This distinction was conferred on the regiments which participated in the first China War, under Sir Hugh (afterwards Lord) Gough, and is borne by the
Royal Irish.
Cameronians.
Border Regiment.
Royal Berkshires.
North Staffords.
2nd Queen's Own Sappers and Miners.
62nd Punjabis.
66th Punjabis.
74th Punjabis.
The first China War, generally known as the "Opium War," while not entailing any very severe fighting, cost us many hundred lives, owing to the neglect of the most elementary precautions on the part of the officials who were responsible for the fitting out of the expedition. The actual casus belli was the refusal of the Chinese Government to permit the importation of opium into the Empire. British merchants had been in the habit of importing the drug from India, and large fortunes had been amassed in this trade. When the edict was issued, there were large stocks of the drug in the warehouses of our fellow-countrymen, and its seizure entailed, it is said, a loss of £3,000,000. The British Commissioner on the spot insisted on the right of disposing of the opium, but the Chinese authorities put this beyond a doubt by destroying the forbidden article. We then demanded compensation, which was refused, and a force was despatched from India to enforce satisfaction and pecuniary compensation. This consisted of the 18th (Royal Irish), the 26th (Cameronians), and the 49th (Royal Berkshires), with a battalion of Bengal infantry, composed of volunteers from the whole of the Bengal army. Chusan was occupied with but little loss, and the Viceroy of the province sued for peace. Terms were arranged, the Chinese ceding Hong-Kong and paying an indemnity of 6,000,000 dollars. Grave doubts were felt as to the permanence of this arrangement, and our troops occupied certain points in the country. No efforts were made to provide them with suitable clothing or food, and the mortality was appalling, the Cameronians losing no less than 286 men between July 1, 1840, and January 1, 1841.
Early in 1841, weary of the vacillation of the Chinese, the British Government sent out considerable reinforcements, and Lieutenant-General Sir Hugh Gough was placed in supreme command. His little army was thus composed:
First Brigade—Major-General Lord Saltoun: 26th (Cameronians), 98th (North Staffords), and Bengal Volunteers.
Second Brigade—Major-General Schoedde: 55th (Border Regiment), 2nd (now the 62nd), 6th (now the 66th), and 37th Regiments of Madras Native Infantry.
Third Brigade—Major-General Bartley: 18th (Royal Irish), 49th (Royal Berkshires), and 14th (now the 74th) Madras Infantry.
Early in May, 1841, the forts at the entrance of the Canton River were bombarded and captured. The fleet then passed up the river, and on May 24 Canton itself was taken, after slight resistance, our losses being 14 killed and 91 of all ranks wounded. In the month of August Amoy was occupied, and in October Chusan was reoccupied, our losses being an officer and 19 men killed and wounded.
The winter of 1841-42 was spent in fruitless negotiation, and with the opening of the spring Sir Hugh Gough recommenced operations. In March, 1842, Ningpo was taken, and in the month of May Chapoo was captured, after a sharp fight, in which our losses were 6 officers and 51 of all ranks killed and wounded. In the month of July the fleet pushed up the Yangtse Kiang River, with a view of showing the Chinese that we could and we would reach the very heart of their country. A more determined resistance was met with at Ching-Kiang-Foo, which was carried with a loss of 13 officers and 111 of all ranks. This broke the back of the war-party. Emissaries came in suing for peace. The fresh terms included a war indemnity of 21,000,000 dollars and the opening of a number of ports to free and unrestricted trade.
List of Casualties.