The China Gun Lascars 1841-1892

Abstract

During the first Opium War four companies of Gun Lascars were sent from India in 1841 to serve with the Third Brigade under Lord Saltoun as part of the British Expeditionary Force and were later used to reinforce the garrison at Hong Kong. One company of the Gun Lascars stayed after the war and served with the Royal Artillery at Hong Kong. The Gun Lascars expanded over the years to include a company raised in 1881 and a company later raised for Singapore. The paper looks at the history of China Gun Lascars that served for over five decades before being re-formed in 1892 as part of Asiatic Artillery.