I think that they did a great service to Japan, they were forgotten being Australian military occupiers of a foreign country. My father passed away in 2015 having spent a part of the occupation of Japan. Good to see that they are finally recognised.

Thanks for this! My dear Old Man was there as BCOF from the end of the war until the end of 1947. Even whilst an active serviceman prior to arriving there, he died early, 1956, he got nothing from the Australian Gov leading up until his death, or therefafter. Nothing unusual there! We talked a lot about Japan as I was growing up. Many funny stories! I still have a couple of his 'artifacts' that I treasure. I later spent a lot of time all over Japan, 1970-1989, after joining the Australian Navy. And maybe it was because of him that I loved the place as much as I did. WW2 vet Ray Simpson VC, re-entered the Army to fight in Korea in 51 where he married in Japan, a Japanese bride in 51. Awarded the VC whilst serving with the SAS in Vietnam. Retired in Japan after retiring from the army again in 1966 with his Japanese wife Shoko Sakai. He worked, at times, for the Australian Embassy in Japan! The Australian Government gave his wife NOTHING! Until the Pres of Victorian RSL Bruce Ruxton stepped in.

Fascinating. I did not know very much about this phase of Australia's involvement in post war Japan. Thankyou.

That woman's story at 13:08 was soul crushing.

My Father went straight from Borneo to Japan. They were told they would be discharged earlier if they volunteering to join BCOF than if they didn’t. Yet another lie by the government at the time. He would never speak about his time there beyond saying how awful it was to see the children burnt. I believe his time there and the treatment they received on their return changed him and not for the better.

@ 28:56 "The amount of prositution in Kure was quite prolific. The Japanese were absolutely down on their knees." Not the best choice of words there my friend. lol