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HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS. Training 1893-4.
From the Acting Commandant Hongkong Volunteer Corps to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant (A) General China and Hongkong Command, Hongkong.
1 & 2
Nomiral Rolls of Efficients. 3
Musketry Return.
4
5
Report of Gun Practice. Report of Machine Gun
Practice. 6
HEAD QUARTERS, HONGKONG, 12th June, 1894.
SIR, I have the honour to forward the documents, as per margin, connected with the training of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps for the season 1893-4 for the information of His Excellency the Major-General Commanding and favour of sub- sequent transmission to His Excellency the Governor.
2. The experience of the past year has proved conclusively to me that unless the services of a first rate Non-Commissioned Officer (Army) as Quarter-master Sergeant and Commanding Officer's clerk, can be placed entirely at the disposal of the Corps, there is no possibility of the guns, small arms, equipment, harness, -ammunition and stores-of which latter there is a large quantity of various kinds -being properly looked after, the men being completely and sinartly clothed, and the books efficiently kept up. This man should be obtained from the Infantry, under Queen's Regulations, Section VII, paragraph 332. He would be entrusted with the instruction in squad and company drill and with the musketry training of the Corps in addition to the duti's enumerated above.
Requisition for Capitation Grant.
3. Until the Corps is 150 strong, the expense of such appointment would have to be borne by the Government, in excess of the capitation grant, in the same way as the pay of the Adjutant is now provided. At present I am paying a Sergeant of Artillery $25 a month to do the work in his spare time, and the result, from no fault, I believe, of the man's but from sheer want of time has been most unsatisfactory, the books are hardly ever up to date and the arrangement of stores, supervision of cleaning of guns, harness, etc., has had to be left entirely to the District Gunner and an utterly inadequate staff of coolies. If the money I now pay the above mentioned Non-Commissioned Officer were at my disposal, I could nearly double my staff of coolies and might then reasonably expect the Corps property to be fairly cleaned and kept.
4. Pony draught has, in my opinion, proved a failure, and it is intended to make experiments shortly, with a view to the substituting of coolies for the future.
5. The Officers have all done their best both by example and precept to secure the efficiency of the Corps, and I think it may be said that the result of their efforts has been as satisfactory as could be expected for the first year of the reorganisation of the Corps.
6. The Non-Commissioned Officers are, with one or two exceptions, who have attended parade somewhat irregularly, a valuable body of men who recognise that on joining the Volunteers they have taken on themselves duties which they are bound to carry out, and that one of the chief of these is a regular attendance at parade and the maintenance of as soldierly a bearing as possible when there.
7. There are amongst the gunners a very considerable number of excellent and enthusiastic Volunteers who have done all in their power to ensure the efficiency and credit of the Corps. There is also, I regret to say, a small minority of members who are Volunteers only in name, steps are being taken to eliminate this element, either by immediate removal from the rolls, or by obtaining a guarantee from them that they will accept their responsibilities in future.
8. I would beg to reiterate the opinion expressed in my memorandum to the Colonial Secretary No. of 27th February, 1894, that the best possible effect would be produced by a Government notification being sent to Heads of Government Departments to the effect that Government favour the movement and trust that they will support it; and by firms being asked to assist by notifying to their employés that they approve of their becoming Volunteers, and will facilitate their attendance at drill. In the first case I have not overlooked the concession made by Government notification, Circular No. 6 of 6th April last, but I would urge the advisability of a specifically worded notification being sent out, at present the wishes of Government are implied only.
With regard to the second point, I would add that, while many firms meet the wishes of Officers and men in granting the latter leave for parades, etc., it would, in my opinion, be highly advisable to supplement the action of Government, already taken with the Chamber of Commerce, by a separate appeal to each firm concerned. I feel certain that were the above mentioned steps carried out a force could be maintained of sufficient strength to form an efficient and easily expandible nucleus in time.
of need.
9. I should much like to see the rest of the building, used as Head Quarters, handed over; the present armoury is very small indeed for the numbers that, even at present, attend a Corps Parade, and have to get their accoutrements at about the same time.
10. In conclusion, I trust that His Excellency the Governor will shortly be able to appoint a Commandant. I shall most probably be shortly leaving the Colony, and in any case, it 18, in my opinion, very advisable that the new Commandant should have the opportunity of making his own arrangements for the next season's training.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
F. JERRARD, Acting Commandant.
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