Today New Zealanders who served in Jayforce were honoured at their first National Commemoration at Pukeahu, and subsequently at an afternoon tea at Government House.
Jayforce personnel served in the occupying forces in post-war Japan, and today marks 75 years since the first contingent arrived from Italy. Subsequent contingents included volunteers from New Zealand. During their time in Japan, the New Zealanders assisted with demilitarisation, repatriation of Korean nationals to Korea, the supervision of returning Japanese prisoners of war and an election where Japanese women voted for the first time.
On their return to New Zealand, the Jayforce veterans received little recognition. It was not until the 1960s that they could join the RSA, and they finally received their service medals in the 1990s.
