St. Christopher - Nevis Defence Force

Standing Orders

Made Under the Provisions of the Defence Force Ordinance, 1899.

A copy of all Standing Orders for the St. Kitts—Nevis Defence Force made by the Governor shall be furnished to every member of the Force.

It is expected that all ranks in the Force will obey them strictly in all circumstances to which they apply, and that, if any detail of duty is not specially provided by them, their general spirit may always be carried out.

1. The several Companies of the Force shall have Precedence as regards one another as under: -

(a). Mounted Companies
(b). Companies not mounted

Otherwise the relative precedence of Companies shall be determined by the date of formation, and in the event of two or more Companies being enrolled on the same date by the order in which their enrolment is gazetted.

ESTABLISHMENT.

2. The proportion of Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and Buglers will be approximately 1 Officer of the rank of Lieutenant, 1 sergeant, 8 Corporals, 1 Lance Corporal and 1 Bugler for every 20 men, and for Companies of over 25 men an Officer of the rank of captain will be appointed.

The Inspecting Officer of the Force shall hold shall hold an inspection once every three months on a fixed date and may hold in addition such surprise inspections as he may consider necessary.

OFFICERS.

3. Commanding Officers are responsible for the proper maintenance of the discipline of the Company under their command, for the drill thereof, for each member being supplied with the proper uniform, and for their being properly armed and equipped according to regulations.

They are also responsible to Government for the arms. equipment, &c., issued to them for the members of their Companies.

4. Subaltern Officers are zealously to assist and support their Commanding Officer, and, according to seniority, to take his place and perform his duties when he is absent.

The Officer Commanding should give them every opportunity of acquiring a knowledge of their duties and of learning their drill.

5. Officers wishing temporarily to leave their District should obtain leave from their Commanding Officer who will notify to the Adjutant that he has given such leave.

6. An Officer wishing for more than three months leave, or for transfer, promotion or otherwise, must apply for the same to the Commanding Officer of the Force through the Adjutant.

7. Officers will not be confirmed in their appointments until they have satisfied the Governor that they have a satisfactory knowledge of their drill and duties. The Governor will necessarily have regard to the report of the inspecting Officer on this point.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

BUGLERS.

9. Buglers will not be confirmed in their appointment, or able to classify as efficients or extra-efficients, until they have satisfied the Inspecting Officer, or Commanding Officer of the Force, that they are able to sound such bugle calls as shall he published in general orders.

DISCIPLINE.

10. It cannot be too earnestly impressed on all ranks that discipline, and so the usefulness, of any Corps depends essentially upon ready obedience to Officers and Non-commissioned Officer.

It is to be pointed out that such obedience is due not to the individual as such, but to the uniform he wears, and to the appointment, rank or commission he holds.

11. No Company is to assemble under arms for any purpose unconnected with parade, drill, or rifle practice, without the sanction of the Commanding Officer of the Force.

12. Officers and men of the Force shall not, when in uniform, individually or collectively attend political meetings, or join in public political discussions or demonstrations.

13. Meetings shall not be held for the purpose of expressing opinion upon the acts of a Commanding Officer or of recommending any particular course of action nor shall memorials be drawn up to the same effect and no meeting except those called by or under the authority of the Commanding Officers of the Companies who shall be responsible for doing so shall be recognised. Deputations of members of the Defence Force as such to members of the Govern₁ment or the Legislature are strictly prohibited.

14. Officers commanding Companies are permitted, without reference to the Commanding Officer, to give leave to their bands to appear in uniform on any ordinary occasions, but are held responsible that no discredit is thereby brought on the Force. Such leave must not however he given for attendance at any political or semi-political meeting or procession end reference must be made to the Commanding Officer in all cases of public ceremonial or public meetings.

15. Particular attention is to be paid to the following paragraph of the Queen’s Regulations: -

"Commanding Officers are to use their utmost vigilance, to prevent officers and soldiers publishing information relative to the numbers, movements or operations of troops or any military details, and any officer or soldier shall be held personally responsible for reports of this kind which he makes without special permission or for placing the information beyond his control so that it finds its way into unauthorised bands. Furthermore officers and soldiers are forbidden to give publicity to their individual opinions in any tan oar tending to prejudge -question. that may at the time be undergoing official investigation by the military authorities. Anonymous complaints and the publication through the medium of the press of anything calculated to act injuriously on the interests if the service or to excite discontent in the army are also strictly prohibited."

The foregoing paragraph is adopted and will be applicable to the Force, end any person offending against its provisions will, if an officer, be liable to be deprived of his commission, and if a non-commissioned officer or man be liable to be summarily dismissed.

16. Every opportunity will be given for inquiry into well founded complaints and the redress of grievances, but officers and men will he held personally responsible if they prefer complaints of litigious or frivolous character.

Any one having a complaint or representation to make, shall in the first instance, bring it before his Commanding Officer, who if unable to deal with it will lay it before the Commanding Officer of the Force who shall, if necessary, report to the Governor. Complaints of Non-commissioned Officers and men should not, except in cases of unavoidable necessity, be allowed to be put in writing by them, but they should make their statements verbally, to their Company Officer who, should he be unable to deal with the matter, will lay it before the Commanding Officer, who will deal with it as directed above. At inspections Commanding Officers will ascertain whether or not any non-commissioned officer or man has any complaint to make to the Inspecting Officer and ascertain if it is well founded. The Inspecting Officer must always when inspecting inquire if there be any complaints, on which any member of the corps who may have one to prefer shall simply answer "yes" on parade. The inquiry into the merits of the case will invariably be made after parade in the presence of those concerned. All complaints must be made solely on the part of the person seeking redress. No representation expressing a collective opinion or grievance can be entertained, all combinations being subversive of military discipline. Members of the Force of all ranks are strictly forbidden to write either jointly or individually direct to the Governor or other member of the Government any matter in the nature of a complaint, or touching on the working or interior economy of the Force, the Commanding Officer of the Porte and the Administrator being the proper channel of communication for all matters affecting the Force which are intended for members of the Government.

17. When a man has been dismissed or expelled for misconduct or otherwise, a notification of the fact with the cause of dismissal or expulsion shall be inserted in general orders.

18. Officers in uniform shall salute the Governor and Administrator, also every Officer in uniform whether of the Imperial or Colonial Forces of superior rank to themselves. Non-commissioned Officers and men in uniform shall salute the Governor and Administrator, all Commissioned Officers of the Imperial Army and Naval Forces and all Officers of the Colonial Forces when in uniform, or whom they know to be such when out of uniform.

19. The Queen’s Regulations and customs of the Imperial Service shall be taken generally as a guide in all matters not specially dealt with in these standing orders, so far as the same may not be inconsistent with the Defence Force Ordinance 1899 or any Ordinance amending the same.

20. No Non-commissioned Officer or man is ever to attempt to take to pieces any portion of the action of the rifle in his charge nor to loosen or tighten say of the screws. In case of a pull-through jamming in the rifle no attempt is to be made to push it out by extreme force, but the matter is to be at once reported to the Officer Commanding his company, who will take steps to have it skillfully removed without injury to the arm.

21. No Non-commissioned Officer or man is ever to take out his rifle for practice, or fire it, without the special permission of his Commanding Officer.

BOOKS.

22. Commanding Officers shall cause to be kept at the Head Quarters of their Companies a copy of the Defence Force Ordinance 1899 and of the Standing Orders thereunder, a Book containing a duplicate list of their Company and an Order Book in which shall be entered all orders, such orders to be read at the two next parades following the receipt thereof.

23. Commanding Officers are requested to apply to the Adjutant for Drill Book for Officers and Non-commissioned Officers of their Companies viz: -

Standing Orders (one copy for each member)
Queen’s Regulations (one copy to each Officer)
Musketry, Regulations 1898 (one copy to each Officer) Rifle, Bayonet, and Firing Exercises 1898 (one copy to each Officer, and Non-commissioned Officer)
Infantry Drill (one copy to each Officer)
Mounted Infantry Regulations (one copy to each Officer of Mounted Infantry)
Trumpet and Bugle calls for Commanding Officers and Buglers.
The books above mentioned shall be produced at any inspection of the Corps for the information of the Inspecting Officer.

C0RRESP0NDENCE.

24. All correspondence and returns whether forwarded for submission to the Governor or otherwise must be addressed to the Adjutant, and submitted by him to the Commanding Officer of the Force.

25. All official correspondence from Companies, or member, thereof, shall proceed from the Commanding Officer of the Company, or pass through him.

26. All returns, letters, or other communications, when not on printed forms, should be on paper of foolscap size. They shall be furnished by and to the persons and on the dates and forms as laid down in general orders.

27. Officers are on no account to sign returns in blank or when only in part filled.

PARADES, DRILLS AND EXERCISES, INSPFCTIONS, MUSKETRY PRACTICE AND INSTRUCTION.

28. The system of drill and exercise shall be that in existence for the time being in Her Majesty’s Service, the regulations as to which must be strictly adhered to. Any special exemption will be authorised by general orders.

29. Musketry practice and instruction shall be conducted as far as local circumstances permit according to the system adopted in Her Majesty’s Service.

The dress to be worm when going through musketry drills and target practice is to be "drill order" and all loading must be from the pouch (Mounted Infantry from the Bandolier).

"Drill Order" shall mean for infantry, khaki uniform, helmet or field service cap as may be ordered, rifle with sling, bayonet end scabbard, waist belt, frog and pouch.

For Mounted Infantry "drill order" means khaki jacket, Bedford cord breeches, putties, helmet or field service cap as may be ordered, rifle with sling, bayonet and scabbard, waist belt, frog and bandolier.

(a.) A "Drill" in these standing orders to count as such shill mean a drill of at least one hour’s duration by daylight or if at tight by moonlight within three days before and after full moon ‘or in a drill shed artificially lighted and certified by the Adjutant as suitable for the purposes of Company drill.
(b.) No drill shall count unless at least eight Non-commissioned Officers and men (exclusive of band and buglers) and one 0fficer or Sergeant are present in uniform from the commencement to the termination of the drill.
(c.) At least one-third of the drill, required for classification shall be by daylight,
(d.) In all returns of drills sent to the Adjutant it must be distinctly stated whether the drills shown were performed is daylight or otherwise.
(e.) Not more then two drills can be counted in any one day and then only if each drill lasts for at least one hour, there being an interval of at lent half an hour between the drills.
(f.) Necessary returns as to drills will be furnished monthly to the Adjutant in the manner and form given in general orders.
(g.) Drills shall be held at such time and place as may he directed by the Commanding Officer.
(h.) No church or other parade unconnected with drill shall be allowed to count as a drill towards efficiency or extra efficiency.

34. Members on joining the Force must attend twelve drills before they can commence to count toward efficiency.

35. Any member joining the Force who can produce a certificate or prove to the satisfaction of the Officer Commanding his corps that he has served not less than one rear in the last five years in Her Majesty’s Regular, Militia, or Volunteer Forces or in an armed Police Force can commence to count drills towards efficiency at once.

36. It cannot be too frequently impressed on all ranks of Mounted Infantry that they are in no sense Calvary. It must be distinctly recognised that a mounted infantry man fights on foot and that his horse is intended as a means of placing him with rapidity in some desired or chosen position whence be can use his rifle to advantage. It must ever be borne in mind that a mounted infantryman when mounted is practically defenceless; he can never act effectively alone.

STANDARDS OF EXTRA EFFICIENTS AND EFFICIENTS AND CAPITATION GRANT.

37. To qualify for an extra efficient, Officers and men shall in each year commencing on the 1st January: -

(a.) Be provided with proper uniform
(b.) Attend twenty drills as defined by these orders
(c.) Qualify as a second class shot (this is not required for Officers and Buglers and need not be complied with in the first years service).
(d.) Have paid all subscriptions and fines
(e.) Attend all inspections, except in case of illness (when a medical certificate must be provided), absence without leave or some other reason to the satisfaction of the Officer Commanding the Force.

38. To qualify as an efficient, Officers and men shell in each year commencing from the 1st January: -

(a.) Be provided with proper uniform
(b.) Attend sixteen drills as defined by these orders
(c.) Have paid all fines and subscriptions
(d.) Fire sixty rounds at the Annual Musketry Prac^tice. This is nor obligatory for Officers and buglers
(e.) Attend all inspections, except in case of illness (when a medical certificate must be provided), absence with leave or some other reason to the satisfaction of the Officer Commanding the Force.

39. Each Company shall form a Finance Committee consisting of the Officer Commanding and two members to be elected annually, far the purpose of regulating the expenditure of all moneys received. An annual account of receipts and expenditure of all moneys received shall be forwarded by the Officer Commanding the Company to the Adjutant submission to the Administrator as soon as possible after 31st December of each year.

40. Money received from the Government on account of Capitation Grant shall be paid to the Officer Commanding the Company to the credit of the funds of the Company and receipt must be sent for same signed by the members of the Finance Committee. Such money shall, unless by special permission of the Governor, only be expended in the purchase, repair, &e., of uniform, prizes for rifle shooting and ammunition, and in repairs, &e., of butts for the use of the Company.

41. All claims from Officers Commanding Companies for Capitation Grants for their Companies must be Rent to the Adjutant who will check them with records in his possession and satisfy himself that the claims are correct before they are submitted to the Administrator by the Commanding Officer of the Force.

All claims must lie supported by properly certified vouchers as to the number of drills, &e., performed by each man and the Register for Target Practice showing the performances of the men for whom the grant is claimed.

The Target Practice Registers together with the Company Annual Return are to data upon which the proficiency of the men’s shooting will be estimated. Care must be taken therefore that these documents are correctly kept and always forthcoming. Copies of the original Registers will in no case be admitted as vouchers.

All scores must be entered in the Register of Target Practice on the practice ground and in ink. Should any alteration become necessary a fine line will be drawn through the figure which must be corrected and at once verified by the initials of the Officer superintending the practice thus: 2 – 3. A.B. Neglect of this regulation or an erasure may invalidate the entry.

44. The Adjutant will number the Registers issued to each Company on the top left hand corner from upwards thus :- A.1., placing his initials under each number and he will keep in a private book the number of Registers (with date) issued to each Company. If a fresh issue be required by a Company during the year the numbers will run from where the last issue to that Company left off. At the end of the year the Adjutant will see that each of these Registers is returned to him and should one be missing the strictest enquiry wilt be made concerning it.

45. The accounts of Companies shall be subject at any time to inspection by the administrator or an Officer deputed by him for the purpose. They shall also be produced at inspections for the information of the Officer inspecting the Company and must also be placed publicly before the members of the Company by the Finance Committee at least once a year.

DRESS AND EQUIPMENT.

The dress and equipment for the Force will be as follows :-

I. Officers Full-Dress.

(a.) Jacket of scarlet serge made full in the chest, with two breast pockets with pleats and flaps to button with small buttons. Collar two inches high, with square pointed corners, to fasten with two hooks and eyes, to be of white cloth with silver lace, one and a half inches round top and in front. Jacket to have fire buttons in front, and to have two buttens on each sleeve to button and unbutton. Shoulder straps silver with gold embroidered badges of rank.
(b.) Blue cloth trousers with scarlet piping down side seams
(c.) Helmet white with helmet furniture complete.

II. Non-Commissioned Officers and Men’s Full-Dress.

(a.) Jacket as described for Officers, except that no silver lace will be worn and that shoulder straps will be of red serge,
(b.) Blue serge trousers with scarlet piping down the side seams,
(c.) Helmet white with helmet furniture complete.

III. Officers Accoutrements and Equipment.

(a.) Sword in brown leather scabbard,
(b.) Sam Brown sword-belt complete,
(c.) Brown leather sword knot,
(d.) Revolver in brown leather case.
e.) For Officers of Mounted Infantry steel hunting spurs, spur straps, bridle, saddle, numnah, and head-rope.

IV. Non-Commissioned Officers and Men’s Accoutrements and Equipment.

(a.)    Martini Enfield Rifle,
(b.)   Brown leather sling,
(c.)    Bayonet and scabbard,
(d.)    Brown leather waist belt aid frog,
(e.)    Ammunition pouch,
(f.)   For members of the Mounted Infantry steel-hunting spurs, spur straps, bandolier, bridle, saddle, head rope, and numnah,
(g.) Bugle, and Cord for Buglers.

V. Officers Undress.

(a.) Brown kharki jacket, same as described for full dress with the exception of scarlet piping round bottom of collar, collar to be of same material as jacket.
(b.) Trousers, brown kharki serge.
(c.) Helmet with kharki cover or forage cap as may be ordered.
(d.) Mess uniform will be white jacket with silver shoulder straps, with gold embroidered badges of rank, blue cloth trousers, red silk kamerbund. Mounted Officers will wear swan neck box spurs with straps.
(e.) White jackets may be worn by Officers off parade.

VI. Non-Commissioned Officers and Men’s Undress.

(a) Jackets as described for officers, but shoulder straps of same material as jacket.
(b.) Trousers as described for officers.
(c.) Helmet with brown kharki helmet cover or forage cap as may be ordered.

Officers and men of the Mounted Infantry will on occasions when mounted wear Bradford cord breeches, dark blue puttees, steel hunting spurs and straps. Officers may, if my wish, wear brown field-service boots instead of puttees; when the helmet is worn mounted it is to be worn without a spike.

47—(1.) The District of Bassesterre shall be contained in a line drawn from the North end of Greathead Pond to St Peter’s Church, thence to the North end of Shadwell, North of Mardenborough, thence to the sea at Gillow’s Gut.
(2.) The District of Old Road shall commence at Gillow’s Gut and continue to and include Cona Phipps Estate.
(3.) The District of Sandy Point shall commence from Guinea Bay to Brotherson’s Estate, both inclusive.
(4.) The District of Dieppe Bay shall commence from Heldon’s Estate to Hope Estate, both inclusive, including the village of Dieppe Bay.
(5.) The District of Cayon shall commence from Estridge’s Estate to Canada inclusive, and shall include such portions of St. Peter’s as are not included in the Basseterre District.
(6.) Nevis—The whole island.

48. The Standing Orders made on the 10th day of March 1900 are hereby repealed.

Table A: Recruits Course.

Remaining 40 rounds could be used in volleys, and in practising bad shots, &c.

Classification :-

1^st class shot 90 and upwards.
2^nd class shot 60 to 90.
3^rd class shot below 60

 Table B: For trained men who have performed one annual musketry course.

Classification :-