British Forces Overseas Hong Kong comprised the elements of the
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
,
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
(including
Royal Marines
The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The Corps of Royal Marine ...
) and
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
stationed in
British Hong Kong
Hong Kong was a colony and later a dependent territory of the British Empire from 1841 to 1997, apart from a period of occupation under the Japanese Empire from 1941 to 1945 during the Pacific War. The colonial period began with the Briti ...
. The
Governor of Hong Kong
The governor of Hong Kong was the representative of the British Crown in Hong Kong from 1843 to 1997. In this capacity, the governor was president of the Executive Council and commander-in-chief of the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong. ...
also assumed the position of the
commander-in-chief of the forces and the
Commander British Forces in Hong Kong
The Commander British Forces in Hong Kong (CBF) was a senior British Army officer who acted as Military Advisor to the Governor of Hong Kong and was in charge of the Hong Kong British Forces. The officeholder of this post concurrently assumed the ...
took charge of the daily deployment of the troops. Much of the British military left prior to the
handover of Hong Kong
Sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred from the United Kingdom to the China, People's Republic of China (PRC) at midnight on 1 July 1997. This event ended 156 years of British rule in the British Hong Kong, former colony. Hong Kong was establ ...
to China in 1997. The present article focuses mainly on the British garrison in Hong Kong in the post Second World War era. For more information concerning the British garrison during the Second World War and earlier, see the
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong (8–25 December 1941), also known as the Defence of Hong Kong and the Fall of Hong Kong, was one of the first battles of the Pacific War in World War II. On the same morning as the attack on Pearl Harbor, forces of the ...
.
Overview
Prior to and during the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the garrison was composed of British Army battalions and locally enlisted personnel (LEPs) who served as regular members in the Hong Kong Squadron of the Royal Navy or the
Hong Kong Military Service Corps
The Hong Kong Military Service Corps (HKMSC) (Traditional Chinese: 香港軍事服務團) was a British army unit and part of the British garrison in Hong Kong (see British Forces Overseas Hong Kong). Throughout the history of Hong Kong, it has ...
and their associate land units. The
Hong Kong Brigade Hong may refer to:
Places
*Høng, a town in Denmark
*Hong Kong, a city and a special administrative region in China
*Hong, Nigeria
*Hong River in China and Vietnam
*Lake Hong in China
Surnames
*Hong (Chinese name)
*Hong (Korean name)
Organiz ...
served as the main garrison formation. After the outbreak of the Second World War, the garrison was reinforced with
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, commonly referred to as the Indian Army, was the main military of the British Raj before its dissolution in 1947. It was responsible for the defence of the British Indian Empire, including the princely states, which co ...
and
Canadian Army
The Canadian Army (french: Armée canadienne) is the command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also respo ...
units. A second brigade, the Kowloon Infantry Brigade, was formed to assist in commanding the expanded force. The garrison was defeated during the
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong (8–25 December 1941), also known as the Defence of Hong Kong and the Fall of Hong Kong, was one of the first battles of the Pacific War in World War II. On the same morning as the attack on Pearl Harbor, forces of the ...
, by the
Empire of Japan
The also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was a historical nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until the enactment of the post-World War II 1947 constitution and subsequent fo ...
.
After the Second World War and the end of the
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
The Imperial Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began when the Governor of Hong Kong, Mark Aitchison Young, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the British Crown colony of British Hong Kong, Hong Kong to the Empire of Japan on 25 December 1941. The surr ...
, the British military reestablished a presence. As a result of the
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was fought between the Kuomintang-led government of the Republic of China and forces of the Chinese Communist Party, continuing intermittently since 1 August 1927 until 7 December 1949 with a Communist victory on m ...
, the British Army raised the
40th Infantry Division and dispatched it to garrison Hong Kong. It latter left for combat in the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
, and the defense of the territory was taken up by additional British forces who were rotated from Europe. The garrison was further supplemented by LEPs, and
Gurkha
The Gurkhas or Gorkhas (), with endonym Gorkhali ), are soldiers native to the Indian Subcontinent, chiefly residing within Nepal and some parts of Northeast India.
The Gurkha units are composed of Nepalis and Indian Gorkhas and are recruit ...
s. The latter came from Nepal, but formed part of the British Army. The size of the garrison during the
Cold War
The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
fluctuated and ended up being based around one brigade.
The
Royal Hong Kong Regiment
The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) (RHKR(V)) ()), formed in May 1854, was a local auxiliary militia force funded and administered by the colonial Government of Hong Kong. Its powers and duties were mandated by the Royal Hong Kong R ...
, a military unit which was part of the Hong Kong Government, was trained and organised along the lines of a British
Territorial Army unit. As such, it was supported by British Army regular personnel holding key positions. These British Army personnel, for their duration of service to the Royal Hong Kong Regiment, were seconded to the Hong Kong Government. In the post-WWII era, the majority of the regiment's members were local citizens of Chinese descent.
Responsibilities
Before 1 July 1997, the British government had the political commitment to safeguard the territory against external and internal threats.
Commonwealth forces were also deployed to station in the territory shortly before the Second World War. The greatest test was in 1941, when Japanese forces invaded Hong Kong, leading to the 44-month-long
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
The Imperial Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began when the Governor of Hong Kong, Mark Aitchison Young, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the British Crown colony of British Hong Kong, Hong Kong to the Empire of Japan on 25 December 1941. The surr ...
.
Internal Security was the responsibility of the
Hong Kong Government
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, commonly known as the Hong Kong Government or HKSAR Government, refers to the Executive (government), executive authorities of Hong Kong Special administrative regions of China, ...
, in particular the
Royal Hong Kong Police
The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is the primary law enforcement, investigative agency, and largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. The Royal Hong Kong Police Force (RHKPF) reverted to its former name after the t ...
. It was supported by British Forces in Hong Kong should it be called upon to do so. During the
Hong Kong 1967 riots
The 1967 Hong Kong riots were large-scale anti-government riots that occurred in Hong Kong during British colonial rule. Beginning as a minor labour dispute, the demonstrations eventually escalated into protests against the British colonial go ...
, in which 51 people were killed, the British garrison supported the Royal Hong Kong Police in quelling the disturbance. Until 1995, the safety of much of the Sino-Hong Kong border was the responsibility of the British forces and as such contributed greatly to the interdiction of illegal immigrants (II). As the preparation of the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, that responsibility was passed on to the
Hong Kong Police
The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is the primary law enforcement, investigative agency, and largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. The Royal Hong Kong Police Force (RHKPF) reverted to its former name after the t ...
.
The
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
played a significant role in the support of the Royal Hong Kong Police in anti smuggling operation in Hong Kong waters, especially in the heyday of seaborne smuggling during the mid-1980s to mid-1990s.
Search and Rescue (SAR) was provided by all branches of the British Forces in Hong Kong may be called upon for aid to civil defence as well as search and rescue operations in times of emergency.
Prior to 1990–1991, British Forces (
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
) was responsible for patrolling and enforcing border control between Hong Kong and China. This role was passed on the
Hong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is the primary law enforcement, investigative agency, and largest Hong Kong Disciplined Services, disciplined service under the Security Bureau (Hong Kong), Security Bureau of Hong Kong. The Royal Hong Kong Po ...
years before the handover in 1997.
The territory has nevertheless maintained a
Government Flying Service
The Government Flying Service (GFS) is a disciplined unit and paramilitary flying organisation of the Government of Hong Kong.
The service has its head office in, and operates from, the southwestern end of Hong Kong International Airport at ...
, formerly the
Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF) was a Hong Kong Government department based in Hong Kong. It was formed as an air force in 1949 as part of the Hong Kong Defence Force. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the Uni ...
, that is responsible for search and rescue operations, air ambulance services, and other air services for the
Hong Kong Government
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, commonly known as the Hong Kong Government or HKSAR Government, refers to the Executive (government), executive authorities of Hong Kong Special administrative regions of China, ...
. The GFS also took over some responsibilities from the Royal Air Force and the Army Air Corps. The
Hong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is the primary law enforcement, investigative agency, and largest Hong Kong Disciplined Services, disciplined service under the Security Bureau (Hong Kong), Security Bureau of Hong Kong. The Royal Hong Kong Po ...
also has a highly trained and equipped counter terrorism unit, the
Special Duties Unit
The Special Duties Unit (SDU; ), nicknamed the "Flying Tigers" (), is the elite tactical unit of the Hong Kong Police Force tasked with countering terrorist attacks, hostage rescue, underwater search and recovery, and tackling serious crime i ...
