The Boxer Rebellion
- 1900-1901- Opium Wars - Japan - France - Germany - Britain - America - Baron Von Kettler - Commander Frederick Tickell - Commander Francis Hixson - Gunboat HMCS Protector - Woosung - Taku - Pei-Ho River -Tientsin - Pei Tang -
By John Hibberd Ph.D.
During the nineteenth century the major European powers compelled the reluctant Chinese Empire to start trading with them.
There was little the Chinese government wanted from the West at the time but in the Opium Wars of the 1860s the British had forced the Chinese to accept the import of opium in return for Chinese goods, and foreign trading centres at major ports. The largest of these was Shanghai, where French, German, British, and American merchants demanded large tracts of land in which they asserted "extra-territorial" rights, meaning they were subject to the laws of their own country and not China. In Shanghai a legendary sign in a park near one of the European compounds read: "No dogs or Chinamen".
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Japan, eager to detach Korea from China, also vied to extract concessions, privileges and leaseholds from the Chinese.
The Chinese government's failure to resist inroads on its sovereignty and withstand further demands from the Europeans, such as the right to build railways and other concessions, caused much resentment among large sections of the population. This would eventually lead to the Chinese revolution of 1911 that would topple the imperial dynasty.
As Western influence increased towards the end of the 19th Century, anti-European secret societies began to form. Among the most violent and popular was the I-ho-ch'uan (the Righteous and Harmonious Fists). Dubbed "the Boxers" by western correspondents, this society gave the Boxer Rebellion its name.
The Boxer riots against Chinese Christians began in 1899. In January of 1900 the Dowager Empress Tsu Hsi issued an Imperial Edict condoning the secret societies and the angry Boxers immediately vowed to "exterminate the foreigners". The I-ho-ch'uan and other militant societies combined in a campaign against westerners and westernised Chinese. Missionaries and other civilians were killed, women were raped, and European property was destroyed.
By March 1900 the uprising was spreading rapidly and western powers decided to intervene, partly to protect their nationals but mainly to counter the threat to their territorial and trade ambitions.
A crisis point was reached in May, when the Empress permitted Boxers to demonstrate openly in Peking; and an 18,000 strong Imperial Chinese Army joined thousands of Boxers in the streets.
Chaos reigned. 1,500 Europeans were slaughtered by the Boxers. At Tientsin the Boxers waved the heads of murdered missionaries about as they occupied the city.
Foreign legations in Peking asked the Chinese to suppress the riots and sent urgent appeals for more guards to be provided from a multi-national fleet standing off the coast.
Foreign navies had started building up their presence along the northern China coast from the end of April 1900. At that time Britain, Italy, and the United States had warships stationed at Taku, the nearest port to Peking; and the forts at Taku were by now under siege.
On May 31, before the Peking siege started, and upon the request of foreign embassies in Peking, 435 Navy troops from eight countries were dispatched by train from Takou to the capital (75 French, 75 Russian, 75 British, 60 American, 40 Italian, 30 Japanese, 50 German, 30 Austrian). These troops joined the legations and were able to contribute to their defense.
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As the situation worsened, a second International force of 2,000 marines under the command of the British Vice Admiral Edward Seymour, the largest contingent being British, was dispatched from Takou to Peking on June 10. The troops were transported by train from Takou to Tianjin (Tien-Tsin) with the agreement of the Chinese government, but the railway between Tianjin and Peking had been severed. Seymour however resolved to move forward and repair the railway, or progress on foot as necessary, keeping in mind that the distance between Tianjin and Peking was only 120 kilometers.
After Tianjin however, the convoy was surrounded, the railway behind and in front of them was destroyed, and they were attacked from all parts by Chinese irregulars and even Chinese governmental troops. News arrived on June 18 regarding attacks on foreign legations. Seymour decided to continue advancing, this time along the Pei-Ho river, towards Tong-Tcheou, 25 kilometers from Peking.
