In the way of all history, it required a war scare to re-kindle the patriotic flame and awaken interest in local defence. In 1878 there were rumours of impending war with Russia, and as this Colony was then exposed to possible concentrations of Russian warcraft in Far Eastern waters, the matter became one of immediate local concern.
Page 2075
In May the same year the old Volunteer Ordinance of 1862 was reintroduced and a new Artillery Corps was formed the same month. The new Commandant was Captain Dempster, and within a month there was an enrolment of 142 members. Later Captain B. Gozon took command and Lieutenant W. Denby was elected an officer of the Corps. It might be noted that the general defences of the Colony were at the same time re-organised, there being several new batteries constructed, while torpedo practice was carried out at Lyemoon. In 1880 the officers of the H.K. Volunteer Artillery included Major B.J. Tripp, Capt. James Stockwell, Lt. J.A. Moseley, Lt. Alfred Woolley, Lt. John McCallum and Lt. H.J. Holmes.
We find the Volunteers continuing as an efficient body into the Eighties; and a new Artillery battery (the early units were mainly artillery ones) was formed in 1882, enrolment therein commencing in December that year, and including a number of Portuguese residents.
The Government had refused to sanction the formation of an infantry unit (which had been requested) until a second artillery battery would be recruited.
The officers in 1886 included Major Tripp, Captain J.J. Francis, and Lts. McCallum, Moseley, Holmes and Woolley.
Interest in the Corps fluctuated, even as it does now, for some years, and in 1893 there was a further reorganisation, the Volunteers being now formed into a Field Battery and Machine Gun Company. The Commandant was Lt.-Col. F.B.J. Jerrard. Reorganisation had been urged for some time: at a public meeting held in the Council Chamber on May 23, 1889, a committee was appointed to make recommendations to Government concerning the enlargement of the Volunteer Corps. It recommended that a volunteer machine gun corps and a mounted rifle corps be founded in Hongkong in addition to the existing artillery volunteer corps. In February 1890, the Legislative Council had voted the sum of $37,000 for the purchase of twelve Maxim guns. There was also renewed talk of forming mounted volunteers, but this scheme did not immediately materialise, and a mounted unit was not formed until 1904. The immediate changes were those of 1893.
In 1895 Lt.-Col. Jerrard was succeeded by Major A.R. Pemberton of the Rifle Brigade, and in 1896 Lt.-Col. Sir John Worrell Carrington, C.M.G., became Commandant. He was one of the most popular of officers.
In 1899, at the taking over of the New Territories, the temporary unrest resulted in the Volunteers being called upon to stand by for any emergency and for patrol work, and there was a large addition to the Corps, two machine gun companies, an infantry company and engineer company being formed.
Col. R.D. Mainwaring, C.M.G., became Commandant in 1900, being followed by Captain C.G. Pritchard, R.G.A., in 1902, who in turn was followed by Lt.-Col. Arthur Chapman, V.D., in 1907.
In 1907, Colonel Chapman was one of the most popular officers the Corps ever had, and was in charge of the unit who paraded for the King's Coronation in 1911. The Corps were also represented at the Coronation of 1902.
In the way of all history, it required e war scare · to re-kindle the patriotic flame and awaken interest in local defence. In 1878 there were rumours of impend ing war with Russia, and as this Colony was then exposed to possible concentrations of Russian warcraft in Far Eastern weters, the matter became one of immediate local concern.
2075
In May the t year the old Volunteer Ordinance of 1862 was reintroduc and a new Artillery Corps was formed the same month. The new Commendent was Captain Dempster, and within a month there was an enrolment of 142 members. Later Captain B. Gozon took command and Heutenant W. Denby was elected an officer of the Corps. It might be noted that the gental defences of the Colony were at the seme time re-organised, there being several new batteries cons- tructed, while torpedo practice was carried out at Lyemoon. In 1880 the officers of the H.K. Volunteer Artillery included Major B.J. Tripp, Capt. James Stockwell, Lt.J.A.Moseley, Lt. Alfred Woolley, Lt.John MoCallum and Lt.H.J. Holmes.
+
We find the Volunteers continuing an efficient body into the Eighties; and a new Artillery battery (the early units were mainly artillery ones) was formed in 1882, enrolment therein commencing in December that year, and including a number of Portuguese residents.
!
The Government had refused to sanction the formation or an infantry unit (which had been requested) until a second artiller: battery would be recruited.
The officers in 1886 included Major Tripp, Ceptain J.J. Francis, and Lts. McCallum, Moseley, Holmes and Woolley.
Interest in the Corps fluctua ted, even es it does now, for some years, and in 1893 there was a further reorganisation, the Volunteers being now formed into a Field Battery and Machine Gun Company. The Commandant was Lt.-Col.F.B.J. Jerrard. Reor-
ganisation had been urged for some time: at a public meeting hald
意
in the Council Chamber on May 23, 1889, a committee was appointed to make recommendations to Government concerning the enlargement of the Volunteer Corps. It recommended that a volunteer ma chine gun corps and a mounted rifle corpa be founded in Hongkong invade addition to the existing artillery volunteer corps. In February 1890, the Legislative Council had voted the sum of $37,000 for the purchase of twelve Maxim guns. There was also renewed talk of forming mounted volunteers, but. this scheme did not immediately materialise, end a mounted until was not formed until 1904. immediate changes were those of 1893.
The
In 1895 Lt.-Col. Jerrard was succeeded by Major A.R.Pemberton of the Rifle Brigade, and in 1896 Lt.-Col.Sir John Worrell Carring- ton, C.M.G., became Commandant. He was one of the most popular of officers.
In 1899, at the taking over of the New Territories, the temporary unrest resulted in the Volunteers being called upon to stend by for any emergency and for patrol work, and there was a large addition to the Corps, two machine gun companies, an infantry company and engineer company being formed.
Col.R.D.Mainwaring, C.M.G., became Command ant in 1900, being followed by Captain C.G. Pritchard, R.G.A., in 1902, who in turn was followed by Lt.-Col.Arthur Chapman, V.D., in 1907.
in 1907. Colonel Chapman was one of the most popular officers the Corps ever had, and was in charge of the unit who paraded for the King's Coronation in 1911. The Corps were also represented at the Coronation of 1902.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.