Militaria

Lot 4205    SESSION 10 (9.30AM FRIDAY 27TH NOVEMBER)    Militaria

Estimate $50
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $40

WWII VICTORY IN THE PACIFIC, an original and historic teleprinter message sent on 14 August 1945 to cancel all operations against the enemy including missions airborne at the time, this was the day the Japanese stopped fighting and on the next day they announced their intent to surrender, the teleprinter message is date stamped 15 Aug 1945 at the Signal Office Headquarters Eastern Area and it is also stamped 'Emergency', the message souvenired by one of the Signal Office personnel; also a book titled, The W.A.A.A.F. Book, edited by Clare Stevenson and Honor Darling, published 1984, hard cover with dust jacket, with b&w photos throughout, 288pp. The message with normal folds and age toning, otherwise in excellent condition and very fine, the book with foxing, otherwise very fine. (2)

The teleprinter message was souvenired by 109423 Aircraftwoman Rhoda Beth Le Laen, WAAAF who was posted to the Signal Office Headquarters Eastern Area which was located in Sydney at Point Piper. She was 22 years of age at the time. In the above book, on page 287, there is an image of another identical souvenired message which has been signed by various personnel working at the Signal Office when it was received. Rhoda Le Laen is one those signatories.

The war with Japan ceased on 14 August 1945 but the actual surrender was announced on 15 August 1945 and then, after all relevant documentation had been prepared, the official signing of the Instrument of Surrender occurred on the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945 and accepted by General Douglas MacArthur as Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers.