Size: case 106.7 x 57.9 x 21.7 / medal 29.2 x 77.8 x 2.0 mm
Weight: 23.75 g
Provenance: Private Collector, Japan, 2022
This bronze-plated zinc medal is the “1914-1915 First World War Medal,” as announced on November 5th, AD 1915, during 4th year of Taisho era. It comes with its original wooden storage case, featuring gold-stamped letters. Unfortunately, due to its age, the left third of the lid is damaged, revealing the white silk lining inside.
The medal is circular in shape. On the obverse side, it features the symbol of the Japanese emperor, the chrysanthemum crest, at the top. Below are the crossed flags of the Japanese Army and Navy, decorated with paulownia leaves and floral branches on both sides. The reverse side is engraved with the Japanese characters “Campaigns of the 3 and 4th year of the Taisho era.”
The medal is suspended by a swivel scroll suspension with claw that connects to a rectangular clasp with the inscription “Service Medal.” A decorative design of paulownia leaves adorns the suspension. The width of the ribbon is approximately 4 cm, with navy blue on the left and right sides, white in the middle, and a clip on the back.
In AD 1920, Japan established the “1914-1920 First World War Medal,” which largely follows the design of this medal.
The medal was awarded to all officers and soldiers who participated in the Qingdao Campaign in the 3rd year of the Taisho era (AD 1914). In AD 1914, when the First World War broke out in Europe as the main battlefield, although the Beiyang government of China declared neutrality immediately, the presence of foreign concessions in China inevitably drew the conflict into Chinese territory. A focal point of this involvement was the German-leased territory of Qingdao in Shandong.
On September 2, AD 1914, Japan, as a key ally of Britain in the Far East, dispatched its 18th Division, consisting of about 45,000 troops as the main force, to collaborate with the British forces in attacking the German-Austrian garrison of about 5,000 troops. The battle continued until September 28, during which the Japanese forces suffered nearly 800 casualties but achieved victory. Japan took advantage of this success to occupy German interests in Shandong, sparking subsequent disputes over Shandong sovereignty in the post-war period, which significantly impacted Chinese modern history, including the May Fourth Movement.
物件編號: M113
年代: 公元 1915 年
材質: 銅鍍鋅
尺寸: 盒 106.7 x 57.9 x 21.7 / 獎章 29.2 x 77.8 x 2.0 mm