By 1880, dissensions had arisen in the corps, and the war scare having passed, interest again lapsed. Two years later, we find the corps re-formed. The Hongkong Telegraph of November 17, 1882, reports that a meeting was called in the City Hall for the purpose of re-forming the Volunteer Corps. It was decided that the corps be a Volunteer Artillery unit, the question of a separate Rifle Corps standing over. Major Moore-Lane, R.A., was appointed Commandant. The men were to be provided with winter and summer clothing, and were to be armed with Martini-Henry carbines. Consent was given to the corps to practise at Murray Battery and the harbour forts. The old drill shed was to be restored to its former use, and it was decided to disband the old corps as a preliminary to re-forming the Artillery Corps, which was to consist of two batteries.
Reference was made at the meeting to the circumstances under which the corps was revived in 1878 and to the alacrity with which residents mustered to meet the emergency; about 180 to 170 men attending all parades until the emergency passed, when the attendance dwindled to 60 or 70. The Commandant at the time (Captain Coxon) had endeavoured to place the corps on a better footing and submitted proposals with that object, but although promises were made, the men returned all their arms and accoutrements into store.
The election of officers for the Hongkong Volunteer Artillery took place in March, 1883. Colonel Crawford, who occupied the chair stated that as the strength of the Corps was not sufficient to form more than one battery, it was only necessary to elect a major, a captain and two lieutenants. The ballot being taken it was found that Mr. H.J.H. Tripp had been elected major by an overwhelming majority, Mr. Jno. J. Francis, captain, and Messrs. J. MacCallum and J.A. Mosely, lieutenants.
Mr. Tripp was agent in Hongkong at that time for the Mitsu Bishi Mail S.S.Co., the forerunner of the present Japanese shipping lines.
Mr. MacCallum was one of the founders of the local St. Andrew's Society, and was then an assistant in Lane, Crawford & Co.
Mr. Mosely was a clerk in D. Sassoon, Sons & Co., (as it was then known) one of Hongkong's oldest mercantile firms.
Mr. Francis was one of the Colony's best-known citizens. He was a lawyer, later appointed a Queen's Counsel in Hong Kong; became a Puisne Judge, and served on the Legislative Council. His association with the Volunteers is commemorated in the annual competition for the Francis Cup.
The Artillery unit was later added to, and infantry have since remained the largest body of the H.K. Volunteers, with the Boer War and Great War as further inducements to recruiting and reorganisation.
Some time ago (see 14-9-33) I published a note on the founding of the H.K. St. Andrew's Society, one of whose originators was Dr. James Stockwell. This gentleman had a long and interesting connexion with the Colony, and his son, Mr. Colin Stockwell, now editor of the Tsing tao Times, has kindly supplied a few notes which were required, as well as the old photograph reproduced to-day, of former officers of the Hongkong Volunteer Artillery, of whom Dr. Stockwell was one, holding the rank of Captain.
4.
By 1880, dissensions had arisen in the corps, and the war scare having passed, interest again lapsed. Two years later, we find the corps re-formed. The Hongkong Telegraph of November 17, 1882, reports that a meeting was called in the City Hall for the purpose of re-forming the Volunteer Corps. It was decided that the corps be a Volunteer Artillery unit, the question of a separate Rifle Corps standing over. Major Moore-Lane, R.A., was appointed Commandant. The men were to be provided with winter and summer clothing, and were to be ermed with Martini-Henry carbines. Consent was given to the corps to practise at Murray Battery and the harbour forts. The old drill shed was to be restored to its former use, and it was decided to disband the old corps as a preliminary to re- forming the Artillery Corps, which was to consist of two batteries.
Reference was mede et the meeting to the circumstances under which the corps was revived in 1878 and to the alacrity with which residents mustered to meet the emergency; about 180 to 170 men attending all paredes until the emergency passed, when the attendance dwindled to 60 or 70. The Commandant et the time (Captain Coxon) had endeavoured to place the corps on' a better footing and submitted proposals with that object, but although promises were made, the men returned all their arns and accoutrements into store.
The election of officers for the Hongkong Volunteer Artillery took place in March, 1883. Colonel Crawford, who occupied the chair stated that as the strength of the Corpe was not sufficient to' form more than one battery, it was only hecessary to elect a major, a captain and two lieutenants. The ballot being taken it was found that Mr. H.J.H.Tripp had been elected major by an over- whelming majority, Mr.Jno.J. Francis, captain, and Messrs. J. MeoCallum and J.A. Mosely, lieutenants.
Mr. Tripp was agent in Hongkong at that time for the Mitsu Bishi Meil S.3.Co., the forerunner of the present Japanese shipping lines.
Mr.MacCallum was one of the founders of the local St.Andrew's Society, and was then an assistant in Lane, Crawford & Co.
Mr. Mosely was a clerk in D. Sassoon, Sons & Co., (as it was then known) one of Hongkong's oldest mercantile firms.
Mr. Francis was one of the Colony's best-known citizens. He was a lawyer, later appointed a Queen's Counsel in Hong kong; became a Puisne Judge, and served on the Legislative Council. His association with the Volunteers is commemorated in the snnual competit ion for the Francis Cup.
The Artillery unit was later added to, and infantry have since remained the largest body of the B.K. Volunteers, with the Beer War and Great War as further inducements to recruiting and reorganisation.
Some time ago (see 14-9-33) I published a note on the found- ing of the H.K. St. Andrew's Society, one of whose origins tor s here was Dr. James Stockwell. This gentlemen had a long end interesting connexion with the Colony, and his son, Mr.Colin Stockwell, now editor of the Tsing tso Times, has kindly supplied a few notes which were required, as well as the old photograph reproduced to-day, of former officers of the Hongkong Volunteer Artillery, of whom Dr. Stockwell was one, holding the rank of Captain.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.