A Short Regimental History

In 1854 the need for a Corps of citizen soldiers arose out of the insecurity of the people of Hong Kong - the majority of the Army had been moved to the Crimea while the Royal Navy had been sent north to counter a perceived threat from the Russian Navy. At the same time, there were frequent attacks both on land and at sea from marauding pirates. A circular was sent out to all Europeans in the Colony in May 1854 inviting volunteers to join a Volunteer Corps. Out of a European male population of some 500, 99 men came forward. Many were British but there were Danes Swedes Germans and Portuguese among the 99. There were a number of Dent employees including William Dent and at least eight innkeepers who one suspects were the local logistic experts in rations and beverages, three of the 99 were selected to be officers and Lieutenant Colonel William Caine, then Assistant Governor, was appointed as the first Colonel. The first parade ground was on the site of what became the Hilton Hotel.

The Volunteer Corps was initially an artillery unit and between 1854 and the 1870s the Volunteers Corps was disbanded and reformed a number of times as the perceived threats came and went. In 1864 the Volunteers were mobilised for a week to patrol the streets of Victoria because starving European sailors were attacking Malay sailors who had stolen their jobs. Some regular soldiers joined in the fray resulting in all regular soldiers being confined to their barracks. The Volunteer Corps were ordered to guard these barracks. In 1899, the Volunteers were mobilised again during the disturbances that accompanied the take-over of the New Territories. By this time the Volunteers had grown to 450 and included a Mounted Troop, an Engineer Company and a Band in addition to the original Artillery Company.

During the First World War many Volunteers left the Colony to fight in Europe. Those that remained constituted the only military force left, but their only involvement was to guard German residents who were collected into an internment camp. The "Alarm" used to mobilise the Volunteers during this time was a bomb detonated at the Hong Kong Cricket Ground in Central. Pay was l/ld or 28 cents for a 12 hour guard. By 1919, the Volunteer Corps had been renamed the Hong Kong Defence Corps and a Scottish and Portuguese Company were added. In 1934, the Corps was reorganized into a Machine Gun Battalion. By this time it had added a Womens Nursing Detachment, a Flying Section, an Armoured Car Section and a Home Guard - called the "Hugheseliers".

In 1940, conscription began and the Corps when mobilised in 1941 was over 2000 strong. The Corps was a key component in the defence of Hong Kong. It fought valiantly from the blowing the bridges along the border by the Engineer Company to the last stand in Stanley. The Hugheseliers had a particularly gallent stand and many were killed - too old and too stubborn to retreat. Those Volunteers who were not killed were imprisoned in dreadful conditions. Some escaped and travelled into China to join the British Aid Group or went even further to Burma to join the Chindits. By liberation in August 1945, 289 Volunteers had lost their lives. In recognition of this sacrifice, there were 19 decorations and 18 Mention-in Dispatches awarded to Volunteers and later Her Majesty The Queen awarded the Battle Honour "Hong Kong".

Following the Second World War, the Volunteers were reoganised yet again with a new title of the Hong Kong Defence Force. This consisted of three main components - the Naval Reserve, the Hong Kong Regiment and the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force. Colonel Linsday Ride who had so distinguished himself with the BAAG during the War was the Colonel. At the time, with increased numbers of local Hong Kong Chinese wishing to join, the Governor stated "The Force is so organised that there is a place in it for every citizen who wishes to offer his services in peace or in time of emergency. It is open to all nationalities and the oath is so worded that non-British citizens may join without endangering their own national status."

On 1 May 1951, it was announced that His Majesty The King had been pleased to approve the change of title to the Roya1 Hong Kong Defence Force. This news was greeted with great pride within Hong Kong. Shortly after this announcement, new Colours were presented - the old King's Colour and the Regimental Colour having been buried in 1941 to escape capture by the Japanese. By the time of the Korean War, the RHKDF was over 1500 strong - 45% of whom were Chinese with British and Portuguese making up another 40%. 1954 was the centenary year marked by a large parade on the Hong Kong Cricket Ground and a grand centenary ball was held in the new Headquarters in Happy Valley.

In 1961 conscription was ended and with it went the need for a Force Headquarters. The Governor - Sir Robert Black - conferred the title "The Volunteers' on the Regiment to acknowledge its descent from the earlier Volunteer Corps and to mark the end of conscription. 1967 saw the Volunteers mobilised yet again almost continuously for 4 months as the turmoil in China spilled over into the Colony. As a result of the Volunteers actions during this period their strengths were fully recognised and the whole Regiment was reorganised as a Reconnaissance Regiment. The emphasis of the Loan Service Team (attached from the British Army) moved from having staff from the Infantry to staff from the Roya1 Armoured Corps. In 1969, after the Naval Reserve had already been disbanded, Her Majesty The Queen graciously agreed to the two remaining components inheriting the Royal title. Thus they became the Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) and the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force.

When new Colours were required in 1971 a traditional Cavalry Guidon was presented in place of the Infantry style Queen's Colour and Regimental Colour. The old Colours - presented in 1951- were laid up in St John's Cathedral where they remain today. 1971 also saw the formation of the highly successful Junior Leaders Corps or J Corps providing military style training and leadership development for boys aged 14 to 17 years.

In 1979 and 1980 the Volunteers were mobilised again - this time to help stem the flow of illegal immigrants from across the Border. More recently in 1992 over 600 Volunteers were mobilised for two months to man refugee camps for the massive influx of Vietnamese boat people. Through the years the Volunteers have been called out not just to assist in times of national emergency but also to assist the civil authorities with the aftermath of natural disasters - hill fires, typhoons and landslides. After 141 years service to King, Queen and community, 3rd September 1995 marked the end of military volunteering in Hong Kong. It was a sad and emotional day as we remember all those who gave so much of their time and expertise, and especially those who gave all they had to give - their lives.