on March 31st Orakau was invested by a force under Major-General Carey,
and captured on April 2nd. Sixteen officers and men were killed and 52
wounded in this engagement. The Maoris then fortified Tauranga, which,
on April 29th, after the artillery had played on the place for several
hours, a party of the 43rd and about 150 seamen and marines stormed,
and thinking the enemy had deserted the Pah, took little precautions
for their own safety. The Maoris, however, breaking from the inner
entrenchments, mortally wounded the officers, and the storming party,
which had entered the "Gate Pah" with ringing cheers, poured out again
in confusion. The Pah was evacuated during the night. The "Fighting
43rd" lost 7 officers killed and mortally wounded, and 97 men killed or
wounded, the naval brigade losing its Commander, also 4 officers and 40
seamen and marines killed or wounded. In the assault on the Gate Pah
Samuel Mitchell, Captain of the Foretop of H.M.S. "Harrier," gained the
Victoria Cross for refusing to leave Commander Hay when ordered by him
to do so, and, under a shower of bullets, carrying him in his arms out
of the Pah. Surgeon Mauley of the R.A. also earned the V.C. for his
gallantry in succouring the dying Commander and the wounded generally
under the most dangerous circumstances.
[Illustration: Distinguished Service Order.
Albert Medal (3rd Class).
Jubilee Medal.
Zulu War Medal.
Queen's South Africa.
Royal Humane Society's Medal.
DECORATIONS AWARDED TO THE LATE MAJOR EDWARD DENMAN THORNBURG CROOPER,
D.S.O.]
On June 21st the 43rd and a detachment of the 68th marched against the
Maoris at a Pah they had started to fortify at Te Ranga. After a short
but stubborn fight the enemy was worsted and routed, among the killed
being the chief, Rawhiwi, who had led the Maoris at the Gate Pah. In
this affair Sergeant J. Murray of the 68th gained the V.C. for his
bravery in charging one of the enemy's rifle pits and, singlehanded,
killing or wounding the eight or ten men who occupied it.
=V.C. and three D.C.M.'S.=--On January 25th, 1865, a daring attack
was made on the British camp at Nukumaru, but was repulsed with great
loss. At this place, on the 24th, Captain Shaw of the 18th Royal Irish
gallantly won his V.C., and Privates John Brandon, George Clampitt,
and James Kearns Distinguished Conduct Medals for the daring rescue
of a comrade who had been wounded within about 30 yards of the Maori
position.
After the repulse at Nukumaru the Maoris retired upon Wereros, a Pah
considered by them to be impregnable and apparently also by General
Cameron, for he moved slowly up the coast; and it was not until July
20th, 1865, that the place was attacked, and then under orders from Sir
George Grey, the Governor of the Colony. One hundred of the 14th and a
like number of the 18th Royal Irish were deputed to threaten an attack
on the front of the position, while the 470 colonials and friendly
Maoris worked round the rear. This strategy disconcerted the enemy and
they abandoned their fortress without firing a shot. During the rest of
1865 and 1866 the fighting was restricted to the West Coast.
In January 1866 an expedition was organised against the Hau-Haus, a
body of fanatics whose religion was a strange mixture of cannibalism,
paganism, and Christianity. The force consisted of 139 of the 14th,
100 men of the 18th Royal Irish and a like number of the 50th, 45
Forest Rangers, and 300 native auxiliaries under Major Rocke of the
Royal Irish. This little army captured the palisaded village of Otahuhu
and the Putahi Pah, a fort in the top of a hill 500 feet high covered
with dense and primeval jungle. On the night of October 17th Papoia,
a native village in the depths of the primitive forest, was captured,
and the Hau-Haus no longer offered serious resistance. This was the
last serious engagement in which the regular troops took part, and for
the rest of the campaign, which terminated in 1869, the Colonials were
engaged under the direction of Colonel (afterwards Sir George) Whitmore.
=The New Zealand Medal.=--This, the second in the chronological order
of the series facing page 188, was granted to the troops and seamen
who had taken part in the Maori Wars of 1845-6-7 and 1860-1-2-3-4-5-6.
The medal, however, was not authorised by a general order until 1869,
and there are twenty-two different dates for the army and ten for
the navy in raised letters in the centre of a laurel wreath, above
which, following the outline of the medal, is "NEW ZEALAND" and below
"VIRTUTIS HONOR." On the obverse is the bust of Queen Victoria with a
coronet, in which fleur-de-lis stand out prominently, holding a veil
which falls upon the shoulders, and the legend VICTORIA D. G. BRITT.
