Some more pics.
The number plate on the back of the Milne Bay trike is for the Japanese 3rd Kure Special Naval Landing Force (what are commonly referred to as "Jap Marines", but are actually Naval Infantry, if you can understand the difference!). Milne Bay was originally assaulted on the 25 Aug 42 by a force of 1150 men with light tanks and artillery from the 5th Kure SNLF and the 5th Sasebo SNLF, but when these met with resistance from the Australians they were reinforced ex-Guadalcanal by a 2nd wave of 570 men from 3rd Kure SNLF and 200 from the 5th Yokosuka SNLF. The assault failed and the remaining trops were withdrawn. The 3rd Kure SNLF and 5th Yokosuka were the defending garrison forces on Tulagi and Guadalcanal respectively, with the 5th Yokosuka being the larger force involved against the US Marines owing to the size of the forces detached for Milne Bay.
If your friend's Trike is from Guadalcanal, it is most likely a 5th Yokosuka relic.
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