• Title
  Item 07: China War Medal 1900, Defence of Legations [awarded to George Ernest Morrison], 1901 / designed by William Wyon
• Call number
  SAFE/R 644/Item g
  
• Level of description
  item
• Date
  
  1901
• Type of material
  Medals
• Reference code
  447142
• Issue Copy
  Digitised
• Physical Description
  Objects - 1 silver medal with bar and ribbon - 3.6 cm. diameter (medal); attached by clasp to ribbon 3.2 cm (wide) x 10.2 cm. (folded length) - Medal slightly tarnished. Crowned and veiled bust of Queen Victoria on obverse. The reverse shows a collection of war trophies with the Royal Arms on an oval shield at centre, all in front of a palm tree. Crimson ribbon with yellow edges. Ribbon ends frayed
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  This British medal was awarded to those who took part in the military aspects of the Boxer Uprising ... [There were] three Bars (or clasps) to the China Medal: `Taku Forts', `Defence of Legations' and `Relief of Pekin' [spelled Pekin on medal] ... The `Defence of Legations', the rarest of the Bars was awarded to the Royal Marine Light Infantry who were inside the Legation and also some civilian volunteers who helped in the defence of the Legation Quarter of Peking ... The medal was designed by W Wyon and awarded for service between 10 June and 31 December 1900."
  Reference: Corfield, J. The Australian illustrated encyclopedia of the Boxer uprising. McCrae, Vic.: Slouch Hat Publications, 2001.
  
  Morrison was in China during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, as foreign correspondent for The Times. He reported on the siege of foreign legations in Peking and was awarded this medal for his part in their defence, being wounded while assisting another.
• Access Conditions
  
  Access via appointment
• General note
  
  Digital order no:Album ID : 1319138
• Signatures / Inscriptions
  
  Victoria Regina et Imperatrix -- around rim on medal obverse
  "Armis Exposcere Pacem / China 1900" -- around rim on medal reverse
  "G. E. Morrison" -- impressed on medal lower edge
  "Defence of Legations" -- on bar
• Creator/Author/Artist
  Morrison, George Ernest, 1862-1920
  Wyon, William, 1795-1851
  
• Subject
  Sieges--China.
  Adult Females
  
• Topic
  coats of arms
  military medals
  palm trees
  ribbons
  
• Place
  Beijing (China)
  China--History--Boxer Rebellion--1899-1901.
  

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