HMAS Hobart souvenir

A souvenir of HMAS Hobart and the signing of the Japanese surrender at Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. The item features designs made from coloured foil, possibly chocolate wrappings, which are positioned on a black background between a glass front and a cardboard backing. In the centre is a silhouette of HMAS Hobart and '.TOKIO .2.9.45.' surrounded by a red oval in a chain design and surmounted by a red lion represting the ship's badge. Above this is a scroll with the words 'H.M.A.S. HOBART', and below one with 'ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY'. There is a kangaroo in each top corner and an anchor in the bottom corners. The bottom and side edges are covered in silver foil. There is a cardboard stand nailed to the back but it is broken and no longer supports the item.

This souvenir of HMAS Hobart commemorates the signing of the Japanese surrender at Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. At the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, HMAS Hobart joined the East Indies Station and was involved in escorting troop convoys across the Indian Ocean. In 1940 she joined the Red Sea Force and was the operational headquarters for the evacuation of Berbera in British Somaliland. In December 1940 Hobart returned briefly to escort duties on the Australia Station before joining the Mediterranean Fleet in August 1941. Hobart was transferred to the Pacific when Japan entered the war in 1942 and participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May, and the American landings on Guadalcanal and Tulagi in the Solomon Islands in August. On 20 July 1943 Hobart was seriously damaged when she was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. She underwent extensive repairs and did not return to service until early 1945 as part of the covering force for the landings at Tarakan, Wewak and Balikpapan. Hobart arrived at Tokyo Bay on 31 August and was one of several Australian ships present at the surrender on 2 September. Following the end of the war Hobart continued to serve in Japanese waters in support of the occupation forces.