Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

• In Focus: 1900

  • Surface Fleet

  • Submarines

  • Royal Marines

  • Fleet Air Arm

• In Focus: World War One

• In Focus: Interwar

• In Focus: World War Two

• In Focus: Post War Conflict

• In Focus: Cold War Climate

• In Focus: Falklands and Beyond

• Special Exhibition: Falklands 25

Learning

• How To: Understand Propaganda

• Propaganda Image Galleries

• Education Project: Sea With Your Own Eyes

The Boxer Rebellion, 1900

Article highlights

• Ashore in China

• Defence of the Peking Legation

• International relief force

International relief force

Meanwhile, an International relief force under Admiral Seymour including Royal Marines travelled from the mouth of the Pei Ho River on the 9 June to aid the forces in Peking.

The force left Tientsin on the 10 June but progress was slow as the Boxers had torn up the rail track leading towards the Imperial City eventually bringing the force to a complete halt.

Then, when Chinese Imperialist troops attacked, the International Force withdrew to regroup at Tientsin.

Junks were used by the brigade transport the wounded men and heavy weapons while the rest of the troops marched and fought for sixteen hours a day on half rations.

Chinese stationed at Hsiku arsenal, 10 miles from Tientsin, attacked the marching column on the 22 June. They allowed the Brigade to pass before opening fire.

During the attack Major Johnson RMLI led his column of marines and seamen back the way they had came, crossing the river to the rear of the arsenal. He led a bayonet charge against the north corner that succeeded in driving the Boxers out.

Chinese Forces put the fort under siege, but the capture of the fort did allow Johnson’s men with much needed supplies, ammunition and rest.

By 4 August the International Forces was strengthened and 20 000 men that fought their way up to Peking arriving on 14 August.