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With the outbreak of WW1 1914, British Infantry battalions were once again withdrawn leaving the 3^rd Brahmans, which was relieved by the 5^th Light Infantry that mutinied on February 1915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

1786 to 1830 : Troops in Penang

1786 – 1830 Troops in Penang

17 July 1786, Capt Francis Light, Sea Capt of the Honourable East India Company, arrived off Penang Island with 3 ships. The ships were Eliza, Speedwell and Prince Henry

-Capt Light took the Island from Sultan Abdullah of Kedah ( Queda), on behalf of the Company and named the Island Prince of Wales Island ( name remained on record for next 50 yrs)

-10 Aug 1786, 2 East Indiamen arrived off Penang enroute to China - The Vansitart & The Valentine.

-11 Aug 1786, Captains of the two ships landed and took part in the Flag raising Ceremony. Lta James Gray – Commandant of Marine detachment, Capt Elisha Trapaud ( Engineers) & Cpt George Howell ( Artillery) were present

-Fort was built with timbered stockade with ditch – bastions solid to hold 6 pounders from the ship. Fort was named Cornwallis, after Governor General in Calcutta, Lord Cornwallis

-size of settlement grew and the town grown next to the fort was named Georgetown, in honour of His Majesty, King George III.

-1788, 3 officers served in Penang -Lta John Glass ( artillery), Lta George Rahen & William Murray ( Fireworks), and unnamed officer of the Marines

-1790,Calcutta sent 2 companies of Native Infantry (NI) and 10x 18 pounder guns for defence of Penang Port, under commandant Capt Glass

-1791 19 March, Sultan of Kedah forces and Lanun Pirates in 90 prahus sailed and set up forts on mainland opposite Georgetown

-Bombay Castle, 1 of the East Indiaman from the squadron of ships (which sailed to Penang on Feb 1791, and left to Madras on 15 Mar) from Commodore William Cornwallis remained in harbor. Capt Glass on 12 Apr 1791 attacked the forts of the Malays & Lanun. 10,000 were defeated and 250 armed prahus dispersed.Capt Glass losses were 4 men killed.

-5 Apr 1793, Capt Glass, Commandant of Penang Garrison, died – buried at Northam Cemetery. He was succeeded by Capt Hamilton

-1794, Maj Alexander Kyd, Bengal Engineers to review defence of the Penang Garrison

Capt Light has already rebuilt Fort Cornwallis as a stone structure at costs of 7,000 without approval of his Bengal superiors

-Capt Light died 21 October 1794

-14 May 1795 Maj Forbes Ross MacDonald took command of Penang

-1800 Sir George Leith was Lta Governor of Penang and negotiated with Sultan Kedah for Province of Wellesley, 7 July 1800

- 1801, Defence establishment :

Commandant Maj Thomas Polhill, 7^th Regt Bengal NI ( Lt Col on 4 Jan 1801)

Adjutant & QM Lta Norman Macalister, Bengal Artillery

Commission of ordnance Lta Charles Sealy, Bengal Artillery

Engineer Capt Joseph Stokoe ( died 12 Jan 1801),Successor Lta John Gordon ( died 12 Nov 1804), and Bengal Engineer

Medical Surgeon James Hutton & Asst Surgeon Henry Waring, Bengal Medical Dept

Infantry Lta John Lindsay, 10^th Regt Bengal NI, Lta John Leslie 5^th Regt Bengal NI, Lta Conell Simpson 14^th Regt Bengal NI

-1805 East India Company upgraded Penang Settlements status to Presidency

-Sep 1805 Thomas Raffles arrived and was Lt Governor of Java after campaign 1811.

-1805 Local militia formed – Prince of Wales Island Local Corps; disbanded jul-aug 1806.

-1806, Capt Thomas Robinson, Engineer & Surveyor was tasked to submit plans to defend attacks by European Naval force & another second fort

- life of garrison routine was guard duties and drills, occasional range practice as ammunition was expensive

-17 Oct 1806, Garrison troops – 6^th Regt, 10^th Regt 20^th Regt, 24^th Regt of the Bengal NI, Regt of Artillery, Bengal & Medical Department.

-End of 1809, extension and new batteries of twenty feet thick mounting 17 Heavy guns was constructed at costs of over $4,500. The improvements made Fort Cornwallis the best defended fort in the Far East

- Penang was staging area for naval vessels and troops ships.

- As France overrun Holland on Jan 1795, the Dutch in Malacca was a threat to Penang. Expedition to attack Malacca was launched from Madras with 4 European Battalions under Maj Archibald Brown and Penang was the staging port

-1797 expeditions to invade Manila used harbour as rendezvous point.

-1807 – 1808, 2^nd Battalion of HM 1^st or Royal Regiment under Lt Col Gales assembled for Moluccas Campaign ( they were occupying force at Balambangan from 29 Sep 1803 to 1805)

-1811, invasion of Java force called at Penang port before assembly area in Malacca

-Penang military establishment expanded so that troops were provided for Malacca and Singapore

-1820, Local Unit, Penang Local Corps, was raised to save expense of having regiment from Madras Army. Lta James Low recruited from Upper Provinces of Bengal to be used as defence force in Province of Wellesley against piracy. Low was in command until 1827, when unit was disbanded. Majority of the soldiers returned to Bengal on the ship Flora.

-1826, Straits Settlement Presidency founded, comprising Penang, Malacca and Singapore

-Presidency was abolished by Lord Bentinck and a single residency on 1 May 1830 was formed instead with Penang as HQ of the Residency until 1832.

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

Cenotaph in Tugu Negara Memorial Park, Kuala Lumpur

Cenotaph in Singapore

An Australian Bugler sounding the last post? in front of the cenotaph at its original location during 1941 ( source : life)

Possible location of the cenotaph at the location of the roundabout next to the railway station. The cenotaph A 1970's photo ( source: life

The cenotaph in Tugu Negara Memorial Park, Kuala Lumpur ( source : google picture)

I have been to Kuala Lumpur so often. But unfortunately I did not make it a point to visit the Memorial Park where the National Monument stood, even though I am a staunch military history buff. Anyhow, I was pretty curious when I came across a 1940’s photo of an Australian bugler standing next to a cenotaph. First glance, I thought it was the cenotaph in Singapore located at the esplanade ( Elizabeth Walk). However, on closer look, I realized that the icon on the memorial was a wreath unlike the King’s Crown which was on the Singapore Memorial.

After trawling through the virtual world, I realized that the cenotaph can be found in Kuala Lumpur at the memorial park where the Tugu Negara ( National Monument) is located and was officially opened in 1966

The Cenotaph was first located at the intersection of Jalan Tugu ( Cenotaph Road) and Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin (Victoria Avenue) on the roundabout, close to the the old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station and marching distance towards and from the Merdeka Square ( the Selangor Club Padang) where parades were held. Due to the construction of bypass roads, the monument has been relocated in 1964.

As reported, the granite structure was built in 1921 on its original site to commemorate the fallen whom have been working in Malaya but has volunteered to go back to serve in WWI. The years of 1939-1945, and 1948 – 1960 have been added on in later years to commemorate the fallen during WW2 and the Malayan Emergency respectively.