| Place | Asia: Netherlands East Indies, Halmahera Island |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM31958.002 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Flag |
| Physical description | Printed silk |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Japan |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Autographed good luck flag carried by Japanese Army officer Aoki Toshio : Halmahera, September 1945
Description
JJapanese naval engineer's autographed national flag with numerous signatures and slogans in black ink. Most of the signatures are accompanied by personal seals in red ink. Apart from the traditional wish of long lasting good fortune in war, there is the slogan 'Help your country with technology' and two poems. One translates as 'Looking at a soldier Who is going to war, My heart follows him In excitement across the sea'. The other poem, a haiku, translates as 'Winter has come High above the soldier going to war Is the colour of the sky'. The flag was originally presented to Takada Yojuji, a naval engineer, by Moriyama Yakujiro, from the Navy Department of Works.
History / Summary
Presented to Major Phillips, representing the Australian Military Forces, at the surrender of the Japanese forces by Japanese officers at Halmahera in September 1945.