REG. F. D. The suspender is fashioned after the manner of a fern frond.
This type is only seen with this medal, which is 1⅖ in. in diameter.
No bars were issued, but the dates of service were struck as stated
above, for example: 1845-7, 1860, or 1860-6; the rank, name, and ship
or regiment being impressed on the edge. The medallists were Joseph S.
and Alfred B. Wyon, but their names are not always found on truncation
of the bust on the obverse of the medals. The ribbon, 1¼ in. wide, is
dark blue with dark-red centre of equal width to the blue which borders
it.
=North-West Frontier.=--Between the end of 1849 and the beginning of
1868 no less than seventeen expeditions had been sent to deal with the
turbulent inhabitants on the North-West Frontier of India, but the
troops which took part in the operations were not granted a medal until
1869, when by a general order dated July 1st it was decided to issue
a medal for the services rendered, and then the India General Service
Medal, with a bar inscribed NORTH WEST FRONTIER, was given to those who
had taken part in fifteen of the expeditions enumerated below; to those
who already possessed the medal the bar was added. The names and the
regiments were impressed on the edge of the medal in Roman capitals.
The following regiments took part in the various expeditions. Regiments
present, 1849: 60th and 61st. 1850: 60th, 61st, and 99th. 1852: 32nd,
53rd, and a battery of Royal Horse Artillery. 1853: 22nd, Guides,
66th Goorkas. 1857: 81st and 98th. 1863: bar for UMBEYLA--7th and
101st Fusiliers; 71st and 93rd Highlanders; half a battery of Royal
Artillery and a Mountain Mule battery; the Guides, both Foot and Horse;
a squadron of Probyn's Horse; 4th and 5th Goorkas; 3rd and 14th Sikhs;
1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 20th Punjab Infantry; 23rd and 32nd Punjab
Pioneers and a company of Native Sappers. End of December 1863 to
January 1864: 79th Highlanders; 3rd Batt. Rifle Brigade; "D" Battery
5th Brigade Royal Horse Artillery; 7th Hussars and Native Corps.
=Umbeyla.=--At the end of 1863 a somewhat serious trouble again broke
out on the borders of the Aklumd of Swat by the fanatical outbreak of
Hindustanis, and a very arduous campaign had to be undertaken between
October and December before the district settled down. This little war
in Umbeyla (Ambela) was responsible for the death of a great number
of officers; first the Buner people refused to allow Sir Neville
Chamberlain's army to pass, and the commanding points on the mountains
were repeatedly taken and retaken, despite the bravery of the Punjabis
and the general gallantry of the troops. Around the Eagle's Nest and
the Craig Piquet the most desperate fighting took place, and at the
latter post Lieutenants Fosbery and Pitcher won the V.C. for their
daring, but to little avail until the force was increased to 9,000 men,
and then through strenuous opposition it pushed on, and the Hussanzaie
tribes were dispersed. In this expedition 36 British and 31 native
officers were killed, and 150 British and 689 native soldiers killed or
wounded. A bar for this expedition was not authorised until July 1st,
1869.
=Bhootan, 1864-6.=--The Umbeyla campaign was but the precursor of
another, for that restless spirit which seems to thrive so well on
the frontier engendered another outbreak, and disturbances among the
Bhootanese in 1864 necessitated the sending of an expedition of four
columns to invade Bhootan, a district to the north-east of India.
The left column met with little opposition at Dhalimcote, where the
fort was bombarded and stormed, or at Bhumsong, where the stockaded
positions were evacuated without a shot being fired by the enemy,
although they made something of a stand at Chamoorchee. Buxa was taken
by one column, and while another pressing on to the Barungah Pass
found small opposition, the other reached Bisheusing unmolested. The
annexation of Bhootan was then formally declared. In 1865, however,
the inhabitants endeavoured to free themselves from British dominion,
and rather determined fighting ensued; at the various places already
mentioned attacks were made upon the garrisons, and it became evident
that stronger force was necessary to hold the country. Reinforcements
were hurried forward under Brigadier-General Tombs, C.B., V.C., but
after the defeat of the Bhootanese at Dewangari, a hill post at the
summit of the Dungarah Pass, hostilities came to an end, and with
a stronger permanent military establishment peace was ensured, but
not effectually until in 1866 a force of 7,000 men was sent into the
country. This determined attitude on the part of the Indian Government
resulted in the Deb Rajah of Bhootan signing a treaty of peace.
[Illustration: Naval General Service.
New Zealand.
Ashantee.
Afghanistan.
I.G.S., 1895.
