Shanghai Volunteer Corps
Encyclopedia
The Shanghai Volunteer Corps (SVC) (Chinese
: 萬國商團), also known as the Shanghai Defence Corps, was a part time military unit of the Shanghai International Settlement
in existence from 1853 to 1942.
s Uprising, disbanded in 1855 but reestablished in 1861. In 1870 the running of the SVC was taken over by the Shanghai Municipal Council.
The unit was mobilised in 1900 for the Boxer Rebellion
and in 1914 for the First World War. Prior to 1917, the SVC had a German Company and an Austro-Hungarian Company but these were disbanded when China declared war on Germany.
At various times during its history the Shanghai Volunteer Corps comprised British, American, Italian, Austro-Hungarian, Danish, German, Filipino, Jewish, Portuguese, Japanese, White Russian and Eurasian companies. Weapons and a commanding officer were supplied by the British War Office. Prior to 1914 some of the national contingents wore distinctive parade uniforms at their own expense, modelled on those of their respective national armies.
With the exception of the White Russians, the Corps were all unpaid Volunteers with the SVC financed by the Shanghai Municipal Council. In 1941 the White Russian Regiment became the Auxiliary Detachment of the Shanghai Municipal Police
.
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 萬國商團), also known as the Shanghai Defence Corps, was a part time military unit of the Shanghai International Settlement
Shanghai International Settlement
The Shanghai International Settlement began originally as a purely British settlement. It was one of the original five treaty ports which were established under the terms of the Treaty of Nanking at the end of the first opium war in the year 1842...
in existence from 1853 to 1942.
History
It was first created on April 12, 1853 during the Small Swords SocietySmall Swords Society
Small Swords Society was a political and military organisation active in Shanghai, China and neighbouring areas during the Taiping Rebellion....
s Uprising, disbanded in 1855 but reestablished in 1861. In 1870 the running of the SVC was taken over by the Shanghai Municipal Council.
The unit was mobilised in 1900 for the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
and in 1914 for the First World War. Prior to 1917, the SVC had a German Company and an Austro-Hungarian Company but these were disbanded when China declared war on Germany.
At various times during its history the Shanghai Volunteer Corps comprised British, American, Italian, Austro-Hungarian, Danish, German, Filipino, Jewish, Portuguese, Japanese, White Russian and Eurasian companies. Weapons and a commanding officer were supplied by the British War Office. Prior to 1914 some of the national contingents wore distinctive parade uniforms at their own expense, modelled on those of their respective national armies.
Units
The SVC reached their maximum strength and publicity in the early 1930s where it consisted of the following units-- Light Horse (American Troop)
- Field Artillery Battery
- Light Artillery Battery (prior to 1924 it was the Scandinavian Company)
- Field (Engineers) Company
- Armoured Car Company
- "A" Company (British)
- "B" Company (Eurasian)
- "C" Company (Chinese)
- American Company
- Japanese Company
- "H" Company (Jewish Company)
- Philippine Company (under American Officers)
- Portuguese Company
- Shanghai Scottish
- American Machine Gun Company
- Transport Company
- Signals Company
- Interpreter Company
- Air Defence Company
- Public SchoolPublic schoolPublic school may refer to:*State school in Australia, Canada, Scotland, and the United States, a school funded with tax revenue and administered by a government or governmental agency...
CadetCadetA cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
Company - White RussianWhite RussianWhite Russian may refer to:* White Russian , an alcoholic beverage* White movement members during the Russian Civil War from 1918 to 1923* A White émigré from the Russian Civil War...
Regiment
With the exception of the White Russians, the Corps were all unpaid Volunteers with the SVC financed by the Shanghai Municipal Council. In 1941 the White Russian Regiment became the Auxiliary Detachment of the Shanghai Municipal Police
Shanghai Municipal Police
The Shanghai Municipal Police was the police force of the Shanghai Municipal Council which governed the Shanghai International Settlement between 1854 and 1943, when the settlement was retroceded to Chinese control....
.