China Medal 1857-60. No clasp (Lieyt: W. C. Chowne. 27th P. N Infy.)

Naming officially engraved in seriffed letters, as awarded to Indian Army officers

The recipient was Lieutenant William Christopher Chowne of the 27th Punjab Native Infantry of the Bengal Presidency Army

China Expedition 1860: Prior to 1861, the 27th Punjab Native Infantry had been styled the 19th Regiment of Punjab Infantry - the regiment being re-styled as the 27th Punjab Native Infantry in 1861. The regiment (as the 19th) together with Lieutenant W. C. Chowne embarked for China at Calcutta on 23 February 1860, aboard the transports 'Bosphorous' & 'Berlington'. At embarkation the 19th Regiment of Punjab Infantry numbered an estimated 818 x men together with 2 x chargers

Medal Verification: The campaign medal rolls of British  Officers of the Indian Army that served in China 1857-60 are not accessible on-line, and are held at The British Library. However the recipients entitlement to the China Medal is confirmed under the War Services section of British Officers of the Indian Army contained in Harts Army List issue of 1889;

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Colonel W. C. Chowne served with the 19th Punjab Infantry in the campaign of 1860 in China (Medal). Served in the Mahsood Wuzeeree Expedition in 1881

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Note there was no campaign medal or clasp awarded for the 'Mahsoo Wuzeeree Expedition 1881

William Charles Chowne, son of James Henry Chowne (a Lieutenant in the 66th Regiment of Native Infantry, who took Holdy Order and was latterly the Reverend J H. Chowne) and  Mary Maynard Chowne (nee Braddon) was a 'Son of  Empire' who was born in Saugor District of  India, 17 May 1838. William was first commissioned as Ensign into the Bengal Presidency Army of the Honourable East India Company, 4 November 1858. Subsequent promotions in order were:

- Lieutenant, 1 March 1859
- Captain, 6 October 1869
- Major, 20 October 1873
- Lieutenant-Colonel, 1 June 1875
- Colonel, 1 July 1881

In the years after his return to India, William Charles Chowne is recorded to have served with several different infantry, including the 12th ( (Khelat-i-Ghilzie) Bengal Native Infantry, and regiments of the Punjab Frontier Force, viz 6th Punjab Infantry and was latterly Colonel and Commandant of the 2nd Punjab Infantry from, 1 July 1881

Colonel William Charles Chowne is recorded to ave died at Biarritz, Switzerland, 3 April 1889

27th Punjab Native Infantry: The 27th Punjab Infantry was raised as the Regiment of Rawalpindi in 1857, during the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859). In the same year it was renamed the 19th Regiment of Punjab Infantry and became the 31st Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry in 1861. It was renumbered the 27th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry in 1861 and renamed the 27th (Punjab) Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry in 1864. The term 'Native' was dropped from the title in 1885. With the reforms of the Indian Army in 1903 the unit became the 27th Punjabis. It became the 3rd Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment in 1922. Prior to the Great War, the regiment had earned the below following battle honours:

- China, 1860-62
- Ali Masjid
- Afghanistan, 1878-80
- Burma 1885-87

The medal fitted with a length of medal riband in the colours of the subdued 1st type medal riband for the Second Opium War.

Reference 'Ribbons and Medals' (H. Taprell Dorling, 1974) wrote about the China Medal 1857-60:

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It was authorised in 1861, and was first issued with a ribbon of five equal stripes : blue, yellow, red, white and green, eventually to be replaced by the crimson ribbon with yellow edges

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The above notwithstanding, no official authority pertaining to the subdued riband is known

A scarce seen 'Second Opium War' medal for China service 1860, seen named to a British Officer who had served in theatre with the 19th Regiment of Punjab Infantry

Condition: About GVF

Code: 25838