THE CHINA MEDAL 1840-42 AWARDED TO PRIVATE BENJAMIN PEARSON, 18TH (THE ROYAL IRISH) REGIME

THE CHINA MEDAL 1840-42 AWARDED TO PRIVATE BENJAMIN PEARSON, 18TH (THE ROYAL IRISH) REGIMENT, A CASUALTY OF THE 1840-42 CAMPAIGN IN CHINA. China Medal 1840-42, original German silver straight bar suspender (officially impressed: BENJAMIN PEARSON. 18th REGIMENT FOOT). Attractive old dark tone, Extremely Fine and virtually as struck.

Medal accompanied by copied extracts from the 1841 British Army World Wide Index and the Regimental History.

The 1841 British Army World Wide Index records 578 Private Benjamin Pearson, 18th Foot, as being present at “Hong Kong & Canton”. He is recorded in the Regimental History as having died of disease during the campaign in China of 1840-42.

The regimental history records the 18th Foot’s casualties during the campaign in China as 2 officers and 9 other ranks killed, 6 officers and 77 other ranks wounded and 11 officers and 214 other ranks died of disease. Following the end of the campaign in mainland China, the 18th Foot transferred to the island of Kulangsu, where a further 6 officers and 13 other ranks died of disease.

Benjamin Pearson is recorded in the Regimental History as having died during the campaign on the Chinese mainland during 1840-42 (the Regimental History only lists campaign casualties, not those officers and men who died of disease at Kulangsu).

The campaign of 1840-42 in China was a punitive expedition in response to attacks in British traders in China, merchant shipping in Chinese waters and the treatment of British diplomatic representatives, the expedition being dispatched in retribution for these attacks and to enforce the terms of previously negotiated commercial treaties. During the campaign the 18th Foot took part in numerous actions, including the capture of Tinghae, the assault on the Chinese forts in the Canton River, the assault on Amoy, the assault on Chinhai at the mouth of the Ning Po River, the destruction of the Chinese arsenal at Chapoo, and the capture of the imperial fortress at Chinkingfu. Following the end of the campaign the regiment was posted to the island of Kulangsu, in the mistaken belief that the climate there would prove more favourable, but in the event the regiment continued to suffer large numbers of casualties as a result of sickness and disease.

Prior to seeing service in China 1840-42, the 18th Foot had not seen active service since the campaign of 1801 in Egypt. Pearson is not recorded in the regimental muster rolls as having taken part in that campaign. The China Medal 1840-42 was his sole medal entitlement.