The British Commonwealth Occupation Force
After surrendering in August 1945, Japan was promptly placed under Allied Occupation by the United States of America. The occupation was a seven-year period in which the United States and its allies demilitarised and democratised Japan, aiming to transform Japan from a World War II enemy to a future democratic partner and ally. The British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) was the major allied force to help the United States with this goal.
The BCOF was a multi-national force established under the Commonwealth, made up of British, Indian, New Zealand and Australian soldiers. Out of the four countries, Australians were the majority, with 12,000 Australian troops in Japan at the height of their numbers in 1947. Since this was the case, the force was placed under the command of an Australian Commander-in-Chief and off-shore HQ was established in Melbourne, Australia.
Their role in the occupation was to help the United States in the act of demilitarisation and democratisation of Japan and its citizens. This included the removal of Japanese military equipment, ensuring that the peace was kept, organisation and observation of voting, frequent marching demonstrations, and influencing democratic morals.
The BCOF occupied Hiroshima Prefecture which, in comparison to that of Tokyo, was less densely populated. While Hiroshima was a major urban centre before the atomic bomb, its surroundings were mostly regional and farmland. Their Japanese HQ was based in Kure, a Naval port located a half hour drive from Hiroshima.
In comparison to the United States, the BCOF’s influence on major reforms in Japan were lack lustre. Many academics point out in their writing that the BCOF is often forgotten. However, this does not mean that the BCOF did not impact future international relationships between the Commonwealth countries and Japan, especially Australia. The occupation and the BCOF were one of the first historical steppingstones for post-war Australian-Japanese relations.
While forbidden at the time, fraternisation between BCOF officers and Japanese citizens was not uncommon and both romantic relationships and friendships bloomed. At the Australian War Memorial, the BCOF is praised as being the foundations for Australia and Japan’s reconciliation.
The Entwistle Collection is the personal story of one such BCOF soldier at the beginning of Australia’s time in the occupation. Within these photographs you can capture not only his personal experiences, but a wider study on this small, forgotten piece of Australian-Japanese history.
Extended Reading List:
George Davies, The Occupation of Japan: The Rhetoric and the Reality of Anglo-Australasian relations 1939 – 1952, 2001
John Dower, Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II, 2000
Melissa Miles & Robin Gerster, Pacific Exposures: Photograph and the Australia-Japan Relationship, 2018
Peter Bates, Japan and the British Commonwealth Occupation Force 1946 – 1952, 1993
Robin Gerster, Travels in Atomic Sunshine: Australia and the Occupation of Japan, 2008
Takemae Eiji, The Allied Occupation of Japan, 2002