Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is a fantastic piece of WWII Japanese Naval history! This flag, which was acquired from a recent large military show, was sold by Bonhams Auction 2 years ago for $1,020.00, making this a fantastic deal and an opportunity to add this rare Japanese flag to your collection!

The link to the original 2021 auction can be found here: IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY.

This flag, which was allegedly handed over by the Japanese Captain after he surrendered his vessel in 1945, is offered in wonderful condition. This white linen flag features a central red five pointed star sewn into the center, with two rows of blue “chevrons” on each side. Towards the hoist side, which is an elongated pocket/sleeve, features a mixture of new and old style Kanji that reads as ペラ州 船第柒佰参拾一号 (Pera-shu Fune Dai Nana-Hyaku San-Juu Ichi-go). This translates to “ Perak River Region Boat Number 731”. The use of the older style number Kanji would have been from the writer hoping for a more "classic" look to the flag.

This flag would have been a “squadron” flag for the Perak (Malaysia) Boat Squadron and was more than likely flown on a Japanese high-powered PT Boat operating in Malaysian waters. The flag was captured and given by the Captain of the PT Boat in the Malacca Straits by an English Captain when the vessel surrendered in 1945. This flag was purportedly captured during Operation Jurist, the British recapture of Penang, Malaya in August 1945.

The war museum acquired this flag from an English collector in the 1980s, or it was purchased directly from the widow of the above mentioned British Captain, but it is unclear on the provenance.

This is a wonderful flag, full of research potential. Comes more than ready for further research and display.

Operation Jurist referred to the British recapture of Penang following Japan's surrender in 1945. Jurist was launched as part of Operation Zipper, the overall British plan to liberate Malaya, including Singapore.

While a larger Allied fleet sailed on to Singapore through the Malacca Strait under Operation Tiderace, a detachment of Royal Navy warships, led by Vice Admiral Harold Walker, moved towards Penang Island, arriving off the island on 28 August 1945. The Japanese garrison in Penang surrendered on 2 September and a party of Royal Marine commandos landed on Penang Island the following day, thus returning Penang to British rule.

Consequently, Penang became the first state in Malaya to be liberated by the British; Singapore would only be formally surrendered to the British on 12 September, while the rest of Malaya was subsequently liberated in the following weeks.