Autographed Japanese flag : Private K King, 3 Infantry Battalion (The Werriwa Regiment)

Rectangular shaped Japanese flag with centrally printed hinomaru (rising sun). On the flag are many hand written inscriptions, including patriotic phrases and signatures in Japanese. Along the top of the flag above the hinomaru in bold black ink is the traditional 'Good fortune & good luck in war'. Written vertically on the left hand side of the hinomaru is 'Yamaai Machinery Factory Ltd'. The signatures of many work mates who worked at this factory make up the majority of the Japanese writing on lower half of the flag and the area immediately around the hinomaru.

To the right of the hinomaru in bold black ink is 'Nikawa Toru', presumably the name of the flag's owner. In the upper right hand side of the flag is more bold black ink which is a personal good luck message or slogan. On the corners of the flag upper and lower hoist are the remnants of triangular shapes pieces of sewn paper reinforcements. Attached to the upper hoist is a length of cotton string consisting of two different string pieces. Written in blue ink on the rear of this sewn paper reinforcement is the letter 'M'.

This autographed Japanese flag relates to the service of NX79396 Private Kelvin King during the Second World War. King was born on 25 October 1922 in Kempsey New South Wales. On 18 December 1941 he enlisted into the Second AIF at Paddington in Sydney. At the time of his enlistment he was living in Carlton, a suburb of Sydney.

Although he enlisted in the Second AIF, he was posted as an AIF reinforcement to a CMF unit, the 3rd Battalion 'Werriwa Regiment' . He embarked with his unit to New Guinea and took part in the heavy fighting along the Kokoda Trail in late 1942. The 3rd Battalion was involved in savage fighting against strongly held Japanese rear guard positions at Templeton's Crossing in October 1942. Whilst at Templeton's Crossing he collected this flag from the body of an Imperial Japanese Army Officer.

Having survived the Kokoda Trail campaign and later bloody 'Battle of the Beach heads' around Buna, Gona and Sanananda, King returned with the heavily depleted 3rd Battalion to Australia in early 1943. In April 1943, the 3rd Battalion was disbanded and King was transferred to the 2/4th Battalion. In 1944 he was a member of the Battalion band (featured in the AWM image 081179). King discharged from the AIF on 16 November 1945.

The 3rd Militia Battalion 'Werriwa Regiment' is one of only two Militia Battalions to fight alongside its AIF 'sister' battalion (the 2/3rd Battalion). It also was the only combined Militia/AIF Battalion to serve during the Second World War.