CO882-(2-3) — Page 732

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

། །། ། ། །

C.O.

ון!! וון וון ווד

882

3

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

302

16. The two Senior Lieutenants employed in Brigades were Lieutenants Henry T. Wright, First Lieutenant of the "Modeste" (3rd April 1868), and Wentworth V. Bayly, of the "Ringdove" (12th October 1869), both highly spoken of by Captain Buller.

T 17. Sub-Lieutenant Thomas F. Abbot, of the Thistle" (28th July 1873), “was at both attacks on Passir Sala" (whose name is already before their Lordships), and is spoken of by the Governor "in the highest terms" Captain Buller informs me.

18. The two Senior Sub-Lieutenants in the Brigades were Richard Poore ("Philomel "), seniority 15th April 1873, and Walter T. Warren ("Modeste"), seniority 20th June 1873, both well spoken of.

19. Ex-Sultan Ismail and Mabarajah Lela have escaped, it is believed, into Siamese territory, but they have been followed by a large number of Malays with no friendly intentions towards them.

20. I regret that I shall not have the opportunity of seeing Major-General Colborne, of congratulating him on the success of his operations, and of thanking him for the terms in which he has spoken of the Naval Brigades, as he remains at Penang. The prompt appearance of the troops from India, the thorough way in which they went to work, and followed the Malays through the jungle from village to village, stockade to stockade, never giving them time to occupy the latter in force, has, no doubt, had the best effect Among the surrounding tribes.

I have, &c. (Signed) ALFRED P. RYDER,

Vice-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief.

P.S. With reference to paragraph 3, I have ascertained, since writing this letter, that the "Philomel's" men, under Commander Garforth, have not yet re-embarked.

(Signed) ALFRED P. RYDER, The Secretary of the Admiralty.

SIR,

Enclosure 1.

Vice-Admiral.

"Modeste," at Penang, January 8, 1876. His Excellency the Governor of the Straits Settlements having informed me he was desirous of reducing the forces in Perak to the numbers required for occupation only, the Major-General commanding and myself agreed that the Naval Brigade (" Modeste," 10 officers, 84 men; "Ringdove," 3 officers, 22 men; "Philomel," 4 officers, 40 men) might be embarked on board their respective ships. I therefore left Kinta on the 4th instant, arrived at Blanga the same afternoon, proceeded down the River Perak the following day, with the men of the "Modeste and "Ringdove," and reached Her Majesty's ship under my command at the Dindings on the evening of the 6th.

I hope you will not consider it out of place for me to bring to your notice my high appreciation of the conduct of the officers, seamen, and marines who formed the Naval Brigade under my command.

All did their duty cheerfully and energetically under the most difficult circumstances. When advancing up the Perak River from Banda Bahru to Blanga, the four native boats fitted with the guns and rockets of the Naval Brigade had to be poled, under an intensely hot sun, by the seamen for five consecutive days, and the intricate navigation of the river, full of sunken stakes, against a strong current which frequently swept the bosts into deep water when the poles were rendered useless, and much vantage ground lost, made it a most arduous task, but the work had to be done, and it was carried out with the greatest cheerfulness.

"Ringdove," rendered

Commander Uvedale C. Singleton, of Her Majesty's ship great service in his whaler by leading the flotilla, "and sounding ahead to discover the

passages.

On our arrival at Blanga, finding the enemy was retreating, and that it was necessary for the success of the expedition to follow them immediately to prevent stockades and other obstacles being crected to obstruct our advance, the Naval Brigade had to undergo much hardship.

The difficulty of carrying the rocket tubes and 24-pounder rockets, in addition to their own accoutrements, was no easy task through 22 miles of jungle path, replete with obstacles, and at the end of the weary day's march they had to encamp with only a waterproof sheet. The Control Department, under Cominissary W. G. W. Robinson, having anticipated these necessaries for the brigade, had obtained a sufficient number for us from Hong Kong, on finding there was a prospect of hostilities taking place.

จ

303

I am much indebted to Major-General the Honourable F. Colborne, C.B., commanding the forces, for his readiness to give me any assistance that was required to advance the interests of the Naval Brigade; and I have to thank Major Amiel and Captain Whitla for permitting the men of the 80th and 10th Regiments to assist our men in the arduous duties of transporting the rockets.

