Among her father’s World War II mementos treasured by Tewantin Noosa RSL sub branch committee member Robin Stopford is a Nambour Chronicle news cutting of his eyewitness account of the surrender ceremony at Tokyo Bay on 2 September,1945.
Ted Stopford was a signaller on the HMAS Shropshire and he told the paper 80 years ago how “the band played good old Aussie tunes as we steamed into the bay.
“The great host of ships already anchored made a stirring sight. USS Missouri, great flagship of Admiral Halsey, where the surrender was to be signed, Iowa, South Dakota, Idaho, Colorado and the British battleships, Duke of York and King George V.
“Ships with great names and great records but I doubt if there were prouder ships present than Shropshire and her small squadron.
“Dimly visible were the high cranes and factory chimneys of the great Yokosuka naval base. Close inshore could be seen the sole remnant here of what was once the world’s third largest navy, the badly damaged Nagato. All along the shoreline at frequent intervals were idly flapping white flags, symbol of unconditional surrender.
“From early morning on September 2 the Bay presented a scene of ceaseless activity
Destroyers and other craft hurried to and fro bringing five representatives of many nations to Missouri. General MacArthur signed for the allies, squadrons of super fortresses roared over the fleet and receded into the distance over Tokyo.
“The sun broke through the clouds for the first time in days. Even Fujiyama’s peak put in a momentary and sultry appearance.”
He continued: “Home is uppermost in the thoughts of all of us now and the conversation soon comes around to the two favourite subjects “when are we going south?” and how soon can we become civies.
“Maroochydore may not have a volcano or any cherry blossoms but it certainly appeals to me a lot more than Japan right now.”
Daughter Robin who lives in Tewantin remembers how she used to “tag around behind him on their farm at Caboolture. He didn’t talk a lot about the navy, although he had a lot of photos of the war.
“He was very involved with RSL. He was president in Caboolture and was a member in Cairns and Bundaberg. He died in 1988.”
Robin was a warrant officer in the Australian Navy for 20 years and she and her family have a long tradition of military service.
“My grandfather served in the First World War in British Army and with the Australian Army in the Second World War. I have a grandniece in the army and my grandnephew was in the air force.”
