The departure of the Gold Coast Regiment from my Command furnishes me with a fitting opportunity to place on record my high appreciation of the distinguished and gallant services which the Gold Coast Regiment has never failed to render me within the period that I have had the honour to command Pamforce.

The greatest testimony to the excellence of the services rendered by the Gold Coast Regiment is to be found in the fact that during the period which the Regiment has formed an integral part of Pamforce, it has assisted in reducing the enemy forces by at least one-half of his former strength, and the measure of the achievement of the Regiment is the contrast between the strength of the enemy force when Pamforce was formed and his strength to-day.

I would desire at this juncture to pay a high tribute of my regard to the Officer Commanding, Officers, British Non-Commissioned Officers, and the Native Ranks, for the initiative, resource, and daring which has characterized the service of all during this particularly difficult phase of the campaign, while I would wish expressly to place on record my high appreciation and gratitude for the able and efficient support that has been so loyally extended to me by Colonel R. A. De B. Rose, D.S.O., to whose soldierly qualities I feel I owe much.

I bid good-bye to the Regiment with deep regret, but nevertheless with confidence that, no matter in what other theatre of war the Regiment may be called on to serve, the Gold Coast Regiment will ever prove itself worthy both of the confidence of King and Country by upholding the highest traditions of British arms, and the sacred heritage of the Flag of Saint George.

I wish you all God-speed, good luck, and a safe return, and so farewell.

No. 5276/M.P.11393/18.

Sir,

On the occasion of your return to the Colony with the first portion of the Gold Coast Regiment which is now on its way back from active service in East Africa, I am directed by the Governor to convey to you and to ask you to transmit to the Officers, European and Native Non-commissioned Officers and the men of the Gold Coast Expeditionary Force under your command, the thanks of the Government of the Gold Coast for the brilliant and gallant services which they have rendered, and His Excellency’s warm congratulations to them on their safe return.

2. The fine reputation which the Regiment won for itself in Togoland and subsequently in the Kameruns has, I am to add, been confirmed and enhanced by its behaviour during the campaign in East Africa; and the whole Colony is proud of the record of the Regiment which bears its name and is recruited from its inhabitants.

3. The heavy losses in Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and men which the Regiment has sustained since it left the Colony on the 6th July, 1916, though they are the inevitable result of its prowess, are deeply mourned in the Gold Coast and its Dependencies, and I am to take this opportunity of expressing His Excellency’s heartfelt sympathy with you and with the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and men of the Expeditionary Force, which you have commanded with such conspicuous success.

4. His Excellency hopes that the Regiment will now, for a period, be able to enjoy the rest which it has so nobly earned, but that, if the war continues, a further opportunity may be afforded to it, at no very distant date, once more to render active and valuable assistance to the Empire,

That this Council do record its proud appreciation of the reputation as a fighting force won by the Gold Coast Regiment in East Africa; and that this Council do request His Excellency to convey to Lieutenant-Colonel Rose, D.S.O., and to the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and men of the Regiment its congratulations on the distinguished record of service in the field, which the Regiment has maintained throughout the Great War, and its deep sympathy with all ranks in the heavy casualties which the Regiment has sustained.