Opium Wars (1839-1843, 1856-1860), two wars fought between Great Britain and China in which Western powers gained significant commercial privileges and territory. The Opium Wars began when the Chinese government tried to stop the illegal importation of opium by British merchants.
The First Opium War started in 1839 when the Chinese government confiscated opium warehouses in Guangzhou (Canton). Britain responded by sending an expedition of warships to the city in February 1840. The British won a quick victory and the conflict was ended by the Treaty of Nanking (Nanjing) on August 29, 1842. By this treaty, and a supplementary one signed on October 8, 1843, China was forced to pay a large indemnity, open five ports to British trade and residence, and cede Hong Kong to Great Britain. The treaty also gave British citizens in China the right to be tried in British courts. Other Western powers demanded, and were granted, similar privileges.
In October 1856, Guangzhou police boarded the British ship Arrow and charged its crew with smuggling. Eager to gain more trading rights, the British used the incident to launch another offensive, precipitating the Second Opium War. British forces, aided by the French, won another quick military victory in 1857. When the Chinese government refused to ratify the Treaty of Tientsin, which had been signed in 1858, the hostilities resumed. In 1860, after British and French troops had occupied Beijing and burned the Summer Palace, the Chinese agreed to ratify the treaty. The treaty opened additional trading ports, allowed foreign emissaries to reside in Beijing, admitted Christian missionaries into China, and opened travel to the Chinese interior. Later negotiations legalized the importation of opium. "Opium Wars," Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1994 Microsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1994 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation.
<<<>>>> Summer Palace, Beijing, China The Summer Palace, part of which is seen in the foreground, served as the summer residence of China's imperial family. Constructed as a single building in the 1100s, the palace expanded over the centuries into a larger complex of buildings, pavilions, paths, and gardens. Located in Beijing, the palace overlooks Kunming Lake. China Pictorial <<< >>>>
British Battles and Medals.
Delhi. 30th May - 14 th September 1857. This bar was awarded to the troops employed in the recapture of the city. The relieving forces, owing to illness and death, had no fewer than 4 Commanders between 14th May 7 & 14th September, 1857. The 1/60 were awarded 680 bars.
Second China War Medal - Taku Forts - 21st August 1860 - 2/60 were present nearby. i.e. 760, but received no medals.
Pekin. 2/60 (2nd Company 60th Royal Rifles), received 67 bars & 751 took part from their Regiment. Operations started in August 1860 when reinforcements arrived, composed of about 13,000 European & Indian troops (including W.H. Webster, who had transferred to the 2nd from the 1st Company), with a French contingent 6,700 strong, in addition to the combined fleet.
Operations started August 1960, at the Taku Forts
(Breech loading rifled artillery, which had been invented by Sir William Armstrong in 1859, was first usedin war against the entrenchments at Sinho on 12th August 1860 and next against these forts) at the mouth of the Peiho River were captured on the 21st. On arrival at Tiensin, which is about 40 miles up the Peiho River, the Chinese tried to bargain for time, but both Allied Commanders agreed that it was essential to get to Pekin. The capital was entered on the 13th October after two severe actions at Chang-Kia-Wan on the 18th September & Pa-Li-Chian on the 21st. A treaty was signed on 24th of October. Kowloon was exchanged for the island of Chusan and a large indemnity paid. Pekin was evacuated on the 5th November. (End of quote).
Editor:- (Mrs Ritchie). As mentioned elsewhere the China Medal awarded to W.H. Webster was in the family`s possession until very recently, when it was stolen, & I have proof from the Regimental records that he had the Indian Mutiny medal with the Delhi Bar.
"Times" Extract August 11th 1858. Your correspondent states "The enemy stood firmly up to the 60th Rifles" but they were not there. It was the 2nd & 3rd Battalions of the Rifle Brigade who behaved so gallantly on that occasion as regards charging and killing numbers of Sepoys with bayonet and clubbed rifle. The noble old 60 the covered themselves with glory at the siege of Delhi & everywhere that they have been employed; but the Delhi heroes are now with their Colonel (Brigadier Jones) in Rohilicund. General Outram thus addressed the Bengal Rifle Brigade "You have behaved at Lucknow as well as the 60th did at Delhi and it is impossible for any man to give greater praise than that".
