The Great Kantō Earthquake of 1 September 1923 devastated the major cities of Tokyo and Yokohama, as well as five other surrounding prefectures and was one of the world’s worst natural disasters of the early twentieth century. In terms of loss of life and material damage, with an estimated 140,000 deaths and countless homeless, it is still Japan’s worst national disaster. Nearly 90% of the newspaper printers were destroyed in the earthquake. These postcards were not produced for aesthetics but as a major tool for the spread of information. Seeing how newspaper companies were left with their offices in shambles, postcard publishers tried to fill the gap hence some were in three languages. A very small number of publishing companies were fortunate enough to survive, one of them being Mitsumura Printing, which took advantage of its remaining resources to churn out postcards. When the Ōsaka Mainichi Shinbunsha published its bilingual three-volume photographic pictorial of the Great Kantō Earthquake just two weeks after the event, the calamity had already been captured in thousands of images that circulated on a national and international media highway. Commercial photographers and photojournalists produced the most abundant and immediate images of the quake, which were transmitted in newspapers, special-issue newspaper pictorials, commemorative photography collections, illustrated survivors’ accounts, and sets of commemorative postcards. These photographic images functioned as both news and souvenirs, rendering their consumers/viewers, inside and outside the devastated locale, into both witnesses and voyeurs. Images in the news media and those issued by respected publishing houses carried the visual authority of supposed facticity. As such they both produced and became the historical record of the event. Since the vast majority of 1923 disaster postcards that survive have no writing on them, they were likely treated more as collectibles than as a form of postal communication. Many were put into albums, creating new ways to combine images and create visual cultures of disaster for home viewing. Accordion-style albums allowed for personalized, serial organization of images that produced unique, imagistic narratives of the event. The album pages were also two-sided and could be stretched out to view a series of images on recto and verso. References: Imaging Disaster: Tokyo and the Visual Culture of Japan’s Great Earthquake of 1923 震災をイメージ化する　東京と1923年関東大震災のヴィジュアルカルチャー - The Asia. (2024, March 31). Retrieved from https://apjjf.org/2015/13/6/gennifer-weisenfeld/4270 The Great Kanto Earthquake: Postcards of Tragedy. (2024, March 31). Retrieved from https://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/japanese-culture/the-great-kanto-earthquake-postcards/ See also: Postcards from Hell – Glimpses of the Great Kantō Earthquake; M. William STEELE (International Christian University, Japan) 14th Conference of the European Association of Japanese Studies: Visual Culture and Postcard Research Papers – East Asia Image Collection Blog. (2024, March 31). Retrieved from https://sites.lafayette.edu/eastasia/2014/09/01/14th-conference-of-the-european-association-of-japanese-studies-visual-culture-and-postcard-research-papers/] And https://icu.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/4503/files/ACS44_01Steele.pdfThis item, a souvenir from Japan from between the wars (circa 1923) was brought home to Research, Victoria by Bill Teagle who was serving in the Royal Australian Navy (1919-1945). Bill Teagle's sister Violet Amelda Teagle had married Theodore (Curly) Feldbauer in 1933. Bill's brother-in-law Curly was taken as a Prisoner of War by the Japanese and died at Sandakan in March 1945. The family did not learn of Curly’s death till months later and Bill's sister, Violet, herself could never forgive the Japanese for what happened to Curly. Curly is remembered on the Eltham Roll of Honour Board and his son, Albert Feldbauer (Bill’s nephew and youngest child of the children of the soldier fathers attending a school in the district), was given the honour of turning the first sod for the Eltham War Memorial Infant Welfare Centre Building. Despite this, the family maintained this cherished souvenir from a time of previous foreign friendship with Japan. The item was possibly given by Bill Teagle to his sister Margaret Rose (formerly Ingram) who later married Richard Edward (Eddie) Fielding in early 1948. (Eddie had been engaged to someone else before he went to war, but his fiancée broke it off before his return to Australia.) It was cared for by the Teagle/Fielding family for approximately one hundred years. It is of particular significance given the family's connection to the Eltham War Memorial and the significance of that memorial to the local community and represents that despite the horrors of war, former friends then foes can become friends again.tom fielding collection, japanese postcard, postcard, 1923, great kanto earthquake, japan, tokyo, yokohama

