The Guardia Civil in the Boxer War

Question from Les White

The Spanish 'GUARDIA CIVIL' were sent to China after the Boxer Rebellion in 1901 to protect the Embassy. How many were sent, what uniform did they wear and at what location was the Embassy ? Any ideas ?

Jose Maria Bueno's book on the uniforms of the Spanish Guardia Civil ISBN 84-86629-34-9 does not make specific reference to the Peking Legation (not Embassy) guard but does contain colour plates showing the service uniforms of this corps as worn both in Spain and North Africa during the early 1900s. These comprised dark blue uniforms with red collars and cuffs in colder weather and the "rayadillo" (basically white with fine blue pajama style stripes) hot weather dress. In both cases the distinctive bicorn hats could be worn with white covers and neck curtains.

Several of the foreign countries not directly involved in the suppression of the Boxer Rising subsequently sent military/naval detachments to guard their diplomats in Peking and provide ceremonial colour when required. These do not appear to have large - the specially raised Belgian ""Garde de la Legation Belge a Pekin" numbered only 20 men under a junior officer. The foreign missions in Peking were grouped together in a special Legation Quarter - which proved a sensible arrangement during the siege of 1900.