Shanghai Defence Force
Encyclopedia
The Shanghai Defence Force was a tri-service military formation established by the British
Government to protect European nationals and their property in Shanghai
from Chinese communist forces.
in China
in 1912 the country was divided between communist forces led by Mao Zedong
in the South and nationalist forces under Field Marshal
(Generalissimo
) Chiang Kai-shek
in the north. In January 1927 the British Concession in Hankou
was invaded by communist forces undertaking their Northern Expedition which sought to unify China. Following a request from the Commander-in-Chief, China Station
the Shanghai Defence Force was established under the leadership of Major-General John Duncan
later that month amidst concerns that British lives and properties were at risk during the unrest in China at the time. King's College was requisitioned to be the quarters and hospital for the Shanghai Defence Force from February to December 1927. Royal Air Force China Command at Hong Kong was established to administer Royal Air Force units in the region. Tension finally eased in August of that year and troops were withdrawn towards the end of the year.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Government to protect European nationals and their property in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
from Chinese communist forces.
History
Following the Xinhai RevolutionXinhai Revolution
The Xinhai Revolution or Hsinhai Revolution, also known as Revolution of 1911 or the Chinese Revolution, was a revolution that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty, the Qing , and established the Republic of China...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1912 the country was divided between communist forces led by Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
in the South and nationalist forces under Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
(Generalissimo
Generalissimo
Generalissimo and Generalissimus are military ranks of the highest degree, superior to Field Marshal and other five-star ranks.-Usage:...
) Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
in the north. In January 1927 the British Concession in Hankou
Hankou
Hankou was one of the three cities whose merging formed modern-day Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei province, China. It stands north of the Han and Yangtze Rivers where the Han falls into the Yangtze...
was invaded by communist forces undertaking their Northern Expedition which sought to unify China. Following a request from the Commander-in-Chief, China Station
China Station
The China Station was a historical formation of the British Royal Navy. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, China....
the Shanghai Defence Force was established under the leadership of Major-General John Duncan
John Duncan (British Army officer)
Major-General Sir John Duncan KCB CMG CVO DSO was a British Army officer who commanded the Shanghai Defence Force.-Military career:...
later that month amidst concerns that British lives and properties were at risk during the unrest in China at the time. King's College was requisitioned to be the quarters and hospital for the Shanghai Defence Force from February to December 1927. Royal Air Force China Command at Hong Kong was established to administer Royal Air Force units in the region. Tension finally eased in August of that year and troops were withdrawn towards the end of the year.