, trained by United Kingdom's
SAS and
SBS, and a
Marine Police
Water police, also called harbor patrols, port police, marine/maritime police, nautical patrols, bay constables, river police, or maritime law enforcement or coastal police are police officers, usually a department of a larger police organizat ...
force. These forces have been heavily armed since before the handover in 1997, and are within the portfolio of the
Secretary for Security
The Secretary for Security is the member of the Government of Hong Kong in charge of the Security Bureau, which is responsible for public safety, security, and immigration matters.
The post was created in 1973 and since the Principal Offic ...
(which, before 1973, was named Secretary for Defence).
The
Fire Service Department also took over some diving rescue responsibilities from the British Forces Overseas.
The
Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers)
The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) (RHKR(V)) ()), formed in May 1854, was a local auxiliary militia force funded and administered by the colonial Government of Hong Kong. Its powers and duties were mandated by the Royal Hong Kong R ...
was disbanded in 1995 prior to the handover in 1997. It was funded by and was a branch of the Hong Kong Government, yet under command of the
Commander British Forces.
Structure in 1989
Command structure
The
Governor of Hong Kong
The governor of Hong Kong was the representative of the British Crown in Hong Kong from 1843 to 1997. In this capacity, the governor was president of the Executive Council and commander-in-chief of the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong. ...
, being a representative of the
British sovereign
The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional form of government by which a hereditary sovereign reigns as the head of state of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies (the Bailiwi ...
, was the Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in the colony. The Governor was advised by the
Commander British Forces in Hong Kong
The Commander British Forces in Hong Kong (CBF) was a senior British Army officer who acted as Military Advisor to the Governor of Hong Kong and was in charge of the Hong Kong British Forces. The officeholder of this post concurrently assumed the ...
(CBF) on all military actions. During the 1980s and 1990s, the CBF was normally a career Major General or Lieutenant General from the British Army. Until 1966, the CBF was an ex-officio member of the Legislative Council.
Throughout the years of British rule in Hong Kong, a variety of
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
units spent various periods of time in the colony as resident units. In latter stages of the post-war period, British army units were sent to Hong Kong on a rotational basis for a period of three years. The following list contains resident units only and those which stayed in Hong Kong for short durations for re-supply or acclimatisation during the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
,
Opium War
The First Opium War (), also known as the Opium War or the Anglo-Sino War was a series of military engagements fought between Britain and the Qing dynasty of China between 1839 and 1842. The immediate issue was the Chinese enforcement of the ...
,
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also known as the Boxer Uprising, the Boxer Insurrection, or the Yihetuan Movement, was an anti-foreign, anti-colonial, and anti-Christian uprising in China between 1899 and 1901, towards the end of the Qing dynasty, by ...
and the
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency, also known as the Anti–British National Liberation War was a guerrilla war fought in British Malaya between communist pro-independence fighters of the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA) and the military forces o ...
are not included in the list. The majority of infantry battalions were Ghurkas who were permanently based in Hong Kong after Indian partition.
British Army formations
Major formations of the
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
in Hong Kong included:
Second World War
* Headquarters,
China Command
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
(1939) - covered British military interests in: Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tientsin.
** Hong Kong Infantry Brigade (This was the primary British garrison in Hong Kong prior to and during the Second World War)
** Kowloon Infantry Brigade (This brigade was formed in 1941 after the garrison was reinforced)
**
C Force
"C" Force was the Canadian military contingent involved in the Battle of Hong Kong, in December 1941. Members of the force were the first Canadian soldiers to see action in World War II. The major Canadian units involved in the defence of Hon ...
- Canadian Army's reinforcement under British Command during the Battle of Hong Kong in 1941.
Cold War
*
40th Division (reformed in 1949, dispatched to Korea in 1950)
** 26th Gurkha Infantry Brigade (1948–1950)
**
27th Infantry Brigade (circa 1949)
**
28th Infantry Brigade (arrived in Hong Kong in 1949)
*
51st Infantry Brigade (established circa 1950, disbanded 1976)
*
48th Gurkha Infantry Brigade (1957–1976; renamed Gurkha Field Force 1976–97; returned to old title 1987-ca.1992)
British Army units
Royal Armoured Corps
* C Squadron,
The Royal Scots Greys (2 Dragoons)
The Royal Scots Greys was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1707 until 1971, when they amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards) to form the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.
The regiment's history began in 167 ...
, 19-09-1962–not known.
*
1st Royal Tank Regiment
The 1st Royal Tank Regiment (1 RTR) was an Armoured warfare, armoured regiment of the British Army. It is part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps and operationally under 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade (United Kingd ...
(1957–1960)''(C Sqn 1974–1976)''
*
3rd Royal Tank Regiment (1949-1950)
*
7th Royal Tank Regiment
The 7th Royal Tank Regiment (7th RTR) was an armoured regiment of the British Army from 1917 until disbandment in 1959.
History
The 7th Royal Tank Regiment was part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps. The regimen ...
(1952-1954)
*
4th Hussars
The 4th Queen's Own Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1685. It saw service for three centuries, including the First World War and the Second World War. It amalgamated with the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, to f ...
(1950)
*
7th Hussars (1954-1957)
*
16th/5th Lancers (A Sqn 1963–1964) (C Sqn 1973–1975)
*
14th/20th King's Hussars (1970–73)
*
17th/21st Lancers (Dec 1959–1960; C Sqn 1961–1962)
* B Squadron,
Life Guards (1967)
Infantry
*
28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot (circa late 1870s)
*
74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot (circa 1878)
* 1st Battalion,
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was an Irish line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1968. The regiment was formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot and the 108th Regiment o ...
(1881–1883; 1947–1948)
* 1st Battalion,
King's Shropshire Light Infantry
The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in the Childers Reforms of 1881, but with antecedents dating back to 1755. It served in the Second Boer War, World War I and World War II. In 196 ...
(1892–1894)
* 2nd Battalion,
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders or 79th (The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders) Regiment of Foot was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1793. It amalgamated with the Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Al ...
(1908–09)
* 2nd Battalion,
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1959.
The regiment was created on 1 July 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms, by the merger of the 32nd (Cornwall Light ...
(1914)
* 2nd Battalion,
Middlesex Regiment
The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1966. The regiment was formed, as the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), in 1881 as part of the Childers Re ...
(1917–18)
* 1st Battalion,
East Surrey Regiment
The East Surrey Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1959. The regiment was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot, the 70th ...
(1923–26)
* 2nd Battalion,
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards (SG) is one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. Its origins are as the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland. Its lineage can be traced back to 1642, although it was only placed on the ...
(1926–28)
* 2nd Battalion,
King's Own Scottish Borderers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSBs) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. On 28 March 2006 the regiment was amalgamated with the Royal Scots, the Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own ...
(1926–1930)
* 1st Battalion,
King's Own Scottish Borderers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSBs) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. On 28 March 2006 the regiment was amalgamated with the Royal Scots, the Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own ...
(1949-1951, May to August 1965)
* 1st Battalion,
South Wales Borderers
The South Wales Borderers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence for 280 years.
It came into existence in England in 1689, as Sir Edward Dering's Regiment of Foot, and afterwards had a variety of names and headquarters. In ...
(1930–1934; 1963–1966)
* 1st Battalion,
Royal Lincolnshire Regiment
The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army raised on 20 June 1685 as the Earl of Bath's Regiment for its first Colonel, John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath. In 1751, it was numbered like most other Army regimen ...
(1932–36)
* 1st Battalion,
Seaforth Highlanders
The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, mainly associated with large areas of the northern Highlands of Scotland. The regiment existed from 1881 to 1961, and saw servic ...
(1937–38)
* 1st Battalion,
Middlesex Regiment
The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1966. The regiment was formed, as the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), in 1881 as part of the Childers Re ...
(1937–1941; 1949–1950; 1951–1952)
* 2nd Battalion,
Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) (1938–41)
* 1st Battalion,
Devonshire Regiment
The Devonshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that served under various titles and served in many wars and conflicts from 1685 to 1958, such as the Second Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War. In 1958 ...
(1947)
* 1st Battalion,
King's Shropshire Light Infantry
The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in the Childers Reforms of 1881, but with antecedents dating back to 1755. It served in the Second Boer War, World War I and World War II. In 196 ...
(1949-1951)
* 1st Battalion,
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was a rifle regiment of the British Army, the only regiment of rifles amongst the Scottish regiments of infantry. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 26th Cameronian Reg ...
(1949-1950, Fan Ling)
* 1st Battalion,
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
(1949–50; 1951–52; 1979)
* 1st Battalion,
Royal Leicestershire Regiment
The Leicestershire Regiment (Royal Leicestershire Regiment after 1946) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, with a history going back to 1688. The regiment saw service for three centuries, in numerous wars and conflicts such as both W ...
