French China Medal 1900-1901

French China Medal 1900-1901 with the bar '1900 CHINE 1901'. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: The bust of La Republique facing left wearing a tropical pattern helmet and an oak wreath with 'REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE' around the circumference. The engravers name is at the base. A hall mark and 'ARGENT' are stamped on the rim. Reverse: Crossed canons, an anchor and a flag in front of a Chinese pagoda, with the surrounding inscription 'CHINE 1900 - 1901' . The medal is fitted with a fixed ornate suspension, modelled on two Chinese dragons and has a piece of 37 mm yellow ribbon with four 5 mm green stripes. The decorative bar is threaded over the ribbon.

Instituted on 15 April 1902 and awarded to members of French military, as well as some French civilians, especially those in the Diplomatic Corps in Peking, who participated in the suppression of the Boxer Uprising as part of an eight nation alliance. This medal is part of a collection assembled by the late Hon. Sir Thomas Hughes, Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. It was presented to the Memorial in memory of his son, Captain Roger Forrest Hughes, Australian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds in France on 11 December 1916 and his grandson, Flying Officer Peter Roger Forrest Hughes, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed on active service while flying in the Northern Territory on 3 October 1942.