Kempei armband : Imperial Japanese Army

Fine cotton armband sewn to a lightweight canvas back. The armband is embroidered with two large red Japanese characters which translate 'Kempei' (military police). There are four small , edged with buttonhole stitch, on the left of the armband, and two similar holes on the right, to allow the fit of the armband to be adjusted by tapes or laces.

This armband, worn by a member of the Japanese military police (kempei), was brought back from British North Borneo in 1945 by TX11594 Corporal Francis Albert Martin, who was then serving with Headquarters 9 Australian Division. Martin was born in Krugersdorf, South Africa, in 1922 and enlisted in the Second AIF in Tasmania, in September 1942. He also served with the headquarters of 12 Australian Infantry Brigade. Martin was discharged on 5 December 1945 and trained as an architect. He re-enlisted in the Army in 1952 when he was allocated the service number 64007 and given a short service commission in the Royal Australian Engineers. He retired in 1964 with the rank of major.