Marines in China

[Dirk]

"At the Chien Men, the western end of the mile long strip of wall, are the Americans, tall, lean, smart, capable men in Khaki, with slouch hats turned up at the sides....."- Mary Gault commenting on the Marine Legation Guard Detachment, Peking, 1913.

 

For my first "extended theme" post on this forum I've chosen to do a thread on a very early period in China Marine history. The thread will revolve around events during the 1911-1912 Chinese Revolution, and is based primarily on images found in one officer's photo album, who was assigned to Marine Detachment Peking between 1910 and 1913. In addition, to augment the thread I am including images and written words from different sources I've been directed toward or discovered through my own research. For those that enjoy a extended theme thread I hope it sparks you to add information to this unique period of Marine history. I've spent the last two years researching early Legation Guard history and would welcome any additional information, images etc. This picture taken from the second floor of the officer's quarters shows the American flag flying over the Marine detachment compound. Note the Tatar wall and rebuilt Chien Men tower, of Boxer fame, dominating the background.

[Dirk]

Since 1905 the Marines were a regular feature in Peking. Based in the Legation Quarter of the city, they were responsible for defending American lives, property, and interests. Furthermore, they were joined by guard detachments from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Germany, England, France, Russia, Italy and Japan...as well as several smaller European powers. Together, with the diplomatic community, foreign owned luxury hotels, banks and shops, these guards occupied a 1 mile by 3/8th mile portion of Peking. This quarter was bordered to the south by a 60 foot wall that separated the Manchu (Tartar) portion of the city from the Han Chinese City. To the northwest of the quarter, sat the Forbidden City, where a boy emperor nominally held power. Although the Chinese put the foreign quarter in an area reserved for tribute nations, the Boxer uprising allowed the great powers to turn it into a modern self-governing fortress, immune from China's laws and authority. This postcard shows a portion of the quarter (nearest the German legation) surrounded by broad open spaces offering clear fields of fire should the Chinese attack again.

[Dirk]

"Peking is a pretty good place. Duty is good. Lots to see.....everything is cheap" - Pvt W. R. Wilson, 2nd Regiment, C Company, writing to a friend back in the Philippines. Sep 1912.

 

For the Marines, Peking was considered soft duty. Prior to the 1911 revolution a single company of about 140 men occupied the Marine compound. A typical morning for them would involve inspection and drill or guard. In the afternoon exercise, organized sports or guard duty. Occasionally, a portion of the detachment would conduct field exercises outside of the city or go to their range for rifle or artillery training. When they were off duty, the city offered lots of cheap recreation...(read: women and alcohol)....which meant fights between the various nations guards. As seen from the Tartar wall, the detachment is performing drill on their Glacis (parade ground).

[Dirk]

An officer's life was even better...a fast paced international party circuit within the Legation Quarter ensured no one was bored...a Marine officer's wife writing in the early 1930's noted her husband worked from 0830 until 1130 then was off for the day to attend social events that ran from mid-afternoon to late in the night. Since the English were dominant in this part of the world, there were a number of "English style" clubs an officer might join or he could play polo, or as shown here attend the horse races just north of Peking....

[Dirk]

Of course if you had the resources there was a 45 mile trip from Peking to the great wall or beyond.....Here a marine Lt (standing) and his wife are shown doing just that when they went up the Nankow pass to see the Wall and the nearby Ming Tombs.

[Dirk]

However, beneath the surface China was a mess. Ruled by a weak regency held for the young Manchu Emperor, the political system was rapidly breaking down under internal and external pressures. The country was beset with ethnic and religious strife, famine, floods and even an outbreak of the plague in the northern part of the country. To compound China's problems a number of great powers were trying to gain territorial or economic concessions from the decaying empire. So at the hint of any Chinese civil disturbance, the great powers had to wonder would the imperial government lose control or allow another Boxer uprising. On 10 October 1911, almost by accident, a local revolt began in the southern part of the country and rapidly gained momentum spreading north toward the capital.

