158 days later, coincidentally, on 23 September 1861, a small postscript to the China coverage of The Illustrated London News established that there was indeed a link between Hong Kong and British actions in China.
The item took the form of an illustration of a Monument to the Royal Marines, erected in the Cemetery at "Hong Kong, China". In explanation of the illustration, it read: “The front inscription is as follows; 'In memory of the officers, non-commissioned officers, buglers, and privates of the Brigade of Royal Marines (Light Infantry); and the non-commissioned officers, buglers, and gunners of the battery of Royal Marine Artillery, who fell in the execution of their duty in China during the years 1857, 1858, 1859, and 1860. Erected by their comrades.' The slab on the right-hand side gives the names of three officers and 48 men killed in action; whilst that on the left shows the total loss from all causes to have been 257; and the numbers wounded were 27 officers, 16 sergeants, 20 corporals, four buglers, and 155 gunners and privates. The rear slab records the services of the brigade, from the taking of Canton in Dec. 1857, with the various expeditions in the neighbourhood, the Taku Forts in 1859, the defence of Shanghai, and the brilliant campaign in the north, which ended in the Treaty of Peking on Oct. 24, 1860."
Hong Kong, SAR, China
At midnight, 30 June 1997, Hong Kong was returned by Britain to China.
The Monument to the Marines "who fell in the execution of their duty in China during the Years 1857, 1858, 1859, and 1860" still stands, known only to the few Hong Kong residents today who take an interest in things of the past. And to most of these few, the past events which the Monument records are too distant in ethos as well as in time even to be uncomfortable; but are felt rather as irremediably alien.
This brief survey and commentary on the contemporary China coverage in one British periodical during the period 5 January to 23 September 1861 may perhaps offer reassurance that, like us today, the contemporary British public before, during and after Lord Elgin's China Campaign was also more comfortable when the soldiers could come
158
days later, coincidentally, on 23 September 1861, a small postscript to the China coverage of The Illustrated London News7 established that there was indeed a link between Hong Kong and British actions in China.
די
The item took the form of an illustration of a Monument to the Royal Marines, erected in the Cemetery at "Hong Kong, China" [sic]. In explanation of the illustration, it read: “The front inscription is as follows; 'In memory of the officers, noncommissioned officers, buglers, and privates of the Brigade of Royal Marines (Light Infantry); and the non-commissioned officers, buglers, and gunners of the bat- tery of Royal Marine Artillery, who fell in the execution of their duty in china during the years 1857, 1858, 1859, and 1860. Erected by their comrades.' The slab on the righthand side gives the names of three officers and 48 men killed in action; whilst that on the left shows the total loss from all causes to have been 257; and the numbers wounded were 27 officers, 16 sergeants, 20 corporals, four buglers, and 155 gun- ners and privates. The rear slab records the services of the brigade, from the taking of Canton in Dec., 1857,with the various expeditions in the neighbourhood, the Taku Forts in 1859, the defence of Shanghai, and the brilliant campaign in the north, which ended in the Treaty of pekin on Oct. 24, 1860."68
Hong Kong, SAR, China
At midnight, 30 June 1997, Hong Kong was returned by Britain to China,
The Monument to the Marines "who fell in the execution of their duty in China during the Years 1857, 1858, 1859, and 1860" still stands, known only to the few Hong Kong residents today who take an interest in things of the past. And to most of these few, the past events which the Monument records are too distant in ethos as well as in time even to be uncomfortable; but are felt rather as irremediably alien.
This brief survey and commentary on the contemporary China cov- erage in one British periodical during the period 5 January to 23 Sep- tember 1861 may perhaps offer reassurance that like us today - - the contemporary British public before, during and after Lord Elgin's China Campaign was also more comfortable when the soldiers could come
לח
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