China War Medal 1842

Campaign medal awarded to William Lapsley, 26th (The Cameronians) Regiment of Foot.

Silver, circular medal, designed by William Wyon, with, on the obverse, the head of Queen Victoria wearing a diadem, with the inscription, 'Victoria Regina'. On the reverse, a shield bearing the royal coat of arms in front of a trophy of arms, including a cannon, with a palm tree behind; an inscription above, reads, 'Armis Exposcere Pacim' (They demanded peace by force of arms), with the campaign title, 'China 1842', in the exergue below. The medal ribbon is crimson with wide yellow edges.

The China War Medal 1842 was awarded to British and Indian forces who fought in the 1st China War (1839-1842), also known as the 1st Opium War. The 26th (The Cameronians) Regiment of Foot arrived in China in July 1840, and participated in the capture of the port of Chusan (Zhoushan). They went on to fight in many engagements during the war but suffered terrible casualties from sickness. The Regiment was not only awarded the battle honour, 'China', for the campaign, but also given permission to include a Chinese dragon on its regimental colour, which would flank the Egyptian sphinx gained during the Napoleonic Wars.