Ww2 occupation money

[Little Jo]

Hi Mike, Tony, Richard and Robert.

Yes I will write a story for the National Servicemens Association of SA and Wartime Vehicle Conservation Group magazines. I will also post it here for MLU members. Noel has given me his new home phone number and asked I contact him again, which of course I will.

My interview with Noel was great but, according to Noel his memory was not as good as it used to be. I hope my chat has stirred the grey cells. I will keep in touch with him and present him with a copy of the magazine when finally written.

I will also update James Patterson, Secretary of the BCOF association, James has been fighting with government beaurocracy for years for some form of recognition for BCOF military personell. There are now less then 2000 BCOF ex servicemen still alive. I will not rush my story as I need it to be correct and accurate.

Cheers

Tony

[Little Jo]

Hi All

I have finished putting together the story for the Nasho News and WVCG magazines and as promised, I have enclosed a copy below for you to read.

Cheers

Tony


The SEARCH for the BOOZERS COMMITTEE
By Tony VAN RHODA

In 1993 I was given a 10 Yen Japanese note from my brother Eric. As we had both served in the Armed Forces, we thought there could be an interesting story behind the note and the names listed on it. At first I thought they could have been prisoners of war, but I couldn’t see the Japanese giving our servicemen money, let alone alcohol, to form a “Boozers Committee”. The note intrigued me and set a challenge for me to want to identify and locate the servicemen who set up the Boozers Committee. This was such a typical thing Australian servicemen would do.

The note was misplaced and it wasn’t until early February 2013 that I found the 10 Yen note again amongst some old photographs in a family photo album. Now that I had the note again I knew I had to start my investigation some 20 years on. The ink on the note had over the years started to fade some of the names, but four names were still legible. These were later identified by Mike CECIL ex Australian War Museum, as:

NX191133. Corporal. R. Holden. - NX136344. L/Corporal. H Clarke. - NX206814. Private. N. Whiting - NX142085. Private. P. Corfield. All were members of: 123 Transport Platoon. RAASC. BCOF. Japan.

These men were all part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force sent to Japan at the end of WW2. Now that I had some genuine names the hunt to locate these men was on. The BOCF Association tried to assist and advised they only had two surviving members registered having served with; 123 Transport Platoon RAASC who had served in Japan. Mr. R. Berryman. Blackalls NSW and Mr N. Whiting in Molong NSW. I made phone calls, but only Mr. Ron Berryman phone was still connected.

I interviewed Mr Ron Berryman, who advised he was only with; 123 Transport Platoon in Japan between March and September 1948. He was later transferred To Iwo Jima to drive ambulances. He said he did not know Noel Whiting. Enquiries were made in Molong NSW and confirmed Noel Whiting had previously lived in Molong but left Molong the previous month to live with his daughter.

The Molong RSL confirmed Noel had been a member and had transferred his membership to Penrith RSL. The RSL later advised me of Noel’s new home address. I photographed the 10 Yen Japanese note and with a letter sent it to Noel, hoping I had the correct N. Whiting. Five days later I received a phone call from Noel’s daughter regarding my letter and she put Noel on the phone. He said he received a bit of a shock when he saw the photograph and recognised his handwriting on the note.

We got into an informal conversation about his Army service, his time in Japan and the loss of so many mates who had succumbed to cancer. Noel confirmed the names on the note were genuine. I asked about the “Boozers Committee” and what he could remember. He laughed and said he couldn’t remember much as he was now 88 years old and his memory was not as good as it used to be. I asked if the committee was something formal. Noel said, from what he could remember a group of mates always drank at the same bar and from what he could remember after more than a few drinks, someone suggested they form a committee, someone suggested The “Boozers Committee” and all the names were placed on a 10 Yen note. He said from what he could remember the committee were just a bunch of mates who always drank together. I told him that was such a typical Australian serviceman thing to do.

I asked about some of the other names on the note that were still visible, Noel said, Ron Holden (deceased) was his Roommate. He lost contact with Clarke and Corfield (Deceased) some time ago. I asked Noel about his military service. He said that after he joined up he was posted to Bathurst NSW Army Barracks. 123 Transport Platoon was formed there as part of BCOF and from there they were deployed to Japan.

Noel served in Japan from 1946 to October 1947. They were stationed at a Field Transport Company in Kiachi Barracks 6 miles from Hiroshima. The barrack later burned down and 123 Transport Platoon were moved to a town called Hiro. Noel recalls they had a Sergeant who as a former Desert Rat of Tobruk, their O.C. was Captain. Doug Parvery, (deceased). Noel suggested the other names on the note were:- A. Adrel and B. Lob.

