Commander British Forces in Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
The Commander British Forces in Hong Kong (CBF) was a senior British Army
officer who acted as Military Advisor to the Governor of Hong Kong
.
, being a representative of the British sovereign, was the Commander-in-Chief
of the British Forces and Vice Admiral in the Crown colony
.
The Governor was advised by the Commander British Forces in Hong Kong (CBF) on all military actions. During the 1980s and 1990s, the CBF was normally a career Major General
or Lieutenant General from the British Army. Until 1996, the CBF was an ex officio member of the Legislative Council
.
Commander British Forces in Hong Kong
Commander British Troops in China
and Hong Kong
Commander British Troops in China, Hong Kong, and the Straits Settlements
Commander British Troops in China and Hong Kong
Commander British Troops in South China
Commander British Forces in China
Commander British Troops in South China
Commander British Troops in China
Commander British Forces in Hong Kong
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer who acted as Military Advisor to the Governor of Hong Kong
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
.
Structure
The Governor of Hong KongBritish Hong Kong
British Hong Kong refers to Hong Kong as a Crown colony and later, a British dependent territory under British administration from 1841 to 1997.- Colonial establishment :...
, being a representative of the British sovereign, was the Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the British Forces and Vice Admiral in the Crown colony
Crown colony
A Crown colony, also known in the 17th century as royal colony, was a type of colonial administration of the English and later British Empire....
.
The Governor was advised by the Commander British Forces in Hong Kong (CBF) on all military actions. During the 1980s and 1990s, the CBF was normally a career Major General
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
or Lieutenant General from the British Army. Until 1996, the CBF was an ex officio member of the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
.
Commanders
Commanders have included:Commander British Forces in Hong Kong
- 1843-1848 Major-General George D'AguilarGeorge Charles D'AguilarMajor-General Sir George Charles D'Aguilar, KCB was a British Army Major General and Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong.-Background:...
- 1848-1851 Major-General William StaveleyWilliam StaveleyLieutenant-General William Staveley was Commander and Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong.-Military career:...
- 1851-1854 Major-General William JervoisWilliam Jervois (British Army officer)General Sir William Jervois KH was Commander and Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong. Jervois Street in Hong Kong was named after him.-Military career:...
Commander British Troops in China
Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion was a widespread civil war in southern China from 1850 to 1864, led by heterodox Christian convert Hong Xiuquan, who, having received visions, maintained that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ, against the ruling Manchu-led Qing Dynasty...
and Hong Kong
- 1854-1857 Major-General Sir Robert GarrettRobert Garrett (British Army officer)Lieutenant General Sir Robert Garrett KCB KH was Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong.-Military career:Educated at Harrow School, Garrett was commissioned into the 2nd Regiment of Foot in 1811...
- 1857-1858 Major-General Thomas AshburnhamThomas AshburnhamGeneral Hon. Thomas Ashburnham CB was Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong.-Military career:Born the son of the 3rd Earl of Ashburnham, Thomas Ashburnham became a Coldstream Guards officer...
- 1858-1859 Major-General Sir Charles van Straubenzee
- 1860-1861 Major-General Sir James GrantJames Hope GrantGeneral Sir James Hope Grant GCB , British general, was the fifth and youngest son of Francis Grant of Kilgraston, Perthshire, and brother of Sir Francis Grant, President of the Royal Academy.-Military career:...
- 1861-1862 Major-General Sir John Michel
- 1862-1863 Major-General Sir Charles StaveleyCharles William Dunbar StaveleyGeneral Sir Charles William Dunbar Staveley GCB was a British Army officer.-Early life:He was born at Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, the son of Lt-General William Staveley and Sarah Mather, and educated at the Scottish military and naval academy, Edinburgh.-Career:He was commissioned as second...
- 1863-1864 Major-General William BrownWilliam Gustavus BrownGeneral William Gustavus Brown was Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong.-Military career:Brown was commissioned into the 24th Regiment of Foot. Having served as a Brigadier-General at Aldershot, he was promoted to Major-General and made Commander of British Troops in China and Hong...
- 1864-1867 Major-General Sir Philip GuyPhilip Melmoth Nelson GuyLieutenant General Sir Philip Melmoth Nelson Guy KCB was Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong and Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.-Military career:Guy was commissioned into the 5th Regiment of Foot in 1824...
