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Thats interesting Reinhardt but there is no family myth, my father told me this story and gave me the sword just because i was interested. As far as I know he never told anyone else. There is little doubt in my mind that this sword was given to my GGGF by A Japanese Admiral. Whether that is Togo of course I wouldn't know. But the facts are clear. My GGGF was knighted by the King, he was Mayer of Plymouth and he held for a long time the positions of Consul for the Netherlands and Russia, and Vice-Consul for France and Spain. So the circumstantial evidence to support this quite Amazing story I heard is quite strong. I doubt very much it came into our family any other way. I have contacted my cousin on my mothers side as he lived and worked for many years in the British Embassy in Tokyo so with luck he might be able to point me in the right direction. I know absolutely nothing about this field so thanks for all the help and advice. I'm embarrassed I uploaded the Hilt upside-down! Remember that the sword was presented 100+ years ago, Its sat around getting dusty and rusty through two world wars so I would assume it was in rather better condition when it was given to him!! I have little doubt that in time more proof can be gathered though there is little I can find on-line. It really needs Japanese and Russian readers to find the story from their records. It must be possible to identify when the 2 fleets were in Plymouth and the King too!! Those aspects of the story surely must be traceable?! Presumably even the Medal he received from The Russian Admiral would have been noted down in records? As One gentleman pointed out, the personal sidearm worn by this Admiral would have been of a different type. So it wasnt that. But he 'was' the son of a Samurai... I dont know, all I know is what I was told and the supporting evidence from the historical records. But I have no doubt the story is essentially true, considering he must have heard it from his Mother; Madge Bellamy, who got it from her Father; Lt Col Arthur Bellamy, who inherited that from Sir Bellamy. Its great actually, I have encountered all sorts of new info from this posting. cheers. WRF Hornsby.

< News, The Times, Wednesday, Nov 09, 1904; pg. 10; Issue 37547; col A His Majesty has further been pleased to confer the honour of Knighthood upon - J. A. Bellamy, Esq. >> Admiral Togo was knighted but is that the same as the British Order of Merit ? or ... Supposedly a Russian Admiral was present in the story, JAB was knighted because he was the only Mayor[ex mayor] who could have translated in that role. Presumably though admiral Togo was Fluent in English? <>> My grandmother owned the house 'Plymstock' In St Margaret's at Cliff/ St Margerate's bay Kent. The house was requisitioned during the IIWW and all goods were locked away for the duration. A pic from The Togo Shrine.

Still, It nonetheless appears to me to have been given to my G G Grandfather by Admiral Togo! I wonder if the King knighted them both on the same occasion in 1904/5 or is that coincidence? The damage to the tip looks around 1.5mm Could do with some Japanese Historical Research for some of the details IMO. Russian perhaps as well?

I thought that might be the case, a box of gift swords! .. Im not certain of these dates of Knighting, He was Mayor, Then, though I know there are other memorabilia somewhere in the Family, I think the chain of office and a silver Model of a historic Plymouth building/memorial... My mother has My late Fathers family records and genealogy stretching back to 1600. Mounds of books and photos which I intend to digitise.

I have here Ren wax for my bagpipes! and Bore doctor oil but its natural not mineral.suitable? I recall my father saying that the meeting took place after the end of the Russian-Japanese war, But Im not sure how this would fit into the timeline. I note Togo Heihachiro was Knighted by the King In 1905. Could this truly be his sidearm?!

Thank you.Here are 2 pics from a Shell engraved with my Great Grandfathers record. So JAB was my great great grandfather. < DEATH OF LADY BELLAMY - The death took place at Plymouth, on Thursday, at the age of 63 years of LADY BELLAMY, wife of Sir Joseph A. Bellamy and daughter of the late Mr. William Saull Wills, of Plymouth. Lady Bellamy, who had been in failing health for some time, was highly esteemed in Plymouth, of which borough Sir Joseph was mayor in 1901-2, when the King visited the naval port.>> < MR. W.L. CARTER AND MISS D.A. BELLAMY The engagement is announced of Mr. Wilfred Lawrence Carter, elder son of the late Walter T. Carter and of Mrs. Carter, of Chulsa, Sydenham, and Doreen Avis, younger daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. A. Bellamy of Yelverton, Chartfield-avenue, Putney, and granddaughter of the late Sir Joseph A. Bellamy, Ht. Bach. of Plymouth, and the late Sir William T. Madge, 1st Bt., of St. Margaret’s Bay, Kent. Marriages, The Times, Tuesday, Jan 03, 1928; pg. 1; Issue 44780; col A CARTER : BELLAMY - On Dec. 31st 1927, at Brompton Parish Church, S.W., by the Vicar, the Rev Prebendary Gough, WILFRED LAWRENCE, elder son of the late WALTER T. CARTER, of Calcutta and Sydenham, and Mrs W. T. Carter, of Chulsa, Crystal Palace Park-road, Sydenham, to DOREEN AVIS, younger daughter of LIEUT.-COL. and Mrs. A. BELLAMY, of Yelverton, Chartfield-avenue, Putney, S.W.>> These were all cut from a genealogy site.Doreen was my grandmothers sister.

<> looks like his work as you say. Im not sure that the dinner would have been made public you know, What with the people and times like you say.It could be anytime around then I feel maybe as late as 1904, Murky times perhaps?

Yes a shame, It must have been in storage for years and the tip! I dont how that happened .Still quite a history to it eh? 1850. Id love to find out more about exactly when and where that meeting took place.

Thankyou.

This is the story handed down with the sword from my father; At the turn of last century, My great grandfather was Lord mayor of Plymouth; Sir Joseph Arthur Bellamy. Being a sailing man, he was Fluent in 5 Languages, Russian and Japanese being 2 of them. As Mayor of Plymouth he had occasion to host a dinner for The King of England and the Admirals of the Russian and Japanese Fleets which were in Plymouth Ho. As he was able to fluently translate for the three other gentlemen there The King Knighted him. The Russian Admiral gave him a medal which is lost. The Japanese Admiral gave him this sword. I presume these were Impromptu Gestures at the occasion. Now He was definitely lord mayor of Plymouth and a knight around 1901, more I can not say, the rest of the story is as I was told. [ correction, He was in fact Mayor rather than Lord Mayor]