, (1949-1951, Norwegian Farm Camp)
* 1st Battalion,
South Staffordshire Regiment
The South Staffordshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence for only 68 years. The regiment was created in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 38th (1st Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot an ...
, (1949-1951)
* 1st Battalion,
Wiltshire Regiment
The Wiltshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot and the 99th Duke of Edinburgh's (Lanarkshire) Regiment of Foot.
The ...
(1950–52)
* 1st Battalion,
Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Raised in 1674 as one of three 'English' units in the Dutch Anglo-Scots Brigade, it accompanied William III to England in the November 1688 Glorious Revolution an ...
(1951-1952; 1960–1962)
* 1st Battalion,
Royal Ulster Rifles
The Royal Irish Rifles (became the Royal Ulster Rifles from 1 January 1921) was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army, first created in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot and the 86th (Royal County ...
(1951-1954)
* 1st Battalion,
Dorset Regiment
The Dorset Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1958, being the county regiment of Dorset. Until 1951, it was formally called the Dorsetshire Regiment, although usually known as "The Dorsets". In 1 ...
(1952-1954)
* 1st Battalion, The
Welch Regiment
The Welch Regiment (or "The Welch", an archaic spelling of "Welsh") was an infantry regiment of the line of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1969. The regiment was created in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of ...
(1952-1954; 1966–1968)
* 1st Battalion,
Royal Norfolk Regiment
The Royal Norfolk Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army until 1959. Its predecessor regiment was raised in 1685 as Henry Cornwall's Regiment of Foot. In 1751, it was numbered like most other British Army regiments and named ...
(1952-1953, Norwegian Farm Camp)
* 1st Battalion,
King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army. It served under various titles and fought in many wars and conflicts, including both the First and the Second World Wars, from 1680 to 1959. In 1959, the r ...
(1954-1956, Beas Stable Camp)
* 1st Battalion,
North Staffordshire Regiment
The North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, which was in existence between 1881 and 1959. The 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot was created on 21 April 1758 from the 2nd Battali ...
(1954-1957)
* 1st Battalion,
Essex Regiment
The Essex Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1958. The regiment served in many conflicts such as the Second Boer War and both World War I and World War II, serving with distinction in all three. ...
(1954-1957, Dodswell Ridge Camp)
* 1st Battalion,
The Northamptonshire Regiment
The Northamptonshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1960. In 1960, it was amalgamated with the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment to form the 2nd East Anglian Regiment (Duchess of Gloucester's Ow ...
(1954-1957)
* 1st Battalion, The
Green Howards
The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment), frequently known as the Yorkshire Regiment until the 1920s, was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, in the King's Division. Raised in 1688, it served under vario ...
(1956–1959)
* 1st Battalion,
East Lancashire Regiment
The East Lancashire Regiment was, from 1881 to 1958, a line infantry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of Foot and 59th (2nd Nott ...
(1957-1958, amalgamated with The South Lancashire Regiment in HK to form The Lancashire Regiment.)
* 1st Battalion,
South Lancashire Regiment
The South Lancashire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1958.
The regiment, which recruited, as its title suggests, primarily from the South Lancashire area, was created as part of the Childers Ref ...
(1958, amalgamated with The East Lancashire Regiment in HK to form The Lancashire Regiment.)
* 1st Battalion,
Lancashire Regiment
The Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Volunteers) was an infantry regiment of the British Army that had a very short existence.
History
The regiment was formed, as a consequence of defence cuts instigated by the 1957 Defence White Paper, by ...
(1958-1961, formed in HK in 1958 with the amalgamation of The South Lancashire Regiment and The East Lancashire Regiment.)
* 1st Battalion,
Royal Warwickshire Regiment
The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, previously titled the 6th Regiment of Foot, was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in continuous existence for 283 years. The regiment saw service in many conflicts and wars, including the Second Boer War ...
(1960-1962)
* 1st Battalion,
Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment
The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army which existed from 1959 to 1966. In 1966, it was amalgamated with the Queen's Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment, the Royal Sussex Regiment and the Middlesex Regim ...
(1962–1964)
* 1st Battalion,
Durham Light Infantry
The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1968. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) and t ...
(1963-1965)
* 3rd Battalion,
Green Jackets (The Rifle Brigade) (February to June 1965, 4 month acclimatisation before Jungle Warfare School training in Malaya.)
* 1st Battalion,
Queen's Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment
The Queen's Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army from 1961 to 1966. Its lineage is continued by the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires).
History
The regiment was formed ...
(1965-1966, Gun Club Hill Barracks)
* 1st Battalion,
Royal Hampshire Regiment
The Hampshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot and the 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot. The reg ...
(1966; 1974–1976)
* 2nd Battalion,
Queen's Regiment
The Queen's Regiment (QUEENS) was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1966 through the amalgamation of the four regiments of the Home Counties Brigade. Then, until 1971 the regiment remained one of the largest regiments in the arm ...
(January to October, 1967, Gun Club Hill Barracks)
* 1st Battalion,
Lancashire Fusiliers
The Lancashire Fusiliers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that saw distinguished service through many years and wars, including the Second Boer War, the First and Second World Wars, and had many different titles throughout its 28 ...
(1967–69)
* 1st Battalion,
Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division.
In 1702, Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, was authorised to raise a new regiment, which he di ...
(1968–70)
* 1st Battalion,
Royal Welch Fusiliers
The Royal Welch Fusiliers ( cy, Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, and part of the Prince of Wales' Division, that was founded in 1689; shortly after the Glorious Revolution. In 1702, it was designated ...
(1969–1972)
* 1st Battalion,
Irish Guards
The Irish Guards (IG), is one of the Foot Guards regiments of the British Army and is part of the Guards Division. Together with the Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish infantry regiments in the British Army. The regiment has parti ...
(1970–72)
* 2nd Battalion,
Grenadier Guards
"Shamed be whoever thinks ill of it."
, colors =
, colors_label =
, march = Slow: " Scipio"
, mascot =
, equipment =
, equipment ...
(1975-1976, Stanley Fort)
* 1st Battalion,
Light Infantry
Light infantry refers to certain types of lightly equipped infantry throughout history. They have a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought ...
(1975–77)
* 1st Battalion,
Royal Green Jackets
The Royal Green Jackets (RGJ) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, one of two "large regiments" within the Light Division (the other being The Light Infantry).
History
The Royal Green Jackets was formed on 1 January 1966 by the amalgama ...
(1977–80)
*
1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment
The 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment (1 PARA), is a battalion of the British Army's Parachute Regiment. Along with various other regiments and corps from across the British Armed Forces, it is part of Special Forces Support Group.
A specia ...
(January to May 1980, 4 month emergency tour)
* 1st Battalion,
Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons)
The Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons), officially abbreviated "QO HLDRS," was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. It was in existence from 1961 to 1994.
History 1961–1970
The regiment was f ...
(1980–1981, Stanley Fort)
* 1st Battalion,
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards (SG) is one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. Its origins are as the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland. Its lineage can be traced back to 1642, although it was only placed on the ...
(1981–1984, Stanley Fort)
* 1st Battalion,
Cheshire Regiment
The Cheshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. The 22nd Regiment of Foot was raised by the Duke of Norfolk in 1689 and was able to boast an independent existence of over 300 years. T ...
(1984–1986, Stanley Fort)
* 1st Battalion,
Coldstream Guards
The Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously serving regular regiment in the British Army. As part of the Household Division, one of its principal roles is the protection of the monarchy; due to this, it often participates in state ceremonia ...
(1986–1988, Stanley Fort)
* 1st Battalion,
Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment (Berkshire & Wiltshire) (1988–1990, Stanley Fort)
* 1st Battalion,
Royal Regiment of Wales
The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was formed in 1969 by the amalgamation of the South Wales Borderers and the Welch Regiment. The 1st Battalion, Th ...
(1990–1992, Stanley Fort)
* 1st Battalion,
Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd Regiment of Foot, 42nd (Roy ...
(1993–1994, Stanley Fort; 1997)
* 1st Battalion,
Staffordshire Regiment
The Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales') (or simply "Staffords" for short) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. The regiment was formed in 1959 by the amalgamation of the South Staffordshire Reg ...
(1996-1997, Stanley Fort)
Gurkhas
* 1st Battalion,
2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (1971–75; 77–79; 81–85; 87–89; 91–92)
* 2nd Battalion, 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (1953–57; 57–62; 66–68; 72–75; 77–81; 83–85; 87–91)
* 1st Battalion,
6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles
The 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles was a rifle regiment of the British Indian Army, before being transferred to the British Army following India's independence. Originally raised in 1817 as part of the army of the British East India Compa ...
