[ { "id": 228151, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-027 - Public Offices - 1848", "page_number": 455, "title": "CO129-027 - Public Offices - 1848", "content_text": "Appendix.\n\nReport on the\n\nIsland of Hong Kong.\n\nThe Royal Artillery, the finest military corps in the world, out of 135 men and officers lost in two years, 51 by death (of whom 35 died at Hong Kong during the last six months of 1843), and 45 by invaliding. That Hong Kong was the cause of their death will be seen from the fact, that Colonel Knowles's detachment of the Royal Artillery went through the whole of the war at Canton and at the Yang-tzi-kang river; the detachment was out here three years; it never landed at Hong Kong. One man was killed, another died of dropsy; but the whole of the remainder of the detachment returned to England, except the commanding officer, Lieutenant-colonel Knowles, who landed at Hong Kong, and died of fever.\n\nThe officers of the Royal Artillery died in the same proportion as the men; out of nine officers who came out with the original detachment, but one escaped disease or death.\n\nLast year there were severe losses in the ships of war. Her Majesty's ship \"Agincourt\" lost, during the sickly season of 1843, 60 men, of whom 20 were marines; 40 men were invalided home, of whom few would recover. Since leaving England in May 1842, the \"Agincourt\" has been obliged to enter 160 seamen from merchant ships. The cause assigned for the severe illness of the marines and seamen of last year was the being obliged to land guards to protect stores at West Point. This year the \"Agincourt\" sends no men on shore or on night duty; and out of 600 men, there are only 23, including slight hurts, in the sick list. This fact tests the insalubrity of the shore.\n\nThe deaths in the naval force at Hong Kong and Whampoa, for the six sickly months ending October 1843, were 4 per cent.; while for the same period on shore, the deaths among the troops averaged 24 per cent.; and even among the European civilians, the estimate was 10 per cent. In May 1843, the left wing of Her Majesty's 55th Regiment had 16 officers and 491 men in Hong Kong. From thence to November, two officers and 218 men died; and the lives of the remainder were only saved by the prompt, judicious, and humane conduct of General D'Aguilar, in immediately embarking the men for England. The mortality as yet (July 17), during the present year has not been so great; but sickness is equally destructive of the efficiency of the troops. Chuck Chew, on the south side of Hong Kong, it was hoped, would be a healthy station.\n\nOn 30 June 1844, out of 400 men of Her Majesty's 98th, at Chuck Chew, there were 109 in hospital; out of 80 Lascars at the same station, there were 30 in hospital.\n\nIt was supposed that Saiwan, on the south-east side of Hong Kong, would afford a healthy station for the troops. Government expended about 30,000 dollars in preparing and building a fine set of barracks of two stories, with every view to comfort and health. The officer of the Royal Engineers having reported the barracks habitable, the General commanding sent a Medical Board to examine the building and station. The Board reported that the station at Saiwan appeared healthy; that there was no apparent cause for disease, and that it was eligible for troops. The General resolved to begin with a small detachment, and 20 Europeans were sent to Saiwan. No sentry was to be mounted during the day, and but one at night.\n\nIn five weeks, five of the soldiers were dead; three more were in a dangerous state, and four were convalescent; one European woman and child were also dangerously ill.\n\nThe remaining men were withdrawn, and a small detachment of native troops are now (17 July 1844) being sent thither, in order to ascertain whether the climate will suit them. On the 17th July 1844, only four men out of the 20 Europeans were reported fit for duty.\n\nThe returns made to the Army and Naval Medical Boards will furnish full information on the sufferings of the soldiers and sailors in Her Majesty's service in this colony.\n\nThe Indian troops bear the insalubrity of the climate worse than the Europeans. In the cantonments at the west end of Victoria, the 39th Madras Native Infantry and 37th Madras Native Infantry lost nearly half their men in 1842. 4th Regiment Madras Native Infantry landed at Hong Kong 450 men in perfect health, and 53 sick, after a long voyage. There have been already many deaths in the cantonments at the east end of Victoria, and in June 1844 there were 160 men sick, and the list was daily increasing. From 15th April to 2d July 1844 there died at Hong Kong, out of the small force here, 52 Europeans and 42 native soldiers.\n\nGeneral D'Aguilar says that the maintenance of an European garrison at Hong Kong would cost the Crown one regiment every three years. Estimating each soldier as having cost Government 100l., this would be a severe economical loss, and worthy the consideration of those who will not reflect on the humanity of the subject. To keep 700 effective firelocks in Hong Kong it is necessary to maintain 1,400 men!\n\nHong Kong is not less fatal to the Chinese, of whom there are, on an average, about 600 sick and dying monthly. Dr. Gutzlaff says, \"Of 100 coolies, with whom I was acquainted, there died, between 20th May and 15th June 1844, 10 men, whilst 30 left the place diseased.\"\n\nI understand that the whole of these 100 strong men from the north-east coast were obliged to leave the colony from sickness. There is no large town or extensive population on the mainland of China adjacent to Hong Kong; which indicates the native opinion of this part of China.\n\nDr. Gutzlaff says, \"Many Chinese have fallen victims in Hong Kong from a malignant fever, which not only deranges the whole system, but hastens the death of the patient.\" He adds: \"There exists amongst the doctors not one dissentient voice about the fatal tendency of diseases contracted here.\"\n\nNor is it during only one period of the year that the island is unhealthy; in the cold season there are agues, low continued fever, diarrhea, pulmonary complaints, dropsy, rheumatism, and various other diseases arising from general debility of the system, and the poisoned atmosphere. On 25th August 1843 the Surveyor-general of the colony reported to Government that \"the number of interments had been so great (in the European grave yard) that the enclosure was almost quite full, and the hill behind so rocky that it was impossible to dig into it, therefore ere long it would be necessary to provide another place.\" The Surveyor-general further stated, \"It would be a difficult thing to select another grave yard, on account of the rocky and uneven nature of the island.\"\n\nLet it be not said that the dreadful mortality and sickness of Hong Kong is the result of the newness of the colony, and that all young settlements suffer proportionally.\n\nThe assertion, if made, is at variance with fact. New colonies, even in the tropics, have not been originally unhealthy. When the West India islands were first colonized, they were perfectly healthy, as is proved by the large European population who resorted thither and remained there many years. Calcutta and Bombay are reported to have been formerly much healthier than they are at present; the Australian colonies were perfectly healthy when founded; so also the Mauritius and St. Helena; I cannot name a single colony that was originally unhealthy, and that subsequently became salubrious. Soldiers, sailors, and civilians; Europeans and natives, women as well as men, residing in every part of Hong Kong, have fallen victims to the climate, and at all seasons of the year.\n\nAn extensive study of the subject, and no inconsiderable experience in different climates, induces me to concur in the opinion of Dr. Thompson, the respected head of the medical department of Hong Kong, that the island never will be healthy. Its geological character, the immense quantity of rain, and the circumvallation of hills surrounding the town and island, render it a hotbed of disease which may be more mitigated one year than another, but which will ever and anon recur with increased violence. No drainage can obviate this destructive miasm; independent of new roads or buildings, the rain will every year keep the surface continually saturated with moisture, and also uncover large portions of the hills, washing the putrifying substance down the deep ravines towards the sea, thus generating a fruitful crop of disease.\n\nWe shall have to consider in a subsequent part of this Report, whether the objects sought or to be obtained by the possession of Hong Kong are worth the dreadful sacrifice of life which the maintenance of the present establishments entail.\n\nPopulation and Progress.-Hong Kong was \"ceded to the British Crown under the seal of the Imperial Minister and High Commissioner Keshen,\" in January 1841.-See Captain Elliot's proclamation, dated Hong Kong, 29th January 1841, promising \"full security and protection to all British subjects and foreigners, residing in or resorting to the island, so long as they shall continue to conform to the authority of H. M. Government, hereby duly constituted and proclaimed in and over Hong Kong,\" &c. By the same proclamation natives of China were invited to settle in the island by promising them that they should be \"governed according to the laws and customs of China, every description of torture excepted.\" And by another proclamation, dated Hong Kong, 1841, issued by Sir Gordon Bremer, Commander-in-chief, and Captain Elliot, H. M. Plenipotentiary, it is declared, that \"the island of Hong Kong has now become a part of the dominions of the Queen of England by clear public agreement between the high officer of the Celestial and British Courts, and the Chinese are hereby promised protection in Her Majesty's gracious name against all enemies whatever; and they are further secured in the free exercise of their religious rites, ceremonies, and social customs, and in the enjoyment of their lawful private property and interests.\" Chinese ships and merchants resorting to the port of Hong Kong for purposes of trade are exempt, in the name of the Queen of England, from charge or duty of any kind to the British Government. The remainder of the proclamation consists of further inducements for the Chinese to settle in and trade with Hong Kong.\n\nA form of Government was organized; a chief magistrate, and a harbour master, &c. were appointed; 50 lots of land were sold, in June 1841, to Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., Dent & Co., MacVicar & Co., Fox, Rawson & Co., Turner & Co., Lindsay & Co., and various other persons, the annual rental of which amounted to 3,224l. Each lot was required to have a building erected within six months, of the appraised value of 1,000 dollars; and a deposit of 500 dollars was required to be lodged with the treasurer as a security for the performance of this engagement. Building commenced with great spirit; the Government spent very large sums of money on the island, and the harbour was filled with ships of war and transports.\n\nThe island has now had a fair trial of more than 34 years; we shall inquire what progress it has made in population,\n\nOn taking possession of Hong Kong it was found to contain about 7,500 inhabitants, scattered over 20 fishing hamlets and villages. The requirements of the fleet and troops, the demands for labourers to make roads and houses, and the servants of Europeans, increased the number of inhabitants, and in March 1842 they were numbered at 12,361. In April 1844 the number of Chinese on the island is computed at 19,000; of whom not more than 1,000 are women and children. In the census are included 97 women, slaves, and the females attendant on 31 brothels, eight gaming houses, and 20 opium shops, &c. It is literally", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-027 - Public Offices - 1848.