Japanese flag captured by 26th Australian Infantry Battalion 1944 – 1945. The flag was taken from a Japanese soldier by Private R. R. STEVENSON, 26th Australian Infantry Battalion during operations on Bougainville in 1944. Upon acquiring the flag, Pte Stevenson carried the flag in his ammunition pouch for the remainder of the Bougainville campaign.
A HINOMARU “CIRCULAR SUN” FLAG. Japanese soldiers often carried an autographed Hinomaru flag for good luck. Such flags with messages of good luck, exultations or patriotic messages from relatives, neighbours or friends were traditionally presented to a serviceman prior to his induction into the Japanese armed forces or before his deployment into combat.
A translation of this flag reveals that it was: “for Mr Sekiguchi, from Navy General Keisuke Okada” and contained a patriotic message: “during a life-or-death crisis, it is an honour to die for your country” (Translation by staff and students Wavell High school)
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