At Municipal Hall, Singapore, Japanese officers led by General Itagaki formally surrender all forces in south east Asia to Lord Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander of South East Asia Command.

Lord Mountbatten arrives by staff car at Municipal Hall. A large number of troops are on parade with flags flying and bands playing. Mountbatten inspects troops. Flypast of Allied aircraft, including RAF De Havilland Mosquitos and Short Sunderland flying boats. Mountbatten inspects men of the RAF Regiment before entering Municipal Hall with other senior officers. The Japanese delegation is escorted into the building. Interior shots; Mountbatten and his senior subordinates sit at a long table. He is flanked by Lieutenant-General Browning (his Chief of Staff) on his right and Lieutenant-General Slim, commander Allied Land Forces South East Asia (ALFSEA). The Japanese delegation takes seats opposite them, led by General Seishiro Itagaki, commander of Seventh Area Army. Mountbatten reads the terms of surrender. Other officers, officials and civilian correspondents watching proceedings. Itagaki signs the instrument of surrender before stamping the document with his seal. Outside Municipal Hall Mountbatten addresses the parade. Various views of the above taken by other cameramen.

Notes

Itagaki was signing the surrender on the behalf of Field Marshal Count Hisaichi Terauchi, commander of Japanese forces in south east Asia. Terauchi had been disabled by a stroke in May 1945, and would die of a second stroke while a prisoner of war in June 1946. Itagaki would be convicted of war crimes and was hanged in Tokyo in December 1948.

Given the importance of this occasion proceedings were filmed from several angles. This film therefore is somewhat repetitious. For coverage by British Army cameramen, see related items.

Still photographs available at references below.