New Guinea

  • I am not sure if this was a case of friendly fire. In my opinion, it should be considered a war crime by the Japanese Imperial Navy for not marking the ship accordingly as POW and civilian transport. The attack on the Dorish Maru occurred on the night of February 6, 1944. The ship, commanded

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  • A flag as an apology

    The text of this ‘good luck flag’, which belonged to the Japanese General Shunkichi Ikeda, reads: ’A tiger walks 1,000 miles, but always returns again’. A group of Japanese women from his place of birth embroidered this thousand-stitch saying, meant to bring him luck and prosperity. Whenever the General went into battle with his troops

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  • During the war in Papua New Guinea, the local population who were sympathetic to the Australian troops would assist where they could. Notably they would help in transporting stores and equipment over the rough terrain. Teams carried seriously wounded and sick Australian soldiers all the way back to their bases. Their compassion and care of

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