196
HONGKONG volunteer CORPS.
Reports on the recent Volunteer Camp of In struction are published in Saturday's Gazette, from which we make the following extracta REPOET OF Major morris, ACTING
COMMANDANT.
Numbers-Out of a total strength of 24 Of. floors, 282 N. C. Offeers and men, and 11 un- enrolled boys, 21 Officers, 241 N. C. Officers and men, and 10 boys attended the camp of In-truotion, for periods varying from 1 to 10 days, between the dates 20th to 30th October, 1899.
Conduct. The behaviour in camp was all that could be desired. The attendance at drills was good throughout, and thorough. attention paid to the instraction given.
The shooting of the Field Battery was good and great attention was paid to fire discipline, which showed a marked improvement towards the end of the camp.
In the Machine Gun Companies as much time as possible was devoted to gun drill and fire discipline Gun practices were held on three separate occasions with instructions in clearing jams, &o.
"A" Machine Gun Company shot well and showed a good knowledge of fire discipline.
In the competition at the end of the course held at Lai-Chi-Kok on Saturday, the 28th October, the following marks were obtained. The target consisted of 33 targets of varying sises representing a column advancing with its front covered by skirmishers. Range about 950 yards:
"A" COMPANY.
"B" COMPANY.
Targets bit... Hits on targets
Marks for fre discipline
Target hit...
Hits on targets
Marks for fire discipline
Targets hit...
Hits on targets
Fire discipline
"0" CompaNT.
44
24 162
40 out of 50
23 145
25 out of 50
15 128
25 out of 50
1+
From the above it will be seen that “A company proved itself the best at shooting and fire discipline, but I consider that "B and "C" companies also did extremely well taking into consideration that they have only been formed during the last 6 months.
These two companies shew the greatest in- terest in their work and I have small doubt but that in the course of the next year they will be on an equal footing with "A" Company.
|
|
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND attach a report from Major A. Chapman, O. C. Field Battery.
Infantry. The Infantry Company being rather few in numbers were combined for drill purposes with the "E" Engineer Company, which is similarly armed with rifles. I consid- er that the Infantry Company will in the course of the next year become a most efficient Unit. They are under the instruction of a very able Non-Commissioned officer from the Royal Welch Fusiliers and shew the greatest interest and keenness in their work. A large number of the men of this Company are old Volunteers, having served in Volunteer Battalions in Eng-
land and elsewhere.
The report on the Technical Instruotion of the "E" Engineer Company has already been made by Lieut. Bagnall-Wilde, R.E. A copy is attached.
I
LIEUT. BAGNALL WILDE'S REPORT ON
THE ENGINEER COMPANY.
A table is given showing the numbers as follows:-Engine Drivers.-No. enrolled, 10; No of attendances 114, No. of practices, 19 average percentage of attendances 75.8; No. qualified, all. The number includes one officer One man commenced on the fifth practice. Electricians.—No. enrolled, 10; No. of attend- ances, 91; No. of practices, 19; average percen tage of attendances, 47.9; No qualified. 7. One man never attended at all. One man commenced on the ninth practice.
All those in this table marked as qualified are capable of taking charge and working any portion of the defence lights under the super- vision of one R.E. Non-Commissioned Officer who would be in charge of one section.
The course has consisted of practice in ruu- ning the lights and in lectures on the principles of working.
The Engine Drivers are by far the best all round.
Lieutenant Mitchell has been through a course of Engine Driving and has had practice in directing the lights from O.C.S.M.'s Sation. He will also be put through a course of Electrio Lighting.
The 2 Non-Commissioned Officers (Sergeant Graham, Electrician, and Corporal Warkwick, Engine Driver) have done very well, and I have the highest opinion of them in every way.
At present no qualification reports have been issued. It is proposed to do this shortly.
After a man is qualified he will have to at- tend, if an Electrician, 1 practice every 2 months, if an Engine Driver, 1 practice every
months.
As a Company. I think that they will be in- valuable to us on mobilization as we shall be able to depend on them for relief on the Electric Light work.
REPORT OF MAJOR CHAPMAN, OFFICER COMMANDING FIELD BATTERY,
Sir, I have the honour to report on the work of the Field Battery during the recent Camp of Instruction at Stonecutters' Is'and.
2. The Camp opened at 5 p.m. on Friday, October 20th, and closed at 8.30 am. on Mon- day, October 30th.
3. I attach a statement of the various drills and parades during the Camp.
4. Gau practices took place on Wednesday. 25th, from Stonecutters' over a Sea range, und Saturday, 28th, over a Land range from a point
near the old Customs Station at Lai-Chi-Kok.
5 Instruction in gun-laying was given daily, and evoked great interest and much competition. A very marked improvement has latterly taken place in laying, the excellent result of the course of instruction were to be observed at the practice on 28th when the lay- could hardly have been better, Six additional men qualified as gun-layers during the Camp.
|
6. The Battery formed part of the defence during the attack on Stonecutters Island and the Mine Fields on the 26th, and displayed great keenness in the operations, and intelli- gence in carrying out the various orders.
7. During the very limited time set apart for the Battery, 31 men were put through the Re-
As already mentioned they were instructed incruit's Course of Musketry. their duties as Infantry with "D" Company and were most assiduons and painstaking. They showed a most marked improvement by the end
of the course.
