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Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 152

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'Appointed as the [Hong Kong and Shanghai] Bank's representative in China, Tweed was in that country during the Boxer rising of 1900. His energy and foresight saved all the bank's property during that terrible time, and he took a prominent part in the defence of the British Legation. Once his horse was shot under him, and twice he extinguished fires started on the Legation roof with bullets whizzing around him. Another signal service was a daring sortie which distracted the attention of the Chinamen from the advancing relief force. For all this he received the recognition of the Government, together with a handsome monetary gift from the bank.'

James Tweed's obituary notice, 1928, refers.


A fine 'Defence of Legations' China Medal awarded to James Tweed, senior representative of the Honk Kong and Shanghai Bank in Pekin and a prominent defender

China 1900, 1 clasp, Defence of Legations (J. K. Tweed), officially re-impressed naming, good very fine and rare

James K. Tweed appears on an official Foreign Office roll of civilians entitled to the above Medal & clasp; T.N.A. FO/17/1720, refers.


The following obituary notice appeared in a Northern Irish newspaper in 1928:

'DEATH OF MR. JAS. K. TWEED - THE BOXER RISING RECALLED

The death has occurred at his residence in London of Mr. James K. Tweed, a Ballymoney man whose mid-life was full of thrills. He was the son of Mr. John Tweed, Charles Street, and received his early education at the Methodist School, and later became a teacher. While engaged in his profession in Dublin, he was offered and accepted an appointment in the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank in London.

Appointed as the Bank's representative in China, he was in that country during the Boxer rising of 1900. His energy and foresight saved all the bank's property during that terrible time, and he took a prominent part in the defence of the British Legation. Once his horse was shot under him, and twice he extinguished fires started on the Legation roof with bullets whizzing around him. Another signal service was a daring sortie which distracted the attention of the Chinamen from the advancing relief force. For all this he received the recognition of the Government, together with a handsome monetary gift from the bank. Latterly, he was directing the operations of a large concern in Shanghai. One of his brothers is the Rev. Robert Tweed, Newton Hamilton and Clarksbridge, while another is Mr. John Tweed, Mayor of Angoretta, Australia. His only sister is Mrs. James Rankin, Belfast.

Tweed - September 29, 1928, at his residence, The Thatched Cottage, Newmarket, James Kirkpatrick Tweed, of Shanghai, third son of John Tweed, Ballymoney. Funeral from Belfast (Liverpool Boat), at 9 o'clock tomorrow (Wednesday) morning, 3rd October, for family burying ground, Kilraughts, passing Kilraughts Road end, Ballymoney, at 11:30 a.m.'

Further evidence of Tweed's gallant service is to be found in an account of the siege written by his Hong Kong and Shanghai junior partner, Arthur Brent, and in other published sources:

'The Boxers, supported by regular Chinese forces, began the siege of the Legations in June 1900. The Pekin agency was in the charge of Mr. J. K. Tweed, a young man who had come East only in 1894; he was assisted by Mr. Arthur D. Brent, who had come East even more recently in 1897. Both gentlemen had some knowledge of the Chinese language and had been first assigned to Pekin to improve on their elementary studies in London. They had handled the routine banking business while Hillier had been primarily concerned with loan negotiations. The Bank's Pekin office had burned down some two months before the uprising had begun. When the troubles broke out Tweed decided to move the cash into the safer British Legation compound. Accordingly a cart was hired, and while Tweed whipped on the camel, Brent ran along behind and picked up the dollars or bullion that fell out of holes made by snipers' bullets.'

Brent wrote his graphic account of the siege for Reuters and it was published under the title 'The Siege of Peking by one who went through it, Diary of a besieged resident', in the London Daily News on 16 October 1900. By chance his mother had been visiting him in Pekin, and she too endured the siege; like many of the ladies, Brent reported, she bore up well in the crisis but suffered a relapse shortly thereafter.

For their part in protecting the Bank's interests throughout the siege, the Board of Directors awarded £750 and £500 to Tweed and Brent respectively, and their personal losses were met under the terms of the indemnity.

N.B.
Brent's personal papers are now held in Hong Kong Bank Group archives.

Please see Lot 779 for the recipient's miniature dress medal.


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Sold for
£8,500