Gensui

I have certain amount of photos, but not allowed to post here (there are in the use of my PhD and I am not allowed to publish them before finishing my PhD) Enjoy! Chris

...some more

...further

...and this is the POW camp Narashino, approx. 10 years later, after the German former Tsingtao-members were imprisoned:

Nick, Great to see some photos of "my" Narashino camp during/after the russo-japanese war. Once back home, I may show some photos of the POW camp Narashino, how it looked like 10 years later BTW, do you have any (written) sources about the "daily Russian life" in the POW camp Narashino? E.g. how they were treated, how long they stayed, etc. BR, Chris

Never saw before - very interesting, Mickey!

I would prefer my own gallery... Nice pieces, Nick!

Looks a little bit hand-made /hand-engraved?! Personal "signature" of the sailor? BR, Chris

No need for better pics, Dieter! I'll take it as it is! *kidding*

A nice piece, Dieter! Thanks for showing! BR, Chris

Ok guys, I’ll give it a try. Please don’t count my mistakes – if you find them, keep smiling “Beware of fake? To underline in the beginning: the following points are not a statement on the issue, fake or not? There was an article in the last edition of the [German magazine] Orden und Ehrenzeichen (“OuE”) about a supposedly fake of an aux badge. Sascha Weber was asked to prepare an expertise for a Japanese made badge with the STERLING mark. In the opinion of various experts and confirmation of an owner of three of these awards Sascha Weber was sure about the authenticity of this badge. Because an auction house had doubts about the authenticity of this badge, Sasach immediately revised his positive assessment. An Institute for Materials Testing noted, that this badge was made out of copper (contains 83.47%) and NOT out of sterling (which needs to contain min. 92.5% silver). Weber said that the old term Sterling means only, that a piece should be made of silver with 925 parts per 1000. According to the German law of fineness of the gold and silver product, Japanese sterling silver hallmark. The article completely ignored the fact, , that – due to the change of the metric system in Japan - from the late 1920s until mid-1950s any pieces were hallmarked with STERLING 950 and not/rarely with 925. […] It is nonsense to believe, that a hallmark/stamp guarantees the contents of 92.5% silver. Weber exclusively argued with the alleged truth of the hallmark of if the badge is an authentic of faked piece. According to the materials analysis this badge consists mainly of copper and have only 2.15% silver. Nor Sascha Weber or anybody else have done any checking/proofing, if the Japanese made aux badge really contains/was made with/out of 925/1000 silver. And we even don’t know, if the Japanese-made aux badge were actually made from 925/1000 silver. Without any proof, Webers arguments are valueless. The article or expertise not even met the formal requirements of such work. Weber finished with realising , “Learning from mistakes”. But the author [of this article] has doubts about Weber’s ability to learn from any mistakes, as shown in Weber’s book about the Kriegsmarine awards. Weber alleged an argument that the war badges with diamonds are made from ferrous metal and not in silver.“ BR and thanks for smiling all the time In haste, Chris

Hi Martin, I cross a finger for you as well! We'll see, if there will be some enlightenment from "first sources"... BR, Chris

According to the regulation, each aux-member fulfills the requirements of getting the auxiliary war badge after one / the first voyage. As far as I know, each aux-member received their badge during the first voyage. I can imagine, that – for that reasons, John showed – some crew members started to “deal” with their badges (uniforms, equipment, etc.). I wouldn’t wonder if there is the possibility of “exchanging” the ordinary, “salty” badge against a more valuable and “shiny” version (made of sterling?). But as time is running, there aren’t many fellows to ask unfortunately… BR, Chris

It's a fair price IMO!

Absolutely great overview Nick! Highly appreciate! It was always a big questionmark, why so many different variations exist. To the question of the fitting. I personally think, that Japanese maker tried to be "as realistic as possible" to the origin/official (German) one and no japanese fittings (Needles( Hooks) were allowed. BR, Chris

Hi Eddie, Well, with some patience, the Aviso Grille tally shows up from time to time. But it's true. With approx. 248 complements, not a "mass-produced good". BR, Chris

Thanks, Brian! BR, Chris

Too bad, the ribbon is missing

Hi Martin, I'm trying to get some further information from my research in Japanese archives. But I don't expect any success. If any of these decorations are made privately (e.g. any jeweler), it'll be impossible to find out some trustful information... BR, Chris

Hi Martin, Please find attached a similar medal, which my contact received (in deed!) in Singapore, and not in Japan. This medal was shown at the WAF (http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=420435&page=2) – courtesy of user “Collani” The Japanese writing on the back-side mentioned (from right to left) “INDO YOU” (Japanese for Pacific Ocean). I remember a couple of years ago, the German military dealer Weitze offered a similar medal for approx. 2,000 Euro / 1,700 brit. Pound. BR, Chris

Hi Martin, A beautiful item - for sure! Do you know any sources, e.g. who's saying the story about the jeweller in Yokohama? Intersting point might be the question, what about the Japanese made Iron Cross and the commemorative medal for the u-boat members (e.g. the so-called Monsum-boats). BR, Chris

Gents, Do you have any information about the maker of these (Japanese made?) Aux badge? BR, Chris

*off-topic* Nick, sometimes your contacts and material“sources“ really scares me … Kidding...

Or simply date of issuance / hand-over (purchase date?) to the holder?