Description
China War Medal 1856-60, bar Canton 1857, unnamed as issued.
Awarded for the Second China or “Opium” War of 1856-1860.
The Canton 1857 clasp is commonly associated with the Royal Marines and Royal Navy who took part in the assault and received unnamed medals.
The 1857 Battle of Canton, was fought in what is now “Canton (Guangzhou), Guangdong Province, China” between 28-31st December 1857.
During the attack, the assault force amounted to 800 Indian Sappers and Miners and the British Army 59th Foot.
The Naval Contingent consisted of 2,100 Royal Marines and a 1,829 Naval Brigade taken from the serving ships, with another 950 men from the French Navy.
They were up against a Chinese Garrison of some 30,000 men.
