These items were all recently discovered during a house clearance, the grouping consists of a Japanese helmet, Prayer/Good luck flag with family, friends and shrine blessings, a pair of glasses, a water canteen and a Japanese dog tag. These items were more than likely all taken as trophies from one soldier, maybe during the Burma campaign.

The Burma campaign was a series of battles fought in the British colony of Burma. It was part of the South-East Asian theatre of World War II and primarily involved forces of the Allies against the invading forces of the Empire of Japan. It started 14th December 1941 and ended August 1945.

Upon signing up for wartime military service, or when deploying overseas, many Japanese soldiers were presented with these personalised flag mementoes by their families and friends. Good-luck flags marked the beginning of a soldier’s military journey and were adorned with messages wishing them success in their endeavours. They were objects of real sentimental value to the soldier recipients, and served as emotive reminders of their loved ones and homes. These flags stand in a long tradition of soldiers' lucky charms. Superstitious belief in the power of objects to bring luck or ward off danger has been prevalent throughout the ages and among soldiers of all nations.

Hope, victory and luck. Usually, a good-luck flag would contain the name of the recipient on the right-hand side. Names of friends and family members or the organisation that presented the flag often radiated from the centre. Alongside this, there would also be messages of hope, victory and good luck, as well as popular wartime patriotic slogans. These slogans were sometimes larger than the other characters.