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TROOP.
11. Frequent mounted parades were held during the drill season.
ARTILLERY Companies.
12. On 31st August a preliminary training before camp was commenced.
This training was divided into three periods. The first period of a fortnight's duration was devoted to training men to qualify as specialists.
The second period, lasting one week, was for Officers, N. C. O.'s and specialists only. The third period, of four weeks, was devoted to company training, each company having one drill night per week.
Recruits' drills were held during the summer months and after camp until the end of the drill season there were drills at Headquarters several times a week for all members.
ENGINEER COMPANY.
13. Technical drills have been held fortnightly through the summer months and weekly during remainder of the year. Members have also attended the all night running of lights at the various forts.
INFANTRY COMPANY.
14. There were weekly drills at Headquarters during the drill season and week ends were utilized as much as possible for musketry.
15. Field operations consisting of the defence and attack of Mount Parker were carried out on December 19th, but owing to the very bad weather the muster was unsatisfactory.
16. A general mobilisation of the Garrison took place in March, 1909. The Artillery and Infantry Companies occupied the posts allotted to them on mobilisation, but not in full strength owing to sufficient numbers not being able to obtain leave for two consecutive days. The Engineers assisted in working the searchlights at the Eastern entrance.
GUN PRACTICE.
17. 15-pr. Q. F. practice was carried out on 21st, 24th, 28th and 31st October, 1908, and on 13th February, 1909. (See narrative of practice attached to the Camp Report.)*
"Maxim Gun practice was carried out at Stonecutters' Island on 24th and 26th October, 1908, (See Camp Report)* and on Chinese New Year's Day 1909 at a moving target from a position near the Jubilee Road and again on 27th February, 1909, near Tai Hang in competition for the Gascoigne Shield:
MUSKETRY.
18. The musketry course for the year comprised the practices detailed in Table B Trained Soldiers Course Regular Forces pages 40 and 41 Musketry Regulations 1905.
The Troop and Engineer Company fired Part 1 and the six practices in Part II laid down for Royal Engineers. The Artillery Companies fired Part I and the Infantry Company the whole of Part I and Part II. I attach manuscript returns for each unit showing the points obtained by individuals at each practice.*
19. I have received a copy of the musketry course for the Territorial Force and I propose to put all units (including Artillery Companies) through this course during the present year. This can be managed provided that the Corps is granted a more extensive use of the King's Park Range at week ends during the drill season.
CAMPS OF INSTRUCTION.
20. The Annual Camp for the Artillery, Engineer and Infantry Companies was held at Stonecutters' Island from 17th October to 2nd November, 1908.
The Artillery Companies carried out practice with the 15-pr. Q. F. guns on four afternoons and practice with maxims on two occasions. The Engineer Company operated the searchlights connected with the forts at the Eastern end of the island. The Troop Camp was held in the Kamtin Valley in the New Territories from 24th to 29th December, 1908. The paths in the mountains between Kamtin and Tai Po were thoroughly explored and on the 28th December a tactical exercise was carried out near Shingmun.
*
Not printed.