The Asplin Military History Resources

From Spink Newsletter - May 2004

http://www.spink.com/news/newsletters/2004/200405medal_news.asp

This month new works of reference (available from the Spink Book Department) for medal collector are:

CHINA MEDAL ROLL 1856-60

by K.J. Asplin. London: Savannah Publications, 2004. Softcovers. In three separate volumes:

1)Royal Navy (including Indian Marine), 428 pages. Softcover: £32

This volume deals with the Royal Navy and its presence in China during the years 1856-60, a period that became known as the 'War of the Arrow' or the Second China War. It contains not only a detailed medal roll of officers and ratings of the Royal Navy entitled to the China Medal 1856-60, but extracts from diaries and works of the time that add an extra dimension to any research project. The author has compiled information on over 17,400 men of the Navy, including casualty details, from multiple original records, with the addition of the roll of the Indian Marine and a detailed bibliography. This is an essential research tool for anyone with an interest in these campaigns.

2)British Army, 268 pages Softcover: £26

This volume deals with the British Army and their presence in China during the years 1856-60, a period that became known as the 'War of the Arrow' or the Second China War. It contains not only a detailed medal roll of officers and other ranks of the British Army entitled to the China Medal 1856-60, but extracts from diaries and works of the time that add an extra dimension to any research project. The author has compiled information on nearly 13,000 men of the Army, including casualty details, from multiple original records with the addition of a detailed bibliography. This is an essential research tool for anyone with an interest in these campaigns.

3)Despatches, 442 pages Softcover: £32

This volume contains selected despatches of the Royal Navy and British Army during their presence in China during the years 1856-60, a period that became known as the 'War of the Arrow' or the Second China War. It contains several hundred pages of despatches copied from original records held at the National Archives. Not only the usual and often repeated despatch from the Taku Forts in August 1860 is republished, but also many despatches for small gunboat actions and even transport details are covered. There are many references to individual officers and men. With the addition of a detailed bibliography this is an essential research tool for anyone with an interest in these campaigns.

To make enquiries about any of these titles, please contact the Spink Book Department:

Book Department

Spink and Son Ltd

69 Southampton Row

London

WC1B 4ET