RABAUL, NEW BRITAIN. 1945-09-15. FOLLOWING THE SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE, TROOPS OF HEADQUARTERS ...

RABAUL, NEW BRITAIN. 1945-09-15. FOLLOWING THE SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE, TROOPS OF HEADQUARTERS 11 DIVISION OCCUPIED THE RABAUL AREA. OWING TO DESTRUCTION BY ALLIED AIR ATTACK OF ALL ABOVEGROUND FACILITIES THE JAPANESE RESORTED TO EXTENSIVE USE OF TUNNELS IN AND AROUND RABAUL. THIS PICTURE SHOWS THE ENTRANCE TO A TUNNEL IN WHICH WAS STORED A COLLECTION OF MEDICAL VOLUMES FROM THE RABAUL COMMONWEALTH HEALTH LABORATORY AND AN INSECT COLLECTION FROM THE KARAVAT AGRICULTURAL LABORATORY. THE BOARD IN FRONT OF THE TUNNEL STATES (IN ENGLISH) THAT THE COLLECTIONS ARE NOW HANDED BACK AND IS SIGNED BY T. OKAYAMA, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER OF PHARMACY.