Forum | Any military history buffs / collectors on here? by Lord_Lucan

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Any military history buffs / collectors on here? 14:01 - Aug 26 with 1598 views

When my grandad was fighting the Japanese in WW2 he nicked some kind of army book off of a soldier he had just shot.

The booklet has some printed text in it and what looks like some faded written notes and some Yen. I was wondering what to do with it. For all I know it might be identifiable to the dead soldier. Where do you think I should send it, Japanese Embassy?

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Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:04 - Aug 26 with 1552 views

Rozz

Google translate works from images nowadays. Could be worth trying to translate the notes to see if there's any identifiable information?

Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:05 - Aug 26 with 1549 views

StevieH

Guthrum is your man for this, I reckon

Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:08 - Aug 26 with 1535 views

Lord_Lucan

Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:04 - Aug 26 by Rozz
Google translate works from images nowadays. Could be worth trying to translate the notes to see if there's any identifiable information?

Too faded I reckon. I'd like to show it to a Japanese war type person really.

The currency is actually Rupees with an Issued by the Japanese government on them. I just googled it and it seems they were issued for soldiers in Burma

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Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:20 - Aug 26 with 1499 views

Samuelowen88

I'd have a search on Twitter for someone that can help.

Quick search finds this guy
https://twitter.com/RBJapanHistory

Could be interested to help if you can scan / send some images.

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Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:22 - Aug 26 with 1494 views

Lord_Lucan

Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:20 - Aug 26 by Samuelowen88
I'd have a search on Twitter for someone that can help. Quick search finds this guy https://twitter.com/RBJapanHistory Could be interested to help if you can scan / send some images.

Thanks for your input.

I don't do twitter but I think the boy does - I'll also see what Guthers says

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Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:25 - Aug 26 with 1481 views

DanTheMan

You could send an email to the imperial war museum detailing what you know about it? They might be interested in preserving it or at least tell you a good place to send it.

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Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:26 - Aug 26 with 1470 views

Nthsuffolkblue

I would go with someone who speaks Japanese who you trust to do a decent job of seeing whether it is identifiable. Not sure where you find someone like that (assuming you don't already know someone). Maybe look at local private tutors of Japanese or a University languages department. Could be really nice for his family if they can be identified. I guess the embassy is another option. I don't think they are likely to hold you personally responsible for your grandad's theft!

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Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:33 - Aug 26 with 1434 views

Plums

I'll post a link to this thread on the We Have Ways of Making You Talk timeline on Twitter, someone will know without a doubt.

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Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:33 - Aug 26 with 1432 views

Lord_Lucan

Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:26 - Aug 26 by Nthsuffolkblue

Yeah, I'd like to see if it is identifiable, otherwise Imperial War Museum is a good shout.

I've been meaning to do something with it for years but never get round to it so I bought it to work - where I actually get things done.

Just had a thought, I'm in Birmingham for a week soon, they must have some Japanese restaurants there, it might be worth a go.

I just hope I don't end up in a Larry David Japanese restaurant situation.

Edit; On second thoughts I think a proper historian would be better - it's all very delicate

[Post edited 26 Aug 2022 14:37]

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Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:48 - Aug 26 with 1352 views

ElephantintheRoom

It might be worth contacting the IWM - they have a ‘forgotten war’ exhibit at Duxford and one of the curators might be able to look at it and advise - it’s doubtful you’ll get much interest as they have thousands of donations that never see the light of day - but they can probably give you some info and advice. Might be worth an email

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Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 15:29 - Aug 26 with 1273 views

jontysnut

Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:33 - Aug 26 by Lord_Lucan

[Post edited 26 Aug 2022 14:37]

If it has got a picture of a horse at the front it could be a Japanese forces issue novel issued to troops. Via my own grandad I've got a few US army versions that used to be carried around. But yes sounds like one for the IWM or the embassy.

Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 15:38 - Aug 26 with 1254 views

itfcjoe

Take it over to here when in Norwich, they teach Japanese courses there as well and only round the corner from you

https://www.uea.ac.uk/groups-and-centres/centre-for-japanese-studies

More details here:

https://www.sainsbury-institute.org/about-us/

The Lisa Sainsbury Library in Norwich remains central to the Institute’s vision and its collections are a research resource of major importance that we are pleased to share with advanced scholars throughout Europe.

https://www.sainsbury-institute.org/library/

[Post edited 26 Aug 2022 15:40]

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Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 16:05 - Aug 26 with 1196 views

Guthrum

Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:22 - Aug 26 by Lord_Lucan
Thanks for your input. I don't do twitter but I think the boy does - I'll also see what Guthers says

Possibly a pay-book, if it has money inside?

My advice would be the same as most others' - find somebody who can read it (bear in mind the written language has been simplified since the War) and ask the IWM.

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Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 16:58 - Aug 26 with 1130 views

Lord_Lucan

Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 16:05 - Aug 26 by Guthrum
Possibly a pay-book, if it has money inside? My advice would be the same as most others' - find somebody who can read it (bear in mind the written language has been simplified since the War) and ask the IWM.

Someone kindly PM'd me about it and I said I would post an image

There's quite a few pages within the book but it's very fragile.

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Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 17:49 - Aug 26 with 1040 views

Coastalblue

Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 14:33 - Aug 26 by Plums
I'll post a link to this thread on the We Have Ways of Making You Talk timeline on Twitter, someone will know without a doubt.

That would be my first port of call as well, bound to be someone with either the knowledge or experience to know how to deal with it best.

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Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 17:52 - Aug 26 with 1032 views

ArnoldMoorhen

Any military history buffs / collectors on here? on 16:58 - Aug 26 by Lord_Lucan
Someone kindly PM'd me about it and I said I would post an image There's quite a few pages within the book but it's very fragile.

I would agree that the Japanese centre at the University is the best place to go.

I know a Japanese woman, but would feel a bit awkward in bringing up this subject matter with her- especially not knowing what the hand-written text may say!

But an academic centre should be willing to engage with members of the local community, and should be able to very quickly say whether the items might be of interest to them academically, or the chances of them being reunited with the family.

I would leave out the "my Grandad shot him" bit in any discussions, though. "He came across them during his time in the Far East in WW2" would definitely be sufficient, and is true.

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