Officers have been accustomed to stay with the Battery for extended periods, which no doubt has had a Jgreat teal to do with its efficiency and the spirit of eameraderie which exists. Also, they have been particularly fortunate is securing off-Jcers with expert gunnery know-edge. Amongst these has _been Brig. Gen. Macnaghten, a Regular} Gunner. On coming to Shanghai joined the Battery in the ranks, Jas is the custom, but soon was Promoted. Since then, despite what ry duties, he has had period in command' of the Battery, and eventually" was appointed Commander S.V.C. Artillery. Now, however, he has gone on the Ri serve. 'At "present the Battery it commanded by Capt. H. B. Lobb, fan officer with war service, who. also has been with the unit for} many years. When a previous tory was written, over ten. years jaga, Capt. Lobb, then a 2nd Lieutenant, was ju' command of the Battery Signals, "a newly-formed section which had attained to a very high state of efficiency and which had proved a most attractive recruiting agent, No history of the Battery would complete without some mention of one of its most loyal members, who, to the regret of all in his time, has passed on—Hon. Lieut. T. Mellows. The veteran had a Te-markable career. First in the val Navy, he Was released for a spell when' there was an urgent demand for mounted police in South Africa, in which connection he became a' very fine horseman. Eventually retiring from the Navy, he came: to Shanghai and entered the Customs service, becoming Superintendent in charge of the River Police. He had. decorations for the naval operations of Alex: andria and the Egyptian coast,
horsemanship attracted him to. the! His "Tnowledge of gunnery "and Battery, which he joined in 1891 and ina few years lie was appoint ed. Sergeant-Major, which rank he held until he retired in 1921. In that long period, probably no other! man influenced" the Battery to such an extent as the veteran 'Sergeant-Major, whose tact, energy, Hi and. blue sea' traditions " always were an inspiration to those who had to work with him on the guns. Recognition of his splendid service accorded on his ret cly promotion to the honorary bank of jeutenant. One who knew" him timately, however, and used sit for hours on end listening to his yarns, can tell that he had one Possession which he prized more than anything. He had but. one sword throughout all his service with the Battery, and there was nothing cleaner in the whole Corps. He gave it the rest of his equipment with tears in his eyes. A few days later, it came back to him, silvered, burnished, and suitably inseribed—a gift, wwe fondled it dozen times day, and often: the visitor would walk ju unannounced "to find the fine old fellow dozing before fire with his beloved sword on hie knees.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.