(1956–57; 65–73; 75–77; 79–83; 85–87; 89–93)
* 2nd Battalion, 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles (1948–50; 62–63; 1969 amalgamated with the 1st Bn.)
* 1st Battalion,
7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles
The 7th Gurkha Rifles was a rifle regiment of the British Indian Army, before being transferred to the British Army, following India's independence in 1947 and after 1959 designated as the 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles.
History
F ...
(1959–62; 73–77; 83–87; 89–91; 93–94)
* 2nd Battalion, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles (1954–57; 62–63; 62–70; disbanded in Hong Kong in 1987)
* 1st Battalion,
10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles
The 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles, (abbreviated to 10 GR), was originally a rifle regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment was formed in 1890, taking its lineage from a police unit and over the course of its existence it had ...
(1957–60; 69–73; 75–79; 81–83; 85–89; 91–93)
* 2nd Battalion, 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles (1948–50; 1962; amalgamated with 1st Bn. in 1968)
* 1st Battalion,
The Royal Gurkha Rifles
The Royal Gurkha Rifles (RGR) is a rifle regiment of the British Army, forming part of the Brigade of Gurkhas. Unlike other regiments in the British Army, RGR soldiers are recruited from Nepal, which is neither a dependent territory of the United ...
(1994–96)
British Indian Army
* 5th Battalion,
7th Rajput Regiment
7 (seven) is the natural number following 6 and preceding 8. It is the only prime number preceding a cube.
As an early prime number in the series of positive integers, the number seven has greatly symbolic associations in religion, mythology, s ...
(1941–45)
* 2nd Battalion,
14th Punjab Regiment
The 14th Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to the Pakistan Army on independence in 1947, and amalgamated with the 1st, 15th and 16th Punjab Regiments in 1956, to form the Punjab Reg ...
(1941–45)
*
Indian Hospital Corps
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asi ...
*
Indian Medical Service
The Indian Medical Service (IMS) was a military medical service in British India, which also had some civilian functions. It served during the two World Wars, and remained in existence until the independence of India in 1947. Many of its officer ...
*
Royal Indian Army Service Corps
The Indian Army Service Corps (IASC) is a corps and an arm of the Indian Army which handles its logistic support function. It is the oldest and the largest administrative service in the Indian Army. While the history of supply and transport serv ...
*
Hong Kong Mule Corps, RIASC Hong may refer to:
Places
*Høng, a town in Denmark
*Hong Kong, a city and a special administrative region in China
*Hong, Nigeria
*Hong River in China and Vietnam
*Lake Hong in China
Surnames
*Hong (Chinese name)
*Hong (Korean name)
Organiz ...
Artillery
* Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery (1847 to 1940s)
* 3rd Regiment
Royal Horse Artillery
The Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) was formed in 1793 as a distinct arm of the Royal Regiment of Artillery (commonly termed Royal Artillery) to provide horse artillery support to the cavalry units of the British Army. (Although the cavalry link ...
(1973–1975; Borneo Lines, Sek Kong)
* 4th Field Regiment, RA (1961-1964; HQ & 29 Bty at Fan Ling Camp, 88 Bty & 97 Bty at Dodwells Ridge Camp)
*
8th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery, Kowloon (1939 until captured by the Japanese in 1941)
* 5th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA, RAF Kai Tak (circa 1939)
* 5th Field Regiment, RA (1958–1961; at Fanling Camp & Dodwells Ridge Camp)
* 14th Field Regiment, RA (1949–1951 at Gun Club Hill Barracks & Sek Kong; 1953–1955 at Quarry Bay Camp; 1960–1962 at Sek Kong)
* 15th Observation Battery and 173rd Locating Battery 1950 at Lo Wu Camp
* 15th Medium Regiment, RA (1955–1957; 7 and 38 Med Btys at Gun Club Hill Barracks)
* 18th Medium Regiment, RA (1966-1969; 40 and 52 Lt Btys at Borneo Lines, Sek Kong. RHQ disbanded in Hong Kong and Regiment placed into Suspended Animation.)
* 19th Field Regiment, RA (1956–1958; 25, 28 and 67 Fd Btys at Quarry Bay Camp and Sek Kong Camps)
* 20th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA (1952; 1953–1955, with 12, 45 and 107 Fd Btys at Sek Kong Camp, 1975–1976; disbanded in HK in 1976)
* 23rd Field Regiment, RA (1949–1952; 49, 50 and 69 Fld Btys at Quarry Bay Camp)
* 25th Field Regiment, RA (1947–1955; 35, 54 and 93 Fld Btys at Gun Hill Club Barracks; 1969–1971 at Borneo Lines, Sek Kong)
* 27th Heavy Regiment, RA (1949-1957; Redesignated 27th HAA Regt RA in 1950; 119 Bty to 34th LAA Regt RA in 1952; at Clear Water Bay and Stonecutters Island.)
* 32nd Medium Regiment, RA (1952-1954,74 and 98 Med Btys at Gun Club Hill Barracks; 1959–1961, 46, 50 and 74 Med Btys at Whitfield Barracks & Gun Club Hill Barracks)
* 34th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (1949-1952; 1961–1963, 11 and 58 LAA Btys at Gun Club Hill Barracks)
* 42nd Field Regiment, RA (1955–1956, with 68, 87 and 179 Fld Btys at Sek Kong Camp)
* 45th Field Regiment, RA (1951–1953 with 70, 116 and 176 Fld Btys; 1959–1961)
* 47th Coast Regiment, RA (1971-1973 with 3, 4 Lt and 31 Med Btys at Borneo Lines, Sek Kong)
* 49th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA (1957-1961, with 55, 127 and 143 Fld Btys at Borneo Lines, Sek Kong; 1964–1966, with 143 Bty at Dodwells Ridge Camp)
* 58th Medium Regiment, RA (1949–1951; with 118 and 175 Med Btys at Gun Club Hill Barracks)
* 72nd Light Anti-Air Regiment, RA (1952–1955, with 31, 206 and 216 LAA Btys at Gun Club Hill Barracks)
* 74th Light Anti-Air Regiment, RA (1955–1958, with 158 and 161 LAA Btys at Whitfield Camp)
Engineers
Royal Engineers and Queen's Gurkha Engineers
* 1 Field Squadron,
* 22nd Fortress Company,
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is a corps of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces and is heade ...
(circa 1939)
* 40th Fortress Company,
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is a corps of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces and is heade ...
(circa 1939)
* 24 Field Engineer Regiment,
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is a corps of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces and is heade ...
** 11 Field Squadron, RE (1950-1951, Sek Kong, formed by renumbering 50 Fd Sqn 24 Field Engineer Regiment)
** 15 Field Park Squadron, RE (1950-1958, formed by renumbering 46 Fd Park Sqn)
** 50 Field Squadron, RE (1949-1950, for by renumbering 11 Field Squadron)
** 54 Independent Field Squadron, RE (1950-circa 1958, formed by renumbering 25 Fd Sqn)
** 54 (Hong Kong) Support Squadron, RE (1971 until disbandment in 1975)
** 56 Field Squadron, RE (1950-1958,formed by numbering 37 Field Squadron)
* Royal Engineers Postal and Courier Service (British Forces Post Box 1)
*
Queen's Gurkha Engineers
The 36 Engineer Regiment is a regiment of the Corps of Royal Engineers within the British Army. The regiment trace their history back to before World War II as 36 Army Engineer Regiment. The regiment today is a general support engineer regiment pr ...
(formed in HK in 1952 as 50th Regiment RE, renamed QGE in 1977)
** 67 Squadron, QGE(disbanded in 1996)
** 68 Squadron, QGE (disbanded in 1993)
** 69 Squadron, QGE (disbanded in HK in 1968 and reformed as 69 Gurkha Independent Field Squadron in Chatham)
** 70 Squadron, QGE (disbanded in 1993)
** Gurkha Training Squadron (disbanded in 1971)
Signals
Royal Signals and Queen's Gurkha Signals
* 27th Signal Regiment,
Royal Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communi ...
(embarked for Hong Kong in 1949 as the 40th Divisional Signal Regiment)
** Amalgamated with Hong Kong Signal Squadron to form Hong Kong Signal Regiment (1950)
** Redesignated 27th Signal Regiment (1959)
** Renamed HQ Royal Signals, Hong Kong (1960)
** Renamed 27th Signal Regiment (1971, disbanded in 1976))
* Hong Kong Independent Lines Squadron,
Royal Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communi ...
(circa 1958)
* Independent Gurkha Brigade Squadron (circa 1958)
* Gurkha Infantry Brigade Signal Squadron (circa 1959)
* Detachments, 19th Air Formation Signal Troop,
Royal Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communi ...
(circa 1959)
* Detachments, 232 Squadron,
Royal Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals (often simply known as the Royal Signals – abbreviated to R SIGNALS or R SIGS) is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communi ...
