Philippine Guerrilla Currency 50 centavos note : Stoker V M Highland, HMAS Shropshire

Philippine Guerrilla Currency 50 centavos note, issued by the Headquarters Volunteer Service Corps USAFFE, in 1942. The note has been circulated and is extensively stained from general use wear. It has a written inscription in purple pencil on the obverse which could be a serial number: 81173.

Philippines currency collected by S8803 Stoker Vincent Michael Highland, while serving on HMAS Shropshire. Highland was born on 28 September 1925 in Waverley, New South Wales. He enlisted in the RAN on 2 July 1943, and trained at HMAS Cerberus in Melbourne. He was posted to the heavy cruiser HMAS Shropshire on 16 October 1943. Highland remained with the ship until 22 March 1946, and was promoted to Stoker in September 1944. He was discharged on 7 June 1946. In December 1943, and again in April 1944, Shropshire took part operations in Hollandia. During May 1944, she was involved in operations at Wadke, Sarmi and Biak (in West Irian Jaya), and in July 1944, was at Aitape (New Guinea). Later that month she gave bombardment support to the Cape Sansapor landings. In September, Shropshire assisted in the landings at Morotai Island, and then joined the Philippines invasion fleet for the Leyte landings on October 20. She took part in the Battle of the Surigao Strait on 25 October 1944. The following January, Shropshire joined the assault on Lingayen, Philippines. Following a refit in Sydney, she joined the Brunei assault in June 1945, followed by the Balikpapan landings in July. She was in Philippine waters when the Japanese surrendered, and then sailed for Tokyo Bay for the surrender ceremony on 2 September 1945. Philippines Guerrilla and Emergency Currency was printed from 1942 to 1945. Prior to his exile in 1942, Philippines President Manuel Luis Quezon authorised the creation of Provincial Emergency Currency Boards and Committees with the power to issue currency which would be redeemable after the war. Initially this practice was limited to the unoccupied provinces, but later, other territories released their own currency. As well as Philippine municipal governments, the guerrilla forces fighting the Japanese occupation, also issued currency. Although the Japanese severely punished holders of this currency, the notes continued to circulate. This note was produced by Headquarters Volunteers Service Corps United States Army Forces Far East (USAFFE), at Pambujan, Northern Samar. USAFFE was created by the United States Government in July 1941, with Major General Douglas MacArthur as commander of US forces in the Far East. It also held jurisdiction over the Philippines army, and during the Japanese occupation, continued to oversee guerrilla operations.