Geoffrey Sherman Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Collingwood Sherman ( 6 April 1915 – 22 March 2009 ) was a Royal Marines officer , who as Chief - of - Staff to Lieutenant - General Boy Browning , organised the ceremony of the Japanese surrender of Singapore on 12 September 1945 . He later worked in West Africa and with British Aerospace . Royal Marines . " Berwick " . Sherman joined the Royal Marines on 1 September 1933 when he was commissioned as a probationary second lieutenant , and would serve in a variety of roles during his career , both on land and sea . He was promoted to acting lieutenant on 18 June 1936 , probationary lieutenant on 1 September 1936 , and confirmed in that rank on 18 December 1936 . He served on commanding her detachment in an overall force of 746 marines which in May 1940 invaded Iceland during Operation Fork . The force suffered from the conditions and seasickness , however his detachment managed to capture the post office of Reykjavík and secure several key documents . The force remained in the area for a short time before being relieved by 4 , 000 British Army personnel , and by 1941 by an American detachment . By November 1940 , Sherman and " Berwick " were detached to the Mediterranean , taking part in the battles of Taranto and Cape Spartivento . Sherman was wounded while commanding his marines in one of " Berwick " s turrets , while seven others were killed . Sherman continued to serve on the " Berwick " during its battle with a German commerce raider in December , and while it escorted convoys to Russia up until 1942 , whereupon Sherman left the ship . He was promoted acting major on 13 November 1942 . Africa , Italy and Singapore . Sherman was sent to the General Bernard Montgomery ' s Eighth Army in Egypt , taking part in Operation Baytown in September 1943 before being sent to Italy in 1944 to serve under Lieutenant - General Browning and Lord Louis Mountbatten , who was planning his Operation Zipper . Sherman arrived in Singapore and relieved the inmates of Changi ' s jails before being charged with setting up the currender ceremony for the local Japanese forces of General Seishirō Itagaki . Supervised by Lady Edwina Mountbatten throughout the ceremony where the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed , Sherman later retained possession of the Union Flag and Malayan flag used during the surrender ceremony , which had themselves been formerly used at the Tanglin barracks . Post - war career . After the end of the war , Sherman was posted to the Cabinet Office of the British government . He was promoted acting lieutenant colonel on 1 February 1946 , reverting to acting major on 18 November 1946 . He regained the acting rank of lieutenant colonel on 1 January 1948 , his substantive rank was still captain until 30 June 1948 when that was advanced to major . Eventually the injuries he sustained aboard HMS " Berwick " forced his retirement on 12 August 1950 . Moving to West Africa , he worked with a trading company in Nigeria , and later as a superintendent in the Nigerian Special Constabulary . He then returned to England , joining British Aerospace in 1970 . While there , he worked on the Panavia Tornado . Personal life and sporting career . Sherman married Evelyn in 1939 , remaining married to her for 70 years and having three children . His son Nicholas ' s godmother was the secretary to General Browning during the latter part of the Second World War . Sherman was also an active sportsman . He played cricket for the MCC and for Nigeria as a bowler and wicketkeeper . He also played rugby for Wasps and the Royal Navy . He also worked for the Samaritans in Blackpool , and worked with rifle associations in Bisley until his death in 2009 at the age of 93 . He died in West Sussex , England , and was survived by his two sons , daughter , wife ; Evelyn and 5 grandchildren .