- 1867-1869 Major-General James BrunkerJames Robert BrunkerMajor-General James Robert Brunker was Commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong.-Military career:Brunker was commissioned into the 91st Regiment of Foot in 1825...
Commander British Troops in China, Hong Kong, and the Straits Settlements
Straits Settlements
The Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867...
- 1869-1874 Major-General Henry WhitfieldHenry Wase WhitfieldLieutenant General Henry Wase Whitfield was the Lieutenant Governor of Hong Kong and Commander of British Troops in China, Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements.-Military career:...
- 1874-1878 Lieutenant General Sir Francis ColborneFrancis ColborneGeneral Sir Francis Colborne KCB was Commander of British Troops in China, Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements.-Military career:...
- 1878-1882 Lieutenant General Edward DonovanEdward Westby DonovanLieutenant General Edward Westby Donovan was Commander of British Troops in China, Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements.-Military career:...
- 1882-1885 Lieutenant General John SargentJohn Neptune SargentLieutenant General John Neptune Sargent CB was Commander of British Troops in China, Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements.-Military career:...
- 1885-1889 Lieutenant General Sir William CameronWilliam Gordon CameronGeneral Sir William Gordon Cameron GCB was a British soldier and colonial administrator.-Military career:...
Commander British Troops in China and Hong Kong
- 1889-1890 Major-General Sir James EdwardsJames Bevan EdwardsLieutenant General Sir James Bevan Edwards KCB KCMG was a senior British Army officer and politician.-Military career:Edwards was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1852...
- 1890-1895 Major-General Sir George BarkerGeorge Digby BarkerGeneral Sir George Digby Barker GCB was a British soldier and colonial administrator.-Military career:...
- 1895-1898 Major-General Sir Wilsone BlackWilsone BlackMajor-General Sir Wilsone Black KCB was a British military officer and colonial administrator.-Military career:...
- 1898-1903 Major-General Sir William Gascoigne
Commander British Troops in South China
- 1903-1906 Major-General Villiers HattonVilliers HattonMajor-General Villiers Hatton CB was Commander of British Troops in South China.-Military career:Born at Clonard in County Wexford, Hatton was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards in 1870...
- 1906-1910 Major-General Robert BroadwoodRobert George BroadwoodLieutenant General Robert George Broadwood, CB was Commander of British Troops in South China.-Military career:Robert was the third son and child of Thomas Broadwood and Mary Athlea Matthews and a grandson of John Broadwood the founder of the Broadwood Piano Company...
- 1910-1913 Major-General Sir Charles AndersonCharles Alexander AndersonLieutenant General Sir Charles Alexander Anderson KCB KCIE AM was Commander of British Troops in South China.-Military career:Anderson was commissioned into the Royal Horse Artillery in 1876....
- 1913-1915 Major-General Francis KellyFrancis Kelly (British Army officer)Major-General Francis Henry Kelly CB CMG was Commander of British Troops in South China.-Military career:Kelly was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1879...
Commander British Forces in China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
- 1915-1921 Major-General Francis VentrisFrancis VentrisMajor-General Francis Ventris CB was Commander of British Forces in China.-Military career:Educated at Adams' Grammar School in Newport, Ventris was commissioned into the 44th Regiment of Foot in 1875. He became an Adjutant of that Regiment in 1880. In 1897, having served as an Assistant...
- 1921-1922 Major-General George KirkpatrickGeorge Macaulay KirkpatrickGeneral Sir George Macaulay Kirkpatrick KCMG KCSI was a Canadian born and educated soldier who served with the British Army in South Africa, Canada, India, Australia, and China. He became one of only a handful of Canadians to reach the rank of full General....
- 1922-1925 Major-General Sir John FowlerJohn Fowler (British Army officer)Lieutenant General Sir John Sharman Fowler KCB KCMG DSO was Commander of British Forces in China.-Military career:Fowler was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1886. He took part in the Izazai expedition in 1892 and went to Chitral in the North West Frontier of India in 1896...
Commander British Troops in South China
- 1925-1929 Major-General Charles LuardCharles LuardMajor-General Charles Camac Luard CB CMG was Commander of British Troops in South China.-Military career:Educated at Clifton College, Luard was commissioned into the Durham Light Infantry in 1885....
