"Imperial Chinese Cavalry during the Boxer Rebellion" Topic

Hey all,

I have recently begun collecting and gaming the Boxer Rebellion in 28mm with my local club. I have acquired a few books about the period, but I'm having difficulty finding a lot of information about Imperial Chinese Cavalry. I know that they used some irregular cav as per Old Glory's Tatar Cav, but did the Imperial army have their own cavalry formations? If so, does anyone know of a 28mm line with something roughly that could be used to represent these troops?

Thanks so much,

J

The Chinese did have regular cavalry. The 'Kansu Braves' fielded two squadrons of regulars. Muslims with black turbans and equipped with modern rifles. The rest of their uniform was based on the traditional attire worn by the Kansu Braves.
I'm not sure if anyone makes such figures in 28mm

Oh, really?
Even something "pretty close" to do headswaps would be cool.

Back in the Olden Dayes of Yore™, there would be articles on how to convert Airfix French cuirassiers into Imperial Chinese Cavalry.

I have a bag of Old Glory Jacobite Fitzjames Horse sitting around doing nothing…

John;
Then you need to darn well get to painting them…

Eric

From my (limited) reading all of the new formations had organic cavalry, and some of these would have worn peaked caps.

OG do them in 15mm, but not in 25mm, which is odd. Maybe have a look at the Copplestone Castings Back of Beyond range – the BU31 Chinese Cavalry in Peaked Caps look pretty close. link

Clive

So far what I have seen in the availabe books the Imperial Chinese cavalry is still organised around the Manchu Banner system. Still clad in outdated brigandine armour.

Mutineer was planning a release of Chinese for that period but it has been a while and nothing heard yet.

Hey Ricepot,

Do you think getting Han Chinese, or Ming Chinese cavalry would work for Banner cavalry? They all seem clad in brigandine armor.

J

Can anyone think of any 25/28mm Chinese line that has Chinese cavalry in turbans?

J

Frontier Miniatures made them in 15mm and 25mm. I have the 15mm in my Boxer Rebellion Chinese Army.

Check Ebay or some of the other figure sales sites on the Internet and you may find them out there in 25mm.

They are not in business any longer and who knows who has the molds and figures. Rumors are out there?
link
TMP link
TMP link
link

Hi Jbfrage,
the late Ming would be closer. I dont think the Han Chinese will make it, you are looking at a thousand years gap. But I dont think there are good Ming brigandine cavalry available in the market.

The Perry Koreans would be the closest if you are not too picky.

regards.

I wonder if it is time for a reality check?

Let's not forget that Chinese armies had been armed with modern firearms for 30 years before the Boxer rebellion, and most Banner troops were infantry by this time.

However a portion of the Banner troops were still mounted and I am quite sure they would have worn armour and carried bows for ceremonial and guard duties. But that statement applies equally to the British Horse Guards and Lifeguards of the time (OK, without the bows) – it doesn't mean they wore their armor into battle when faced with breech-loading rifles, machine guns and krupp artillery. Equally, I would be amazed if Banner cavalry would burden themselves with useless armor in the field (assuming they even appeared on the field, of course). Metal armour is hot, and it's heavy, and it's useless against western opponents. (Against poorly armed rebels it might be a different matter, and bows might be more useful as they are less likely to kill the misguided children of the Empress.)

Admittedly I have no evidence either way – these are just educated guesses. But I would have to agree that lamellar armor would be shiny and look far better on the games table!