(circa 1959)
* HQ Royal Signals, Hong Kong (1960-1967)
** 252 Signal Squadron on the Hong Kong Island
** 253 Signal Squadron in Kowloon, repurposed as an engineering squadron in 1962
* Joint Services Signal Staff (1967-1997)
* 17th Gurkha Signal Regiment
*
Queen's Gurkha Signals
The Queen's Gurkha Signals (QG SIGNALS) is a regular unit of Royal Corps of Signals, one of the combat support arms of British Army. Together with the Queen's Gurkha Engineers, the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, a ...
** 247 Squadron, QGS (1964-1967 until disbandment in HK, reformed in HK 1983)
** 248 Squadron, QGS (1971-1976 until disbandment; reformed in 1971)
** Hong Kong Gurkha Signal Squadron (formed in 1994 with the amalgamation of 247 & 248 Sqns, disbanded in 1997.)
Support Units
*
Army Catering Corps
The Army Catering Corps (ACC) was a corps of the British Army, responsible for the feeding of all Army units. It was formed in 1941 and amalgamated into the Royal Logistic Corps in 1993.
History
In 1938 Leslie Hore-Belisha, the Secretary of St ...
*
Army Fire Service
The Army Fire Service (AFS), later called the Army Department Fire Service, was the fire service which performed firefighting duties on British Army camps. Its personnel were largely soldiers until 1959, when the fire service was civilianised. Un ...
* Army Legal Corps /
Army Legal Services Branch
The Army Legal Services Branch (ALS) is a branch of the Adjutant-General's Corps (AGC) in the British Army. Before 1992, the branch existed as the independent Army Legal Corps (ALC).
History
Many of the functions of the ALS were once carried ou ...
*
Army Air Corps Army Air Corps may refer to the following army aviation corps:
* Army Air Corps (United Kingdom), the army aviation element of the British Army
* Philippine Army Air Corps (1935–1941)
* United States Army Air Corps (1926–1942), or its p ...
** 20 Flight, AAC (Shatin and Sek Kong, 1960s)
**
No. 660 Squadron AAC
No. 660 Squadron AAC (660 Sqn) is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps (AAC). The squadron traces its lineage to a Royal Air Force squadron that existed during the Second World War. In the late 1950s the squadron's numerical was transf ...
,
Shek Kong
Shek Kong is an area north of Tai Mo Shan, located near Kam Tin and Pat Heung, in Yuen Long District, New Territories, Hong Kong.
Shek Kong Airfield is located in Shek Kong. A sizable Nepal Gurkha population is present in the area even after the ...
(1978–94)
*
Army Physical Training Corps
The Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC) is the British Army corps responsible for physical fitness and physical education and has been headquartered in Aldershot since its foundation in 1860. Its members are all Royal Army Physical Trainin ...
*
British Army Aid Group
The British Army Aid Group (B.A.A.G.) was a para-military organisation for British and Allied forces in southern China during the Second World War. The B.A.A.G. was officially classified in the British Army's order of battle as an MI9 unit ...
*
Government House
Government House is the name of many of the official residences of governors-general, governors and lieutenant-governors in the Commonwealth and the remaining colonies of the British Empire. The name is also used in some other countries.
Gover ...
Guard (C Company)
*
Gurkha Transport Regiment
** 28 & 31 Squadrons
*
Hong Kong Military Service Corps
The Hong Kong Military Service Corps (HKMSC) (Traditional Chinese: 香港軍事服務團) was a British army unit and part of the British garrison in Hong Kong (see British Forces Overseas Hong Kong). Throughout the history of Hong Kong, it has ...
(1962-1996)
**
Hong Kong Chinese Regiment
The Hong Kong Chinese Regiment (HKCR) was a regiment that was raised by the British Army shortly before the Battle of Hong Kong during World War II.
History
The idea of recruiting more local Hong Kong Chinese for the defence of the colony beg ...
(1941-1948)
**
Hong Kong Chinese Training Unit Hong may refer to:
Places
* Høng, a town in Denmark
*Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and specia ...
(1948-1962)
**
Hong Kong Information Team - an internal-security, anti-smuggling and anti-illegal immigration intelligence unit under the Hong Kong Military Service Corps with Locally Enlisted Personnel (LEPS) of Chinese descent drawn from a number of British Army units.
*
General List
The General Service Corps (GSC) is a corps of the British Army.
Role
The role of the corps is to provide specialists, who are usually on the Special List or General List. These lists were used in both World Wars for specialists and those not allo ...
/
General Service Corps
The General Service Corps (GSC) is a corps of the British Army.
Role
The role of the corps is to provide specialists, who are usually on the Special List or General List. These lists were used in both World Wars for specialists and those not allo ...
*
Intelligence Corps
*
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC; known as ''the QAs'') is the nursing branch of the British Army Medical Services.
History
Although an "official" nursing service was not established until 1881, the corps traces its heritage t ...
*
Royal Army Chaplains' Department
The Royal Army Chaplains' Department (RAChD) is an all-officer department that provides ordained clergy to minister to the British Army.
History
The Army Chaplains' Department (AChD) was formed by Royal Warrant of 23 September 1796; until the ...
*
Royal Army Dental Corps
The Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC) is a specialist corps in the British Army that provides dental health services to British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace. The corps is a part of the British Army's Army Medical Services.
...
*
Royal Army Education Corps
The Royal Army Educational Corps (RAEC) was a corps of the British Army tasked with educating and instructing personnel in a diverse range of skills. On 6 April 1992 it became the Educational and Training Services Branch (ETS) of the Adjutant Gene ...
** 75 Army Education Centre, 28 Army Education Centre, Victoria Army Education Centre
*
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
The Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) was a corps of the British Army. At its renaming as a Royal Corps in 1918 it was both a supply and repair corps. In the supply area it had responsibility for weapons, armoured vehicles and other military equip ...
** 6th Company, Royal Army Ordnance Corps (circa 1939)
** Sham Shui Po Ordnance Depot (est. 1946)
** 6 Forward Ordnance Depot, Kowloon Tong (1950; Renamed 6 Command Ordnance Depot in 1952 by combining 6 FOD and the Ammo Depot)
** Ordnance Depot Hong Kong (1960)
** Kai Tak Depot (est. 1966)
** Composite Ordnance Depot (est. 1966)
*
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all Army personnel and their families, in war and in peace. The RAMC, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the Royal Army Dental Corps a ...
/
British Military Hospital, Hong Kong
The British Military Hospital was a hospital in Hong Kong for the use of the British garrison. It was located at 10–12 Borrett Road from 1907 to 1967. It was built between 1903 and 1906, and officially opened on 1 July 1907.
Often referred ...
** 27 Hong Kong Company, Royal Army Medical Corps (circa 1939)
** BMH Bowen Road (1907-1967)
** BMH Hong Kong (Kowloon) (1967-1996)
** 18 Field Ambulance (circa 1950s to 1972)
*
Royal Army Pay Corps
The Royal Army Pay Corps (RAPC) was the corps of the British Army responsible for administering all financial matters. It was amalgamated into the Adjutant General's Corps in 1992.
History
The first "paymasters" have existed in the army before t ...
*
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) was a corps of the British Army responsible for land, coastal and lake transport, air despatch, barracks administration, the Army Fire Service, staffing headquarters' units, supply of food, water, fuel and dom ...
** 10 Company, RASC (circa 1939)
** 781 Company (Civil Affairs/GT), RASC (1945 until disbandment in 1946)
** 799 Company (AD), RASC (circa 1945)
** 3 Supply & Petroleum Depot, Argyle Street, Kowloon (1950s)
** 56 (Hong Kong) Company, RASC (1953-circa 1960s at Causeway Bay Camp; absorbed by 79th Company, RASC in early 1960s)
** 79 Company (Water Transport), RASC (circa 1946–1959; circa 1962; absorbed by 56th Company in early 1960s)
** 12 Hong Kong Company, RASC
*
Royal Army Veterinary Corps
The Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC), known as the Army Veterinary Corps (AVC) until it gained the royal prefix on 27 November 1918, is an administrative and operational branch of the British Army responsible for the provision, training and ca ...
** Defence Animal Support Unit
*
Royal Corps of Transport
The Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) was a British Army Corps established to manage all matters in relation to the transport of men and material for the Army and the wider Defence community. It was formed in 1965 and disbanded in 1993; its units and ...
and
Gurkha Transport Regiment / Queen's Own Gurkha Transport Regiment
** Detachment, 71 Movement Control Squadron, RCT (circa 1965)
** 31 Regiment, RCT (1968 until disbandment in 1976)
*** 29 Squadron, RCT (1965 until disbandment in 1993; Reduced to 414 Pack Transport Troop in 1968, reformed as a GT Sqn from the old island detachment of 56 Squadron the same year.)
