Nine of the twelve members of 2nd Advance Sig Park unit, in Kure, Japan, circa 1946. Merv Kay is on the back left.

The B.C.O.F. buildings in Kure, Japan with a view of Iwo Jima across the sea. Heavy snow on the pitched roofs created a venue for snowboarding to entertain the troops.

B.C.O.F. work group in Kure, Japan, circa 1946.

The aftermath of the atomic bomb, photograph of Hiroshima taken by Merv Kay, circa 1946.

Photograph of Hiroshima taken by Merv Kay, circa 1946. The church seen in the bottom right was used to store provisions after the bombing.

Photograph of Hiroshima taken by Merv Kay, circa 1946.

Japanese cemetery near Kure, Japan, circa 1946. The coffins in this cemetery are positioned vertically.

Japanese fishing boats, circa 1946. The smaller boats bring their catch to the larger cooking boat, where the fish are boiled in salt water and then laid to dry on straw mats beside the road. Women on the beach clean the cane fish baskets.

Japanese Occupation currency during WWII.

B.C.O.F. Kure, Japan, 1946

A view of a Kure, Japan, showing one of many tunnels in Japan which are built to spare the space on top for agriculture.

Merv Kay with Japanese workers packing goods for return to Australia, Kure, Japan, circa 1946.

Merv Kay having a bit of fun dressing up as a Geisha girl in Japan, circa 1946.

Merv Kay joking around in a crate while serving in the B.C.O.F, Kure, Japan. 1946.

Merv Kay at the wheel of a battery operated trolley in Kure, Japan, while serving with the B.C.O.F. circa 1946.

Merv Kay and his mate Ted Harper at Iwo Jima, Japan, circa 1946. The monument in the background is a Torii – Gateway to the Sea Gods.

Merv Kay seated at the controls of a Peters Crane, in Kure, Japan, 1946.

Merv Kay clowning around by the B.C.O.F. Signals sign, Kure, Japan, circa 1947.

Merv Kay with a truckload of radio transmitter valves. Some of these were almost as high as a man and were packed individually in crates, cushioned  with coil springs on all sides to absorb shock during transport, Kure, Japan, circa 1946.

The seaport of Nagasaki after the dropping of the Atom Bomg on 9th August, 1945.

Japanese postcard of Mt Fuji, circa 1946.

“B.C.O.F. troops drawn up on the wharf before boarding the troopship “Manoora” for Japan. They were mostly new recruits, but here and there were men wearing the ribbons of famous A.I.F. campaigns. ”

News clipping courtesy of Merv Kay.

This young lady’s quarters are nearby to the B.C.O.F. barracks in Kure, Japan, 1946. The two signs in the windows read “OUT OF BOUNDS”.