Historical information

In 1930, the Japanese army received a slew of new field and uniform items in an effort to keep the Imperial Japanese army a modern fighting force. Included in the equipment package was a new canteen known as Sho-5 and holds 1 litre of water. Since the canteen was such an integral part of a Japanese soldiers kit, it is common to find their name written or sewn into the harness, or scratched into the canteens body.
The item has Japanese maker’s stamp impressed on the base but no known history and was likely souvenired by Capt.Frederick Roy Phillips VX102776/V148225 born 9/12/1907 at Yackandandah. Known as Dr Roy Phillips OAM he was assigned to the 7th Aust CCS/AAMC as a Medical Practitioner. He served with the AMF 6/6/42-25/8/42 and AIF from 26/8/42 until his appointment was terminated on 26/2/1946. In 1945 he was deployed overseas to Milne Bay, New Guinea and Moratai, Borneo with the Plastic Surgery Unit. Following WW2 he was a general medical practitioner in Wangaratta and died on the 4/9/2006.

Physical description

Brown painted aluminium kidney shaped water canteen with stopper

Inscriptions & markings

Japanese marking impressed on base