Bertie ELLY - The Saurian Slayer

Albert ELLY (or Bertie as he was known within the family) was born in Bath on 20 February 1875, the son of Isaac ELLY and his wife Elizabeth. As a teenager Bertie became an errand boy which bought in a few pennies for the family coffers, then at the age of 18 he enlisted with the Royal Marines in Cardiff - Private 6669. He stated his occupation to be “Collier” and getting away to sea had to be better than working in the mines. He was described as being 5ft. 6ins in height with brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion.

For a little over a year Bertie was land based at Walmer, Gosport and Plymouth learning all there was to know about being a Royal Marine. It was in January 1895 that he embarked on HMS Hibernia and in May transferred to HMS Hebe for service in the Mediterranean. It was here that something went dreadfully wrong - whether he was wounded or struck by illness is not known but for some reason he was hospitalised in Gibraltar & Malta and remained on the invalid list for most of the year. In August he returned to Plymouth and six months later began an eighteen month posting on HMS Impregnable, the school ship at Devonport.

HMS Impregnable 

At the end of 1899 he was one of 40 Royal Marines to volunteer for service with the Hong Kong Police. The volunteers embarked in London on the Glen Line Steamer “Glenfarg” and arrived in Hong Kong at the end of March. The afternoon following their arrival saw the Governor inspecting the whole of the Police Force in the compound at Central Police Station. The new recruits could be seen lined up at the rear of the European contingent - it was reported that they had signed on for a period of 5 years on pay of $75 per month.

At this time the Superintendent of the Gaol was also the Captain Superintendent of Police so perhaps it is not surprising to find Police Constables transferring from one department to the other. Bertie was one of 6 Royal Marines/Constables to transfer to the Gaol as Warders on 7 September 1901.

Central Police Station and Victoria Gaol formed part of the same complex - imposing edifices situated on Hollywood Road and Old Bailey Street. Space was always an issue and the year 1900 saw yet another wing being added to the gaol. The annual report mentions that so many prisoners were confined during 1901 that it was frequently necessary to put 3 prisoners together in small cells which were intended for just one person. The overcrowding meant that it was a particularly unhealthy place during the hot, humid summer months. During 1902 there were 91 staff employed at the gaol and of these 86 had to be admitted to hospital at some point during the year - two had to be invalided because of rheumatism whilst a third left with TB. The following year saw an outbreak of plague within the gaol - 6 Indian officers and 1 European contracted the disease. Indian Assistant Warder Isher Singh died on 21 May - fortunately the others survived.

Bertie’s name disappears from the staff lists about this time so maybe he was the officer who was invalided with TB. His name reappears in 1905 when he can be found working for the Godown and Tally Department of the Taikoo Sugar Refinery in Quarry Bay. By 1908 he had married and it was then that he left for Singapore to work for the Tanjong Pagar Dock Board which in 1913 was retitled the Singapore Harbour Board.

Victoria Dock Tanjong Pagar 

Crocodiles in the location of the docks were a problem but with his military background Bertie was a fair shot and was often reported as having bagged himself another speciman.

By 1916 Bertie had moved to Malaya and was working for the F.M.S. Railways as wharfinger at Port Swettenham. 

F.M.S. Railways and Port Swettenham 

 Much of his time was spent collecting funds for the European War Effort to benefit the British Red Cross and St. Johns Ambulance. However, life was not without excitement for at dusk one evening he managed to bag himself another crocodile. This one was reported as being 12 ft in length with a girth of 5ft. 7 ins - a veritable monster.

During 1918 Bertie was elected a Fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute in London.

In 1931 Bertie and Alice Maud made their final voyage home to England. From then on Bertie can be found as a member of the Bath Anglers’ Association. He was always listed with those who managed to catch the biggest fish but I wonder whether any of them ever believed his story about bagging a 12ft. crocodile!

In 1949 the Bath & District Royal Marines Association made a visit to Plymouth and Bertie, as a 74 year old veteran, joined the party. This particular adventurer lived to the ripe old age of 83. He passed away on 31 December 1958 leaving the grand sum of £1622 15s to his widow, Alice Maud. 

