⭕ Original 1900 Vintage US Military Order of Dragon for China Boxer Rebellion Relief Expedition awarded to First Lieut. Benjamin B. Hyer of the US 6th Calvalry, a famous person.

Accompanying the medal are 2 original documents.

The first document is dated 4th of March 1901 from the US Commnanding Officer of the US China Relief Expedition, Major General Chaffee and the US Secretary of War, Mr. Elihu Root to Hyer. This gives a detailed account of Hyers encounter with the Imperial Qing soldiers on 4th of September 1900.

The second document is a letter dated 13th of July 1887 from law firm Bacon & Merritt to Hyer asking him to present himself for entry into West Point Military Academy. This letter was signed by Mr. Henry Bacon, a member of the US House of Representatives.

Order of the Dragon.

This was a society that was formed by US military officers to commemorate their service in China during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. Membership was only open to commissioned officers. Officer of allied nations were also allowed to join. Civilians who were in the besieged Legations in Peking was also admitted as members, as were some journalists who were in China. The MOD membership medals were made by Bailey, Banks and Biddle of Philadelphia. They made many of the high quality military and civilian society medals of that era. Ribbon shown here is authentic BB&B silk ribbon, with the woven symbol in the center).

In July 1900, the 6th US Cavalry sailed from San Francisco for duty in the Philippines, but only one squadron went there directly, the other two being diverted to China to take part in quelling the Boxer Rebellion. Of these, one remained at Tien-Tsin with British, French, Russian and Japanese troops to keep the port open. It took part in the several engagements, while the other squadron passed forward to Pekin under General Chaffee, where it helped to raise the siege of the embassies and was the first body of troops to enter the Forbidden City.