▲ recruits' course of musketry was carried out by all Units but owing to the small amount of 8. A. Ammunition allowed to the Corps in Part 1, Schedule 15, of the Volunteer Regulations a further course could not be carried out. I would suggest that the allowance of S. A. Ammunition should be in future provided on the following scala:--
Per recruit ·
...28 rounds Per efficient
75 rounds This does not alter the present rate per Ef- ficient, but is merely asking for an allowance for Recruits, there being no such provision at present.
On the 26th October a night attack was made on the Camp at Stonecutters' and afforded the officers andý men very neeful instruction.I
8. The attendance was exceedingly good; ont of a total strength of 95 of all ranks, no less ban 87 were present in Camp for periods varying from 3 to 10 days.
ĮDecember 16, 1899.
THE VOLUNTEFES AND THE KOWLOON DISTÚRBANCES,
The following despatches relative to the ser- vices rendered by the Hongkong Volunteers in connection with the occupation of the New Territory were laid before the Legislative Council yesterday.-
GOVERNOR TO SECRETARY OF STATE,
Government House,
Hongkong 15th September, 1899. Sir.-In my despatch No. 107 of 18th April. I regret to find that in the account of the events connected with the occupation of the New Ter ritory I omitted to mention the services of the Hongkong Volunteers.
*
2. Having received information on the 15th April that there was a project on foot for at- tacking the Yaumati Suburb and Kowloon from the Castle Peak direction and finding that large numbers of Chinese had been observed ut Castle Peak with banners, &o., I requested the Naval Authorities to send a vessel of war to the Yaumati side of Kowloon Peninsula, there to keep her search light on the northern shore and another to Kowloon Bay, to search the Chinone. city with her light, while the Uffleer in Com- mand of the Troops was requested to send a strong patrol to the Kowloon peninsula.
3. A considerable portion of the Garrison was away at Táipó-hü with Major-General Gas- coigne, and after consultation I agreed with Colonel Elsdale, R.E., that having regard to the peculiar condition of Hongkong it would not be prudent to further reduce the regular Garrison. I therefore ordered that the duty should be entrusted to the Hongkong Volna- teers, and having regard to the fast that the order was issued only at 10 p.m., I think the Hongkong Volunteers deserve credit for the large muster that was able to march off at 10.45 p.m. How the duty was performed the attached report will show. The result of the practical demonstration of the utility of the force has been shown by the increase in numbers of the Corps from 120 to 350 men. At their present strength and constituted as they are I agres with the Major-General Commanding that the Hongkong Volunteers form a valuable addition to the strength of the Garrison.—I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient, humble Servant,
9. The average daily attendance was 60, 10. The conduct of the Battery was excellent. 11. I wish to rocord the indebtedness of the Battery to the Adjutant. Captain Bland, R. A. It was principally due to that Officer's example and his untiring energy that the success of the Camp was assured.
看盒
HENEY A. BLAXE, Governor, &c. The Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain,
M.P.
FROM CAPTAIN W, 8T. O, BLAND, R.A., ADJU- TANT HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS, TO MAJOR M. M. MORBIS, R.A., ACT- ́ ING COMMANDANT, HONGKONG .
VOLUNTEER CORPS,
Hongkong, 11th September, 1899. Sir,-In accordance with instructions re- ceived from the Chief Staff Officer, and in the absence of Colonel R. B, Mainwaring, C.M,G., late Acting Commandant, Hongkong Volun teer Corps, I have the honour to submit the following report on the calling out of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps on the evening of 16th April, 1899.
At 10 p.m. on the above date ordem fwere received from Colonel Mainwaring for 3 Max- im Gung manned by the" A " Machine Gun ́ Company with an escort from the Field Battery to parade at Volunteer Head Quarters 10.30 p.m. ready to march off.
4,000 rounds ammunition per Machine Giua, and 30 rounds per Carbine were taken.
The above detail under command of Captain A. Chapman, Hongkong Volunteer Corps marched off at 10.45 p.m. to Pedder's Wharf. : They were here joined by Company Royal Welch Fusiliers.
At 11.30 p.m. the whole force under Colonel Mainwaring, C.M.G., embarked on board launches and proceeded to Tsim Taa Tsui which, was reached about midnight..
On arrival the guns and escort were immedi- At the conclusion of evensong on Sunday at ately disembarked and marched to the North St. John's Cathedral, Mrs. H, E. Sharp rendered end of Yaumati where the following dispositions
and the aria I were made by Colonel Mainwaring :---- the recitative “Open unto me
and 1 gun under Lieut. F. Maitland and Lion will extol Thee," from Costa's “Eli," Gounod's "Glory to thes." The soloist, who M. W. Slade, Hongkong Volunteer Corps, possesses a very fine and highly-trained soprano | provided with an escort from Royal Wales voice, was accompanied at the organ by Mr. A. | Fusiliers and Field Battery, Hongkong Vo Gordon Ward, and was listened to by a large teer Corps was placed off the new Road, (Stolien congregation. The singing was much enjoyed,” Street) between Ma-ti and Mong-kak
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.