Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.18th Roy. Irish2687326th Camer'ians2262449th R. Berks1874955th Borders1354098th N. Staffs--13162nd Punjabis-31866th Punjabis-111174th Punjabis-1113
The little army was well rewarded for its arduous services, and the following list of honours conferred for the China War of 1840-1842 effectually dispels the legend that the lavish distribution of rewards for military services is a product of the later Victorian era. Sir Hugh Gough was created a Baronet, the three Brigadiers received the Knighthood of the Bath, three officers were made Aides-de-Camp to Queen Victoria, twenty-nine received the Companionship of the Bath, eight were made Brevet Lieutenant-Colonels, and thirteen received the Brevet of Major. The young Queen was graciously pleased to allow the East India Company to strike a medal commemorative of the campaign, and officers and men of her regiments were authorized to wear this decoration. At the same time Her Majesty expressed her opinion that in futuremedals should only be granted by the Sovereign, and that it should not be left to a company of "merchant venturers" trading to the East Indies to issue decorations to her soldiers.
This distinction was conferred on the 59th Foot (now the East Lancashire Regiment) for its services when holding the city of Canton during the second Chinese War of 1857-1860.
The terms of the treaty entered into after the war of 1842 had never been faithfully observed by the Chinese. At last the seizure of a vessel called theArrow, flying the British flag, compelled us to demand reparation. This was contemptuously refused, and in the early spring of 1857 a force was despatched from England to enforce respect to our flag. The outbreak of the Indian Mutiny necessitated the diversion of the regiments from China to India, so the punishment was delayed. General Straubenzee was then in command of the troops in China, which consisted of the 59th (East Lancashires), four battalions of sepoys, and a couple of battalions of Royal Marine Light Infantry.
Sir Michael Seymour, the naval Commander-in-Chief, who was in supreme command of the naval and military forces, was acting in conjunction with a French brigade, and it was deemed advisable to seize Canton with the available forces, rather than allow the Chinese to strengthen its defences, and so increase the difficulties of capture.
In the month of January, 1858, the Admiral, after consultation with General Straubenzee, determined to attempt the capture of Canton. The force at his disposal consisted of the 59th (East Lancashires), two strong battalions of Royal Marines, and a brigade of bluejackets numbering 1,800 men. This force was placed under the command of Major-General Straubenzee. The Chinese showed considerable determination, but the energy andgallantry of our bluejackets carried all before them, and Canton was occupied, with a total loss of 2 officers and 14 men killed, 4 officers and 112 men wounded, the 59th (East Lancashires) contributing to the casualty list 2 officers and 2 men killed, 1 officer and 17 men wounded.
This distinction was conferred on the regiments which took part in the operations in China during the years 1857-1860, and is now borne by the following corps of the Indian Army:
7th Rajputs.10th Jats.11th Rajputs.15th Sikhs.22nd Punjabis.27th Punjabis.105th Mahratta L.I.
The necessity for putting forth our whole strength in the suppression of the rebellion in India led, as I have said onp. 321, to a temporary cessation of the military operations in China. Lord Elgin, who had been deputed by the Home Government to carry through the negotiations, was naturally anxious to do so without the effusion of blood. He had a considerable naval force at his disposal, and a number of native troops had been sent from India, more with a view of removing them from the sphere of temptation than with the intention of their carrying out serious military operations.
In 1858 the Chinese Commissioners agreed to our demands that the treaty of peace between the two nations should be concluded at Pekin; but on realizing that Lord Elgin was determined to carry out this clause, every obstacle was thrown in his way. Finally, when Sir Frederick Bruce attempted to pass up the Peiho River, he was fired on, and three of our gunboats sunk. The Indian Mutiny was now at an end, and Sir Hope Grant, who as a cavalry leader had gained great distinction in its suppression, was nominated to the chief command of the China Expeditionary Force. Sir Hope had a double claim to this distinction, for he had actedas Brigade Major to Lord Saltoun in the war of 1840-42. It was very evident from the tone of the correspondence of the Chinese Commissioners that all memory of the defeats they had experienced in the war of 1840-1842 had been effaced. Our Envoys were treated with supercilious disdain, and we were gravely warned of the dangers we were incurring in thus treating the Celestial Empire. In reply to our ultimatum they wrote:
"The contents of the letter of the English Envoy fills us with the greatest astonishment, and the demand for an indemnity is against all decorum. The language in which the English letter is couched is too insubordinate and extravagant even to be discussed. In future the British Ambassador must not be so wanting in decorum, or he will give cause for serious trouble."
