Diary: Typed Transcript, 1942

File — Box: 6, Folder: 1-2

Identifier: III

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

McDougall's entire internment diary covers the period from 5 March 1942 to 2 November 1945. The diary from the first year (5 March to 31 December) reviews the events from his arrival on Java and his narrow escape from invading Japanese troops aboard the Dutch liner "Poelau Bras." McDougall describes the scene and his feelings when the ship was sunk by Japanese bombers some 250 miles off the coast of Java. He also tells of his eventual capture on Sumatra after six days in a small lifeboat and nearly three weeks of trying to find a small, seaworthy boat to make an escape to the Mentawai Islands.
McDougall was interned in Palembang Jail on Easter Sunday 5 April 1942, the only American among the Dutch and British prisoners until Eric Germann, a brewer from Singapore arrived in mid-April. The diary describes the physical setting and characteristics of the jail as well as making notes and remarks about other internees and their capture stories. After the first couple of weeks in internment McDougall became an assistant in the camp clinic. Because of this he has much to say about the health and diet within the camp.
In the first year of internment McDougall and most of the other internees were busy with various language lessons, study groups, organized lectures, quiz contests, lotteries, and camp concerts. McDougall also began to attend Catholic Mass regularly with the many priests who were interned from the Catholic missions in Sumatra. They also organized a camp government with a camp leader and representative block leaders comprising the Camp Committee. McDougall describes the organization, its function and the factions within camp, especially the competition between the British and the Dutch.
McDougall wrote articles, did editing, and helped type the English version of a small camp newspaper. The paper was circulated throughout the prison to give news about camp government and events, and news or rumors about the war. During the first year they received war news from a radio hidden by the Catholic nuns who ran Charitas Hospital where cases too severe for the camp clinic were taken. The hospital acted as a clearinghouse for information exchanged between the men's and women's camps and the outside world.
Throughout the diary McDougall describes his activities, impressions, opinions, and escape hopes. He is very concerned about his family and their reactions to his "disappearance." He writes letters to them in hopes he may sometime be allowed to send them and continually hopes that the International Red Cross has been informed of his whereabouts. This diary also has a summary of his feelings about the events of the year 1942.
April 1st, 1942, Wednesday, page 17
"...I pleaded long, loudly and in vain to remain in this small kampong [village] because I am afraid that as soon as we go to Kroe we will be captured. ...However I am helpless, I cannot speak the language and these people are unwilling to remain any longer in the jungle."
May 3, 1942, Sunday, page 26
"A tall Englishman named Morgan who has been teaching Japanese lessons in camp this morning at 8:30 a.m. was told to pack his luggage and leave with the Japanese. I don't think we will ever see him again."
May 21st, 1942 Thursday, page 32
"...I'm well tanned and healthy now, able to meet anything should my chance come. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, however, because of much impetigo, athlete's foot, appapox (that is, moneky pox) and other skin infections and diseases spreading through camp."
June 7, 1942, Sunday [page 37]
"...Attended 5:30 a.m. Mass and also High Mass at 6:30 at which Father Bakker, parish priest at Muntok, preached an excellent, inspiring and thought provoking sermon in English. Two months ago he could speak or understand very little English."
June 9, 1942, Tuesday, page 38
"...The hard part, though, is knowing how worried are the folks at home. Informed today the International Red Cross has inquired regarding the Poeloe [Poelau] Bras victims and survivors. I hope it is correct and our names have gone to Geneva. (Later this proved to be a false report)."
June 27, 1942, Sunday, page 42
"A successful camp concert was staged by the light of a full moon with a makeshift stage made out of cell doors and planks and the south wall of the water tank..."
July 23, 1942, Thursday, [page 51]
"Worked all day on U.S. History for lecture Friday night."
August 3, 1942, Monday, [page 53]
"British ring-around-rosie election today re--elected Penryce whom they voted yesterday to oust. There is no accounting for the British mind...."
October 23, 1942, Friday, page 66
"Began series descriptive letters to Jean."
November 14, 1942, Saturday, page 69
"Block 6 defeated Block 3 by 21 1/2 to 18 in quiz contest. Had busy week preparing for concert, putting out camp news and preparing quiz."
December 25, 1942, Friday [page 78]
"Dutch choir gave impressive cantata of sacred music...Christmas story from Bible read to Dutch and English...in short readings followed by songs...For first time since jail camp began utter silence reigned during the second half of the concert....
"All in all it was a happy, cheerful Christmas--despite the circumstances--with a beautiful ending."

Dates

1942

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.