War Medals and Their HistorySteward, William Augustus
History
War Medals and Their History
Steward, William Augustus
Great Britain. Army -- Medals, badges, decorations, etc.; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Medals, badges, decorations, etc.
The Emperor had no intention of carrying out any such agreement--on the
contrary he issued a mandate for the extermination of the British. As a
result of this flagrant breach of faith, an expedition was sent to the
Island of Amoy, and appeared before the city of Amoy on August 25th.
Two hours' bombardment sufficed to demoralise the garrison, despite
their 500 pieces of cannon, and a force of troops was landed. Chusan
was retaken, the military depot of Chinghai stormed, and the fortified
and important city of Ningpo captured. A determined effort was made on
March 10th, 1842, to retake it, but despite the surprise the enemy was
beaten off. Later the British left Ningpo and again proceeded up-river,
attacking Tsekee on March 15th, capturing the heights of Segon and
forcing the Chankee pass ere returning to Ningpo on March 17th. In May
Ningpo was evacuated, and the fortified city of Chapoo at the mouth of
the Shanghai River attacked and a landing effected. In June Woosung and
Poonshau, and the city of Shangee, were captured, and with the aid of
the 98th Regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell (afterwards Lord
Clyde), which now reinforced the expedition, the city of Chin-Kiang
was attacked, and after a severe struggle taken on July 21st, 1842.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Hugh (afterwards Viscount) Gough, whose
decoration from Dr. Payne's collection is used to illustrate the medal
awarded for this campaign, led his army to the ancient capital Nankin,
which was reached on August 9th, 1842. The demonstration sufficed
to bring the enemy to reason, and a treaty of peace was signed, the
indemnity paid, the ports of Amoy, Ningpo, Foo-choo-foo, and Shanghai
opened to British commerce, and Hong Kong ceded to us.
The army of about 3,000 men was composed of the 18th Royal Irish, 26th
Cameronians (which lost nearly 600 men out of 900, by disease, before
Canton fell), 49th, 55th (which particularly distinguished itself at
the assault on the city of Chin-Kiang), 98th, 37th Madras Infantry,
Royal and Indian Artillery, and a Naval Brigade, including marines,
also took a prominent part.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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