Today we
had some luck as we heard a Wellington plane overhead and we laid out our
towels on the grass to form the letters RAF and he dropped several sacks of
foodstuffs including tinned milk, bully beef, sugar and tea. Unfortunately the
milk and bully beef all burst open but nevertheless we found the stuff very
welcome. Jennings, Beaton and about 10 others pushed on in front this
afternoon saying they would make arrangements for camping etc. This is a blind
as they are anxious to save their own skins and they are panicky because the
Japs are pushing up the Chindwin.

Sunday May 10th

Reached a village this morning where we are supposed to be able to catch a

boat to Tonne. Jennings and his party were just leaving. We were told that we
would be able to get a boat at 3.00pm but, after waiting all day, no boat
arrived.

Monday May 11th

Decided to walk to Tonne but, after walking about 8 miles, we transferred to

boats and continued our journey. It was very hot and uncomfortable. When we
arrived at Tonne we found the first signs of organisation we have come across as
there was a dump of tinned foodstuffs and we managed to replenish our
supplies.

Tuesday May 12th

Learned that the distance from here to Imphal is about 80 miles and very tough
going. Started off at 7.00am feeling pretty groggy as I have a touch of
diarrhoea and stomach trouble and I dropped a long way behind the main party.
 BOARDING CANOES NEAR TONNE MAY 1942

I was feeling very queer and finally Sides came back for me and I managed to
get as far as a water hole where I stayed for the night.

BREAKFAST DURING THE TREK MAY 1942

Wednesday May 13th

Joined up with the others this morning. They had split up again and about 20
of them had gone in front leaving Kerr, Sides and about 8 of us to follow on.
After having some grub I felt ok and we started off. It was very stiff going up
very steep hills and finally, after covering 12 miles, we stopped at Kanpur for
the night.

Thursday May 14th

Picked up more coolies this morning who are supposed to take us right to
Imphal. We made much good progress covering 23 miles today.

Friday May 15th

Pretty good going today. Food is running low again and we are eating mostly
rice. We made about 20 miles progress and stayed at a village over night before
starting on the last stage of the journey.

Saturday May 16th

We started off on the last stage of the journey. It was supposed to be 8 miles
to Motin Ronal. After walking about 3 miles we met the Indian Customs Officer
in charge of making a convoy to take supplies of food to evacuees coming
through this route. He gave us some tinned stuff which came in very useful as
we had had very little to eat for the last 3 days. We then learned it was about
7 miles to Karrigor where we could get some food and 4 miles from there we
should be able to get some transport. On arriving there we had some curry and
got bullock carts to take us 4 miles to a big civilian camp 15 miles this side of
Imphal. Conditions here are terrible. There are thousands of Indian women and
children with their belongings just lying down on the floor and waiting for a
chance of a lift. We were lucky enough to get on a lorry to Imphal and then
another lorry to a ‘rest’ camp about 15 miles the other side of Imphal arriving
there about 8.00pm. Apparently all services have to report to this camp on
arrival from Burma.
Monday May 18th

Conditions here are terrible. The sanitary conditions are the worst I’ve ever
seen and the camp is a morass of mud and slime. There are men arriving all day
and already there are over 2000 men here. The place will be alive with cholera
in a short while. Apparently our advance parties left for Calcutta via Dhingin
yesterday and we left by road for the same destination this morning at
10.00am. We got as far as Kohimina where we stayed for the night in a Gurkha
Barracks after having a good feed and then a night’s sleep.

The actual mileage we walked from Katha is 186 miles in 16 days which is
pretty good going considering the fact that none of us had done much marching
before and also we had Kalichendes slowing us up. The coolies we got did some
grand work and it was amazing the way they were able to get him up some of
the hills we had to climb.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

DAVID JENKINS 2ND ROW FAR RIGHT

Monday May 18th is the final entry in David Jenkins’ diary after he had reached
the relative safety of India. He had joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve on the 8th January 1941 and continued to serve in the RAF in India
after his experiences in Burma. He did achieve the rank of Corporal and was
later appointed Pilot Officer as recorded in the London Gazette of the 5th May,
1944. A further promotion to Flying Officer followed during 1944. He was able
to return to his wife, Doris, towards the end of September, 1944 and continued
to serve in the RAF, possibly based in Hendon, until the end of the war.

This record has been transcribed from David Jenkins’ diaries and are presented
exactly as he wrote them. There are quite possibly several errors made in
transcribing the names of people and places. David’s second diary was written in
faint pencil in very small handwriting. It is remarkable to find that they
survived in such good condition bearing in mind the dangers and rigours he
suffered and also that he managed to maintain such a faithful record in such
circumstances. It is a very personal account.

THE DIARIES DAVID’S WRITING

DAVID’S MEDALS