HISTORY
The Bougainville campaign was a series of land and naval battles of the Pacific campaign of World War II between Allied forces and the Empire of Japan, named after the island of Bougainville. It was part of Operation Cartwheel, the Allied grand strategy in the South Pacific. The campaign took place in the Northern Solomons in two phases. The first phase, in which American troops landed and held the perimeter around the beachhead at Torokina, lasted from November 1943 through November 1944.
The second phase, in which primarily Australian troops went on the offensive, mopping up pockets of starving, isolated but still-determined Japanese, lasted from November 1944 until August 1945, when the last Japanese soldiers on the island surrendered. Operations during the final phase of the campaign saw the Australian forces advance north towards the Bonis Peninsula and south towards the main Japanese stronghold around Buin, although the war ended before these two enclaves were completely destroyed.
ITEM DESCRIPTION
WW2 JAPANESE TYPE 91 NAVAL LANDING FORCE HELMET BOUGANVILLE PICKUP
Purchased from South Australia is this semi-relic Japanese type 91Naval Landing Force Helmet. The helmet shell is in very good condition considering most of the helmets from the Islands have rusted out quickly indicating that this helmet would have been picked up at the time indicated on the tag that was affixed to the helmet giving the history of the helmet and states that it was picked up at Tarakina in Sept 1945. From 1944-45 Australian troops were mopping up the Japanese at Tarakina.
There is no liner to this helmet however the original studs and chinstrap rings are present and a quality replacement liner can be fitted. This helmet has historical importance.