Awarded to Able Seaman Thomas Willis, RN (1876-1914). Obverse: Bust of Queen Victoria, crowned and veiled, with order (left). Legend: 'VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX'. Reverse: At the foot of a palm tree a trophy of flags, cannons, the royal shield, a capstan etc. Legend: 'ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM' . Exergue: 'CHINA 1900'. Inscribed on edge: 'T. WILLIS A.B. H.M.S. DIDO'. Fitted with a bar and cerise ribbon edged with yellow.

Thomas Willis was born near Chesterfield, Derbyshire and signed up for twelve years naval service on 8 January 1894. He served on the China Station from 1898-1901 during the Boxer Rebellion in HMS 'Dido'. Willis joined the Royal Fleet Reserve in 1906 and re-enrolled in 1910. He was killed in action in HMS 'Aboukir' when she was sunk by 'U9' in the North Sea with HM Ships 'Cressy' and 'Hogue' on 22 September 1914. These three cruisers were obsolete by this time and were manned mainly by reservists.