Part 4 The Simonosaki Campaign

Part 4 The Simonosaki Campaign

The British naval brigade and marines storm the stockade at Simonosaki, Illustrated London News, December 1864.

The following year, 1864, Horace took part in one of the forgotten naval campaigns of the Far East. At Simonosaki (Shimonoseki), Japan. Great Britain, France, The Netherlands and the USA challenged the Japanese to keep their seas open to foreign trade despite a groundswell of feeling in Japan urging foreigners to be expelled.

This was one of the campaigns that coined the term ‘gunboat diplomacy’. The British developed a reputation for resolving conflicts by naval force, as was seen in the later, better known, Boxer rebellion in China.

In 1864 Horace’s ship the Conqueror was at port in Hong Kong, when they were given orders to set sail for Yokohama, Japan. On board they took a battalion of Marines. Their mission, with the support and approval of the Japanese Emperor was to open the inland Sea at Simonosaki. The Simonosaki strait is a narrow waterway only 150M wide. It was protected by the rebel Japanese prince Chosiu who was taking pot-shots at any western ship that entered its waters.

The British believed that capturing prince Chosiu’s vantage point would give them the possibility of creating another Gibraltar in the far east, creating a hugely important strategic stronghold to control the waters. On arrival in Yokohama the Conqueror and HMS Pelorus immediately set sail with two Dutch frigates to open the sea to navigation.

Meanwhile the Governor of Yokohama had threatened to withdraw his protection from foreigners. A plot was discovered, organized by some hostile Daimios (a Daimio was a feudal lord), to murder the foreign residents of Yokohama. The Governor in Yokohama contacted Sir Rutherford Alcock, the British Consul General of Japan to say that he would not be able to protect the foreign residents. Sir Rutherford replied that it would soon be no longer required, as a body of troops were expected from Hong Kong. He contacted Hong Kong Immediately to expedite the departure of the Conqueror, with large reinforcements of Marines.

A Japanese “Expel the Barbarians” poster of the time

“The whole force which had been ordered to Yokohama with a view to opening up the inland sea has now assembled there, except a detachment of the 67th Regiment and half a battery of artillery, which left Shanghai for the same destination yesterday afternoon. All the available English, French, and Dutch vessels of war are assembled in the harbour, and the whole of Her Majesty's 20th Regiment is quartered on shore. Sir Rutherford Alcock is reported to have sent an ultimatum to the Yeddo Government requiring the immediate demolition of the batteries at Simonosaki, which have been erected by the Prince of Nagato, and the opening of the Inland Sea for purposes of commercial intercourse. The Government have 30 days to deliberate on the proposal, and it has been intimated to them that active operations will be at once undertaken unless they comply with our demands.”

The British, French and Dutch were assembled, ready for battle.

To be continued.......