Type 1938 Japanese Wound Badges

Type 1938 badge was established in two types on August 3, 1938: Type A /Kōshu - 甲種軍人傷痍記章/ badge for battle wounds and Type B /Otsushu - 乙種軍人傷痍記章/ for non-combat wounds or illness. Wound badges of old types were to be exchanged for the new type 1938.

Original line drawings of both types.

Both badges are approximately 31 x 31 mm in the form of a cross composed of traditional Japanese shields enameled red, with a pitted spear head in each of the four reentrant angles. The head of the Japanese hero Kusunoki Masashige https://asiamedals.info/threads/kus...-table-medal-and-watch-fob.24513/#post-351691 is on a center medallion. The reverse is plain with a double pin and the characters 軍人傷痍記章 - Gunjin Shōi Kishō /Military Wound Badge/ around the perimeter of the badge and either 甲種 - Kōshu /Type A/ or 乙種 - Otsushu /Type B/ in the center. Type A badge is completely gilded while type B badge is in silver with a gilded central medallion. Early badge were made by Mint in sterling silver. Late war badge were made in base metal.​

Original regulation and color scheme.

 

Early badges in pure silver with balsa cases.

Type A badge.

Inscriptions on cases for Type A /combat wounds/ badges made in gold and with silver for Type B badges.

軍人傷痍記章 - Military Wound Badge

Edge stamped with

春 /Haru/ - Spring

The other side of the lid bears stamp

造幣局製 - Made by Mint

 

Type B badge.

Sticker reads

元海軍大尉 - Former Navy Lieutenant

藤田忠寛 - Tadahiro Fujita

 

Early badges in pure silver with burgundy leatherette cases.

Type A badge.

 

Type B badge.

 

Late war badges in base metal with paper wrappers.

In most cases these late war badges (made in gilded/silvered copper alloy - tombac) are found without any cases or in a rarely survived paper wrapper.

Type A badge.

The easiest way to identify these late war badges visually is by using metal flows on reverse.

Inaccurate (and low-quality) soldering of the fastening is another stable feature of such badges.

 

Type A specimen with original paper wrapper.

Barely readable pressed out inscription

軍人傷痍記章 (甲) - Military Wound Badge (A)

 

Late war Type A badge with balsa case.

 

Late war Type A badge that lost its catching hook.

 

Late war Type B badge.

Specimen almost in mint condition but with with detached hook.

 

Type B that lost almost all its silvering.

 

Interesting outer cardboard case with stamp 廣島陸軍病院 - Hiroshima Army Hospital.