IJN Flag

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, this has come into work. Brought home by a British Royal Marine. I have not seen anything like it before. Size is 175cm x 82cm. As you can see condition is not great.

Any ideas please?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers, Ade.

[ghp95134]

Hi Ade,

I'm not sure what it is ... maybe a maintenance squaddie's handkerchief?
[Edit: okay, so I'm still on the imperial measurement system!! Big hanky if it is 2.7ft x 5ft]

必勝
Hisshou
Assured Victory; Victory!

二分隊

Cheers,
-- Guy
Ni Buntai
2nd Squad

[Akira Komiya]

Since there is a spanner representing the engineering branch “機関科- Kikanka” on the left of the anchor and a pair of dividers representing the shipwrights branch “工作科- Kousakuka” on the right of the anchor, I believe the banner has to have had something to do with a school or training course where sailors from both branches trained together.
My guess is that it was from one of the classes of Navy Boot Camp “海兵団- Kaiheidan” graduating in late 1938. Unlike the Army which assigned individual recruits straight to depot units for training, the Navy first trained all recruits collectively before assigning them to individual shore/ sea assignments at training centers, “海兵団- Kaiheidan”. Originally, there were 2 courses each year for conscripts each lasting 4 months and a separate course for volunteers lasting 6 months though the lengths of the courses got cut shorter with the increasing demands for sailors.
The trainees were formed into “分隊- buntai, squads” of recruits belonging to the same branch.
The shipwrights, those engaged in carpentry, welding, damage control and diving to repair ships, were originally part of the engineering branch until September 20, 1938 when they became a separate branch so it is plausible that those going on to the shipwrights’ career would have trained in the same squad as those going on to the engineering career in the same squad in 1938.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Thank both very much!