| Accession Number | REL49333.002 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Heraldry |
| Physical description | Textile |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | c 1945 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Remnant surrender tag : Flight Lieutenant J L Rentell, Royal Australian Air Force
Description
Remains of a fabric surrender tag originally tied to the surrender sword of Lieutenant Colonel Matsumoto of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Japanese characters read 'Navy' and 'Matsumoto'. The sword and tag were given to Flight Lieutenant John Lachlan Rentell by General Sir Thomas Blamey following the sword's formal surrender.
History / Summary
This sword was surrendered to General Sir Thomas Blamey at Rabaul by Lieutenant Colonel Matsumoto of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Blamey gave the sword to his pilot, Flight Lieutenant John Lachlan Rentell, on his return to Lae/Nadzab . Newspaper reports of Rentell in a forced landing in 1949 mention of him being Blamey's pilot during the Second World War.