**SOLD**

Offered is an original 1842 China Campaign medal. 36mm wide circular silver medal with fixed ribbon bar; the face with the young head of Queen Victoria circumscribed ‘VICTORIA REGINA’ (Victoria Queen); the reverse with a trophy of arms around a palm tree, a shield bearing the royal arms in the foreground, circumscribed above ‘ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM’ (Latin = they demanded peace by force of arms), inscribed below ‘CHINA’ and dated ‘1842’. Correct impressed named to rim * * * RICHARD JANES, 98TH REGIMENT FOOT. * * * *; on correct ribbon.

In 1841 the 98th Regiment of Foot (Prince of Wales's) Regiment moved to Ireland but very shortly afterwards was sent to China during the First Opium War. Arriving in Hong Kong in 1842 it formed part of the 1st Brigade, commanded by Major General Lord Saltoun, along with the 26th Foot, the Bengal Volunteer Battalion and the grenadier and light companies of the 41st Madras Native Infantry. The brigade advanced on Chinkiang and after an ineffective pursuit of retreating Chinese forces took part in the final advance on Nanking. During the war very few battle casualties were taken but over 50 died from cholera with over 200 unfit for duty. As a result of its participation in the war, the regiment was awarded its first battle honour "The DRAGON superscribed CHINA". A move to Hong Kong followed where the appalling death rate from disease continued with over 500 dying and sick.
The medal was instituted in January 1843 to be awarded to Army and Royal Navy personnel who took part in the First Anglo-Chinese War (often known as the First Opium War) between 1839 and 1842 that forced China to accept free trade, including that in opium, and the cession of Hong Kong.