I SERVED in the British army as a national serviceman, and was in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture in 1954. In 1990, I met a young Japanese woman who, upon returning home, contacted the Kure City Hall. That prompted a letter from Professor Takeshi Chida, h

I SERVED in the British army as a national serviceman, and was in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture in 1954.

In 1990, I met a young Japanese woman who, upon returning home, contacted the Kure City Hall.

That prompted a letter from Professor Takeshi Chida, head of Kure Council History Library, asking if I could locate any other ex-British servicemen who had served in that area.

He wanted to obtain their memories of their time out there, borrow any photographs and other memorabilia for copying into the city archives.

I have now been carrying out this research for 17 years, resulting in 719 ex-servicemen being found.

It is probable that there are other ex-army, navy, or air force men living in the Barking and Dagenham areas who served in Kure from 1945-1956.

Any material loaned to the library is always returned.

Wilf Aldridge

43 Armstrong Road

Thorpe, Norwich, NR7 9LJ

01603 433259