Diary: Typed Transcript, 1945

File — Box: 6, Folder: 5

Identifier: III

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The portion of the diary from 1945 covers the period from 5 January to 2 November when McDougall landed in San Francisco, California after three and one-half years of internment.
McDougall continued to work in the hospital and he records the numerous deaths until March of 1945 when the camp was moved to Belalau, an abandoned rubber plantation in Sumatra. After the move McDougall begins life away from the hospital and its internal administrative troubles. He does, however, continue typing death records for the Japanese. In this way he learns some things about life in the Women's Camp and, through stealing Japanese newspapers, learns about the progress of the war.
Most of the diary from the Belalau period of March through August consists of descriptions of McDougall's ventures and success as a black marketeer smugging food into the camp. The productivity and hence better food of the area as compared with Muntok allowed McDougall's health to improve. His mental situation was helped considerably when he received his first letters from home in January and at irregular intervals thereafter.
Following the August announcement by the Japanese that the war was over and the Allied forces would be moving into the area, visits were finally allowed between the men's and women's camps and open trade for foodstuffs was carried on. The diary from September to November describes McDougall's release from internment and his trip home. He describes people and places and gives his impressions of post-war Singapore, Shanghai, Japan and various other American military bases visited on his way back to the United States.
January 5, 1945, Friday, pages 152-153
"Two hundred four deaths in Camp during 1944 of total 229 to date....
"Old newspapers show Southern Philippines occupied in September and Germany almost finished in October. Nov. Jap attitude here definitely changing to one of frigidity...."
January 11, 1945, Thursday, page 153.
"Three letters received this afternoon..."
January 31, 1945, Wednesday, page 156.
"Drysdale later bought dead rat from a brother for 1 guilder and ate it. Many men eating rats now."
February 23, 1945, Friday, page 158.
"Japs said Camp going to Rubber Estate near Loeboek Linggau, in South Sumatra..."
March 14, 1945, Wednesday, page 161.
"This is my first real taste of Block life; hitherto always having lived Hospital, Keeps one busy dark till dark, if one cooks, sews, etc."
July 30, 1945, Monday, page 169.
"Busy all week Black Marketing but sold little. Night of Wednesday--Thursday Germann and I to Ladang, getting big load ubi kayoe [a root vegetable from which tapioca is made]. Cost Fl. 30 for fixing Hai Ho [native guard]. We sold enough to pay the fix and make about Fl. 20 extra...
"Eric [Germann] and I are getting reputation in Camp as big Black Marketers and Ubi-Kings. Various totally untrue and fantastic things are attributed to us. Actually we are small fry in Black Market circles...."
August 19, 1945, Sunday, page 173.
"Fathers returned from meeting children, with conflicting stories. Children sufficiently fed and children starved. Most agreed that children there thinner than here...."
August 24, 1945, Friday, pages 173-174.
"Camp alive with rumors--all attributed to various Japs--war is over. An official announcement of some sort scheduled for 2:00 p.m....
"Last night Japs announced phenomenal ration increase...We cheered but skeptically await fulfillment [sic]."
August 25, 1945, Saturday, page 174.
"Captain Seki yesterday 2:00 p.m. announced war ended in Pacific....Peace signed Manila noon Tokyo time....Did not know when Allies would arrive....
"Part[l]y because we had been expecting the announcement and partly because it seemed unreal and distant from us, men took it quietly, calmly--little emotion displayed....
"Neither Germann nor I felt any particular sense of exhilaration--that probably will not come until we see Allied troops--Americans we hope...."
September 6, 1945, Thursday, page 178.
"Three Dutch and one Chinese paratroop Cadets arrived here after being dropped over Benkoelen this morning.... Said possibly two months before we able leave here. Whole world in chaos...."
September 20, 1945, Thursday, page 180.
"Yesterday night journeyed Lahat boarded Dakota (with 35 internees) for Singapore. Tuesday Dakota offtook Lahat airdrome with 70 people."
September 29, 1945, Saturday, page 180.
"Moving every minute since left Camp....Yesterday flew Palembang Mitchell twin motor Bomber, updug notes burried [sic] Boekit Besar Camp [Barracks Camp] August, 1943--perfectly preserved...."
October 11, 1945, Thursday, page 182.
"Today discharged from 142nd Base Hospital and 2nd Convalescent Camp....Mailed five large envelopes to Jean containing buried notes."
November 1, 1945, Thursday, page 194.
"Slept till noon in bunk but awakened just in time to sight the U. S. A. Its rugged coast line came out of the mist and reached for me...."

Dates

1945

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.