Paul/Anthony, Thankyou for sharing the newspaper cuttings, it makes for interesting reading. I can only imagine it was very stressful at the time for all concerned, concidering that the Allied soldiers were fighting very hard with their now 'colleagues' just a few months previously. Regards Tom
I see Japanese armour was used by both sides. Bottom one a converted Universal carrier is it not? Photographer: No 9 Army Film & Photographic Unit Davis (Sergeant) MacTavish (Sergeant) Title: THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF JAVA Collection No.: 4700-64 Description: A soldier of an Indian armoured regiment examines a Japanese light tank used by Indonesian nationalists and captured by British forces during the figthing in Surabaya (Soerabaja). Photographer: No 9 Army Film & Photographic Unit Davis (Sergeant) Title: THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF JAVA Collection No.: 4700-64 Description: An Indian soldier guards a former Japanese army light tank used by Indonesian nationalists until knocked out by British forces during the figthing in Surabaya (Soerabaja).
I see Japanese armour was used by both sides. Photographer: No 9 Army Film & Photographic Unit Davis (Sergeant) Title: THE BRITISH OCCUPATION OF JAVA Collection No.: 4700-64 Description: An Indian soldier guards a former Japanese army light tank used by Indonesian nationalists until knocked out by British forces during the figthing in Surabaya (Soerabaja). That "former Japanese army light tank" is about as Japanese as I am. That is a British Universal carrier! admittedly the rather crude box superstructure and turret were welded on by the Japanese after capture. Edit: Owen, am I going mad, or have you just edited your post to include the Carrier reference? EDIT from Owen: No you not mad, yes I did edit it about 2 seconds after posting it.
You have to admit, it was an easy way to provide fast armoured transport with a roof! and basic turret. Don't you just love reading a book and finding that a caption is completely false in relation to the Picture! I personally just ammend the caption! Regards Tom
I once worked with an old soldier,a regular who signed on in 1938, and spent all the war in the far east. He told me stories of the postwar uprisings and the atrocities committed. He also mentioned the resentment by some British troops that they were fighting someone elses war. Herbie never mentioned the Japanese in this context, only that they were fanatical fighters but hated them so he would never buy their products. This bit of history seems to have been swept under the carpet.
I saw some footage about the British using Japanese soldiers that surrendered after the war. I think it was in the The World at War series I watched last year. I seem to recall it was quite interesting.