70th and the 20th Burma Rifles Regiment 1919 to 1936, Taiping, Perak : Malaya Garrison Troops

Burma Rifles Range Shooting ( Army life in the "90s, P. Warner)

The Burma Rifles was the Garrison Troops for Malaya, based in Taiping, Perak from 1919 ( after the disbanding of the Malay State Guides 1873 - 1919 ) to 1936 ( Replaced by the 1^st Battalion 2^nd Punjab Regiment 1936 - 1938 )

-The Burmese Pioneers was raised in late 1915. Gurkhas and Sikhs formed the backbone of the various forces raised in Burma

-Sep 1917, Burmese Pioneers turned into an Infantry Regiment, becoming part of the Indian Army as the 70^th Burma Rifles. The Regiment depot was at Meiktila and Maymyo for recruitment.

-Altogether, 4 Battalions were raised for 70^th Burma Rifles. British and native officers commanded the battalion on same pattern as regular Indian army regiments. Few of the British officers learn the language or learn about the Burmese ways

-1^st Battalion 70^th Burma Rifles sent to the Suez in May 1918 at Tel El Kebir to guard the Lines of Communications and Turkish POWs.

-2^nd Battalion 70^th Burma Rifles was sent to Egypt after the fighting ended and was assigned garrison duties.

-April 1918 and June 1918, the 3^rd Battalion and 4^th Battalion were formed respectively.

-a second Regiment, 85^th Burma Rifles was raised in Mandalay on Jul 1917 mostly with Indian Volunteers from the Burma Military Police(BMP); Burma’s oldest military formation . It trained in India before going to Basra Iraq.

-The 4 companies comprised platoons of Sikhs, Punjabi Muslims, Gurkhas, Burmans, Karens and Kachins. Garhwali’s & Kumaonis were enlisted when the Burmans & Karens quota was not met.

-The 85^th was 1,500 strong by end of WW1

-The BMP was a colonial gendarmerie made up of Indian troops. Origins dated back to the annexation of upper Burma in the third Burma war of 1885. Irregular Indian troops were recruited to pacify countryside and crush remains of royal Burmese army

-the Indian levies formed the bmp and the battalions were recruited for a period as needed in various areas and later disbanded. At any one time, 12 battalions existed and more than 50 battalions were formed through the years

-units were named after region or locations where they served i.e. Southern Shan States Battalion, Ruby mines battalion. Each battalion had a mounted infantry often Sikhs and duties included providing Governor’s bodyguard

-British policy used paramilitary forces for internal security as they handle broad array of task and far cheaper to equip and run than army units

‘The bmp is a semi military force intended to perform at the cheapest cost as

a- Frontier watch and ward duties

b- Deal with minor insurrections amongst the less civilized hill tribes

c- Transport treasures

d- Guard and transport long term prisoners to from jails

-1920, 70^th and 85^th merged in a single regiment as 70^th Burma Rifles. Burmans, Karens & Chins formed the backbone of the new formation

-1921, the Regiment was restructured into 4 Battalions- 1/70^th Burma Rifles, 2/70^{th Burma} Rifles, 3/70^th Kachin Rifles & 4/70^th Chin Rifles

-1923, the Regiment became 20^th Burma Rifles as part of 1922 reorganisation of the Indian Army – with mixed class and race units. They were 1/20^th Burma Rifles, 2/20^th Burma Rifles, 3/20^th Burma Rifles, 10/20^th Burma Rifles ( Depot & Recruitment Battalion) & 11/20^th Burma Rifles ( Territorial Battalion)

-1925, Burmans were removed from the 20^th Burma Rifles; recruiting Chins, Kachins, Karens and other minorities as doubts of Burman loyalty and ingrained prejudice was the main reason

-1 April 1937, Burma became a separate British Colony and administrative control from India was shifted to London. The 20^th Burma Rifles left the Indian Army and was the foundation of the New Burma Army

Extracted from Forgotten Regiments, Barry Renfrew

1859 to 1915 : Troops in Penang

1859 – 1915 : Troops in Penang

1860 reports on conditions of barracks in Penang. The hospital for the European and Native artillery requires ventilation and more for Sepoy dispensary. The Sepoy barracks was in good condition but the grounds need to be well drained and vegetation cleared.