The Great Kantō Earthquake of 1 September 1923 devastated the major cities of Tokyo and Yokohama, as well as five other surrounding prefectures and was one of the world’s worst natural disasters of the early twentieth century. In terms of loss of life and material damage, with an estimated 140,000 deaths and countless homeless, it is still Japan’s worst national disaster. Nearly 90% of the newspaper printers were destroyed in the earthquake. These postcards were not produced for aesthetics but as a major tool for the spread of information. Seeing how newspaper companies were left with their offices in shambles, postcard publishers tried to fill the gap hence some were in three languages. A very small number of publishing companies were fortunate enough to survive, one of them being Mitsumura Printing, which took advantage of its remaining resources to churn out postcards. When the Ōsaka Mainichi Shinbunsha published its bilingual three-volume photographic pictorial of the Great Kantō Earthquake just two weeks after the event, the calamity had already been captured in thousands of images that circulated on a national and international media highway. Commercial photographers and photojournalists produced the most abundant and immediate images of the quake, which were transmitted in newspapers, special-issue newspaper pictorials, commemorative photography collections, illustrated survivors’ accounts, and sets of commemorative postcards. These photographic images functioned as both news and souvenirs, rendering their consumers/viewers, inside and outside the devastated locale, into both witnesses and voyeurs. Images in the news media and those issued by respected publishing houses carried the visual authority of supposed facticity. As such they both produced and became the historical record of the event. Since the vast majority of 1923 disaster postcards that survive have no writing on them, they were likely treated more as collectibles than as a form of postal communication. Many were put into albums, creating new ways to combine images and create visual cultures of disaster for home viewing. Accordion-style albums allowed for personalized, serial organization of images that produced unique, imagistic narratives of the event. The album pages were also two-sided and could be stretched out to view a series of images on recto and verso. References: Imaging Disaster: Tokyo and the Visual Culture of Japan’s Great Earthquake of 1923 震災をイメージ化する　東京と1923年関東大震災のヴィジュアルカルチャー - The Asia. (2024, March 31). Retrieved from https://apjjf.org/2015/13/6/gennifer-weisenfeld/4270 The Great Kanto Earthquake: Postcards of Tragedy. (2024, March 31). Retrieved from https://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/japanese-culture/the-great-kanto-earthquake-postcards/ See also: Postcards from Hell – Glimpses of the Great Kantō Earthquake; M. William STEELE (International Christian University, Japan) 14th Conference of the European Association of Japanese Studies: Visual Culture and Postcard Research Papers – East Asia Image Collection Blog. (2024, March 31). Retrieved from https://sites.lafayette.edu/eastasia/2014/09/01/14th-conference-of-the-european-association-of-japanese-studies-visual-culture-and-postcard-research-papers/] And https://icu.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/4503/files/ACS44_01Steele.pdfThis item, a souvenir from Japan from between the wars (circa 1923) was brought home to Research, Victoria by Bill Teagle who was serving in the Royal Australian Navy (1919-1945). Bill Teagle's sister Violet Amelda Teagle had married Theodore (Curly) Feldbauer in 1933. Bill's brother-in-law Curly was taken as a Prisoner of War by the Japanese and died at Sandakan in March 1945. The family did not learn of Curly’s death till months later and Bill's sister, Violet, herself could never forgive the Japanese for what happened to Curly. Curly is remembered on the Eltham Roll of Honour Board and his son, Albert Feldbauer (Bill’s nephew and youngest child of the children of the soldier fathers attending a school in the district), was given the honour of turning the first sod for the Eltham War Memorial Infant Welfare Centre Building. Despite this, the family maintained this cherished souvenir from a time of previous foreign friendship with Japan. The item was possibly given by Bill Teagle to his sister Margaret Rose (formerly Ingram) who later married Richard Edward (Eddie) Fielding in early 1948. (Eddie had been engaged to someone else before he went to war, but his fiancée broke it off before his return to Australia.) It was cared for by the Teagle/Fielding family for approximately one hundred years. It is of particular significance given the family's connection to the Eltham War Memorial and the significance of that memorial to the local community and represents that despite the horrors of war, former friends then foes can become friends again.tom fielding collection, japanese postcard, postcard, 1923, great kanto earthquake, japan, tokyo, yokohama

