Rebellion Gallery

Escape from Harbin - July 1900 - Boxer Rebellion

In 1900, China's anti-foreigner Boxer Rebellion broke out and spread to Manchuria. The Russian Military moved in to quell the uprising. Following the rebellion, Russia was keen to keep hold of territory gained in Manchuria, but retreated in 1902 to keep peace with Japan. Harbin was like a Wild West frontier town, with the populace of 15, 000 Russians representing every strata of society. The 30, 000 Chinese remained segregated from the Russian, particularly following the Boxer Rebellion. This fascinating postcard shows the escape from Harbin of the Russian population of the city in July 1900, when 3000 women children and wounded left on two steamers with barges (seen here) bound for Khabarovsk. Date: 1900

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

WW1 - Well Done South Africa

WW1 - 'Well Done South Africa' - During the First World War, Jan Smuts formed the South African Defence Force. His first task was to suppress the Maritz Rebellion by pro-German forces led by Colonel Maritz, commander of the frontier forces. Louis Botha carried out the campaign against the rebels but it was organised by Smuts who was Minister of Defence. Date: circa 1914

Winston Churchill visits Prime Minister - Curragh incident

Winston Churchill visits the Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith on Monday 26th 1914 following the Curragh incident of 20th March 1914 (also known as the Curragh mutiny). With Irish Home Rule due to become law in 1914, the British Cabinet contemplated some kind of military action against the Ulster Volunteers who threatened to rebel against it. Many officers, especially those with Irish Protestant connections, of whom the most prominent was Hubert Gough, threatened to resign rather than obey, privately encouraged from London by senior officers including Henry Wilson. Date: 1914

© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection