The Volunteer Corps of the Colony
The "Ceylon Rifles" were raised in 1865, and disbanded in 1873, owing to the impossibility of obtaining a sufficient number of recruits. The second phase in the employment of non-British personnel commenced in 1861 with the enactment of an Ordinance designed to authorise a Volunteer Corps in the Colony. The Corps so formed was designated the Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers (CLIV) and marked the commencement of the Volunteer movement in Ceylon. Formation of such a corps compensated for the void created by the disbandment of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment in 1874.
Ceylon, out of her small force, yielded valuable aid to India in repressing the mutiny of 1857, and Colombo was found a convenient depot for the dispatch of troops with reference to wars in China, New Zealand, Egypt, and South Africa, for which parts regiments were taken from Ceylon.
Although the 1861 Ordinance provided for the establishment of Volunteer corps, it remained inoperative till the raising of the "Ceylon Light Infantry" in 1881. The Ceylon Volunteers were first enrolled in 1881 as the "Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers" during the temporary administration as Lieutenant-Governor of the late Sir John Douglas. The enrolment of members proceeded at a rapid rate, in spite of the prejudices of race and color which prevail to a somewhat unusual extent in the island, and by the end of the year the corps had attained a strength of 40 officers and 1,200 NCO's and men.
In 1885 Ceylon had a very efficient volunteer regiment — the Ceylon Light Infantry Corps, which in 1885 numbered 930, including officers. Like the police, this force was composed of representatives of all the nationalities on the Isle, namely, 200 British-born, 454 Eurasians, 86 Malays, 53 Tamils, 107 Singhalese, and 33 others. The headquarters of the force were at Colombo, but companies were stationed at Kandy, Badulla, and Kurunegalla.
By 1887 the Kandyans, equally with the rest of the population of Ceylon, were loyal, contented, and pacific, so that the small military force (about 1,000 infantry and artillery) which the colony supported was scarcely required, since about 760 volunteers (Ceylon Light Infantry) and a strong body (1,500) of police are more than sufficient for the repression of any possible internal disturbance (religious or rice riots the only public form experienced), and it was believed for repelling (with the artillery), what was deemed impossible, sudden piratical attack.
Garrison Artillery Volunteers were organised in 1888, and mounted infantry, cyclists, and a bearer company had been formed afterwards. In 1900 Rifle Corps were raised, in order to provide a force well trained in the use of the rifle, and having an elementary knowledge of drill. A mounted infantry contingent of 8 officers and 122 men was raised in the Colony early in 1900, and rendered good service during the early part of the war in South Africa.
The Volunteer movement in Sri Lanka received great support from the mercantile community. The CLIV was originally administered as a single unit. With the passing of the years various sections of the volunteers grew large enough to have a separate existence of their own, away from the parent unit. So there came into existence the different units of the Volunteer Force namely, Ceylon Artillery Volunteers, Ceylon Mounted Infantry (CMI), Ceylon Volunteer Medical Corps, the Cadet Battalion Ceylon Light Infantry, the Ceylon Engineers, Ceylon Supply & Transport Corps and, the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps (CPRC).
By 1905 the Parade Ground in central Colombo, once that of the Ceylon Rifles (a Malay and Kaffir regiment disbanded in 1873), was one of the few open spaces in Colombo available for recreation. What were once the barracks for the single men of that regiment, and more recently the Slave Island prison (a branch of the Colombo Convict Establishment), had been made the Volunteer Head Quarters. They included residences for two Sergeant-Majors and a Quartermaster Sergeant, quarters for the Band, and the Armory of the Colombo Company of the Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps. The more ornate buildings to the left of the prison were the Military Head Quarters, containing the offices of the General, Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General, Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, Army Service Corps, Medical, Ordnance, and Pay Departments.
All told, by 1905 they numbered nearly 2,000 (exclusive of 500 in the Cadet Corps), and cost in 1904 Rs. 268,952. H. M. the King is Colonel-in-Chief. Ceylon in 1902 furnished a contingent of 132 Mounted Infantry for service in the war in South Africa; though few in number, they received high commendation from both Earl Roberts and Lord Kitchener. In 1890 a Planters' Rifle Corps was started in the Planting Districts — the men enrolled numbering about 800; and this corps furnished a second contingent for South Africa. Both these corps were composed exclusively of Europeans, and in recognition of their participation in foreign service were the proud possessors of colors presented by the King. In memory of those who fell in the Boer War, a fine equestrian bronze statue, by Miss G. Blake (provided by public subscription) was erected in Kandy.
The total military expenditure of the year 1906 was Rs. 2,504,390'38, the Colonial contribution (9£ per cent, on the revenue) for regular troops amounting to Rs. 2,164,468'75 and the volunteer expenditure to Rs. 244,000'45. The balance was spent on military buildings, &c. The total strength of the volunteers on December 31, 1905, was 2,062, of whom 1,821 were classed as efficient. The numbers in the various Corps were:—Ceylon Light Infantry 1,077, Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps 594, Ceylon Mounted Infantry 135, Artillery Volunteers 129, Volunteer Medical Corps 67, Band 39, and Permanent Skiff 21. The number of boys in the Cadet Battalion of the Ceylon Light Infantry was 417. At the Annual Camp of Instruction, held at Diyatalawa from July 6th to 15th, 1,531 volunteers of all arms attended.
In 1910, the name of the Force was changed to Ceylon Defence Force (CDF). Throughout the years between two world wars, the CDF continued to flourish and went on training against the day when it would be called upon to fulfill its purpose. The CDF saw active service when a contingent of CMI in 1900, and a contingent of CPRC in 1902, took part in the Boer War in South Africa. Their valuable services were recognised by presentation, in 1902 of a colour to the CMI, and a presentation in 1904, of a Banner to the CPRC. In 1922, the CDF was once again honoured by the presentation of the King's and Regimental colours to the Ceylon Light Infantry.
During the 1914-18 war, many volunteers from the Defence Force found their way to England and joined the British Army, and many of them laid down their lives. In 1939, the CDF was mobilized on the outbreak of World War II and an enormous expansion took place which included the raising of new units such as the Post and Telegraph Signals, the Ceylon Railway Engineer Corps, the Ceylon Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Corps, the Auxiliary Territorial Service (Ceylon), the Ceylon Corps of Military Police, and the Ceylon Signals Corps and the Colombo Town Guard Unit, which had been disbanded earlier, was once again raised.
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