They had to abandon on the 19th of June due to stiff resistance, and started to retreat southward along the river. The wounded were so numerous that they had to be carried in junks along the river, pulled along with ropes by healthy combatants on the banks. The column managed to take-over the Chinese camps of Hsi-Kou, in which they were surrounded until June 25 when finally a regiment composed essentially of Russian troops from Port-Arthur arrived. They completed their retreat back to Tianjin on June 26, with the loss of 350 men.
Also on the 19thof June, the Chinese Emperor issued an ultimatum for all foreigners to leave Peking and then on the 20th Baron Von Kettler, the German Minister, was killed.
On the 20th of June 1900 the Chinese began the siege of the Foreign Legations in Peking. The Siege began with Chinese troops and insurgents firing on the Embassies. The fortified legation compound remained under siege from Boxer forces until August 14. Under the command of the British minister to China, Claude Maxwell MacDonald, the legation staff and security personnel defended the compound with one old muzzle-loaded cannon. It was nicknamed the "International Gun" because the barrel was British, the carriage was Italian, the shells were Russian, and the crew was American.
On this same day the Pei T'ang Cathedral siege began. This siege would last until the 16 August.
On the 21st of June 1900 the Allies again attacked Tientsin but the attack was also repulsed.
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Major Littleton W.T. Waller, of the United States Marine Corps described the attack thus: - “The firing on Tientsin during the night was very heavy. The 3-inch rifle was defective, so I was obliged to disable it and hide it in a canal. With the Colt gun in advance, the Russians following, and the rest of my force in the rear, we advanced slowly, scouting carefully, and reached the Chinese part of Tientsin at about 6.30 a.m.
At the time we reached a point nearly opposite the arsenal we were met by a slight fire from a wall on our right. This was silenced by a few sharpshooters.
The enemy then opened on us from front and flank. The fire from the front was exceedingly heavy at a range of about 300 yards, that from the flank being 900 yards away. The enemy were in force about 1,500 or 2,000 at this point. The Colt came into action and kept the frontal fire well down while I threw my men back and with some of the Russians (enlisted men) formed a line to the right and opened on the enemy on our right. These men on our front and right were imperial troops. A few boxers came on our left and annoyed us exceedingly with their fire, but were driven off by our men. The fire from the front was from hidden trenches.
The enemy began to push troops to our right rear, and my line then became long and thin. The Russians fell back from the front and formed on my right flank, moving by that flank under the protection of the railroad embankment. The Colt, at this time, was in the original front with the Russian support of about 17 men. This dwindled to 2. The gun's crew lost 1 man killed and 2 wounded, when it jammed.
The enemy's fire being unbearable, lieutenant disabled the Colt gun and retreated. At about 8.15 the enemy again attacked on my left flank, and as the Russians were some distance on my right flank I began my retreat by the same flank. During this retreat my force formed the rear guard. We were followed for four hours, but kept down the enemy's fire and brought off our wounded. We moved to this point, arriving a little before 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Our losses were 1 corporal and 2 privates killed, 1 corporal, 1 sergeant, and 5 privates wounded.”
On the 21st of June China declared war on the Allies.
24 June 1900 - Tientsin: Relief of the Beseiged Europeans – “Sir: The force amounted at this time to about 2,000 men, 1,000 being Russian and the rest English, German, American, Italian, and Japanese, in strength in order mentioned, the British being about 600 strong. It was agreed that we should advance in two columns on the next day at 4 a.m., my force occupying the advance of the British column and the right of the firing line. We struck the enemy at about 7 a.m. and drove them steadily until about 12.30 p.m., when we entered Tientsin, relieving the besieged Europeans, our losses being for the day 1 killed and 3 wounded. The Russian column deflected from the scene of our defeat two days previously and followed us into Tientsin.
At 12.30 a.m. the next morning, June 25, we moved to the relief of Vice-Admiral Seymour, Captain McCalla, and the men of the powers who had been forced back from their march on Peking to the relief of the ministers and were intrenched at a point about 8 miles from Tientsin. We met very little opposition, and succeeded in relieving at 12 a.m., our casualties being 2 wounded from shell fire, 1 bullet wound.