*** 414 Pack Transport Troop, 29 Squadron, RCT (1968-1976; Lo Wu Camp)
*** 56 Squadron, RCT (disbanded in 1976, personnel absorbed by 29 Sqn RCT)
*** 415 Maritime Troop (est. 1970s, came under command Gurkha Transport Regiment in 1976)
** 28 Squadron, Gurkha Transport Regiment (from 28 Company (MT) (Gurkha) RASC; 1965–1993)
** 31 Squadron, Gurkha Transport Regiment (relocated from Singapore to Hong Kong in 1971, disbanded in 1993))
* Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
** 11 Infantry Workshop, REME (under 27 Infantry Brigade, circa 1949–1950 at Sek Kong)
** 16 Infantry Workshop (circa 1950 at Sek Kong)
** 17 Infantry Workshop (circa 1960s)
** 50 Command Workshop, (1960s-1994, at Sham Shui Po and Sek Kong)
** Light Aid Detachments to various Royal Artillery and Royal Armoured Corps units
*
Royal Hong Kong Regiment
The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) (RHKR(V)) ()), formed in May 1854, was a local auxiliary militia force funded and administered by the colonial Government of Hong Kong. Its powers and duties were mandated by the Royal Hong Kong R ...
** Hong Kong Volunteers (1854-1878)
** Hong Kong Artillery and Rifle Volunteer Corps (1978-1917)
** Hong Kong Defence Corps (1917-1941)
** Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps (1941-1949)
** Hong Kong Defence Force (United Kingdom), Hong Kong Defence Force (1949-1951) (included air and naval units)
** Royal Hong Kong Defence Force (1951-1961)
** Hong Kong Regiment (1961-1970) (repurposed from infantry to reconnaissance)
**
Royal Hong Kong Regiment
The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers) (RHKR(V)) ()), formed in May 1854, was a local auxiliary militia force funded and administered by the colonial Government of Hong Kong. Its powers and duties were mandated by the Royal Hong Kong R ...
(Volunteers) (1970-1995)
* Royal Logistic Corps
** Hong Kong Postal & Courier Squadron, RLC (1993 until disbandment)
* Royal Military Police
** 40th Infantry Division Provost Company
** Hong Kong Provost Company, RMP
* Women's Royal Army Corps
Installations
A list of
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
installations in Hong Kong:
* Bonham Tower Barracks
* Burma Lines - Queen's Hill Camp
* Cassino Lines – likely named for Battle of Monte Cassino from the World War II, Second World War
* Central Ordnance Munitions Depot
* Flagstaff House 1978 – former British Forces HQ and known as Headquarters House 1846–1932 and built for Major General George Charles D'Aguilar; now known as Museum of Teaware.
* Gallipoli Lines – Sha Tau Kok Road in Fanling, formerly San Wai Camp; San Wai/Tai Ling Range.
* Gin Drinkers Line 1930s
* Gun Club Hill Barracks – now PLA barracks
* Lo Wu Camp (now the Lo Wu Correctional Institution)
* Kohima Camp (Tai Po Tsai) – became the site of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
* Lo Wu Observation Post, Sha Tau Kok Observation Post, Sandy Ridge Observation Post and Tai O Observation Post.
* Lyemun Barracks or Lei Yue Mun Barracks 1840s – coast defence and now Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, Museum of Coastal Defence and Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village
* Murray Battery
* (Queen) Victoria Barracks, Hong Kong, Victoria Barracks 1846–1979 – parade grounds now site of Pacific Place (Hong Kong), Pacific Place, JW Marriott Hotel, Shangri-La Hotel and Hong Kong Park; the Barracks was converted to Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, The Visual Arts Centre (Hong Kong Museum of Art). Victoria Barracks consisted of:
** The Former Explosives Magazine complex, which is now part of the Asia Society Hong Kong Center.
** Cassels Block - Originally named Block C, the former barracks for married British officers. The building is now the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre. Likely named after Sir Robert Cassels, British Indian Army officer and Viceroy of India.
** Rawlinson House - the former residence of the Deputy Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong. Now a marriage registry. Two Warrant Officers' Married Quarters were integrated with it into a single building in the 1960s.
** Wavell House - former quarters for married British officers, converted in 1991 into the aviary support centre (Education Centre).
** Montgomery Block - currently home to Mother's Choice Limited.
** Roberts Block - now the Jockey Club New Life Hostel of the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.
** Alexander Block - Demolished.
** Birdwood Block - married officers' quarters, Demolished.
** Colvin Block - used by the Women's Royal Army Corps, now the site of the British Council and British Consulate-General complex.
** Freyberg Block - was HQ Intelligence Services. Demolished.
** Gort Block - living quarters. Demolished.
** Hamilton Block - returned to the Hong Kong Government in 1967. Demolished.
** Kitchener Block - accommodation for school teachers. Demolished.
** Queen's Line - now Ching Yi To Barracks of the People's Liberation Army.
* North Barracks 1840s–1887 – to the RN 1887–1959 and Hong Kong Government 1959–
* Murray Barracks 1846–1982 – named for
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
Major-General George Murray (British Army officer), Sir George Murray; the officers' quarters was moved from Central, Hong Kong, Central to Stanley, Hong Kong, Stanley, now known as Murray House
* Osborn Barracks (Kowloon) 1945 – named for Winnipeg Grenadiers Company Sergeant Major John Robert Osborn VC of Canada who died in defending Hong Kong in 1941.
* Perowne Barracks (Tuen Mun) – established in 1931 as the Tai Lam Camp. Named for British Army Major General Lancelot Perowne and once used by Tuen Mun Immigration Service Training School, now used by Crossroads International
* Sek Kong Barracks
** Headquarters 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade
** Training Depot Brigade of Gurkhas (TDBG)
** Borneo Lines
** Malaya Lines
** British Forces Broadcasting Service
** Services Sound and Vision Corporation
* Sham Shui Po Barracks – has been WWII Japanese War Prison, Vietnamese Refugee Camp and now housing estates, commercial centre and government offices.
* Saiwan Barracks 1844 – used for a short duration and abandoned for Lyemun Barracks.
* Sai Wan War Cemetery
* Stanley Military Cemetery
* Stanley Fort (Hong Kong Island) 1841 – later served as Stanley Prison and WWII Japanese War Prison.
* Wellington Barracks, Hong Kong, Wellington Barracks 1840s–1946 – to the RN as HMS Tamar (shore station), HMS ''Tamar'' 1946–1960s (demolished and replaced with HMS Tamar/Prince of Wales Building, now the Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building)
* Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes
Royal Navy / Royal Marines
The
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
and
Royal Marines
The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The Corps of Royal Marine ...
was stationed in Hong Kong right from the beginning of the establishment of Hong Kong as a British Colony. For the most part, the Royal Naval base was located in Hong Kong Island at HMS Tamar (shore station), HMS ''Tamar''. The Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building, Prince of Wales Building was added later in the 1970s. Before the handover, the naval base was moved to Stonecutters Island next to the Government docks.
