D/JX391178 D. Fensome AB
Mess 19
HMS Newfoundland
C/o GPO London
9th Sept [1945]
Dear Norma,
During the past few weeks I have received two more letters from you dated 13th July and 3rd August. I’m sorry that there has once more been a delay at my end, but this is due to the fact that I have only just returned aboard the ‘Newfy’ after spending some time ashore as part of a British landing force, composed of Royal Marines and sailors from the British Pacific Fleet.
Just after the first Japanese peace offer several weeks back it was decided to land some men from the B.P.F. to represent the U.K. and as the idea appealed to me I volunteered with the result that a couple of days later wearing army khaki tropical gear and our own white caps, and armed with rifles and bren guns we transferred to an American combined ops ship and a week later landed on some forts at the entrance to Tokyo Bay. The weather whilst we were aboard the Yankee ship proved to be grim, and as it was only a converted destroyer escort, we had the very devil of a time, tossed about all over the place, just the sort of trip to bring on a bad case of seasickness, but I’m glad to say that doesn’t bother me.
After we had dismantled the forts and rounded up the local Japs we proceeded to the mainland at Yokosuka – naval base for Tokyo, and established headquarters in the dockyard. As the water ashore was unfit for drinking we were rationed to one water bottle full for the first couple of days. Nowhere to wash, and no clean clothes, but I still enjoyed the whole affair, and even though there was no looting I managed to ‘collect’ a kit bag full of "souvenirs." We also "requisitioned" a warehouse containing beer, and during our stay ashore – roughly a week – had free beer every day. The American Marines finally relieved us, and we returned aboard the old ship and we are now being issued with certificates to commemorate the occasion as we were the only British representatives ashore in Japan – apart from a few P.O.W. of course. The Japs on the whole didn’t give us much trouble, but I think we all felt a trifle sorry for them as we ran down the Japanese flags and hoisted our white ensigns, they looked so absolutely dejected, and anyway they’d put up a good fight.
For now I must say cherrio. I’ll drop you a few lines again soon. All the very best, and let’s hear from you again soon, Sincerely
Derrick
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Personal note. My father, then age 18, was part of the American Army of Occupation in Japan. His first billet was in a military barracks in Hiroshima, where the beds were 3-deckers. He told me that they managed to liberate a sake supply, and that after drinking a bottle of cold sake he launched himself off the top bunk so he could go outside and unburden himself of same. Unfortunately, the sake had done its job; his knees buckled and he made a perfect landing on is right cheekbone. For the rest of his life he bore fine facial scars from his landing on the rough wood floor in that barracks – his only wound from 24 years of active duty including in the Philippines 1945, Korea 1951-54 and Viet Nam 1964-65. He did not receive a Purple Heart.