During World War II, following the Fall of Singapore in February 1942, the Japanese military detained about 3,000 civilians in Changi Prison, which was built to house only 600 prisoners. The Japanese used the British Army's Selarang Barracks, near the prison, as a prisoner of war camp, holding some 50,000 Allied—predominantly British and Australian—soldiers.[1] Although POWs were rarely, if ever, held in the civilian prison, the name Changi became synonymous in the UK, Australia, and elsewhere with the POW camp. About 850 POWs died during their internment in Changi during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore,[2] a relatively low rate compared to the overall death rate of 27% for POWs in Japanese camps.[3] However, many more prisoners died after being transferred from Changi to various labour camps outside Singapore, including the Burma Railway and the Sandakan airfield.this item is of historical significance because it is supposedly one of the few surving keys to Changi Jail and donated by Mr.Robertson . Changi is significant as it was a major prison camp during WWII Changi Jail Key. Blackened metal key, Wooden tag attached with Japanese print on it. Kanji Characters read Middle Gatechangi, fall of singapore, key, p.o.w.

"BEHIND BAMBOO" "An Inside Story of the Japanese Prison Camps" Author - ROHAN D. RIVETT "War Correspondent Prisoner of War, on the Burma-Siam Railway"Hard cover book. Cover - cardboard, light orange buckram with red and white print on front and spine. 400 pages - cut, plain, off white paper, illustrated - black and white and colour illustrations. Front end papers - owner's name, owner's stamp, book seller's label. Price notation.Front end papers - Owner's name - handwritten, black pen, "O.PELL / 7 VIOLET ST/ BGO" "M. PELL/ ORBOST" Owner's stamp - black ink "BENDIGO DISTRICT RSL SUB BRANCH INC/ PO BOX 42/ LONG GULLY 3550. Book seller's label - silver on black background A.J. DIGBY/ BOOKSELLER AND STAT (?)/ BAIRNSDALE" price notation - grey lead pencil "$10/ DMTY"books, military history, ww2, japanese prison camps

Japanese Prisoners from Nauru marched to Bougainville. 5304.1P -Japanese Prisoners being marched from Nauru to Bougainville. 5304.2P - Japanese Prisoners embarking from Torokina to Fauro Island 1945-46. 5304.3P - Japanese War graves at Slatters Knoll, Bougainville. 5304.4P - Japanese Officer Prisoners.Torokina.5304.1P - B & W photo, reprint of Japanese Prisoners. 5304.2P - B & W photo, reprint of Japanese Prisoners. 5304.3P - B & W photo, reprint of Japanese War grave at Bougainville. 5304.4P - B & W photo, reprint of Japanese Officer Prisoners.5304.1P -Japanese Prisoners from Nauru B... marched beach to compound Br 25th WF Bat. 5304.2P - Japanese Prisoners preparing to embark from Torokina to Fauro Island 1945-46. 5304.3P - Japanese Mass graves at Slatters Knoll, Buin Rd, after battle of Easal 1945. 5304.4P - 2nd /25 Aust Inf Battalion - Japanese Prisoners. Torokina.japanese prisoners, torokina, mass war grave, slatters knoll

