Japanese Surrender.

[munnst]

Hi,

these photo's were part of my fathers collection.
My father Edward George Munns served on HMS Anson during the signing of the Japenese surrender and was given these photo's by the ships photographer. I have seen some of them published on the web so they are not unique.
Does anyone know the history of these photo's. Were they given to all crew members or do I have what is a very unique copy?

Regards,

Ted.

[astraltrader]

Without a doubt many copies were done at the time, as I have seen these before. Nevertheless they are most certainly collectable and of value. If you wish me to go into further details please feel free to send me a Private Message [PM] see top right of page.

[Powers]

Coming across this thread triggerred memories of a rather special day for me back in the mid 1980's. I had to attend a meeting at the RN Armament Depot at Ernesettle in Plymouth which was being held in a large portable accommodation type unit near the main HQ's. Being first to arrive, I had time to sit back in my chair and study the agenda. In doing so I noticed the wooden legs of the substantial conference table in front of me, which was otherwise mostly hidden from view under a thick green baize cover. Out of curiosity, I lifted part of the cover from the tabletop and was astonished to see one the most beautifully polished and elegant pieces of furniture I had ever seen.

When the local Chairman of the meeting arrived I asked him about the table and he directed me to a photograph hanging on an adjacent wall. The picture was taken in August 1945 in the Captain or Admiral's quarters on the Cruiser HMS London whilst off Sabang in the Indian Ocean. Centrepiece of the picture was the very same table occupied by a British Admiral and senior Japanese officers in process of surrendering all Japanese Forces on Sumatra at the end of WWII. Needless to say, I was absolutely amazed by this and found it quite difficult to concentrate on the subsequent meeting.

I am sorry that I have forgotten the details on how the table ended up at Ernesettle, and also how they managed to get it into the rather flimsy looking accommodation unit, but I will always remember my attendance at it some forty years after that historic gathering.

I very much hope that the table is still being properly looked after and would like to think that it may now be in a more appropriate setting.

[John Odom]

Most interesting! I too hope it is well cared for in an appropriate place.

[kookaburra]

Hi,

these photo's were part of my fathers collection.
My father Edward George Munns served on HMS Anson during the signing of the Japenese surrender and was given these photo's by the ships photographer. I have seen some of them published on the web so they are not unique.
Does anyone know the history of these photo's. Were they given to all crew members or do I have what is a very unique copy?

Regards,

Ted.

Ted,

Not sure if it's relevant, but I thought this might interest you: an article in the Melbourne Sunday Age today relating that the Japanese surrender document signed aboard HMS Glory - at Rabaul from memory - has just been sold at auction for $AUD 102,000 [ about $US80,000+], and a fair bit of angst over the fact that it has gone into private hands:


Here's the piece in today's paper:

Melissa Fyfe
August 2, 2009
THE National Archives of Australia has expressed deep regret that a historically important surrender document from the Second World War has been sold into private hands.

The ‘‘Instrument of Surrender’’, which marked the end of hostilities between the Japanese and Australians in Papua New Guinea, Bougainville and surrounding islands, was sold to a private collector in Western Australia for $102,000 at a recent Naval and Military Club auction.

In 1945, when the Japanese surrendered to the Australian general Sir Vernon Sturdee in the South Pacific, three surrender documents were made: one for the ship on which it was signed, HMS Glory, one for the Japanese and one for the Australians.

The National Archives believes the document sold at auction was the Australians’ copy and considers it to be a document of the Crown.

‘‘It’s deeply regrettable it is not in a national institution such as the War Memorial, where it would be available to be seen by all Australians,’’ said Dr Stephen Ellis, an assistant director-general at the National Archives. He said it would be ‘‘laudable’’ for the purchaser, who has remained anonymous, to donate it to the Australian War Memorial.

The War Memorial confirmed to The Sunday Age that it did bid for the document, but the item was sold for a price higher than it was willing to pay.

Spokeswoman Leigh Harris said the memorial could still ‘‘tell the story’’ of the surrender because it had ‘‘souvenir’’ copies of the document, pictures and film of the signing and the pen used by Sir Vernon to sign on behalf of the Australian forces.

Artemis Auctions, one of the auction houses that oversaw the sale of the club’s art, medals and militaria last week, said General Sturdee donated the document to the club, which fell into financial trouble and is now closed.

Dr Ellis said this donation would have occurred before legislation in 1983 that protected important Crown documents from falling into private hands.

‘‘It was not uncommon then for significant figures, including generals and prime ministers, to retain control of this sort of documentation,’’ he said.

Returned Services League president Major-General Bill Crews said the sale was legal but ‘‘not a preferred outcome’’.

[Don Boyer]

Speaking as an American naval history buff, I can say I have not seen any surrender photographs from Hong Kong or Singapore. I'm sure they are more common in the UK. but nevertheless, even if those are not unique photos, they are certainly historically valuable collectibles, particularly the surrender document itself. I would keep all of those preserved and protected.

Take care.

[Powers]

Re my post 3 above.

Just a quick update on the current location of HMS London's historic table. It was removed from RNAD Ernesettle to FOST at HMS Drake before being relocated to the Reading Room at the Naval Historical Branch in Portsmouth in 2006. A very appropriate setting, I feel.

The HMS London Association has full details.

Regards ....... Paul

[red devil]

There were probably press release images, given to all who asked. When I served in the British Army in Ulster, we had many press release images taken, officially, that were handed down. There were probably of the same ilk.

[Powers]

Following on from my above posts on the Japanese surrender at the table on HMS LONDON, I have been contacted by retired Lt Cdr Gordon Bruty of the HMS LONDON ASSOCIATION with a request for assistance. Briefly, he is looking for help in tracking down the photograph of the event, which I last saw over twenty years ago at the Ernesettle Armaments Depot.

To date, checks at Ernesettle, FOST, and other Devonport departments, have failed to locate it. Disappointingly, although the Portsmouth Historical Branch initially claimed to have received the photo when they inherited the table, they have since confirmed that they didn't have it after all. Also, although a detailed request for the photograph was forwarded to the Imperial War Museum, the pictures received from them bore no resemblance to what was asked for! They also now say that they don't have a copy.

Gordon Bruty spent the whole of WWII on HMS LONDON and is now in his 90th year. He is still actively involved in historical matters and is currently awaiting responses from the Indonesian Ambassador and the Mayor of Sabang regarding photos of the surrender ceremony.

I know that this is a very long shot, but any information or suggestions from members on the missing photo would be very much appreciated.

Regards.....Paul