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Third China War Medal: CM.1177-2009

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Artist: Saulles, George W. de
Artist: Wyon, William
Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901)
Ruler: Victoria regina et imperatrix (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

The extent to which foreign powers appeared to be able to intervene in nineteenth-century China without effective opposition from the Imperial dynasty led to considerable resentment among the population. In 1897 Germany, Russia, Britain and France seized four Chinese ports on various pretexts and this, with more local situations providing flashpoints, sparked off a military uprising by a resistance group called the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists, known in the West as Boxers. Starting in 1898 foreigners and Christian Chinese were subjected to increasingly brutal persecution by the Boxers, whom the Imperial Government, in the hands of the Dowager Empress Cixi, were now supporting as useful tools to remove foreign powers from China. It took the Western powers some time to assemble a coalition force strong enough (mostly Japanese, but with contingents from Russia, Britain, France, the USA, Germany, Italy and Austro-Hungary as well as some Chinese) to relieve the foreign population of Beijing and finally suppress the rebellion.
The recipient of this medal was Private S. Smith of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (or 23rd Foot), and the bar represents his participation in the march from Tianjin to Beijing and the latter city's occupation (and pillage) by the coalition forces, events which effectively ended the war. The medal was purchased by Lester Watson at some point before 1928.

Notes

History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, bt before 1928

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 36 mm
Weight: 38.42 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2009) by Watson, Lester

Dating

Production date: AD 1902

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of Victoria facing left

  • Text: VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Collection of war trophies including a royal shield below palm tree

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1177-2009
Primary reference Number: 141271
Watson Catalogue: 63
Ordering: M-0060
Previous object number: LW.0060
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 15 January 2024 Last processed: Monday 15 January 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Third China War Medal" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141271 Accessed: 2024-11-22 06:50:57

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141271 |title=Third China War Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-22 06:50:57|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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