Diary: Typed Transcript, 1943

File — Box: 6, Folder: 3

Identifier: III

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

McDougall's diary for the year 1943 runs from 1 January to 22 August with a gap between 11 April and 14 July.
During this year McDougall continued to work as a "dresser" in the camp hospital and enjoyed the special privileges consequent to his position. When the internees were moved in January to the new barracks camp in Palembang, McDougall describes the deteriorating situation. Food and sanitation became continually poorer and as a result patients at the camp hospital increased.
Internees from Pladjoe were added to the new camp and the increased crowding brought more strain in personal relationships. McDougall also describes the continued divisions in the camp government and gives his opinions on various factions. Even while more strain was evident the camp members continued to study, hold lectures, quizzes, and camp concerts and variety shows.
McDougall sent his first postcard home in March, but had no word from his family. He continued to worry about their concern for him and to hope they might receive word through the Red Cross regarding his location and condition.
The camp was moved to Muntok Prison on Bangka Island, known for its unhealthy conditions, in September. Having heard the news in advance and fearing loss of his diaries and notes, McDougall buried these materials under the foundation of the hospital in August. Before doing so he wrote about his changed attitude toward his way of life, journalism, and his renewed faith in his religion.
January 1, 1943, Friday, [page 81]
"...First New Year's Eve or Day in many years I didn't drink at least one toast with some spirit beverage....this year there was nothing, unless last night's fruit punch can be counted. Three bottles of arak went into the mixture..."
Jan. 5, 1943, Tuesday, page 81
"Hospital workday begins at 5:45 a.m. emptying night soil bucket, then building fire, half the time with wet wood....Our hospital consists of two room cell block separate from other buildings and fronted by barbed wire and high hedges...."
January 16, 1943, Saturday, page 84
"Piles of luggage, furniture...Cells stripped of everything....informed 126 men from Pladjoe today would be added to our new camp, plus 40 more later, which outwiped our plans allocating places...."
February 9, 1943, Tuesday, page 89
"Missed first Tuesday lecture of our group because Father Elling gives his own. I elected to go to Elling's. Looks like the first break."
March 4, 1943, Thursday, page 95
"Debating again whether to take up the study of Dutch....but I dislike dividing further my already full and precious time...Malay and shorthand take about all my spare time..."
March 14, 1943, Sunday, page 96
"Camp members issued postcards 'Services des Prisonniers de Gueze' and told we could send them three times a year anywhere in the world. Mine addressed said: 'Dear Mother, Dad and Jean. I am in good health, eating sufficiently and treated all right. Time passes quickly doing camp duties plus studying shorthand and Malay. You'll be glad to know, Mother, I'm attending Mass here daily. The climate is pleasant, nights cool. We can live and work in shorts and sandles [sic]. Greetings to Gertrude and Paul. Tell my office I'm okaye but [DeWitt] Hancock [Associated Press] missing since shipwreck last March. God bless you all. Love, Son. W. H. McDougall Jr."
April 11, 1943, Sunday, page 102
"Have now been interned a few days over a year..."
"Sense of values changed considerably. Journalistic success seems not so important as once, unless pursued for an objective which is concrete and aside from the success standpoint. Few things are more perishable--or fascinating--than news. But little of it is of any permanent worth and much of the modern newspaper's contents are definately harmfull morally."
July 17, 1943 Saturday, page 103
"Lobbied intensely for Camp election of representatives of new Camp Committee headed by Resident Oranje, with provision for regular elections every three months and Drysdale as representative of British...."
July 22, 1943, Thursday, page 104
"Koot made tin containers for me, tube shaped..." [to bury camp newspaper, diaries and other notes]
"Midnight 27-28 [July 1943] Camp News buried" [page 106]
August 5, 1943, Thursday, page 107
"Tied hand and foot 2x2. Fed twice, water once."
August 22, 1943, Sunday, handwritten note, page 110
"Here I buried diaries, letters under hospital foundation."

Dates

1943

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.