RN and RFA ships visited or posted to Hong Kong prior to the Second World War:
* (1841)
* (circa 1841)
* (circa 1847)
* (circa 1858)
* (circa 1871)
* (circa 1873)
* (circa 1897)
* (circa 1901)
* (circa 1901)
* (circa 1901)
* (circa 1901)
* (circa 1901)
* (circa 1901)
* (circa 1901)
* (circa 1901)
* (circa 1901)
* (circa 1901)
* (circa 1901)
* (circa 1901)
* (circa 1901)
* (1904)
* (1905)
* (1906)
* (circa 1901; sold in Hong Kong in 1916)
* (circa 1914)
* (circa 1914)
* (1920–26)
* (1927)
* (circa 1939) (transferred to Singapore before the Battle of Hong Kong)
RN ships and land units in Hong Kong during the Second World War:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* Royal Naval Dockyard Police
* Hong Kong Dockyard Defence Corps
Auxiliary Patrol Vessels in Hong Kong during the Second World War:
* APV ''Britannia''
* APV ''Chun Hsing''
* APV ''Frosty''
* APV ''Han Wo''
* APV ''Ho Hsing''
* APV ''Henriette''
* APV ''Indira''
* APV ''Margaret''
* APV ''Minnie''
* APV ''Perla''
* APV ''Poseidon''
* APV ''Shun Wo''
*
*
* APV ''Stanley''
* APV ''Teh Hsing''
RN formations and units in Hong Kong (Post-Second World War):
* China Squadron 1844–1941, 1945–1992
* 3rd Frigate Squadron (1949 to 1963; 1972 to 1980)
* Far East Fleet / Hong Kong Squadron 1969–1971
* Dragon Squadron 1971–1992
* Hong Kong Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves 1967–1996 – merge with RNR 1971
* Side Girls Party 1933–1997
* 120th Minesweeping Squadron 1958–1966 – transfer to Singapore
* 6th Mine Countermeasure Squadron 1969–1997
* 6th Patrol Craft Squadron 1970–1997
* Operations and Training Base 1934–1997
* British Pacific Fleet 1840s–1948 – to Singapore as Far East Station
* Hong Kong Flotilla 1840s–1941, 1948–1992
* China Station – 4th Submarine Flotilla, Yangtse Flotilla, West River Flotilla, 8th Destroyer Flotilla
* 5th Cruiser Squadron
* 1st Escort Flotilla
* 4th Frigate Flotilla ?-1952
* Frigate Squadron 1952–1976
* Light Cruiser Squadron
RN and RFA ships visited or posted to Hong Kong after the Second World War:
* (1945)
* (1948)
* (circa 1951)
* (1952)
* (circa 1954)
* (1961; 1963)
* (circa 1963)
* (circa 1963)
* (circa 1963)
* (1964)
* (circa 1974)
* (circa 1973–1976)
* (circa 1980)
* (1992)
* (1992)
* (1997)
* (1986; 1990; 1997)
* (1997)
Royal Marines:
* 40 Commando, 3 Commando Brigade, RM (1946–47; 1949; 1962)
* 42 Commando, 3 Commando Brigade, RM (1945; 1949)
* 44 Commando, 3 Commando Brigade, RM (1945-1947; redesignated 40 Commando in 1947)
* 45 Commando, 3 Commando Brigade, RM (1946-1947; 1949–1950)
* No. 3 Raiding Squadron, RM (1978-1988)
* 47 Royal Marines
A list of naval facilities used or built by the RN in Hong Kong:
* Stonecutters Island
** Royal Navy Radio Interception and Direction-finding Station (est. 1935)
** HQ 415 Maritime Troop, Royal Corps of Transport
* Prince of Wales Building 1978–1997 – known as Chinese People's Liberation Army Forces Hong Kong Building, Central Barracks of the People's Liberation Army, PLA
* Lamont and Hope Drydocks
* Aberdeen, Hong Kong, Aberdeen Docks – destroyed
* Dry Dock 1902–1959
* Taikoo Dockyard – Hong Kong United Dockyards
* Royal Navy Dockyards, Admiralty, Hong Kong, Admiralty 1859–1902
* Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock, Royal Navy Dockyards 1902–1959 – Kowloon Dockyard not part of Hung Hom area.
* RN Coal storage yard, Stonecutters Island 1861–1959
* RN Coal storage yard and Kowloon Naval Dockyards 1901–1959
* Sai Wan Barracks 1844–1846
* Wellington Barracks 1946–1978 – as HMS ''Tamar'' (demolished)
* North Barracks 1850s–1856, 1887–1959 – from the Army and to HK Government 1959
* Victoria Barracks, Hong Kong, Victoria Barracks
* Redoubt and Lei Yue Mun Fortifications 1885–1887
* Lei Yue Mun Fort 1887–1987
* Reverse, Central, West and Pass Batteries 1880s
* Brennan Torpedo station 1890 – Lei Yue Mun
* Royal Naval Hospital, Wan Chai – demolished, now replaced by Ruttonjee Hospital
* Seaman's Hospital 1843–1873 – replaced by Royal Naval Hospital
* 1945–1946 – as a hospital ship
* War Memorial Hospital (Matilda) 1946–1959
* British Military Hospital, Hong Kong, British Military Hospital 1959–1995
* Island Group Practice 1995–1997 – replace BMH
* and – Receiving Ships
* Tidal Basin 1902–1959
* Boat Basin 1902–1959
* HM Victualling Yards 1859–1946
A list of facilities used or built by the RN in Hong Kong:
* Lamont and Hope Drydocks
* Aberdeen Docks
* Royal Naval Hospital, Wan Chai – now Ruttonjee Sanatorium
* Seaman's Hospital 1843–1873 – replaced by Royal Naval Hospital
* and – Receiving Ships
* – Receiving ship 1897–1941
* HMS ''Nabcatcher'' – Kai Tak 1945–1946
* – Kai Tak 1947
* 1841-mid-1840s – hospital ship
* 1840s–1865 – hospital ship
* 1860s–1873 – hospital ship (East Indies Sqdn)
Royal Air Force
The
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
was the smallest contingent of the British Forces and was stationed in both Kai Tak Airport as well as the airfield in the New Territories known as Sek Kong.
No. 28 Squadron RAF, No. 28 (AC) Squadron and the larger Royal Air Force infrastructure located to RAF Sek Kong in the late 1970s leaving Royal Air Force logistics elements to maintain operations at Kai Tak, e.g. RAF movers and suppliers remained to maintain the logistical link between RAF Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. The squadron flew up to 8 Westland Wessex HC Mk 2 helicopters from RAF Sek Kong. Tasks included support of the civil power, support of the British Forces and search and rescue.
About 20 years later, RAF personnel returned from Sek Kong to Kai Tak, mounting operations from that airport in the months prior to the 1997 handover.
In addition, the Hong Kong Government also maintained an "airforce". This airforce as per the land unit of RHKR (V), was an arm of the Hong Kong Government, supported by RAF personnel seconded to serve in the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force.
Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF) was a Hong Kong Government department based in Hong Kong. It was formed as an air force in 1949 as part of the Hong Kong Defence Force. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the Uni ...
1970–1993 – handed over to GFS
* Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps – Air Arm 1930–1949
* Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force 1949–1970 – see RHKAAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
units which visited or were stationed in Hong Kong included:
* No. 681 Squadron RAF (September–December 1945)
* No. 1331 Wing RAF Regiment (circa 1946)
* No. 96 Squadron RAF (1946)
* No. 1430 (Flying Boat Transport) Flight RAF (1946)
* Japan Force Communications Flight RAF (circa 1946)
* No. 132 Squadron RAF (1945-1946)
* No. 200 Staging Post RAF (1945-1946)
* No. 215 Squadron RAF, No. 215 Squadron (Transport) (1945–1946)
* Hong Kong Communication Flight Squadron RAF (1945-1947)
* No. 88 Squadron RAF (1946-1951)
* No. 209 Squadron RAF, No. 209 Squadron (Maritime Patrol) (1946–1955)
* No. 110 Squadron RAF (1947)
* No. 81 Squadron RAF (1947-1958)
* No. 1903 Air Observation Post Flight RAF, No. 1903 Flight RAF and No. 656 Squadron RAF (1948-1949)
* No. 28 Squadron RAF(1949-1951; 1955; 1957- 1967; 1968–1978; 1996–1997)
* No. 80 Squadron RAF (1949-1955) with Supermarine Spitfire F.24 & de Havilland Hornet F.3
* No. 205 Squadron RAF, No. 205 Squadron (Maritime Reconnaissance) (1949–1958)
*
Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (RHKAAF) was a Hong Kong Government department based in Hong Kong. It was formed as an air force in 1949 as part of the Hong Kong Defence Force. In preparation for the transfer of sovereignty from the Uni ...
(1949-1993)
* Hong Kong Auxiliary Flight (1949-1950)
* Hong Kong Auxiliary Squadron (1950-1953)
* Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force Wing (circa 1953)
* Hong Kong Fighter Squadron (circa 1953)
* No. 60 Squadron RAF (1961-1968)
* 846 Naval Air Squadron, No. 846 Squadron FAA (1963–1964) (RAF Kai Tak)
* No. 103 Squadron RAF (1963-1969)
* No. 110 Squadron RAF (1964-1969)
* No. 45 Squadron RAF, No. 45 Squadron (Bomber) (1965–1970)
* 847 Naval Air Squadron, No. 847 Squadron FAA (1970) (RAF Kai Tak)
* No. 41 Squadron RAF (1973; McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service jets)
* No. 22 Squadron RAF, No. 22 Squadron (Anti-shipping patrol), 1996–1997
* RAF Police
* No. 60 Squadron RAF, No. 60 Squadron
* No. 681 Squadron RAF, No. 681 Squadron (Photo Reconnaissance)
* No. 114 Squadron RAF, 114th (Hong Kong) Squadron RAF
* No. 367 Wireless Unit
* No. 368 Wireless Unit
* No. 117 Signals Unit (Tai Mo Shan), w.e.f. January 1959 when it was relocated from Mount Davis (West end of Hong Kong Island)
* ASF (Catering Squadron)
* GEF (Ground Radio)
* Medical Supply Squadron
* No. 444 Signals Unit (Stanley Fort), 1971 to 1977
Sources indicate that 444 Signals Unit (SU) formed officially within No. 90 (Signals) Group RAF, Strike Command with effect from 16 August 1971, and was established as a lodger unit at Stanley Fort, Hong Kong. The primary role of 444 SU was to act as a ground station for the Skynet satellite communications system, responsibility for operating the Skynet system having been vested in the RAF in the late 1960s, under the Rationalisation of Inter Services Telecommunications (RISTACOM) agreement. It would appear that the equipment operated by 444 SU had been located previously at RAF Bahrain (HMS Jufair).
