Battleship HIJMS Katori
This is just a bit larger than a postcard, which features the lead ship of the two Katori Class pre-dreadnought battleships, and the last to be built by Great Britain for the Imperial Japanese Navy. The ship was ordered just prior to the start of the Russo-Japanese war and was completed a year after its end. The ship did not see combat during WW1 but was present when Japan joined the Siberian Intervention in 1918.
What makes this card a little more interesting than just a postcard of a battleship, is that it features a piece of purple ribbon at the top, and a rather extravagant menu on the reverse, which also features the Imperial Seal. In a Naval Review off Yokosuka on 10 November 1913, she served as the Flagship for Emperor Taisho. On 3 March 1921, escorted by Kashima, Katori departed Yokohama bound for Great Britain carrying Crown Prince Hirohito, who was the first Crown Prince to travel abroad. The ships arrived at Portsmouth on 9 May, and Hirohito left the ship to tour Europe. He re-boarded Katori several months later in Naples for the voyage back to Japan.
I imagine that this card may have been purposed for one of these two Imperial events?
.
Bookmarks