CO882-(3-4) — Page 113

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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2. I have great pleasure in recommending your Lordship to give Dr. Randell's appli- cation your favourable consideration. At the commencement of the Perak Expedition, there was a great paucity of medical staff, and Dr. Randell, who volunteered his services to me, was in a position to render most valuable assistance to the military authorities in addition to the medical care of the Sepoys, Police, Coolies, and others attached to the combined force which moved from Bandar Bahru up the Perak River to Blanja, and

thence to Kinta.

3. Dr. Randell, who is now a cripple, has suffered severely from his wound, and it is very doubtful whether he will not be permanently disabled. I would, therefore, strongly rge that he should obtain compensation for the wound thus received on special service.

I may add that, as Dr. Randell is a "seconded " Military Medical Officer, and as such liable to be recalled for Military duty, I have requested the Major General commanding to convene & military medical board to report upon his wound.

I have, &c. (Signed)

The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon,

&c.

MY LORD,

&c.

&c.

WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.

Singapore, April 4, 1876.

I HAVE the honour to bring to your Lordship's notice the services I have rendered in connection with the recent l'erak Expedition.

On the outbreak in November last I happened to be at Malacca on inspection duty when his Excellency the Governor passed up en route to Perak, and hearing of the difficulties, I at once placed my services at his Excellency's disposal for duty in Perak if his Excellency should deem it desirable at any time to so make use of them.

His Excellency being aware of the paucity of Medical Officers with the Expedition gladly availed himself of my offer, I accordingly proceeded forthwith to Perak, and on arrival at the Residency took over medical charge of the Sepoys, Police, and others attached to the force being there assembled.

I arrived on the 9th of November just after the unsuccessful attack of Captain Inne's party, when several were killed and wounded, and these both Military and Civil I at once took charge of, and under my care they were removed from Perak to Penang, and on being handed over by me to the Military Medical Officer at that station, I then returned to Perak.

Apart from this service rendered to the Military, I personally gave my assistance at all times to the Medical Officer in charge of the troops, and by placing at his entire disposal the Civil Medical Stores of the Colony I was thus enabled to render what I believe will be admitted to have been very valuable aid.

On the 15th November 1 accompanied the troops at the successful attack on the stockades at Campong, Pisang, and Passir Sala, and subsequently proceeded with General Colborne's force on the expedition up the Perak River to Blanja and towards Kinta In the advance from Blanja to Kinta I was severely wounded by a ball passing through the upper third of my left thigh.

After this wound 1 was conveyed through the jungle back to Blanja, and from thence down the Perak River to the Residency, and on to Penang per S.S." Pluto."

I was only enabled to return to Singapore on the 28th ultimo, after 15 weeks of heavy suffering, and even now I am a thorough cripple, and it is a matter of very great doubt in the opinion of those medical men who have seen and attended me if I shall not be severely and permanently disabled.

Under these circumstances I trust that your Lordship will admit that my case, as a Colonial Officer employed on duty of a special character and subject to all the risks of war, is one for special consideration, and I submit for your Lordship's decision that it be treated on the same grounds as if I had actually been employed on military duty, and that I should receive the same compensation as I would have done had I acted in that capacity.

I have, &c. (Signed) H. J. RANDELL, Surgeon Major and Principal Civil, Medical Officer, Straits Settlements.

The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon,

&c.

&c.

&c.

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No. 6.

GOVERNOR SIR W. F. D. JERVOIS, K.C.M.G., C.B., to the EARL OF

(Confidential.)

CARNARVON.

(Received 6th May 1876.)

MY LORD,

Government House, Singapore, April 6, 1876. WITH reference to my confidential despatch of 24th February last, respecting the hanging of a Malay named Panjang Meroo, pursuant to orders given by Brigadier- General Ross, C.B., I now have the honour to forward, for your Lordship's information, March 1878 copy of a report, dated 1st ult., by Mr. W. E. Maxwell, Acting Deputy Commissioner with the military force under the Brigadier-General. This report details the circum- stances under which the execution referred to took place.

2. I also forward a report from Captain Buller, R.N., Senior Naval Officer in the Straits of Malacca, covering a copy of the order issued by Brigadier-General Ross, which resulted in the capture and execution of Panjang Meroo.

3. Captain Garforth, R.N., the officer commanding the naval force co-operating with Brigadier-General Ross, being in the Indian command, I have written to Rear-Admiral Macdonald, requesting him to call upon that officer to furnish a report on this occurrence, and in order to avoid delay in transmission home, I have requested the Rear-Admiral to forward such report to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, who will doubtless transmit it to your Lordship.

1 April 1876

1 Sub- enclosure.

4. I enclose a report from Major McNair, under whom Mr. Maxwell acted as Deputy 31 March 1876. Commissioner. In this report Major McNair states that Brigadier-General Ross took the matter out of the hands of the Commissioners. It appears to me, however, that the Commissioners cannot divest themselves of responsibility for the action taken by the Brigadier-General, if they were aware of the extreme course which it was intended to

adopt.

5. Major McNair has recently left Singapore for England on sick leave, and I will report to your Lordship the result of the further enquiries I am making with regard to the share of responsibility which may attach to Mr. Maxwell.

Brigadier-General Ross has, as your Lordship is aware, returned to India with the force under his command.

I have, &c. (Signed)

The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon,

&c. Colonial Office.

&c.

(Confidential.)

&c.

WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.

Enclosure 1.

Mr. W. E. MAXWELL to COLONIAL SECRETARY.

Camp, Kwala Kangsa, March 1, 1876.

SIR,

In reply to your letter dated February 21st, I have the honour to furnish the following particulars regarding the circumstance to which you allude.

On the 3rd January, information was brought to Major McNair and myself regarding the place of refuge of certain notorious criminals, who were known to have been lurking in this vicinity ever since the 20th December.

The presence of these men in the neighbourhood was causing considerable incon-

venience.

Two of my Malays,* (Urian men) had deserted during my absence at Blanja, and had joined them. The Field Telegraph Department had lost nearly all their Malay labourers (employed under heavy advances in Penang), and their headman ascribed their desertion to the threats of Raja Abbass and his companions.

A letter sent to Wan Wahid, the headman of Kota Lama, requesting that Raja Abbass and my two men might be arrested and delivered up to us, met with the reply that they were not living in his jurisdiction.

The Bandahara and Sri Maharaja Sela had from the date of the arrival of the troops at Kwala Kangsa pleaded illness and incapacity to do anything. Their agents, Kulup Mohamed and Kulup Sarip, when applied to, said that they were unable to do anything towards securing Raja Abbass and his companions.

• No. 35 of Eastern No. 17.

• Mat Tahir and Khamis.