The mystery behind Dave's Japanese swords

As a totally uneducated guess, it is possible that your mate was in a RAF Servicing Commando. I read a book recently which I can't remember the title of covering their activities in Burma and other theatres. It named quite a few ORs, but at the very least gave an insight into the lives these blokes lived. I don't recall it going into detail on what happened at the conclusion of hostilities but you never know your luck.

I have found one possible title for the book (available at Amazon) and will see if there is another possibility because I am sure I would remember reading:

Spectacles, Testicles, Fags and Matches: The Untold Story of RAF Servicing Commandos in World War Two (Paperback)

by edited Tom Atkinson (Author)

Just found this title, which sounds more mundane and suited to my reading habits -

A History of the RAF Servicing Commandos, by J P Kellett and J Davies, published by Airlife in 1989. ISBN 1-85310-051-X.

 

Dave

Thanks for the additional info.

I just wonder if any of our members also post on one of the Burma sites ?

If so, could I ask you to post my mystery on their site asking (mainly) if they know of any one else was given authority to own one of these swords and, if so, what unit were they in ?

Many thanks

Ron

 

Adam

Fascinating stuff !!!!

On reading about the "retention slips"
This particular sword was purchased from the veteran’s grandson and I wonder if it was L/Cpl Russell who painstakingly picked the small amount of gold from the inscription, thereby greatly devaluing Kawada’s sword. It is rumoured that returning troops who believed they had no permission to keep swords, jettisoned them overboard into the waters surrounding ports such as Liverpool, rather than risk prosecution for looting!


i.e. the bits of paper that granted the bearer the right to own the swords" I was instantly reminded of one of my own experiences.

When I first arrived home in England in late '45, after years abroad, I took home with me (I shudder now at my crass naivety ) a German dress dagger.

As our Ferry from Calais was mooring at Folkestone, an announcement was made over the ship's tannoy to the effect that anyone attempting to bring any an-authorised arms into the UK would have them confiscated and would be immediately returned to their unit under guard.

Included in all the gear that was thrown overboard was my dress dagger and I would guess that dredging that area, even today, would produce thousands of similar souvenirs

 

As a totally uneducated guess, it is possible that your mate was in a RAF Servicing Commando. I read a book recently which I can't remember the title of covering their activities in Burma and other theatres. It named quite a few ORs, but at the very least gave an insight into the lives these blokes lived. I don't recall it going into detail on what happened at the conclusion of hostilities but you never know your luck.

I have found one possible title for the book (available at Amazon) and will see if there is another possibility because I am sure I would remember reading:

Spectacles, Testicles, Fags and Matches: The Untold Story of RAF Servicing Commandos in World War Two (Paperback)

by edited Tom Atkinson (Author)

Just found this title, which sounds more mundane and suited to my reading habits -

A History of the RAF Servicing Commandos, by J P Kellett and J Davies, published by Airlife in 1989. ISBN 1-85310-051-X.
An add on to Daves post RAF SCdo Members

 

Giving this thread a boot simply because someone recently posted an item about the Burma Star Medal.

I am oft reminded of the old adage that a person is not truly dead until no one mentions his name anymore.

So here you go Dave........ another mention to keep you going !

Ron

 

Ron,

I do not know how I missed this excellent thread, but many thanks for bumping it back.

Regards
Tom

 

wtd
the reference by Dave Barlow to the " spectacles - testicles - fags and matches " was a cynical parody of the Catholic blessing of " In Nomini patri et felio et spiritus sancta" ( In the Name of the Father - Son and Holy Ghost ) -when the forehead - chest -left and right shoulders are touched in memory of the cross on which Christ died - it was considered smart by some

Cheers

 

On first reading the response above I was a tad puzzled as to why it had been posted on this thread.

On re-reading previous posts I can now see WTDs reference to a book title that has sparked the response above.

Whilst accepting completely that the response is fair comment, I still think it a pity that the thread is in danger of being diverted from it's original theme of a veteran's ww2 trophy.

Ron

 

There must have been many Japanese officers' swords given up when individuals surrendered...seems to be many frames shown of these people surrendering and offering the victor their swords....but this story is the requisition by a former RAF POW of a Japanese officer's sword that had been used to terrorise the POW.