1 Apr 1862 Penang Garrison of 20^th Regt Madras NI was down to 243, after a detachment was sent to Labuan . After 183 on duty daily and 35 hospitalised, only 25 men was left for fatigue duty.

With completion of fortifications on Singapore, necessary to form “Local Company” of Madras Artillery for re-allocation of artillerymen in Straits Settlements. The whole of the “Local Company” was stationed in Penang.

1871 discussion of replacement of sepoy regiments with regiments of the British Army. 1872 last Sepoy regiment , 19^th Regt Madras NI returned to Trichinopoly, India. The first “European Infantry” regiments arrive; the 80^th(Staffordshire Volunteers) Regiment of the Foot arrived 17 March 1872

The regiment marched 3 miles from the docks to Tanglin Barracks Singapore. March 1872, D company moved to Malacca under Capt Charles Tucker

20 April 1872, A & B companies moved to Penang under Major Charles F Amiel. The remaining 5 companies stayed in Singapore

1894 Reduction of European force was discussed with replacement of certain elements with Native Troops. Proposal was rejected by Colonial Defence Committee in Feb 1894.

“Asiatic Artillery” were to be employed in the garrison. Approval was requested in June 1894, and was actually given on 29 Nov 1896.

March 1900, 16^th Madras Infantry arrived to take over garrison duty from British troops due to the need to have British units available for service in South Africa.

16^th Madras Infantry was relieved November 1901 and replaced by 2 regiments from the Indian Army – the 3^rd Madras Infantry and the 13^th Madras Infantry.

After the close of the South Africa war, the decision was made to increase Straits Settlements Command from 1 Battalion to 2. – One from British Army and the second battalion supplied by the Indian Army. As a result, 1^st Battalion Manchester Regiment arrived in Singapore on April 1903 to relieve the 3^rd Madras Infantry whilst 13^th Madras Infantry remained until relieved by the 73^rd Carnatic Infantry in Jan 1904.

With the outbreak of WW1 1914, British Infantry battalions were once again withdrawn leaving the 3^rd Brahmans, which was relieved by the 5^th Light Infantry that mutinied on February 1915

29 April 1915, Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, disturbance broke out ( 1 Police Sergeant Killed). Lt Col C W Brownlow with a force of 163 men from the 4^th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry ( Territorial Force), 50 men from the Royal Garrison Artillery and 21 men from the Singapore Volunteer Infantry arrived at Pasir Puteh on 5 May 1915. The Malay States Guides (MSG) with 140 men and two machine guns reinforced the force on 13 May 1915. The HMS Cadmus shore party supplemented the expedition. After 10 days, the disturbance subsided with little oppositions and the force returning to Singapore and the MSG detachment left behind to police the area.

The MSG remained in Kelantan until Sep 1915 when they departed for overseas duties in Aden. They were relieved by a force of 1 officer and 38 men from the Malay Company, Penang Volunteers and 2 officers and 24 men from the Singapore Volunteer Infantry. After their departure on Nov 1915, the Special Constables ( later the Kelantan Volunteer Rifles) took over control of the area.

Extracted from British and Indian Armies in the East Indies by Alan Harfield

1830 to 1858 : Troops in Penang

1830-1858 Troops in Penang

Detachment of 15^th Regiment Madras Native Infantry stationed in Penang was sent to Singapore for Garrison duties in 1835, with the departure of 6 companies of 29^th Regt Madras NI in Jan 1834 from Singapore. IN Jul, 1835, 48^th Regt Madras NI arrived for garrison duties for Singapore & Malacca.