These photographs and medals are of the McIntyre family. Three members of Lara's McIntyre family served during the First and Second World Wars, and two were members of the Lara RSL. John Lachlan McIntyre was born at Beeac, Victoria in December 1890. He enlisted in the 1st AIF in July 1915. John fought on the Western Front, taking part in the battles of Fromelles and the 2nd Battle of the Somme. He was severely wounded at Fromelles and spent 12 months in hospital in England before returning to the front. John returned home in 1919 and was granted a soldier settlement block in Lara in 1937. He was a founding member of Lara RSL and is its longest serving member. John died in 1990. Thomas Gordon McIntyre was born at Lara in 1901. Thomas, known as Gordon, was too young to enlist in the First World War with his brothers. At the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion. He fought in the Syrian Campaign, before being recalled to Australia to fight in the pacific campaign. Gordon was wounded in a battle against the Japanese in Java on the 19/02/1942, and taken prisoner. No record of him after this was ever discovered, and he is presumed to have been killed. Jim McIntyre was born in 1893, and grew up in Lara and Geelong. Jim enlisted in the 1st AIF in 1916, and served with the 14th Battalion through the war. He was wounded twice. Jim died in 1976. The McIntyre family were early pioneers in the Lara district, and the brothers were founding members of the Lara RSL. Their medals and photographs represent a significant link to the history of the town and sub-branch. Three photographs and three sets of medals in a pine wood frame with glass covering. Photographs are black and white portraits of soldiers in uniform mounted on cream card. The medals are mounted on black felt. T.G. McIntyre VX20754 - 35-45 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and the Australian Service Medal 39-45. J.L. McIntyre 3591 - War Medal and Victory Medal J.W. McIntyre 7049 - War Medal and Victory Medal J.L. McIntyre REG. No. 3591 58th. BATT. 1st A.I.F Foundation Member Lara R.S.L 1890 - 1990 REG. NO. VX20754 T.G. MC INTYRE 2/2nd PIONEERS 2nd A.I.F 7049 J.W. McINTYRE 14th BTN. 1893-1975photograph, mcintyre, medals, wwi, wwii, world war 1, world war 2, aif, pioneers, lara, rsl

The Burma Railway, also known as the Death Railway, the Siam–Burma Railway, the Thai–Burma Railway and similar names, was a 415-kilometre railway between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma, built by the Empire of Japan in 1943 to support its forces in the Burma campaign of World War II. This railway completed the rail link between Bangkok, Thailand, and Rangoon, Burma. This is a poster advertising the showing of a film on the making of the railway.In all, 9,500 Australian prisoners of war worked on the construction of the Burma-Thailand Railway, which ran from Bampong, Thailand, to Thanbyuzayat, Burma . Building commenced at each end of the railway. Altogether, 2,646 Australians died working on the railway.Rectangular shaped black and white film poster.The Burma-Thailand Death Railway Film Posterposters, burma-thailand death railway film poster, world war two, lara r.s.l.

WWII List of events. Part 1 - The Road to War Part 11 - South East Asia Conquered Part III - Prisoners of the Japanese Australia in the War of 1939-1945 - The Japanese Thrust ARMY Author Lionel Wilmore List of events from 1931 - 20th May 1942 Maps, Photographs and IllustrationsAustralian War Memorialww11, japanese, new guinea, 1939-1942, malaya, singapore, prisoners of war, java, timor, burma thai railway

Made possibly by a jewler while a priosner of the Japanese in WW2Small Bracelett made of grey metal in a filigree (Very Fine) Pattern with green bottle glass in a metal mount (one is missing entirely) Very small Rising Sun to front of bracelett. Joining link held together by a split pin, other links looped together with chain.Fusal. Terling. Silver 935. On rear of Rising Sun On the Rising Sun- Kings Crown. Australian Commonwealth Military Forcesbracelet,, pow. prisoner of war

Homecoming - Second World War Soldiers of Victoria's Central Goldfields.Biographies. Soft cardboard cover. White print on front & spine. Illustrated, sepia tones photo front of 7th Infantry Battalion - Darwin vicinity. Back has 7th Infantry Battalion marching a column of Japanese naval prisoners. 196 cut, plain, white pages. Illustrated black / white / sepia photos of portraits & scenes. Flyleaf & end papers illustrated. book, homecoming, central victorian

During WW2 22,000 Australian military personnel became prisoners of the Japanese military, many of those who returned home after the war attributed their survival to the 106 Australian medical Officers imprisoned alongside them.Book, soft cover, cardboard, brown and dark grey print on front, spine and back on beige background, illustrated on front cover in sepia tones of Doctors attending to a patient, 297 pages, plain off white , illustrated with black and white photographs.books, ww2, pow doctors.

