BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN INDIA, 1818-1826
Kirkee--Seetabuldee--Nagpore--Maheidpore--Corygaum--Nowah--Bhurtpore
--Hindoostan--India.
THE SECOND MAHRATTA WAR, 1817-18.
The conclusion of the First Mahratta War of 1803-04 left us
nominally at peace with all the ruling Sovereigns in Central and
Southern India. At the same time, the result of that campaign had
in no way impaired their power for evil. Their armies were, so
far as numbers went, enormously powerful, and in a measure well
organized and equipped. In most cases they had been drilled by
European instructors, and certainly for irregular warfare they
constituted a very formidable foe. Although they had accepted
peace, it was well known that there was not a ruling Prince
in India who would not willingly see our downfall; and in the
event of war with one, it was doubtful who we should not find
arrayed against us. The Governor-General, then, had to prepare
for an alliance of all the central and probably of one or more
of the southern rulers. Our possible enemies were the Peishwa,
the hereditary chief of the Mahratta Confederacy; Scindia,
the Maharajah of Gwalior; Holkar, the Maharajah of Indore;
the Maharajah of Nagpore; the Nizam of Hyderabad, in whose
dominions there was considerable disaffection; Ameer Khan, a
Moslem freebooter, who, though possessing neither territory nor
population, had nevertheless a powerful and well-disciplined force
at his command; and, lastly, the Pindarees.
It must be borne in mind that at this time we had Subsidiary
Forces, composed of native troops, maintained by the different
rulers, but officered by Englishmen, at Hyderabad, Nagpore, Poona,
and Gwalior; and through these officers, as well as through the
Residents at the Courts of these Princes, we were well able to
judge of the numbers and value of the forces that could be brought
against us. These forces were estimated to be as follows:
+------------+------------+-------------+---------+
| | CAVALRY. | INFANTRY. | GUNS. |
+------------+------------+-------------+---------+
|Scindia | 14,250 | 16,250 | 140 |
|Holkar | 20,000 | 7,900 | 107 |
|The Peishwa | 28,000 | 13,800 | 37 |
|Nagpore | 15,700 | 17,000 | 85 |
|Ameer Khan | 12,000 | 10,000 | 80 |
|The Nizam | 25,000 | 20,000 | 240 |
|Pindarees | 15,000 | 1,500 | 20 |
+------------+------------+-------------+---------+
With but few exceptions, the cavalry was undisciplined and
unorganized, but well mounted, and the men as a rule admirable
swordsmen. To combat this possible alliance, the Marquess
of Hastings determined to utilize the troops of all three
Presidencies, and to take the field in person, and so assume the
direction of the operations. The Bengal army would deal with
Scindia, and then push to the south and west to assist the troops
of the other Presidencies. The Madras troops, with Secunderabad
as their base, after assuring the neutrality of the Nizam, would
operate from the south, whilst the Bombay army was left to deal
with the Peishwa, whose disaffection was beyond doubt.
The Bengal army was composed of four divisions, under the personal
command of the Marquess of Hastings. These were commanded
respectively by Major-Generals Browne, Donkin, Marshal, and Sir
David Ochterlony. Each division comprised one cavalry and two
infantry brigades. Of the troops which composed that army, few
regiments are left. The 24th Light Dragoons were disbanded shortly
after the campaign, and the majority of the native regiments fell
away from their allegiance in the unfortunate rebellion of 1857. Of
the regiments which went to make up the First Division, the 87th
(Royal Irish Fusiliers) still survive; of the Second Division,
the 8th (Royal Irish) Hussars, the 14th (West Yorkshires), and
Gardner's Horse are yet on the rolls of the army. The 67th
(Hampshires) and the 2nd Gurkhas, with Skinner's Horse, also
survive.
The Madras army was under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir
Thomas Hislop. Of its cavalry brigade no representatives remain;
of its four infantry brigades we have many survivors--first and
foremost, the Royal Scots and the Royal Dublin Fusiliers; then the
1st Madras Europeans, which, with the 17th Madras Infantry (now
the 93rd Burmah Infantry), composed the First Brigade. The Second
Brigade was made up of three light infantry regiments (native), of
which the 63rd Palamcottah Light Infantry and the 74th Punjabis are
with us. There were, all told, two regiments of British and six of
native infantry.
The Hyderabad Division, commanded by Major-General Doveton,
comprised a battalion of the Royal Scots and ten regiments of
Madras infantry; whilst the Hyderabad Subsidiary Brigade was made
up of a wing of the 1st Madras Europeans (now the Royal Dublins)
and three native regiments. Sir John Malcolm commanded the Third
Division of the Madras army. It comprised a regiment of Madras
cavalry, four battalions of Madras infantry, 4,000 Mysorean horse,
and three regiments of what were so long known as the Hyderabad
Contingent.
In the neighbourhood of Poonah was Sir Lionel Smith, with the 65th
(York and Lancasters), the 1st Bombay Europeans (now the 2nd Royal
Dublins), and four regiments of Bombay infantry.
Watching events in Guzerat was General Sir H. Grant Keir, with
the 17th Lancers, the 47th (Loyal North Lancashires), and four
battalions of Bombay native infantry; whilst at Nagpore was
Colonel Adams, with a regiment of Bengal and one of Madras cavalry,
and seven battalions of Madras infantry.
Reserve Bombay Division (Brigadier Munro): 22nd Light Dragoons,
7th Madras Cavalry, a battalion composed of the flank companies of
the 34th, 53rd, 69th, and 84th Regiments, the 1st Bombay European
Regiment, and three battalions of Bombay sepoys.
Prior to the army being put in motion, we had as garrisons at the
various capitals, or in their immediate vicinity, the following
troops:
At Secunderabad, watching the Nizam, a wing of the Madras European
Regiment and three battalions of Madras sepoys.
At Poonah, watching the Peishwa, a detachment of the Bombay
European Regiment and four battalions of Bombay sepoys, whilst
another detachment of the 65th Foot (York and Lancaster) was on the
march as a reinforcement.
At Nagpore were the 6th Bengal Cavalry, the Madras Bodyguard, and
two battalions of sepoys.
KIRKEE, NOVEMBER 5, 1817.
This honour is borne on the colours of the
Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
102nd Grenadiers.
113th Infantry.
112th Infantry.
123rd Outram's Rifles.
The attitude of the Peishwa's advisers left little room for doubt
as to their intentions, and Colonel Burr, who was in command
at Poona, took the necessary steps to secure the safety of the
Resident and to maintain a hold on the capital of the Mahratta
Confederacy. He concentrated his forces at Kirkee, where on
November 5 he was attacked by the whole of the Peishwa's army.
From a study of the casualties, it would appear that the British
regiment was not engaged seriously, and there is no doubt that the
brunt of the fighting fell on the Bombay sepoys, who behaved with
exemplary steadiness. The result of the day was a serious check to
the Peishwa's forces, our losses being inconsiderable. General
Lionel Smith now pushed up reinforcements, and assumed command at
Poona, where, on the 17th of the month, a second action was fought,
known as the Battle of Poona; and though this is not borne on the
colours of the regiments engaged, the troops present were awarded
the India medal, with a clasp inscribed "Poona." Those who were at
both engagements received one clasp, with the names of both actions
engraved.
CASUALTIES AT THE ACTION AT KIRKEE, NOVEMBER 5, 1817.
+----------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | - | - | 2 |
|Dublin Fusiliers | - | - | 1 | 1 |
|102nd Grenadiers | - | 1 | 1 | 8 |
|112th Infantry | - | - | 4 | 10 |
|113th Infantry | - | - | 12 | 37 |
|123rd Outram's Rifles | - | - | 1 | 7 |
+----------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
CASUALTIES AT THE ACTION AT POONA, NOVEMBER 17, 1817.
+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | - | - | 4 |
|65th York and Lancaster | - | - | - | 2 |
|Dublin Fusiliers | - | 1 | 5 | 13 |
|105th Lt. Inf. | - | - | 1 | 10 |
|107th Pioneers | - | - | 2 | 4 |
|112th Infantry | - | - | 2 | 7 |
|113th Infantry | - | - | 3 | 10 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
SEETABULDEE, NOVEMBER 26, 1817.
This distinction is borne on the colours and appointments of the
Madras Bodyguard and the 61st Pioneers. Colonel Hopeton Scott, who
was in command of the troops at Nagpore when hostilities broke
out, withdrew his force to the fortified hill of Seetabuldee, in
the immediate neighbourhood of Nagpore. He was more fortunately
situated than Colonel Burr at Poona, inasmuch as he had under
his command a regiment of Bengal cavalry, whose commanding
officer was one of those men not rarely met with in our Indian
army--a born leader of irregular troops, with no idea of shirking
responsibility. On November 26 Colonel Scott found himself
attacked by the whole of the Nagpore army, numbering some 18,000
men, with thirty-six guns. His position was naturally a strong
one, and the attacks were never pressed home; but his situation
was critical, owing to the immense numbers opposed to his small
force. The Bengal cavalry were by no means averse to testing the
metal of the Nagporeans, and, in spite of express orders not to
provoke a conflict, their commander, Captain Fitzgerald, took every
opportunity of charging into the masses of the enemy whenever
occasion offered, and finally charged down on the flank of the
Nagpore infantry as they were recoiling from an attempt to carry
the hill by storm, and converted a momentary confusion into a rout.
In this he was supported by a small detail of the Madras Bodyguard.
Colonel Scott's men had sustained a series of attacks extending
over eighteen hours, and a glance at the list of casualties shows
that the honour "Seetabuldee" was well earned. More the pity that
the cavalry regiment which bore the major part in that day's work
no longer exists.
CASUALTIES AT SEETABULDEE.
+---------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+---------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | 1 | 2 | 15 |
|Madras Bodyguard | - | - | - | - |
|6th Bengal Cav. | - | 3 | 23 | 24 |
|61st Pioneers | 2 | 3 | 55 | 99 |
|1st Batt. 20th Bengal Inf. | 1 | 3 | 15 | 46 |
|Resident's Esc. | - | 1 | 10 | 33 |
|Major Jenkin's Levies | - | 3 | 8 | 13 |
+---------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
NOTE.--It is worthy of remark that the total strength of the
force engaged at Seetabuldee amounted to 1,315 of all ranks, and
the casualties were 355 killed and wounded--a striking testimony
to the steadiness and devotion of the Sepoys of those days.
NAGPORE, DECEMBER 16, 1817.
On learning of the action at Seetabuldee, Brigadier Doveton pushed
on to reinforce Scott, and on December 16 was fought this action,
which is borne as an honorary distinction on the colours of the
Royal Scots.
6th Jat Light Infantry.
2nd Q.O. Sappers and Miners.
61st Pioneers.
62nd Punjabis.
81st Pioneers.
83rd Light Infantry.
86th Infantry.
88th Infantry.
97th Infantry.
The brunt of the fighting fell on the Royal Scots, who have ever
shown themselves to the front in our Indian wars, and on the Berar
Infantry, who were then fighting against their own ruler. The
honour is borne by one of the representatives of Russell's brigade,
yet, if contemporary returns are to be trusted, all the Hyderabad
regiments did well at Nagpore.
With the repulse of the Nagporean army, Doveton's troubles were
not at an end. A body of 300 Arabs withdrew into the fort, and
before they surrendered the English commander was compelled to
open a regular siege, in the course of which many casualties were
incurred. On December 24 the Arabs came to terms, and we took
possession of the city.
CASUALTIES AT THE ENGAGEMENTS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF NAGPORE,
NOVEMBER 16-24, 1817.
+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | - | 5 | 19 |
|Roy. Engineers | - | - | 5 | 7 |
|6th Jat Light Infantry | - | - | 2 | 11 |
|61st Pioneers | - | - | - | - |
|62nd Punjabis | - | - | 2 | 6 |
|Royal Scots | 1 | - | 29 | 97 |
|81st Pioneers | - | - | - | - |
|83rd Light Inf. | - | - | 14 | 20 |
|86th Infantry | - | - | 1 | 5 |
|88th Infantry | - | - | - | - |
|97th Deccan Inf. | - | - | 12 | 45 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
MAHEIDPORE, DECEMBER 23, 1817.
This battle honour, which commemorates the only general action
fought by the main army during the course of the Second Mahratta
War, is borne on the colours and appointments of the
Royal Scots.
Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
28th Light Cavalry.
2nd Queen's Own Sappers and Miners.
63rd Light Infantry.
74th Punjabis.
87th Punjabis.
88th Infantry.
91st Light Infantry.
94th Russell's Infantry.
95th Russell's Infantry.
The distinction was granted in recognition of the services of
the army under Sir Thomas Hislop, which resulted in the total
defeat of the army belonging to the Maharajah Holkar, of Indore,
at Maheidpore on December 22, 1817. Holkar's army far outnumbered
the English in cavalry, as well as in guns. We captured no less
than sixty-five of the latter. The Holkar force had the reputation
of being well trained. For many years the Maharajah had availed
himself of the services of English and French instructors, but on
the outbreak of hostilities he had foully murdered all the English
in his employ, and their absence, no doubt, shook the confidence
of the men, who for so long had been accustomed to European
leadership. From the returns it would appear that the 27th Light
Cavalry (then the 3rd Madras Cavalry) suffered some casualties on
this occasion.
CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF MAHEIDPORE, DECEMBER 22, 1817.
+---------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+---------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Scots | 1 | 2 | 8 | 32 |
|Royal Dublin Fusiliers | 1 | 1 | 7 | 51 |
|Bombay Art. | - | 3 | 5 | 12 |
|28th Light Cav. | - | - | 4 | 8 |
|29th Deccan Horse | - | - | 19 | 47 |
|63rd Light Inf. | 1 | 3 | 26 | 71 |
|74th Punjabis | - | 2 | 14 | 34 |
|87th Punjabis | - | 1 | 1 | 11 |
|88th Infantry | - | 1 | 14 | 52 |
|91st Light Inf. | - | 6 | 16 | 69 |
|94 and 95th Russell's Inf. | - | 1 | 12 | 61 |
+---------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
CORYGAUM, JANUARY 1, 1818.
This distinction is borne on the colours of the 34th Poona Horse
and 102nd Grenadiers. It commemorates a very gallant stand made
by a small body of Bombay Sepoys during the Second Mahratta War,
in face of vastly superior forces. Colonel Burr, who was left in
command of the troops at Poona after the defeat of the Peishwa in
November, found that, owing to various circumstances, that army,
though defeated, was by no means demoralized, and there was reason
to fear a fresh attack. He therefore ordered Captain Staunton, who
was at Seroor, some fifty miles distant, to fall back on Poona.
Staunton had with him a couple of guns of the Madras Artillery,
with twenty-six English gunners, 500 of the 2nd (now 102nd)
Grenadiers, and 250 of what was then known as the Reformed Horse
(now the 34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse). Staunton
moved off on receiving Colonel Burr's orders, but on nearing
Corygaum found himself in the presence of the main body of the
Peishwa's army, estimated at 18,000 men, with thirty-six guns.
The village lent itself to defence, though the position was much
cramped, especially for the large number of horses attached to his
little force. Staunton knew that Sir Lionel Smith was within a
couple of days' march, and that if he could hold out for that time
he was sure of relief. He had taken the precaution to move with
double the usual supply of ammunition, and he was seconded by eight
British officers as gallant as himself.
On the evening of December 30 he occupied the village, which he
proceeded to strengthen so far as was possible. The want of water
was a great drawback, and, as I have said before, the large number
of horses within such a confined space impeded the movements of the
men. The fight was an exceedingly fierce one. The enemy on more
than one occasion obtained an entrance into the village, and were
able to seize the temporary hospital. The wounded were cruelly
massacred, but a fine charge led by Dr. Wylie enabled Staunton to
regain possession of this building. On another occasion during an
assault by an overwhelming number of the enemy one of the two guns
was lost, but a counter-attack retrieved this loss. For thirty-six
hours the little force held its own. Five out of the eight officers
were _hors de combat_, only six men were left to work the guns, and
the sepoy battalion had lost 150 out of 500 men. On the evening of
New Year's Day the fire of the assailants began to slacken, and
ere nightfall it had died away. News had reached Sir Lionel Smith
of the hard straits of Staunton's force, and he at once moved
off to relieve him. The Peishwa's army was in no mood to face a
well-organized British army, and it hurriedly withdrew from before
Corygaum, leaving Staunton with the consciousness of having placed
on record one of the finest feats of arms in the history of the
Bombay army. Both Staunton and Dr. Wylie ultimately received the
Companionship of the Bath for their services, and a monument was
erected at Corygaum to commemorate the fight.
CASUALTIES AT THE ACTION OF CORYGAUM, JANUARY 1, 1818.
+------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Bombay Art. | 1 | - | 12 | 8 |
|Poona Horse | - | 3 | 40 | 24 |
|102nd Grenadiers | 1 | 3 | 50 | 105 |
+------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
NOWAH, JANUARY 21, 1819.
This name is inscribed on the colours of the 94th and 95th
Russell's Infantry, and commemorates a little-known episode in
the history of our dealings with the peoples of Southern India.
A mud fort held by a rebellious chief defied the power alike of
the Hyderabad Nizam and the British Resident. It became necessary
to bring the recalcitrant chief to reason, and the Resident
despatched a portion of the Hyderabad contingent to reduce the
fort. Fortunately, the operations were attended with no loss
of English life, but a glance at the casualty list shows that
the fighting was far more severe than in many actions which are
recognized on the colours of better-known regiments than the direct
representatives of Russell's brigade.
CASUALTIES AT THE SIEGE AND ASSAULT OF NOWAH, JANUARY, 1819.
+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|94th Russell's Infantry | - | 1 | 12 | 58 |
|95th Russell's I. | - | 2 | 3 | 56 |
|96th Berar Inf. | - | 1 | 6 | 44 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
MEDAL FOR THE SECOND MAHRATTA WAR.
For their services in this campaign the survivors were awarded the
India General Service Medal, the issue of which was notified in the
_London Gazette_ of February 28, 1851. The following clasps were
issued with the medal:
KIRKEE.--For the action on November 5, 1817.
POONA.--For the engagement on November 17, 1817.
Those who were present at both actions received one clasp, engraved
"Kirkee--Poona."
SEETABULDEE.--For the action fought by Colonel Scott on November
26, 1817.
NAGPORE.--For General Doveton's action on December 16.
Those present at both engagements received but one clasp, inscribed
"Seetabuldee--Nagpore."
MAHEIDPORE.--For the action fought by the army under the command
of Sir Thomas Hislop on December 21.
CORYGAUM.--For the gallant defence of the village of Corygaum by
Colonel Staunton on January 1, 1818.
BHURTPORE, JANUARY, 1826.
This battle honour has been conferred on the following corps:
11th Hussars.
16th Lancers.
West Yorkshire.
East Lancashire.
Royal Munster Fusiliers.
1st Skinner's Horse.
1st Prince of Wales's Own Sappers and Miners.
2nd Queen's Own Rajput Light Infantry.
1st Brahmins.
3rd Brahmins.
4th Rajputs.
1st Gurkhas.
2nd Gurkhas.
9th Gurkhas.
It commemorates the services rendered by the forces employed at the
siege and capture of the famous fortress which twenty years before
had successfully defied Lord Lake. In 1803 the Maharajah had thrown
in his lot with the Mahratta Princes, and Bhurtpore was a depot
of arms for the armies of Holkar. Lord Lake, after his successful
actions at Deig, Delhi, and Laswarree, determined to effect its
capture. On January 3, 1804, he appeared before the fortress
with a force which included the 22nd (Cheshire), 65th (York and
Lancaster), 71st (Highland Light Infantry), 76th (West Ridings),
and the 1st Bengal European Regiment (Royal Munster Fusiliers).
On January 9 the place was assaulted, and we were driven back,
with a loss of 5 officers and 64 men killed, 23 officers and 364
men wounded. On the 21st of the same month a second assault was
repulsed, our losses being 18 officers and 569 men killed and
wounded. The siege was now carried on more systematically, but with
a very inadequate train, and on February 20 and 21 two assaults
were delivered, which cost us no less than 51 officers and 1,771
men _hors de combat_. Lake then raised the siege.
In 1826, when the British army once more appeared before its walls,
the army of the Maharajah of Bhurtpore, remembering the successful
defence in 1804, felt pretty confident of holding its own against
the British. On our side, the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Combermere,
a Peninsular veteran, determined to leave nothing to chance.
Two divisions were assembled--one at Agra, under Major-General
Jasper Nicolls; the second at Muttra, under Major-General Reynell,
C.B.; whilst Lord Combermere assumed the chief command in
person. The cavalry division was composed of two brigades, under
Colonel Sleigh, of the 11th Hussars, who was given the rank of
Brigadier-General.
First Cavalry Brigade--Brigadier Murray (16th Lancers): 16th
Lancers, 6th, 8th, and 9th Bengal Cavalry.
Second Cavalry Brigade--Brigadier Childers (11th Hussars): 11th
Hussars, 3rd, 4th, and 10th Bengal Cavalry.
The infantry was composed as follows:
FIRST DIVISION: MAJOR-GENERAL T. REYNELL, C.B.
First Brigade--Brigadier M'Combe (14th Foot): 14th Foot (West
Yorkshire), 23rd and 63rd Bengal Infantry.
Fourth Brigade--Brigadier Whitehead (4th Bengal Infantry): 32nd,
41st, and 58th Bengal Infantry.
Fifth Brigade--Brigadier Paton, C.B. (18th Bengal Infantry): 6th,
18th, and 60th Bengal Infantry.
SECOND DIVISION: MAJOR-GENERAL JASPER NICOLLS, C.B.
Second Brigade--Brigadier Edwardes (14th Foot): 59th Foot (East
Lancashire), 11th and 31st Bengal Native Infantry.
Third Brigade--Brigadier Adams (14th Bengal Native Infantry):
33rd, 36th, and 37th Bengal Native Infantry.
Sixth Brigade--Brigadier Fagan (15th Bengal Native Infantry):
15th, 21st, and 25th Bengal Native Infantry.
The artillery of the force comprised eight horse and twelve field
batteries, with a siege-train of 112 pieces, including twelve
mortars of 10-inch and fifty-eight of 8-inch calibre. The siege
operations were under the directions of a very distinguished
Company's officer, Brigadier Anbury, C.B.
On December 9, 1825, the two columns advanced from Muttra and Agra
respectively, and on the 28th of the month the first battery opened
fire. On January 17 the breaches were reported practicable, and the
Commander-in-Chief determined to assault, Major-General Reynell
being placed in command of the three storming columns, which were
detailed as follows:
Right Column--Colonel Delamain: 200 of the Munster Fusiliers, the
58th Bengal Infantry, and 2nd Sirmoor Gurkhas.
Centre Column--Brigadier M'Combe (14th Foot): Four companies of
the 14th (West Yorkshire), the 23rd and 63rd Bengal Infantry.
Left Column--Brigadier Whitehead: Two companies of the 14th Foot
(West Yorkshire), the 18th and 60th Bengal Infantry.
Left Column--Brigadier Paton: Four companies of the 14th Foot
(West Yorkshire), the 6th and 41st Bengal Infantry.
Reserve--Brigadier Whitehead: Two companies of the 14th Foot
(West Yorkshire), the 21st and 32nd Bengal Infantry.
The remainder of the army was drawn up to the left of the fortress
to afford general aid. The defence was most stubborn, all three
commanders of the assaulting columns being badly wounded; but
the men of the 14th (the "Old Bucks" of those days, now the West
Yorkshire) would not be denied, and ere sunset the fortress was in
our possession. The individual losses of the existing regiments
were:
+------------------------+-----------------------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _British Troops._ |-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|11th Hussars | - | 1 | 2 | 7 |
|16th Lancers | - | 1 | 1 | 5 |
|Bengal Artillery | - | 2 | 8 | 11 |
|Bengal Enginrs. | 2 | 7 | 13 | 30 |
|14th W. Yorks | 2 | 7 | 31 | 99 |
|59th E. Lancs | 2 | 8 | 16 | 97 |
|101st Munster Fusiliers | - | 3 | 10 | 42 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
+-------------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Native Troops._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|2nd Q.O. Rajput Light Infantry | 1 | 3 | 11 | 20 |
|3rd Brahmans | - | - | 1 | 11 |
|1st Gurkhas | - | 1 | 4 | 21 |
|2nd Gurkhas | - | - | 3 | 15 |
|1st Skinner's Horse | - | - | 1 | 7 |
+-------------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
NOTE.--Of the many native infantry regiments above enumerated
the 15th have become the 2nd Queen's Own Light Infantry, the
32nd the 3rd Brahmans, the 33rd is the 4th Rajputs, and the 63rd
the 9th Gurkhas. The remainder, with the exception of the Gurkha
regiments, were lost to us in 1857.
The prize-money distributed to the troops was considerable, but the
enormous sums received by the Commander-in-Chief, compared with the
pittance given to the private, provoked not a little indignation.
At Seringapatam in 1792 Lord Cornwallis and General Meadows handed
over their share for distribution amongst the non-commissioned
officers and privates--an example which was not followed either
by Lord Harris at Seringapatam in 1799 or by Lord Combermere at
Bhurtpore. At the request of the officers of the force, a sum of
£5,000 was retained for distribution amongst the widows of their
comrades who had fallen in action.
DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZE-MONEY.
Commander-in-Chief £59,500
General Officers £5,900
Lieutenant-Colonels £1,420
Majors £950
Captains £476
Subalterns £238
Sergeants £8
Privates £4
_Native Ranks._
Subadars rupees 322
Jemidars " 282
Havildars " 53
Sepoys " 26
HINDOOSTAN.
This honour has been conferred on the following regiments for their
gallant services in the earlier campaigns which consolidated our
power in our great Indian dependency:
8th Hussars.
Leicesters.
Worcesters.
Oxford Light Infantry.
Highland Light Infantry.
Seaforth Highlanders.
West Riding Regiment.
_8th Hussars._--In the month of March, 1825, the Royal Irish
Hussars were authorized to add the harp as well as the battle
honours "Laswarree" and "Hindoostan" to their colours and
appointments. The 8th had been present with Lord Lake in his
campaign against the Mahrattas; they had served against the
Rohillas in Bundulcund, and were with Rollo Gillespie in the
gallant attack on the Gurkha fort of Kalunga, where a detachment of
100 dismounted men lost half its numbers. They had done right good
work at the Siege of Hattrass, and assisted in many long-forgotten
but arduous campaigns, in which our troops were so constantly
engaged during the earlier years of the foundation of the Indian
Empire.
_17th (Leicestershire Regiment)._--The honour was bestowed on the
old 17th Foot on June 25, 1825, in recognition of the services of
the regiment between the years 1804 and 1823. The 17th had been
with Wolfe at Louisburg, but had missed the hard fighting in the
Peninsula. In the course of its twenty years' Indian service it
did right good work in several of those little-known campaigns
in which there was hard work and little glory. At the storming
of the fort at Chumar, in Bundulcund, it lost 2 officers and 56
men killed and wounded. In the following year (October, 1807), at
the operations in connection with the reduction of the fort of
Kamounah, near Allyghur, it lost no less than 4 officers and 47 men
killed, 5 officers and 95 men wounded. In the Gurkha War of 1814
its casualties amounted to 74 men killed and wounded, and in the
year 1817 it again suffered heavily at the capture of Jubbulpore.
_36th (Worcestershire Regiment)._--This distinguished corps,
which already had the battle honour "Mysore" emblazoned on its
colours, was authorized in October, 1835, to add the battle honour
"Hindoostan" in recognition of its services from 1790 to 1793. In
those three years it had lost 4 officers and 65 men in the action
of Sattimungulum; it had been present at the storming of Bangalore,
Nundy Droog, Pondicherry, and Seringapatam (1792); and in the
course of the latter operations it had lost 5 officers and 60 men
killed and wounded.
_52nd (Oxford Light Infantry)._--In February, 1821, the 52nd was
authorized to add this distinction to its long list of battle
honours as a recognition of its gallant services in India between
the years 1790 and 1793. The honour "Mysore," already granted,
commemorated its connection with the army which Lord Cornwallis led
against Tippoo Sultan in 1792. In the operations of that army the
52nd had borne a very distinguished part, having furnished details
for the storming-party at the assault of Bangalore and Nundy
Droog, and had lost heavily at the first capture at Seringapatam.
There had been several occasions in which the 52nd had shown an
earnest of their future greatness during those three years, and for
which as yet they had received no recognition. At Cannanore their
casualties amounted to 67 killed and wounded, including 4 officers.
At Dindigul they had lost 23 men, and they had borne their fair
share of the hardships and loss at the Siege of Pondicherry, as
well as at the capture of the Island of Ceylon.
_71st (Highland Light Infantry)._--On January 20, 1837, the 71st
and 72nd Regiments were authorized to add this battle honour to
those already emblazoned on their colours. No regiment had better
earned it than the old Highland Light Infantry. From the date of
its landing in India in 1780, until its departure for home twenty
years later, the regiment had been continually on active service.
The flank companies had been present at Baillie's unfortunate
defeat at the hands of the Mysoreans, when their casualties
amounted to 6 officers and 181 men killed and wounded, the two
companies being practically annihilated. They had shared in Eyre
Coote's defeat of the same Mysorean army at the Battle of Porto
Novo. At Cuddalore, on June 13, 1783, they lost 10 officers and 196
non-commissioned officers and men. The Commander-in-Chief, General
Stuart, thus wrote of their services on this day: "I am also most
grateful to Captain Lamont and the officers under his command, who
so gallantly led the precious remnants of the 73rd Highlanders"--at
that time the regimental number was 73--"through the most perilous
road to glory, until exactly one-half the officers and men were
either killed or wounded." The 71st furnished a detachment of
stormers at the capture of Bangalore; at the fortress of Nundy
Droog in 1791; and at Seringapatam, in the following year, they
enabled their commander, David Baird, to take a striking revenge
for the indignities and cruelties inflicted on their comrades who
had fallen into Tippoo Sultan's hands when Baillie met with his
defeat. At the storming of Pondicherry the 71st were, as usual,
well to the fore, and they formed a portion of the force which
added Ceylon to the British Empire. No regiment has a better claim
to the battle honour "Hindoostan" than the Highland Light Infantry.
_72nd (Seaforth Highlanders)._--It was not until the year 1837 that
the 72nd were authorized to add the battle honour "Hindoostan"
to their other distinctions, and the honour was then granted to
commemorate the gallant services of the regiment during its tour
of Indian service between the years 1782 and 1793. It had already
been granted the distinctions "Mysore" and "Carnatic"--scanty
recognition of fifteen years' continuous war. At Cuddalore, in
1783, its losses amounted to 60 killed and wounded, including 3
officers; at Seringapatam (1792) they were rather more severe. At
the Siege of Nundy Droog and of Pondicherry the Seaforths did not
escape scathless, and, with the 52nd, they aided in the capture of
Ceylon from the Dutch.
_76th (West Riding Regiment)._--This regiment from its earliest
days was known as the "Hindoostan Regiment," and was the first
regiment to bear the word "Hindoostan" on its colours--a
distinction granted to it on the petition of Lord Lake in the year
1807. Few regiments have suffered more severely in action than
did the 76th at Allyghur, Delhi, Laswarree, and Deig; whilst in
Lord Lake's attempt on Bhurtpore the regiment was again cut to
pieces. Throughout the earlier phase of Lord Lake's campaign it
was the only British infantry in his army, and, in recognition of
its valour, the Commander-in-Chief bestowed upon the 76th a third
colour--a distinction which has been disallowed by the War Office.
INDIA.
This distinction is borne by the
Suffolks.
West Yorkshire.
Hampshire.
Welsh.
York and Lancaster.
Gordon Highlanders.
Royal Irish Rifles.
_12th (Suffolk Regiment)._--On p. 154 I have alluded to the
services of the 12th Regiment at the defence of the Residency at
Cochin. It was for this and other hard work performed in the early
days of the last century that the 12th earned this well-merited
distinction "India." During the rising in Travancore they lost
heavily. A boat containing the sergeant-major and thirty-three men
was wrecked on the coast below Quilon, and every man was massacred.
At Quilon itself they lost 53 officers and men in an engagement
with the Travancorean troops. Prior to this the 12th had served
with General Harris in the war with Tippoo Sultan, and had earned
the battle honour "Seringapatam."
_West Yorkshire._--The old 14th Foot were actively employed on
several campaigns between 1810 and 1825. They furnished the
stormers at Bhurtpore when that fortress was captured by Lord
Combermere, and they had previously borne a prominent part in the
operations which led to the capture of Fort Hattrass in 1817.
_65th (York and Lancaster)._--This regiment was unfortunate enough
to be deprived of the privilege of sharing in the victories
gained by the army under Sir Arthur Wellesley in 1803. With
the 86th they were selected to maintain order on the line of
communications. A detachment was present at the engagements outside
Poonah--engagements which are borne on the colours of the Royal
Dublin Fusiliers under the name "Kirkee." They were present in many
hard-fought actions in Guzerat, and were employed more than once
in suppressing refractory Rajahs in the Bombay Presidency. Their
conduct in expeditions against the Arab pirates on the Persian
Gulf earned the distinction of "Arabia." These are described on p.
224.
_67th (Hampshire Regiment)._--The old 67th certainly lost more men
in putting this battle honour on their colours than they did in
the better-known but less arduous campaign in China in 1860. At
the capture of the fort of Ryghur in 1817, and, two years later,
at the storming of Asseerghur, they lost some 60 officers and men
killed and wounded. Indeed, throughout their first tour of Indian
service--from 1805 to 1826--they were almost continuously in the
field.
_69th (The Welsh Regiment)._--In the early part of the nineteenth
century the 69th was constantly employed on active service. It lost
heavily in the suppression of the mutiny of the Madras troops at
Vellore, and in the operations in Travancore in the year 1808 it
defeated the rebels on more than one occasion, sharing with the
12th (Suffolks) the principal honours of that little-remembered
campaign.
_75th (Gordon Highlanders)._--"Mysore" and "Seringapatam" on the
colours of the old 75th testify to the work this fine regiment went
through in Southern India; but those honours by no means exhaust
its claims on the honour list of the army. In the year 1802 it
was engaged in a series of hard fights in Western India, in the
province of Cambay, where its casualties amounted to 4 officers
and 161 men killed and wounded. At the capture of the fort of
Jemlanabad the losses were 67 of all ranks. These were some of the
affairs which led King George III. to accord the 75th permission
to add the honour "India" to the colours of the old Stirlingshire
Regiment, now the Gordon Highlanders.
_84th (York and Lancaster Regiment)._--The 84th was one of those
regiments whose duty it was to do garrison duty in the disaffected
districts during the campaign which put "Assaye" on the colours
of more fortunate corps. Between the years 1796 and 1819 it was
constantly employed in little-heard-of expeditions, which entailed
many hardships and not a little hard fighting. On one occasion,
in Guzerat in 1801, it lost an officer and 19 men killed, and its
total losses in those twenty-two years amounted to close on 200
killed and wounded. It is a strange coincidence that in Guzerat
they should have been fighting side by side with the regiment which
eighty years later became their 1st Battalion.
_86th (The Royal Irish Rifles)._--During the operations of the
main army, under Sir Arthur Wellesley, the 86th were employed in
keeping in check the turbulent tribes in Guzerat, and so they,
like the 65th and 84th, missed sharing in the glories of Assaye.
Their services in Guzerat, in Cambay, were sufficiently severe.
At the capture of Kariah their casualties were no less than 67 of
all ranks; at Baroda they lost 37 killed and wounded; at Baroach
4 officers and 39 men; and at Lord Lake's attack on Bhurtpore the
losses of the 86th were 112 of all ranks.