66762-1920-Report-on-the-Hongkong-Defence-Corps-for-1918-19 — Page 3

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, SEPTEMBER 10, 1920.

Enclosure

1.

General Officer Commanding to Officer Administering the Government.

(No. C.R. 8008 *G.")

Sir,

Hongkong, May 24, 1919.

I have the honour to submit for your Excellency's information the Annual Report on the Defence Corps for the past year, together with brief reports by the Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, on the Artillery Company, and by the Chief Engineer on the Engineer Company.

2. All three arms are in an efficient condition. The Artillery frequently, and the Engineers continuously, have performed invaluable work on the Examination Service from the outbreak of war until the Armistice. The Infantry show a remarkable improvement in musketry due to the exertions of Major Morgan, the Commandant.

3. Your Excellency will no doubt regret with me that the move of the 18th Infantry up north deprived us of Major Morgan's valuable services. His undoubted success as a Commandant encourages me to recommend a continuance of the system under which he was appointed, if a suitable successor can be found in the garrison to replace him.

4. I beg to endorse Major Morgan's commendation of Captain Stewart, the Adjutant.

5. I was present at most of the Artillery practices, and many of their drills during the year. I have visited the Searchlights occasionally by night, and I was present at the three days Field Firing Practices of the Infantry which took the place of Camp, so I have a personal knowledge of the state of efficiency of all three arms.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

F. VENTRIS,

Major-General Commanding the China Command,

Sir,

Enclosure 2.

Officer Administering the Government to General Officer Commanding.

Hongkong, May 31, 1919.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter No. C.R. 8008 "G" of the 24th May submitting the Annual Report on the Defence Corps for the past year.

I share your Excellency's regret at the loss of Major Morgan's services, as it is undoubtedly due n a large measure to his fine example of zeal and energy that the Corps has attained such a high level of efficiency especially in musketry. I am also in favour of a continuance of the system under which Major Morgan was appointed.

I have read the commendation of Captain Stewart's work as Adjutant with much pleasure.

I have, &c.,

(Signed)

CLAUD SEVERN, Officer Administering the Government.

Sub-Enclosure No. 1 in Enclosure 1.

Extracts from the Report of Administrative Commandant on the Hongkong Defence Corps for the

year ending March 31, 1919.

1. Numbers.--The strength of the Corps on the 31st March, 1919, was as under :-

Unit.

Efficients.

On Leave.

Absent without Leave.

Recently Joined,

Staff...

14

Artillery Company.

78

9

Engineer Company...

190

12

56

A" Company

113

27

B" Company

165

23

"D" Company

88

11

Machine Gun Company.......

37

3

Mounted Section

22

3

Signalling Section

17

7

Stretcher Bearer Section

5

729

95

~

Total.

14

87

202

140

188

99

42

25

24

5

826

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