- 1929-1932 Major-General James SandilandsJames Walter SandilandsMajor-General James Walter Sandilands CB CMG DSO was Commander of British Troops in South China.-Military career:Sandilands was commissioned into the Manchester Regiment in 1895...
Commander British Troops in China
- 1932-1935 Lieutenant-General Oswald BorrettOswald BorrettLieutenant General Sir Oswald Cuthbert Borrett KCB CMG CBE DSO was Commander of British Troops in China.-Military career:Borrett was commissioned into the King's Own Royal Regiment in 1898. He served in the Second Boer War and then became Adjutant in the Indian Volunteers in 1911.He also served in...
- 1935-1938 Major-General Arthur BartholomewArthur Wollaston BartholomewMajor-General Arthur Wollaston Bartholomew CB CMG CBE DSO was Commander of British Troops in China.-Military career:Bartholomew was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1900....
- 1938-1941 Major-General Edward GrassettArthur Edward GrassettLieutenant-General Sir Arthur Edward Grassett KBE CB DSO MC was a Canadian born and educated soldier who served with the British Army in Canada, England, India and China.-Education:...
- Aug-Dec 1941 Major-General Christopher Maltby
- Note from 1941 to 1945 Hong Kong was under Japanese controlJapanese occupation of Hong KongThe Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began after the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the territory of Hong Kong to Japan on 25 December 1941 after 18 days of fierce fighting by British and Canadian defenders against overwhelming Japanese Imperial forces. The occupation lasted...
Commander British Forces in Hong Kong
- 1945-1946 Major-General Sir Francis FestingFrancis FestingField Marshal Sir Francis Wogan Festing GCB, KBE, DSO , called 菲士挺 in Chinese, was a field marshal of the British Army...
- 1946-1948 Major-General Sir George ErskineGeorge ErskineGeneral Sir George Watkin Eben James Erskine GCB, KBE, DSO was a senior British Army officer during World War II-Background:...
- 1948-1949 Major-General Francis MatthewsFrancis Matthews (British Army officer)Major General Francis Raymond Gage Matthews CB DSO was Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong.-Military career:Matthews was commissioned into the York and Lancaster Regiment in 1923...
- Jun-Sep 1949 Lieutenant-General Sir Francis FestingFrancis FestingField Marshal Sir Francis Wogan Festing GCB, KBE, DSO , called 菲士挺 in Chinese, was a field marshal of the British Army...
- 1949-1951 Lieutenant-General Sir Robert ManserghRobert ManserghGeneral Sir Eric Carden Robert Mansergh GCB KBE MC was a British Army General during and after World War II.-Military career:...
- 1951-1952 Major-General Geoffrey EvansGeoffrey Charles EvansLieutenant-General Sir Geoffrey Charles Evans KBE, CB, DSO & Two Bars was an officer in the British Army during World War II and the post-war era...
- 1952-1954 Major-General Terence AireyTerence AireyLieutenant-General Sir Terence Sydney Airey, KCMG, CB, CBE was an officer in the British Army.-Family and education:Airey was the son of Sydney Airey...
- 1954-1955 Lieutenant-General Cecil SugdenCecil SugdenGeneral Sir Cecil Sugden GBE KCB is a former Master-General of the Ordnance.-Military career:Educated at Brighton College, Sugden was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1923....
- 1955-1957 Lieutenant-General Sir William StrattonWilliam Stratton (British Army officer)Lieutenant General Sir William Stratton KCB CVO CBE DSO was Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong.-Military career:Stratton was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1924...
- 1957-1960 Lieutenant-General Sir Edric BastyanEdric BastyanLieutenant-General Sir Edric Montague Bastyan, KCMG, KCVO, KBE, CB was Governor of South Australia from 4 April 1961 until 1 June 1968 then Governor of Tasmania from 2 December 1968 until 30 November 1973...
- 1960-1961 Lieutenant-General Sir Roderick McLeodRoderick McLeodLieutenant General Sir Roderick William McLeod GBE KCB was a British Army General who achieved high office in the 1950s.-Military career:...
- 1961-1963 Lieutenant-General Sir Reginald HewetsonReginald HewetsonGeneral Sir Reginald Hackett Hewetson GCB CBE DSO is a fomer Adjutant-General to the Forces.-Military career:...
