Page 298
Page 298
7
Sir,
Sub-Enclosure.
CAMP REPORT, 1905.
Volunteer Headquarters, Hong Kong, November 21, 1905. I have the honour to forward the attached report on the Volunteer Camp held at Stone- cutters' Island from the 14th to the 30th October, 1905.
Numbers.-Out of the total number of 19 officers and 219 n.c.os. and men, 13 officers and 169 n.c.os. and men attended the camp, 6 officers and 30 n.c.os. and men were away on leave of absence, or had leave from camp owing to the exigencies of their business; this total does not include the Hong Kong Volunteer Troop, who did not attend the camp.
The average daily attendance was 127.5.
The following table shows the average attendance, &c., and the proportion of the full strength on each day:
------
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
Strength, deducting those on leave.
Attendance at Camp.
Date.
Average Daily Attendance.
Officers.
N.C.Os. and Men.
Officers.
N.C.Os. and Men.
Proportion of Total Strength Daily.
16
256
14
204
157
*52
16
234
14
176
142-1
*568
16
204
17
159
121.6
*548
16
210
14
170
135*5
*6
13
189
13
169
127.5
*631
It is very satisfactory to note that, in spite of the period of the camp having been extended from 10 to 16 days, the attendance works out a better proportion than in any previous years, a result which is far better than I expected.
Drills. I attach a camp programme* showing general orders issued and the drills which were carried out. I also attach a schedule * of drills and lectures carried out by the engineer company under the R.E. Instructors.
A marked improvement was noticeable at all drills this year; in previous years the gun drill has been too slow, and I therefore took every opportunity to correct this fault, with good results ; 23 gun layers were trained, and took part in the gun practice.
On Saturday, the 21st October, the members of all units took part in a small field day in the New Territory; they showed a keen interest in the proceedings, and I think were enabled to acquire some knowledge of taking cover, fire control, &c.
The Hong Kong Volunteer Troop also took part on this occasion, and gained experience in embarking and disembarking their ponies. It is now proposed to add more of this form of exercise to the drill season.
Hong Kong Volunteer Engineers.The engineer company attended the camp better than in any previous year, and were put through a very thorough course by the R.E. Mechanists; they also undertook the lighting of the whole camp by electricity with great success.
Gun Practice. Preliminary instructional practice with the Maxim guns was carried out on three occasions on the range, and the men were practised in quickly getting the gun again into action after a jam. Practice was carried out from 4-15-pr. B.L. guns from Stonecutters' Island, North Shore, on the 28th October. Targets were placed on the slopes of Chung Hue.
The practice was carried out by sections instead of as a battery, as in the case of previous years, this being a better training for the officers for the actual duties they would be required to carry out on mobilisation.
On the 23rd October the practice was elementary, for the special instruction of the section officers and gun layers, and was therefore slowly carried out; four series were fired, the target for each series being 3 screens and 12 dummies, representing 3 field guns, 6 men standing and 6 kneeling; the ranges varied from 3,050 to 3,350 yards.
64 rounds were fired, and the results were good, altogether 16 dummies out of 48 and 10 screens out of 12 were put out of action-total number of actual bullet holes, 90; the best series being the last, under Captain Skinner, at a range of 3,300, in which 14 rounds were fired and 6 of the 15 targets were hit.
On the 28th October the positions of the targets were changed; four series were again fired, 10 gun detachments were present, and all took part; there was a very marked improvement in the rapid service of the guns in most cases, and the range officer reported that there was a much larger percentage of effective rounds, and the ground all about the targets was ploughed up by shell and bullet holes, although in many cases the dummies were not actually hit.
71 rounds were fired, and 16 dummies and 5 screens were put out of action. The best and quickest series was fired by the Right Half No. 2 Company, under Captain Armstrong; they fired 16 rounds in 9 minutes, and killed 8 dummies out of 12 and all the
screens.
* [Not printed.]
[813]
Page 298
D
183
Page 298
Page 298
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.