In face of such language as this, it was evident that nothing short of a sharp lesson inflicted at the capital itself would teach this irrepressible people the power of our arms, and preparations were at once made for the final advance of the troops, under Sir Hope Grant.
Casualties during the Operations in China, 1858-1861.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.7th Rajputs----10th Jats----15th Sikhs----22nd Punjabis----27th Punjabis----105th Mahr. L.I.----
Note.—I have been unable to ascertain the losses of the Sepoy battalions during the occupation of the Chinese Ports, 1857-62.
Note.—I have been unable to ascertain the losses of the Sepoy battalions during the occupation of the Chinese Ports, 1857-62.
The army, under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Hope Grant, which was to act in conjunction with a French force, numbered some 16,000 all told, and was brigaded as under:
Cavalry Brigade—Brigadier-General Pattle (King's Dragoon Guards): King's Dragoon Guards, 11th Probyn's Lancers, 19th Fane's Horse.First Infantry Division—Major-General Sir John Mitchell, K.C.B.First Brigade—Brigadier-General Staveley, C.B.: The Royal Scots, 31st (East Surrey Regiment), and 15th Ludhiana Sikhs.Second Brigade—Brigadier-General Sutton: 2nd (Queen's), 60th (King's Royal Rifles), and 23rd Sikh Pioneers.Second Division—Major-General Sir Robert Napier, K.C.B.Third Brigade—Brigadier-General Jephson: The Buffs, 44th (Essex Regiment), and 20th Brownlow's Punjabis.Fourth Brigade—Brigadier-General Reeves: 67th (Hampshires), 99th (Wiltshires), and 19th Punjabis.
Cavalry Brigade—Brigadier-General Pattle (King's Dragoon Guards): King's Dragoon Guards, 11th Probyn's Lancers, 19th Fane's Horse.
First Infantry Division—Major-General Sir John Mitchell, K.C.B.
First Brigade—Brigadier-General Staveley, C.B.: The Royal Scots, 31st (East Surrey Regiment), and 15th Ludhiana Sikhs.
Second Brigade—Brigadier-General Sutton: 2nd (Queen's), 60th (King's Royal Rifles), and 23rd Sikh Pioneers.
Second Division—Major-General Sir Robert Napier, K.C.B.
Third Brigade—Brigadier-General Jephson: The Buffs, 44th (Essex Regiment), and 20th Brownlow's Punjabis.
Fourth Brigade—Brigadier-General Reeves: 67th (Hampshires), 99th (Wiltshires), and 19th Punjabis.
To each infantry division a field battery was attached, and a troop of horse artillery acted with General Pattle's cavalry brigade. At the immediate disposal of the Commander-in-Chief were three field and two mountain batteries, a battalion of Sikhs, a company of Royal Engineers, under that fine soldier the late Sir Gerald Graham, who had recently gained the Victoria Cross for a series of acts of gallantry in the Crimea, and with him were two companies of the Madras Sappers and Miners.
The 87th (Royal Irish Fusiliers) were left to garrison Hong-Kong, whilst other points on the coast were occupied by native troops from Bengal and Madras.
This battle honour was awarded to the regiments which assaulted the Taku Forts at the commencement of the second phase of the Chinese War of 1860:
King's Own Dragoon Guards.Royal Scots.Queen's.Buffs.East Surrey.Essex.King's Royal Rifles.Hampshire.11th Probyn's Horse.19th Fane's Horse.2nd Queen's Own Sappers and Miners.20th Brownlow's Punjabis.23rd Pioneers.
Early in June, 1860, the force, under Sir Hope Grant, disembarked in Talien-Wan Bay, where the 99th (Wiltshire) and the 19th Punjabis were left to hold the base, whilst preparations were made for the advance on Pekin. The first objective was the capture of the Taku Forts, atthe entrance of the Peiho River—the forts which had inflicted such a serious blow to our prestige in the previous year. On August 20 these were carried by storm by Napier's division, the colours of the 44th and the 67th being almost simultaneously placed on the ramparts by Lieutenants Rogers and Chaplin of those regiments. Both of these officers received the Victoria Cross for their heroism, both having been badly wounded in their gallant dash for the prize of honour.
