A Notice has now been put in the Officers Hut to, ostensibly, explain why Officers should work. It reads :-
OFFICERS DAILY LESSONS
For promoting health and an increase of food production, farming and cattle keeping shall be put in operation as follows: -
Had a shock for the evening meal; got a small portion of tinned salmon with the rice but we but there was no stew as vegetables did not arrive at the Camp. The latest rumour is that we have now got Singapore, Malaya and Java and are in Sumatra. Also
At about midnight last night it sounded as if hell had been let loose in the New Officers Hut, and we were preparing for a good beating up. It finally turned out that these Officers were pulled out to go and unload a lorry load of nails, wire, etc. The
Quite a few incidents of stealing of cigarettes and beatings up have occurred lately with the Guards, who are the culprits. They went to the Other Ranks Hut, next to ours yesterday and turned over all kits and took away about 16 packets of American cigarettes. Five men were caught
Another raid last night with plenty of aircraft passing over for some considerable time so I guess they got it thick and heavy somewhere. There is an interesting rumour going around to the effect that there has been a big naval battle and that the Japanese fleet is practically non-est.