Flag from Japanese Headquarters, Ambon, bearing the nominal roll of 101 Australian Army Troops Company, RAE

Japanese flag made of white cotton with a red silk sun. Three loops are sewn at regular intervals down the hoist. Above the sun are the words '101st Aust. Army. Tps. Coy R.A.E.' written and bordered in black ink. Surrounding the sun and mainly written in rows descending from the hoist are the names and service numbers of unit members. Two names have been written onto the silk sun, including that of 'VX87033 George Stanford' who collected and inscribed most of the names on the flag.

This flag was taken, possibly from Japanese headquarters at Ambon, by VX87033 George Stanford, after the Japanese surrender in 1945. He covered it with the names of members of 101 Australian Army Troops Company, Royal Australian Engineers who were then serving on Morotai. This unit was formed in 1941 to carry out major construction works for the army, but only became part of the AIF in 1944. During the war they were involved in many tasks such as installing and running power stations, electrics, refrigeration and water supply, manning workshops and quarries, bomb disposal and work on hospitals. 101 AA Tp Coy carried out numerous operations on Ambon and returned to Australia early 1946.