Japanese Awards - 1914-15 War Medal

[Gordon Williamson]

Awarded to Japanese troops who fought alongside the British to capture the German port of Tsingtao and to Japanese Naval Forces who captured German ports in the South Seas. Instituted 6 November 1915.

[Gordon Williamson]

Obverse - As usual the Bar reads "War Medal"

[Gordon Williamson]

Reverse. Kanji read "Taisho 3rd - 4th Years War"

[Berzotti*]

Gordon,

Congratulations for the great exemplary!

It follows my medal, some information: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=3252

Thanks all

[kunsho]

In 1997 I wrote an article in the German OMM Nr. 81 about the Japanese siege of Tsingtau and specially about this medal (very impressive little piece of modern Japanese war history).

Because of the rotating system of the Japanese units, the number of awarded medals should be between 60.000 to 65.000 awards. The largest number were surely awarded to the 29. Jap. Inf. Brigade (Gen. Johoji), the 23. Jap. Brigade (Gen. Horiuchi) and the 24. Jap. Brigade (Gen. Yamada).

Regards

Matthias

[Paul L Murphy]

In 1997 I wrote an article in the German OMM Nr. 81 about the Japanese siege of Tsingtau and specially about this medal (very impressive little piece of modern Japanese war history).

Because of the rotating system of the Japanese units, the number of awarded medals should be between 60.000 to 65.000 awards. The largest number were surely awarded to the 29. Jap. Inf. Brigade (Gen. Johoji), the 23. Jap. Brigade (Gen. Horiuchi) and the 24. Jap. Brigade (Gen. Yamada).

Regards

Matthias

The numbers awarded were actually a lot higher. The highest numbered award certificate I have found for this medal was 136,512. All of these medals were awarded on 7th November 1915 and they covered more than just the fighting in Tsingtao (although this was the larger engagement). Unfortunately the medal rolls were destroyed in WWII but the certificates for each medal are numbered and each medal roll starts at 1 and works forward. Hence, there were at least 136,512 of these handed out.

Best regards,

Paul

[kunsho]

My document is the number 24498. The more recent findings have overtaken my 1997 knowledge :-) Thanks Paul for this correction. However, about "only" 60,000 Japanese soldiers were direcly involved in this conflict.

Best regards

Matthias