Names

Guide to the British Commonwealth Occupation Force Formed Collection

IDs

AWM00006

http://www.awm.gov.au/findingaids/special/Ephemera/bcof.xml

Descriptions

Contains souvenirs relating to Australia's involvement in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force of 1946-1951.

SERIES 1: Travel and tourism souvenirs. Description: This series contains travel souvenirs and mementoes from places visited by members of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force between 1946 and 1951. This includes stationery and tourist brochures intended as souvenirs for visitors.; SERIES 2: Social Occasions. Description: This series includes souvenirs from social events organised and attended by members of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. This includes souvenirs from dances, balls, farewells and parties. Related souvenirs incorporating menus are held in Series 3.; Series 3: Menus (35 items). Description: This series contains menus from social occasions and other celebrations. These are related to events organised or attended by members of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.; Series 4: Sport programs and souvenirs. Description: Sport programs and related material for sports events organised and attended by the British Commonwealth Occupation Force between 1946-1951. These included swimming and athletics championships.; Series 5: BCOF amenities. Description: This series includes souvenirs related to the amenities available for use by members of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force during their service in Japan.; Series 6: Food & Drink.; Series 6: Food & Drink. Description: This series includes souvenirs related to food and beverages that were gathered and used by members of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.; SERIES 7: Radio programs. Description: This series contains programs for radio broadcasts of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force between 1947 and 1950. The series includes programs from WLKS, the Voice of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, a radio station with studios in Kure, Japan. Other radio programs also included relate to the BCOF Auxillary Radio Station.; Series 8: Messages and addresses. Description: This series contains messages and addresses intended for members of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. This includes official notices like orders of the day.; Series 9: Memorials. Description: This series contains items related to memorials dedicated to members of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. Included in this series are photocopies of documents relating to the Buffalo Lodge (BCOF Japan Lodge 30) and the erection of a memorial to Captain Joseph Smith in 1953. Captain Smith was killed in a road accident.; SERIES 10: Concert and Theatre Programs, 1946-1951. Description: This series contains concert and theatre programs from performances held in Japan during the service of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. This series includes programs from professional theatre performances, local concerts, unit performances, the Eta Jima Repertory Society and performances organised by the Army Education Service.

The British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF), was the name of the joint Australian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan from February 21, 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952. The force's primary objective was to enforce the terms of the unconditional surrender that had ended the war the previous September. Up to 45,000 Australians served in BCOF, including an infantry contingent of 4,700, base units consisting of 5,300, an air force wing of 2,200 and 130 from the Australian General Hospital. The Australian Navy also had a presence in the region as part of the British Pacific Fleet. For two thirds of the period of occupation the Commonwealth was represented solely by Australians and throughout its existence BCOF was always commanded by an Australian officer. The task of exercising military government over Japan was the responsibility of the United States forces. BCOF was required to maintain military control and to supervise the demilitarisation and disposal of the remnants of Japan's war making capacity. By the end of 1946 the task of demilitarising Japan was requiring less effort and the nature of BCOF's duties was changing. From this time guard duties and training began to occupy more of the occupying forces time. The force was dismantled during 1951 as responsibilities in Japan were handed over to the British Commonwealth Forces Korea.

Contact Senior Curator, Published & Digitised Collections, Australian War Memorial.

Open - Contact Senior Curator, Published & Digitised Collections, Australian War Memorial.

Selected additional and related material available at http://www.awm.gov.au/search/collections/ using the search terms described under 'subject _local'. Copies of many items from the Memorial's collections may also be purchased @ http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/sales/.

Subjects

British Commonwealth Occupation Force

Entertainment; World wars

Menus; Programs

Coverage Spatial

Japan

Coverage Temporal

1946

1951

Related Collections

Dates

2012-05-30 23:40