Role+of+the+United+Kingdom+and+its+colonies+in+the+Allied+Occupation+of+Japan++Consequences

 -   Largely an American affair  -   The British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF), consisted of troops from Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and India.  -   The Australians were the largest group and were located in the prefecture of Hiroshima on the islands of Honshu and Shikoku. - Mainly veterans of the Pacific War - Arrived in Japan on February 1946 - They were in charge of 20 million Japanese  -   In August 1946 there were about 40 000 in the BCOF  -   Found the Japanese people quiet and impassive but willing to help and take orders  -   Women hid from Allied soldiers by dressing as men  -   Troops assisted with demilitarisation of japan - found over 800 caves and tunnels filled with war equipment such as explosives and chemical weapons  -   Responsible for keeping law and order and combating the black market, drug smuggling and illigal immigration  -   Supervised the repatriation of returning Japanese soldiers  -   Assisted in rebuilding efforts and support in times of disaster - for example tidal wave and earthquake in Decemeber 1946  -   Policy of non-fratinisation – but contacts developed anyway - 70 percent troops suffered from veneral disease from interaction with japanese prostitutes - by the time they were to return home, over 150 Japanese wives were applying to return to Australia with them  -   By mid 1947, major tasks had been completed  -   Other troops were sent home and Australian troops were left in charge of the BCOF - by 1950 only 2750 remained – they were then withdrawn and sent to Korea  -   The BCOF was the first overseas peacekeeping undertaken by Australians and the force played a small but effective role in the overal occupation of Japan  -   Australian BCOF troops have been poorly treated by the government since they returned home - told they had not been on active service and therefore were not entitled to service pensions, nor welcomed to the RSL - In 1994, they were awarded the Australian Service medal in recognition of their services.
 * Role of the United Kingdom and its colonies in the Allied Occupation of Japan **