21 August 1945

No entry.

20 August 1945

No entry.

19 August 1945

Had bowl and half of pap with stew for breakfast, this, with a little butter and milk was quite satisfactory. No bread as the yeast has given out again. Rumour has it that a cow has come into the Camp for slaughter also that they are killing two pigs. Rumour

18 August 1945

Roll Call last night with the following announcement: "There will probably be a fire drill some time during the night. If the siren outside the camp sounds then the bell in the camp will be rung, in which case everybody will fall in as quickly as possible carrying three

17 August 1945

Roll Call at 6:30 instead of 6 o/clock. Got 1 1/2 bowls of pap with a fair stew for breakfast. The latest rumour is that all of the Japanese Staff will leave the day after tomorrow and the Military Police will take over. It is expected that

16 August 1945

No Alarms during the night. Another story comes that the Japanese Interpreter told the Dutch Officer who used to act in that capacity that Japan had submitted a White Paper to the Allies asking for an Armistice and something definite would be known within a week. The miners had an

15 August 1945

The sirens started before we left Roll Call last night. We saw about 24 searchlights pick up and hold a plane and saw the bursts of a few ack ack shells, it was quite fascinating. Back on the Farm again today. Great news, or shall we say colossal rumours -

14 August 1945

Food as usual today.

13 August 1945

Food as yesterday. Plenty of plane activity all day, the sirens coming on and going off, sometimes as quickly as 1/4 hour intervals. While at work two planes passed right over our heads at only about 200 ft up, they were American. The Mine was deserted as we stopped

12 August 1945

The Emperor is supposed to broadcast to the Nation today, this is another of the small rumours from the other day. Blackout last night. Food as yesterday, vegetable stew a little better. The 15th is supposed to be a day of prayer and Yasume. Owing to a change in Japanese

11 August 1945

Breakfast and mid-day meals rather small. The Sgt Major has been damnable again today; this is no doubt due to the rumour about Russia being confirmed and that hostilities have commenced. Quite a fair meal this evening: a bowl of pap, 1/2 bread and a portion of soup with

10 August 1945

The rice ration for breakfast and mid-day meals was fairly good. As we had no bread for the evening meal we got two bowls of pap. This is made up with flour and water in the same consistency as the mixture for making pancakes, but two bowls were as much

9 August 1945

[Atomic bombing of Nagasaki, about 150km from Fukuoka] Yasume today. Roll Call and Reveille one hour later. We are getting two meals only today: a full loaf for breakfast, roughly 8ozs, and a medium bowl of rice for the evening meal. Getting weighed at 8 o/c and fire practice

8 August 1945

Another little piece of savagery while we were waiting to be marched off to work. One of the Dutch lads got a good beating up and was kicked unmercifully whilst on the ground, he had a nasty cut over the left eye, whether by a kick or otherwise I'

7 August 1945

Well we certainly got a shock with the rice this morning for both breakfast and mid-day meals, the amount we got was little more than what we were getting for breakfast previously. I guess tonight's meal will be just as noticeable for its scarcity as well. By the

6 August 1945

[Atomic bombing of Hiroshima, about 280km from Fukuoka] Black Out was on pretty well all night. Rice for breakfast and mid-day meals were very short. Got another portion of rice yesterday and it certainly makes a difference to a hungry man. There was sure a heavy rumble of dull explosions

5 August 1945

Short alarm last night. A new Corporal has taken over as Quartermaster so our food may be better in future. The old QM I understand, is leaving shortly - needless to say we believe he robbed us right and left with our food. The Sergeant has been promoted WO2 and

4 August 1945

Food was a little more in quantity for morning and mid-day meals. Another free night from Alarms. Got another real good soaking today but dried off before getting back to Camp. Had another portion of rice and a bowl of fish soup which was real good. The Camp Commander has

3 August 1945

Last night appeared to be free from raids and alarms. Food just as short as ever. Another wet day and soaking through on the Farm. Got my first lot of rice this morning and tobacco this evening. Had beans mixed in the rice for the evening meal which makes it

2 August 1945

Sirens on the go pretty well all night. Bread has stopped as yeast has given out, but the amount of rice in lieu was very small. Not a Siren has been heard all day. Sold a watch today for 5 packets tobacco which I expect to get tomorrow (the present

1 August 1945

The great month of expectation, of something really big happening. Pretty well clear of alarms last night. Yasume today. Roll Call and Reveille one hour later. Inspection of Japanese clothing this morning as some of the men have been caught out selling it down the mine. They have not only

31 July 1945

Sirens on the go again last night. No stew for breakfast - had a very watery soup with the evening meal. Issued with 50 sheets of lat paper.

30 July 1945

Planes were over again last night. No stew for breakfast. All the Officers working on the cattle branch of the farm got a bit of a beating up this evening for allegedly stealing vegetables, although they were, in fact, given to them. Heard that the Labour Government are in power

29 July 1945

Black Out during the night. Breakfast quite good to what we have been having. Evening meal wasn't too bad although we had no stew with it. An Officer arriving from hospital brought the news that both Osaka and Kobe are so flat that you could build an aerodrome