- 1963-1964 Lieutenant-General Sir Richard CraddockRichard CraddockLieutenant General Sir Richard Walter Craddock KBE CB DSO was a British Army general who achieved high office in the 1960s.-Military career:...
- 1964-1966 Lieutenant-General Sir Denis O'ConnorDenis O'Connor (British Army officer)Lieutenant General Sir Denis Stuart Scott O'Connor KBE CB was General Officer Commanding Aldershot District.-Military career:O'Connor was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1927 and was deployed in India from 1929 to 1935....
- 1966-1968 Lieutenant-General Sir John WorsleyJohn WorsleyLieutenant General Sir John Worsley KBE CB MC was Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong.-Military career:Worsley was commissioned into the 3rd Bn 2nd Punjab Regiment of the Indian Army in 1934 and served on the North West Frontier in India from 1935.He served in World War II and fought at the...
- 1968-1970 Lieutenant-General Sir Basil EugsterBasil EugsterGeneral Sir Basil Oscar Eugster KCB, KCVO, CBE,DSO MC was a Commander in Chief, UK Land Forces.-Army career:A British soldier of Swiss descent, Basil Eugster attended Beaumont College. In 1935 he joined the Irish Guards. He served with his Regiment through World War II and fought in the Narvik...
- 1970-1973 Lieutenant-General Sir Richard WardRichard Ward (British Army officer)General Sir Richard Erskine Ward GBE KCB DSO MC was Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong.-Military career:Ward was commissioned into the Royal Tank Corps in 1937. He served in World War II with 5th Royal Tank Regiment 1939 in the Western Desert and North Africa taking part in the Battle of El...
- 1973-1976 Lieutenant-General Sir Edwin BramallEdwin Bramall, Baron BramallField Marshal Edwin Noel Westby Bramall, Baron Bramall KG, GCB, OBE, MC, DL, JP is a British Army officer who served as Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, between 1979 and 1982, and as Chief of the Defence Staff, professional head of the British Armed Forces,...
- 1976-1978 Lieutenant-General Sir John ArcherJohn Archer (British Army officer)General Sir John Archer KCB OBE is a former Commander in Chief, UK Land Forces.-Army career:Educated at King's School, Peterborough and St. Catharine's College, Cambridge, John Archer was commissioned into the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1944...
- 1978-1980 Major-General Sir Roy RedgraveRoy Redgrave (British Army officer)Major-General Sir Roy Michael Frederick Redgrave, KBE MC was Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong.-Military career:...
- 1980-1982 Major-General John ChappleJohn ChappleField Marshal Sir John Lyon Chapple, GCB, CBE was a career British Army officer in the second half of the 20th century. He served as Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, from 1989 to 1992.-Army career:...
- 1982-1985 Major-General Derek BoormanDerek BoormanLieutenant-General Sir Derek Boorman KCB was a senior British Army officer.-Military career:Educated at Wolstanton Grammar School and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Boorman was commissioned into the North Staffordshire Regiment in 1950...
- 1985-1987 Major-General Anthony BoamAnthony BoamMajor-General Thomas Anthony Boam CB CBE was Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong.-Military career:Boam was commissioned into the Scots Guards in 1952. He was deployed to Northern Ireland and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services there in 1973.In 1981 he...
- 1987-1989 Major-General Garry JohnsonGarry JohnsonGeneral Sir Garry Dene Johnson KCB OBE MC was Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe.-Military career:Garry Johnson was commissioned into the 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles in 1956. He served in Malaysia during the Malaysian Emergency...
- 1989-1992 Major General Peter DuffellPeter DuffellLieutenant General Sir Peter Royson Duffell KCB CBE MC was Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong.-Military career:Educated at Dulwich College, Duffell was commissioned into the 2nd Gurkha Rifles in 1960. He served with his Regiment in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency and in Borneo during the...
- 1992-1994 Major-General John FoleyJohn Paul FoleyLieutenant General Sir John Paul Foley KCB, OBE, MC, DL is a retired British general with a long career in military intelligence. He is the great-grandson of Henry Hodgetts-Foley.-Military career:...
- 1994-1997 Major-General Bryan DuttonBryan DuttonMajor-General Bryan Hawkins Dutton CB CBE was the last Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong.-Military career:Dutton was commissioned into the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment in 1963. He was deployed to Northern Ireland and was mentioned in despatches for his service there in 1979 and appointed a...