Item number: M113

Year: AD 1915

Material: Bronze-plated zinc

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

重量: 23.75 g

來源: 日本私人收藏 2022

該銅鍍鋅獎章為日本大正4年(公元1915年) 11月5日布告的「大正三四年從軍記章」，並附有原版燙金字的木製收納盒。惜因年代久遠，盒蓋左半部三分之一已經毀損，清楚可見內部的白絲絨內襯。

獎章外觀為圓形。獎章正面的上方有象徵日本天皇的菊紋章，下方則是交錯的日本陸軍聯隊旗及海軍軍艦旗，兩側以桐葉和花枝裝飾。獎章背面以日本漢字刻有「大正三四年戰役」字樣。獎章以帶爪螺旋式懸掛連接「從軍記章」字樣的方型銘條，並以桂葉作為懸掛雕飾。綬帶寬度約為四公分(一寸二分)，左右為紺青色，中間為白色，背面還有一別扣。公元1920年，日本新設立的「大正三年乃至九年戰役從軍記章」大抵沿襲此獎章的設計。

此獎章授予大正3年(公元1914年)參與青島戰役的全體官兵。公元1914年，當第一次世界大戰於歐洲主戰場爆發時，雖然中國北洋政府在第一時間宣布中立立場。但是列強在中國林立的租界，使戰火仍無可避免地波及到中國，其中以德國在山東的青島租界為重點。公元1914年9月2日，日本作為英國在遠東的重要盟友，派遣第18師團為主力的4.5萬人協同英軍，對總計5000餘人的德奧守軍發動攻擊。戰事進行至9月28日，日軍付出近800人陣亡代價得到勝利。日本也趁隙佔據德國在山東的利益，引發戰後索要山東主權的爭議，和深切影響中國近代史的五四運動。