Place | Asia: Japan, Tokyo |
---|---|
Accession Number | REL32381 |
Collection type | Heraldry |
Object type | Uniform |
Physical description | Cotton; Metal |
Maker |
Unknown |
Place made | Japan |
Date made | 1942 |
Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Japanese jacket : Signalman J Shaw, 88 High Speed Wireless Section
Fitted khaki shirt made from heavy cotton drill. The shirt is single breasted with a stand and fall collar, five khaki metal buttons down the front and small side vents. There are four pockets, two slanted breast pockets with expanding pleats and buttoned flap, and two inset pockets at the hips with flaps. At the side seam under each arm is a semi-circular cut out section which is covered by a flap. There is a button on either side of the cut-out which can secure the flap in a closed or open position. There is a printed block of Japanese text on the inside of the left hand side which gives the date of manufacture and some obscured factory details.There are also illegible pencil marks inside the collar and under the pocket flaps.
NX92408 Signalman John Shaw was born in Glasgow, Scotland in March 1920. He immigrated to Australia and joined the Commonwealth Public Service, first with the Postmaster General's Office and then with the Taxation Department. He was released from his reserved occupation on 13 March 1942 and enlisted in the AIF that day. After service in Western Australia with 1 Armoured Division, Shaw was transferred to Melbourne and began training with 88 High Speed Wireless Section. In April 1945 the section was sent to Morotai. In October that year, after the end of the war, Shaw and six others volunteered to go to Tokyo and set up communications there. He remained in Japan for several months, where he collected this tunic. He was discharged on 14 February 1946 and on his return to Australia he resumed his career with the Australian Public Service. He became well known for his expertise with computing, a new development in the post war era.