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 234129, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-044 - Public Offices - 1853", "page_number": 201, "title": "CO129-044 - Public Offices - 1853", "content_text": "14\n\nparty, - adding, at the same time, that, irrespective of my having acted for Colonel Caine subsequent to October 1851, it was also in New South Wales (and I believe in other colonies) for the Chief Clerk in Office to undertake the duties.\n\n200 that he would speak to the Acting Governor; but that, in the meantime, he would go in and offer an apology to Mr Mercer, for the fault was entirely his; - which he did.\n\n16. I came to the Colonial Secretary when he was absent, as on January ... I showed him from Printed Papers, being Proceedings of the Legislative Council of that Colony presented to the Government of Hongkong, extracts from letters on record addressed to Colonel Caine by Mr Elyard, Junior, acting Mr. Secretary Thompson.\n\n15- Colonel Caine did not ... the justice of my case, ... The Acting Governor visited the Offices in the course of the forenoon (8th November), and Colonel Caine desired me to speak to him on the subject, His Excellency saying that he would arrange all about it. Colonel Caine's last words to me in the Office, before he had seen General Jervois, were about to ascertain my wishes not to off the two letters addressed to me by the acting Attorney,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-044 - Public Offices - 1853.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 234304, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-045 - Sir Bonham - 1854 [1-4]", "page_number": 77, "title": "CO129-045 - Sir Bonham - 1854 [1-4]", "content_text": "14 was requested to act for him.\n\nColonel Caine then requested me to wait on an Merger and offer him apology for having performed the duties of Colonial Secretary; but this I instantly declined, saying that I was the offended party, adding, at the same time that, irrespective of my having acted for Colonel Caine subsequent to October 1857, it was also the rule in New South Wales (and I believe in other Colonies), for the Chief Clerk in the office to undertake the duties of the Colonial Secretary when absent.\n\nI showed him from sundry Printed Papers, being Proceedings of the Legislative Council of that Colony presented to the Government of Hongkong, as well as from letters on record addressed to Colonel Caine by Mr. Elgard, Junior, acting for my Secretary Thompson.\n\n15. Colonel Caine did not deny the justice of my case, and said that he would speak to the Acting Governor; but that, in the meantime, he would go and offer an apology to Mr. Mercer, for the fault was entirely his; - which he did.\n\n16.- The Acting Governor came to the offices in the course of the forenoon (8th November), and Colonel Caine desired me to speak to his Excellency.\n\nPage 75\n\nnot ER", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-045 - Sir Bonham - 1854 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 250257, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860", "page_number": 407, "title": "CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860", "content_text": "405\n\n1\n\n4\n\nMarch on Tang-Chow and Action of 18th and 21st September. DESPATCH from Sir J. HOPE GRANT to Mr. Secretary HERBERT.\n\n(No. 46.)\n\nHead Quarters, Chang-tsia-wan, SIR,\n\nSeptember 20, 1860. I HAVE the honour to report that I left Tientsin on the 9th instant, with 700 Infantry, 600 Cavalry, and two batteries of Artillery; 3,000 French troops followed, one march behind me, and two days later Sir John Michel marched, with a regiment of Cavalry, a 9-pounder battery, and the 2nd Infantry Brigade.\n\nOn the 13th instant I reached Hoosciwoo, 40 miles from Tientsin, and as several letters had been received by Lord Elgin from some fresh Commissioners of high rank, I halted whilst Messrs. Parkes and Wade went on to meet them at Tang-chow, 25 miles distant. On the 15th these gentlemen returned, having made satisfactory arrangements with the Chinese Commissioners, by which it was agreed that the Allied Forces should halt at Chang-tsia-wan, five miles short of Tang-chow, to which place the Ambassadors should advance, with an escort, and sign the convention. On the 16th Sir J. Michel's force arrived, and on the 17th we encamped at Matow, five miles short of Chang-tsia-wan. The forces consisted of Lieutenant-Colonel Barry's Armstrong Battery, Captain Desborough's 9-pounders, Captain Stirling's 6-pounder Battery, the Cavalry Brigade, and the 2nd and 4th Infantry Brigades; and 1,200 French, with a light battery. From the above, however, three 6-pounders and the 60th Rifles had been left at Hooseiwoo, to hold that place, where I have a depôt.\n\nMr. Parkes rode on to Tang-chow to arrange matters for Lord Elgin's reception, and to make sure of the agreement as to our advance, that a collision might not take place by inadvertence; it having been settled that the Chinese army should fall back from Chang-tsia-wan. Mr. Parkes was accompanied by an escort of Fane's Horse, under Lieutenant Anderson, and by Mr. Loch, Private Secretary to Lord Elgin, On my part I sent Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, A.Q.M.G., to fix the site of our camp with the Chinese authorities, and D.-A.-C.-Gen. Thompson to receive the promised supplies for the force.\n\nAt daybreak on the 18th, I marched, and, after going about four miles, I came in sight of a very large force of Chinese, both Cavalry and Infantry. Whilst halting to form up my force, Mr. Loch galloped in with three sowars, and informed me that, on going into Tang-chow the previous day, they had found everything quiet on the road; the Commissioners had agreed to all Mr. Parkes' arrangements; and that, accordingly, leaving Lieutenant Anderson and his sowars at Tang-chow, Messrs. Parkes, Loch, Thompson, and Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, with five men of the King's Dragoon Guards, had come out to meet us and show us our camping ground, which was a mile and a half south of Chang-tsia-wan.\n\nOn arrival at that spot, however, they found it occupied by a large Chinese army, whilst batteries had been hastily thrown up and armed, so as to flank the proposed site of our camp. From the commanding officer Mr. Parkes could obtain no satisfaction, so he started back to Tang-chow with an orderly of the King's Dragoon Guards to see the High Commissioner and ask the reason of this move. Mr. Loch came on to tell me of this, and Colonel Walker and Deputy Assistant Commissary-General Thompson remained on the ground with four of the King's Dragoon Guards and one sowar, where they were to await Mr. Parkes's return.\n\nIt was only now that I learnt that Mr. De Norman, Attaché to Her Majesty's Legation, and Mr. Bowlby, correspondent of the Times newspaper, had gone to Tang-chow with Mr. Parkes and remained there with Lieutenant Anderson.\n\nMr. Loch volunteered to return with any orders, and Captain Brabazon, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General, R.A., volunteered to accompany him.\n\nThey accordingly started, under a flag of truce, for Tang-chow, with my orders for Mr. Parkes and the whole party to return at once to head quarters.\n\nMeanwhile the Chinese Cavalry advanced in great numbers, on both flanks, and their Infantry poured down on our right front, which was enclosed ground and carefully entrenched. I was extremely anxious not to engage, for fear of compromising our officers, who were in their lines. I therefore covered both my flanks with Cavalry and ordered the baggage to be hastened on, and massed on a village in our rear, where it could be defended by a small force. This latter operation occupied nearly two hours, during which time the enemy's Cavalry had almost entirely surrounded our forces. Sufficient time had elapsed for all of our party to return from Tang-chow, and I became anxious for their safety, when suddenly a commotion appeared in the enemy's line. The guns and matchlock men in their centre opened fire, and Colonel Walker's party dashed out of the midst of their ranks. Colonel Walker reported that, whilst waiting for Mr. Parkes, a French officer joined him, who was suddenly set upon and cut down by a Chinese soldier, and, on his riding up to prevent his being murdered, his own sword was snatched from his scabbard, and some men tried to throw him off his horse. Seeing that it was a deliberate attempt to assassinate the whole of them Colonel Walker set spurs to his horse and galloped out with his party, under the fire of the Chinese line. One of his men was wounded and one horse, Mr. Thompson receiving a spear-thrust in his back; but they fortunately managed to reach our lines, their wounds not being severe. It was now useless to wait longer, and the attack was immediately formed. General de Montauban advanced to turn their left, and with him I sent a squadron of Fane's Horse, under Lieutenant Cattley. On the centre the 9-pounder Battery opened, supported by a squadron of King's Dragoon Guards, and part of the 99th Regiment advanced up the road.\n\nThe Armstrong Battery with the 15th Punjaub Infantry took ground to the left, whilst Sir John Michel, with the 1st Sikh Cavalry, three 6-pounder guns, and the 2nd (Queen's), made a wide flank movement on the extreme left, so as to turn the right of the enemy. The action commenced simultaneously on all points, and it was now apparent that the Chinese had carefully prepared a very treacherous reception for our forces, An entrenchment, skilfully concealed by natural obstacles, extended on our right and left for several miles, and was armed with numerous guns.\n\nTheir cavalry hovered in large masses on our entire left flank, so that Sir J. Michel was unable to perform the flank movement that had been intended, until the 1st Sikh Cavalry had, by a brilliant charge, discomfited the Tartar Horse, and his force, advancing, had driven them back for some miles. Finding his position to be such, I caused the Armstrong battery and the 15th Punjaub Infantry to take ground still more to the left, and with them I turned the right of the enemy's entrenchment, who thereupon fled with considerable precipitancy. I then sent the Armstrong guns and the reserve cavalry to join Sir J. Michel, who, after making a circuit of six or seven miles, joined me in front of Chang-tsia-wan at a later hour. Meanwhile the French had turned the left by a very extended sweep, and were advancing steadily up, capturing many guns, whilst the 99th with the 9-pound battery joined me in the centre of the enemy's position. The 15th Punjaub Infantry pushing on with much spirit, captured several guns in the act of retiring, and eventually advanced through Chang-tsia-wan, taking several large camps on the outside. Here my force halted. The French being much exhausted by their extensive movement, had halted on the Chinese position.\n\nThe enormous extent of country covered by the enemy, who showed more than 20,000 men, did not permit me to use my force with as good effect as I might have done, as it was too small to allow of its being scattered.\n\nThe loss of the enemy is estimated at 600 killed, whilst 75 guns fell into our hands.\n\nThe French force encountered chiefly infantry, who, on being driven back, were charged most gallantly by Lieut. Cattley's squadron, of whose conduct General de Montauban has written to me in the very highest terms.\n\nThe conduct of the rest of the troops was also most excellent; and I would more particularly mention the 15th Punjaub Infantry, commanded by Lieut. Randall, who, under my personal observation, advanced with great steadiness, and kept their position to the front throughout the day,\n\nMr. Wade went yesterday to Tang-chow to try and gather tidings of Mr. Parkes's party, but the Prefect denied all knowledge concerning them, A Chinaman, however, was brought in to-day, who states that he heard that upwards of 20 foreigners went after the fight to Pekin. If this is true, we have every reason to hope for their ultimate safety.\n\nI was compelled to leave a good force at Tientsin, lest the sudden withdrawal of so many troops should allow a disturbance to arise there. This in effect took place, but being judiciously met by Sir R. Napier, everything is again quiet there, and I have directed that officer to join me with two regiments of infantry, leaving two and a-half regiments, with two batteries of artillery under Brigadier Staveley at Tientsin.\n\nI have, &c,\n\nJ. HOPE GRANT, Lieut.-Gen.,\n\nCommander of the Forces.\n\n(Signed)\n\nThe Right Honourable\n\nThe Secretary of State for War, &c.\n\nA 3\n\nPage 406\n\n2\n\n5", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 277995, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-137 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [4-5]", "page_number": 9, "title": "CO129-137 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [4-5]", "content_text": "For 584040/boy \n\n7 \n\n# FUNERAL OF THE LATE MAJOR-GENERAL BRUNKER. \n\nOn 27th March, the remains of the late Major-General Brunker, Commander of H.M. Forces in China and Japan, and Lieutenant-Governor of Hongkong, were interred in the Cemetery at the Happy Valley, with full military honours. The procession was marshalled on the Parade Ground, and started punctually at half-past three. A field battery, in charge of Capt. Carey, commanding R.A., led the way, and then, to the solemn strains of the \"Dead March in Saul,\" the 75th Regiment moved slowly into the Queen's-road and towards the Cemetery. They were followed by the band of their regiment, and that of the 29th Native Infantry. Then came the coffin, placed upon a gun-carriage, and covered with the national ensign, the Pall bearers consisting of Colonel Gore, Commandant, Doctor Heffernan, Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals, Colonel De Butts, Commanding R.E., Commodore Jones, R.N., the Hon. J. Gardiner Austin, and Captain Raby, R.N. Following next to them, according to a touching custom in military funerals, the General's old charger was led by two soldiers of the 75th, and immediately behind were His Excellency the Governor, Captain Maxwell, D.A.A.G., Captain Shaw D.A.Q.M.G., and Captain Thompson, A.D.C., the Chief Mourners. The members of the Executive Council came next, and after them, the 29th Regiment Native Infantry, followed by a large number of English, American and other Naval Officers, and, finally by the Civil Servants of the Colony, who were all in attendance, and a large number of private gentlemen.\n\nThe crowd at the Parade Ground was very large, and the road to the Cemetery was nearly the whole length lined with spectators. The procession slowly wended its way in time to the music, broken by the booming of the minute guns; and passing the Guard House turned to the Praya, and marched by that route to the Cemetery. The hills surrounding the Wong-nei-chong valley were covered with spectators. On reaching the Cemetery, the soldiers of both regiments were told off on either side of the road, leaning upon their reversed muskets. The remainder of the procession followed the coffin to the Chapel, while the soldiers took up their position outside the grave destined to receive the mortal remains of their late commander. The service was impressively read by the Rev. Canon Beach, assisted by the Revds. J. Piper and Kyle; and the coffin was then brought out and borne to its last resting place. As it was lowered into the grave, the men of the 75th fired three volleys, which were answered by the minute guns hard by; and the impressive ceremony being closed, the troops were marshalled, and the procession returned homewards.\n\nIn addition to those mentioned as taking part in the ceremony, a large number of persons of distinction were present, among whom were Rear Ad. Rowan U.S.N. and Capts. Roe and English U.S.N.; the Hon J. Smale, Chief-Justice of Hongkong; Sir Edmund Hornby, Chief Judge of the Supreme Court for China and Japan; Mons. Du Chesne, Consul for France, Mr. Helland, Danish Consul, and Mr. Overbeck, Austrian Consul, in their official uniforms; Mr. Pollard Q.C., Mr. Hayllar, Dr. Murray, Colonial Surgeon, and others. The 29th Regiment were under the command of Major Ritherdon, Capt. Grant, and Adjutant Prendergast. Captain-Superintendent Deane, who took command of the Police, did good service, and was ably seconded by Mr. Assistant Superintendent Creagh, who took charge of the Sikh, and by Deputy Superintendent Jarman, who was also very busy.\n\nOn Sunday the Rev. Canon Beach, in the course of his sermon at the Cathedral, made a touching allusion to the death of the late Major-General. The Revd. Gentleman observed that, although the Cathedral was not the place to eulogise the dead, he thought he would be expected to allude for one moment to the fine old man whom God had so suddenly taken from our midst. Had he lived, it was his intention to have been with the congregation that day, and to have knelt with them before the altar of God. The Rev. Gentleman had had the happiness of knowing him well, and often admiring the true Christian spirit which animated him both in his public life and also in his own family. He had been taken away in mercy, and the change to him, it could not be doubted, was most blest, as he had gone to rejoin her, whose loss bore heavily upon him, although he was too brave and too meek to murmur or complain. But we should miss his erect and venerable form in the place which he was wont to occupy in the Cathedral so regularly, and from the Eucharistic feast, which he never (when able) failed to attend and partake of. He was a good man; and, by his high and courteous bearing won the love and respect of all, and the Revd Gentleman could not allow this day to pass without paying this tribute to his memory. Thank God! although he was gone from us, we believed that he still lived; for Jesus, the Resurrection, and the Life, in whom he trusted, lives; and the remembrance of his calm and Christian life would long survive in our hearts.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-137 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [4-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 344450, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-248 - Public Offices & Others - 1890", "page_number": 448, "title": "CO129-248 - Public Offices & Others - 1890", "content_text": "17\n\n445\n\n: \n\n16\n\ntrade between their own ports, and from those ports to the mother country. These ports differ, therefore, from those of Hong Kong and Singapore, in so far as they are not merely naval bases and harbours of refuge for the trade which passes them in its transit between the United Kingdom and foreign countries.\n\n10. Unless this distinction is kept well in view, no proper and fair consideration will be given to the conditions which govern the defence of these eastern coaling stations. It is of course reasonable and just that the mercantile community and alien inhabitants of Singapore and Hong Kong should bear their full share of the cost of protecting the ports in which they carry on their business, and of the security which they enjoy. The amount which they should contribute is a subject for careful examination and discussion, but as regards Hong Kong, Lord Knutsford must observe that the discussion was closed for the present by the conference of himself and his colleagues, when the contribution was fixed for five years, at £40,000 a-year.\n\n11. Their Lordships being dissatisfied with the conclusions of a Committee, to which their own representative was a consenting party, caused the matter to be referred to the two Secretaries of State and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and, according to Lord Knutsford's distinct recollection, the result of this meeting was that the recommendations of the Committee were accepted, so far as regards Hong Kong. He cannot, therefore, adopt the view apparently underlying your letter under acknowledgment that this conference was merely of a preliminary character, designed to clear the ground for subsequent discussion; and should the Secretary of State for War concur in this recollection of what passed at that meeting, Lord Knutsford trusts that their Lordships will reconsider their present decision, and agree to this contribution of £40,000 for the five years, from 1st January last.\n\n12. As regards the sum of about £9,000 for submarine mining works, which their Lordships desire should be demanded from the colony, Lord Knutsford would point out that when the conference accepted, as according to his recollection was the case, the recommendations of Sir Arthur Haliburton's Committee, no exception or reservation was made in respect either of this sum or of the payments on account of the new barracks. And in any case he would deprecate any demand on account of this sum, not only because no similar demand has been made upon any other colony, and no objection has been raised in Parliament, but also because the Colonial Legislature, in 1886, when voting a sum of £60,375 in addition to the original estimate of £55,625 for works, making together the sum of £116,000, did so on the distinct understanding that \"this vote shall be final for the military and defensive purposes of the colony,\" and although Her Majesty's Government never formally accepted this condition, yet if the demand for this £9,000 is pressed, the colony would naturally point to the resolution, and the difficulty would be considerably greater of obtaining the increased annual contribution, and the money necessary for the new barracks.\n\n13. For it must be remembered, that hitherto all barracks at Hong Kong have been built by the military authorities, and any demand upon the colony on that account will be unexpected, and give rise to much opposition. And there is a matter of considerable importance to which Lord Knutsford desires to draw their Lordships' attention. The colony has recently carried out, at enormous cost, certain large works for bringing into the town a copious supply of fresh water, of which the military and naval departments enjoy the benefit, without contributing to the cost of the works, and the colony may claim to set off a portion of this expenditure against demands which they consider unjust, seeing that the War Office and Admiralty pay only half rates for the water they use, and it is understood that the Admiralty have objected even to this. No such suggestion has yet been made by the Governor, and very possibly never will be made, but the circumstance should not be overlooked when considering the demands which it is judicious for Her Majesty's Government to put forward.\n\n14. It only remains to notice the 8th paragraph of the letter under reply, and to observe that if the Straits contribution has not been paid in sterling, this is due to the Treasury having refused to accept sterling in the first instance, and afterwards when the exchange turned in favour at the colony, to its having for years omitted to deal with a proposal from the Colonial Office, submitting a scheme, which, whatever may have been its merits, was at any rate an honest attempt to come to an arrangement upon the subject. Upon this question I am to refer you to the letter from this department of the 18th of September.\n\nI am, &c.,\n\nThe Secretary to the Treasury.\n\nJ. BRAMSTON.\n\nWar Office to Colonial Office.\n\nWar Office,\n\n30th November 1889.