British Commonwealth Occupation Force
From 1946 to 1952, the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) helped rebuild and govern western Japan after the Second World War. Thousands of Australian servicemen, nurses and their families were part of this remarkable but often overlooked chapter in Australia's history.
Ashes and Sakura: an Australian story of the making of a Pacific nation
Set against the remote Pacific island of Morotai and the ruins of postwar Japan at war’s end, Ashes and Sakura follows Tom Darcy, a young Australian soldier serving with the British Commonwealth occupation forces in Japan after the Second World War. As he encounters the devastation of a defeated nation and forms unexpected bonds with those on the other side of the conflict, the novel explores war, memory, love and reconciliation.
Occupation of Japan - British Empire Force
Lieutenant-General Northcott said the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan would have significant responsibilities, including supervising the disposal of Japanese war materials and directing Japanese labour. He praised the high standard of Australian troops and said details of the force's duties would soon be announced, with its responsibilities to be determined under General MacArthur's command.
Occupation force's activities
Lieutenant-General Northcott reported that the British Commonwealth Occupation Force had made significant progress during its first two months in Japan. Its work included restoring essential services, repairing ports and airfields, employing thousands of Japanese labourers, recovering military stores, improving communications, and locating munitions for destruction, while demonstrating the effectiveness of Commonwealth cooperation.