PRE WW1 BRITISH NAVY 1842 CHINA OPIUM WAR CAMPAIGN MEDAL HMS BLONDE

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 * * * HENRY ELLIOTT, H.M.S. BLONDE. * * * *; an edge knock to face in between HMS; on original ribbon.

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.

The following extract charts the actions of H.M.S. Blonde during the 1st Opium War of 1842 (www.worldnavalships.com)

1842

January – At Hong Kong

January to March – At Chusan

March – in action at Ningpo/Chingae: supported landings and landed armed parties. On 15th March, Blonde suffered one seaman and one marine killed, one marine wounded in action

Clowes - 10th March – “An attempt was made to surprise Chinhae, where Colonel Schoedde, of the 55th Regiment, commanded; but the Chinese were easily driven back, and the fire-rafts, which, there as at Ningpo, were floated down the stream, were dealt with by the boats of the Blonde and Hyacinth. Chusan was to have been attacked at about the same date, but news of the project reached Parker, who sent the Nemesis to Taishan, where the Chinese, who had gathered for the adventure, were dispersed, and several junks were burnt”.

Admiral Parker reported – “Cornwallis, at Chusan, March 11th 1842:- “sir, I have much satisfaction in transmitting, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, copies of letters from Captain Bourchier commanding the squadron within the Yung-Keang river and Commanders Watson and Morshead, reporting the severe repulse of the Chinese in attacks made simultaneously on the positions of the combined forces at Chinhae and Ningpo yesterday morning”.

Captain Bourchier writing from the Blonde - “For some days past various reports had been spread that it was the intention to attack her Majesty’s forces at Chinhae and Ningpo and at 4 in the morning of the 10th inst., 10 fire vessels were discovered coming down the river to attempt the destruction of her Majesty’s ships and transports at this anchorage. Commander Goldsmith, with the boats from Hyacinth and of this ship (employed in the boats from Blonde, Mates Rolland and Hamilton with Midshipman Lambert) under Lieutenant Dolling, dashed at them and drove them of shore, where they exploded without injuring the shipping. During the performance of this service afloat, an attack was made on the western gate of Chinhae, on hearing the fire, the marines of this ship , under Lieutenant Hewitt were immediately landed to support the garrison, this support was not needed as the enemy had been repulsed with great loss”. An attack was also made on Nangpo which included fire-rafts. The fire rafts being dealt with by boats from the Modeste and Sesostris.

Clowes:- “Sir Hugh Gough at once returned to Ningpo, and, learning that there was still a large Chinese army in the neighbourhood, marched out on March 13th with about 900 men of all arms, and with the Sesostris on his flank. It was found, however, that this particular army had retired beyond reach. A second army, under General Yang, was known, however, to be at Tsekee, across the river; and, Sir William Parker, with several additional ships, and bluejackets and Marines, having arrived at Ningpo on March 14th, an expeditionary force was embarked on the following morning, and landed four miles from Yang's position on the heights of Segaon, behind Tsekee {on this occasion there were employed the Phlegethon, Modeste, Nemesis, Queen, Hyacinth, Columbine, Sesostris, and boats of Cornwallis and Blonde, with about 350 seamen and Marines in the landing-party. With the troops was a naval brigade under Captain Thomas Bourchier”.

Admiral Parker:- “By 2 o’clock the combined forces were all landed and marching on Tse-Kee, the Phlegethon having been previously despatched up the river, with the armed barges of the Cornwallis and Blonde, to intercept and harass the retreat of the Chinese by water as much as possible. During the General attack, the 49th were observed approaching the hill on the left when orders for the assault were given and the leading company of marines, promptly pushed forward, with a small band of seamen, about 5 o’clock. As they emerged from the buildings the fire from the Chinese was very severe. Captains Bourchier and Richards, sprung to the head of their men and having rapidly crossed a small intervening paddy field, led them up the hill, which was disputed from its base to it’s crest and several instances of personal conflict occurred. The assent was steep and difficult but steadily and gallantly persevered under an unceasing fire, until the summit was attained and our opponents flying in every direction”.

An extract from a letter from HMS Pelican which, included the beheading of a Mate from one of the transport ships adds – “The object for murdering was to obtain his head, for which when produced at Pekin, they would receive 500 dollars, for you must know that all of us have prices set on our heads – the Commander of a vessel 3000, gunroom officers 1000, junior officers 500 and so on in proportion”.

