Gordon Williamson Posted August 30, 2005 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gordon Williamson Posted August 30, 2005 Obverse - As usual the Bar reads "War Medal" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gordon Williamson Posted August 30, 2005 Reverse. Kanji read "Taisho 3rd - 4th Years War" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Berzotti* Posted January 4, 2007 Gordon, Congratulations for the great exemplary! It follows my medal, some information: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=3252 Thanks all Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kunsho Posted April 28, 2008 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).RegardsMatthias Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paul L Murphy Posted April 28, 2008 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).RegardsMatthiasThe 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kunsho Posted April 28, 2008 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 regardsMatthias Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
