JAPANESE SWORD, PAPER & INSIGNIA.
A standard Showa period Japanese army officers sword having an excellent blade with very minor scuffing and indentations to sharpened edge to lower section. Tang having a 9 character signature. All cloth binding to grip excellent with ray skin below in good bright undamaged condition. All other fittings of the standard army style. Some light corrosion to paintwork of scabbard. Pommel still fitted with its tassel ring. This sword was brought back to the United Kingdom from South East Asia at the end of WWII by Rifleman L.Smith, who served with the Rifle Brigade and No.5 Commando in South East Asia.

Paperwork comprises a hand written certificate of ownership, which reads ' Rifleman Smith.L. obtained this sword in action and as such is legally entitled to it.' signed by 'Commanding Officer, 5 Commando, Hong Kong, 4th January 1946.' A War Department driving license issued to Rifleman Smith, dated 1947/48. A slip of paper identifying the soldier as a rank of Commando.

A group photograph of 5 Commando in a jungle situation, all wearing berets, one carrying a captured Japanese flag, another laying on the floor carrying a Japanese sword. It has not been possible to identify whether this is Rifleman Smith. Various souvenir Japanese postcards and one newspaper. Accompanying the paperwork are four items of Japanese rank collar insignia, three Combined Operations red on blue shoulder patches, one printed Rifle Brigade shoulder title, two white on black Commando shoulder titles, a matched pair of 4th Armoured Brigade unit distinctions, being a black embroidered mouse with upswept tail on white background and finally a very rare pair of theatre made 5 Commando shoulder titles. Although worn as a pair, both titles are slightly different. An historical grouping brought back after WWII by one of the elite of Britain's fighting forces in the Far East theatre.