May – At Chapoo; again, supported landing and landed armed parties and bombarded shore positions. During the attack on the 20th the Blonde with the Cornwallis and Modeste, supported the attack by taking up positions in front of and engaging the western batteries and the Suburb batteries on the extreme right. After destroying the arsenals, foundry and stores at Chapoo, the expedition sailed once more on the 23rd May and remained off the Rugged Island till the 13th June. They then moved into the Yang-tze-keang at the point where the river is joined by the Woosung. The coast there had been undefended by it was now one continuous line of batteries. After a cannonade engagement lasting about two hours, during which three men were killed, a body of seamen landed and cleared the batteries before the troops arrived (two hundred and fifty-three guns were captured). The fleet then continued up the river, capturing another three additional field works on their way.

16th June – In action in the Yangtse, off Woosung; Blonde was towed into action by the ‘Tenasserim’; the Cornwallis by the Sesostris and the Modeste by the Nemesis, parties of marines and seamen landed under heavy covering fire. Considerable return fire experienced – Blonde was hit fourteen times; Lieutenant Hewitt RM and one marine killed in action. Shanghai was evacuated on June 23rd, and the troops and vessels fell back to Woosung. The expedition (The entire fighting force included about 9000 troops and Marines, and 3000 seamen) left Woosung on the 6th July and advanced up the Yang-tse-Kiang river. On the 14th they reached a Military position, on hills commanding the waterway. These were soon silenced and all the military stores destroyed by a landing party. Owing to bad winds it was not until the 20th, that the whole of the fleet arrived and anchored abreast the City of Chin-Keang-Foo (Tchang-Keang or Chingkiang).

21st July – The troops were landed and the city was stormed. The Chinese loss was estimated at just over one thousand killed and wounded. The Tarter General (Hailing?) commanding the defence on seeing that all was lost, retired to his house sat in his chair and ordered his servants to set the building on fire (his charred body was found the next morning). This was mainly a military action, with it seems only the HEICS steamer Auckland aiding the Artillery with her guns.

(The Cree Journals relate – “During the action, four field pieces with a detachment of Artillery, had been brought up the canal by boats from the Blonde with Major Blundell, a strong current sweeping up to near the bridge, where they were exposed to fire from the walls, where every embrasure and loophole sent forth a shower of balls which soon disabled many of the men and obliged the others to seek safety. One boat got under the bridge while the other ran on shore not a pistol-shot from the walls. After getting the wounded out of the boats they took their shelter amongst the houses on the bank. The Admiral, hearing of the disaster, dispatched armed boats with marines from the flagship to assist them.) A correspondent entering the City the next day reported “As at other places we have taken from the Chinese, suicides were committed to a fearful extent – men, women and children were found strangled or taken out of wells by dozens”.

Leaving a strong garrison at Chin-Keang-Foo, the force continued up river, arriving at Nankin on the 6th August. While preparations were underway to assault the City, the Chinese requested a truce and after evocations a treaty was signed ending the war on the 29th, with China agreeing to pay 21 million dollars, as well as other conditions (including Hong Kong being ceded to the British crown).

3rd September – The Cree Journals also records, “Great sickness in the fleet. We (HMS Rattlesnake) are about the healthiest ship, only 4 sick out of 44. Blonde has 199 out of 280, Bellisle 110 out of 255 and Sapphire 47 out of 50, the others nearly in same proportion intermittent fever and dysentery”. He adds dated 7th – 12th, “The mosquitoes are exceedingly troublesome and venomous and the troops are suffering greatly. The 98th Regiment, who came out in the Bellisle 720 strong 160 more by death and have 430 in Hospital. She is the first ship to be sent down the river. All the troops are being re-embarked”. November – Blonde left the Yang-tse-Kaing river early in November sailing for Hong Kong before starting her voyage back to England.

1st December – Left Singapore

1843 16th January – The British press reported – The Blonde frigate, Captain Sir Thomas Brouchier K.C.B. with the Modeste and Columbine sloops-of-war, are on their passage from China to England. The frigate brings three million of dollars and each of the smaller vessels eight hundred thousand.