Part I
By Arlene Munro
Origins
The British Guiana Militia had forerunners in the militias which were formed early in the history of this country. When the British gained control of the colony of Guiana they drafted new regulations for the Burgher militias in each colony circa 1804-6. The purpose of these regulations was to “preserve and maintain internal tranquility.” Therefore, the militias in each colony were transformed into separate units i.e. the Berbice Militia, the Demerara Militia and the Essequibo Militia. Furthermore, by Ordinance No.7 of 1878 a British Guiana Volunteer Force was established.
According to Webber, the Imperial Army withdrew its soldiers from British Guiana in 1890. The West India Regiment was also recalled that year. These were perhaps two reasons for the responsibility which was placed on the British Guiana Militia subsequently.
By Ordinance No. 12 of 1891 the British Guiana Militia was established. Its Commandant, Colonel E.E.
McInnis, C.M.G., was appointed on 1st November 1892. He served as the Commandant of the Local Forces which included the British Guiana Militia. Thus began a long history of military training and duty by the British Guiana Militia which lasted until the 1940s. During the Second World War the British War Office took over the British Guiana Militia and re-established it as the British Guiana Regiment. This company comprised seven companies of the British Guiana Home Guard.
Organisation
Ordinance No. 12 of 1891 provided for an Active Force and a Reserve. The Active Force consisted of a Company of Artillery and a Battalion of Infantry composed of seven companies. Eve Leary, Georgetown was the location of one Company of Artillery and three companies of Infantry. No.4 Company of Infantry was situated in the Eastern Division of Demerara. No.5 Company of Infantry could be found in the Western Division of Demerara. No.6 Company of Infantry was located in the county of Essequibo.
New Amsterdam, Berbice was the site of the No.7 Company.
The Constitution of the British Guiana Militia Force stipulated that each company should have a minimum number of sixty and a maximum number of 100 non-commissioned officers and privates. The non-commissioned officers and privates were expected to serve as volunteers.
What were the qualifications of the persons liable to serve in the Active Force? The male applicant was required to be a British subject, to be 18-45 years old, had to own 3 acres of land or more, or to live in a house with an annual rent of $96.00, or be a tenant for 3 years or more of 6 acres of land, or receive an income/salary of $350.00 or more. These men were eligible to join the British Guiana Militia.
There were no reports for the period 1891-1894 but subsequent reports reveal that by 1895 the maximum strength of the British Guiana Militia was 19 officers, 6 staff sergeants, 25 Non-Commissioned Officers and men. There were 97 men on Reserve who were located all over the country. They did not have arms, clothing or equipment. In addition, there were apprentices who were lodged, fed and drilled by the British Guiana Militia. It appears that the Headquarters were at Eve Leary, Georgetown.
On many occasions the Militia and the Police paraded together for Brigade Drills and Outpost duty.
Rodway observed that there was a “system of payments for attendance at drill and deductions for breach of regulations.”
In 1895, the Militia had no Rifle Range but was given permission to use the Demerara Rifle Association Range for one day per week. There was an annual Rifle Competition. By 1915 the Annual Rifle Meeting was being held on the Thomas Lands Ranges.
The British Guiana Militia had its own Band by 1895. It is unclear when it was founded but the Ordinance No. 12 of 1891 provided for the attachment of a Band of musicians to the Militia. The Band performed in Georgetown, New Amsterdam and many rural villages. It was present at Agricultural shows, the races, ceremonial parades, guards of honour etc. By 1918 it was playing three times per week. It performed on Wednesdays at the Botanic Gardens, on Saturdays at the Sea Wall and on Mondays at the Promenade Gardens. When Armistice Day was introduced the Band also played on this occasion. As the years rolled by the Band travelled farther afield to Bartica, Mahaica, and to rural villages of Essequibo and Berbice. In 1932, the Band was reduced in number to 28 ranks and one Bandmaster. By 1933, the Band was receiving training on an annual basis to equip its members to render First Aid. On completion of the course each member received vouchers and a certificate for First Aid to the Injured. By 1937, the Band was performing in the new Bandstand at Kitty village and in the Seawall bandstand once per month. According to the Commandants’ reports, the Band’s performance was of a very high standard.
The Bandmasters who served for a long period were Captain A. R. Carroll (1890s-1920), Captain A. Fawcett (19-1934). Captain S.W. Henwood was the Conductor in the 1940s. The Band played classical music and regimental marches. In 1928 the No.7 Company in New Amsterdam formed a Drum and Fife Band under the leadership of Captain A. Fawcett.
Administration
The headquarters of the British Guiana Militia were situated in Eve Leary, Kingston, and Georgetown. Some of the training was done at Eve Leary and at Fort William Frederick. Rifle Practice was held at Thomas Lands. The British Guiana Militia formed part of the Local Forces which were directly administered by the Commandant. He reported annually to the Colonial government on the British Guiana Militia.
Below the Commandant were the non-commissioned officers and privates. The officers of each company included a Captain, a First Lieutenant, and a Second Lieutenant as well as a medical practitioner (surgeon). The non-commissioned officers of the company of Artillery comprised a Sergeant-Major, four sergeants, and four Corporals. The non-commissioned officers of each company included the Colour Sergeant, four Sergeants, and four Lance Corporals and were appointed by the Captain with the approval of the Commandant. The staff officers and non-commissioned officers of the Force consisted of unpaid staff e.g. two majors, a judge Advocate, a Surgeon, a Quarter-Master (Lieutenant), and paid staff such as the Commandant (Colonel), an adjutant, a Sergeant Major, a Bandmaster, an Armourer Sergeant, a Sergeant Instructor for Artillery, and two Sergeant Instructors for Infantry. One of the Sergeant Instructors had to serve as a Musketry Instructor. The Sergeant Major also acted as Quarter Master Sergeant for the whole force.
The Commandant was responsible for the “efficient administration and government of the Force and for the proper expenditure of all public moneys …It was his duty to inspect the Active Force twice per year, examine the Reserve and report to the Governor. The British Guiana Directory and Almanac for 1893 reveals that the first Commandant was Colonel E.B. McInnis who was appointed in 1892 and was still in charge in 1902. It is not clear when Colonel George Castriot De Rinzy was appointed but he demitted office in 1916. Colonel William Eden Clark was appointed Commandant of the British Guiana Militia on 3’d August 1916 and served until 13th February 1919. Colonel Cecil May was appointed Commandant of the Local Forces in 1919 and served during the 1920s. He was succeeded by the Colonel F.H. Blackwood; D.S.O. Blackwood’s successor was Major CP. Widdup, V.D. who was appointed on 21st August 1926. Colonel W.E. H. Bradburn was appointed in 1927 or 1928 but he served until 21 December 1937. Once again Major C.P. Widdup was appointed Commandant in 1937.
The Adjutant was appointed Captain in the Active Force and was in command of the Captains. He was responsible for the drill, military training and instruction of the Active Force. He was also accountable to the Commandant.
According to the British Guiana Report on the Militia for 1935, the cost of the British Guiana Militia including the Band was $24,225.00 by 1935. The colonial government was the source of this funding.
The machine guns and Infantry Companies cost $8,444 while the Band cost $15,781. The cost of the Militia in 1936 surpassed that of 1935. The government expended $28,406.00 in 1936.
In the 1920s the Militia was re-armed with Short Magazine Lee-Enfield Rifle MK 111 and the new short Rifle. These Rifles superseded the M.L.E. Rifles which had been in use for 20 years. In the 1930s the British Guiana Militia possessed a cache of Vickers Machine Guns, Lewis guns, and revolvers. All of the weapons were imported from Britain.
According to the Report on the British Guiana Militia for 1933, the Queen’s College Cadet Platoon was formed on 20 June 1933 and was attached to the British Guiana Militia. It comprised 2 officers and 30 cadets. The officers were Second Lieutenant A. St. G. Waldron and W.W.L. Jones. Thus the Militia played an influential role in the development of this platoon. It is noteworthy that the Cadet Platoon must have been part of the Queen’s College Cadet Corps which was established in 1889. Next week I will continue this feature on the British Guiana Militia.
