VX150779 Captain (Capt) John Patrick (Jack) McMullan, of the British Commonwealth Occupation ...

VX150779 Captain (Capt) John Patrick (Jack) McMullan, of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) Labor Unit, stands at the entry to a Kure swimming pool, probably the Japanese Olympic Pool at Nikko Park. Many Japanese adults and school children are attending a swimming meet at the pool. Japanese flags are flying from flagpoles, tents have been set up, possibly for the selling of refreshments, and signs written in Japanese provide information for visitors. A large crowd of spectators are watching events from a steep viewing stand.This image is part of a collection of photographs taken in Japan between 1947 and 1952, relating to the service of Capt McMullan. Capt McMullan’s wife Cecilia (also known as Celia and Celie), and son Brian John, lived with him in Japan as BCOF dependants. Cecilia and Brian were the photographers for most of the photographs in the collection. Brian was nine years old when he arrived in Japan in 1947. The presence of families of servicemen of all ranks was a distinctive aspect of BCOF.