| Place | Oceania: Pacific Islands, Solomon Islands, Bougainville |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM32151 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Flag |
| Physical description | Printed silk |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Japan |
| Date made | c 1940-1945 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Japanese soldier's autographed good luck flag captured in North Bougainville, 1945
Description
Japanese soldier's autographed national flag covered with black ink characters. The name of the recipient soldier is not given on the flag and all the writing has been executed by a single calligrapher. The flag was presented by the members of a group which translates as 'All the members of the first group of Kannan'. Apart from the traditional wish for long-lasting good fortune in war the slogans on the flag translate as 'Complete the holy war', 'Wish for victory' and 'Inevitable victory'. There are two groups of symbols looking like a capital 'R'. Each one stands for 'strength and power'.
History / Summary
Captured by NX8368 Private Paul Maxwell Dennes Maurer of 31/51 Battalion, in North Bougainville in 1945. Maurer was born in Grafton, NSW in October 1920 and enlisted at Sydney in May 1941. He was discharged in May 1946.