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The force relieved had, by a brilliant charge and without knowing what they had opposed to them, succeeded in capturing one of the most important arsenals in China, the place being filled with a plentiful supply of all sorts of munitions of war. Capt. B.H. McCalla was in command of our forces, and was still on his feet, although suffering from three wounds. We moved the sick and wounded from the arsenal on the evening of the 25th, and encamped on the opposite side of the river for the night. At 4 a.m. the following day, June 26, we moved back to Tientsin with the sick and wounded of the besieged, the march being very slow on account of the large number of disabled men. Captain McCalla left me in charge of the combined force of American seamen and marines.” - Littleton W.T. Waller.
On the 28th of June 1900 the British Government cabled Australia asking that warships of the Royal Navy then serving on the Australian station be released for service in China. They were released at once.
When the call for military help came, Australian forces were being prepared for the Boer war and their diversion to China resulted in the first Australian involvement in a war on the mainland of Asia. Victoria offered 200 men of the Naval Brigade, commanded by Commander Frederick Tickell. NSW offered another 260, to be commanded by Commander Francis Hixson. South Australia committed the Australian Gunboat HMCS Protector together with 96 officers and men, which brought the total to 556. Protector was to be commanded by Captain William Creswell, a former Royal Navy officer who had served on the China station.
Here in Australia, at the Victorian Legislative Assembly the Hon. C.C. Salmon declared that no better means could be adopted of ensuring peace than by assisting in China at once. "The terrible occurrences in China" he said, "had sent a chill of horror right through the civilised world". Mr B. Higgins however doubted the wisdom of the decision. "The people will be wanting to know whether we in these colonies are to be expected to volunteer each time to contribute valuable lives and money in aid of wars which may not interest us directly".
On the 2nd of July 1900, the Chinese reinforced Tientsin with 10,000 troops. “Sir: The attack on Tientsin City has been abandoned for the present. The Chinese troops, before reported, arrived and entered the city last night. Shelling from their guns began early this morning and has been kept up during the day. Many houses have been hit. The houses on each side of my quarters have been struck three times each. The Japanese battery went into action about 11.30, using black powder, with the result of about 30 casualties, 4 killed. The Russians had one gun (field) dismounted and 4 men killed. Orders have been issued to send all women and children from the town. I shall send them over as soon as possible. Owing to delay, the situation has become much more serious, and I have to urge the immediate pushing forward by rail as far as rail heads all our troops and then the march to Tientsin, following the track from rail head to arsenal bend, and then direct to Tientsin. Very respectfully,” - Littleton W.T. Waller.
With a difficult military situation in Tianjin, and a total breakdown of communications between Tianjin and Peking, the allied nations took steps to reinforce their military presence dramatically. The international force, with British Lt-General Alfred Gaselee acting as the commanding officer, called the Eight-Nation Alliance, eventually numbered 54,000, with the main contingent being composed of Japanese soldiers: Japanese (20,840), Russian (13,150), British (12,020), French (3,520), American (3,420), German (900), Italian (80), Austro-Hungarian (75), and anti-Boxer Chinese troops. The international force finally captured Tianjin on July 14 under the command of the Japanese colonel Kuriya, after one day of fighting.
On 4th of August when the second allied relief column of 20,000 men departed from Tientsin for Peking, a march of about 120km, there were approximately 70,000 Imperial troops with anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 Boxers along the way however they only encountered minor resistance until a major battle was engaged in Yangcun, about 30 km outside Tianjin, where the 14th U.S. Infantry Regiment and British troops led the assault.
The Victorian and NSW contingents left Sydney on the liner Salamis on the 8th of August, and the Protector three days later.
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On the 14th of August a 20,000 strong allied force entered Peking and relieved foreign compound after a desperate 55 day siege. The Dowager Empress fled.
The 28th of August saw an allied victory parade take place inside the Forbidden City
A large international expeditionary force under the command of German general Alfred Graf von Waldersee arrived too late to take part in the main fighting, but undertook several punitive expeditions against the Boxers. Troops from most nations engaged in plunder, looting and occasionally rape. German troops in particular were criticized for their enthusiasm in carrying out Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany's July 27 order. “Make the name German remembered in China for a thousand years so that no Chinaman will ever again dare to even squint at a German."
