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THE SURRENDER CEREMONY ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER HMS GLORY

It was heartbreaking. I’ve seen the driver of my jeep carrying out virtually the skeleton on his two hands and loading him in the jeep and then another one and they didn’t take up any space.

Captain Tom Arnold, 2nd Field Ambulance, on liberating Indian soldiers taken as Japanese prisoners of war at Rabaul

Japanese surrender

On 6 and 9 August, the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The last Allied airstrike on Rabaul took place on 8 August 1945. On 15 August, Japanese Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's surrender. The official Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed on 2 September. The signing took place aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

The official instrument of surrender for the Rabaul garrison was signed on 6 September. The signing took place aboard the British aircraft carrier HMS Glory. The ship was anchored in St George's Channel between New Britain and New Ireland.

The Officer Commanding First Australian Army, Lieutenant General Vernon Sturdee, accepted the surrender of Commander in Chief of the Japanese Imperial South Eastern Army, Lieutenant General Hitoshi Imamura. Imamura commanded the Japanese land forces in New Britain, New Ireland, New Guinea, the Solomons and adjacent islands. Vice Admiral Ryunosuke Kusaka surrendered on behalf of Imperial Japanese Naval Forces in the area.

Liberation of Rabaul

After the Japanese surrender, Australian forces moved into Rabaul. They started liberating the prisoners of war (POWs) and internees held there. Australian ships HMAS Vendetta, HMAS Manoora and HMAS Katoomba arrived to help.

The Australians had hoped to find Allied prisoners, including members of Lark Force. But they only found one Australian, one New Zealander, seven Americans and 18 Britons. The rest—thousands of men—had been killed.

The Australian forces also liberated many Asian POWs. These included:

  • 5,589 Indians
  • 1,397 Chinese
  • 688 Malayans
  • 607 Indonesians.

Other internees, mostly pre-war residents including missionaries, were also liberated.

There was no sign of the Lark Force POWs and Australian internees. It was later discovered they had died in the sinking of the Montevideo Maru. Only the Lark Force officers and nurses, who had been transported to Japan on a different ship, survived.

It took several months to return the survivors to their home countries.

Region
Papua New Guinea
Dates
1943 to 1945
Themes
Everyday life in the Service
The heat of battle
Injury, illness, and loss

Gallery for `Japanese surrender at Rabaul`

Photo of Liberated Chinese soldiers from the Chinese internment camp in their sleeping quarters, showing enthusiasm on their release.

Photo: Liberated Chinese POWs at Rabaul

Liberated Chinese soldiers from the Chinese internment camp in their sleeping quarters, showing enthusiasm on their release. They are part of a complete unit brought from Singapore by the Japanese to work in New Britain during the Japanese occupation. Photo taken 17 September 1945.
This document is a Second World War Instrument of Surrender by Japanese Forces in New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, Bougainville and adjacent islands

Artefact: Instrument of Surrender of Japanese Forces in New Britain, New Ireland, Bougainville and Adjacent Islands

This document is a Second World War Instrument of Surrender by Japanese Forces in New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, Bougainville and adjacent islands. It's signed by Lieutenant General Vernon Sturdee (1890–1966), General Officer Commanding First Australian Army and Commander in Chief of the Japanese Imperial Southeastern Army, General Hitoshi Imamura (1886–1968). This Instrument of Surrender is one of a number of surrender documents signed by representatives from Japanese and Allied forces in various areas across the Asia-Pacific region at the end of the Second World World War.
New Guineans welcome liberated missionaries

Photo: New Guineans welcome liberated missionaries

New Guineans at the Toboi wharf welcome priests and sisters who have been liberated from internment at Ramale Mission and brought to Rabaul for medical care. 16 September 1945.
A group of Indian troops at the Indian prisoner of war camp, which was liberated by Australian troops after the Japanese surrender. Some are too weak to stand.

Photo: Indian POWs at Rabaul

A group of Indian troops at the Indian prisoner of war camp, which was liberated by Australian troops after the Japanese surrender. Some are too weak to stand. Photo taken 17 September 1945.
Painting of Liberated Indians, Rabaul

Artwork: Liberated Indians, Rabaul

Artist Sali Herman enlisted in the Australian Army in 1941 and was appointed an official war artist in 1945. This painting depicts Indian prisoners of war Herman encountered during the liberation of Rabaul. According to Herman:

'Soon after our landing at Rabaul we liberated our allied prisoners. Of these there were a great number of Indians who were in a state of misery and starvation, some mere skeletons with big staring eyes. In this painting I show some at a hospital. I tried to convey their horror.'
Painting of surrender of General Imamura Hitoshi, commander of the Japanese 8th Area Army, at Rabaul, New Guinea,

Artwork: Surrender

Australian war artist Sali Herman witnessed the surrender of General Imamura Hitoshi, commander of the Japanese 8th Area Army, at Rabaul, New Guinea, and later painted the scene. Despite his compassion for the defeated Japanese, Herman could not forgive their commanders: '[Imamura's] attitude was still arrogant, maybe a screen to his humiliation, maybe only the manner of the typical militarist.'
Surrender ceremony on board HMS Glory

Photo: Surrender ceremony on board HMS Glory

The surrender ceremony on board the aircraft carrier HMS Glory, 6 September 1945. Lieutenant General Vernon Sturdee, General Officer Commanding First Army, reads surrender conditions to the Japanese party, while Lieutenant General Hitoshi Imamura, Commander 8th Area Army, lays his sword on the surrender table.
Cookhouse at the Chinese internment camp, Rabaul

Photo: Cookhouse at the Chinese internment camp, Rabaul

The cookhouse at the Chinese internment camp, Rabaul, 17 September 1945. The men are part of a complete unit who were brought by the Japanese to work in New Britain during the Japanese occupation. They were liberated by Australian forces who entered the area after the Japanese surrender.
Image caption
Lieutenant General Hitoshi Imamura, Commander of the Japanese 8th Area Army, signing the Instrument of Surrender on board HMS Glory near Rabaul, 6 September 1945. Vice Admiral Jinichi Kusaka, Commander of the Japanese Southeast Area Fleet, stands by to add his signature to the document.
Image attribution
Australia War Memorial. AWM 045213. Photographer unknown.
Item URL
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C45539

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