Chinese soldier's uniform insignia : Anhui and Jiangsu provinces : Boxer Rebellion

Large circular badge taken from the front of a Chinese soldier's uniform. The cotton badge has been treated with a brown oil to waterproof and stiffen the fabric and then printed with black and red characters. The badge is divided into two upper horizontal sections and three lower vertical sections. Each division and the edge of the circle are edged with a thick and a narrow black line. Topmost horizontal section translates as 'Chih-Li'. This is the name of a province now called Ho-pei province with Beijing as its capital. The lower horizontal section translates as 'The right wing regiment of the Army of Huai (a region encompassing Anhai and Jiangsu provinces) under commander-in-chief Li Hung-chang. The left vertical section translates as 'regular soldiers', the central section as 'left barracks' and the right section as 'patrol or guards', with 14 soldiers to a group.

Captured by Royal Navy Able Seaman S N Potter who served in the Boxer Rebellion in HMS Barfleur. One of two identical badges captured by Potter. They were worn on the centre front of soldier's jackets. Bob Nicholls' 'Bluejackets & Boxers', Allen & Unwin, 1986, shows a photograph of Chinese soldiers wearing these badges on p.89. The badges were not worn by officers.