Enclosure No. 1.
556
The Officers of the Corps also continue to render good service; they set an admirable example to the Non-Commissioned Officers and Men under their command, and do as much as possible to promote the efficiency of the Corps.
14. Corps Quartermaster Sergeant G. WATLING has discharged his duties in a most satisfactory manner, and has rendered very efficient service in connection with the various gun practices, competitions, etc., during the year, and particularly at the Camp of Instruction.
15. The Instructors for the Field Battery, "A" Machine Gun Co., Band, Signalling, and Ambulance Classes, have proved themselves very efficient and painstaking, and have discharged their duties to my entire satisfaction.
16. The Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the Corps have, with few exceptions, attended regularly and shown a praiseworthy desire to make themselves smart and efficient; their conduct and good feeling in Camp and on all occasions has been exceedingly good.
REGULATIONS.
17. The proposed new Regulations for the Corps were, after many various alterations and after much care and thought on the part of Major Sir J. W. CARRINGTON, Knt., C.M.G., submitted through you for His Excellency the General Officer Commanding, and His Excellency the Governor-in-Council's approval on the 4th instant.
The recommendations of the Committee held last year on the interior economy, etc., of the Corps, and sanctioned by C.S.O. No. 2581, dated 17th January, 1899, have been embodied in them.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
18. The Annual Inspection of the Corps by His Excellency the Major-General Commanding was held on the 29th ultimo.
The parade state on that occasion is shown in Enclosure No. 6.
HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.
FIELD BATTERY.
Nominal Roll of Efficients for the Year ending 16th April, 1899.
Rank and Name Corps Number Rank and Name Corps Number Captain Chapman, A. Gunner Dean, J. T. 238 Slade, M. W. Donaldson, T. 50 Colonel Mainwaring, K. B. 243 Ellis, O. J. 267 Captain Bland, W. St. C. Ellis, D. E. 282 Royal Artillery, Adjutant Surgeon-Captain Lowson, J. A. 231 Lieutenant Stedman, F. O. 269 Medical Officers Lieutenant Macdonald, D. 186 Quarter-Master Sergeant Watling, G. W. 272 Corps Quarter-Master Sergeant (Staff) Acting Battery Sergeant-Major Duncan, G. L. 304 275 Farr, A. J. M. 71 Higgins, F. 149 Humphreys, A. 150 Halden, G. M. P. 302 Herbst, E. 13 Hatherly, E. W. F. 11 Howarth, H. C. Hauen, C. E. A. 153 Hance, J. H. R. Battery Quarter-Master Sergeant Coyle, J. Henderson, R. Sergeant-Drummer Brown, A. 251 Hubbard, A. Kennett, H. S. 9 Sergeant Hayward, G. C. 3 153 159 Kennedy, D. F. 252 118 Lammert, L. E. 18 McPhail, H. 223 3 Lee, J. R. 24 Armstrong, J. H. W. 259 Kennett, H. W. 278 34 Parvell, W. H. 283 107 Acting Sergeant Rutter, R. V. 293 127 Corporal Meek, T. 313 49 Humphreys, W. M. 240 4 Ramsey, W. F. 210 40 Stopani, W. A. 141 White, G. 124 105 101 Acting Corporal Gow, D. Millar, J. 249 BIS Baker, J. 306 25 Olson, J. 204 Bombardier Nobbe, A. P. 301 191 Smart, C. McD. 102 100 Deas, W. M. Acting Bombardier Wilson, G. T. 106 241 Hari, W. 163 200 263 Trumpeter Plouston, C. 203 Moore, S. R. 192 2+ 305 Gunner Abraham, E. 256 Seth, H. A. 25 197 Bentley, R. J. H. 317 71 Lammert, H. A. Lysaught, J. Lapsley, R. Beuning, T. 151 Logan, J. C. 15 MacDonald, W. J. Sayer, E. A. R. 190 Mody, J. H. Brett, L. E. 71 Melver, M. 247 Mackie, A. J. 116 Moller, J. A. Begley, A. J. McLeish, P. > Pidgeon, J. H. Toller, W. 311 Patton, G. 315 Reid, A. Baker, F. H. Stewart, W. ** Sutton, A. I. Tuohy, G. 276 Sanderson, J. S. 267 277 1 Soth, S. A. Burgess, J. R. Spittles, B. J. Taylor, W. C. 201 Thomson, W. M. 27 Bevan, H. S. 166 41 15 Toppiu, W. J. Baker, W. A. 187 268 229 Cumpston, W. H. 17 Uphill, A. 155 Warren, C. E. 286 Craig, R. H. 206 Wilkinson, S. 279 Chamant, A. E. 280 Wynne, H. S. 300 Chummut, F. G. 287 "1 Wheeler, H. S. 213 73 Cotton, J. T. 143 > Crispin, C. R. 10 33;(3 Officers.)
(90 Non-Commissioned Officers and Men.)
19. Surgeon-Captain F. O. STEDMAN, M.D. (Lond.), again conducted a course of lectures on Ambulance Work, accompanied with Stretcher Drills. 9 members presented themselves for examination, which was conducted by Major WATSON, R.A. Medical Corps: of the examinates 8 were successful.
20. I have to request that the Chief Ordnance Officer, China, may be asked to keep up the usual quantities of 7-pounder R.M.L. Gun Ammunition for use of the Corps, to be indented for as required on repayment. Very little more Martini-Henry Carbine Ammunition, ball or blank, will, it is thought, be required by the Corps as the re-arming with the new Carbine of 303 calibre has been sanctioned, and it is hoped they will be received during the ensuing summer.
21. The Local Government having sanctioned the proposals of the Committee held on the 29th September, 1898, it is felt that the result of their proposals cannot fail to add to the general efficiency of the Corps.
22. During the past season attention has been drawn to the necessity for the re-arming of the Field Battery with a more modern gun than the 7-pounder R.M.L. in their possession. The question has been gone into fully (Vide this Office No. 8 dated 15th March, 1899), and it is hoped that the newest pattern gun may be supplied to the Corps.
23. Attention has also been drawn (Vide this Office No. 5, dated 14th February, 1899) to the unserviceable state of the 120 Machine Gun belts on Corps charge, and the question of replacing the 45 with 303" barrels to the 12 machine guns on Corps charge has also been gone into (Vide this Office No. 4, dated 17th April, 1899).
24. The report of the Committee of Officers of the Corps on the question of uniform of the several ranks of the Corps was embodied in the new draft Regulations submitted recently for approval.
25. Requisitions for the Capitation Grant for Efficients and Proficients have been sent direct to the Honourable the Colonial Treasurer.
26. It will be seen from this report that the progress of the Corps remains good and the interest shown by the Government and the Legislature during the past season cannot but have a good effect on the Corps in general.
Major Sir J. W. CARRINGTON, Knt., C.M.G., and Commandant, proceeded on leave on the 5th instant, from which date I assumed command.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
R. B. MAINWARING, Colonel, Acting Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.
R. B. MAINWARING, Colonel, Acting Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.