Remember reading the excellent account of Charles McCormac who was captured at the Singapore.He was a Wireless Operator with No 36 Squadron flying Vildebeestes initially but converted to the Singapore flying boat when posted to No 205 Squadron and was serving with this unit when the Japanese invaded Malaya.He had settled on his posting and had married a Eurasian girl,a postmaster's daughter which drew the wrath of the Japanese when he was captured.He was brutally interrogated by the Japanese,a Kemperi-Tai thug by the name of Teruchi who thrust his sword into McCormac's face causing wounds around his mouth and just missing an eye,striking his temple.After enduring this, he was eventually incarcerated into a prison compound.With an Australian civilian,named Donaldson and a small group,they escaped after attacking their Japanese guards they successfully began an epic escape from Singapore,via Sumatra to Java by a requisition small boat,attacked by Japanese aircraft they made their way to Java where they were lucky to be picked up by a Catalina,landing at Darwin after a journey which took 5 months.He and Donaldson were the only survivors.One man,a man nicknamed as Skinny but later revealed as a Welshman by the name,I believe,Williams was later identified as the man who decided to stay behind in Sumatra and marry a chief's daughter after the group had been helped by the chief.I remember Skinny's remarkable story being told in the national press

When certain Japanese military personnel were prosecuted in late 1945 for war crimes in Singapore,Teruchi found himself in the dock. McCormac had been attached to Mountbatten's staff and recognised the first Japanese to be told to stand up.It was Teruchi and McCormac saw him sentenced to death for a long list of atrocities.

McCormac then approached Mountbatten and said,"Sir,may I have the sword of the first Japanese to be sentenced today"

"Why?" demanded Mountbatten.

McCormac pointed to his scars around his eye and mouth."He gave me these with that sword,sir".He told Mountbatten about his ordeal and Mountbatten said briskly,"Right,It's yours"

That's the story of how a Japanese officer's sword became the property of a RAF veteran who brought it to Welling,Kent,post war....used apparently to keep brambles in check.

Wrote the account of his ordeal in a publication,"You'll die in Singapore"

 

There was also an official order at the end of the war ordering ALL Japanese katanas to be handed into the American Occupation forces in the Home Islands and elsewhere....which naturally meant that HUNDREDS of historically-significant swords were handed in for destruction by their owners/families!

After some time quite a few were "rescued" from pending destruction - but many were lost to posterity by then. I saw...but didn't pay much attention to, sadly!...a documentary recently about one in particular that is known to have been handed in - collected by a G.I. sergeant for taking to Tokyo - then disappeared, the name and signature not being readily-decipherable in the "thin" record kept of the process in each prefecture.

The documentary noted that many WERE "illegally" transported back to the Continental U.S....but also there WAS a process by which a G.I could seek an official waiver from the destruction process for his intended bring-back!

It's possible....until such time as someone shuld turn up the wording of the particular order cited on it...that this certificate is simply a "Commonwealth forces" equivalent of that waiver?

 

Thanks for both these stories about further examples of Japanese swords.

It seems as though this is a subject that could be studied in depth.

Ron

 

Thanks, Harry. If ever there was a book which should/could be made into a movie, this was it. I still recall the scene where the Australian lieutenant is about to be beheaded and he turns to the chaps standing there about to witness the unimaginable and says "Boys, marks these bastards for future reference". And as Mac inherited the sword, those words came to pass.

Ron, thank you for starting a most interesting thread.

Regards,

Dave

 

I sometimes post an item on this website that includes a quotation from a personal letter to or from a friend or acquaintance.

I always give the matter some preliminary consideration on the lines of "Am I divulging something that is too personal ?" and if I then have doubts I simply do not post.

Fortunately, I sometimes get it right. as in the following example;

When I bumped this thread I decided to send the link to Dave's son.and I was delighted to get this reply:

Don't you just love the internet ?

Ron

 

More on the subject of Japanese swords over on our "sister" site

http://www.ww2f.com/topic/50906-world-war-ii-veteran-to-return-souvenir-japanese-sword/#entry561086

Ron

 

Ron,I know for a fact that many Japanese officers swords that were surrendered at Sungei Patani in Malaya were taken home officially by NCOs from the 9th Battalion, Royal Sussex Rgt . In my book there are pictures of piles of these weapons building up at the formal surrender ceremony.I also have close ups of the hilt of one of the sword's. I think it entirely possible that some soldiers sold these before they returned home -perhaps to others who wanted them. I would put pics in here but have not yet worked out how to do it!

 

Wonderful account Harry

I'm sure that Charles must have derived a degree of satisfaction every time he cut back the brambles. Not many people have the last laugh on their antagonist in that way.