British Distinguished Service Cross awarded to Japanese Chief Petty Officer Mitsunobu Amino in 1919

On June 11, 1917, the Austro-Hungarian Navy submarine U-27 successfully torpedoed Japanese destroyer Sakaki. The attack tore off the destroyer's bow and resulted in heavy casualties, killing dozens of Japanese officers and sailors. Despite the devastating damage, the Sakaki did not sink. The crew fought the damage and the ship was eventually towed to port for repairs. Chief Petty Officer /海軍上等兵曹/ Mitsunobu Amino /網野光信/ who from the Spring of 1917 served on the destroyer Kashiwa, and at the end of June was transferred to the destroyer Sasaki. By the time of the transfer, Sasaki was already undergoing repairs in Malta after being torpedoed by an Austro-Hungarian submarine in early June. In 1919 he was awarded with DSC.​

Private collection. Photos courtesy of the owner.

Cross was made in 1918 by Garrard /"SG" for Sebastian Garrard/.

Original case.

 

外國記章 - Foreign Award

佩用 - Wearing

免許證 - Certificate

was issued to Chief Petty Officer Mitsunobu Amino on June 17, 1919.

 

Sakaki (榊, "Sakaki Tree" Cleyera japonica) was one of 10 Kaba-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War I. While part of the Imperial Japanese 2nd Special Squadron helping Allies patrol in the Mediterranean Sakaki was torpedoed by the Austro-Hungarian submarine U-27 on 11 June 1917 in the Aegean Sea between Greece and Crete with the loss of 68 of her 92 ratings, including her commander.

Japanese sailors bringing ashore boxes containing the cremated remains of the dead.

Later Sakaki was salvaged and repaired.
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Sasaki (near Matsu) undergoing repairs in Malta, July 1918.

The Japanese Naval Memorial at Kalkara Naval Cemetery in Malta commemorates the casualties of the attack.
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Sakaki was stricken from the navy list in November 1931, decommissioned on 1 April 1932 and subsequently broken up.​

 

 

Complete list of British awards that were issued to Japanese sailors on June 17, 1919.

 

Ribbon bar of Mitsunobu Amino /note DSC ribbon/.

 

Mitsunobu Amino took part in the Russo-Japanese War and on April 1, 1906 was awarded 8th class Rising Sun order.

 

On November 1, 1920 Mitsunobu Amino was awarded 6th class Rising Sun order for the WW1.

Order was made by Shobido workshop and marked with 美 on the edge of suspension https://asiamedals.info/threads/mark-on-japanese-orders-who-and-when.25816/.

 

Original document.