[Dirk]

Within days of the revolt (Oct 24th) a Marine battalion of 15 officers and 362 men came up from the Philippines, under the command of Maj Philip Bannon, to reinforce the Marine Guard. And again on 7 Dec an additional company out of the PI went to Peking. By January 1912 the rebellion moved closer to the capital. Washington fearing increased anti-foreign behavior sent the Army's 15th Infantry over from the PI and the states to wait in readiness in the coastal city of Tientsin should they be needed to fight their way to the legation. As the Great Powers watched, the Imperial Government dispatched its most modern army under General Yuan Shih-kai to put down the rebellion. Soon Yuan started rolling back the rebels, but abruptly changed sides demanding a end to the empire and calling for the creation of a Chinese republic....with himself as it's president. After a short debate the Imperial government conceded, Yuan got his wish and a republic was declared. I believe the officer with the drawn sword is the detachment commandant. The large white belt seen across two of the men's shoulders were for pulling the naval guns. Teams of two men per gun would drag these weapons into position.

[Dirk]

We had some trouble. It started on the 29th of February 1912. It was pay day and most of us were on liberty out in town so a patrol was sent out to round us up and take us back to the barracks. First we filled sandbags and barricaded Legation Street..."- Pvt James Jodon, A Company, Peking.

 

At the end of February 1912 the fragile peace in Peking following the creation of the republic ended. Members of the new republic's 3rd division supported by several police units revolted over lack of pay. These men began smashing, burning and looting. Soon portions of the the city were ablaze. To make matters worse, as loyal troops battled the looters, Chinese troops began lobbing artillery rounds all over the city (one spent 3 inch round hit the Marine Barracks, but fortunately without loss of life). This picture postcard image shows part of the city in flames.

[Dirk]

Immediately each nation's legation guards swung into action. Up went barricades sealing the entire Quarter. Fighting positions were established, mines were planted and tunnels were dug. While each foreign power moved to their assigned defensive areas, German and American troops, took up positions at either end of Legation street and along the Tartar wall. In addition, the Americans re-occupied the Chien Men Tower. Here is a shot of the Marine position along the western entrance to Legation Street. This street was the major east-west thoroughfare into the foreign quarter. A neat mix of head gear and extra ammo belts being worn.

[Dirk]

Here is the same area, but from a slightly different angle. A trumpeter, on the far left is seen looking toward Ta Ching' men Square. Note the goggles on one of the guards...blowing dust from the Gobi was a real problem this time of year. The Colt Machine gun is one of six the marines had available. By the following summer the sandbag wall would give way to a more permanent structure: two large iron gates anchored to brick turrets. More ammo belts near one marine's foot?

[Dirk]

Here is another American position just beyond the Legation complex...most likely near the corner of the Glacis. These guys have converted from Krags to Springfield rifles. The gun is a 3" naval landing gun. The Marines also had six of these at the legation well into the 1930s. It is interesting to note the disturbances in the city occurred on the same day as the Marine's pay day and a number of them were out "having fun." The muster rolls for March show several were brought in "drunk and unfit for duty".....there were some hell raisers in that group.

[Dirk]

While the Allies dug in, units loyal to the new republic fought to restore order...this picture could be either Tientsin or Peking, but is certainly taken during the rioting in those cities in the early part of March. It shows republic police cleaning a street....in time they would regain control of the city from the looters. The Indian officer in the background was probably from either the Legation or international concession police force.

[Dirk]

Chinese justice was swift. Looters when caught, were executed right then and there....rare is a China Marine's photo album that does not have at least one "beheading" shot in it. A number of this type of image from the boxer and revolution periods continued to be recycled through the late 1920's.

[Dirk]

But Minister Calhoun (on the right) was concerned this round of rioting could still turn anti-foreign(a few westerners were killed in other parts of the country). In his report back to Washington he stated he "called up on the telephone Major Arrasmith, the commander of the Fifteenth Infantry Regiment at Tientsin, stated the situation to him, and he [Arrasmith] sent 200 men. He put them on trains that night and they arrived the next morning."

