by
Glen Robert-Grant Hodgins
Political, Economic & Security Affairs Adviser
HM's Canadian High Commission for Sri Lanka
"Oliver Castle"
Cinnamon Gardens
Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Office: glen.h-@dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Residence: grhi-@sri.lanka.net
glen-h-@canada.com
Fax: 94-1-687-049 (Sri Lanka)
Hon Members of the Durbar:
A few comments stemming from Christopher's latest gems of
wisdom...
The CLI was not exclusively native. Many European members of
the CCS were to be found amongst its members, mainly because most of them were
based in Colombo (e.g.. Hubert Newnham). There were many others from other
backgrounds such as Gwynne Griffith and John Gordon Fraser (a planting
background name to reckon with if ever there was one). They happily served
under more senior Ceylonese officers, including Tamils and Singhalese.
Yes, indeed. I should have clarified that my statement (ie.,
after the formation of the Ceylon Planters
Rifle Corps and Ceylon Mounted Rifles the CLI
became "_almost_ exclusively" Ceylonese) was meant to apply to
the rank and file rather than the officer corps.
I don't have aggregate
figures immediately at hand for the post-1900 period but prior to 1900 (ie.,
the formation of the CPRC/CMR) the all-ranks ratio of native Ceylonese (both
Burghers and ethnic Asians) to Britons remained about 3:1. For instance, in
1881, the year of formation of the CLIV, the following was ethnic breakdown of
the corps...
(all ranks)
Britons: 229
Ceylonese Burghers: 479
Ceylonese Asians: 310
- ie., 779 Ceylonese and 229 Britons (ie., roughly 3:1)
This ratio roughly
held until c. 1900 when most (but certianly not all) European O/Rs either
transferred to another CVF unit or simply resigned all together; (like most
demographic transitions this, of course, didn't happen overnight -- there was a
transitional period).
Complete lists of the CLI (ie., including all O/Rs) for the
inter-war period are hard to come by; but if one takes as more-or-less
representative examples of the rank and file make up of the btln those OR's who particiapted in various rifle shooting
matches, sports meets, other competitions and similar such events, (since the
names of such participants were almost invariably printed in the local press
and therefore still accessible to researchers),
one would be hard-pressed to find a Briton's name amongst the ranks.
For instance consider the following example of participants
in one such even in 1933 (chosen randomly by me from my notes)...
1933 Blake Shield Results:
Battalion Shot: Pte E.R. Wijesinghe, A Coy
Company Shots:
- HQ Wing: Cpl D.R. La Faber (Burgher)
- "A" Coy: Pte E.R. Wijesinghe (Singhalese)
- "C" Coy: Pte T.B. Amath (Muslim)
- "D" Coy: Sgt K.D.A. Abeysekeere (Singhalese)
- "E" Coy: Pte W.J. de Waas
Best Shots with Light Automatic Weapon:
- "A" Coy: Sgt J.B. Perera (Singhalese)
- "A" Coy: Pte R.E. Perera (Singhalese)
- "A" Coy: Cpl H.D. Zain Amath (Muslim)
- "A" Coy: Pte K.P. Charles ((Briton)
- "C" Coy: Pte E.H. Rezel (Muslim)
- "D" Coy: Pte T.D. John (most likely Estate Tamil)
- HQ Wing: Bugler T.K.S. Cassim (Muslim)
Best shot with Vickers Machine Gun: L/Cpl W.T.H. Mendis
(Singhalese)
Of the 13 names given above, I would suggest that only Pte
K.P. Charles is likely to be a Briton, [T.D. John is almost certainly a
Christainised (Anglican) Estate Tamil -- they almost all took surnames of John,
William, (or Peter], giving a
ratio of 13:1 of Ceylonese to Britons, (and P.K. Charles is just as likely as
not to be another Estate Tamil). This, of course, is just an unscientific
sample -- but I think one has to admit that it does indicate a marked shift in
the demographics of the CLI during its first half century of existence, (ie.,
say 1883-1933). It seems to me fair to suggest therefore that the rank and file
had become *almost* exclusively Ceylonese vice British by WWI.
If one examines the officer complement, the shift is even
more marked. In 1882, (ie., one year after the formation of Ceylon Light
Infantry Volunteers), the btln had 19 officers, made-up of 15 Britons and 4
Burghers (and NO Asian Ceylonese).
In 1918 the CLI had 24 officers (ie., 9 Burghers; 7 Singhalese; 5 Britons -- or
16 Ceylonese "natives" and 9 Britons); and in 1936, 27 Ceylonese and
9 British officers.
In other words the officer make-up went from more than 3:1
(Britons to Ceylonese -- with no Asian Ceylonese) in 1881 to 1:3 (with a
sizable number of Asian Ceyloneses -- ie., Tamils and Singhalese). The ratio
completely reversed.
I have appended the data upon which I based these figures at
the end of this message for any one who wants to go throught it more carefully.
Christopher also wrote...
