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APPENDIX I 353
APPENDIX I
When the German commerce-raider Emden was sunk by HMAS Sydney off Cocos Island
on 9 th November, 1914, several German prisoners of war were sent to Tanglin Detention
Barracks. This factored in the Sepoy Mutiny commencing 15th February, 1915, in which 35
Europeans and 5 Malays were killed and 11 Europeans wounded. Among other reasons
for the mutiny was the fact that the 5th Battalion, Bengal Light Infantry, which included
many Bengali Muslim soldiers, was being shipped out of Singapore. The battalion was in a
poor state of discipline under an incompetent Commanding Officer and rumours had been
deliberately spread that it was being shipped out to the main theatre of war for operations
against Muslim Ottoman Turks. The mutineers were all Muslim. In fact, they were being sent
to Hong Kong to replace British troops who were being redeployed and the troublemakers
were, among other dubious concerns, trying to safeguard private financial operations that
were rife among the Sepoys.24 The mutineers raided Tanglin Detention Barracks and released
most of the prisoners, leading to speculation that a German agent was involved in plotting
the mutiny, Germany being one of the belligerent powers against Britain in the war. Martial
Law was proclaimed and any SVC member who could be spared from installation duties
and others not on duty, reported to the Drill Hall. 25 The Volunteers played a major role in
quelling the mutiny but suffered 10 deaths and 4 wounded, including 2 officers. On 25th
March, the SVA Maxim Company and the Singapore Volunteer Rifles, under Captain H.
Tongue provided a firing party of 110 men for the execution of 22 mutineers out of the 41
sentenced to death by summary courts martial. 26
During this period, there were a slew of legislations to cope with the actual and potential
manpower demands from among expatriate British citizens in the colonies for the war in
Europe, such as the Reserve Force and Civil Guard Amendment Ordinance of 1916 and
Civil Volunteer Amendment Ordinance of 1917.27 The former allowed the General Officer
Commanding to draft Volunteers as reserves and train them; the latter required compulsory
parades of the Volunteers. But, the most significant legislation to be passed during this
period was the Reserve Force and Civil Guard Ordinance of 16th August, 1915, as a direct
result of the Mutiny. It was the first law passed in any British colony imposing compulsory
local Military Service. Under it, all male British nationals between the ages of 18 and 55,
not already in the forces, including Volunteer and Police, were required to undergo military
training. Those between 18 and 40 could be transferred to the SVC, while those above 40
could be enrolled as a Civil Guard. This legislation brought the strength of the SVC to a
record 1,379 at the end of 1915. Rather belatedly, a medical classification ordinance was also
passed in 1918 for all European British subjects with the prospect of compulsory enlistment
for ‘Class A’ personnel.
In the meantime, beginning with the formation of the Penang Volunteers in 1899, various
Volunteer units had been set up in other parts of Malaya. In 1895, Perak, Selangor, Negri
Sembilan and Pahang had agreed a treaty to form the Federated Malay States. In 1902,
the Malay States Volunteer Rifles was formed within the FMS. In October 1901, Malacca,
as part of the Straits Settlements, also set up a Malacca Company of 47 British subjects,