Casualties at the Storming of the Taku Forts.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.Royal Artillery-2-152nd Queen's----3rd Buffs---231st E. Surrey----44th Essex-21050Royal Marine L.I.-512467th Hampshire-8663
This battle honour is borne by the regiments which accompanied General Sir Hope Grant to Pekin during the second Chinese War of 1860:
King's Dragoon Guards.Royal Scots.Queen's R.W. Surrey.King's Royal Rifles.Hampshire.Wiltshire.11th K.E.O. Lancers (Probyn's Horse).19th Lancers (Fane's Horse).2nd Q.O. Sappers and Miners.20th Brownlow's Punjabis.23rd Pioneers.
After the fall of the Taku Forts, the Chinese Envoys made every effort to induce Sir Hope Grant to forgo his march on the capital, but both the English and the French commanders felt this was a point that could not be waived. In the course of the negotiations some members of the Staff were seized by the Chinese, and, after undergoing the most brutal torture, were foully murdered. Such conduct merely emphasized the necessity for the occupationof the capital, and on October 5 the allied armies entered Pekin, having experienced but slight opposition during the advance, the survivors of the little band who had been so treacherously captured having been previously released.
Other Casualties in Action during the March to Pekin.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.K. Drag. Gds.-11102nd Queen's.--123rd Buffs---311th Probyn L.-241619th Fane's H.-232420th Brownlow's Punjs.--2623rd Pioneers-118
This distinction is borne by the regiments which took part in the expedition to China in the year 1900, under the command of General Sir Alfred Gaselee, in conjunction with the allied army, which was entrusted to the supreme command of Field-Marshal the Count Waldersee, a German officer of distinction.
15th Cavalry.33rd Q.O. Light Cavalry.2nd Q.O. Light Infantry.1st K.E.O. Sappers and Min.2nd Q.O. Sappers and Min.3rd Sappers and Miners.6th Jat. Light Infantry.14th Sikhs.20th Brownlow's Punjabis.34th Pioneers.57th Wilde'sRifles.61st Pioneers.63rd Light Infantry.88th Carnatic Infantry.91st Punjabis.98th Infantry.122nd Rajputana Infantry.130th Baluchis.4th Gurkhas.
Anti-dynastic and anti-Christian troubles had been rife in China for some time previous to the Boxer Rising of 1900. Little is really known of the Boxers, except that they formed a secret society, having as their object the extermination of all Christians and the overthrow of the existing dynasty. The murder of some English missionaries in the neighbourhood of the capital and ageneral sense of insecurity led the various foreign Ministers in Pekin to call up a mixed force of Marines and bluejackets from the allied fleets in Chinese waters for the defence of the Embassies. This step was replied to by the Chinese by the murder of the German Minister and a general attack on the Embassies, which for a period of eight weeks were exposed to one of the closest sieges of modern times. Thanks to the gallantry of the British Minister, Major Sir Claude Macdonald—a soldier who had served his apprenticeship in that excellent regiment the Highland Light Infantry, and who was unanimously nominated to the supreme command of the little garrison, numbering only 400 officers and men—the Legations, though hard pressed, were enabled to hold out until assistance arrived.
In June, 1900, on learning of the precarious situation of the Legations, Admiral Seymour, commanding our fleet in Chinese waters, and the senior of the foreign Admirals, essayed to march to their relief with a mixed force of 2,000 seamen and Marines from the various fleets. His little force included Americans, Austrians, French, German, Italian, and Russians, as well as our own men, our contingent numbering close on half the total. The Admiral found his force too small to cope with the hordes of Boxers, and he was compelled to make a stand at Tientsin. In the meantime the European Powers, together with Japan, were hastily despatching troops for the double relief of the Legations and of the Admiral. On June 16 the allied fleets bombarded and seized the Taku Forts, as well as the Chinese flotilla, the torpedo-boats built by the Germans for the Chinese fleet being gallantly cut out from under the guns of the forts by a young English Lieutenant, Roger Keyes. By the beginning of August the Indian brigades, under Sir Alfred Gaselee, reached the mouth of the Peiho, and after a series of small engagements pushed its way up to Pekin, and on August 14 the relief of the beleaguered Legations was accomplished.
This honour was awarded to the regiments which accompanied General Sir Alfred Gaselee to the relief of the beleaguered Embassies in Pekin, when besieged by Chinese during the Boxer Rising of 1900:
Royal Welsh Fusiliers.1st Duke of York's Own Lancers.7th Rajputs.51st Sikhs.24th Punjabis.
I have given onp. 344the names of the regiments which are entitled to bear the distinction "China, 1900," on their colours and appointments. It is difficult to fathom the reasoning which has denied this distinction to the regiments which accompanied General Gaselee to Pekin. As well deny a regiment the honour "Sevastopol" because it had been already granted one for the Alma. Sir Alfred Gaselee's task was no easy one. The relieving force was composed of many nationalities, and international jealousies were not unknown. Some of the allied commanders were desirous of delaying the advance until the arrival of the whole of their contingents. Gaselee and General Chaffee, the chief of the American contingents, set their faces against this. The lives of women and children were at stake, and the English General let it be distinctly understood that he was going to march on a certain day, whatever the others might decide. The Americans and the Japanese were one with him. On August 14 the relieving force started.
International Force.Men.Guns.Japanese10,00024Russians4,00016British3,00012U.S.A.2,0006French80012Germans20-Austrians100-
British Force.Men.Royal Welsh Fusiliers3001st Bengal Lancers4007th Rajputs50024th Punjabis30051st Sikhs500Chinese Regiment100Hong-Kong Regiment100Naval Brigade300
Little resistance was met with, and on August 20 General Gaselee had the satisfaction of learning that, thanks to his decision, the lives of the beleaguered garrison of the Legations had been saved. The force he took with him was dangerously small, but he had been compelled to leave a strong detachment, under Generals O'Moore Creagh and Lorne Campbell, to guard his long line of communications, as well as to leave garrisons at Hong-Kong and Shanghai, where there was a considerable amount of anti-Christian feeling. Originally his brigades had been organized as under:
First Brigade—Brigadier-General Sir Norman Stewart: 7th Rajputs, 24th Punjabis, 51st Sikhs, and 126th Baluchis.Second Brigade—Brigadier-General O'Moore Creagh, V.C.: 2nd Queen's Own Light Infantry, 14th Sikhs, 1st Battalion 4th Gurkhas, and 130th (Prince of Wales's Own) Baluchis.Lines of Communications—Brigadier-General Lorne Campbell: 63rd Palamcottah Light Infantry and 122nd Rajputana Infantry.Divisional Troops: 1st Bengal Lancers, 61st Pioneers, and two batteries of artillery.
First Brigade—Brigadier-General Sir Norman Stewart: 7th Rajputs, 24th Punjabis, 51st Sikhs, and 126th Baluchis.
Second Brigade—Brigadier-General O'Moore Creagh, V.C.: 2nd Queen's Own Light Infantry, 14th Sikhs, 1st Battalion 4th Gurkhas, and 130th (Prince of Wales's Own) Baluchis.
Lines of Communications—Brigadier-General Lorne Campbell: 63rd Palamcottah Light Infantry and 122nd Rajputana Infantry.
Divisional Troops: 1st Bengal Lancers, 61st Pioneers, and two batteries of artillery.
Sir Norman Stewart, as the second senior officer, and as the one who had the widest experience of war, was selected by General Gaselee to command the brigade which was to have the honour of relieving the garrisons.
BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN SOUTH AFRICA, 1806-1879.
Cape of Good Hope, 1806—South Africa, 1835—South Africa, 1846-47—South Africa, 1851-1853—South Africa, 1877-1879.
This distinction has been conferred on the following regiments:
South Wales Borderers.East Lancashire.Highland Light Infantry.Seaforth Highlanders.Royal Irish Rifles.Sutherland Highlanders.
Before touching on the capture of the Cape in 1804, it will be advisable briefly to allude to the previous capture in 1795.
When Holland threw in her lot with revolutionary France, the Cape became a subsidiary base for the French fleets, which put in there for provisions and water, as well as for refit. As the islands of Rodriguez, Bourbon, and Mauritius belonged to France, it became necessary for the safety of our Indian possessions that we should seize all those points which were detrimental to the preservation of the trade route to India. The reduction of the French islands necessitated the employment of a force larger than we at that time could dispose of, but the Dutch settlements presented no such difficulties. It was therefore determined to despatch a joint naval and military expedition from England, which should be reinforced by troops from India.
Admiral Sir Keith Elphinstone was selected for the naval command, his force consisting of theMonarch(74 guns),Tremendous(74),America(64),Stately(64),Ruby(64),Sceptre(64),Trident(64),Jupiter(50),Crescent(50),Sphinx(24), andMoselle(16). Major-General Craig embarked on the fleet with the 78th Highlanders, having instructions to pick up the St. Helena Regiment at that island. Detachments of the 25th and 27th Light Dragoons also embarked, the idea being to horse them on arrival at the Cape.