PC 119 George BAIRD - a story fit for Indiana Jones

  © Copyright Karl Peet and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

 Tayport - West Lighthouse

George declared his father to be Raemer Baird a seaman from Tayport in Fife.  In 1869 Raemer had been stroke rower in the “Rocke” which came second in the Champion four-oared race held by the Newport Amateur Rowing Club.  George was born on 2 September 1876 in Dundee with the only distinguishing feature being a mole on the back of his neck.  At 14 years of age he was living in Ferry Port on Craig and working in the local jute mill with his elder brother.

The Jute Mills of Dundee 

At the age of 19 George enlisted with the Royal Marines in Dundee and became Private 7720.  His first eight months were spent training in Walmer, Kent before being transferred to the Plymouth Division.  In March 1897 George joined HMS Imperieuse at Esquimalt in British Columbia just in time for the ship’s short cruise south to Acapulco.  Later in the year HMS Imperieuse, which was flagship of the North Pacific squadron, left Esquimalt for a longer journey reported later to have been “full of incident and adventure as any naval man can expect to enjoy during piping times of peace”.  The destination?   The Cocos Island.  Much secrecy surrounded the trip but it was eventually revealed that the intention was to search for buried treasure.  One of the guests on board was Mr Harford who, having previously visited the island, claimed he knew the whereabouts of a cache of buried treasure – he certainly had a chart.  On arrival no time was lost in sending parties of men ashore.  The newspapers reported:

“Digging for thirty millions is fascinating employment and although it was raining hard the watch responded with alacrity when Lieutenant Lee informed them that all were to go ashore and “dig diamonds”. 

The digging was commenced at a spot indicated on the chart and designated by Harford.  At a depth of five or six feet he said a large flat stone or slab would be discovered out of which he had previously chiselled the distinguishing number that it had originally borne.  The slab was found at the depth stated and there was no lack of energy in compliance when Harford next gave the order to dig ten or twelve feet deeper where the tunnel would be struck leading to the cavern of gold and jewels.

The continuous rain made the work extremely difficult but it was nevertheless continued until a depth of ten feet was reached with no disclosures.  At this point the water had so filled the pit that a large overhanging rock was seen to sway from the under-mining and Lt. Lee retired his men just in time to avert a serious fatality.  The rock completely filled the excavation made and more than neutralized the work accomplished.  Instead of blasting out the rock and continuing operations according to the original plan Admiral Palliser ordered a blast in the hillside itself and this being done without result the Imperieuse turned her prow and steamed homeward despite the pleadings from Harford”

A story fit for Indiana Jones !

Most of 1898 was spent in Esquimalt with just a short cruise to Acapulco in May. On 1 April 1899 HMS Imperieuse sailed from Esquimalt for England with final calls at Acapulco, Panama, Guayaquil, Callao, Iquique and Coquimbo arriving in England on 12 August 1899.  George’s next posting was to HMS Vivid and a few weeks later the Admiralty announced that 40 volunteers were required for the Hong Kong Police.  George slapped in his application.

The volunteers embarked on the Glen Line Steamer “Glenfarg” at London on 2 February 1900 and arrived in Hong Kong on 27 March.  The following day at 3.30pm the Governor inspected the whole of the Police Force in the compound at Central Police Station.  The new recruits lined up at the rear of the European contingent and it was reported that they had signed on for a period of 5 years on pay of $75 per month.

These new recruits were needed in order to expand the Hong Kong Police following the leasing of the New Territories to Britain in 1898.   As a temporary measure matsheds had been constructed for use as police stations and by 1900 new stations had been built at Ping Shan, Tai Po and Au Tau.

Au Tau Police Station 

Health became a real issue for anyone posted to these rural stations.  Near to Au Tau Police Station could be found a swampy island which was home to a Leper colony.  Plague was prevalent on Cheung Chau Island and malaria was rife throughout the New Territories.  The Medical Officer recommended that the paddy fields adjoining the Sha Tau Kok Police Station be resumed and reclaimed as the constant stagnant water on them provided a breeding place for the Anopheles mosquito.  A further recommendation was that Eucalyptus trees be planted on the damp areas at the base of hills as this would help drain the swampy grounds. 

George proved himself to be a conscientious and hard working officer whilst his good nature gained him numerous friends.  Sadly George lasted less than 18 months in Hong Kong.  He died of Typhoid fever at 11.30pm on Sunday 15 September 1901.  He was buried in Section 2 of the Hong Kong Colonial Cemetery – Grave 6450 – during the afternoon of 16 September.  The funeral was well attended and the many floral offerings showed how well George was regarded.