Japan Interesting WW1 VIC medal document

[fukuoka]

For your consideration is this WW1 Vic Medal award document. At first glance, it appears to be a regular certificate.

[fukuoka]

However, let us look closely. First, the date: Taisho 3 [1914] November 6! Before this medal was established. The hand-inscribed parts are the numerals and also the final kanji meaning 'day.'

Edited June 27, 2013 by fukuoka

[fukuoka]

Puzzling... Looking at the left half, we can see the award number: 161,944, quite high.

[fukuoka]

Then I looked at the signatures and found that the Decorations Bureau president was not Kodama Hideo, as on all the other VIC documents (dated Taisho 8 and 9). The name was Ogimachi Sanemasa. He served twice in this position, once from February 1909 to Sept 1918, and then again from Dec 1921 to June 1923. (see my newsletter issue 11 for a full list!)

So he was in this office in 1913, but still the fact that this medal wasn't even established yet casts doubt on the date.

What can be the answer? My guess is that the inscribed meant to write the date as Taisho 13 (forgetting the kanji for 10). This would be 1921, still an unusual date for getting the medal but not unthinkable.

[fukuoka]

Finally, if this is indeed a later document, they may have had to redesign it. The reason I say this is because of the medal design drawing at the bottom. The figure is a bit thicker, fatter than that on the T8-9 docs. Anyway, an interesting example. Any other comments or ideas?

Edited June 27, 2013 by fukuoka

[JapanX]

Mistake of the clerk?

Slip of the brush :)

[fukuoka]

Probably a slip. Even so, it is rare (I think) to find a doc dated after Taisho 9.

[JapanX]

What can be the answer? My guess is that the inscribed meant to write the date as Taisho 13 (forgetting the kanji for 10). This would be 1921, still an unusual date for getting the medal but not unthinkable.

Completely agree!

P.S. Your posting is still too fast for me Rich

[JapanX]

Even so, it is rare (I think) to find a doc dated after Taisho 9.

Indeed!

P.S. Creeping along at a snail's pace :whistle: