The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860 (Major P. Bedingfeld, No. 6 B. 12th Bde. R. Art.), officially impressed naming, together with a miniature dress medal, very fine (2) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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Philip Bedingfeld, who was born in April 1828, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in May 1843. Promoted to Lieutenant in November 1846 and to Captain in October 1858, he served in China in 1860, when he was present at the capture of the Taku Forts and the surrender of Pekin, for which he was given the Brevet of Major (Medal & 2 clasps). Placed on the Unemployed List as a substantive Colonel in April 1883, he finally retired with the rank of Major-General in April 1886. Bedingfeld, who married Arabella Hayne in October 1851, was the father of N. N., E. G. and H. H. Bedingfeld (see Lots 528-530).

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s commission warrants for the rank of a Major in the Army, dated 15 February 1860, and a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, dated 3 September 1870; together with letters, diary extracts, photographs and nine water colours, mainly of mostly China interest.