Japanese Red Cross flag : Lance Sergeant F W Dove, 3/14 Field Ambulance

A worn and stained white cotton twill flag with a machine sewn red cross in the middle of both sides. Beneath the cross is a stamped and faded black ink illustration of a hand pointing with an index finger extended. All sides of the flag are hemmed with the top and bottom of the flag having a 2mm diameter piece of wood through the hem. The top hem of the flag has a pair of 11mm diameter eyelets for suspending the flag.

Flag used to direct wounded Imperial Japanese Army and Navy troops to first aid posts in the Sanananda region of New Guinea. The flag was collected by Lance Sergeant Frederick Walter Dove, born on 16 December 1918 in Guildford, NSW. He enlisted as a private with the Citizens Military Force on 9 January 1940 and was assigned number N57644. He served with 14 Field Ambulance in Australia until May 1942, and then in Papua New Guinea, where he was promoted to acting corporal up until March 1943. Dove then joined the AIF on 18 July 1943 and was assigned number NX172948. On 20 September Dove became part of 3/14 Field Ambulance when his unit was amalgamated with 3 Field Ambulance. He remained in Australia until February 1945 when he sailed for Aitape. Dove was appointed lance sergeant on 13 June 1945. He returned to Australia on 18 December 1945 and was discharged on 4 February 1946.