On 1 May 1972, No. 90 (Signals) Group was transferred from RAF Strike Command to RAF Maintenance Command and as a consequence 444 SU became a Maintenance Command unit on this date. On 31 August 1973, both 90 (Signals) Group and Maintenance Command were disbanded, to be replaced on the following day by the new RAF Support Command. All of the units and locations previously controlled by the disbanded formations were transferred to Support Command with effect from 1 September 1973 and 444 SU therefore became a Support Command unit. This was to prove short-lived, however, for on 1 November 1973, 444 SU and the unit responsible for maintaining the Skynet ground station at RAF Gan – 6 SU – were both transferred to the command of the Air Officer Commanding in Chief Near East Air Force (Royal Air Force), Near East Air Force (NEAF). At this time 444 SU and 6 SU formed part of the Defence Communications Network (DCN) and the DCN elements of both units came under the functional control of the Controller DCN, Ministry of Defence.
On 1 August 1975, administrative and engineering responsibility for all of the units of RAF Hong Kong, including 444 SU, were transferred from NEAF to RAF Strike Command – functional control of these units being retained by the Vice Chief of the Air Staff via Commander RAF Hong Kong. Subsequently, with the disbandment of HQ NEAF on 31 March 1976, control of RAF Hong Kong and its component units were transferred in total to Strike Command. On 28 March 1976, RAF Gan closed and 6 SU disbanded formally on the same date, the latter's satellite communications equipment being transferred to 444 SU.
444SU was hosted at Stanley Fort by the British Army.
Sources indicate that 444 SU disbanded on the 31 December 1977.
* Composite Signals Unit
A list of Royal Air Force, RAF Stations in Hong Kong:
* RAF North Point (Hong Kong)
* RAF Little Sai Wan
* RAF Mount Davis home of 117 Signals Unit relocated 1959 (without living accommodation) to RAF Tai Mo Shan
*Sha Tin Airfield, RAF Sha Tin – (no ICAO code) from 1949-1970s. Severely damaged by Typhoon Wanda (1962), Typhoon Wanda in 1962. Demolished to make way for Sha Tin New Town.
* Shek Kong Airfield, RAF Sek Kong – (VHSK) served as Vietnamese Detention Centre 1980s
* RAF Kai Tak – (VHKT) later as Kai Tak International Airport
A list of
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
operations facilities:
* Tai Po Tsai
* Cape Collinson
* Batty's Belvedere
* Kong Wei, RAF Sek Kong
* Chung Hom Kok
* Wang Fung Terrace, Tai Hang (Happy Valley, Hong Kong, Happy Valley)
Search and rescue operations conducted by the RAF and
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
were later transferred to the
Government Flying Service
The Government Flying Service (GFS) is a disciplined unit and paramilitary flying organisation of the Government of Hong Kong.
The service has its head office in, and operates from, the southwestern end of Hong Kong International Airport at ...
(GFS).
Other facilities
*
British Military Hospital, Hong Kong
The British Military Hospital was a hospital in Hong Kong for the use of the British garrison. It was located at 10–12 Borrett Road from 1907 to 1967. It was built between 1903 and 1906, and officially opened on 1 July 1907.
Often referred ...
* Medical centres at Victoria Barracks, Lyemun Barracks, Stanley Fort, Whitfield Barracks, Sham Shui Po, Choy Hung, MRS Sek Kong and Lo Wu.
* British Forces Broadcasting Service
* Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI)
* Blackdown Barracks, Hong Kong (彩虹軍營) – near Kai Tak; now is Rhythm Garden (采頤花園), car park building, and Canossa Primary School.
* Mount Austin Barracks – near Peak Tram terminus at Victoria Peak
* Royal Hong Kong Regimental Headquarters near Happy Valley – demolished 1995
China Fleet Club
Hong Kong became an important port of call for many naval ships passing through the Far East. Besides Lan Kwai Fong, Royal Navy sailors had their own entertainment facility called the "China Fleet Club".
A timeline of the China Fleet Club:
* 1900–1903 local Hong Kong businessman and Royal Navy's China Fleet to raise funds for a Royal Naval Canteen at Naval Docks, Hong Kong
* 1929 old canteen building demolished and replaced with new building
* 1929–1934 Temporary CFC at Gloucester Road
* 1933 cornerstone laid by Admiral Sir Howard Kelly (Royal Navy officer), Howard Kelly, G.B.E., K.C.B., C.M.G., M.V.O., then Commander-in-Chief, China Station;
new seven-storey China Fleet Club building called "The Old Blue"
* 1941–1945 CFC serves as Japanese Naval HQ in Hong Kong during the Second World War
* 1945 CFC re-occupied by RN
* 1952 Coronation Annex added
* 1982, 16 July The Final Demolition Party held in Club before move to Sun Hung Kai
* 1982–1985 CFC relocated to temporary site at Sun Hung Kai Centre
* 1985 25-storey Fleet House new home for CFC
* 1986 Plans to relocate CFC to UK begins
* 1989 Construction of China Fleet Country Club in Saltash begins
* 1991 Construction of China Fleet Country Club in Saltash completed and opens in June
* 1992 CFC in Hong Kong closes
See also
*People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison
*Military of Macau under Portuguese rule
*Hong Kong Defence Force (Imperial Japanese Army)
References
Citations
Bibliography
* Alderson, G.L.D. ''History of Royal Air Force Kai Tak.'' Hong Kong: Royal Air Force Kai Tak, 1972.
* Bruce, Philip. ''Second to None''. Hong Kong: Oxford University Press, 1991.
* Cracknell, Philip. ''Battle for Hong Kong, December 1941.'' Chelford: Amberley Publishing, 2019.
* Craig, Neil & Craig, Jo. ''Black Watch, Red Dawn: The Hong Kong Handover to China Hardcover.'' London: Brasseys, 1998.
*
* Felton, Mark. ''China Station: British Military in the Middle Kingdom 1839-1997.'' Barnsley: Pen & Sword, 2013.
* Gregorian, Raffi. ''The British Army, the Gurkhas and Cold War strategy in the Far East, 1947–19''54. New York : Palgrave, 2002.
*
* Jeffreys, Alan. ''The British Army in the Far East 1941-45.'' Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2005.
* Ko, Tim-keung, et al. ed. ''Serving Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Volunteers.'' Hong Kong: Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, 2004.
* Kwong, Chi Man & Tsoi, Yiu Lun. ''Eastern Fortress: A Military History of Hong Kong, 1840–1970.'' Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong Press, 2014.
* Lord, Cliff & Watson, Graham. ''The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps (1920-2001) and its Antecedents.'' West Midlands: Helion & Company, 2003.
* Melson, P.J. ''White Ensign Red Dragon: The History of the Royal Navy in Hong Kong 1841–1997''. Hong Kong: Edinburgh Financial Publishing, 1997.
* National Museum of the Royal Navy. ''The Royal Marines and Hong Kong: Over 150 Years from 1840 to 1997.'' Portsmouth: Royal Marines Historical Society Special Publication Number 19, 1997.
* Oxley, D.H. ''Victoria Barracks, 1842–1979.'' Hong Kong: British Forces Hong Kong, 1979.
* Parkinson, Jonathan. ''The Royal Navy, China Station: 1864 - 1941: As seen through the lives of the Commanders in Chief.'' Leicestershire: Matador, 2018.
* Richardson, Sam S. ''The Royal Marines and Hong Kong, 1840–1997.'' Portsmouth: Royal Marines Historical Society, 1997.
* Rollo, Denis. ''The Guns & Gunners of Hong Kong''. Hong Kong: The Gunners' Roll of Hong Kong, 1991.
Further reading
*
External links
*
China Fleet ClubRAF Kai TakRoyal Hong Kong Regiment The Volunteers AssociationStanley FortHong Kong Gunners AssociationRAF Chinese Linguists in Hong Kong
{{British infantry brigades of the Second World War
Hong Kong and the Commonwealth of Nations
Military of Hong Kong under British rule
19th-century military history of the United Kingdom
20th-century military history of the United Kingdom
British Armed Forces deployments
Joint commands of the United Kingdom
Military units and formations disestablished in 1997