Seymour went on to be Second-in-Command of the Channel Squadron and then Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves. After that he became Commander-in-Chief, China Station. During the Boxer Rebellion, he led an expedition of 2,000 sailors and marines from Western and Japanese warships to relieve the besieged diplomatic legations in Peking. The expedition was defeated by Chinese and Boxer forces and had to return to Tianjin. Although the mission had failed, when Seymour arrived back at Portsmouth he and his men were welcomed by thousands of people lining the beach and pier.
Seymour returned to Portsmouth and joined the steam frigate HMS Mersey after which he attended the training ship HMS Illustrious and then the gunnery school HMS Excellent.[2] Promoted to sub-lieutenant on 4 May 1859, he returned to China and, during the voyage, was awarded the Royal Humane Society medal for an unsuccessful attempt to save a marine who had fallen overboard.[2] Promoted to lieutenant on 11 February 1860, he joined the frigate HMS Chesapeake, flagship of the Commander-in-Chief, China Station, and saw action again at the Battle of Taku Forts in August 1860.[2] He became commanding officer of the paddle steamer HMS Waterman at Canton and then transferred to the paddle sloop HMS Sphynx before joining the frigate HMS Imperieuse, the new flagship of the Commander-in-Chief, China Station, and took part in the Battle of Cixi in September 1862 during the Taiping Rebellion.[2]
Promoted to rear-admiral on 14 July 1889,[7] Seymour became Second-in-Command of the Channel Squadron, with his flag in the battleship HMS Anson, in April 1894.[4] Promoted to vice-admiral on 9 November 1895,[8] he became Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves later that year.[4] He was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 22 June 1897.[9]
Commander-in-Chief, China Station
Boxer Rebellion
Seymour became Commander-in-Chief, China Station, with his flag in the battleship HMS Centurion, on 18 February 1898.[10] In early 1900 the Boxers, a rural mass movement, decided to rid China of Western influence and in June 1900 they advanced on Peking, initiating the Boxer Rebellion. The diplomatic legations in Peking requested military support. On 9 June 1900 Sir Claude MacDonald the British Minister cabled Seymour, reporting that the situation in Beijing "was hourly becoming more serious" and that "troops should be landed and all arrangements made for an advance to Peking at once."[11] In response Seymour assembled a lightly armed force of 2,000 sailors and marines from Western and Japanese warships in Tianjin. The expedition headed for Beijing by train.[12] Seymour's force consisted of 916 British, 455 Germans, 326 Russians, 158 French, 112 Americans, 54 Japanese, 41 Italians, and 26 Austrians.[13]
On the first day the allied force travelled twenty five miles without incident, crossing a bridge at Yancun over the Hai River unopposed although Chinese General Nie Shicheng and thousands of his soldiers were camped there. The next few days went slowly as Seymour had to repair railroad track and fight off Boxer attacks as his trains advanced. On 14 June 1900, several hundred Boxers armed with swords, spears, and clumsy gingals attacked Seymour twice and killed five Italian sailors who had been acting as pickets. The Americans counted 102 Boxer bodies left on the battlefield at the end of one battle.[14]
On 16 June 1900 there was an allied European and Japanese attack on the Dagu Forts. As a result of the attack in Dagu, the Chinese government decided to resist Seymour's expedition and kill or expel all foreigners in northern China.[15] So, on 18 June 1900, Seymour's force was suddenly attacked by several thousand well-armed Chinese Imperial soldiers – who had not opposed Seymour's passage a few days earlier. The expedition fought off the attack, reportedly killing hundreds of Chinese at a loss of seven dead and 57 wounded. However, the need to care for the wounded, a shortage of supplies and ammunition, and the likelihood of additional Chinese attacks forced Seymour and his officers to decide on a retreat to Tianjin.[16]
Retreat
Seymour turned his trains around and headed back toward Tianjin. But, he found the bridge across the Hai River he had crossed a few days before now destroyed by the Boxers or the Chinese army. The sailors, perhaps more comfortable near water, chose to follow the river – although the railroad route was shorter and ran through open country. Along the heavily populated river banks were Boxer-infested villages every one-half mile.[17] Seymour's retreat down the Hai River was slow and difficult, covering only three miles the first day. Additional casualties included John Jellicoe who suffered a near fatal wound.[18] By 22 June 1900, the allies were out of food and down to less than 10 rounds of ammunition per man – except for the Americans who had brought ample ammunition. But, "there was no thought of surrender," said Lieutenant Wurtzbaugh. "The intention was to fight to the last with the bayonet."[19] On 23 June 1900, six miles from Tianjin, Seymour came across the Xigu fort and arsenal which inexplicably was nearly undefended by Chinese soldiers. The foreign sailors and marines took refuge in the arsenal which contained a wealth of arms and ammunition and some food. Realizing its mistake in leaving the arsenal undefended, the Chinese army attempted to dislodge Seymour, now well-armed, but were unsuccessful.[20]
A Chinese servant of the British slipped through to Tianjin and requested rescue for Seymour. Two thousand allied soldiers marched out of the city to the arsenal on 25 June 1900 and the next day escorted Seymour's men back to Tianjin. The Chinese did not oppose their passage. A missionary reported their arrival in Tianjin. "I shall never forget to my dying day, the long string of dusty travel-worn soldiers, who for a fortnight had been living on quarter rations, and fighting every day…the men were met by kind ladies with pails of tea which the poor fellows drunk as they had never drunk before – some bursting into tears."[21] Seymour's casualties were 62 dead and 232 wounded.[22]
Later career
Promoted to full admiral on 24 May 1901,[23] Seymour arrived back at Portsmouth where he was welcomed by thousands of people lining the beach and pier[24] and honoured by a visit by the Lords of the Admiralty to his flagship.[25] He had been advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) on 9 November 1900;[26] in late September 1901 he was received in a personal audience by King Edward VII, who presented him with the insignia of the order.[27] He was also awarded the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, First class, with the crossed swords in April 1902.[28]
Bacon, Admiral R. H. (1936). The Life of John Rushworth, Lord Jellicoe. London: Cassell.
Bigham, Charles Clive (1901). A Year in China. London: Macmilian.
Davids, Jules (1981). American Diplomatic and State Papers: The United States and China: Boxer Uprising, Series 3, Vol. 5. Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources.