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stationed first at Montreal, and afterwards at Hamilton, on Lake 

 Ontario. Returning to England in 1868, he was appointed Assist- 

 ant-Instructor in Signalling at Chatham. His appointment was 

 changed in 1871 to that of Assistant- Instructor in Telegraphy. 

 General electricity and submarine mining were included in his 

 educational duties, which he carried out with energy and 

 enthusiasm. He liked the work, and, without doubt, he was 

 specially fitted for it. During the succeeding twelve years, under 

 his hands and those of his colleagues, the application of electrical 

 science to military engineering received extraordinary development. 

 He became a Captain on the 3rd August, 1872, and four years 

 later succeeded Colonel Malcolm, R.E., as Instructor in Telegraphy, 

 an important post which he held for nearly seven years. 



To properly appreciate Armstrong's work during these years, it 

 must be remembered that electrical science was comparatively in a 

 backward condition. The instruments in use in the military tele- 

 graph service were obsolete. The methods of exploding charges for 

 demolitions and for land mines were crude in design and uncertain 

 in action. The use of the arc light for purposes of coast defence had 

 scarcely been thought of, although the general subject of defence had 

 been for some years attracting attention, and the desirability of 

 employing booms and submarine explosives for the protection * of 

 ports had been considered. As the result of an exhaustive mintue 

 by Sir John Burgoyne, the Floating Obstruction Committee carried 

 out a number of experiments, and finally decided to introduce the 

 principle of submarine mining. The organisation of the first sub- 

 marine mining company fell to the lot of Armstrong and his staff at 

 Chatham. Powers of invention, energy, and zeal were requisite, and 

 fortunately for the public service he possessed them all. 



The records of the War Office Torpedo Committee, 1871-1876, 

 and the Proceedings of the Royal Engineers Committee, show clearly 

 the important nature of his work in connection with the carefully- 

 conducted experiments that were necessary in order that the appa- 

 ratus might be brought to a high state of efficiency. He introduced 

 the system of testing submarine mines by means of relays. 



In 1879 he, with others, carried out a series of experiments pre- 

 paratory to the employment of the arc light for coast defence. 



He became a Major on the 9th October, 1879, and in January, 

 1883, he was appointed Electrical Adviser to the Board of Trade. 

 The introduction of electric lighting made it necessary to pass an 

 Act of Parliament. He advised the Board on the difficult points 

 that arose in connection with the efficiency of supply and the public 

 safety. 



He succeeded Colonel Malcolm as Inspector of Submarine Defences 

 at the War Office in June, ] 884, and continued also to advise the 