On the arrival of H.M.S." Philomel " on this station, I ordered Commander Garforth, on the 2nd December, to proceed to Laroot, to render all assistance to the troops, and to form a naval brigade for the northern portion of the Perak Expedition, to act in conjunction with the troops under the command of Brigadier-General Rom.

He also had the superintendence of building rafts, and capturing canoes from the enemy for conveying the troops down the river from Qualla Kansa, and be carried out my orders and these services with great energy, and in a most efficient manner. I beg to enclose a letter from him, dated 4th January, reporting an attack made on the brigade, on the 4th instant, at Kolalama.

The steadiness shown on this occasion by the brigade is spoken of in strong terms by Her Majesty's Chief Commissioner for Perak, Major McNair, R.A.

I have much pleasure in bringing to your notice the conduct of Commander Singleton, of H.M.S." Ringdove," who acted as my second in command during the expedition. His services were of the greatest use to ine, rendering me much important assistance in carrying out the details connected with the brigade, at all times encouraging the men when in difficulties with their heavy loads, and to the front when work was to be done.

I cannot speak too highly of Commander Francis Stirling, of H.M.S. "Thistle." He was for some time the senior naval officer at Banda Bahru before my arrival, and was in command at the successful attack on Passir Sala, in conjunction with Captain Whitle, of the 10th Regiment, on the 15th November last.

Disturbances having broken out in Sunghie Ujong I sent Commander Stirling there to conduct naval affairs, and the successful results of his operations have entirely proved

estimation of his worth as an officer was correct.

that

my

I trust the services of these officers may be considered worthy of your bringing thei: names favourably before their Lordships.

Lieutenant John P. Pipon, Sub-Lieutenant Walter T. Warren, and Mr. John Grant, gunner, all of the "Modeste," and Alexander Matthewson, chief gunner's mate of the "Ringdove," were immediately in charge of their respective gun and rocket boats, and I was much satisfied with the prompt manner the rockets were brought into action in the jungle.

Surgeon Anthony Gorham, of the "Ringdove," and Surgeon Charles C. Godding, of the "Modeste," were constantly watching the health of the brigade, and to their attention I attribute its healthy state.

Lieutenant Henry T. Wright, of the "Modeste," in conjunction with Lieutenant Huntley, 1st Battalion 10th Regiment, made a successful attack on the village two miles below Blanja, where our provision boats bad been fired into, and a Sikh mortally wounded and a Chinaman injured. Owing to the thickness of the jungle they were unable to make any prisoners, but it had the desired effect of making the punglema of the village bring in the two men who had fired upon the boats.

Lieutenant Wentworth V. Bayly, of H.M.S. "Ringdove," superintended the transport service at Durian Sabatang, and conducted the duties entirely to my satisfaction. The ship's company of the "tingdove" constantly worked day and night, unloading vessele and pushing on provisions and ammunition to the Residency at Banda Bahru in bosts.

I have already had the pleasure of bringing to your notice the gallant conduct of Sub-Lieutenant Thomas F. Abbot, of the Thistle," at the time of the murder of Mr. Birch. His Excellency the Governor speaks of him in the strongest terms, and I trust you will consider his conduct deserving of being prominently brought to the notice of their Lordships. He was at both attacks at Passir Sala, and since that time has most ably conducted the naval affairs at the Residency.

H.M. ships "Modeste," under temporary command of Lieutenant the Honourable Edward T. Needham, and "Fly" have been blockading the rivers. Commander John Bruce, of the "Fly," has conducted this duty with great energy. His vigilant guard over the coast has prevented any provisions being brought into the country, and he has secured a large amount of tin belonging to the ex-Sultan Ismail.

Mr. William C. Gillies, Assistant-Paymaster of the "Modeste," served with me as my clerk, and Mr. Mansfield G. Smith, inidshipman of the "Modeste," as my aide-de-camp, Pp 4

ཀ ། ། ། །

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

mwinuluilu

Reference:-

C.O.

882

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO