By Sullivan 23 January , in Soldiers and their units. Do any members of this Forum have any information, or, can suggest reading material that will tell me more about the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps. John's School, Leatherhead, was one of three buried here of this unusual unit which served in the Peninsula as General Birdwood's personal escort and guard. He had served with them in India. That all I have at the moment, but I too will be interest to see in anyone else can throw more light on this unit.
Raised in as a volunteer unit recruited from Europeans. Alliance began in and ended in when the Corps was disbanded. The CPRC stemmed from the formation of a Volunteer Corps in the colony in which effectively mirrored the same movement raised in the UK at about the same time.
Initially the movement consisted of the Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers but by the early twentieth century also had Artillery, Medical, Engineers and Supply and Transport units. In the force became known as the Ceylon Defence Force. I have heard them described as 'Birdwood's private army', but I have no idea of the meaning or the significance of that phrase.
Birdwood took a personal interest in this unit and recommended some of them for commissions in the Indian Army. I may add that when we first landed at ANZAC, with the whole country covered with thick, high bushes in which many Turkish snipers were concealed, my little escort proved itself invaluable at scouting through the scrub.
Later on, when there was another urgent call for officers at home, I got commissions for them all except one. This man came to me and said that he was a cook, and preferred to remain a cook. I said that I was quite agreeable, provided that he was a good cook. When, passing through Colombo a few years ago, all my old tea-planter comrades entertained me at luncheon at the Galle Face Hotel, I was welcomed by my old friend the cook, now a stout and prosperous planter".
