Blyth, Bert (Sergeant Major) - Military Training Syllabus for the Resolute Divisions of the Huai Army - Volume 6.

Chinese military training manual entitled "Military Training Syllabus for the Resolute Divisions of the Huai Army", souvenired by an Australian soldier during the Boxer Uprising in China from 1900 - 1901. The training syllabus was published in the mid 1890's as a training manual for the instructors and officers of the Wuyi Jun or Resolute Divisions of the Huai Army.

The Huai Army was raised by Li Hongzhang in 1862 to combat the Taiping rebels who controlled the region of the Yangtze River around Nanjing. It was raised from Li Hongzhang's native province of Anhui on the Huai River, thus giving the army its name. It is clear from the training syllabus that the Resolute Divisions of the Huai Army received thorough training in the use of modern western weapons and tactics.

The training syllabus is comprised of ten chapters, or Juan, which are bound in seven thin volumes. Volume 6 is comprised of Juan 9 and Juan 10. Juan 9 (chapter 9) explains the theory and practice of signalling by semaphore. Juan 10 (chapter 10) covers signalling by means of coloured lanterns.

In the collection of Sergeant Major Bert Blyth is a Chinese military training manual that he souvenired during the Boxer Uprising in China from 1900 - 1901. The book is titled A Military Training Syllabus for the Resolute Divisions of the Huai Army.

Australia became involved in the Boxer Uprising in August 1900 when 570 troops were despatched as the Australian Naval Contingent to join troops from eight other nations already serving in China. The Australian Naval Contingent comprised of 263 men from the New South Wales Contingent, 199 men from the Victorian Contingent and 108 men from South Australia serving on the HMCS Protector.

During service in China the Australian Naval Contingent was primarily engaged in garrison duties and police work in Peking and Tientsin and occasionally worked as railway men and fire-fighters. The crew of the HMCS Protector engaged in survey work and carried despatches. The HMCS Protector returned to Australia on 8 January 1901, the New South Wales and Victorian Contingents arrived in Sydney on 25 April 1901.

Like all servicemen serving in a foreign country, the Australian Naval Contingent returned with variety of souvenirs and trophies as mementoes of their time in China. Some of these included a bronze temple bell, dated 1715; a double handed executioner's sword; a two-metre long, three-man blunderbuss; a chopping spear and the plait of a Boxer soldier, cut off before his execution.

The training syllabus was published in the mid 1890's as a training manual for the instructors and officers of the Wuyi Jun or Resolute Divisions of the Huai Army. The Huai Army was raised by Li Hongzhang in 1862 to combat the Taiping rebels who controlled the region of the Yangtze River around Nanjing. The Huai Army was raised from Li Hongzhang's native province of Anhui on the Huai River, thus giving the army its name. Although the Taiping rebellion was crushed in 1864 the Huai Army continued to exist and the Resolute Divisions of the Huai Army were formed in 1866. When troops from Britain attacked the city to relieve the siege of the Peking legations, the Resolute Divisions of the Huai Army fought against them. It is possibly during this time that the training syllabus was first souvenired.

It is clear from the training syllabus that the Resolute Divisions of the Huai Army received thorough training in the use of modern western weapons and tactics. The training syllabus is comprised of ten chapters, or Juan, which are bound in seven thin volumes.