China War Medal 1842

Campaign medal awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel (later Field Marshal Sir) Colin Campbell.

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.

Campbell (1792-1863) had first been commissioned in 1808 into the 9th (or the East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot with which he performed distinguished service during the Peninsular War (1808-1814). By 1837 he was Lieutenant-Colonel of the 98th Regiment of Foot, which he commanded during the 1st China War (1839-1842).

Donated by the Royal United Service Institution.