Signing of surrender document at 2 Australian Corps Torokina & General Kanda on board HMAS Diamantina

At a conference held at 2 Australian Corps HQ in Torokina, the Japanese surrender party consisting of Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Kanda (Army) and Vice Admiral Samejima (Navy), signed the Surrender Pact under the direction of Lt Gen S G Savige CB CBE DSO MC ED, General Officer Commanding 2 Australian Corps. On 7 September 1945 two Japanese barges, presumed to be carrying Lt Gen Kanda, approached HMAS Diamantina, anchored off the mouth of the Mivo River. However the barges only carried an envoy who handed a letter to Commander Fowler, RAN, from Lt Gen Kanda stating that he had received instructions from Rabaul and Australian First Army to remain in Buin and not to board the ship until Saturday 8 September. At 0807 hours on the 8 September 1945, in heavy rain, Lt Gen Kanda and Vice Admiral Samejima, accompanied by three aides, boarded the Diamantina which had remained in the same position since the previous day. The ship immediately set sail for Torokina where the Peace Treaty was signed. Inside battle room showing conference in progress. Names of officers, back row, standing - O335 Group Captain DIixie Robison Chapman, RAAF, Air Commodore G N Roberts AFC, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Commander Fowler, RAN, Naval Officer in Charge, Torokina, Colonel J P Coursey, Marine Air Group (US), FX657 Captain Albert Joseph Drewett Aide-de-camp, Lieutenant J Jenkins, interpreter. Seated - 210 (NX 12238, NX346) Brigadier (Brig) Alwyn Ragnar Garrett Brig General Staff, Lt Gen Savige, Brig S F Legge, Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster General, Lt Gen Kanda and Vice Admiral Samejima. Front, standing - Major General Ishosmi Magata, Chief of General Staff, and Lieutenant Commander Masami Shinkawa, interpreter.