Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Pekin 1860 (Midn. H. D. C. Hooper, H.M.S. Zenobia I.N.) officially impressed naming, with top silver ribad bar, minor edge bruise, nearly extremely fine £240-280

Henry Drew Conyers Hooper was educated at Exeter Grammar School and volunteered for the Indian Navy on 26 August 1859. Appointed Midshipman, he landed in China as part of the steam Frigate Zonobia’s Naval Brigade, was present at the actions of Chang-kai-Wan on 18 September 1860 and Pa-li-Chian on 21 September, and was part of the small Naval Brigade that entered Pekin on 13 October 1860.

China Medals to the Navy were issued un-named, the only exception being those medals awarded to the Indian Navy, late of the H.E.I.C. service. As the Zenobia was the only Indian Navy ship to receive this clasp, it provides the only named medals with clasp Pekin 1860 awarded to the Navy as a whole. The Indian Navy was abolished in 1863.