This is a small commemorative riband badge privately commissioned around the 1860s by British naval officer William Chimmo to honour his participation in the First Opium War. The riband, featuring a red base with white edges, slightly differs from the official “China War Medal” ribbon, which uses a red base with yellow edges. The riband is housed within a silver rectangular frame, with a brass pin on the back for attachment. On the obverse side of the silver frame, there is a diagonally designed nameplate engraved with bold uppercase letters in a striped pattern reading “CHINA.”
During the early reign of Queen Victoria, it became fashionable among British officers to commission personalised commemorative ribands with attachments from jewellers, inspired by official medals they received. These bespoke ribands with attachments served as unique personal mementos. The owner of this riband badge, William Chimmo, was born on April 23, AD 1826, in the city of Cork, Ireland, and joined the Royal Navy at the age of 15.
In AD 1842, during the First Opium War, William served aboard the British flagship HMS Cornwallis and participated in missions to blockade the Yangtze River at key strategic locations such as Woosung, Chapoo, and Chin-Kiang-Foo. After the war, he was awarded the China War Medal by the government.
William continued to serve in the Royal Navy, with his career taking him across China, Australia, Central America, the Arctic, and Indonesia. He remained active in the Navy until his retirement in AD 1873 with the rank of Captain. On October 30, AD 1891, William passed away in Dorset, a county in southwestern England, at the age of 65.
