The task of BCOF
When the army troops landed the
weather was shocking, the barracks had
no windows, heating or lighting, but the
Australians, well known for scrounging,
soon were comfortable. During March
1946, the 34th Brigade commenced duties
such as disarmament and disposals,
security and surveillance, patrolling
and searching, supervision of elections
and
police, locating military equipment,
plant, narcotics and black market raids.
Each battalion took its turn, with
other countries, for garrison and guard
duties on the Emperor's Palace
in Tokyo. Members of the British
Commonwealth Base Force engineers,
ordnance, signals and medical all played
their part in bomb disposal, bridge and
barracks buildings, telecommunications,
looking after the sick, transport and
running BCOF.
The duties of the Air Force included
surveillance patrols, prevention of
smuggling of goods and illegal entry (in
conjunction with ground and naval
forces), weather reports, transport to
and from Australia and guard duties.
There was also a small naval force known
as HMAS Commonwealth based at Kure with
the duties of clearance of jetties,
docks, wrecks, destruction of Japanese
vessels, adjustment and running of dock
facilities. A large number of Australian
Army and Royal Australian Air Force service women saw
service in hospitals in Japan, and
Australians served in canteens and with
the Red Cross.
(Adapted
from Shinbun
Issue 41)
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Australian families
In December 1946, Cabinet approved
the despatch of families of Australian
servicemen to Japan when housing and
medical facilities became available. The first group of families reached
Japan on 1 June 1947.
The main family housing area was
located on a disused Japanese air strip
fronting the Inland Sea at Hiroshima, in
the 34th Australian Infantry Brigade area.
Here a considerable township grew up
with bungalows and two- or four-apartment
dwellings. Chapels, a school, shop and
cinema were included in the development.
Japanese contractors carried out the
work and furniture was obtained from
Japanese sources. To give variety,
different types of houses were
interspersed, and the changing shades of
pastel colouring of plaster walls and
roofs made a cheerful and bright
picture. My wife, on being consulted
regarding the future name of the area,
immediately asked what was the Japanese
for ‘Rainbow Village’. Niji Mura it
therefore became and still remains.
(Adapted
from Major
General R. W. L. Hopkins. History of
the Australian Occupation in Japan,
1946-50, page 109, in Royal
Australian Historical Society
Proceedings, Vol 40 No 2, 1954)
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Accommodation 1947
As the force settled down in
permanent locations, it became possible
to provide amenities on a scale more
suitable for the conditions. It must
be remembered that our troops were
forbidden to fraternise or enter
Japanese houses, hotels or places of
entertainment, and were voluntarily
doing a job thousands of miles from
home.
This move, together with the
provision of sports grounds, a club and
theatre, and the sight of new buildings
under construction made a tremendous
difference to the outlook of all ranks.
Units developed a keenness and
smartness, and set an example that was
outstanding in any company.
(Adapted
from Shinbun
Issue 36)
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Leave
Leave in Japan was the next most
important thing for the welfare of the
troops. Steadily, hotels were taken
over to give BCOF troops access to
historical and cultural places at
Kobe, Kyoto, at Nikko with its temples
and winter sport; at Kawana with its golf,
riding and sea air; and in Tokyo. Even so,
the demand far exceeded the supply, and
many of those who returned early to
Australia saw little of the famous
resorts and lovely countryside of Japan.
(Adapted
from
Major
General R. W. L. Hopkins, History of
the Australian Occupation in Japan,
1946-50, page 108-109)
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Secret societies
When the Emperor told his people to
‘bear the unbearable’ in August
1945, there were still some who refused
to accept his direction. Fortunately,
the majority of Japanese, having endured
war since 1931, followed the old
Japanese proverb ‘the willow branch
but bends beneath the snow’ and
accepted the foreign occupation for the
moment, with thoughts for the future.
However, out there were fanatics
looking for victims. Sergeant Tom Kerr,
a member of my unit, was found dead in a
street, poisoned.
(Adapted
from Shinbun
Issue 40)
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Civilian crime
There were fewer than 1,000 civilian
arrests in the Australian area in three
years. By far the greater majority of
the cases related to illegal possession
and the taking and disposing of Occupation Force
goods. Many of the cases were petty
offences. There was a remarkable lack of
crimes of violence against the personnel
of the Occupation Force throughout the
whole of Japan.
(Adapted
from
Major
General R. W. L. Hopkins, History of
the Australian Occupation in Japan,
1946-50, page 112)
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How were Japanese
war brides received in Australia?
When Gordon Parker married a Japanese
girl, ‘Cherry’, early in the
occupation of Japan, he stirred up
considerable concern amongst the army
and Australian politicians.
Not long after Gordon and Cherry's
marriage, other BCOF members applied, thereby forcing the
Australian Government to develop a
policy with regard to foreign marriages.
By 27 March 1952, the Australian
government had authorised the admission of
Japanese wives of Australian servicemen
and ex-servicemen into Australia,
provided they were approved by the
Australian Embassy in Japan.
Kure Municipal Police screened all
girls to ensure that they were not:
- communists
- prostitutes
- holders of a criminal record
- from a family with signs of
hereditary insanity.
In addition they had to pass a
thorough medical test that included a
full x-ray and blood test. If
tuberculosis or any other serious
illness was present, they were denied
access until totally fit.
The examination and investigation was
considered more stringent than that
required for any other migrant.
The average age of wives was 22, and
only 49 of the 150 couples had, or were
about to have, children. In 22 out of
the 150 cases, both parents (of the
bride) were dead. Of the remainder, the
parents of only 14 objected to the
marriage. Only in one case did the
Japanese police request non-approval of
the marriage, because the parents were strongly
opposed to the marriage.
‘Whether Australia should ban
the admission of Japanese wives is a
matter for eventual discussion, but
until that decision is made those
wives who do come to Australia -
lawfully and at the invitation of
their Australian husbands - should be
treated decently, with a special
effort on the part of returned men to
make them feel comfortable. If only to
offset the inevitable hostility from
that small section of the community
who, in addition to not having
travelled beyond their own shores,
have a way of attacking any person who
does not conform to their own pattern
and way of life.’
(Adapted
from Returned
Services League, Mufti, December
1952.)
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