The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Japanese National flag with traditional good luck slogan 'Wishing you long lasting good fortune in war' in black, and shinto blessing in red, on right side. Flag is marked with indelible pencil "9th Battery 2nd/5th Field Regt - A Troop Milne Bay" and signed by members of the troop together with their nicknames.
Those members of the battery killed or wounded at Milne Bay are listed on the central disc or hinomaru. The flag was taken from one of two Japanese Type 95 'Ha-Go' medium tanks captured at Milne Bay in 1942.
It is not one of the small flags carried on the tank but is likely to have been a personal flag carried by one of the crew members. The practice of carrying personal 'good luck' Japanese flags by Imperial Army troops was widespread through the Pacific.
The flag was 'upside down' when it was written on by the 2/5th Field Regiment. This is evidenced by the hoist for the flag, here shown on the left, is traditionally on the right side of the flag. The large handwritten Japanese 'kanji' figures in black, which reads 'Wishing you long lasting good fortune in war', is traditionally written vertically on the right side of the flag adjacent to the hoist.
Japanese soldier's autographed national flag with numerous signatures in black ink. Apart from the traditional wish of long-lasting good fortune in war and the name of the recipient, Mochizuki Mitsuo,
Japanese soldier's autographed national flag with characters in black ink translating as the traditional wish for long lasting good fortune in war and 'A gift to Mr Ajiwa from Mr Kagohashi Kyubei'. Al
Japanese soldier's national flag with characters in black ink translating, 'To Mr Kawashima Minoru, Wishing you long-lasting good fortune in war, from all of your friends.' There are no personal signa
Japanese soldier's autographed national flag with numerous signatures. Apart from the traditional wish of long-lasting good fortune in war, the name of the soldier recipient, Yagi Katsuichi, appears b
Japanese Naval flag, measuring 1720mm height by 2630mm width. The flag is heavily worn with many rips, tears and burn marks evident. Imperial Japanese Navy flag captured at Milne Bay by the Austral
Printed silk Japanese personal 'good luck' flag with slogans and good luck messages written in Chinese.There are four large slogans, one on each side of the flag, and three rows of smaller characters
