Description
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You are bidding on a SUPERB and VERY RARE example of a WW2 Imperial Japanese Army 1939 Pattern Marksmanship Company Honor Banner!
After the original Marksmanship Honor Banners were discontinued in 1929, it was revived in 1939. The design was changed slightly, to signify the need for all-round weapon skills. It was also presented to the best Company, instead of the best Regiment. Every year, Infantry Regiments were to hold a Special Shooting Match (????????) for each training season and the Regimental Commander was to select the company with the highest total scores for awarding the Marksmanship Honor Banner (?????). The match consisted of shooting skills with Rifles, Light machine guns and Heavy Mortars as well as Hand Grenade throwing accuracy.
Unlike the former practice (1911-1929) of making it an intra-division competition between regiments, the matches were now carried out as intra-regiment competitions between companies. The commander of the victorious company received the flag from the regimental commander in the presence of the entire regiment along with a citation addressed to the company. The banner was held by that company until the following year’s match.
The banner was to be displayed at ceremonies and field maneuvers in which the company participated. For those outings of the banner, the company commander was to assign a NCO or a Private First Class as bearer. The pole of the banner could be attached to the rifle for carrying and could be furled up and concealed in a protective cover when needed.
Manufactured in a lightweight silk, this is a VERY RARE flag, not commonly seen on the market. Some wear and marks due to age, but that is expected. Representing all-round weapon skills, with the depiction of a Crossed Rifle and Light Machine Gun atop a Chrysanthemum, the colors are still VERY vibrant! Sadly, the material has deteriorated over time, so this is VERY fragile. Probably needs to be conserved. It comes complete on the ORIGINAL flag pole, which you also never see! Brought back by a US Serviceman, it would make a PERFECT addition to any collection or display! Please email me if you need additional photos or information. |