\n\nSir,\n\nWith reference to your letter of the 17th October 1889, respecting the provision of additional barrack accommodation at Hong Kong, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit herewith, for the information of Lord Knutsford, a copy of a letter* which has been addressed to the Treasury in regard to the sale of land in that colony, and I am to state that no trustworthy estimate of the cost of the barrack accommodation can yet be furnished, nor is it expected that a complete estimate can be so furnished for some length of time, as the amount of building will be considerable, and its plans, &c., will take a long time to prepare. Nor does the Secretary of State for War conceive that it will be possible to bind himself absolutely that the estimate will not be exceeded, though every effort will be made to adhere strictly to the figures quoted.\n\nThe variations in prices, and the necessary modifications of the plan in execution, render it impracticable to give an undertaking beyond this.\n\nThe plans, however, will be prepared and revised in this office upon the information available at the latest date, and with due regard to economy. The War Department also will have to bear half the cost beyond the proceeds of the sale of property, and it is clear that it will be to the interest of the War Department as much as to that of the colony, to keep the cost as low as possible.\n\nThe Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W.\n\nSir,\n\nI am, &c.,\n\nRALPH THOMPSON.\n\nColonial Office to War Office.\n\nColonial Office, Downing Street,\n\n16th January 1888.\n\nWith reference to your letter of the 8th December, I am directed by Secretary Hong Kong Sir H. Holland to acquaint you that Captain Morant, R.N., has attended at this office, and with Colonel Locock, R.E., and Mr. Bramston, of this department, discussed the questions connected with the proposed extension of the Hong Kong Praya, and received such valuable information from Sir George Phillippo, Chief Justice of the Colony, who, as chairman of a land commission, which has recently reported to the Governor, is well acquainted with all matters relating to land in Hong Kong.\n\n2. The position of affairs, as Sir H. Holland understands it, may briefly be stated as follows:-The population of the colony, which is almost entirely concentrated in the town of Victoria, numbered, according to the census of 1881, 160,402 persons, of whom no less than 150,690 were Chinese. This number is now very much larger, and is increasing at the estimated rate of some 10,000 a year; nearly all Chinese; and very great difficulty is found in providing them with house room. This difficulty is increased by the circumstance that the town, which extends in a long line along the harbour, is occupied about the middle of the line by the naval yard, and the barracks and other military buildings, which practically cut the town in two.\n\n3. The only communication between the eastern and western halves of the town is by the Queen's Road, a thoroughfare of moderate width, passing behind the naval yard and some of the military buildings, others of which are on the other side of the Queen's Road, some on the same level, some on a cliff which here abuts on the road, and effectually prevents any second road from being made there for relief of the traffic.\n\n4. For many years the Colonial authorities have desired to obtain such relief by reclaiming a portion of the harbour and building a sea wall and road on the harbour side of the naval and military establishments; but all negotiations on the subject have hitherto failed, the Admiralty and War Office refusing to contribute to the expense, and at the same time objecting to being deprived of their water frontage, which would necessarily follow if the land reclaimed from the harbour were retained by the Colonial Government and utilized for building purposes.\n\n5. The necessities of the colony have now become so urgent that a proposal was made to the Admiralty to accept a larger site at Kowloon in exchange for the present yard, which is already too small for naval requirements, and in front of which the water\n\n(217)\n\n*For copy of letter\n\nsee page 13.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-248 - Public Offices & Others - 1890.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 344451, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-248 - Public Offices & Others - 1890", "page_number": 449, "title": "CO129-248 - Public Offices & Others - 1890", "content_text": "446\n\n18\n\nis shoaling rapidly owing to the accumulation of earth washed down from the hills through a nullah which enters the harbour at that part. The proposal was declined because expensive reclamation works are required before the site offered in exchange would be fully available, and the Admiralty were not prepared to apply to Parliament for the money necessary to make the reclamation, to erect the new buildings, and to remove the machinery, and establish the yard on the proposed site.\n\n6. Sir H. Holland, however, understands that if the Colonial Government were willing, at their own cost, to undertake the transfer of the machinery and establishment, making all necessary works, and erecting buildings of the same capacity and character as now exist in the present yard, the Admiralty might be disposed to surrender the present yard and buildings in exchange for the proposed site at Kowloon, with the new buildings and other works to be effected as above mentioned.\n\n7. Such an arrangement, however, between the Admiralty and the colony would not, under existing circumstances, be acceptable to the War Office if the colony desired to build over the site of the naval yard, and would, doubtless, not be entertained by the colony if they were not at liberty to make free use of that site and of any land reclaimed from the harbour. It is, therefore, suggested that the colony might seek to acquire some portion, at least, of the military buildings situated between the Queen's Road and the harbour.\n\n8. The naval yard is flanked on one side by the North Barracks and on the other by the commissariat buildings, the three together forming a large block of land of great value. The two military portions would fetch a high price in the market, possibly sufficient for erecting elsewhere new barracks and other buildings in place of the North Barracks and commissariat buildings, as well as the additional barracks which will be required for the increase in the garrison which is contemplated. It might, it seems to Sir H. Holland, be possible for an agreement to be come to between the War Office and the colony, by which the former, instead of selling these two sites, might arrange to hand them over to the colony in return for the erection of barracks and other buildings at suitable places higher up the hill, the colony being required to expend, unless the work could be done for less, a sum equal to the value of the sites of North Barracks and commissariat buildings, as ascertained beforehand by agreement or arbitration, after allowing for the value of any site which the colony may have to provide outside the War Department lands.\n\n9. Sir H. Holland has been informed, though the Governor has not yet made any report upon the subject, that a scheme is on foot in the colony for an extended reclamation in the western portion of the harbour, commencing it is said in the neighbourhood of Belcher's Point and ending at the Government Wharf (Murray Pier), near the North Barracks. If any scheme of this nature is to be carried out at the present time it would necessarily postpone for some time the removal of the naval yard and the North Barracks and commissariat buildings as above suggested; but if the Secretary of State for War is disposed to entertain the question of such removal, it would be desirable that the Governor should be made aware of the possibility of such an arrangement being made in the future.\n\n10. I am accordingly to ask that Sir H. Holland may be favoured with the observations of the Secretary of State for War upon the subjects referred to in this letter.\n\nI am, &c.,\n\nThe Under Secretary of State,\n\nWar Office.\n\nJOHN BRAMSTON.\n\nWar Office to Colonial Office.\n\nWar Office,\n\n20th January 1888.\n\nI have the honour, by direction of the Secretary of State for War, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant, respecting the proposed extension of the Hong Kong Praya, which shall receive attention. A further communication will be addressed to you on the subject.\n\n8\n\n1100\n\nThe Under Secretary of State,\n\nColonial Office, S.W.\n\nI have, &c.,\n\nRALPH THOMPSON.\n\n19\n\nCaptain Superintendent, Pembroke Dock, to Admiralty.\n\nExtension of Praya Wall, Hong Kong. Result of Committee Meeting at Colonial Office, on the 9th January 1888.\n\nHer Majesty's Dockyard, Pembroke Dock,\n\n11th January 1888.\n\n8\n\n1187\n\nSir,\n\n1. I have to report, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that in compliance with their directions expressed in your letters of the 4th and 5th instant, D.W. 4275 and 4278, I attended at the Colonial Office at 3.0 p.m., on Monday the 9th, and met there Mr. Bramston, of the Colonial Office, Sir G. Phillippo, Chief Justice of Hong Kong, and Colonel Locock, R.E., representing the War Office.\n\n2. Sir G. Phillippo opened the discussion by stating that the population of Hong Kong was so rapidly increasing, that on sanitary and commercial grounds the Colonial authorities at Hong Kong were of opinion that at no distant date it would be necessary to move to other suitable sites the naval and military establishments, now occupying a central position on the sea front, and, therefore, interrupting the traffic from east to west.\n\n3. I pointed out that, from a naval point of view, the building of the proposed Praya wall across the sea front of the dockyard would be most inconvenient, and would much impair the efficiency of the yard, except on the amended plan proposed by Sir William Dowell, K.C.B., in his letter, dated Amoy, 5th May 1884; and further, that the naval yards should be laterally extended by the War Department handing over to the Admiralty the North Barracks, now occupied by the Royal Artillery.\n\n4. Colonel Locock, R.E., stated that there would be no objection on the part of the War Department to handing over the North Barracks, or such portion of the ground as the Admiralty might require, provided Lots No. 21 and 22, and another Lot east of the commissariat buildings, were handed over to the War Department by the colony, and the Admiralty paid the necessary money for acquiring the site, and erecting the buildings, &c.\n\n5. The Chief Justice, on the other hand, was decidedly of opinion that it was necessary for the colony that the North Barracks, naval yard, and at least as far as Wellington Barracks on the sea front of the Queen's Road, should be handed over to the colony, with no restrictions as to the purposes the land might be used for. If this were agreed to, he would be prepared to recommend to the Colonial Government that the land at Kowloon, as per plans enclosed in the Surveyor-General's letter of 5th March 1887, should be reclaimed, and the necessary barracks, buildings, storehouses, sheds, factory, and the machinery placed therein as now in the naval yard at Hong Kong, should be erected thereon, and handed over to the Admiralty free of all costs, in exchange.\n\n6. Sir G. Phillippo, in the course of his remarks, stated he believed that a new scheme had been started, and that it had the approval of the Local Government, which is to extend the present Praya wall from Belcher's Bay to Murray Pier (a point immediately west of the North Barracks) for a considerable distance into the sea, I believe about 100 yards. Should this be finally carried out, Sir George was of opinion that for the present the available money of the colony would be exhausted, and the proposed extension of the Praya eastward, past the naval and military establishments, would not at present be proceeded with; firstly, for want of funds; secondly, that sufficient land for immediate wants would be made available by the reclamation.