The 1901 China expedition commemorative medal (or “Médaille commémorative de l’expédition de Chine 1901” in French) is a military campaign medal established by the law of 15 April 1902 to recognize service in China in 1900 and 1901 during the Boxer rebellion.
In May 1900, an uprising throughout Northern China threatened the interests of nations with established concessions in major cities and leased territories in the empire of China (this hostility was mainly driven by a secret nationalist and xenophobic group called “the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists”, or “Boxers”)
Eight major powers (Germany, Austria, United States, France, Britain, Italy, Japan and Russia) decided to establish an international army of 150,000 men under the supreme command of German Field Marshal Count von Waldersee to rescue their besieged compatriots in Peking and put down the rebellion in the provinces.
The medal was awarded by the President of the French Republic to all officers, sailors and soldiers having participated in the French expedition to China during the following time periods:
- for the personnel under the War Department, to all those who served in China between 30 June 1900 and 8 August 1901;
- for the personnel under the Navy Department,
- concerning members of crews, to those who were in service in theater between 30 May 1900 and 31 December 1901 who received an indemnity for service in China;
- concerning officers, military functionaries or agents that did not figure on crew rosters, to those who received an indemnity for service in China covered in the decree of 4 August 1900 or an indemnity for expenses granted prior to 1 September 1900.
It was also awarded, on the recommendation of the Minister for External Affairs, to the French civilians who took part in the defense of the legations in Peking.
Allied troops entered Peking on 14 August 1900 but a peace treaty with China was only signed on 7 September 1901.
The 1901 China Expedition Commemorative Medal Design
The medal measures 30mm in diameter, is circular and struck in silver.
The obverse bears the relief image of the effigy of the “warrior republic” in the form of the left profile of a helmeted woman’s bust, the helmet being adorned by a crown of oak and laurel leaves. On either side, the relief inscription along the circumference “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE” (English: “FRENCH REPUBLIC”).
The reverse displays a pagoda surrounded with military and naval articles or war. The ribbon’s suspension loop was adorned with two Chinese dragons.
The medal hangs from a 36 mm wide silk moiré yellow ribbon with four 4 mm wide equidistant green vertical stripes.