The story of Japanese Prisoners of War by Rohan Rivett “War Correspondent, POW on the Burma Siam Railway”Hard cover, buckram, dark fawn colour, blue print on spine, red print symbol on front cover, 400 pages, plain off white, illustrated B & W, colour and maps.Front fly leaf, hand written in grey lead pencil, “8a A.E. Lockwood 12/6”. Front end paper bottom right, book shop label in blue print intelligible.books, military history, pow’s

Book Dedication, “ And to all the men and Women of Victoria’s Central Goldfields who served and made the supreme sacrifice in our name”..1) .2) Books, soft cover, front illustrated sepia tone photograph of group of Soldiers with Jungle vegetation in back ground, 7th Infantry Bn Darwin vicinity, back cover sepia tone photo of Soldiers marching a column of Japanese Naval prisoners.On Title page printed in red ink on adhesive label, “Central Goldfields/Art/Gallery”, in black ink, With Compliments”books military, histroy, biography ww2

Item with the collection of Cyril John JOHNSON VX 36298 died as a POW of the Japanese. Refer 3144 for his service history.Medal, Australian Prisoner of War, set on a black cardboard backing.PRISONER OF WARmedals, military, prisoners of war

Carving was made by a Japanese Prisoner Of War in a New Zealand POW Camp in Featherston, North Island. Original owner believed to be Graeme Richards who was a guard at the camp.Solid wooden carving of the Great Wall of China. Tan with matching frame, cord hanging strap on back.Carving history attached to backing.memorabilia, carving, china, pow,

Japanese Prisoner of War record for Sgt Ignacio EISMA, 1st Howitzer Battalion, Dutch East Indies Army. Sgt EISMA died 3.1943 at the Rin Tin POW Camp on the Thai Burma Railway. refer Cat No’s 3669P and 3670.Photo copy of a Japanese Prisoner of War record.record, administration, pow, japanese

Medal was presented to Alfred Robert Maskell VX25221 2nd AIF POW of the Japanese. Refer..Medal with ribbon, 6 colours, medal in form of a cross with central map of Australia, 4 logo's around the cross, rear is engraved. "Prisoner of War" "Presented by the Clayton RSL 1993"medals, military, history

John Phillip MURPHY No VX17294 enlisted in the 2nd AIF on 15.5.1940 age 30 years 5 months. Posted to the 2/29th Bn 29.11.1940, embarked for Singapore 30.7.1941 disembarking 15.8.1941. Promoted to L/Cpl 2.1.1942, listed as missing 16.2.1942 then POW. A telegram in his records dated 4.8.1945 to his wife Mrs A Murphy of Kirkwood St Eaglehawk states “Alive at Changi Camp”. He disembarked Australia on 8.10.1945 and discharged from the Army on 6.12.1945. Refer also Cat No 1110.Envelope, “Prisoner of War Post” yellowed, red print, stamped “Passed by Censor” re J.P.Murphy.Typed “VX17294 L/Cpl J P Murphy 2/29 Battalion AIF Australian Prisoner of War Malaya”. In pencil “Changi”.envelopes japanese, pow, murphy

Book, light green soft cover, photo in centre of 2 small boys standing to attention. 236 pages. Back cover has photo of the Editor on lower LHS.Written on title page: Donated by F O'Connellbooks, history

Book, black hard cover with red cloth binding & red, white & black dust jacket. Front cover has background of a red circle with 7 lines radiating from the bottom. 462 pages.Written on title page: John W Toon OAM Ex POW 8th Div AASC Donated by: Bgo YMCAbooks, military history, prisoners

Copy of framed photograph of World War 2 Australian Army serviceman Lieutenant Edgar Burton Chapman, service number VX43645, who served in the 2/10th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers. The 2/10th FC was attached to the 8th Division. Chapman later transferred to the 2/12 FC which was in Singapore when the Japanese invaded. Chapman was captured and spent 3 1/2 years as a Prisoner of War in Changi Prison. Chapman was born in Dromana, Victoria, on 21st March, 1914 and lived in Frankston and attended Frankston High School. He trained as a Civil Engineer and commenced work with the British Phosphate Commission in Nauru.

