2009
B
A local Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve has practically been formed, and members of the unit were on parade last Saturday, in connexion with the Trafalgar Day observance. While the R.N.V.R. as such is new to Hongkong, the auxiliary naval work which the corps is to perform has a precedent in the Colony's history.
In the records of the Commodore, R.N., there is an interesting reference early in 1885 to the employment of one of the gunners in the Navy stationed at Hongkong to undertake the duties of a gunner instructor to "the newly-raised Auxiliary Flotilla," which appears to have been a local naval defence corps.
Unfortunately, information on the subject is meagre, but there is further reference to an Auxiliary Naval Flotilla at Hongkong in a letter to the Commodore sent by the Vice-Admiral from H.M.S. Audacious at Nagasaki, on April 25, 1885, stating that a requisition had been received from His Excellency the Governor, Hongkong, "of boats signal books, signal flags and steam cones for the use of the Auxiliary Flotilla."
A further letter, dated June 16, 1885, indicates that this local Flotilla consisted of Government launches. In this communication the suggestion is made that the two Government launches "Daisy" and "Lily" should be fitted for discharge of Whitehead torpedoes. The following paragraph is included in the letter, which was from Admiral W.M. Dowell, addressed to His Excellency the Governor, Sir George F. Bowen:
"Dropping gear for discharging the torpedoes can be fitted to the launches at the Naval Yard, and I would suggest that the Volunteers who desire to qualify themselves in Whitehead torpedo management should go through a course of instruction under the Torpedo Lieutenant when next our torpedo boats are running.
There the records of this interesting force cease, and one can only surmise that it did not last very long, else further references would have been filed.
It is of some interest, however, to find that a Mr. John Pitman offered a steam launch fitted with torpedo apparatus to the Naval authorities "in case of emergency," on April 16, 1885.
This launch had been constructed by Mr. Pitman for the Canton Government, and he offered to bring it down and sell it for the actual cost price, $5,500. Apparently, the offer was not accepted, as no further reference to the matter can be discovered.
To turn from the sea to the land Volunteers, it might be recalled that the B.V.D.C. of old became moribund, and required a crisis to revive public interest (see previous articles on the corps, published 22-7-33 and on following dates). The Volunteers first came into existence in 1862, but were disbanded in 1866 owing to non-attendance of members. The corps was revived in 1878, on rumours of a probable war with Russia; and it is interesting to note that the Volunteers that year practised at Lyemoon with torpedoes which had been constructed at the Naval Yard. Perhaps we see here the beginnings of the Naval Auxiliary Flotilla already mentioned.
2009
B
A local Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve has practically be en formed, end members of the unit were on parade last Saturday, in connexion with the Trafalgar Day observance. while the R.N.V.R, as such is new to Hongkong the auxiliary navel work which the corps is to perform has a precedent in the Colony's history.
In the records of the Commodore, R.N., there is an interesting reference early in 1885 to the employment of one of the gunners in the Navy stationed at Hongkong to undertake the duties of a gunner instructor to "the newly-raised Auxiliary Flotilla, which appears to have been a local naval defence corps.
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Unfortunately, information on the subject is meagre, but there is further reference to en Auxiliary Naval Flotilla at Hongkong in a letter to the Commodore sent by the Vice-Admiral from H.M.S, Audacious at Nagasaki, on April 25, 1885, stating that a requisition had been received from His Excellency the Governor, Hongkong, "of boats signal books, signal flags and steam cones for the use of the Auxiliary Flotilla'
A further letter, dated June 16, 1885, indicate that this. local Flotilla consisted of Government leunches. In this communication the suggestion is made that the two Government launches "Daisy" and "Lily" should be fitted for discharge of Whitehead torpedoes. The following paragraph is included in the letter, which was from Admiral W.M. Dowell, addressed to His Excellency the Governor, Sir George F. Bowen:
་
"Dropping gear for discharging the torpedoes can be fitted to the launches at the Naval Yard, and I would suggest that the Volunteers who desire to qualify them-- selves in Whitehead torpedo management should go through a course of instruction under the Torpedo Lieutenant when next our torpedo boats are running.
#
There the records of this interesting force cease,
and one can only surmise that it did not last very long, else further references would have been filed.
It is of some interest, however, to find that a Mr.John Pitman offered a steam launch fitted with torpedo apparatus to the Navel authorities "in case of emergency," on April 16, 1885.
This launch had been constructed by Mr. Pitman for the Canton Government, and he offered to bring it down and sell it for the actual cost price, $5,500. Apparently, the offer was not accepted, as no further reference to the matter can be discovered.
To turn from the sea to the land Volunteers, it might be recalled that the B.V.D.C. of old became moribund, end required a crisis to revive public interest (see previous articles on the corps, published 22-7-33 end on following dates). The Volunteers first came into existence in 1862, but were disbanded in 1866 owing to non-attendance of members. The corps was revived in 1878, on rumous of a probable war with Russia; and it is interesting to note that the Volunteers that year practised at Lyemoon with torpedoes which had been constructed at the Naval Yard. Perhaps we see here the beginnings of the Naval Auxiliary Flotilla already mentioned.
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