The earliest award to bear the head of Queen Victoria was the China medal of 1842. The features portrayed on this specimen were similar to those shown on a medallion executed by William Wyon in 1837, and struck to commemorate Victoria's first visit to the City of London as queen. Her Majesty evinced a great liking for this rendering of her features, and consequently it was used for the coinage, the postage stamps, and, lastly, the medals. The reverse side revealed a group of arms of various kinds. The ribbon was red, edged with yellow. It was given both to soldiers and sailors.
This award may be confused with a later China medal of the same design. The earlier pattern, however, bears the year 1842 under the word China in the exergue, whilst the 1857-60 pattern has no date at all. Also, no bars were furnished with the earlier specimen, but as many as six may be found on the latter.
Writing of the thrilling incidents which crowded the first campaign, Carter describes one of them in the following words: "The west gate had been blown in by Captain Pears, the commanding engineer. A body of Tartars, having been driven into one division of the western outwork, refused to surrender, when most of them were either shot or destroyed in the burning houses, several of which had been set on fire by the enemy or by the British guns. Major-General Bartley subsequently proceeded with a body of troops consisting of the 18th and part of the 49th Regiment, when a hot engagement ensued with about one thousand Tartars, who, under cover of some enclosures, opened a destructive fire on the soldiers as they were filing round the walls. The leading division of the 49th dashed down the ramparts, while the 18th pushed on. As a result, the enemy was soon dispersed, although some fought with great desperation.
"From the sun becoming so overpowering it was found impossible to move with men already fatigued by their exertions, many of whom died from the intense heat. The troops, therefore, remained in occupation of the gates until six o'clock, when several parties were pushed into the Tartar city and to the public offices. On passing through the city and suburbs, the painful spectacle presented itself of hundreds of the dead bodies of men, women, and children lying in the houses, numerous families having destroyed themselves sooner than outlive the disgrace of their city being captured by foreigners."
The second Chinese war resulted from a cumulation of depredatory movements on the part of the natives, but the capture of the Arrow, a vessel flying the British flag, was directly responsible for the declaration of hostilities.
The next medal struck at the Mint was awarded to the soldiers who took arms in 1842, in Cabul. The obverse bore the Wyon head of Victoria, whilst the reverse was issued in four patterns as follows:—
1. A wreath encircling the inscription "Candahar, 1842."
2. A wreath encircling the word "Ghuznee," and another encircling the word "Cabul."
3. A wreath encircling the inscription "Candahar, Ghuznee, Cabul, 1842."