The Canton Coolie Corps was a British Army logistics unit raised in 1860 for service in the latter part of the Second Opium War.

The unit was recruited from Chinese men, typically from members of the Hakka people, who would serve as coolies, manual labourers who carry goods.

Recruitment was slowed due to false rumours that the British intended to use the coolies as human shields in battle but around 3,000 out of a targeted 4,000 were mustered.

The Second Opium War between Britain and Qing China broke out in 1856 following a dispute over the detention of a British registered vessel by the Chinese.

[2] In the early stages, desertion proved a problem for the corps, particularly after false rumours spread among the coolies that they were to be used as human shields to protect British troops.

[5][4] The corps was housed in bamboo barrack blocks in Happy Valley, Hong Kong, before embarkation for North China.

Their efforts were rewarded by British commanders with an increase in their food rations, though some of the coolies had been mistreated by Royal Navy personnel during the unloading operation, despite orders against such.

[7] The coolies were responsible for carrying ammunition, luggage, rations, firewood, water and spare clothing of their assigned regiment, as well as wounded and sick men.

[2] British deputy-assistant quartermaster-general Garnet Wolseley noted that each coolie was capable of carrying loads that would normally be allocated to three pack animals.

[7] During the march on Dagu (Taku Forts), the coolies assisted the British artillery by pulling their guns and ammunition after many of the limber horses died from exhaustion.

[9] During the later campaign and march on Beijing, desertion from the corps was generally low due to the hostility of the local population and language differences between them and the coolies.

One large-scale desertion of 90 coolies took place; the majority were killed by the local people and only six were returned alive to the British by a Chinese magistrate.

An all-Chinese fighting unit was not formed until 1941, when the Hong Kong Chinese Regiment was established, though individuals served with the British Army and Royal Navy.