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The British occupation of Joseon Korea

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HMS Pegasus at Port Hamilton circa 1885-1887.
HMS Pegasus at Port Hamilton circa 1885-1887.

By Robert Neff

British barracks at Port Hamilton circa 1885-1887.
British barracks at Port Hamilton circa 1885-1887.
Concerned about Russia's growing influence in Korea, three British warships sailed into Geomun-do (a small group of islands off the southern coast of Korea) on April 15, 1885, and began a two-year "preventive occupation" in which a garrison was established and named Port Hamilton.

Aside from the small Korean villages, there was very little on the islands. Barracks, warehouses and port facilities had to be constructed for the garrison which, at its peak, housed some 800 marines and sailors.

Almost all the food had to be imported from Japan and China. The islands had little in the way of livestock, so cows, pigs, geese, chickens and even sheep were brought over and raised ― the cows and pigs did fairly well but the sheep were unable to eat the island's vegetation and soon perished. The poultry thrived but great care had to be taken to protect them from the hawks and crows that plagued the area.

Life at the garrison was extremely boring. A small library was established with its collection of "somewhat ancient light literature" and tennis courts were constructed.

Construction at Port Hamilton circa 1885-1887.
Construction at Port Hamilton circa 1885-1887.

A Korean boy carrying straw circa 1885-1887.
A Korean boy carrying straw circa 1885-1887.
A group of enterprising young officers managed to pool their money and sent one man to China to purchase nine pairs of pheasants in hope of establishing a pheasant population on the island that could then be hunted. Unfortunately for them, the man they sent was unaware of the differences between the cocks and hens and ended up bringing back 17 male pheasants. That mistake wasn't made again and by the end of October 1886, more than 200 pheasants had been imported and released on the islands.

While books, tennis and hunting did provide the men with a distraction, it did not provide them with what they desired the most ― female companionship. Every couple of months or so, the men were allowed to travel to Nagasaki or Shanghai for shore leave. As sailors were wont to do, they drank heavily and patronized the brothels for a couple of days before being rounded up and returned to the forced celibacy of the garrison.

One Japanese man saw the potential of a captive market and so, posing as a fisherman and accompanied by five female assistants, he set up his "fishing camp" across the bay from the British garrison on May 16, 1886, and began to dry fish. It soon became apparent to all that it wasn't fish he was trying to catch.

Cattle for the British garrison circa 1885-1887.Cattle for the British garrison circa 1885-1887.
Korean islanders circa 1885-1887.Cattle for the British garrison circa 1885-1887.

On the first night three young hormone-filled marines were caught trying to sneak over to the fisherman's camp. The following night, the roving guard was increased but it was no deterrent; in the early hours of May 18 12 marines ― in two boats ― were discovered sailing for the Japanese camp. A boat was sent out to intercept them and the startled marines ― seeking to avoid capture ― inadvertently capsized one their boats, dumping six men into the water. Five were rescued but one young man ― Pvt. Peter Ward ―drowned. It was later discovered that not only could he not swim but his pockets were full of silver dollars in anticipation of paying for the attention of the fisherman's assistants.

The British occupation of Geomun-do (Port Hamilton) ended in February 1887. Everything that could was taken down and shipped back to Nagasaki where it was sold ― only the graves of the handful of British sailors and marines were left as a testament to the occupation. Even now, the gravestones can still be found but ― from my understanding ― the bodies were all disinterred at the end of the 20th century and returned to their homeland.

British officers at the Port Hamilton Sportsman Club circa 1885-1887
British officers at the Port Hamilton Sportsman Club circa 1885-1887

HMS Pegasus being viewed by Korean islanders circa 1885-1887.
HMS Pegasus being viewed by Korean islanders circa 1885-1887.

The grave of Pvt. Peter Ward circa late 1880s early 1890s.
The grave of Pvt. Peter Ward circa late 1880s early 1890s.





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