The Allied Occupation of Japan 1945-1952
With the Japanese surrender on 15th August 1945 and the subsequent signing of the surrender terms aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Harbour on 2nd September 1945. Japan was, in the main, occupied by the United States through sheer weight of numbers as the US outweighed the other Allied forces in Japan. General Douglas MacArthur was Supreme Commander Allied Powers (SCAP) for the occupation. In December 1945, The US agreed to the provision of a national contingent from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and India for the occupation of Japan. |
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Lieutenant-General J. Northcott, C.B., M.V.O., was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force of Japan.
The Occupation in Japan assumed the role of government as the Allies demilitarized Japan and turned the country into a democracy. Japan adopted a new constitution in 1947, forbidding the country from maintaining an army. The anti-war article was later repealed and the Self Defense Force was established in 1954.
In 1949, MacArthur turned over much of his power as SCAP to the Japanese government and on 8th September 1951 a formal peace treaty was signed between Japan and 49 nations. Japan and the US signed a security treaty the same day, permitting the US to station troops in Japan. The peace treaty went into effect on 28th April 1952 and Japan assumed full sovereignty with the end of the Allied occupation.
In 1956, Japan was granted membership in the United Nations. The United States returned its occupied territories to Japan over the next decades, returning Okinawa to Japan in 1968 and the southern Ryukus in 1972.
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force was initially assembled as follows:
The army component was comprised of:
A British-Indian Division known as BRINDIV which was composed of 5 British Infantry Brigade Group
and 268 Indian Infantry Brigade Group.
34 Australian Infantry Brigade Group.
9 New Zealand Infantry Brigade Group.
The Air Force Component was comprised of:
Two RAF Squadrons.
Three RAAF Squadrons.
One RNZAF Squadron.
One RIAF Squadron.
and shore-based naval personnel
supplied by the Royal Navy.
In early February 1946, the advance parties of HQ BCOF, British Command Base and the 34th Australian Infantry Brigade reached Kure from Morotai aboard the Stamford Victory.
Eight days afterwards, the Taos Victory and two LSTs arrived from Morotai. HMS Glenglye, the River Murrumbidgee and three LSTs arrived from Labuan. On 23rd February the Pacbaug Victory arrived.These vessels carried 4000 troops and formed the main bodies of the units mentioned above.
Lieutenant-General Northcott was appointed commander of BCOF and arrived at Hiroshima airfield. By the end of March, 17,517 personnel were on duty in Japan including 130 Australian General Hospital.
The HQ BCOF was initially based in the ruins of the Japanese naval base at Kure, with the 34 Australian Infantry Brigade based at Kaidaichi. HQ 9 New Zealand Brigade was based at Chofu, and HQ BRINDIV at Hiro. The BCOF's area of occupation at the beginning was the areas of Hiroshima and Yamaguchi. 34 Brigade occupied Hiroshima and 9 New Zealand Brigade Yamaguchi. BRINDIV took over Shimane on 15th March 1946, and within the next few weeks took over Tottori, Okayama and Shikoku from the 24 US Division. This total area was over nineteen thousand square miles with a population of over nine million.
On 24th June 1946, Lieutenant-General H. C. H. Robertson, CBE, DSO,, took over command BCOF and Lieutenant General Northcott departed for Australia on 24th June to assume the role of Governor of New South Wales. Lieutenant-General E W Bridgeford CBE, MC, took command in November 1951.
The BCOF's tasks were varied, but the main task was the dismantling of the Japanese war machine and disposal of the remaining war stores in Japan. The BCOF also monitored the Japanese elections held on 10th April 1946. The BCOF also managed the repatriation of Allied POW's and civilians from various nationalities. There were repatriation centres at Senzaki, Otake and Ujina. Other tasks included patrols, prevention of smuggling and illegal entry and weather monitoring.
The air component of the BCOF was headquartered at Iwakuni with commands at Bofyu and Milio. All three of these had serviceable airfields, HMS Glory and HMS Vengeance ferried in aircraft while others were flown in. BCOF Air Component Commanding Officer was Air Vice-Marshal C.A. Bouchier, CB, CBE., DFC.
The naval component was comprised of shore parties from the East Indies, equipped with material meant for landings in South East Asia. The naval component concentrated in Colombo to begin with in early January 1946, then moved to Hong Kong via Singapore. The component was designated Force C under the command of Captain J.A. Grindle CB, RN. The advanced party arrived at Kure on 1st February 1946 and on 18th February the port was handed over by US authorities. The last US Navy units withdrew by the end of February. Two months later, the whole of BCOF was in place and Force C was reduced, and on 3rd June the shore party was recommissioned as HMS Commonwealth. The shore party was tasked with cataloging the sunken, beached or damaged Japanese naval vessels, clearance of wrecks, the maintenance of repatriation vessels and the destruction of 24 Japanese submarines under the terms of the armistice.
The BCOF peaked at a strength of over 40,000 from the UK, New Zealand, India and Australia, but, by the end of 1948 was composed entirely of Australians. The British Commonwealth Occupation Force ceased to exist on 28th February 1952 when the Japanese peace treaty was ratified. The responsibilities in Japan were transferred to British Commonwealth Forces Korea, and some personnel were transferred to combat in Korea.
Units deployed as part of BCOF
United Kingdom
British Army
5 British Infantry Brigade Group.
2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
2nd Battalion, The Dorset Regiment.
1st Battalion, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.
30th Field Battery.
80th British Hospital.
Royal Navy
HMS Glory
HMS Vengeance
Royal Air Force
11 Squadron RAF flying Spitfires.
17 Squadron RAF flying Spitfires.
Communications squadron.
Hospital.
India
Indian Army
5th Battalion 1st Punjab Rifles.
7th Indian Light Cavalry Regiment.
16th Indian Field Battery.
92nd Indian General Hospital.
Royal Indian Air Force
No 4 Squadron RIAF flying Spitfires.
>Australia
Australian Army
34 Australian Infantry Brigade Group.
65th Battalion.
66th Battalion.
67th Battalion.
130 Australian General Hospital 21/3/1946 to?
Royal Australian Navy
HMAS Arunta
HMAS Australia
HMAS Bataan
HMAS Culoga
HMAS Hobart
HMAS Murchison
HMAS Quadrant
HMAS Quiberon
HMAS Shoalhaven
HMAS Shropshire
HMAS Manoora, LSI.
HMAS Westralian, LSI.
HMAS Kanimbla, LSI.
Royal Australian Air Force
76 Squadron, P-51 Mustang.
77 Squadron, P-51 Mustang.
82 Squadron, P-51 Mustang.
New Zealand
New Zealand Army
9 New Zealand Infantry Brigade Group.
22nd Infantry Battalions.
22nd Infantry Battalions.
2nd Division Cavalry Regiment.
6th New Zealand General Hospital.
Royal New Zealand Air Force
No 14 Squadron RNZAF flying Corsairs.
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