ID help on contents of a comfort bag

[Rod G]

Thanks Rod. Next time I visit Canada you can tell me how to get the pics the right way up!

If you find yourself in this neck of the woods I'd be happy to.

Tom is so right about needing clearer photos. I think this is ok... at least it'll give you some idea.

1st handwritten page in the booklet:
January 10, 1930 現役兵 active duty soldier in the 3rd Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, 4th Battery 人管
October 25th promoted to Artillery Private 1st Class
(From note on page 20 of techo) November 13, 1930, 帰休 returning home for a rest

Showa 7 (1932), 簡閲 Released from service
Showa 8 (1933) October 6th ...
Showa 9 (1934) Released from service
Showa 11 (1936) Released from service

The photo I posted as #2
Showa 12 (1937) Sept. 20
Showa 12 (1937) Sept. 27
Showa 12 (1937) Oct. 1 上海 Shanghai 上陸 disembarked

Cheers!

Rod

[taff]

Here are the photos of the remaining contents and the bag.
I’ll see what I can do Tom, for the better photos.

[taff]

Tom, you referred to the factory worker books: one has no handwritten texts but the other has a photo and lots of entries.

[imperialjapan]

Looking at the bag, the family name is certainly Sato.
By the way, if I remember correctly, Sato is the most common family name in Japan.

For those interested, in previous posts 伊藤 was written. The reading is Itoh, but this is not the name as seen on these documents.
This name is 佐藤, Satoh (Sato).
It is NOT 佑藤.

[Rod G]

Looking at the bag, the family name is certainly Sato. This name is 佐藤, Satoh (Sato). It is NOT 佑藤.

Thanks Imperialjapan, you are of course correct. That was my fault, the name on the bag sure makes it clear.

Rod

[GHP]

Thanks Rich!

Thanks Imperialjapan, you are of course correct. That was my fault, the name on the bag sure makes it clear.

Rod

AAARRGGGggggghhhhhhh! Rich is right -- it is Satō 佐藤!!!!
Yeah, regarding Itoh, I corrected my error ["pronounced the same as 伊藤"] with another error by saying it was 佑藤 Yuto.

Having two very close friends named 佐藤 Satō, one would think that I would have caught that right away.

Rich provides the net for we monkeys who have a habit of falling out of trees!

猿も木から落ちる
Saru mo ki kara ochiru!
Even monkeys fall from trees

-- Guy

[GeorgeP]

According to the booklet, he was at the Tachikawa Army Aviation Arsenal. He was in the airframe facility.

Tom

[taff]

Tom asked for crisper photos: I hope these are suitable (and the right way up!!)

Mike

[Rod G]

Much better!

Further to post #16:
Right side of photo:
Showa 12, 9, 20 (Sept. 20,1937) 動員完結 mobilization completed
Showa 12, 9, 27 (Sept. 27,1937) 神戸 Kobe 出(?) (出発) departure
Showa 12, 10, 1 (Oct. 1, 1937) 上海 = Shanghai 上陸 landing, disembarkation

[taff]

Many thanks to Tom, Rod and Guy for your great contributions. I hope other members enjoyed reading your translations and comments as much as I did.

Cheers
Mike

[Rod G]

You're welcome Mike. Some people like crossword puzzles but I think this is way more fun and relaxing.

Next 8/4 lines that follow the 3 from the right side of the page I posted yesterday. Corrections welcome!

自 Self: Sept. 1st
至 To: Oct. 1st 成 並 業 (incomplete)

自 From: Oct. 2nd
至 To: Oct. 27th 大塢鎭附近 ノ 戦闘 near Wuzhen ノ battle

自 From: Oct. 28th
至 To: Nov. 11th 南 並江 *橋鎭攻撃戦闘 Dashengqiao or Qingshanqiao, Hunan on the attack

自 From: Nov. 12th
至 To: Nov. 19th 迫撃戦闘並常 (?)城攻撃戦闘 Mortar combat on (?) castle

Cheers!

[Rod G]

自 from: Nov. 12th
至 to: Nov. 19th 迫撃戦闘並常 (?)城攻撃戦闘 mortar combat on (?) castle

Now I think 迫 is 追 making 迫撃 "mortar" into 追撃 "pursuit".

[GHP]

Now I think 迫 is 追 making 迫撃 "mortar" into 追撃 "pursuit".

Yes, 追撃 is pursuit.


There are two words for mortar ... and I do not know if they are light mortar or mortar cannon:
迫撃砲 Hakugekihō

臼砲 kyūhō

Maybe the distinguishing feature would be the caliber of the tube.


-- Guy

[Rod G]

There are two words for mortar ... and I do not know if they are light mortar or mortar cannon:
迫撃砲 Hakugekihō

臼砲 Kyūhō

Maybe the distinguishing feature would be the caliber of the tube.


-- Guy

Thanks Guy, I think you're right about the caliber. The Japanese had what we would call 'Trench Mortar' units, which were, I believe, the lighter of the two types.

Rod

[GeorgeP]

Here are a few more entries for the stamped pages:

Attack and garrisoning of Nanking

Garrsion duty at Bengbu

Battle notation at Xuzhou (although the May dates put this after the formal battle, I wonder if the troops were going after the massive numbers of Chinese soldiers who broke through the encirclement).

Few other pursuits, garrison, and advancement notations into 1939.

Thanks for sharing!

Tom