\n\n7. I would point out, for their Lordships' consideration, that if this latter scheme is carried out, I am of opinion the silting up of the sea front of the naval yard, which has been going on for years, and has already proved of considerable inconvenience to the naval Service, would be very much accelerated, as the new Praya wall would interrupt the little tide which now assists in clearing away a portion of the large amount of debris that in rainy seasons is washed down from the hill sides, and silts up the sea front of this part of the harbour.\n\n8. My letter, dated the 15th of March 1887, to the Commander-in-Chief in China, and which is within the enclosed papers, gives plainly my opinion on the subject of the removal of the naval yard to Kowloon, and its advantages; this, taken with the knowledge that it seems next to impossible to extend the yard in its present position, and if some arrangement is not soon agreed upon, that in a short time the land now offered at Kowloon may not be available, except at an enormous cost, I would...\n\n1", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-248 - Public Offices & Others - 1890.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 366778, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6]", "page_number": 187, "title": "CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6]", "content_text": "## List of Names\n\n| Name | Rank/Title | Unit/Regiment |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Malcolm Watson | | |\n| F. D. Gradard | | |\n| Jum Andrew | | |\n| Crate Coheng | | |\n| C.I. Durell | | & West Yahshing |\n| Entsorger | col alt | |\n| Aplettelman | Cap ase | |\n| Anraser | Lilol. Ba | |\n| C.M. Buzzard | fina | |\n| | | BBC |\n| F. Cloud | C.S... | MA. Carey Rient Ra. |\n| H. Elsdale | Colonel | Ch?. |\n| Wendleg. Mage | We | |\n| Charles | a hugent. | Ramby's |\n| Albannerman | Love. | |\n| Mees | all liWW). | C.Mundall Lint RE. |\n| C. F. Gould | Capt. | |\n| C.S. Corstenfel | Mes | Work & Puft |\n| taufatthew | tich. | Wet Barney läft Re |\n| Dr. J. Mullarki | Sefol.C.0.0. | H.I. Laughome Capt |\n| Rd. J. Thompson | Capt | 2.0d. |\n| Heath | ave. | NSWar pravd |\n| Surratt | Souper | Colonel. As |\n| 2. C. Mills | Maju | 16 7 Jesel Brown Sung. Caper. Alles. |\n| W.S. Carey | Capt.. | 115. Morse Regt. |\n| | artron dint | of Worgent ry |\n| Underrat | hieut. | I tilfaboken beh |\n| P.# Johnson | Lig | 2 Col. And |\n| | Capt | |\n| 992 Walton | hud | Surpleptreed |\n| Mich. Whitty | MD. | Surzhapt and |\n| | | The bood died for ynklin Boy. By by age fue Call Aud. |\n| Chi Gondor | \"ght | 14 yostahive Rust Cartufull fled the th |\n| C. Blackburne | Ten Lient | /w York Ret al. Campbell. Land. |\n| H.R.R. Backe | Thien | / Wettartaker los. Fanderein Lunt SXR |\n| | Seant. 1. | / Yorkshire Rat Tellerber & St MR. |\n| A.W. Spruces | Lieut. 1* | W. Yorkshire Ret N. Manila D. &.R. |\n| C. Ryall | Leeind it | W. Gokslininkas |\n| Porry | L. Ingen | Lizat 187.9. Reg! |\n| B. King | Lical. | (W. y.googl |\n| | | se Janion | \n## No other text is present other than names and titles. The list is reconstructed in a table format as shown above.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-283 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 406033, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12]", "page_number": 8, "title": "CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12]", "content_text": "5\n\nper mensem I propose that a Staff Officer for Volunteers should be appointed with salary of £600 per annum and house allowance of $75 per mensem and that this Staff Officer should be a Captain of the Royal Artillery seconded for service under this Government.\n\n3.\n\nI enclose a copy of an application for the appointment received from Captain A. J. Thompson, Royal Garrison Artillery, now on this station to which application are appended favourable recommendations from Colonel F. C. Kent, Commanding Royal Artillery in South China, and Colonel C. H. Darling, Commanding the Troops who is acting for Major-General Villiers Hatton, C.B., absent on leave. Major Pritchard advises me that Captain Thompson is suited to the post and a slight acquaintance I have with the Officer in question confirms this opinion.\n\nIf, therefore, the Army Council have no objection I recommend that this appointment be made from the 1st of April next.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nMy Lord,\n\nYour Lordship's most obedient,\n\nhumble servant,\n\nGovernor, &c\n\nPage", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 476561, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6]", "page_number": 376, "title": "CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6]", "content_text": "# Government House, Hongkong, 26th January, 1918.\n\nSir,\n\nWith reference to the arrangements come to at a meeting of the Vital Requirements Committee on Thursday 18th January, I have the honour to inform you that I am in receipt of a telegram from Colonel Thompson in which he informs me that the Government of the Straits Settlements cannot consent to Lieut. Old becoming Secretary to the Shipping Committee and suggesting a Mr. Seed of Maclaine Watson & Co., Java, for the post.\n\nAfter consulting the Vital Requirements Committee, I do not wish to appoint Mr. Seed and would prefer to make arrangements locally. I therefore suggest that Mr. Cary's services might be made available until his successor arrives when it is hoped that the latter might undertake the work. The remuneration would be $200 a month.\n\nI should be much obliged if you would inform me whether Mr. Cary is willing and can be permitted to undertake the work.\n\nThe Commodore-in-Charge.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(sd.) F. H. May, Governor, &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-448 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 490943, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-472 - Others - 1921", "page_number": 636, "title": "CO129-472 - Others - 1921", "content_text": "Minutes of Meeting held at Cornwall House on Monday 3rd October.\n\nPresent:-\n\nMr. Obetham-strode (in the Chair)\n\nMr. Hutchinson\n\nMr. Winearls\n\nMr. Tigar\n\nMr. Edwards\n\nMr. Saville\n\nMr. Neill\n\nMr. J.B. Knight\n\nMr. Southoombe\n\nMr. Leach (Public Trustee's Office)\n\nMr. Bushe (Colonial Office)\n\nMr. Dixon\n\nMr. Hammond (Department of the Administrator of Austrian Property)\n\nIt was agreed that the Clearing Office should write a semi-official letter to M. Alphand asking whether, in view of the fact that in a similar case even of vested property under British law the rights of a French legatee would be recognised, the French Government would agree to the release of the property to the British legatees.\n\nIt should also be pointed out that during the War the Public Trustee on behalf of the British legatee had paid a large sum of money for rent and upkeep and that it would be very unreasonable that they should both lose the property and pay the cost of upkeep.\n\nIt was agreed that the money should be released.\n\nIt was decided that notwithstanding the Austrian case referred to in Colonel Thompson's letter to Mr. Dan Williams, the decision regarding Mrs. Gunter's case on the 15th August should stand.\n\nIt was agreed that in any case where the German enquired after his property which had been commandeered under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, an endeavour should be made to ascertain from the responsible authority what had happened to the property and whether it still existed. If it still existed, it should be recovered by the Public Trustee and accounted for to the Germans.\n\nIt was decided that the Custodian for Scotland should be authorised to return the four Sextants to the estimated value of £12.10.0.\n\nIt was agreed that this case clearly came within the decision of Mr. Justice P.O. Lawrence in the Houston Chamberlayne case and that there were no facts which would justify release as an act of grace.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-472 - Others - 1921.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 492855, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-476 - Acting Governor Claud Severn & Governor Sir Stubbs - 1922 [8-12]", "page_number": 208, "title": "CO129-476 - Acting Governor Claud Severn & Governor Sir Stubbs - 1922 [8-12]", "content_text": "204\n\nSir G.\n\nGovernment imposed a special tax on shipowners, Grindle was prepared to admit this, but he pointed out that this was a disability shared in war-time by Hong Kong with home shipowners, and that it could not be avoided. He observed that it was only for technical reasons, not specially affecting Hong Kong, that it had been decided not to apply the Imperial Indemnity Act to the Colonies, and that as a matter of fact such a course had been very seriously considered. The Hong Kong Ordinance was a piece of Imperial policy, which no Secretary of State was likely to reverse, and it was inconceivable that it should be disallowed. He added that, to put matters quite bluntly, the disposal of the profits was immaterial so long as the object—that the shipowners should not get them—was attained.\n\nSome discussion followed, arising out of the point that the profits had not been paid into general revenue (as here) but were held in a suspense account. Mr. Burroughs intimated that his firm (a Shanghai one) might have acquiesced in the money being spent on definitely \"war\" purposes, but that when a proposal was made that it should be devoted to housing the poor of Kowloon, they were roused into testing the legal position. Hence the Wollowra case. Sir G. Grindle, however, took the view that this was in fact merely a point of accounting and not of any real importance.\n\nMr. Borroughs and Mr. Burkill then reverted to the point of war risk insurance. Mr. Burkill said that heavy payments were made to insurance companies, his firm having no knowledge that the Government would insure. He denied any knowledge of any letter such as that in enclosure F in 34042/18 (paragraph 11 of letter and paragraph 19 of enclosed Charter Party). He contended that for this and other reasons, such as the high China exchange, firms concerned, his firm at any rate, had done far worse than home shipowners, and had in fact suffered heavy losses, in spite of the extra allowance over blue book rates authorised for the Far East by Colonel Thompson. Mr. Eushe expressed some difficulty in understanding this.\n\nMr. Borroughs said that it was unfortunate that the Hong Kong Government had not explained the position so fully and clearly as it had been set out now by Sir G. Grindle. Reference was made to negotiations with Mr. Fletcher, and to an offer of division of profits on a 50/50 basis said to have been made by the Hong Kong Government but turned down by the Unofficials. Mr. Burroughs said that, as Sir G. Grindle had pointed out that the Government's intention was that Hong Kong shipowners should not be better off than those in this country, it might be argued that in that case they ought not to be worse off, and asked if the position could not be considered on that basis.