Instituted in 1861 and issued to the British Army & Royal Navy personnel involved in actions against belligerent Chinese forces. Six clasps were authorised: China 1842 (rare), Fatshan 1857, Canton 1857, Taku Forts 1858, Taku Forts 1860 and Pekin 1860.
This war occurred as a result of Chinese resentment of the profusion of Opium entering the country, of which the Honourable East India Co. had the trading monopoly. This resentment (quite understandably) boiled over and acts of aggression towards Europeans became more widespread. The British merchantman Arrow was seized by the Chinese and this was the catalyst for armed response.
Around 60 vessels of the Royal Navy engaged and defeated 80 heavily armed junks at Fatshan Creek and Canton was captured by sailors & men of the 59th Foot (East Lancashire Regiment), the only British regiment present at that particular time. Peace was signed in June 1858 but the situation rapidly deteriorated when the British Envoy's flotilla was shelled on the Peiho River.
A joint force of 17,000 British & French troops was assembled and the Taku Forts were captured two years later. Pekin was occupied and, in what was seen by some as an act of wanton vandalism, the Imperial Summer Palace was sacked and torched, the ignorant British muppetry not realising the value of the jewels and ancient artwork they were looting & destroying.
__________________
There is a very fine line between hobby & mental illness.
Imagine if you will, a very large international company, say... the size of Microsoft, flooding your country with Class A narcotics... legally! That is precisely what the (dis)Honourable East India Company was doing in China. So it's easy to understand why Johnny Chink copped the right ol' arse. Still, you've got to hand it to the saucy buggers for dynamic enterprise, eh?
__________________
There is a very fine line between hobby & mental illness.
Yes, the navy ones are more commonly encountered. Most of the Victorian era campaign medals have already been covered on this Forum (as a search will show), although there are a few glaring absences, eg. New Zealand, Northwest Canada, Ashantee 1874, East & West Africa, Sutlej etc. I will, however, have to flog my arse 'down the docks' for a few more months yet to fund this sad obsession. Rest assured, I'm on the case, although I haven't quite reached the urine-drinking stage yet.
"Sixpence for a story!"
__________________
There is a very fine line between hobby & mental illness.
I am actively looking for a Sutlej Campaign Medal and a Punjab Campaign Medal. Not much luck.
I have a neighbor up the street who is from India. Here came from the Punjab. He is an Oncologist. Haven't been able to speak to him in a while but wonder if he could obtain Indian campaign medals from relations in India at a good price. don't know if old Victorian campaign medals are common there.
__________________
CCJ
Charles
Imperial German Field Grey Austrian Generals Pike Gray & Field Gray Uniform Items
Saxon Leibgrenadier Rgt 100 EM field gray shoulder straps
I don't know about 'common' per se, but they're certainly about. Ed Haynes is the cookie on this front.. Punjabs & Sutlej medals are not too difficult to come by, it's just a matter of where you're looking - and of course, how successful you are at Pier 12. US side, Historik Orders seems to have a good (if somewhat pricey) selection.
__________________
There is a very fine line between hobby & mental illness.
hi after looking at most of the threads that you hav eposted Tony i must admitt that i have taken a liking to the British Medals that you have posted.Hm might take it up as a side line
David F
Second China War Medal 1857-60
US side, Historik Orders seems to have a good (if somewhat pricey) selection.
Hybrid Mode
