Mikasa Preservation Society Badges (Z Flag Badges)/三笠保存会章 (Z旗章)

At the Battle of Tsushima on May 27, 1905, Admiral Tōgō raised a Z flag on his flagship Mikasa. By prearrangement, this flag flown alone meant, "The fate of the Empire rests on the outcome of this battle. Let each man do his utmost/The fate of the nation depends on this action. Let each man do his best!/皇国の興廃この一挙各員奮励努力せよ". Admiral Togo, who was a great admiral of Lord Nelson, wanted to emulate the British admiral's signal "England expects that every man will do his duty" flown a century before at the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.​

 

1st "early" variation.

Badge from pre-war period.

Reverse

此一戦 - [The Fate of the Empire] Depends on This Battle

三笠保存會 - Mikasa Preservation Society

 

2nd variation.

Reverse

三笠保存会 - Mikasa Preservation Society

 

3rd variation.

"Large K" subvariation.

Reverse marked K

三笠保存会- Mikasa Preservation Society

"Small K" subvariation.

 

4th variation.

 

Pin variation.