\n\nSir G. Grindle said that any offer on the lines referred to above, even if it had been decided upon by the Colonial Government, would undoubtedly have failed to secure the Secretary of State's sanction. He could not accept Mr. Burrough's corollary that Hong Kong shipowners ought not to be the worse off; all that His Majesty's Government had settled was that they ought not to be better off than those in this country, but he considered that if the shipowners could satisfy the Hong Kong Government that they were in fact", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-476 - Acting Governor Claud Severn & Governor Sir Stubbs - 1922 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 496668, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923", "page_number": 748, "title": "CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923", "content_text": "## 746\n\nEnclosure F deals with this question (paragraph 11 of letter and paragraph 19 of enclosed Charter Party). He contended that for this and other reasons, such as the high China exchange, firms concerned, his firm at any rate, had done far worse than home shipowners, and had in fact suffered heavy losses, in spite of the extra allowance over blue book rates authorised for the Far East by Colonel Thompson. Mr. Bushe expressed some difficulty in understanding this.\n\nMr. Borroughs said that it was unfortunate that the Hong Kong Government had not explained the position so fully and clearly as it had been set out now by Sir G. Grindle. Reference was made to negotiations with Mr. Fletcher, and to an offer of division of profits on a 50/50 basis said to have been made by the Hong Kong Government but turned down by the Unofficials. Mr. Burroughs said that, as Sir G. Grindle had pointed out that the Government's intention was that Hong Kong shipowners should not be better off than those in this country, it might be argued that in that case they ought not to be worse off, and asked if the position could not be considered on that basis.\n\nSir G. Grindle said that any offer on the lines referred to above, even if it had been decided upon by the Colonial Government would undoubtedly have failed to secure the Secretary of State's sanction. He could not accept Mr. Burroughs' corollary that Hong Kong shipowners ought not to be the worse off; all that His Majesty's Government had settled was that they ought not to be better off than those in this country, but he considered that if the shipowners could satisfy the Hong Kong Government that they were in fact...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 503938, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-494 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [9-10]", "page_number": 434, "title": "CO129-494 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [9-10]", "content_text": "heen subjected to insult or violence. In all cases of incendiarism or robbery, the local authorities shall at once take the necessary steps for the recovery of the stolen property, the suppression of disorder, and the arrest of the guilty parties, whom they will punish according to law.\n\n6\n\narmed launch and they were abducted. Energetic efforts on the part of the Consul General and the Company secured Mr. Cadman's release that evening but not before he had been subjected to considerable indignity. His hands were bound with rope and he was led through the streets followed by a mob shouting out, \"Kill the English devil\". At the Strike Headquarters he had to undergo a form of trial while the mob outside shouted \"Kill him\". The two Indians were subjected to even worse treatment. They were bound, beaten, chained, deprived of all their clothing except their pantaloons, kicked, and threatened with death. They were ordered to clean out latrines, and when they refused to undergo what was to them a gross indignity they were beaten. Beef was thrown into their rice, so that they had to choose between going hungry and acting contrary to their religious belief. They were not released until the 6th January, in spite of repeated applications by the Consul General to the Foreign Office at Canton, and in spite of several assurances by the Foreign Office officials that the men had been released or would shortly be released.\n\nOn the trade of Great Britain 7. It may be added that the deliberate attack described above is in direct conflict with the spirit of the Washington Nine Power Treaty of 1922, in which the contracting powers, other than China, agreed to use their influence for the purpose of effectually establishing and maintaining the principle of equal opportunity for the commerce and industry of all nations throughout the territory of China. The treatment which British interests have recently been receiving from the Canton Government has been unequal and most unjust. British shipping is denied the facilities of the port at Canton and the shipping of other nationals is granted facilities there only if it avoids Hong Kong and does not carry British goods. British merchants are not allowed to trade with Canton and British goods are confiscated.\n\n8. The present treaties between Great Britain and China may contain provisions which call for revision, either now or in the early future. That is a matter for the Conference now sitting at Peking to consider. But they also contain provisions which merely enunciate the relations which ordinarily subsist between the subjects and citizens of friendly powers, who live and trade side by side on conditions of perfect friendship and equality. It is these provisions that the Canton Government has seen fit to attack, and it is of the breach of provisions of this class that I complain.\n\n9. I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Minister at Peking and His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour most obedient humble servant,\n\n(Sd.) C. CLEMENTI,\n\nGovernor, &c.\n\nTHE RIGHT Honourable\n\nLieutenant COLONEL L. C. M. S. AMERY, M.P.,\n\n&c.,\n\n&c.,\n\n&c.\n\n7\n\nNote 1.\n\nOn the 27th January 1926 Mohamed Ali, Hong Kong Police guard No. 39 employed upon the British S.S. Lungshan landed in Shamien and proceeded to a house in Tai Sze Street, in Canton City, where he had previously been employed. His object was to recover a bag of his personal effects. On his return about 5 p.m. he was stopped just outside the English bridge by men in uniform, wearing strike-picket badges. He was accused of being a Shamien policeman and was taken in custody to the Pickets' headquarters at Tung Un, where he was incarcerated in a wooden shed, about 5 feet square, with thirty Chinese prisoners. He was not bound but had to remain standing or sitting as there was no room to lie down. Under these conditions he was detained for eight days, being threatened with imprisonment and with shooting. He was then taken to a police-station, and subsequently released on condition that he returned direct to Hong Kong without entering the Shamien. He was enabled to proceed directly on board the S.S. Lungshan by means of a pass given him at the police-station. The translation is as follows:-\n\nNote paper for use at the\n\nForeign Office,\n\nKwang Tung.\n\nThis is to certify that the Indian named Mohamed Ali, a British subject, was detained by the Strike Pickets and after having been heard by the Special Criminal Court, was sent to this office where he was forthwith discharged so as to enable him to return home.\n\n5th day, February\n\n15th year\n\n(Seal)\n\nof the Chinese Republic (3.2.26.).\n\nForeign Office, Kwang Tung.\n\n(Seal).\n\nHis release was a somewhat belated response to a complaint made by H.B.M. Consul General on January 28th 1926, eight days previous to the date of the pass.\n\nNote 2.\n\nThe following report dated 26th June, 1926 from the Commanding Officer H.M.S. Cicala details a typical case of interference by strike-pickets with persons attempting to hold Communications with British steamers at Canton,\n\nat about 2000 yesterday, June 25th, the Strike Picket Motor-boat Tung Shan opened fire on a small junk containing about 40 passengers and cargo, which was making for alongside S.S. Fatshan in a strong ebb. The position of Tung Shan was approximately about four points on port bow distant 400 yards of S.S. Fatshan.\"\n\nThe attack was beaten off by vigorous fire being opened by coolies in charge of some vegetable boats already discharging alongside Fatshan. It is estimated that about 40 shots were exchanged from apparently Thompson guns. The Strike Picket boat retired with great speed towards Fati, firing desultory shots, and disappeared into shadows of innumerable junks.\n\nThe crew of the attacked junk jumped overboard as is customary, including the owner, who afterwards scrambled on board Fatshan having been shot through the rump. Medical attention was rendered on board Fatshan by Medical Officer of H.M.S. Cicala\n\nThis incident called forth the following protest from H.B.M. Consul-General:\n\n\"I am informed by the British naval authorities that a new picket boat has appeared on the river: a large motor launch completely surrounded by armour plates and manned by about thirty armed men.\n\nThe presence of such a formidable craft in the Canton harbour, under the control of an irresponsible organization like the strike committee, is a very grave menace to peace.\"\n\n414", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-494 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [9-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 528212, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-531-10 Hong Kong University- encouragement of Chinese students to counteract American influence 30-5-1931 - 1-9-1931", "page_number": 169, "title": "CO129-531-10 Hong Kong University- encouragement of Chinese students to counteract American influence 30-5-1931 - 1-9-1931", "content_text": "# REPORT OF THE BRITISH ECONOMIC MISSION TO THE FAR EAST\n\n## CHAPTER I\n### INTRODUCTION\n\n1. We think it desirable before attempting to place on record a survey of Japan and China, both as markets for and competitors with Great Britain, to draw attention to the relative positions of Asia and the chief countries of that continent in the trade of the world.\n\n2. The whole of Asia - of which India, China, and Japan are the chief countries - enjoys, as yet, not more than one-seventh of the world's total trade, although possessing almost half of the world's population. China, with nearly one-quarter of the population of the world, secures only 2 per cent., and Japan, including Korea and Formosa, with a population of nearly 90 million, secures only 2.8 per cent. of the trade of the world. In foreign trade (imports plus exports) per head of population, Japan is fiftieth on the list of countries with approximately £6 5s. per head in 1928. India, with a population smaller by 100 million than China, is eightieth on the list, with a foreign trade of £1 6s. per head. China, with a population of 400-500 million,* is eighty-second, and lowest on the list with a foreign trade of approximately 12s. per head. If China's foreign trade could be raised even to the level of that of India, the result would be an addition of at least £300 million to the annual foreign trade of the world, in which all countries trading with China would share.\n\n3. Japan and China present two entirely different markets. Japan is an island empire of approximately 90 million people industrialised - or rapidly becoming so on modern lines. Like Great Britain, Japan must import many of the principal raw materials required for her industries, but, unlike Great Britain, her economic structure has been planned to ensure that most of her domestic needs in manufactured goods can be supplied from her own factories, and in this policy Japan is increasingly successful. Indeed, in the cotton textile industry not only does Japan supply practically the whole of her own needs, but she has become the most formidable competitor with Lancashire in the world's markets. In 1903 Japan's exports of cotton piece goods were less than £2 million in value. In 1929 her exports of cotton piece goods had risen to £41 million, and were consigned to some of Great Britain's best markets, such as China, India, the Dutch East Indies, and Egypt.