MILITARY
(Contd.)
and of the Royal Artillery (who manned it), quite inevitably commemorated in the naming of Murray Battery.
When the substantial brick and stone barracks were erected in 1843-45, what more natural than they, too, should be named after Murray?
It was through a natural association of ideas that the adjoining area on which the soldiers drilled became similarly named, and also the pier which for so many years served a military purpose.
So we find, even to-day, Murray Barracks, Murray parade ground, and Murray Pier, remaining to commemorate General Sir George Murray, who flourished a century and more ago.
674
Yet the man whose name has so prominently survived here had been forgotten, and even his identity was, up to recently, quite unsuspected.
No excuse is needed for devoting part of this historical record on Hong Kong to the 2nd Royal Welch Fusiliers, who have recently returned to our midst: they were closely linked with the Colony thirty-five years ago, and left their memorial here in Harlech Road, named in their honour.
Brief reference to the regiment has already appeared in "Old Hong Kong", but these might be recapitulated, and definite dates of their previous association be given now.
The 2nd Battalion embarked for Hong Kong at Candia (Crete) on December 12-14, 1898, aboard the hired transport Avoca, and arrived here on January 13, 1899.
They took up quarters in Murray, Wellington, and Mount Austin Barracks, in Hong Kong, and at Gun Club Hill, Kowloon.
In April-May, 1899, when the New Territories were taken over by Britain (see 21-10-33) and the pacification of the villagers became necessary, the Royal Welch Fusiliers, as part of the garrison of the Colony, were employed in the operations.
That same year, four companies of the battalion constructed the road on the Peak, running out to High West, which is known as Harlech Road: this was so named in commemoration of its having been made by Welsh troops.
It is interesting to note that the men employed were each paid one shilling a day by the local Public Works Department.
Of great interest, also, is the fact that there are four residents of the Colony to-day who were in the battalion at that time and re-entered civilian life to take up positions locally.
One of them has kindly lent me an old photograph, taken in Hong Kong thirty-five years ago, of the regimental goat of that period, and this is reproduced here.
It might be noted that these goats (the battalion have brought one with them now to the Colony) are not mere mascots, but form part of the regimental regalia: the animals have a personal attendant, and are rationed as part of the personnel.
They are, in fact, royal animals, with a history going back ninety years.
It was in 1844 that Queen Victoria presented each battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers with a Cashmere goat (the Queen had received a pair from the Shah of Persia), and as these die, they are replaced from the Royal herd still bred at Windsor.
The goat is led ahead of the battalion on ceremonial parades.
The old picture reproduced here shows the 2nd Battalion's "Billy" of 1899-1902, with the regimental attendant.
MILITARY
-
(Contd.)
and of the Royal Artillery (who manned it), quite inevitably commemorated in the naming of Murray Battery.
When the substantial brick and stone barracks were erected in 1843-45, what more natural than they, too should be named after Murray?
It was through a natural association of ideas that the adjoining area on which the soldiers drilled became similarly named, and also the pier which for so many years served a military purpose.
So we find, even to-day, Murray Barracks, Murrar parade ground, and Murray Pier, remainining to commemorate General Sir George Murray, who flouished a century and more ago.
674
Yet the man whose name has so prominently survived here had been forgotten, and even his identity was, up to recently, quite unsuspected.
No excuse is needed for devoting part of this historical drtird on Hong Kong to the 2nd. Royal Welch Fusiliers, who
have recently returned to our midst: they were closely linked with the Colony thirty-five years ago, and left their memorial here in Harlech Road, named in their honour. Brief reference to the regiment have already appeared in "Old Hong Kong", but these might be recapitulated, and definite dates of their previous association be given now.
The 2nd. Battalion embarked for Hong Kong at Candia (Crete) on December 12-14, 1898, aboard the hired transport Avoca, and arrived here on January 13, 1899. They took up quarters in Murray, Wellington and Mount Austin Barracks, in Hong Kong, and at Gun Club Hill, Kowloon.
In April-May, 1899, when the New Territòries were taken over by Britain, (see 21-10-33) and the pacification of the villagers became necessary, the Royal Welch Fusiliers, as part of the garrison of the Colony were employed in the operations.
That same year, four companies of the battalion constructed the road on the Peak, running out to High West, which is known as Harlech Road: this was so named in commemoration of its having been made by Welsh troops. It is interesting to note that the men employed were each paid one shilling a day, by the local Public Works Department.
*
Of great interest, also is the fact that there are four residents of the Colony to-day who were in the battalion at that time and re-entered civilian life to take up positions locally. One of them has kindly lent me an old photograph, taken in Hong Kong thirty-five years ago, of the regimental goat of that period, and this is reproduced here. It might be noted that these goats (the battalion have brought one with them now to the Colony) are not mere mascots, but form part of the regimental regalia: the animals have a personal attendant, and are rationed as part of the personnel.
They are, in fact, royal animals, with a history going back ninety years. It was in 1844 that Queen Victoria presented each battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers with a Cashmere goat (the Queen had received a pair from the Shah of Persia) and as these die they are replaced from the Royal herd still bred at Windsor. The goat is led ahead of the battalion on the ceremonial parades.
The old picture reproduced here shows the 2nd. Battalion's "Billy" of 1899-1902, with the regimental attendant. Incidentally,
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