The Australians arrived in China aboard the Salamis on the 8th of September. After inspections at Woosung, the New South Welshmen and Victorians arrived at Taku at the mouth of the Pei-Ho River on the 9th of September. From there they marched to the key city of Tientsin which had finally been taken on the 14th July. Part of the Victorian brigade was left to garrison this city.
On the 24th of September Australia provided 300 men to help capture the Chinese forts at Pei Tang overlooking the inland rail route. The Chinese government was believed to have sought refuge here when Peking was taken by western forces.
They became part of a force made up of 8,000 troops from Russia, Germany, Austria, British India, and China serving under British officers. The Australian contingent consisted of 150 men from Victoria and 150 from NSW including 25 marines of the light infantry. They arrived after a ten-day march but the city offered no resistance. The closest enemy contact the Australians had was guarding Boxer prisoners who were to be executed.
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The international column then marched back to Tientsin, leaving a trail of looted villages behind them.
The first Australian to die in China was buried on 6th October 1900. He was Private T.J. Rogers of the NSW Marine Light Infantry, who died of Influenza. At the time 25% of the contingent was on the sick list.
The New South Wales brigade, integrated with other British forces, finally marched into Peking itself, to the sound of a pipe band, on 22 October after a 12-day march.
They remained in Peking for five months performing police and guard duties and sometimes working as railway-men and fire-fighters.
Armourer G. Prideaux, of the Victorian contingent, described the devastation the fighting had caused in Peking. Of the British Legation building he wrote: 'the place was considerably knocked about. A great wall surrounded all the buildings. The Legation people owe a lot of their safety to that. The bodies of those who fell and died are buried in a corner, some with no coffins, a cross and a name being all that mark the spot. One house was perfectly riddled by shell and spattered by bullet marks ... An iron bedstead in one of the rooms was completely wrecked and the upright bed posts of iron about 1 and a half inches in diameter were even riddled by rifle fire.'
Although they saw little combat, the Australian forces helped to restore civil order, which involved shooting (by firing squad) Chinese caught setting fire to buildings or committing other offences against European property or persons.
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The officers and men of the Australian contingents were however dissatisfied with the nature of the duties they were asked to undertake. They had expected martial adventure and the opportunity to distinguish themselves in battle but had arrived too late to take part in significant combat.
By December 22nd allied peace proposals were being offered but in January 1901 New South Welshmen were dispatched to the Boxer stronghold of Kao-li-ying where they successfully collected a punitive fine and burnt down a temple.
On the 2nd of February the Boxer Society was formally abolished; and finally, on the 27th of March 1901 the Australian contingents were sent back home to Australia, their work done. Prideaux wrote: 'General Lorne Campbell addressed us and spoke in high terms of our discipline. He said that although we had not done much fighting, he had done his best to get us some; but whenever a man was wanted for a special job, we always had that particular man, and he was very sorry to part with us.'
The men arrived back in Australia on the 25th of April but quarantine restrictions prevented them from landing until 3 May when they received a tumultuous reception from the citizens of Sydney.
The South Australian warship Protector had arrived at Hong Kong from Adelaide in September 1900. There she was transferred to the Royal Navy and on the 19th of September she sailed for Shanghai to perform surveyor and courier duties in the Gulf of Pechili. After receiving a commendation from Captain Jellicoe, the Protector returned to Australia in January 1901.
On the 7th of September 1901 the Peace Protocol of Peking officially ended Boxer Rebellion and on the 7th of January 1902 the Dowager Empress returned to Peking.
Lieutenant General Sir Alfred Gasalee, the British Commander, wrote to Prime Minister Edmund Barton praising the Australian naval Brigades. "It only remains for me to say how excellent an effect has been produced by the appearance in so remote a stage as North China by these fine contingents from the Australian Commonwealth."
The Mayor and council of Tientsin presented each member of the contingent with an illuminated souvenir.
In total 556 Australians served in the Boxer Rebellion.
Six Australians died of sickness and injury including Staff Surgeon J. Steel. None were killed as a result of enemy action.
While they had been away, the colonies from which they sailed only nine months before had become a federal commonwealth and Queen Victoria had died in England.