China War Medal 1842

Campaign medal awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Henry William Adams, 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment.

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.

Adams (1805-1854) was first commissioned ensign in the 12th (East Suffolk) Regiment of Foot on 31 July 1823. He was Lieutenant-Colonel successively of the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot (1840-1844) and the 49th (The Hertfordshire) Regiment of Foot (1844 until his death). He died in 1854 at Scutari, having been wounded at the Battle of Inkerman during the Crimean War (1854-1856).

Donated by Major P R Adams.