Item number: M278

Year: AD 1908

Material: Gilt and Bronze

Size: 79.1 x 35.8 x 4.1 mm

Weight: 42.9 g

Manufactured by: B.B&B, Philadelphia

Provenance: Morton & Eden 2024

In the winter of AD 1900, as stability was being restored in Beijing and northern China with the occupation by the Eight-Nation Alliance, including the United States, the American troops stationed in China, mainly consisting of the 9th and 14th Infantry Regiments, formed the “China Relief Expedition” military fraternal society to commemorate this action.

In AD 1908, this society was formally registered in the United States. On February 13, AD 1932, President Herbert Hoover, then serving as President of the United States, also extended greetings to the association in his capacity as President.

In the same year of its formal registration, the society also established two commemorative medals: the “Military Order of the Dragon” and the “Imperial Order of the Dragon.” This object is a Military Order of the Dragon, designed as a black-lacquered bronze medallion. The obverse features a gilded five-clawed dragon, symbolising China.

The reverse of the medal is engraved with the inscriptions “MILITARY ORDER OF THE DRAGON” and “CHINA 1900” along the outer edge. At the centre, it is inscribed with the recipient’s rank, name, unit, and medal number: “CAPT. DAVID Mc CAY INDIAN MAIL SERVICE No. 173.” Interestingly, upon reviewing the relevant records, it was found that the award recipient’s service unit was actually “Medical” rather than “Mail,” indicating that the unit on the medal was mistakenly inscribed.

Membership in the Military Order of the Dragon, a military fraternity formed in connection with the China Relief Expedition, was not limited to American soldiers; allied troops from other nations involved in the Eight-Nation Alliance were also eligible. Captain David McCay from the British forces was one such member.

At the top of the medal is a lotus-shaped suspension device, connecting to a yellow ribbon adorned with a black Chinese-style pattern. The ribbon is topped with a clasp designed to resemble the eaves of a traditional Chinese roof.

The reverse of the clasp is stamped with the manufacturer’s mark, “B.B&B, PHILA.” The full name, Bailey Banks & Biddle, refers to a renowned jewelry firm founded in AD 1832 in Philadelphia, USA. It remains a leading figure in the American jewelry industry to this day.

物件編號: M278

年代: 公元 1908 年

材質: 鍍金, 青銅

尺寸: 79.1 x 35.8 x 4.1 mm

重量: 42.9 g

製造地: 費城，B.B&B

來源: 莫頓與伊登 2024

公元1900年冬，美國在內的八國聯軍已進駐北京和華北大抵恢復穩定之際，以第9和14步兵團為主的駐華美軍以此次行動命名，成立「中國救援遠征」軍事聯誼社團。

公元1908年，該社團於美國正式註冊成立。公元1932年2月13日，時任美國總統的赫伯特·胡佛還以總統名義向協會致信問候。

該社團正式註冊的同一年，還自行創建「軍事之龍勳章」、「帝國之龍勳章」兩款紀念獎章。此物件為「軍事之龍勳章」，形制為一個塗黑漆的青銅圓章。獎章正面是一隻鍍金加工象徵中國的五爪蟠龍。

獎章背面周圍鐫刻銘文「MILITARY ORDER OF THE DRAGON」(軍事之龍勳章)和「CHINA 1900」(中國 1900)。中央鐫刻官階、姓名、單位和獎章編號「CAPT. DAVID Mc CAY INDIAN MAILSERVICE No.173」(大衛·Mc·凱上尉 印度郵政 編號173)。有趣的是調閱相關資料，該得獎人的服役單位實為「醫護」(Medical) 而非「郵政」(Mail)，代表這枚獎章不小心誤植服役單位。

「中國救援遠征」軍事聯誼社團的成員不限於美國士兵，參與八國聯軍的他國盟軍亦有入會資格，來自英國的大衛·Mc·凱上尉是其中一員。

獎章上方以一個設計為蓮花造型的懸掛銜接黃色綬帶，綬帶印有一個黑色中式紋飾。綬帶頂端是設計為中式屋簷的別針牌匾。

別針牌匾背面打印製造商戳記「B.B&B, PHILA.」。「B.B&B」全名為「貝利·班克斯和比德爾」是一家公元1832年，成立於美國費城的知名珠寶行，至今仍是美國同業的領銜者。