Ceylon Mounted Rifles
Encyclopedia
Ceylon Mounted Rifles was the only cavalry
regiment attached to the Ceylon Defence Force which was the predecessor to the Sri Lanka Army prior to 1949 when the Ceylon Army was formed. It was a volunteer (reserve
) regiment was based in Colombo
made up of only of British
.
In 1897, the regiment was represented at the Diamond Jubilee
Celebrations of HM Queen Victoria, in full dress uniform, which consisted of white helmet, scarlet tunic, white breeches and jack boots.
The first deployment of the regiment can in 1900 a company sized force under the command of Major
Murray Menzies, was sent to South Africa for the Boer War
experiencing combat at Stinkhoutboom, Cape Colony
, Driefontein, Johannesberg
, Diamond Hill
and Wittebergen. After the CMI was withdrawn, another company sized force from the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps
was in 1902 dispatched to South Africa. The overall conduct of Ceylon troops received accolades from General
Kitchener
, Chief of Staff to Lord Roberts
in South Africa, who affirmed, "The Ceylon Contingent did very good work in South Africa I only wish we had more of them." For the service in South Africa a regimental guidon was presented by HRH Prince George, Duke of York
(later King George V
), on the occasion of his visit to Kandy
. On February 18, 1901 Governor of Ceylon
Sir West Ridgeway
unveiled a Memorial Window in St. Paul’s Church, Kandy for the eight members of the CMI who had been killed in the Bore War. Shortly thereafter regiment was represented at the Coronation of HM King Edward VII by a contingent under the command of Lieut. J.N. Campbell. The unit was based in Kandy
and regularly gave Mounted Escorts for members of the Royal family
who visited Ceylon.
In 1906 the CMI was renamed the Ceylon Mounted Rifles and shortly had created a mechanized
squadron. It was mobilized for war in 1914 when World War I
started. In 1928 the CMR Polo Club was formed.
On Armistice Day 1931, the old regimental guidon was laid up for safe keeping at St. Paul’s Church, Kandy where the second was laid up for safe keeping after the regiment was disbanded. With the demise of cavalry warfare
the regiment was disbanded in 1938. At its disbandment most of its personal were transferred to the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps
.
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
regiment attached to the Ceylon Defence Force which was the predecessor to the Sri Lanka Army prior to 1949 when the Ceylon Army was formed. It was a volunteer (reserve
Military reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
) regiment was based in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
made up of only of British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
History
The regiment start out as the cavalry element of the Ceylon Light Infantry attached to the Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers in 1887 (that was in 1910 renamed Ceylon Defence Force) and was named as the Ceylon Mounted Infantry (CMI) .In 1897, the regiment was represented at the Diamond Jubilee
Diamond Jubilee
A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary in the case of a person or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event.- Thailand :...
Celebrations of HM Queen Victoria, in full dress uniform, which consisted of white helmet, scarlet tunic, white breeches and jack boots.
The first deployment of the regiment can in 1900 a company sized force under the command of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Murray Menzies, was sent to South Africa for the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
experiencing combat at Stinkhoutboom, Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
, Driefontein, Johannesberg
Johannesberg
Johannesberg may refer to:* Johannesberg, Bavaria, Germany* Jánský vrch, a castle in the Czech Republic, known as Johannesberg in German- See also :* Johannesburg * Johannisburg, a town in East Prussia, now called Pisz...
, Diamond Hill
Diamond Hill
Diamond Hill is a hill in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The name also refers to the area on or adjacent to the hill. It is surrounded by Ngau Chi Wan, San Po Kong, Wong Tai Sin and Tsz Wan Shan. Its northeast is limited by the ridge. It is principally a residential district.-Etymology:Contrary to its name,...
and Wittebergen. After the CMI was withdrawn, another company sized force from the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps
Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps
Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps was a regiment attached to the Ceylon Defence Force which was the predecessor to the Sri Lanka Army prior to 1949 when the Ceylon Army was formed...
was in 1902 dispatched to South Africa. The overall conduct of Ceylon troops received accolades from General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Kitchener
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, ADC, PC , was an Irish-born British Field Marshal and proconsul who won fame for his imperial campaigns and later played a central role in the early part of the First World War, although he died halfway...
, Chief of Staff to Lord Roberts
Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts
Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, PC was a distinguished Indian born British soldier who regarded himself as Anglo-Irish and one of the most successful British commanders of the 19th century.-Early life:Born at Cawnpore, India, on...
in South Africa, who affirmed, "The Ceylon Contingent did very good work in South Africa I only wish we had more of them." For the service in South Africa a regimental guidon was presented by HRH Prince George, Duke of York
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
(later King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
), on the occasion of his visit to Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
. On February 18, 1901 Governor of Ceylon
Governor of Ceylon
The British Governor of Ceylon was an official who ruled Ceylon during the British colonial period between 1798 and 1948....
Sir West Ridgeway
Joseph West Ridgeway
Colonel Sir West Ridgeway GCB, GCMG, KCSI, PC was a British civil servant and colonial governor.-Military career:...
unveiled a Memorial Window in St. Paul’s Church, Kandy for the eight members of the CMI who had been killed in the Bore War. Shortly thereafter regiment was represented at the Coronation of HM King Edward VII by a contingent under the command of Lieut. J.N. Campbell. The unit was based in Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
and regularly gave Mounted Escorts for members of the Royal family
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
who visited Ceylon.
In 1906 the CMI was renamed the Ceylon Mounted Rifles and shortly had created a mechanized
Mechanized Warfare
Mechanized Warfare is the sixth studio album released by American power metal band Jag Panzer, released in 2001. This album is more progressive than the band's previous work...
squadron. It was mobilized for war in 1914 when World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
started. In 1928 the CMR Polo Club was formed.
On Armistice Day 1931, the old regimental guidon was laid up for safe keeping at St. Paul’s Church, Kandy where the second was laid up for safe keeping after the regiment was disbanded. With the demise of cavalry warfare
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
the regiment was disbanded in 1938. At its disbandment most of its personal were transferred to the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps
Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps
Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps was a regiment attached to the Ceylon Defence Force which was the predecessor to the Sri Lanka Army prior to 1949 when the Ceylon Army was formed...
.
