AN ULTRA RARE & DESIRABLE "AUSTRALIAN"
( Boxer Rebellion)
CHINA WAR MEDAL (1900)

To:
J. GRIFFITHS. A.B.
THE NEW SOUTH WALES NAVAL CONTINGENT.
(Only 257 medals were issued to the NSW sailors and only a tiny total of 554 to all the Australian crews)

[HISTORY]
The Australian Contingent, 6 Aug 1900 - 25 Apr 1901

Although troops of several European nations combined strongly to put down ‘the Boxers’, Britain, already heavily committed in South Africa, clearly needed help. ‘We’re with you!’ said the Australian Colonies, for Australia was not a Federated country at this stage in history but still a group of British Colonies, and they combined to send to China a Naval Brigade which would otherwise have been despatched to Cape Town to serve in another British war against the Boers.
Australia's contribution consisted of Naval Brigades from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
THE NEW SOUTH WALES CONTINGENT IN CHINA
The China-bound naval contingent left Sydney on 8 August 1900 with an impressive public send off. Ladies waved lace handkerchiefs and brass bands played. The contingents from New South Wales and Victoria travelled together on the liner S.S. Salamis to Hong Kong and from there on to Shanghai, China.
The Victorian Naval Brigade of over 200 officers and seamen comprised part of the Port Melbourne Naval and Williamstown Naval Brigades, as well as officers and men from the Victorian Navy. The Victorian Naval Brigade was commanded by Captain F. W. Tickell.
S.S. SALAMIS
They sailed in the wake of three British warships from the Australian station, the Wallaroo, the Mohawk and the Lizard.
South Australia sent its contingent of ninety-six officers and men via the 920-ton ship, PROTECTOR offering it for service to the British Admiralty for the China campaign. It was, wrote Lieutenant-Commander J. Gill, an officer onboard, probably the first ship ever to leave Australian waters for war manned by an all-Australian crew.
When they got to Hong Kong on 26 August the main contingent became attached to the ‘British Field Force in China’.
In the months ahead the men did not see a great deal of fighting but they witnessed many massacres, hideous atrocities, unrest, rioting and cruelty from all sides. Fortunately casualties were light and only six men lost their lives.
On 25 April 1901 the force arrived home in Sydney.

The China Medal 1900 was awarded to members of the NSW and Victorian Naval Brigades and the crew of the South Australian Gun Boat 'PROTECTOR' for service in the 'Third China War', otherwise known as the Boxer Rebellion.

-Number of medals issued-
N.S.W. 257, Victoria 198, South Australia 98, Queensland 1.
Thus, a tiny total of only 554 medals were issued to all the Australian Crews!

Ultra Rare and Practically Impossible to locate.
A highly sought after medal by serious naval collectors.

£2995 (SOLD)
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Call us today to avoid disappointment as this a strictly "ONE IN A LIFETIME MEDAL"
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