United States – Military Order of the Dragon Medal & Ribbon Bar – Replica

Type: Replica medal (not an original issued decoration)
Campaign: China Relief Expedition / Boxer Rebellion (1900)
Material: Bronze (reproduction)
Diameter: approx. 36 mm (1.42 in)
Thickness: approx. 4.7 mm (0.18 in)
Weight: approx. 48 g
Included:

• 1 × Military Order of the Dragon medal

• 1 × Matching ribbon bar

Historical Background

The Military Order of the Dragon was a society created to preserve the memory of the China Relief Expedition of 1900, also known as the Boxer Rebellion. Founded by U.S. officers stationed in China between June 15 and October 1, 1900, the organization was modeled after fraternal military societies like the Aztec Club and the Loyal Legion.

Membership was extended not only to American officers but also to foreign officers, including many from the United Kingdom and other allied nations who served in China during the campaign.

The order served as both a commemorative decoration and a historical society, intended to foster continued connections between officers of allied forces and to ensure that the experiences of the expedition were preserved.

Officers of the Order (Selected)

• 1900 Founding Officers:

  • President: Maj. Gen. Adna R. Chaffee (U.S. Volunteers)

  • Vice Presidents: Capt. Bowman H. McCalla (U.S. Navy), Capt. John T. Myers (U.S. Marine Corps)

  • Secretary/Treasurer: Capt. Frank D. Ramsey (9th U.S. Infantry)

• Later Officers:

  • Lt. Gen. Adna R. Chaffee (Ret.), Rear Adm. George C. Remey (Ret.), Col. William P. Biddle (U.S. Marine Corps), Maj. Gen. Charles F. Humphrey (Ret.), Capt. Malin Craig (later U.S. Army Chief of Staff), among others.

Collector’s Significance

• Represents a rarely issued U.S. military society order tied to the Boxer Rebellion (1900).

• Strong links to both American and British military history.

• A unique design featuring the dragon motif, symbolic of the China campaign.

• Ultra rare in original form – this museum-quality reproduction allows collectors to own a faithful copy without the extreme rarity and cost of originals.

⚠️ Note: This is a museum-level replica reproduction intended for collectors, historians, reenactors, and educational display. It is not an original 1900-issued medal.