Retrieved from original location by Kevin Myers during official military preparations for a Hellfire Pass memorial in recognition of the allied POW lives lost during construction of the Burma-Thailand railway during WW2.Direct connection between local (Montmorency and Victorian) soldiers in WW2 and the work undertaken by allied prisoners of the Japanese Army.Steel spikes used in construction of the Burma-Thailand railway during WW2.Noneprisoner of war, burma, ww2, railway

Account of the author's capture by the Japanese forces in Malaya in 1941, and experiences in prisoner of war camps in Kuala Lumpur, Changi and Thailand.18 x 11 cmprisoner of war camps, world war 2. malayan campaign

Diary covers the period from November 1942 to September 1944. Waters was executed by the Japanese in New Guinea in March 1945. The autograph book belonged to Waters mother (Maude), and records the appreciation of the service personnel who lodged at her residence in Bridge Street, Hampton.WW 2 diary, notes, and sketches of Peter Waters (410186 RAAF 80 Sqn).peter waters, maude waters, ww2, prisoners of war, raaf, 80 squadron

Letter written from (unknown) POW imprisioned by the Japanese on Morotai Island from 1942 - 1945 to (unknown) friend. Descriptive of life and treatment in POW camp. The island was captured by the Japanese in early 1942. Morotai's southern plain was taken by American forces in September 1944 during the Battle of Morotai, and used as a staging point for the Allied invasion of the Philippines in early 1945, and of Borneo in May and June of that year. Japanese soldier Teruo Nakamura was discovered in the Morotai jungle in 1974, as one of the WWII Japanese soldiers who held out subsequent to the Japanese military's surrender.Photocopy of letter, 4 pages, originally written in ink on (unofficial) Australian Red Cross form.Added to head of letter at a later date is inscription ' First letter written home for 3 1/2 years'.Top left hand- FOR SAFETY/ IN YOUR LETTERS DO NOT REFER TO:-/ The name of your ship or other ships in the convoy, or its escorts./The date of sailing, ports of call, or probable destination./ The description of troops, their loca-/tion or any other information/ which, if intercepted, would be of/ value to the enemy. In your Top right hand- Australian Red Cross Society/ (UNOFFICIAL)/ 25-8-45/ (added at later date 'Morotri Island')/ Alex, Have witten this especially/ as i don't wish our women folk to know the tougher side of life./Well Alex for the first/ 2 1/2 years as POWs we lived reasonably/ well, but the last 15 months was like /hell. Heres the worst lot of b-s/ you could find on earth, they worked /us from 7AM till 6 PM, & fed/ us on muck you wouldn't feed to/ Pigs. I'm nothing at all they would 2, pow, morotri island, morotai island, world war, prisoner of war, australian red cross society