1)
The main purpose behind having European volunteers in the colonies
was
to have a knowledgeable and trained group of people ready in
case of anti-British outbreaks of the type seen in the Indian mutiny. Some
colonies even had compulsory service requirements for Europeans.
Their prime function was supposed to be internal
security. In the case of Ceylon, the RN
was supposed to be its protector from external attack.
Yes... but this brings up another interesting issue. I would
agree unequivocally that this was the case in say 1881 -- but I've detected an
(unstated?) assumption (particularly after WWI; perhaps even as early as
the Boer War) that such colonial
troops could form a type of an "Imperial Strategic Reserve" upon
which the UK could draw in a large-scale conflict. Certainly their stated main
purpose was local defence -- but I think the WO planners might have had other ideas as well. They tended not
to openly state them, however, so as not to upset local treasurers who were
loath to pay (at least in peace time) for anything which smacked of
"Imperial" (vice local)
defence. But the basic veracity of Christopher's point is well-taken and still
stands.
Very often
someone who went to, or was transferred to another colony, would then join a
volunteer unit in the new place.
Yes... good for the Empire and the subsequent colony -- but
bad for the original colony, which paid for all the initial training of such
volunteers. Ironically it was exactly in this context that the Marxist Member
of the Ceylon Legislature I referred to in my earlier correspondence was
arguing: he was complaining that the Ceylonese tax-payer was paying to train
men who then went off and joined the Malayan or Indian auxiliary forces. The
obvious counter-point I suppose, (but one which did not enter into that
particular parliamentary debate, surprisingly) was that Ceylon must have also
benefitted from receiving men initially trained in other colonies.
2) ..., people actually joined, for largely social
reasons. In the case of the planters, as another means to companionship and for
contact with their fellows of like standing and that modern phenomenon, networking".
Even Sir John Kotalawala, sometime Colonel in the CLI and later Hon. General in
the Sri Lankan Army, admitted that he joined because he enjoyed riding.
Again... Yes, indeed. I've even come across references of chaps
who claimed to have joined the volunteers simply to have access to the unit's
library, for they were that desparate for good reading material way out in
their isolated plantations.
3) I am afraid that the different ethnic
communities in Ceylon were, and are as
exclusive, perhaps even more so, than the British during the colonial regime.
The system of caste, family cliques and nepotism seen in politics today, was as
prevalent then as now. A young, isolated planter looking for friends and
companionship would have felt quite out of place amongst them.
Alas.. absolutely correct; and as you say this observation
still sadly holds very true today. Some might well argue it is the root cause
of the civil war which has wreaked havoc here for a generation. ;-(
For similar reasons there were precious few Kandyans,
aristocrats or otherwise, in the CLI or
any of the other volunteer units. Most of the Singhalese in the volunteers came
from the agrarian class/caste who had been educated along European lines. They
were not really from the traditional aristocratic class but had been
commercially successful during Dutch and British rule and had acquired land
over a period of time or entered the professions.
Yes.. precious few; but still a few, nevertheless. The
Ratwattes and Mologodas are two obvious examples which spring to mind. The
former although of the old Kandyan aristocracy
were not even officers in the CLI.
Coincidently there was just a book published on this phenomenon called
"Nobodies to Somebodies" about the rise of the new middle-class in
Ceylon under the British.
Although my family come from a planting
background, on both sides, I have to say that the general opinion amongst the
"native" elite as well as the "colonial administrators" was
rather low - poorly educated drunkards for the most part. Remember that the
vast majority of planters were not personally wealthy. Also many of those who
did come from British aristocratic backgrounds were, more often than not, black
sheep or near-do-wells.
Yes, again. Although the movie is overall not very good, one
can start to get a feel for the typical planter lifestyle by watching
"Elephant Walk" (c.1954) with Elizabeth Taylor, Albert Finney (sp?)
and Dana Andrews. The visiting planters come across as perpetually drunk
adolescents. Definitely not the sort you would want your daughter to marry ;-)
3) the Burghers were a mixed community, mostly
between Dutch and Singhalese, but the
term was also applied in the low-country to mixed communities descended from
the Portuguese and British as well (e.g.. the Morgans). The numbers of
pure-blood Dutch families could be counted using the fingers on both hands
alone.
Yes.. and as a result there is still a great deal of debate
about what exactly a Burgher *is*. At least thrice a year one can count upon
articles on the topic apppearing in the features section of the local press
arguing one defintion or another. For my part I use the term
"Burgher" to delimit those descended from the Dutch and
"Eurasian" for the others. But any such typographical task is, I
fully admit, open to errors and a certain degree of subjectivity. For instance,
when does Burgher blood become watered down to such an extent that the
off-springs are now Tamil or Singhalese? Or – as you point out -- what if one
parent is pure Dutch Burgher and the other pure British? What's the kid? Like I
said, a lot of subjectivity. In the end, I supposed it must be based upon
something as basic (and subjective) as knowing which names have _traditonally_
been considered "Burgher".
