Penang and Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps

The Penang and Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps (Abbr.: P&PWVC), also known as Penang Volunteer Corps and Penang Volunteer Rifle was a militia unit in Malaya. It was established on 1 March 1861 and together with Singapore Volunteer Corps and Malacca Volunteer Corps, they were a part of the Crown Colony of the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force (SSVF). The Penang Volunteer Rifle was the 3rd Battalion SSVF while Singapore is 1st and 2nd Battalion SSVF and Malacca was the 4th Battalion SSVF.[3] After the expulsion of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965, the Penang Volunteer Rifle became the oldest military unit established in Malaysia.

Penang and Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps
The Badge of Penang Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps
Active1 March 1861–1879;
1889–15 February 1942
Country Straits Settlements (now a part of Malaysia)
AllegianceBritish monarchy, allied forces
Branch Volunteer Reserves
TypeRifle infantry
RoleInfantry
Size1 battalion
Part ofStraits Settlements Volunteer Force
Garrison/HQGeorge Town, Penang
Mascot(s)Scottish highland bull
EngagementsWorld War I

World War II

Commanders
Notable
commanders		Lieutenant Colonel George Douglas Alexander Fletcher OBE MC[1][2]

History

The British were facing their biggest conflict of 19th and early 20th Century – the Crimean War. As a part of the Crown Colony, this led to enrolment of the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps in 1854 (Hong Kong Volunteer Corps was also established at the same time) thus forming the SSVF. The SSVF later expanded to other Straits Settlements territories including Penang, Malacca and Labuan, and on 1 March 1861, the Penang and the Province Wellesley Volunteer Rifle was formed.[3] In 1879, the Penang and the Province Wellesley Volunteer Rifle was disbanded and later revived back as the Penang and Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps in 1899, thanks to the effort of three Penang residents, Dr Brown, M.L.C. and Mr P. Kennedy, then President of the Penang Municipal Commissioners.[4] In the beginning, Penang Volunteer Rifle and other units in the SSVF is a fully European military unit. They did not accept other races into the unit until 1899 for Penang battalion and 1901 for Singapore battalions.[5]

British once again facing another conflict which is the Boer War of 1899-1902. This further stimulated the volunteer movement with the formation of the volunteer rifles in Malay states (the Federated Malay States Volunteer Forces (FMSVF) and the Unfederated Malay States Volunteer Forces (UMSVF)). With the Malay States Volunteer Forces, Malayan Volunteer Forces were formed and the SSVF is one of the its military components.[3][6]

The SSVF last battle is in the Battle of Singapore before being overrun and defeated by the Imperial Japanese Army on 15 February 1942.[7]

Timeline
  • 1 March 1861 – The Penang and Province Wellesley Volunteer Rifle (P&PWVR) was established. Only open to European descendant.[5][3]
  • 1879 – P&PWVR was disbanded.[5]
  • 1889 (before the Boer War) – P&PWVR was revived as Penang and Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps (P&PWVC). The Headquarters was moved from Kampong Bahru to Northam Road.[4]
  • 1889 – Opens its membership to European and Eurasian descent .[5]
  • 1910 – Opens its membership to Malay descendant.[5]
  • August 1914 – World War I. Immediate and rapid increase in the enrolment of volunteers.[3]
  • 1915 – Took part in the suppression of the Sepoy Mutiny.[3]
  • November 1933 – The P&PWVC get the first place after won almost all of the categories offered in 1933 Malaya Command Rifle Meeting.[8][9]
  • November 1934 – The P&PWVC placed at the first place back-to-back after won two of four main categories offered in 1934 Malaya Command Rifle Meeting. Others Top 5 teams are: Burma Rifles (Runner-Up), Selangor Battalion FMSVF (2nd Runner-Up), Wiltshire Regiment (4th Place) and Johore Military Forces (5th Place).[1]
  • 1936 – The P&PWVC get the first place in 1936 Malaya Command Rifle Meeting. Others Top 5 teams are: Selangor Battalion FMSVF (Runner-Up), Johore Military Forces (2nd Runner-Up), Middlesex Regiment (4th Place) and Malay Regiment (5th Place).[10]
  • 1939 – World War II. Increase in the enrolment of volunteers[3]
  • December 1941 – Battle of Penang. The battle starts on 9 December 1941 with air battle between Japanese and allied forces over Penang Island. By 13 December, the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Shenton Thomas, ordered the evacuation of the European community on Penang Island to Singapore. On 15 December, most of British and Commonwealth forces withdraw from Penang. By 19 December, Penang completely falls to the Japanese.[11]
  • 15 February 1942 – Last stance at Battle of Singapore. All 4 battalions of SSVF including the Penang Volunteer Corps were defeated by the Japanese Forces. Members were taken as Prisoner of war (POW) and were sent to Japanese war prisons throughout the Far East.[12]
  • Late 1945 – World War II ends. POW survivors was released in England and later return to their home.[6][7]

Organisation

The soldiers and officers of Penang and Province Wellesley Volunteer Corps (P&PWVC) were divided by ethnic.[5] The strength of P&PWVC by the WWII is 916 men.[3]

P&PWVC's formations as World War II[13][14]
Company's Official Name Ethnic Company's Type Notes
H.Q. Company Mixed Battalion's Headquarters Company
A Company European Rifle Company
B (M.G.) Company European Machine gun Company
C (Malay) Company Malay Rifle Company
D (Chinese) Company Chinese Rifle Company [15]
E (Eurasian) Company Eurasian Rifle Company [16]
P.W. Company Mixed Public Work Administration Company
G (Malay) Company Malay Rifle Company

References
  1. "Penang Volunteers on Top". The Straits Times. 6 November 1934. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  2. "Birthday Honours for Malaya Announced". Straits Times. 8 June 1939. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  3. Fell, Rosemary. "The Malayan Volunteer Forces". COFEPOW. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  4. "Info Penang (1850-1899)". Official Portal Penang State Government. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  5. Beckett, Ian Frederick William (2005). Citizen Soldiers and the British Empire, 1837–1902 Warfare, Society and Culture. New York: Routledge. pp. 14–15. ISBN 9781317322184.
  6. "History". Malayan Volunteers. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  7. Chan, Cheng Yean (27 August 1946). "A Malacca Volunteer wrote this for posterity..." The Straits Times. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  8. "Something About The Soldiers". The Straits Times. 12 November 1933. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  9. "Malaya Command Rifle Meeting". The Straits Times. 6 November 1933.
  10. "Malaya Command Rifle Meeting". The Straits Times. 15 November 1936. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  11. Barber, Andrew (2010). Penang at War: A History of Penang During and Between the First and Second World Wars, 1914-1945. Kuala Lumpur: AB&A. ISBN 9789834337230.
  12. "The Fepow Story". COFEPOW. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  13. "The Volunteer Force". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 25 January 1924. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  14. "King's Birthday Parade at Penang". Malayan Saturday Post. 16 June 1928. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  15. "In Memoriam". The Straits Times. 19 February 1952. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  16. TAN, CHRISTOPHER (16 November 2015). "Veteran recalls wartime memories on Remembrance Day". The Star Online. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
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