Wild Tiger Corps
The Wild Tiger Corps (Thai: กองเสือป่า) was a national paramilitary corps founded in Thailand in 1911 by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI). Inspired by the British Volunteer Force, the unit was intended to maintain civil order.
| Wild Tiger Corps | |
|---|---|
| กองเสือป่า | |
"Maha Saradul Dhvaj" (Great Tiger Flag), the main Standard of the Wild Tiger Corps | |
| Active | 1 May 1911 |
| Disbanded | 1925 |
| Country | Siam |
| Allegiance | King of Siam |
| Type | Paramilitary |
| Role | Close combat Counterintelligence Crowd control Executive protection Force protection Hand-to-hand combat HUMINT Jungle warfare Law enforcement Raiding Reconnaissance Tracking Undercover operation |
| Size | About 4,000 members |
| Part of | Royal Household |
| Garrison/HQ | Sanam Suea Pa, Dusit Palace, Bangkok |
| Motto(s) | Better to die than betray (Thai: เสียชีพอย่าเสียสัตย์) (Shown on the flag) |
| March | Sansoen Suea Pa |
The Wild Tiger Corps was founded on 1 May 1911 by King Vajiravudh.[1]: 4 The corps was meant to be a nationwide paramilitary corps, answerable only to the monarch. At first a ceremonial guard, it became a military force of 4,000 within its first year. Filled with commoners, the king would often mess with them and socialize with them openly. The corps eventually rivalled the army in strength and the civil service in influence. The king even went so far as appointing some to high ranks in the army and nobility.
The Wild Tiger Corps specialize in protecting the king and the royal family, protect the palace, hand-to-hand combat, melee combat with weapons, use of firearms, and some specialize in undercover operations in order to spy on intelligence that could pose a threat to the royal family. However, they also received combat training in infantry style such as hand and arm signals, raid, reconnaissance, tracking, and others related to infantry skills in those period.
While the king socialized with members of the corps, the regular army and aristocrats were deeply dissatisfied. Army officers were not permitted to join the organization.[2]: 148 They saw these new appointments and the corps as a threat to the honour of the army. Combined with the king's spending on new palaces and attention on dramatic productions, the kingdom was deeply in debt and was in danger of financial collapse. This dissatisfaction partially led to the Palace Revolt of 1912.
The unit brought its Thai name from the Sua Pa Maew Mong Scout Corps founded by King Naresuan around 1600.
It also included a junior division known as Luk Sua ("Tiger Cubs") based on the Boy Scout movement.
Ranks edit
The Wild Tiger Corps had a ranking like military rankings.
- Captain-General (นายกองใหญ่) This rank was exclusively for King Vajiravudh. But, in 1915, his majesty created a rank, General of the Wild Tiger Corps (นายพลเสือป่า) for members who are leaders of the corps. The rank was equivalent to Brigadier General.
- Colonel (นายกองเอก)
- Lieutenant Colonel (นายกองโท)
- Major (นายกองตรี)
- Captain (นายหมวดเอก)
- Lieutenant (นายหมวดโท)
- Second Lieutenant (นายหมวดตรี)
- Acting Second Lieutenant (ว่าที่นายหมวดตรี)
- Third Lieutenant (นายหมู่ใหญ่), This rank was the lowest commission officer rank but wearing uniforms like enlist rank.
- Sergeant (นายหมู่เอก), The highest rank of the enlisted.
- Corporal (นายหมู่โท)
- Lance Corporal (นายหมู่ตรี)
- Corp (พลเสือป่า)
Legacy edit
The ranks were reused in Volunteer Defense Corps but the Insignia are different.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Boontanondha, Thep. "King Vajiravudh and the Making his Military Image". Academia. Paper presented at the 8th Singapore Graduate Forum on SE Asian Studies. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
- ^ Kesboonchoo Mead, Kullada (2004). The Rise and Decline of Thai Absolutism (Paper ed.). London: RoutledgeCurzon. ISBN 978-0-415-65407-4. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
Sources edit
- Thai Scouting – History