At any rate, I must dash. I see that a 40 foot container is
being manouvered perilously close to my window. Must be time to pack the sea
shipment. :-)
Cheers,
Glen in Serendib (but not for long)
1882 CLI Officers
"A" Coy
Capt John Patterson
Lt William Slade Boake
"B" Coy
Capt James van Langenberg
Lt (vacant)
2Lt Frederick Dornhorst
"C" Coy
Capt William Francis Courthope
Lt Alexander Thomson
2Lt Abraham Orlando Joseph
"D" Coy
Capt Percy Cannington Oswald
Lt Richard Hillebrand Morgan
2Lt Adrian Charles Hope
"E" Coy
Capt: (vacant)
Lt Edward C. Britton
2Lt Ralph Tatham
"F" Coy (Railway Department -- Europeans)
Capt William Cantrell
Lt Charles Good
2Lt Francis Mahan Green
"G" Coy (Railway Dept -- Burghers)
Capt Charles Peter Layard
Lt Frederick Charles Turner
2Lt (vacant)
"H" Coy (legal & Medical)
Capt Thomas Berwick
Lt Hector van Cuylenberg
2Lt (vacant)
1918 CLI Officers
BATTALION HEADQUARTERS:
CO: LtCol V. van Langenberg, VD (Burgher)
2I/C: Major B.W. Bawa (Burgher)
QM: Hon Lt B.M. Christoffelsx (Burgher)
Machine Gun Officer: Lt W. Sansoni (Burgher)
Transport Officer: Lt J.G. Vandersmagt (Burgher)
Bombing Officer: Lt P.S. Fernando (Singhalese)
Signalling Officer: Lt E.J. Jayaweera (Singhalese)
Assist Adj:t Capt C.A. Galpin (European/British)
- ie., 5 Burghers; 2 Singhalese; 1 Briton
COMPANY & PLATOON OFFICERS:
"A" Coy,
(Colombo)
Coy Commander: Capt & Hon Major H.R.H. van Cuylenberg, VD
(Burgher)
Coy 2I/C: vacant
#1 Platoon: Lt W. Sansoni (Burgher)
#2 Platoon: Lt W. Sansoni (until relieved)
#3 Platoon: Lt E.L. Mack (Burgher)
#4 Platoon: Lt P.S.
Fernando (Singhalese)
----
"B" Coy, (Colombo)
Coy Commander: Capt E.W. Jayewardena (Singhalese)
Coy 2I/C: vacant
#5 Platoon: Lt W.A. Dep (Burgher)
#6 Platoon: Lt W.A. Dep (until relieved)
#7 Platoon: 2Lt P.M. Battle (European/British)
#8 Platoon: Lt D.R. Wijewardene (Singhalese)
----
"C" Coy, (Colombo)
Coy Commander: Capt H.E. Newnham (European/British)
Coy 2I/C: vacant
#9 Platoon: Lt J.G. Vandersmagt (Burgher)
#10 Platoon: Lt J.G. Vandersmagt (until relieved)
#11 Platoon: Lt E.G.P. Jayatilleke (Singhalese)
#12 Platoon: Lt E.L. Jayaweera (Singhalese)
----
"D" Coy, (Outstations)
Coy Commander: Capt A. de C. Carson (European/British)
Coy 2I/C: Capt F. van Rooyen (Matale District) (Burgher)
#13 Platoon:
-Capt A.C.B. Jonklass (Hambantota District) (Burgher)
- Lt D.E. Jayatileke (Ratnapura District) (Singhalese)
- Lt F.A. Wickremaratne, (Matara District) (Singhalese)
#14 Platoon: Lt S.G. Sansoni (Chilaw District) (Burgher)
#15 Platoon:
- Lt R.F. Morgan (Nurawa Eliya District) (European/British)
- Lt C.P. Hall (Badulla District) (European/British)
#16 Platoon: Lt P.W. van Langenberg, (Kandy District)
(Burgher)
- ie., 9 Burghers; 7 Singhalese; 5 Britons
****** Total for Senior NCO and Officer complement of CLI in
1918:
- 16 Ceylonese and 5 Britons ********
1936 CLI Officers (aggregates)
HQ:
Singhalese: 2
Tamils: 1
Burghers: 4
Britons: 2
"A" Coy:
Singhalese: 1
Tamils: 1
Burghers: 1
Britons: 2
"B" Coy:
Singhalese: --
Tamils: 1
Burghers: 3
Britons: 1
"C" Coy:
Singhalese: --
Tamils: 3
Burghers: 1
Britons: 1
"D" Coy:
Singhalese: 2
Tamils: 2
Burghers: --
Britons: --
"E" Coy:
Singhalese: --
Tamils: 3
Burghers: --
Britons: 1
"F" Coy:
Singhalese: --
Tamils: 1
Burghers: 1
Britons: 2
TOTALS: 27
Ceylonese and 9 Britons (once again 3:1)