[Dirk]

The 15th arrives. This picture shows a detachment of what ultimately turned out to be 6 officers and 221 men of the 15th Infantry at Peking. I still have not figured out if Maj Arrasmith came with them or remained behind in Tientsin. The Marine Officer escorting them in is Lt Sam Budd. Looks like one officer is wearing the new Montana peaked campaign hat.

[Dirk]

The Army would encamp within the Marine compound, living in tents. They would remain here for about 10 days.

[Dirk]

With the great powers now pouring so many reinforcements into the city, the Allies now felt secure enough to hold a parade through Peking to, in Jodon's words "show the Chinese we were strong and ready for anything." They marched in alphabetical order with the Americans leading. This image is probably one of the earliest Horse Marine pictures you will ever see. Formed Jan-Feb 1912, these Marines were to act as mounted couriers, patrol the city, and to bring in Americans from outlying areas in the event of danger. This picture was taken by a professional American photographer living in the city shows the allied parade....and again there are others in this series.......note no swords, guidons or fancy red saddle blankets, just Marines, rifles and horses......

[Dirk]

A machine gun section.....

[Dirk]

Each nation sent 50-150 men to join the parade. Here is the German detachment.

[Dirk]

And the British...surprisingly loose marching order.

[Dirk]

Austrian Marines.....the smallest detachment of the "great powers" By 1916 they, the Germans and the Russians would be gone never to return.

[Dirk]

As Spring 1912 passed, things settled down enough that the reinforcements that were rushed to Peking returned to their home garrisons. For the Americans, the detachment of the15th Infantry returned to Tientsin....While many of Bannon's Marines returned to the PI. They left however, with the Marines still occupying their section of the Tartar Wall, Chien Men Tower (they would hold the tower through 1913), and establishing a number of things we associate with the Legation Guard Detachment. The Marines would from 1911 forward, maintain at least two companies in Peking. During this same time they would establish an enlisted mens club, a band, and the Horse Marines. Of course the Legation Marines and the 15th would be tied together through March of 1938. Lastly, how the US Government reacted to this crisis set the tone for how they would react to future China crises in 1916, 1922, 1925, 1927 and beyond. This picture shows a marine company about to depart the city for a conditioning march.

[Dirk]

It is fitting I end the thread with this private picture of a young American girl with her dogs. She is holding her favorite: Gyp. She is the daughter of the Commander of the Legation's Marine Detachment. She was a witness to many of the events shown here. In time, she would become a wealthy socialite and a great patron of the arts. Furthermore, she would give millions of dollars to a number of charities throughout the world. There is one other interesting fact about her...she is still alive. According to her son she can no longer recall those days long ago, but she did write a wonderful memoir in the 1960's of her time in China that adds a personnel touch to the story of the Marines and the 1911 Chinese Revolution. This is one of my favorite pictures in the whole album.

[DevilDan1900]

Dirk,

Fantastic start to this thread. You have some outstanding images there and with your narrative, gives a wonderful glimpst into the bygone days of the China Marine when they were arguably at their most interesting. Several of the photos I remember seeing when that grouping was offered on ebay quite a while back. As I recall, they were taken by a corrospondant, one of relatively few, who went along and was attached to the U.S. forces who entered Peking. First rate.

[GLM]

It is fitting I end the thread with this private picture of a young American girl with her dogs Gyp and Fido. She is the daughter of the Commander of the Legation's Marine Detachment. She was a witness to many of the events shown here. In time, she would become a wealthy socialite and a great patron of the arts. Furthermore, she would give millions of dollars to a number of charities throughout the world. There is one other interesting fact about her...she is still alive. According to her son she can no longer recall those days long ago, but she did write a wonderful memoir in the 1960's of her time in China that adds a personnel touch to the story of the Marines and the 1911 Chinese Revolution. This is one of my favorite pictures in the whole album.

 

Dirk,

 

Excellent thread! Keep them coming!

 

Fitting that this young girl should have a couple of Pekinese dogs for pets.

 

Gary