Being there . . . . when the Mounted Detachment, which was the first organized cavalry unit in
the Marine Corps, was organized in February 1912 for the protection of American citizens.
China was one of the hot spots where American missionaries, teachers, businessmen, medical
staffs, etc., were predominant. A unit in the understaffed American Legation Guard was
urgently needed, and the Mounted Detachment in 1934 was born: 16 men, one sergeant, three
corporals and twelve privates. For more than a half of century, China was compared to
America’s Wild West right after the Civil War, i.e., everywhere, bandits, thieves, and soldiers of
fortune from all over the world. American visitors and residents, to say nothing of foreigners,
were most impressed with the small group of Horse Marines stationed at the American
Legation, who patrolled the narrow streets of Peiping and the surrounding countryside on
horseback. Their job was to protect American missionaries and businessmen from the many
bands of bandits roving the Chinese countryside. Each District was patrolled weekly, and a
census was taken of American citizens residing in and around Peiping. The Mounted
Detachment was considered the elite of China Marines . . . .
“JOHN R. ANGSTADT U.S.M.C. CHINA HORSE MARINE – – American Legation, Peiping, China 1934
– 1937”, by E. Richard Bonham. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Atglen, PA 19310: 2015, 192 pages, 9” x
11 ¼”, hardcover, $59.99. E-mail: Info@schifferbooks.com.
Reviewed and recommended by Don DeNevi
Introduction of the author: E. Richard Bonham had been a working artist, and antique art and
arms restorer for six decades. His extremely popular large and small sculptures have been
commissioned by a variety of people, businesses, banks, public libraries, museums, and
universities. In addition, he had been known across America as the “come to” repairman by
collectors hoping to restore both art and arms for some of the major Asian and militaria dealers
in the U.S. His interest in the China Marines was triggered by stories he heard growing up from
his uncle who served as a Marine in Company “B”, Marine Detachment, American Embassy,
Peiping, China, during the 1930s.
“John R. Angstadt USMC China Horse Marine” has 17 chapters, the final four devoted to the
American Embassy Italian Legation Guard, the French Legation, the British Legation, and the
pre-World War II Japanese Legation Guard, and the Marine Mounted Detachments in Nicaragua
and Haiti. Chapter 12, Social Life of the Mounted; Chapter 13, Officers of the Mounted
Detachments; and Chapter14, the American Embassy Guard Annual Yearbook; and the
American Embassy GUARD News make some of the most engrossing pre-Pearl Harbor reading
in the history of the South Pacific.
Writes author E. Richard Bonham, “Every Marine has heard stories about the legendary
‘China Marines’ who served in China before the Second World War. MANY of these stories
feature the small group of HORSE MARINES stationed at the American Legation in Peiping who
patrolled the city streets and the surrounding Chinese countryside. Riding small, tough,
Mongolian ponies and armed with their Model 1913 Patton sabers, these HORSE MARINES
protected innocent American missionaries and businessmen from murderous gangs. Illustrated
with over 420 rare and previously unpublished HORSE MARINE items and hitherto unseen
photos, including drawings and watercolors by Col. John W. Thomason, my book presents a
unique and unusual perspective into the life of John R. Angstadt, my uncle, a proud CHINA
HORSE MARINE.”
The following is a clip from page 18, “The Embassy Guard News”, dated March 15 th , 1937,
three months before this wannabe-reviewer was born. Perhaps, that explains why it’s so
endearing, or maybe because Horse Marines were ordinary men like me and dumber-than-I-am
tennis cronies: “Cookcoos And Bakerbugs: Chief Cook Johnson came in the other morning with
rouge and lipstick smeared all over his face. And he seems to be receiving quite a bit of local
mail for it. Wonder just what is his secret of success? Also heard that he was starting a singing
class in the near future. The day after the last boat left for home, we saw Mork holding sea-bag
drills, but he decided to stay with us for a while longer. Could it be on account of the local girl-
friend? She is good looking! One of our Field Cooks seems to be the un-crowned King of the…”
