Japanese naval ensign carried by Honda Yusaku at Milne Bay, September 1942

Japanese 'rising sun' naval ensign with reinforced hoist corners attached to braid ties. There are small black ink characters in upper hoist corner which translate as 'Yoko water 7369' and the name 'Honda Yusaku'. Yoko is likely to be an abbreviation for the Yokohama naval base or dockyard.

This flag was captured by QX2240 Lance Corporal James Calvert, of 2/9 Battalion, while he was on patrol in the Milne Bay area on 29 September 1942. The main Japanese force at Milne Bay had evacuated the area in the days before and Calvert's patrol was part of an exercise to clear the area of any enemy soldiers left behind. Coming upon a party of five Japanese soldiers in a native hut they opened fire. Calvert killed an officer and wounded another man. The others fled into the jungle, one hiding in a nearby bush which Calvert fired into, killing the man. When the area was secure the Australians souvenired items from the hut. Calvert picked up this flag along with a sword, some notes and other material. They then burnt the hut and returned to camp. Calvert was born in Manchester, United Kingdom, in 1910 and enlisted for service in Townsville, Queensland, in March 1940. He was discharged in December 1943.