My father died two years ago today. His stories still echo in my mind and, in the end, on these pages. His legacy survives through his grandchildren. There will be more to come. The war in India, Africa and his childhood. Not to mention his time in England when he finally returned from his travels.

Nihama Officer's Mess, Etajima 1946

The officer's mess seems to have been called 'Nihama'. I have found a number of hotels with this name in modern Japan. Most of the captions written on the backs of the photos say "Nihama" but two say "Miyako Hotel". It has a swimming pool that also features in a number of the photographs.

The picture below says: "Officers Mess Nihama" and lists those in the picture as Major B. Jones-Walters (he is sitting in the middle at the front), Capt. W. Wilson R.A.M.C., Lt. S.L.S. Pullen, Lt. Timms, Lt. Avery N/Z Army.

There are a number of pictures of the building. In the second picture two officers can be seen through the open first floor window. Neither of these photographs have descriptions or captions. 

There are three photographs that show the women who worked in the mess standing in front of the same building. This one says: "Group of serving girls, ETA 1946". They wear a mixture of traditional and modern clothing.

The next one says: "Serving girls ETA-JIMA APR 46".

And this: "Serving girl ETA 1946".

The pool was obviously popular and there are a number of photographs of it and the officers using it. My father is on the right in this one looking slim, suntanned and fit.

The above picture had no caption but on the following it says "Bob, Frank, Stan, Stuart and self". I think my father is in the middle.

The next one says: "Frank Avery NZ and Doc. Wilson at pool Nihama.

Then there is a group by the pool which simply says: "Boyos Nihama".

The last two have "Miyako Hotel Swimming Pool" written on the back. They are either of a different pool or they are taken from a different angle.

Japan 1945-46: Hiroshima Images

Among my father's photographs from Japan 1945-46 I found these of Hiroshima. First the iconic  Hiroshima Commercial Museum; I took the same photograph more than 60 years later.  

The railway station.

Tortured steel, with "Hiroshima, worse bomb damage 1946" written on the back of the photograph.

The final picture is looking across a bridge onto the main city. I have never seen anything like this before. The damage to the buildings is clear but the perspective and angle of the photograph is new to me.

Stonehenge 1942

My father made his first visit to Stonehenge in around 1942 whilst in intensive training with the Royal Welch Fusiliers. Here he is (on the right) with a fellow officer, both of them standing on one of the fallen menhirs at Stonehenge. There is another of Stonehenge itself and one showing him on a bridge overlooking a lake at a stately home in the south of England. The pictures are clearly taken in the winter.

A Rugby Man (4)

This photograph from the 1939-40 season. Playing for Birmingham University (which is why they all look so young I suppose). My father is in the back row, fourth from the left.

Shikoku Island, Japan 1946: Press Cutting

I came across this press cutting among my father's photographs.

It mentions the occupation by (among others) the Royal Welch Fusilliers. Part of the front page is seen on the other side of the cutting, giving a date: May 29, 1946. The paper is called the (something) Times - but which Times is not clear as this has been cut off.

 

For interest, here is the rest of the other side of the cutting. It gives a flavour for the politics of the time...

A Rugby Man (3)

My father loved his rugby - and was a fine player. This cartoon, together with the associated text, appeared in the local Chester newspaper sometime between 1947-48.