HMS Constance and Geomundo in the 1880s

A sketch of Geomundo in 1865 / Robert Neff Collection

By Robert Neff

• Published Mar 9, 2024 3:03 PM KST
• Updated Mar 20, 2024 2:51 PM KST

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 named Port Hamilton was established.

During the occupation, there were a number of British warships that were temporarily stationed at the port. One of these ships was the British corvette HMS Constance, which arrived at the China Station in the early part of 1886 and stayed for about three years.

According to the Constance's "Introductory Journal," the warship arrived at Port Hamilton on June 2, 1886, and remained for about six weeks. It was involved with "rigging torpedo defences, with all available spars, and at night an attack was made by three torpedo boats; the other boats of the fleet were sent to guard the entrances to the harbour."

Considering the perceived Russian threat, on July 1, "the fleet prepared for action; during the succeeding days a double boom was built across the narrower of the two southern entrances — the main one was ruined, and a single boom was placed across the north entrance." The boats of the fleet tried to jump the double boom, but, despite "the strenuous — in some cases, frantic — efforts" by the various ships, only a steam pinnace was able to pass over the boom. However, a couple of days later, the small warship, HMS Firebrand, "charged the boom at full speed, and broke it like a rotten thread."

Not all of these exercises went smoothly. According to a Chinese newspaper:

"A sad accident occurred on board H.M.S. Albatross the week before last, while the vessel was in the vicinity of Port Hamilton. It appears the Albatross had been out for target practice, Nordenfeldt guns being used. The order to cease firing having been given, the vessel was headed for the port again. By some unfortunate oversight, a cartridge appears to have been left in one of the bow Nordenfeldts, and a rope, it is supposed, struck the handle of the gun causing it to move and fire off the undrawn cartridge. The bullet struck three men, mortally wounding two of them, and the third severely. The Albatross has since left Port Hamilton, but the two men died before her departure."

On Aug. 3, 1886, HMS Constance visited Fusan, modern Busan, "where the sportsmen [aboard the ship] went ashore in high feather – but returned without one, nor any fur either." It then proceeded to Wonsan and sailed on to Vladivostok with 12 other British warships — a show of the flag — "much to the surprise and disgust of the Russians."

However, it was the British who were truly surprised: "We spent a week [in Vladivostok], being very civilly treated by the Russians, who invited the officers to a ball on the night before we left; a great deal of vodka and champagne was drunk, and great cordiality and good fellowship resulted."

HMS Constance then sailed to Japan, where it spent several months before returning to Port Hamilton in December.

According to the ship's narrator:

"We passed the first two months [of 1887] somewhat wearily at Port Hamilton, the only excitement being a war-scare towards the end of January, causing us to go to general quarters every day, and have look-out men stationed on sharp and triangle peaks to give warning of the approach of any Russian."

Fortunately, the Russian threat never materialized. Their stay at Port Hamilton was made more enjoyable by Katoka, a Japanese contractor who had built a store and bakery at the port and supplied the ship with bread and fresh beef. Unfortunately, the narrator failed to mention another enterprising Japanese businessman who set up an illegal establishment that provided female companionship to the British marines stationed on the island. This establishment was closed after one young marine drowned while trying to avoid being caught by the authorities.

There was other, more wholesome entertainment. "The sportsmen [among the crew] shot a great many quail, and a few pheasants … the [ship's] dramatic company gave one much-appreciated entertainment on board," which was attended by many of the British marines.

In February, the warship helped close the port — removing much of the salvageable material to Nagasaki. While the warship did return to Korea on several occasions, it is unfortunate for us that not much was recorded in its introductory journal. However, the following year, the ship's narrator began a new method of recording the warship's adventure — as we shall see tomorrow.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.