non-fictionThe detailed history of the No.8 Independent Commando Company during World War II. Plastic protective cover over the book. The 2/8th Independent Company was formed at Wilson’s Promontory, Victoria, in July 1942 and travelled to Yandina, in Queensland, in September. While the other seven independent companies saw action in the islands off Australian and in New Guinea, the 2/8th spent most of the next two years based at Adelaide River, in the Northern Territory. While it was in the Territory, the independent companies underwent a series of reorganisations and the name of the 2/8th was changed from the 2/8th Independent Company to the 2/8th Cavalry (Commando) Squadron. This name was later simplified to just commando squadron. In July 1944, after years of waiting, the squadron left the Territory and sailed from Townsville to Lae, via Milne Bay. While at Lae, the squadron received an intake of 70 men from the 2/8th from the 2/3rd, 2/5th and 2/6th Cavalry (Commando) Squadrons, many of whom were veterans of the earlier New Guinea campaigns. Their experience was no doubt a useful reserve that would have been called upon during the 2/8th’s subsequent campaign in Bougainville. Others though, were able to implement some of their commando training when a small group from the 2/8th they made a secret landing on New Britain. Towards the end of the 1944 the 5th Division was preparing to make a landing at Jacquinot Bay in New Britain. Part of these preparations included landing a small group of officers from the division at Jacquinot Bay to make a secret reconnaissance of the potential landing site. As Jacquinot Bay was still in Japanese controlled territory, ‘C’ Troop from the 2/8th provided the protection for the reconnaissance party by establishing a position on the beach and by patrolling the surrounding country. Everything went well and the 5th Division later landed at Jacquinot Bay in November. The squadron too was on the move, and in October it sailed to Torokina, the main Australian base on Bougainville, where it joined the II Australian Corps. The campaign on Bougainville was dived into three areas, the Central, Northern and Southern Sectors. The 2/8th served in the latter two areas. The 2/8th made the first move of the Australian campaign in the Northern Sector, by patrolling from Torokina to Kuraio Mission and Amun once a week. The squadron did this from the second week of November unit the second week of December. The 2/8th was then transferred to the Southern Sector. The main battle for Bougainville was fought in the Southern Sector, as the 3rd Division advanced towards Buin – the main Japanese base on the island. As the division’s infantry brigades advanced along the coast, the 2/8th’s task was to protect their flank by conducting forward reconnaissance patrols, harassing the Japanese with raids and ambushes and conducting a form of guerrilla warfare. The squadron had a long campaign. For nine months, from the end of December until August 1945, the troopers were in action the whole time. After securing the Jaba River, they moved inland, first to Sovele Mission, then the villages of Opai, Nihero and Morokaimoro. They had reached Kilipaijino by the end of the war. Each village taken became a patrol base. Patrols were usually limited to two sections, although up to six sections could be operating at a time. Patrols generally lasted four to six days, but nine-day patrols were not unknown. The squadron collected and collated track information, terrain reports and located the enemy. Once patrols had gathered information, they were free to make a ‘strike’ against the Japanese by setting an ambush or taking a prisoner. These raids were very effective, as they forced the Japanese to deploy troops to their rear areas, removing men from the front created by the infantry. Following Japan’s surrender and the end of the war, the ranks of the squadron thinned quickly as men were discharged or were transferred to other units. For those who were left, the squadron returned to Australia at the end of December. In mid January 1946, at Liverpool, the 2/8th Commando Squadron was disbanded.

Donated by Ed Whiting, who borrowed Ron's bike and later met him at the pier. He notes that Ron returned past this location 10 years later as a repatriated Japanese prisoner of war. Ed served in the RAAF. Jim played for the Borough in 1950Photo of Ron Robertson of Nott St, Ed Whiting of Dow St and Jim Wood (just discernible at Ed's back) on Princes Pier 1935 (Cup Day weekend, traditional visit of the Navy)Stamp on back "Ëdwin Whiting" and addresspiers and wharves - princes pier, ron robertson, edwin whiting, jim wood

Index, bibliography, ill, p.478.non-fictionIn Crisis in the Pacific acclaimed historian Gerald Astor draws on the raw experiences of marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen under fire - from generals and admirals to correspondents, line officers and enlisted men on both sides of the battle lines - to present a view of the critical struggle for the Philippines, the keystone to Japanese domination of the Pacific and to ultimate Allied victory. These accounts, many published here for the first time, are dramatic and graphic, brutal and awe-inspiring. Ranging from the diplomatic and nursing corps' experience of the Japanese conquest and occupation of the islands, to the Bataan death march and first-hand accounts of war crimes inflicted by the Japanese on prisoners of war, to the final push for the hills of Mindanao, Crisis in the Pacific is the first complete history, told in the words of the men and women who were there, of one of the most crucial battlegrounds of World War II.world war 1939 – 1945 – campaigns – phillipines, world war 1939 – 1945 – personal narratives

Ill, maps, p.295.The story of 'Lark Force', the 2/22nd Australian Infantry Battalion and support units, which defended Rabaul in 1942, with most of the Force becoming prisoners of the Japanese. world war 1939 – 1945 – campaigns – new guinea, world war 1939 – 1945 – personal narratives – australia