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ITEM FORM
Item title: Anonymous Japanese officer's diary
Title (romaji): Mumei shikan no nikki
Title (kanji)
Location:Australian War Memorial (PR84/143)
View information about obtaining a copy of this document
AJRP details
AJRP module: Australian War Memorial private records
AJRP series: AWM Japanese language material
AJRP sub-series: Captured Japanese diaries
AJRP folder:
Location details
Institution: Australian War Memorial
Call number: PR84/143
Inst. series: Various
Inst. sub-series: Various
Item: PR84/143
Item qualities
Quantity / desc: 2 typed pages
Access: Open
Item type: Unpublished, Private
Category: Personal diary
Item content
Creation date range (d/m/y): 1/10/1943 to 16/11/1943
Conflict code: Pacific War (1941-1945)
Keywords:DIARIES, MALARIA, FOOD, FOOD RATIONS AND RATIONING, FOOD SUPPLY, IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY, JUNGLE OPERATIONS, PACIFIC WAR, TOBACCO
Australian unit names:
Allied unit names:
Japanese unit names:20th Division 78th Infantry Regt
20th Division 79th Infantry Regt
20th Division 80th Infantry Regt
16th Division
Names: MATSUOKA Yôsuke, Foreign Minister
Languages: English
Area:Sattelberg Area [Melanesia (PNG, Irian Jaya & Solomon Islands), New Guinea, Huon Peninsula, Finschhafen Area]
Content: This item is a typed transcription of an anonymous Japanese officer's diary. It was produced from the handwritten translation (PR00947), but there are some minor ommisions and misspellings of names. The diary was allegedly found on his body on 17 November 1943 and covers the short period from 1 October 1943 to 16 November 1943. The author belonged to the 11th Company of the 80th Regiment, 20th Division, which was engaged in combat against American and Australian troops in the Sattelberg area. On 30 October 1943 he was transferred to headquarters. This diary describes military operations, heavy casualties, constant shelling from the enemy, bombing from American planes, scarcity of food, and ill health caused by malaria. In some places the author becomes very pathetic finding no hope to carry out the war. The author was well informed of the situation of the war during the last month and half of his life. He knew that the 78th Regiment had suffered heavy losses in the Ramu River area, and also heard the news of the sinking of a new aircraft carrier coming from the Solomons. The diary also notes that MATSUOKA Yôsuke had formed a new cabinet and was a Prime Minister, even though MATSUOKA was in fact Foreign Minister during this period.
Other information
Notes:              
Last modified:12/14/2000 04:54:46 PM
Source:AJRP staff



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