First China War Medal 1840 - 1842 : J Potter, HMS Belleisle

First China War Medal 1840 - 1842. Impressed around edge with reipient's name and ship. Obverse: The diademed head of Queen Victoria and the legend 'VICTORIA REGINA'. Reverse: A trophy of arms with an oval shield bearing the Royal Arms in the centre, positioned under a palm tree. Around the top is the Latin inscription 'ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM' and in the exergue is the word 'CHINA' over the date 1842. The medal has a fixed bar suspender that is fitted with a 35 mm piece of crimson ribbon with yellow edges.

Awarded to John Potter who served in the troopship HMS Belleisle during the China War of 1840-42. The First China War Medal was originally intended by the Governor-General of India in October 1842 to be awarded only to all ranks of the Honourable East India Company's Forces. However, it was subsequently awarded by the British Home Government in 1843 to other British forces who had taken part in certain specified actions during the China campaign between 5 July 1840 and 29 August 1842. Popularly known as the 'First Opium War', it ended in the seizure of Nanking. 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.