Description
China 1900, no bar, Pte J.H. Simmonds, Shanghai Volunteers, Customs Officer in Shanghai and Master Mariner, died on the S.S. Korea during 1906.
Officially impressed: “Pte J.H. Simmonds Shanghai Vols.”
Well preserved condition as he died very shortly after receiving the medal.
Rarely seen to this unit, not many were issued, only being awarded to British Men who served in the S.V.C. during the China War.
The S.V.C. was also made up of about 20 nationalities, the German’s received their own war medal, the Americans seem to have not authorised any issue.
The S.V.C. also sent out letters prompting other governments of which their men came from, including Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland and France. Italy granted their own Italian War medal to Private J. Bartolini who appears to be the only Italian.
James, a Shanghai Resident, was many years in the service of the Merchant Navy, he took less than 6 years in his 20s to go from 2nd Mate all the way up to Master.
James was a Pilot, with a Shanghai License circa 1902.
Before the 3rd China War, he had been employed a Berthing Officer in Shanghai.
James died on 15th March 1905, onboard the S.S. Korea in Woosung Harbour near Shanghai, his address was listed as 34 Nanking Road in Shanghai, China.
He left £2552 in his probate, a large sum for the period.
James Henry Simmonds was born in London during 1866.
As a young man he entered the Merchant Navy Service, he was graded as a Second Mate in the Merchant Service on 23rd July 1885.
On 16th May 1889, he passed to be appointed as a First Mate.
Not long afterwards on 11th June 1891, a quick advancement saw him issued the certificate of a “Master” Mariner in the Merchant Service.
During the 1900 “Boxer Rebellion” in China, the Shanghai Volunteer Corps were mobilised for active service.
A very unusual and unique regiment, they were funded by the Shanghai Municipal Council and the men were volunteers who claimed no pay for their services.
Most of the volunteers were prominent individuals from many different nationalities who were residents in Shanghai at the time.
James Simmonds had been living in Shanghai at the time, working as the Third Class Berthing Officer at the Port in Shanghai circa 1899-1900.
The Shanghai Municipal Council Report of 1903 records the medal issues:
“Sir, I have the honour to inform you that the Government of Great Britain, Germany and Japan have been pleased to recognise the services rendered to the Community of Shanghai by the Shanghai Volunteers in 1900, by conferring war medals upon Volunteers of their respective nationalities who were at that time members of the Corps. As the Shanghai Volunteer Corps is a cosmopolitan body, whose membership include representatives of almost all the foreign powers, it has occurred to the Council that other Governments might see fit, if the matter were brought to their notice, to make some similar recognition of the services rendered by their subjects and citizens.
With this in view, the Council has decided to forward to each Consular representative concerned a list of the names of his nationals who were members of the S.V.C. between 10th June and 18th August 1900. I have therefore the
honour to enclose the list containing the names of the subjects or citizens on the
roll of the Corps during that period.”
They report that the Medals were all issued to the recipients on 13th August 1903:
“PRESENTATION OF MEDALS – On the 13th AUgust, the Corps paraded and the British North China Medal was presented by H.E. Sir E. Satow to the British Subjects who were members of the Corps during the troubles in 1900.”
