Item number: M197

Year: AD 1902

Material: Silver

Size: 96.5 x 36.2 x 3.0 mm

Weight: 39.55 g

Provenance: Liverpool Medals 2022

This China War Medal (1901) was awarded by the British government in AD 1902 to individuals who participated in the Boxer Rebellion of AD 1900 as part of the Eight-Nation Alliance. Based on the participants’ roles and affiliations, British and British Indian regular forces were awarded silver medals, while the civilian personnel involved in the preparations and Imperial Service Troops from the Indian princely states received bronze medals. This silver medal was awarded to Yan Gul, a member of the 26th Baluch Infantry provided by the princely states.

The obverse of the medal features a half-length portrait of Queen Victoria, the reigning monarch of Britain at that time. It was designed by the British medalist George William de Saulles. Surrounding the portrait is a Latin inscription that translates to “Victoria Queen and Empress.”

On the reverse side of the medal, the design follows the pattern of the previous two “China War Medals” (AD 1842, AD 1861). It was designed by William Wyon, who served as the Chief Engraver at the Royal Mint. The design depicts a central oval shield with the royal coat of arms, symbolizing the joint protection of the army’s cannon and the navy’s anchor. Behind the shield is a palm tree as a backdrop.

The bottom edge of the medal is of contemporary engraved naming in English running script with the recipient’s name and unit number: “2650 Pte: Yan Gul 26th: Baluch Infy”.

The medal has a swivel straight bar suspension with claw which connects to the ribbon and the clasp, with the disk of the medal secured to the claw by a rivet. The ribbon has a crimson red base color with yellow stripes on each side for decoration. Depending on the battles participated in, there are three types of clasps: “Relief of Pekin,”“Taku Forts,” and “Defence of Legations.” According to the relevant regulations, the medal is limited to two clasps. The 26th Baluch Infantry was awarded the “Relief of Pekin” clasp for their participation in the final stages of the conflict.

Total number of clasps:

Contrary to the stereotypical belief that the British forces in the Eight-Nation Alliance were composed entirely of white soldiers, a significant portion of the troops came from British India. During the Boxer Rebellion, while the British regular army was deeply embroiled in the Second Boer War in South Africa, Britain relied heavily on soldiers from British India and the semi-autonomous princely states to provide the approximately 3,000 troops needed for the China campaign. The 7th Rajput Infantry from India was among the first units to arrive and relieve the besieged foreign legations, which had been under siege for 56 days.

The origins of the 26th Baluch Infantry date back to AD 1825, when it was formed by the British East India Company by recruiting native soldiers in India. The regiment participated in the Anglo-Persian War and various campaigns defending India’s northwest frontier. In AD 1885, the regiment’s “native” designation was removed, and it became part of the British Indian Army. In AD 1900, the unit was deployed to northern China to participate in the Boxer Rebellion as part of the Eight-Nation Alliance. Subsequently, the regiment served the British Empire during both World Wars. After Britain ended its rule in the Indian subcontinent in AD 1947, the 26th Baluch Infantry became part of the newly independent Pakistani Army.

物件編號: M197

年代: 公元 1902 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 96.5 x 36.2 x 3.0 mm

重量: 39.55 g

來源: 利物浦獎章 2022

這一枚獎章是公元1902年，英國政府頒予參加公元1900年八國聯軍一役相關人士的「第三次中國戰爭獎章」。按照參與者身分和部隊歸屬，英國和英屬印度的正規軍獲得銀質獎章，籌備行動的文職人員和印度土邦的軍隊則是銅質獎章。該枚銀質獎章得主揚.古爾，正是來自英屬印度正規軍的第26俾路支步兵團一員。

獎章正面是時任英國維多利亞女王的半身像，由英國的獎牌製造師：喬治·威廉·德·索雷斯設計。獎章周圍環繞的拉丁銘文意思是「維多利亞女王暨女皇」。獎章背面的圖案沿用前兩次頒發的「中國戰爭獎章」(1842、1861)設計，由曾擔任皇家鑄幣廠首席雕刻師的威廉·維恩設計，象徵陸軍的大砲和海軍的船錨共同護衛中央刻有皇室家徽的橢圓盾牌，背後以一株棕梠樹作為襯托。於下緣以英文刻有「中國 1900」，上緣則是拉丁文銘文「透過武力訴諸和平」。

獎章下緣以當時代英文草寫字體鐫刻得獎者姓名和部隊番號「2650號列兵 揚.古爾 第26俾路支步兵團」(2650 Ptv Yan Gul 26th Baluch Infy)。

獎章上方以帶有鉚釘的帶爪旋轉直桿懸掛連接著其綬帶和銘牌，綬帶是赤紅為底色，兩側各有一道黃色條紋作為裝飾。依據參與的戰役差異，分別有「解圍北京」、「大沽口要塞」和「保衛使館」三種銘牌，按照相關的法規該獎章以兩個銘牌為限。第26俾路支步兵團獲頒戰事最後階段的「解圍北京」銘牌。

銘牌的總數量:

不同於外人的刻板想像，以為八國聯軍中的英軍是白人組成的軍隊，來自英屬印度的殖民地士兵為此次行動的大宗。八國聯軍之役的同時，英國本土的正規軍正陷入南非第二次布爾戰爭的泥淖，僅能倚重英屬印度和半獨立狀態的土邦們提供中國行動所需之3000人左右的兵力。來自印度的第7拉傑普特步兵團，更是首批抵達遭包圍長達56天的外國使館區的解圍部隊。

第26俾路支步兵團能上溯至公元1825年，英國東印度公司在印度招募本地士兵組成的部隊，參加英波戰爭和防衛印度西北邊境的戰役。公元1885年，該部隊取消「土著」番號頭銜，成為英屬印度陸軍編制的一員。公元1900年，調度至華北參與八國聯軍之役，後續更投入兩次世界大戰替大英帝國效力。公元1947年，英國結束在南亞次大陸的統治後，第26俾路支步兵團成為新獨立的巴基斯坦軍隊一份子。