China Relief Expedition Medal (Navy)

TYPE I	TYPE II
BACK(s)
DEVICE(s)
none

Description:

1. Authorized by Department of the Navy General Order 81,  June 27, 1908
2. for service in the China Relief Expedition between 1900 and 1901 during the Boxer Rebellion.
3. General Orders of the Department of the Navy on June 27, 1908. General Order 81 established the medal authorized for Naval personnel while General Order 82 authorized the medal for the Marine Corps.
4. Awarded to officers and enlisted men of the naval service who served on shore in China with the Peking Relief Expedition between 24 May 1900 and 27 May 1901, or who were attached to one of the below identified vessels in Chinese waters between the dates mentioned (Special Orders No. 81 and 82 of 27 June 1908):
5. The eligibility dates of the China Relief Expedition Medal were from May 24, 1900 to May 17, 1901. 
6. The United States Army equivalent of the China Relief Expedition Medal was the China Campaign Medal.
7. The first 400 medals struck bear the date "1901." The die in use became damaged and replaced with a re-engraved die. This one, however, had the date "1900" which appears on all subsequent copies.

Background:

1. The Medal
   1. OBVERSE
      1. Prominent is the gate to the Forbidden City, Peking.
      2. A resting dragon in profile appears below the gate.
      3. The words "CHINA RELIEF EXPEDITION" appear in an arc above the depiction across the top.
      4. Centered below the depiction appears the date "1900" (on all medals after #400).
      5. The first 400 medals struck bear the date "1901."
   2. REVERSE
      1. Both versions have an a wing spread eagle perched atop a ship's anchor with chain.
      2. Below the anchor are the words "FOR SERVICE".
      3. Across the bottom appears a wreath formed by a branch of oak on the left and a branch of olive on the right with the stems joined at the bottom by a conventional knot.
   3. RIBBON
      The Type I version of the medal bore a yellow background with two black stripes.
      The Type II version is composed of the following vertical stripes: 1/16 inch Ultramarine Blue, 1 1/4 inch Golden Yellow, and 1/16 inch Ultramarine Blue. The colors were changed in 1915 to correspond with those of the U.S. Army medal issued for similar service.
   4. DEVICE(s)
      The medal was issued as a one time award and there were no devices authorized for multiple bestowals.
2. Information from
   Special Order No. 81 dated 27 June 1908
   Naval History and Heritage Command
   The Call of Duty : Military Awards and Decorations of the United States of America by John E. Strandberg