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The Tonkin Medal (1885)
Medaille du Tonkin
Instituted on the 6th September 1885, and awarded to
the army and
navy who served in the 1884 - 1885 campaign in north-eastern
Indochina (north Vietnam) , otherwise known as the
Sino-French War.
Description: silver, 30mm diameter, the suspension is in the form of an
olive and ring. The obverse depicts 'la Republique'
wearing a winged helmet with the legend REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE. This
is framed by a raised laurel wreath design around the perimeter. The engraver's signature "Daniel
Dupuis" is
at 5 o'clock. The reverse lists in the central area the battle
honours; six for the army issue and seven for the navy issue. This
central area is surrounded by the inscription TONKIN CHINE
ANNAM 1883 - 1885. Again around the perimeter is the raised laurel
wreath design.
| Type |
Battle Honours |
| Army |
(6) Sontay,
Bac-Ninh, Fou-Tcheou, Formose, Tuyen-Quan, Pescadores |
| Navy |
(7) Cau-Giai, Sontay, Bac-Ninh,
Fou-Tcheou, Formose, Tuyen-Quan, Pescadores |
Ribbon: yellow with four green stripes.
Notes.
Original strikings have an olive shaped suspension ring fixing , on
later issues this is ball shaped. Several private manufacturers also
produced this medal these are generally lacking the designer's
signature and Monnaie mark (see below) |