\n\n*The figure issued by the Nanking Government in 1931 was 474,000,000.\n\n## APPOINTMENT AND TERMS OF REFERENCE\n\nThe British Economic Mission to the Far East was appointed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the President of the Board of Trade on August 18th, 1930, to enquire into the present condition of British trade with China and Japan and to report what action should be taken to develop and increase that trade.\n\nThe Mission was constituted as follows:\n| Name | Position |\n| --- | --- |\n| Sir Ernest Thompson, J.P. | Chairman |\n| Sir Thomas Allen | |\n| Mr. James Bell, J.P. | |\n| Mr. William A. Crowther | |\n| Lieut.-Colonel Reginald Morcom, C.B.E. | |\n| Mr. Louis Beale, C.B.E. | |\n| Dr. S. H. C. Briggs | attached as a representative of the Wool Textile Delegation |\n| Captain R. T. Nevill | attached as adviser on the tinplate trade |\n| Mr. T. St. Quintin Hill, O.B.E. | Secretary |\n| Mr. F. A. Barnes | Assistant Secretary |\n\nThe Mission left London on 19th September, 1930, and arrived at Tokyo on 30th October, 1930.\n\nThe Mission left Japan on November 27th, 1930, and arrived at Shanghai on November 30th, 1930.\n\nThe Mission arrived in England on April 4th, 1931.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-531-10 Hong Kong University- encouragement of Chinese students to counteract American influence 30-5-1931 - 1-9-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 549192, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-554-7 British Empire and China Trade Fair 14-5-1935 - 23-10-1935", "page_number": 8, "title": "CO129-554-7 British Empire and China Trade Fair 14-5-1935 - 23-10-1935", "content_text": "of de\n\nEdward Crowe Re Mr Thompson\n\nDESTROYED UNDER STATUTE\n\nhar Seat\n\nSome one\n\n28.x.35\n\nrang up a\n\nlittle trive\n\nlo\n\nthat 11am\n\nJor\n\nsuit Ars Thomson.\n\nCfCartan's\n\n30/20\n\nufo\n\nInday would\n\n8\n\nI had a visit on the 1st of November from\n\nMrs. Thompson as arranged. Her immediate object was\n\nto try to interest the Secretary of State in a\n\nCommittee which she was endeavouring to form, to be\n\ncalled the \"Friends of China Committee\".\n\nar present Claim to\n\nShe admitted\n\nthat she could not claim to have any substantial\n\nsupport from local British enterprises in Hong Kong\n\nfor the Trade Fair which she and her co-Directors of\n\nthe Advertising and Publicity Bureau Limited are\n\ntrying to arrange in Hong Kong. She gave me to suppose\n\nthat this was due to jealousy on their part, and to a\n\ngeneral inertia which characterised local British\n\ninterests.\n\nShe claimed that in her preliminary negotiations\n\nfor setting up the Friends of China Committee\n\nshe had secured the support of many eminent people in\n\nthis country, including Lord Derby and Lord Nuffield,\n\nand now she wanted Mr. MacDonald to promise his\n\nsupport also. I asked her whether the project had the\n\nsupport of Colonel Colville of the Department of\n\nOverseas Trade, and explained to her that in my\n\npersonal view the Secretary of State for the Colonies\n\nwould", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-554-7 British Empire and China Trade Fair 14-5-1935 - 23-10-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 575400, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-590-23 Situation in Hong Kong 25-4-1905 - 25-4-1905", "page_number": 42, "title": "CO129-590-23 Situation in Hong Kong 25-4-1905 - 25-4-1905", "content_text": "41 \n\nThis went on for at least a day and a night. I understood all the Chinese nurses were raped and at least ten foreign women. Miss Paterson hid under a camp bed during the whole of one night and then escaped through the Japanese lines dressed as a Chinese amah to Bowen Road Military Hospital and reported this state of affairs to Colonel Simpson and Colonel Shackleton who immediately informed General Maltby who protested to the Japanese G.O.C. reminding him that it was particularly requested that there should be no incident of this kind. Rumour has it that the Japanese G.O.C. took strong action having the nine soldiers responsible shot. This is a very garbled account but a full account is in the possession of the Military Authorities in Hong Kong. Raping took place after the surrender.\n\nRegarding the bayoneting of women at St. Stephen's College, also a temporary hospital at Stanley - of this I have no definite knowledge.\n\nThompson says though: \"I also heard from Tootle Begg, an account of the murdering of Major Black, R.A.M.C., another British Officer and three V.A.D. nurses including Mrs. Begg at St. Stephen's temporary hospital. Our troops, mainly Canadians, in retreating at night passed through the hospital and discarded a quantity of arms etc. Major Black made every effort to clear the Hospital of arms. The Japanese following closely behind, considerable fighting took place in and around the hospital. The Japanese on entering killed a number of wounded in the hospital including Major Black. It was not until the following morning that Mrs. Begg and the other two nurses were killed by the Japanese. Begg was in a room adjacent to that in which his wife was killed.\"\n\nI spoke to Tootie Begg a few times; he is interned in Stanley Internment Camp and he naturally feels most strongly about this incident. Mrs. Begg is buried in the Cemetery which is in the confines of the Internment Camp.\n\nThompson goes on to say that when he was in the Queen Mary Hospital he received an account from a Canadian Officer who was down with pneumonia, an eyewitness account of the massacre of a party of about ten Canadians - who had surrendered to the Japanese in the fighting around Wong Nei Chong Gap. The Japanese on approaching the surrendered men threw hand grenades into their midst and killed the lot off.\n\nThompson", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-590-23 Situation in Hong Kong 25-4-1905 - 25-4-1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 575628, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-590-23 Situation in Hong Kong 25-4-1905 - 25-4-1905", "page_number": 270, "title": "CO129-590-23 Situation in Hong Kong 25-4-1905 - 25-4-1905", "content_text": "## TELEGRAM from Macao. (via Lisbon) No.1. 19th January.\n\nKnaggs;\n\nThompson returned to Hong Kong ? 7th December wives of officials, Mrs. G. S. Wilson and two children, husband, Assistant Superintendent of Police; Mrs. E. J. R. Mitchell and two daughters, husband, Colonel of Volunteer Force. Others, three European officers of steamship Saioni with wife and child; E. Heenan, Royal Insurance Liverpool.\n\n2. Notice given lease Office. I had no power to engage or dismiss staff without consent of Hong Kong. (Corrupt Group) staff as their destination would be most harmful to reputation of His Majesty's Government.\n\n3. Following reasonably substantiated; Governor. Colonial Secretary and Chinese Secretary reasonably treated in Y.M.C.A. Kowloon. Others interned in bad conditions, European crowded.\n\nPage 270 \nPage 271", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-590-23 Situation in Hong Kong 25-4-1905 - 25-4-1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 575969, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943", "page_number": 122, "title": "CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943", "content_text": "26\n\nit was suggested in evidence that the experience gained in manning outposts in Newfoundland against possible enemy attack, by day or by night, would be peculiarly valuable.\n\nIt may be observed that the supreme importance of having well-trained platoon commanders was fully recognized in the last war. On July 29, 1918 little more than a week before he launched his final offensive, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig entered in his diary: \"This is a platoon commander's war\".\n\nin the spring of 1941 the battalion moved to St. John's, Newfoundland, and was there concentrated as a unit. To it, seven defence localities were assigned and defence schemes often involving the whole battalion were devised for each locality. Several of these defence schemes required in their execution co-operation with units of the Newfoundland militia. The training reports give evidence of the variety of training manoeuvres, which included tactical exercises by two or more companies, night exercises, field exercises, training in fieldcraft and section leading, stand-to alarms, etc., etc.\n\nThe evidence establishes that the training received by the Royal Rifles in Newfoundland was vigorously carried out and resulted in the creation of a unit at least as well-trained as other units in Canada in September, 1941. Individual training of the men was far advanced and their duties in Newfoundland improved their health and physical stamina. Their collective training up to and including the battalion level was also well advanced. I quote the evidence of Brigadier Earnshaw, the General-Officer-Commanding in Newfoundland, but first I give this observation with regard to the Royal Rifles by General Crerar:-\n\nAs regards state of training of Royal Rifles, apart from observations of Commanders under whom this unit served (General Elkins, Brigadier Earnshaw), I had advantage of personal visits and general inspection of this unit at Sussex Camp, New Brunswick, in autumn of 1940, and at St. John's (Newfoundland) in early summer of 1941. These personal inspections and contacts gave me confidence in qualities and abilities of O.C. (Lieutenant-Colonel Home), the Second-in-Command (Major Price) and generally in officers and men who comprised it.\n\nBrigadier Earnshaw says:-\n\nThe Battalion was moved from that portion of Newfoundland to Saint John's, Newfoundland, I think from memory in April, and from then until the time it left the battalion was concentrated together as a unit and had with it its full war-time scale of mechanical equipment, and during that period it had very few indeed what I class garrison duties, and was entirely free to carry out its operational role, which was in fact to be prepared to meet an enemy landing or a move at St. John's from any direction. The training and preparation to fulfil that operational role was what it spent most of its time on almost entirely training during that period.\n\nQ. You said that the battalion had its full mechanical equipment. What about other equipment, weapons?-A. Well, it had its full scale to the extent to which they were available.\n\nQ. Can we put it this way, that it was fully equipped as a battalion in all respects? A. Yes, except, of course, that it did not have certain weapons, but neither did any other battalion.\n\nI proceed to discuss the weapon training the Royal Rifles had received at the time of their designation as part of Force \"C\", that is to say, October 9th, 1941.\n\nThe Royal Rifles had at all times their full share of rifles and bayonets, an adequate supply of light machine guns (both Bren and Lewis) and pistols, and their full scale of transport vehicles. They had one 2″ mortar for instructional purposes; but with this exception, they had no 2\" mortars, or anti-tank rifles. In this respect they were in the same case as Canadian battalions generally, although,\n\n27\n\nas we shall see, the Winnipeg Grenadiers had available for instruction in training while in Jamaica a number of anti-tank rifles. The unit had from April, 1941 its full complement of 3\" mortars, according to the scale which governed at the time, that is to say, two for the battalion, which were in the hands of the mortar platoon of the headquarters company, the commander and sergeant of which had taken a special course at the Long Branch School. They had, therefore, opportunities for training in this arm not possessed by Canadian battalions generally. The 3\" mortar was included in all the defence schemes and counter-attack schemes in the 7 defence districts in the vicinity of St. John's. The full issue of 2\" mortars was received by the unit when being equipped for the Hong Kong expedition. Four Thompson sub-machine guns (the Tommy-gun, so-called) reached the battalion at St. John's, one month before its departure from Newfoundland. The officers and non-commissioned officers were fully instructed in the mechanism and use of it. One gun was given to each company. Ammunition both for the 3\" mortars, as well as for the tommy-gun, was lacking. There were no live grenades in Newfoundland for practice purposes and training in grenade throwing was done with dummy grenades.