15^th Regt Madras NI, Penang lost CO, Lt Col Gregory Jackson on 31 March 1835.

Penang Gazette was started in 7 April 1838, published weekly with the Prince of Wales Gazette.

1837 March, 12^th Regt Madras NI replaced 15^th regt as Garrison Troops

1840, Singapore became the transit station for troops proceeding to the China Expedition.

1840, 12^th Regt Madras NI departed for Palaveram and was relieved by 24^th Regt Madras NI for Penang Garrison. The regt also took over duties of protecting Malacca with detachment due to the hurried departure of 39^th Regt Madras NI ( Garrison duties for Singapore and Malacca) who joined the China Expedition in June 1842

Monday 19^th Sep 1842, a Royal Salute of 21 guns was fired, on knowledge that Peace has been concluded with China

27^th Regt Madras NI from Vizagapatham took over 24^th in Penang, with delay due to severe bad weather in Bay of Bengal.

1846, garrison force of Singapore, Malacca and Penang of 2 NI regiments has been reduced to 1. The unit covering the 3 stations was 27^th Regt Madras NI ( Officers wore black facings with silver lace).They were replaced on the last day of April 1846 by 21^st Madras NI ( officers worn buff facings with gold lace)

51^st Regt Madras NI was earmarked to serve in Penang & Malacca. But was garrisoned in Singapore instead and relieved 21^st Madras NI on April 1849

The work of garrison troops was a routine of drill and guard duties. With the officers attending social functions that was held in Vistorian Singapore, Malacca and Penang.

April 1852, 51^st Regt Madras NI departed to Vellore and was relieved by 43^rd Regt Madras NI.

1853, The Garrison of Penang was by then a subordinated unit to Singapore. The Regiment HQ was in Singapore and outstations at Malacca and Penang

1854, The Governor was requested to set Rules for the guidance of a Volunteer Rifle Corps

Early 1855, 29^th Regt Madras NI ( CO Lt Col J Richardson, died in Penang on 15 Sep 1856) became the garrison regiment of Penang. Singapore’s 43^rd Regt Madras NI heading to Vizagapatam was to be relieved by 38^th Regt Madras NI in April 1855

29^th Regt Madras NI band of the regiment ( John Brahm, bandmaster) was popular and gave performance in the Lines. Capt Henry Cazalet in 29^th was also an accomplished artist. His paintings dated 1856 – 57 . Popular painting “Penang from the Harbour 1856”. 29^th moved to Masulipatam and then to Kamptee in 1860 where Cazalet died from cholera in 5 March 1860

1857 Resident Councilor at Penang requested guidance of control of Sepoy military guards over convicts housed in Jail and the Convict Lines. OC Troops at Penang pointed out that the Military Guard was to support the Civil Power in the exercise of power over the inmates. April 1857 there was a riot in Penang which the Garrison of Penang acted nobly.

1858 Jun/Jul Lt George Towers Hilliard of 50^th Regt Madras NI who was Superintendent of Convicts and Executive Engineer, was recalled to India to suppress mutiny. He departed on 17 Jul onboard P&O Steamer Pekin for Galle & Madras. Jul 1858, Lta W S Mitchell of 22^nd Regt Madras NI was appointed when George was recalled.

Sat 13 Nov 1858, Straits Settlements ceased to be under the Company and became a Crown Colony

Penang Garrison Troops

1859 22^nd Regt Madras NI left for Madras on same ships that brought replacement 20^th Regt Madras NI

1861 20^th Regt Madras NI arrived 18 April after leaving Madras on 8 April by steamer Arracan and transport Jubal Cain.

1864, 16 Feb, arrival of 35^th Regt Madras NI and departure to Madras on 1 Apr 1868. Replaced by 7^th Regt Madras NI whom arrived on Penang, 17 Mar 1968, and moved to Singapore on 12 May 1869 to garrison the whole Straits Settlements

Extracted from British and Indian Armies in the East Indies by Alan Harfield