Editor`s note:- The original letters for 1858 - 59 are in the possession of W.H. Webster (III) in 1985 & are in very poor condition, so I have transcribed them with great difficulty, as they did not photocopy well. The names of someplaces were not clear & were spelt differently from the present day & many names are those of small villages, that can only be found on a really large scale map.
The letters from 1860 to 1862 from China were condensed by John`s wife Marie, his eldest daughter-in-law, & destroyed unfortunately, owing to their poor condition - hence the very brief notes.
He returned to England as Corporal W.H. Webster, with the Indian Mutiny Medal & one for the service in China, when he transferred to the 2nd Battalion. The Army told me that there only a few holders of both these two decorations, as only 40 odd men did this transfer.
This information was given to me when I visited the H.Q. of the King`s Royal Rifle Corps. Now called the Royal Green Jackets, at Winchester, Hampshire. They asked how old he was when he died & were amazed to hear that he lived until the age of 60; they said this was extremely rare for anyone who came through the Indian Mutiny as conditions were so bad & more people died from Cholera etc, than from the actual fighting. They checked the records & gave me proof of the Delhi Medal which was stolen from his son John in Russia, with the Fairfax sword. But the records of the China Medal were checked at Kew for me, but the microfish was too badly damaged to read. However this medal was given to his son W.H. Webster the second, who gave it to his son, John Stanley (my brother), who gave it to his son Brian John Whitney Webster, but unfortunately it was stolen from him when he lived at Otley in the early 1980s.
On returning to England, it will be noted that he received only 25 days leave after 10 years overseas service; he was then discharged.
He spent 5 months at home & was presumably unable to find work, as conditions were very difficult at that time (see 1860 letter signed by his Father John Webster) & then there was no unemployment benefit in those days. So he got together a party to go to Vancouver to go to the Gold Diggings.
The party consisted of W.H.Webster, his brother, Richard Baker Webster, Tom Cantrill, George Hemingway and 4 others. None of W.H.W.`s letters have been saved, so the following ones are from Richard B Webster who was very artistic & poetic. Several of his paintings remain of the log cabin, & many excellent ones in a family album owned by the editor. George Hemingway died whilst gold digging, & his twin sister, Mary Anne married Edmund Hemingway as his second wife, & sister Sarah Jane married the above W.H. Webster in 1873.
Service Abroad.
Served during the campaign of 1857 against the mutinous Sepoys of the Bengal Native Army including the action on the Hindon on the 30th and 31st May 1857.
The Battle of Baiden Ki Serai; taking and occupation of the Heights before Delhi June. The subsequent seige operations before Delhi; assault and capture of the City, September 14th 1857 until the final attack and occupation of the Palace on September 20th 1857.
Rohilcund Campaign 1858 - 1859.
Served during campaign in Rohilcund including action of Bagawalla on April 17th 1858.
Battle of Nuguno on 21st and relief of Mooradabad on 25th April.
The action of the Danoeron the 5th May 1858.
Assault & Capture of Barcilly 6th May 1858.
Assault and Bombardment of Shahjehuan Poor.
Defeat of the rebels & relief of the garrison 11th.
Capture of the Fort of Banna May 24th
Pursuit of rebels to the left bank of the Goomter & destruction of the Fort Mahondy May 26th 1858.
Campaign of Oude 1858 - 1859.
Present at the action of Bung-a-Gang, October 8th 1858.
Also the action of Pusgoon, October 19th 1858.
Battle of Russallpoor, October 25th 1858.
Assault and capture of the Fort of Ratawlie November 5th 1858.
Action of Milimder, November 18th 1858.
Action of Biswah on December 1st 1858.
China. 28th April 1860.
Nothing worth speaking of. Battles as follows.
Singo. August 2nd 1860
Hong Kow. August 14th 1860.
Takao Forts. August 21st 1860.
Pekin. October 6th 1860.
Comment:- Chinamen no good.
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