Hong Kong Singapore Royal Artillery (2)

HKSRA Gunners manning a 3 inch Anti Aircraft gun on the coast of Singapore cir 1939. Note the gunner without his helmet- against regulations? Call the CSM! source : Life

Hong Kong – Singapore Royal Artillery HKSRA (1930 – 1942)

1920-30’s – HKSRA expanded for defenses of Singapore & Hong Kong with the construction of the Naval Base in Singapore due cheaper to deploy Asian troops than British Soldiers.

1930’s - 3 heavy battery in Hong Kong and 1 in Singapore. By 1938, 2 more heavies added including 1 Heavy battery in Penang

Anti aircraft (AA) units were included in the HKSRA Regiments with 9 AA battery (6 fully operational) and 3 coastal battery available in Singapore by Oct 1941 (OCT 1937 – 1 HKSRA battery established). Further plans to include 12 guns manned by HKSRA in Penang and positions and plans for expansion of AA defenses to be completed by 30 Jan 1942

By 1941 (less than 4 yrs) – 3 HKSRA regiments with 14 battery was formed

Rapid expansion has created problems as:

- Singapore units are less experienced than Hong Kong units

- New battery formed faster than available guns

- Recruits were in army for few months when battery formed and officers and men were still picking up skills

- Rarely practice with live rounds and communication were poor with primitive radios

- Shortage of experienced officers and NCOs – made worse when Aden formed more battery; milking experienced gunners

1938 – Built a new cantonment in Nee Soon to house HKSRA with the largest officer’s mess outside UK (dining capacity for 90)

Malaya (1941 – 1942)

- 20^th Heavy AA Battery formed in Malaya on 11 Mar 1941 (location possibly KUL?)

- 9^th Battery of 1^st HKSRA Regiment at Kota Bahru ( LT J C Close) & Alor Setar

- 13^th Battery at Sungei Petani ( Battery Comdr Maj PE White) – 6 guns

- 14^th Battery at Ipoh – shot down 5 aircrafts ; pulled out 24 Dec & 27 Dec to reach KUL

- 16^th Battery to cover 3^rd India Corps – deployed to protect bridges & key cross roads, B troop involved in Slime River. Equipped with Bofors

- 2^nd HKSRA Regiment under LT COL HV Allpress was commanding AA defenses of Malaya. 3 battery was deployed in KL Airfield with 5 planes shot & probable 7 kills

- HKSRA shot down 51 planes and claimed 30 probable kills

- 14 HKSRA AA guns were destroyed and lost when Malaya was abandoned

- 1^st HKSRA Regiment defended Diary Road location with A troops of 9^th battery losing guns to Japanese mortar fire

- 20^th HKSRA Battery was forced to destroy guns and retreat when HQ22 Australian Infantry Brigade withdrawn

Bibliography : Forgotten Regiments by Barry Renfrew

Hong Kong Singapore Royal Artillery (1)

HKSRA Gunner - Note the brass shoulder titles - HK-SRA on a red felt backing

Hong Kong – Singapore Royal Artillery HKSRA (1842 – 1924)

1842 May - A Royal Artillery Company based in Hong Kong for the first time:

- Suggested native auxiliaries to spare British Gunners to move guns & ammo

- Plan to use Malay Soldiers serving in the British colonial units. They declined to be coolie laborers.

1847 - 90 Madras were recruited as Gun Lascars (laborers for artillery)

1848 – Royal Warrant approved employment of Lascars by resident Royal Artillery Garrisons as laborers and guards

1865 – Men from Asiatic Nations recruited as lascars to form A Company, China Gun Lascars.

1881 - War Office Directive approved 2^nd Lascar Company for Hong Kong - B Company comprising of Sikhs.

1891 – 2 double companies of lascars formed i.e. 1 company of Sikh and 1 company of Punjabi Muslims (hence men from other races weeded out). Formation was renamed Hong Kong Asiatic artillery. Formation of local artillery company with Indian troops in Singapore.

1893 – Hong Kong Unit became Hong Kong Company, Royal Artillery and Singapore Unit became Singapore Company, Royal Artillery.

1898 – The Hong Kong & Singapore companies were grouped as Hong Kong –Singapore Battalion

1899 – The battalion was renamed, Hong Kong Singapore Battalion, Royal Garrison Artillery (HKSRGA). The HKSRGA has 3 companies based in Hong Kong, 1 company in Singapore and 1 company in Mauritius. The 5 companies rotated around the 3 bases, for coastal defense duties.

1915 – HKSRGA company based in Singapore helped suppress revolt by 5^th Light Indian Infantry. No. 1 company with 210 officers and men and 6x10 pdr guns mountain battery embark to Egypt to serve with the Imperial Service Calvary Brigade.

1916 – the battery was stationed in Abassia attached to Imperial Camel Corps – with guns transported by camels instead of mules. Saw service in Palestine in battles of Maghdada & Rafa.

1917 – Re-equipped with 2.75 inch guns instead of 10 pdrs. Took part in battles for Gaza, the capture of Jerusalem and the attacks on Ammaw, Es Salt, Abu Tehnib & Megiddo.

1924 – Final organizational change – HKSRGA renamed as Hong Kong – Singapore Royal Artillery (HKSRA)