Orders, Decorations and Medals

The unique ‘Defence of Legations’ C.G.M. group of five awarded to Leading Signalman Harry Swannell, Royal Navy, one of only three Naval ratings present during the Defence

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, V.R., 2nd issue, scroll suspension (Harry Swannell, Leadg. Signalman. R.N. China. 1900) officially engraved naming; China 1900, 1 clasp, Defence of Legations (H. Swannell Lg. Sign., H.M.S. Orlando); 1914-15 Star (Sig. Bosn. H. Swannell, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Ch. S. Bosn. H. Swannell. R.N.) light contact marks, otherwise very fine or better (5) £30000-35000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine collection of awards for the Boxer Rebellion 1900.

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Collection

Ex Sotheby, January 1972, and Christie’s, April 1984.

Only 8 Conspicuous Gallantry Medals were awarded for services in China 1900, including two for the Defence of the Legations at Pekin. The award to Sergeant Preston, R.M.L.I. is in the collection of the Royal Marine Museum, Eastney.

C.G.M. London Gazette 14 May 1901: ‘In connection with the recent operations in China.’

The following is extracted from the enclosure by Captain Poole to the main despatch by Captain Wray, R.M.L.I., published in the London Gazette 11 December 1900:

‘Sir, I have the honour to bring to your notice particularly the conduct of Leading Signalman H. Swannell, Her Majesty’s ship Orlando. On the 5th instant being in command of the Hanlin outposts, at 10.30 a.m. I heard that Mr Oliphant, her Britannic Majesty’s Consular Service had just been wounded. I ran out to the spot and found Leading Signalman Swannell attending to Mr Oliphant, who was mortally wounded, under the close and accurate fire of the enemy. He remained with Mr Oliphant until he was brought into a place of safety.’

Without doubt, the most famous operation of the Boxer Rebellion of 1900 was the defence by just over four hundred allied officers and men of the Legation Settlement, Pekin, against superior numbers of Chinese regular and irregular forces who were intent on evicting all ‘foreign devils’ from their country.

The British Legation Guard arrived in Pekin on the night of 31 May 1900, and comprised three officers, seventy-five non commissioned officers and men and one bugler, all of the Royal Marine Light Infantry. The detachment, which also included three Royal Navy ratings, was under the command of Captain B. M. Sprouts, R.M., who was subsequently mortally wounded. Each of the three Naval ratings present during the Defence were honourably mentioned

Ordinary guard duties were performed until 13 June, when some three hundred Boxers entered the city near the Legation Settlement, and it was from this date that the detachment was continuously at a state of readiness. On 19 June, a Chinese ultimatum for all ministers and foreigners to leave the city within twenty-four hours was rejected, and it was decided to remain and defend the Legations. All women and children were brought into the British compound, which was to be the last line of defence. Hostilities began on the night of the 20th and except for a period of communication between the two sides from 17 July to 5 August, an active and bloody state of siege continued until it was raised by the relieving allied army on the afternoon of 14 August 1900.

Swannell distinguished himself on 5 July, during the time when the enemy had mounted four smooth bore M.L. guns and were firing round shot on the Imperial City wall, and on a working party, which, with its covering force of British Marines in the Hanlin, was forced to retire into the Legation. The death of the 23-year old David Oliphant is recorded in the diary kept by his elder brother, Nigel Oliphant, of the Chinese Postal Service, who was present throughout the siege and was himself wounded:

‘5th July. - We had a quiet night; but it has been a day of sorrow for me, and for all who knew and loved D. He was well and happy when he got up this morning, but, as he often did, he went off somewhere soon after breakfast, and the next thing I heard of him, as I was working away at the Main Gate, was that he had been wounded, and was then in hospital. It appears that he had volunteered to go with a party who were to cut down some trees in front of our positions in the Hanlin Yuan. While they were at this work the Chinese began to fire from an elevated post at the gate of the Imperial City, directly north of us. Captain Poole ordered the fatigue party to come in under cover, but D., who was at the time wielding an axe on a big tree, called out that it was all right, he was under cover where he was. A few seconds afterwards he was struck, and fell to the ground. Some of the students who were of the working party and the signaller of the Marines (sic) rushed out and carried him in under a hot but fortunately erratic fire. From the first he knew that he was mortally wounded. They took him to hospital and sent for me... At 3 p.m. he passed quietly and peacefully away. His death cast a gloom over the whole community; certainly among the British no one could have been more sincerely missed.’

On the penultimate day of the siege, 13th August, as promised in Sir Claude MacDonald’s despatch to Lieutenant-General Sir Alfred Gasalee, the Union Jack, the Stars and Stripes and the Imperial Eagle of Russia were hoisted on the Tartar Wall, making excellent targets for Chinese marksmen. When the Union flag was shot away it was quickly re-hoisted by Armourer’s Mate Thomas and Leading Signalman Swannell.

Harry Swannell was born at Camden Town, London, on 22 December 1877, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. St Vincent on 26 February 1894. He became a Boy Signaller in January 1895 and remained in that branch throughout his naval career, becoming Signal Boatswain in April 1906 and transferring to the officers section, he rose to become a Chief Signal Boatswain. He retired at his own request on 22 November 1920. Sold with a quantity of research including copied record of service.