The Seymour Expedition was “a serious failure.” and a “humiliation” (Marilyn Blatt Young (1969)).  Seymour underestimated his Chinese opponent, trusting that he could push through to Beijing quickly with little or no opposition. Instead, “Seymour’s expedition became a large moving target for the Boxers and Imperial troops. The would-be rescuers now required rescue themselves” (Leonhard, Robert R (2011).

French forces being attacked by Chinese Regular troops.

As a child growing up I loved playing with my toy soldiers and my Triang train set. At last thanks to John G. I had a chance to play in a war game that indulged both “ancient” passions.

The navies escaping in the distance to the fort as boxers attack.

The game was set with the train stopped while “navies” were repairing the damaged tracks. The VP’s were varied with differing points values but included Ally points for capturing Boxer guns, retaining the fort and the amount of navies that survived.

British bodies scattered throughout the fort.

The Boxers obtained VP’s for  capturing the fort’s flag and elements destroyed amongst other things. Should the duchess be killed this would add more victory points.

The “thin red line” has become very thin!!

The rules were John G’s own –  55 Days at Peking – Fort Endymion rules and his 20mm plastic figures were used.

The Duchess just before being hit by Chines Jezzails.

Graeme G, Chris G and Steve N were using the dastardly allied invaders and Geoff F, Mark E and David S were using the glorious Boxer freedom fighters.

Boxers storming the fort.

Needless to say the fort fell along with the flag which was carried off the field in much pomp and ceremony, the Boxer guns were intact, and casualties on the ally side were extremely high with the German contingent being the only one of the original to survive.

With the Duchess killed alongside the railway track and most of the original officers captured it was a massive Boxer victory.

The Duchess down and Boxers contesting the fort.

Dr. Sun Yat Sen, “the founding father of the Republic of China and of the Kuomintang party praised the Boxers for fighting against Western Imperialism. He said the Boxers were courageous and fearless, fighting to the death against the Western armies, Dr. Sun specifically cited the Battle of Yangcun, although apparently referring to a battle earlier in the Boxer Rebellion between the Boxers and the army of the Seymour Expedition” (Wikipedia).