At the moment, one of the strands of this project I am concentrating on is the war brides – both Japanese and Korean, many of whom (I believe) have been incorrectly reported as Japanese. Though to be fair, I can see why. It’s possible that a number of women who married Australian soldiers – by and large having met them in Japan at BCOF or in and around Kure – are Zainichi kankokujin which literally translates as ethnic Koreans living in Japan. We mustn’t forget the 35-year occupation of Korea by Japan which has culminated in a deeply complicated and interwoven history between both countries. Accordingly many Korean women living in Japan will have assumed Japanese names. Surely a confusing scenario to Australian bureaucrats arranging the immigration paperwork, of which there was quite a number of hoops to jump through. The official record suggests around 650 ‘Japanese’ women came – mostly by ship – to Australia between 1953 and 1957.

The process was rigorous as can be seen in the immigration records of Myo Im Garrett – also known as Toshiko Yamashiro. It took 2 years for Richard to bring Myo Im out to Australia. The documentation is very interesting and charts the frustrating nature of red tape that both had to endure to get Myo Im to Australia. Finally in 1953, Myo Im arrived on the SS Taiping, landing in Sydney on 4th November 1956. Myo Im, subsequently married Richard Edward Garrett who served with 3RAR. She would be 88 this year and I am hopeful that she may still be alive, as might be her husband who would be 96 by now. Neither possibility is unfeasible. There is no indication of their passing on the Ryerson Index, nor on Trove. I had mistakenly thought that Richard may have died in 2016 but it turns out to be the wrong Richard Garrett! How amazing would it be if I was able to locate them!? I am literally working my way through the White Pages, so we shall see. But dear reader, get in touch if you may have any information….