\n\nIt is convenient here to quote textually some passages of the evidence of Lt.-Col. Sparling, of the Directorate of Military Training, an officer competent to speak upon this subject and whose evidence I accept:-\n\nQ. And you went on to explain that there were certain weapons they did not have, but you said also, I understood, and I wondered if I correctly understood you there, that other units had not these weapons?-A. No, my lord. For example, none of them had 2\" mortars, and neither did these two units.\n\n1\n\nQ. I merely want to understand you. None of them had 2\" mortars and none of them had the Boys anti-tank guns?-A. There were very few of those, my lord. For instance, the Winnipeg Grenadiers at that time had 4; the Royal Rifles had none. There was one issued as a pool weapon in Newfoundland for passing around amongst the units in Newfoundland.\n\nQ. I wonder if it would not be more convenient if you took the units individually instead of dealing with them both together. Or perhaps you were dealing with them in that way?........ The situation is not identical? A. It is not quite identical in that the Royal Rifles had been able to carry out their annual classification during 1941, whereas the Winnipeg Grenadiers up to the time they arrived back had not been able actually to carry out their firing practice; but in so far as such things as tests of elementary training are concerned they had full opportunity for that because the test for elementary training does not include range practice. And there is one minor point there, namely, that the Winnipeg Grenadiers did not have dummy grenades, whereas the Royal Rifles and other units had dummy grenades.\n\nQ. Does that properly describe the situation as regard these two battalions? A. Yes. In my opinion those two were up to the standard of the other units in the country.\n\nQ. As well trained as any other unit?-A. Yes.\n\nThese passages apply to the Winnipeg Grenadiers as well as to the Royal Rifles. They show that the Royal Rifles were privileged in comparison with other Canadian battalions in respect of 3\" mortars and, as already mentioned, had opportunities of training in that weapon denied to Canadian battalions generally, while the Winnipeg Grenadiers were privileged in like manner in respect of the Boys anti-tank rifle.\n\nThere are 867 rifles and 50 Bren guns prescribed for issue to an infantry battalion, the ammunition for the Bren gun being the same as that for the rifle. This would in fact and practice be the normal equipment of such a battalion in Canada. The Royal Rifles were fully equipped with Bren guns, rifles and\n\n54750-4\n\n134", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 575971, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943", "page_number": 124, "title": "CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943", "content_text": "137\n\n30\n\nshows that the battalion had been issued approximately 18,000 rounds of 1910 ammunition. The poor quality of the ammunition accounted, in the opinion of the commanding officer, for the fact that more did not qualify. The report goes on to state that three machine gun schools had been conducted, with good results, and, amongst other things, good progress had been made in map reading, field work, and bayonet fighting. The Inspector-General's report concludes with these words: \"This unit is well organized, well disciplined, and has made a good advance in training. A very good unit\".\n\nThe report on training made by the commanding officer and referred to in the Inspector-General's report states: \"All personnel have been taught to use the rifle and carried out T.O.E.T. (Tests of Elementary Training). All of effective personnel have fired Part I (a) and (b) Miniature Range instruction with the .22 rifle. No actual classification with the .303 has been done yet.\" With regard to the light machine gun, the commanding officer reports: \"The A.A. (anti-aircraft) platoon have been thoroughly trained with the Lewis gun. All ranks have fired the 25-yard classification. An additional 8 men per company are now being trained in the use of the Lewis gun as an A.A. weapon\". With regard to the Bren gun, it is stated that: \"These guns not being available, training in accordance with S.A.T. Vol. I, Pamphlet 4, could not be carried out, but lectures in mechanism have been given with the aid of charts\". With regard to bayonet training, the report states: \"All effective ranks in H.Q. and Machine Gun Companies have been thoroughly trained in the use of the bayonet\". As to the anti-tank rifle: \"All personnel required to be trained in the use of the Anti-Tank Rifle have been trained up to and including T.O.E.T. As there is no ammunition for this weapon, no actual firing of the gun has been possible\". The commanding officer states, among other things, that: \"The interest and enthusiasm of the troops is high. The degree of efficiency re machine gun training is very satisfactory.\" Before the battalion left for the West Indies, 380 of the men had fired Parts I and II of the rifle classification at the St. Charles Ranges at Winnipeg.\n\nIn May, 1940, the unit was changed from a machine gun to a rifle battalion and was warned for duty in the West Indies. This involved a reduction in strength to that of a garrison battalion. On leaving for the West Indies, the battalion was fully equipped with rifles and bayonets; it had 16 Lewis guns, 4 Bren guns, and 4 anti-tank rifles. On arrival in the West Indies, it received 5 additional Bren guns. In the spring of 1941, two 3-inch mortars were received, and one Thompson sub-machine gun was obtained on loan from the Imperial forces. The battalion remained on the reduced establishment until the spring of 1941. It was then advanced to the higher infantry establishment, and some—but not all—of the additional men required by the higher establishment were sent to the West Indies from Canada.\n\nThe West Indies island where the battalion was stationed has been an Imperial garrison post for more than one hundred years. It is a mountainous island, having two military stations—one at ... and the other at .... The Winnipeg Grenadiers made up practically the entire garrison of the island and were charged with the duty of providing internal security, aid to the civil authorities, and the protection of the island against attack from outside. One company was stationed at all times at ... and had very little in the way of garrison duties to perform. It was therefore able to spend practically all its time in training. Because of the mountainous terrain, the training was mainly individual, section, and platoon training, and the time was spent in practising mountain warfare. The troops also carried out platoon and company tactical schemes.\n\nAt ..., the battalion had heavy garrison duties to perform. These comprised the staffing and guarding of an internment camp, the guarding of detention barracks, and the providing of ship guards on incoming and outgoing vessels in the harbour. The personnel not occupied in guard or regimental duties were given individual training in bayonet fighting, the mechanism and employment of the Bren and Lewis light machine guns, and the anti-tank rifle, stalking, the use of cover, fighting patrols, and the building of road blocks. In addition to its defence duties, the garrison at ... was required to have one company available at all times on 30 minutes' notice, under the defence scheme of the island as laid down by the War Office.\n\n31\n\nAccording to the evidence of Brigadier Kay, the battalion, while in the West Indies, acquired a thorough knowledge of the use of rifles, bayonets, Bren guns, Lewis guns, and the anti-tank rifle, and this applies to all ranks. All were trained in bayonet fighting and practised constantly. During Brigadier Kay's tenure, ammunition was not available for firing practice, but only for use against an enemy, but 70 additional men had fired Parts I and II classification while in the West Indies, before the battalion returned to Winnipeg. On the battalion's return to Winnipeg in October, 1941, and after it had been warned for duty at Hong Kong, the St. Charles Ranges were set aside for the unit for one week, and some 600 fired a course with rifles at various ranges using various types of targets.\n\nAccording to a report made by Colonel Sutcliffe on October 6, 1941, all elementary training in musketry had been completed, and refresher courses taken. With regard to the Bren and Lewis guns, the mechanism, drill, and tactical handling of the guns had been thoroughly covered by the rifle companies and the anti-aircraft platoon, while the remainder of the personnel had been given elementary training. No range practice had been done with these weapons. The mechanism, drill, and a limited amount of \"tactical handling\" of the Thompson sub-machine gun had been taught; only one of these guns, according to Colonel Sutcliffe, being available to the battalion in the West Indies.\n\nColonel Sutcliffe also says that no training was done with either the 2-inch or 3-inch mortar, as 2-inch mortars were not available, and the 3-inch mortars were only received just prior to leaving the West Indies. Colonel Sutcliffe appears to be mistaken with regard to the 3-inch mortars, as two of these weapons were issued to the battalion in February, 1941, and Brigadier Kay says that the battalion had these mortars and that a large percentage of the men were trained in the stripping, assembling, and tactical handling of the mortar, but not in its actual firing.\n\nColonel Sutcliffe also appears to be mistaken in his statement that only one Thompson sub-machine gun was available, as in a report signed by him and dated July 14, 1941, he says: \"Arrangements were made to borrow two Thompson sub-machine guns from Ordnance. These are now on hand, and instruction has commenced.\" In a report by Colonel Sutcliffe a week later, he says: \"Classes on the Thompson sub-machine gun have commenced (in spare time) and are being enthusiastically attended.\"\n\nWith regard to the anti-tank rifle, Colonel Sutcliffe says the mechanism, drill, and tactical handling had been completed, but no range work had been done, and that there had been no training with grenades.\n\nHe also says that most of the rifle company personnel and portions of the headquarters company had been instructed in field-craft and had carried out practical training, and that anti-gas training had been carried out regularly and thoroughly.\n\nWith regard to the seventy-five recruits who had joined the battalion in the West Indies, Colonel Sutcliffe reports that at that time they had received no basic training at all. He also appears to have been mistaken with regard to this, as the records of the men concerned show that they spent five weeks at a Basic Training Centre before going to the West Indies. He says, however, these men in the West Indies had been given a full basic training course, having reached their sixth week before embarkation for Canada, and training was to be continued.\n\n132", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 } ]