Execution of Japanese War Criminals

Execution of Japanese War Criminals

Australian Provost involvement

AMF Instruction, HQ Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, dated 25 February 1946. Courtesy RACMP Museum

General

The execution of Japanese War Criminals sentenced to death by an Australian Military Court convened under the War Crimes Act 1945 will be carried out by the AMF on the Authority of an Execution Warrant issued by the Acting Commander-in-Chief or Adjutant-General AMF. Such warrants will be issued only after review of every sentence of death, whether a petition has been presented or not, by either the Acting Commander-in-Chief or Adjutant-General.

The Procession to the Scaffold

When the criminal is pinioned and his neck bared, he should at once be conducted to the scaffold, the officer in charge and medical officer proceeding with the senior Provost, two Provosts at the criminal's side, and the executioner following with such force of Provosts as may be deemed requisite.