Sudan, 1899.
South Africa, 1900.
SEVEN PHASES OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S LIFE AS REPRESENTED ON THE OBVERSE OF
HER WAR MEDALS.
1881]
The following regiments were engaged in the campaign, for which a bar
was granted on April 28th, 1870: 55th and 80th Foot; 2 batteries of
Royal Artillery; 2nd Goorkas; 11th, 12th, 18th, 43rd, and 44th Bengal
Infantry; 5th and 14th Bengal Cavalry; 19th, 29th, and 30th Punjab
Infantry.
=Looshai.=--The introduction of tea-planting into Assam, and the
consequent immigration of Europeans, encouraged the predatory hill
tribes of the vicinity to extend their depredations, and the Looshai
expedition had to be organised to punish the tribes which had been
making incursions into the fertile districts at the foot of the
mountains. Two columns were sent into the district. One under General
Bouchier, composed of native troops with artillery sappers, advanced
from Cachar, and so harassed the Looshais that they sued for peace,
but it was hardly agreed to before they attacked the British column
and wounded the commander. The right column, which had set out from
Chittagong, joining hands with the left, assailed the stronghold of
Lungvel, and taking it by storm burnt it. The payment of an indemnity
was then agreed to, likewise the residence of Government agents in the
Looshai villages.
The troops engaged in the operations, which extended from December
1871 to February 1872, were native troops only: 2nd and 4th Goorkas;
22nd and 27th Punjab Infantry; 42nd and 44th Assam Infantry; a battery
of Peshawar Mountain Artillery; two companies of Sappers and Miners,
and 100 Native Police. The troops were under the command of British
officers.
ABYSSINIAN WAR
In January 1864 Theodore "The Negus," or Emperor of Abyssinia, fancying
himself insulted by the British Government, imprisoned the British
Consul, Captain Cameron, together with the Europeans resident in
his territory. Mr. Hormuzd Rassam, with Lieutenant Prideaux and Dr.
Blane, was sent by the British Government to obtain the release of the
prisoners, but they also were incarcerated, and it ultimately became
necessary to send an expedition to secure the release of the prisoners.
The Resident at Aden, Colonel Merewether, commanding a reconnoitring
party, landed at Mulkutto in Annesley Bay, where he established a base,
and, entering into friendly relationship with the local chiefs and
tribesmen, prepared the way for the army which under Sir Robert Napier
was to march on Magdala and effect the release of the captives.
The force at the command of Sir Robert was about 4,000 British and
8,000 Indian troops, with a transport service and camp followers
numbering about 14,000. How splendidly this mass of men was organised,
and led with remarkable rapidity across a most difficult country,
was a military feat reflecting the greatest credit upon the Indian
veteran, who was rewarded with the peerage of Magdala. With this
intrepid warrior they had, on scant rations, and each soldier carrying
accoutrements, etc., weighing 55 lb., scaled "mountains and descended
precipices ... traversed along the face of deep ravines, where a false
step was death!" scorched by the intense sun by day, and chilled to
the bone by the cold night air. But the valley of Bachelo was reached;
the three brigades formed into one, and then the fighting commenced,
when, after descending 3,800 feet, the army attempted to ascend the
other side of the ravine, but the 4th with their Sniders--in use for
the first time in warfare--and the Rocket Battery of the Naval Brigade,
did excellent service; and one body of the enemy being disposed of, the
other, amounting to about 5,000 men who made a rush at those in charge
of the convoy, was practically decimated by the fire from the battery
under Colonel Penn and the Sniders of the infantry. It is said that in
one hour each man had discharged ninety rounds of ammunition! Then
the guns and rockets were directed upon Magdala, the capital standing
9,000 feet above sea-level. Theodore made overtures for peace, released
the captives, and sent a present of sheep and cattle in token of
submission; but the fortress was stormed on Easter Monday, April 13th,
1867, the 33rd with the Engineers leading the way, with the 45th in
support. The fortress taken, it was discovered that Theodore--deserted
by his men--had committed suicide. The fortifications having been
destroyed and the huts burned, the troops returned to Mulkutto, and
before the end of June 1867 the British force had left Africa.
The following troops were engaged: 4th, 26th, 33rd, 45th; Royal
Artillery and Engineers; 3rd Dragoon Guards, and the following Indian
regiments: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 10th, 18th, 21st, 25th, and 27th Bombay
Infantry; Bombay and Madras Sappers and Miners; 3rd Bombay Cavalry;
10th and 12th Bengal Cavalry; Scinde Horse and a Naval Brigade (see
Naval Section).
=Abyssinia Medal.=--By a general order dated March 1st, 1869, a medal
was granted to all Her Majesty's British and Indian forces, naval and
military, who took part in the operations in Abyssinia under Sir Robert
Napier between October 4th, 1867, and April 19th, 1868. This is a very
distinctive silver medal, being considerably smaller than the others
issued. On the obverse, within a beaded circle, is the bust of Queen
Victoria facing left, crowned and veiled, encircled by a star of nine
points with the letters of the word ABYSSINIA between the angles. The
portrait of the Queen is similar to that on the New Zealand medal. On
the reverse, within a beaded circle surrounded by a wreath of laurel
tied at the base, the recipient's name, rank, and regiment or ship are
stamped in relief in the centre. The Indian troops had their names
and regiments generally engraved, but I have several in my possession
with the names stamped in relief, and also in intaglio. The medal is
suspended from a silver swivel ring attached to a crown soldered on to
the top of the medal, which is 1¼ in. in diameter, by means of 1½ in.
wide ribbon of red, with broad white borders.
ASHANTEE, 1873-4
There had been troubles on the Hinterland and in the West Coast
settlements as far back as 1824 and 1826, and again in 1863; but
the more serious outbreak of hostilities occurred in 1873, when the
Ashantees crossed the River Prah, and, attacking the Assims and
Fantees, opened a road for themselves to Elmina and Cape Coast Castle,
and in company with the Elminas attempted to capture Fort Elmina, but
were beaten off. A force of 20,000 Ashantees, however, sat down before
Mampon, 10 miles from the British forts, and there they remained until
the advent of Sir Garnet (afterwards Viscount) Wolseley in October
1874, when they abandoned their camp, and fell back behind the Prah.
A small force was sent to Elmina to disperse the natives, which it
did, while the main force, composed of the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers,
the 42nd Black Watch, and 2nd 60th Rifles, pressed forward over the
Prah--which the Ashantees asserted no white man could cross--over the
Adansi Hills, and across the Bahrein River on to Amoaful, where 20,000
Ashantees under General Amanquatia stubbornly fought for five hours
before giving way, and then desultory fighting continued for at least
six hours more before the enemy actually retreated, having lost their
General and considerably over 2,000 men. In this stubborn fight the
42nd, which had led the attack, and repeatedly charged the enemy, lost
Major Baird, who was mortally wounded, and had 7 officers and 104 men
placed _hors de combat_ by wounds.
[Illustration: BRONZE STAR FOR ASHANTI, 1896.]
[Illustration: INDIA 1895 MEDAL FOR THREE CAMPAIGNS.]
[Illustration: MAYOR'S STAR FOR DEFENCE OF KIMBERLEY.]
Hewing their way through the dense bush, constantly assailed on
all sides by the natives, the army pushed on in three columns, and
after passing the village of Egginassie encountered considerable
opposition, and later stormed the village of Bequah, where Lord Gifford
earned his Victoria Cross. In effecting the bridging of the Ordah,
severe skirmishing took place, and at Ordah-su a lengthy battle was
fought, the village being ultimately carried and held by the Rifles.
In this battle the ill-fated Wauchope, who later met his death at
Magersfontein, was severely wounded when serving with the 42nd. Forcing
its way onward, with the pipers of the Black Watch playing at its head,
the army entered Commassie practically unopposed, and the reign of the
barbarous King Koffi Calcali came to an end, a reign in which "murder,
pure and simple, monotonous massacre of bound men," was the "one
employment of the King, and the one spectacle of the populace."
In the march on Commassie 80 European officers and men were killed, and
261 officers and men wounded, but the number of deaths from disease
was very great. The grim spectre of disease is always more to be
feared than the bullets of an enemy. In this war Captain (afterwards
Lieutenant-Colonel) Reginald Sartorius, who had accompanied the column
from Accra in the advance on Commassie, but did not reach there until
it was abandoned, earned the V.C. for a daring ride of 55 miles across
country in order to communicate with the General Commanding, and at
Abogov, under a heavy fire, carrying a wounded Houssa soldier into
cover. For his services Sir Garnet Wolseley was offered a baronetcy,
which he declined, but accepted a grant of £25,000.
The troops engaged were the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers; 42nd Black
Watch; 2nd Batt. 60th Rifles; 150 Royal Engineers; 2nd West India
Regiment; Houssa Artillery and a Naval Brigade.
=The Ashantee Medal.=--By a general order dated June 1st, 1874, Her
Majesty granted a medal to her naval and military forces who had
been employed on the Gold Coast under Sir Garnet Wolseley during
the operations against the King of Ashantee from June 9th, 1873, to
February 4th, 1874, with a bar inscribed COMMASSIE to those who were
present at Amoaful, and the actions between that place and Commassie,
including its capture, and to those who during the five days of those
actions were engaged on the north of the Prah in maintaining and
protecting the communications of the main army. This medal has since
been given for a number of expeditions in Central Africa, and on the
East and West Coast. The recipient's name and regiment, or ship, and
the date 1873-4, are engraved in square Roman capitals on the edge
of the medal, and blacked in for the campaign 1873-4, but after that
date the names are found impressed as well as engraved. On the obverse
is the diademed head of Queen Victoria facing left, with plain veil
falling over the back of the crown behind, surrounded by the legend
VICTORIA REGINA. On the truncation L. C. WYON. The reverse, by Sir
Edward Poynter, P.R.A., represents British troops fighting natives
in the bush, and while it may be alleged to pictorially represent
something of the difficulties met with by the troops--which I do not
consider it does--it cannot be said to fulfil the requirements of a
decoration for personal wear. The medal, which is 1⅖ in. in diameter,
with a straight clasp and claw clip arrangement, fastened by a rivet
through the medal, is suspended from a ribbon 1¼ in. wide, yellow with
black borders, and two narrow black stripes. The bars are plain, with a
raised straight border.
=Perak.=--Perak, on the western side of the Malay Peninsula, had been
independent of Siam since 1882, but the sovereignty of the State had
been in dispute. In order to put an end to the constant feuds, the
offer of Ismail, one of the claimants, to surrender the sovereignty to
Britain was accepted, and Mr. Birch was appointed British Resident in
Perak city. Ismail a few months later, desirous of securing the throne,
attacked the Residency and murdered the Resident. The neighbouring
Rajahs joined with him, and it became necessary to dispatch a punitive
expedition. A party of troops and a Naval Brigade therefore proceeded
up the Perak River, destroyed the village of Passir Sala, and captured
6 guns, while General Colbourne's column marched through the jungle,
so "dense and dark that during all the time not a vestige of sun or
sky was visible overhead," and during the advance (on Kintra) the
troops--1,300 men of the 80th and a naval brigade from the "Modeste"
and "Ringdove"--"were without cover of any kind, and slept in the
damp dewy open." On the capture of Kintra, the Maharajah Lela and
Ismail fled into the jungle; meantime Brigadier-General Ross, with a
detachment of the Buffs and some Goorkas, stormed Kotah Lama and burned
it. On January 19th Ismail was decisively worsted, and on March 22nd he
was captured and sent to Singapore, and the districts which had been
the scene of constant conflict became, under British rule, prosperous
and contented.
The troops engaged were: 1st Batt. 3rd; detachments of the 10th and
80th; Royal Artillery and Engineers; a Naval Brigade, and detachments
of Indian troops.
An issue of the India General Service Medal 1854 was authorised with a
bar for PERAK on September 1st, 1879, for the campaign from November
2nd to March 20th, 1875-6, and by a general order issued in 1881 to
those who had been engaged between November 27th and December 10th,
1874.
=Jowaki.=--Living on the hills of the Afghan frontier, the Jowakis,
a branch of the Afridis, long had a bad reputation as marauders,
disturbing, robbing, and slaughtering the inhabitants of the Peshawar
Valley; finally they attacked a British outpost, and it became
necessary to teach them a serious lesson. A force composed of the 9th
and 51st Regiments, and two companies of the 4th Rifle Brigade, with
Royal Engineers, Artillery, and Indian regiments, was therefore sent
against the hillmen under the command of Generals Keyes and Ross. The
Jowaki villages, fortified Sangars and crops, were destroyed, and on
December 1st, 1877, the stronghold of Jummoo was taken with little
opposition. By the end of January 1878 the Jowakis sued for peace;
unwilling, however, to accept the terms imposed, the hostilities were
resumed, but after a crushing charge by the Bengal Cavalry, on February
15th, their spirit was damped, and they unconditionally accepted the
terms laid down for peace.
By another order dated March 1st, 1879, a medal with bar for JOWAKI was
awarded to the troops who took part in the operations between November
9th, 1877, and January 19th, 1878.
The troops engaged were the 9th and 51st; two companies 4th Batt.
60th; two companies Royal Engineers; a battery of Field and a battery
of Royal Horse Artillery; 20th, 22nd, and 27th Punjab Infantry; 14th
Sikhs; 17th Bengal Cavalry.