Something from Colonial Hong Kong

[commonwealthlover]

Still need members to supply more information and advises for making this more comprehensive !

[1314]

Many thanks for sight of these.The Hong Kong Cadet Training Unit (HKCTU) was a particularly interesting,though very short lived.organization.

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by commonwealthlover

Still need members to supply more information and advises for making this more comprehensive !

Could you please post a high definition scan of the group photograph under the re/yellow HKCTU title so that I can translate the title. Thanks. Mike

[commonwealthlover]

This was from a website . It was a photo that taken after the training.
"No:2 team, 9th Training Class, Hong Kong Chinese Training Unit" 1951 May 10th

[commonwealthlover]

Dear Mike,
Have you ever seen a photo of military personnel that worn the RHKDP titles and the flash ?

Thanks,

Bruno

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by commonwealthlover

This was from a website . It was a photo that taken after the training.
"No:2 team, 9th Training Class, Hong Kong Chinese Training Unit" 1951 May 10th

Thank you - that confirmed my translation. It also confirms the unit title. The image may have been taken in Lyemun Barracks (Former RA Coast Artillery fort guarding the Lyemun Gap (eastern harbour entrance). That's certainly where the HKMSC Depot was located in 1970. Mike

[commonwealthlover]

Dear Mike,

From your article to Crown Imperial , Summer 1997, the Hong Kong title (Fig 1) You had mentioned this was worn by volunteers from HK in British unit in WW2. Do you mean military personnel of HKVDC also wear this ?

Thanks,

Bruno

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by commonwealthlover

Dear Mike,

From your article to Crown Imperial , Summer 1997, the Hong Kong title (Fig 1) You had mentioned this was worn by volunteers from HK in British unit in WW2. Do you mean military personnel of HKVDC also wear this ?

Thanks,

Bruno

No. I think that this was worn by those Hong Kong "belongers" who managed to escape from Hong Kong via China and the BAAG and get to India where they may, depending on military qualifications, have been enlisted in the British Army and in some cases then fought in Burma as part of 3 Indian Div (Special Force). Max Cheng was one such, but see also Brian L Davis "British Army Uniforms & Insignia of World War Two", page 64 (LCpl AJ Xavier). Mike

[commonwealthlover]

Dear Mike,

I did met Maximo when I was in Hong Kong some years ago. I had also came across another gentleman who were the HKVDC venteran and POW in Hong Kong as well. His name is Arthur Gomes, because of him , I had chance to connect with Free Mason.

[commonwealthlover]

Dear Mike,

One more question, the above mentioned formation sign was using by HK Regiment till 1995,
this is quite complicated to me. Suppose this sign been using by military personnels while their regiments stationed in HK., when this sign no longer been in use for such occasion ?

Regards, Bruno

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by commonwealthlover

Dear Mike,

One more question, the above mentioned formation sign was using by HK Regiment till 1995,
this is quite complicated to me. Suppose this sign been using by military personnels while their regiments stationed in HK., when this sign no longer been in use for such occasion ?

Regards, Bruno

Assuming you are referring to the sign of HQBF Hong Kong; in theory this will have last been worn by British Troops on 30 Jun 97. It was traditionally worn only by the HQ and by units directly subordinate to the HQ. An exception was the RHKR. As patterns of uniforms changed so did the policy for wearing formation signs. For example from 1990-92 the HQBF Hong Kong sign was not worn on the stone coloured uniform by any member of the Headquarters. Generally speaking British infantry units in HK wore the sign of the Brigade to which they were subordinate eg 48 Gurkha Bde and 51 Inf Bde. Mike

[REMEVMBEA1]

Originally Posted by Mike Jackson

Assuming you are referring to the sign of HQBF Hong Kong; in theory this will have last been worn by British Troops on 30 Jun 97. It was traditionally worn only by the HQ and by units directly subordinate to the HQ. An exception was the RHKR. As patterns of uniforms changed so did the policy for wearing formation signs. For example from 1990-92 the HQBF Hong Kong sign was not worn on the stone coloured uniform by any member of the Headquarters. Generally speaking British infantry units in HK wore the sign of the Brigade to which they were subordinate eg 48 Gurkha Bde and 51 Inf Bde. Mike

I can confirm that from 1967 to 69 only HQBF units wore the dragon flash and the infantry brigade units, at that time 48 Gurkha , wore their own flashes. Hong Kong personnel serving in British units , LEPs (Locally enlisted personnel) , wore that units flashes.

[lamchankuen]

Basically HKVDC, RHKDF & HKR are the same unit, kind of TA under the Hong Kong Governor.

The title "Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps HKVDC" is used between 1941-1949. In 1949 the unit was renamed to "Hong Kong Defence Force HKDF" and granted the Royal title in 60s, thus becoming "Royal Hong Kong Defence Froce RHKDF". In 1970 RHKDF was split into "Hong Kong Regiment HKR" and Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force. Royal title was granted and the unit became "Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) RHKR(V)" which disbanded in 1995.

[Mike Jackson]

To keep this interesting thread running here are some variegated dragons from my collection:
HQLF Hong Kong.01.jpg

[airtrooper]

A few of mine.....