I found Noel Whiting to be a lovely old gentleman to talk to. He is one of those many Australian diggers who have been forgotten by all sides of our political parties since WW2. The BCOF Australian soldiers sent to Japan were allocated an area and lived in a highly contaminated area after the Atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The contamination of radiation has cut their numbers to less than 2000 still alive today.

The BCOF (Japan) Association of Australia has, and is, fighting hard for recognition of these men who have been treated shamefully as have other returned soldiers from Korea, Vietnam and National Servicemen. ( Finally recognised with a medal. )

The BCOF association has answered to the Prime Minister’s statement to review disallowed recommendations to the Clarke Review. The following was submitted on behalf of the 700 members of the BCOF Association by their Honorary Secretary. James Patterson. He is 88 years of age and still fighting with that “Aussie Digger” spirit. When I interviewed him I was impressed by the determination of this old soldier who informed me will die fighting the government for his members.

Most Australians do not know much about our Australian lads that served in the BCOF in Japan after their defeat. I hope by giving some insight others will speak up for these True Aussie Diggers.

The Australian occupation of Japan constituted a unique set of circumstances and cannot be compared accurately with any similar situations applying elsewhere at the time or since then:-

The circumstances of the Japanese surrender, the uncertainty of Japan adhering to it. There was no certainty that this would occur and our forces entered Japan with the knowledge there could be resistance encountered. Members of that force know there were attempts at provocation of our forces although these were played down and other reasons given.

The location of the Australian forces in the Hiroshima Prefecture this being the site of the first US atomic bomb attack on Japan. The extremely hazardous nature of the military undertaken including the destruction of Japans largest poison gas facility together with an enormous amount of armament, a large proportion in hidden stores that had to be discovered and disposed of.

A feature of the Japanese capitulation was that it rested upon the obligation placed on the Japanese people by the Emperor to abide by the surrender arrangements at the time and during the initial period of the occupation when some 6.5 million Japanese military personnel were being demobilised under the strict control of American Forces and the 35,000 personnel comprising the Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF).

Apart from the potential threat from Japanese nationals, the allotted Australia area of operations was Hiroshima Prefecture and therefore BCOF personnel were continually at risk of a consequence of earlier military action( i.e.) The dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, the implications of which were imperfectly understood and generally ignored. The very act of dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in itself created an operational military area the nature of which was unprecedented and the significance of which was not recognised at that time and we believe that belief still exists today.

The Australian Government was quite prepared to and did place all Australian forces in Japan under the operational control of the US Commanders in Japan. The Australian Commander in Chief Lt General Northcott in 1946 recommended that the BCOF area be declared an operational area and gave reasons for this recommendation. He was the commanding officer on the spot where operations were taking place and was aware of all the circumstances that caused this recommendation to be made.

The decision of the Australian Government to go against this recommendation was political and resulted in the setting aside of all recommendations for due recognition and benefits for Australian BCOF Personnel. No attempt was made as a duty of care to recognise let alone act upon the fact that Australian Forces in Japan were operating in an area that had been directly contaminated by an Atomic Bomb, no attempt appears to have been made in the time since the occupation to recognise the reasons put forward by the Commander in Chief that the occupation of Japan was a war time operation and without doubt in a wartime operational area.

It is now time for our Government after so many years to recognise the efforts and suffering by ex BCOF veterans and award them their medals, benefits, nominal roll and acknowledgement of a job well done.

Tony Van Rhoda.
Editor: Nasho News & WVCG.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Thanks Tony, certainly highlights an area of operations that I knew nothing about.
Well Done.
Rich.

[Little Jo]

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

Thanks Tony, certainly highlights an area of operations that I knew nothing about.
Well Done.
Rich.

Hi Richard

Thanks for your kind comment. Yes mate while doing the story and research, I like you learned a lot about events after the defeat of Japan and our "forgoten veterans". I don't know what goes through the minds of our governments, they are quick to get our troops involved in military problems around the world and have a history of forgetting you once the troops come home. Like our our Korean and Vietnam veterans. Reminds me of car salesmen, Your friend and best buddy, then when you return with a small problem they don't remember you. I hope the BCOF veterans win their case before they all pass away. I hope my small bit will help tell their story.

Cheers

Tony

[Mike Cecil]

Good job, Tony.

Mike C

[Little Jo]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Good job, Tony.

Mike C

Mike I enjoyed doing the research and story. Thank you for your help to get me started, much appreciated. It will go into print in the magazines, April and May 2013.

Cheers

Tony

[hrpearce]

Seems to be topical at the moment. The headline on page 8 of yesterdays local paper,
Numbers dwindling, BCOF return.
Veterans who served in the BCOF will hold their reunion in Tumut Starting tomorrow. About 80 veterans and partners will be in Tumut with a number visiting for a week. More than 35,000 Australian men and women including 20 from Tumut served between 1946 and 1952.
The whole artical was about one third of a page in the Tumut and Adelong Times.