大象传媒

When I woke I went round meeting my mates who had come from Singa etc, and I found out that Bren had been torpedoed and had lost all his kit, he being in the water for 18 hours. His whole body was burnt by the sun and he did look a sight. I was counting on Bren to have brought all his kit so as I could have used some of his, as he had a hell of a lot of kit. We both had a few guilders [2/8d each], so the first thing we had to buy was a razor and blades, brush etc, neither of us had shaved for a few days.

We had a very easy and enjoyable time in Batavia, being there for 10 days doing nothing but a few fatigues in the morning, and rest of the day off. When the Japs landed in Java, there was nothing we could do as we had very little equipment and very few aircraft. Tom being unlucky, in being there a few weeks earlier, was where we did have a few aircraft left. We all got orders then to make our way to a port in South Java, to evacuate in other words. We all (a few thousand) got in a similar train and similar conditions to what we had been used to, and started on a binding 10 hour journey to the port of Jillyjap. As soon as we reached there the air raid siren went, we got to the station about 11 o'clock at night and had to walk 3 miles to the docks.

We all piled on one of the ships, a Dutch ship called "Kota Gede" a 5,000 tonner, since been sunk. We had a lot of Aussies with us and the ship was packed full on all the decks. The following afternoon all the ships in the harbour set sail, apparently the Japs not very far off. We left all the others as they made for Aussie land, we for Ceylon. 3 hours after we left the Japs were in possession of the port of Jillyjap, so we didn't waste much time.

Our ship didn't go by a trade route, but made its own way zig zagging all the time. It took 3 and a half hours for everyone to queue up for any grub. We having 2 meals[or rather 2 snacks] twice a day only, and half a cup of tea. The grub was as expected, 2 biscuits each and 1 tinned sausage etc, but none was wasted. The trip apart from the condition the troops were in, was uneventful except for one morning early, the ship was going through a minefield, mines were floating either side of us. I think that everyone said their prayers on that trip, as if a torpedo had hit us very few of us could have got away, we only had 4 lifeboats, no lifejackets or rafts. Everyone was just longing to see land. Very few of us had cigarettes, I managed to scrounge a few. There was nothing we could do all day long, although 6 hours a day was spent in queuing up for grub, queues going all round the ship. No one had any bedding, Bren and I had a mossy net each which came in handy, one to lie on and one to cover us. We used to hang out on the top deck, but nearly every b-night it rained and we had to shift like like everyone else did, and crowd in an enclosure somewhere, so if possible we used to try and sleep during the day, and it used to be so hot on deck we rarely got any. Talk about the 'Altmark' they had nothing on us. The trip took 8 days, we left Java on 1st March and reached Colombo, Ceylon on the 9th.

When we were a days journey from Ceylon a British RAF kite flew out to us, and did the lads cheer, almost went crazy. Then the lads started talking as to what they were going to do, such as eat and drink as much as possible for the next few days when we reached port. We had heard that all of us would be going back to the UK but owing to the scandal etc., it wouldn't have paid the British Government, in fact it may have caused a few riots etc. at home. Singapore 'the world's mightiest fortress', it never had a blinkin thing there to stop anything.

When we did get ashore and went to a new RAF aerodrome, we had great big eats, bread, we hadn't had for a fortnight almost, and fruit and beer. Within a week 70% of us were down with dysentery, a few died through it. It was only as to be expected though as we hadn't had any decent meal for over 8 days, what we had was all tinned stuff and just enough of it to keep you going.

For the next fortnight we just did a few fatigues and took things easy, eating, drinking and sleeping. Then another great panic the Jap fleet were heading this way. We did have a few Hurricanes ready for them this time though. They just sunk a couple of ships in the harbour, but very little other damage. The RAF saved the day, while the RN did the evacuating this time.

Well Mum, I hope all this doesn't bore you or strain your eyes, but you can believe me that nothing's put on, it's the truth, and nothing that anyone else has told me, it's what I've done and been. I shouldn't show this to anyone else though as this is 'SECRET GEN' so keep it quiet. I'm now a Corporal I/C an engineering office and hoping to stay put until I get due for home service. Bren will be bringing this home I hope, so I think I've written enough for now, don't you.
So cheerio for now.
All my love Les.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.