Commodore Blanket, then commanding the fleet in the East Indies, had instructions to proceed south to co-operate with the Admiral, and he was to convoy a force under the command of Sir Alured Clarke, composed of the 84th, 95th, and 98th Regiments. Leaving Spithead in theMonarchon April 5, Elphinstone arrived at the Cape on July 11, and Craig at once disembarked his troops. Desultory skirmishing took place with the Boers until September 3, when the Indian contingent arrived. The Dutch, seeing the futility of further resistance, surrendered. In the meantime Elphinstone had taken possession of the Dutch fleet of eight fine ships—theDordrecht(66 guns),Revolution(66),Admiral Tromp(54),Castor(44),Brave(40),Bellona(28),Sirene(28), andHavik(18). The total casualties amounted to 9 men killed, 3 officers and 53 men wounded, and fell, as will be seen, chiefly on the force commanded by General Craig.
Casualties at the Capture of the Cape of Good Hope in 1795.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.78th Seaforth Highlanders-262484th York and Lancaster---1Royal Navy-131598th (now Argyll Highlrs.)---395th---6
In accordance with our time-honoured Parliamentary custom, the Cape, which had been captured in 1795, was restored, by the terms of the Treaty of Amiens, to the Dutch, thus necessitating its recapture on the renewal of the war in 1803. It was known that efforts had been made to render this more difficult, and therefore it was determined to employ a larger force. The command of the troops was entrusted to Sir David Baird, a soldier who had shown conspicuous gallantry on several occasions in India, and who had displayed considerable resource when in command of the Indian division of the Egyptian Expeditionary Army in 1801. With him was associated Admiral Sir Home Popham, whose squadron, comprised theDiadem,Raisonnable,Belliqueux,Diomed,Leda,Narcissus,Espoir, andEncounter.
The troops forming the expedition were the 20th Hussars; a Highland brigade, under Brigadier Ronald Fergusson, an officer who had distinguished himself as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 84th at the capture of the Cape in 1795, and had added to that reputation by his conduct in Flanders under Abercromby. This brigade consisted of the 71st (Highland Light Infantry), 72nd (Seaforths), and 93rd (Sutherland Highlanders). The Second Brigade, under General Beresford, afterwards the well-known commander of the Portuguese army in the Peninsular War, under Wellington, consisted of the 24th (South Wales Borderers), the 38th (South Staffords), 59th (East Lancashires), and the 83rd (Royal Irish Rifles).
On January 7 the troops were landed, General Beresford, with the 20th Hussars and the South Staffords, being sent round to Saldanha Bay to effect a diversion, his brigade being handed over to Colonel Baird, of the 83rd. In landing, the 93rd unfortunately lost thirty-six men by the upsetting of a boat. On the following day—January 8—the Dutch were driven from their entrenchedposition on the Blue Mountain by the Highland Brigade, and on the 9th the General capitulated.
When the order was issued conferring this distinction on certain of the regiments which had taken part in this expedition, the two corps which were detached under Beresford were for some reason omitted from the list. There would seem no reason why the 20th Hussars and South Staffords should not now be allowed to assume the honour. The casualties amounted to 15 killed and 189 wounded, and fell chiefly on the Highland Brigade.
Casualties at the Capture of the Cape of Good Hope in 1806.
Regiments.Officers.Men.K.W.K.W.24th S. Wales Borderers1-31659th E. Lancs-12571st Highland L.I.-26772nd Seaforth Highlanders-223683rd R. Irish R.---693rd Sutherland Highlanders-5257
This distinction is borne by the
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.Seaforth Highlanders.Gordon Highlanders.
Our difficulties at the Cape may be said to have commenced with its first capture in 1795, and to have lasted until the conclusion of peace with the Boers more than a century later. In the year 1819 we had to embark on a campaign with the Kaffirs, and now, in the early part of 1835, there was a general rising of the Kaffirs against the European settlers in South Africa. Delagoa Bay was attacked, the Portuguese Governor killed, and the fort captured. Our own Colony was overrun, and it became necessary to use force against force. The garrison of theColony had been reduced to a dangerous level. There were but three weak battalions of the line, one company of artillery, and that fine old regiment the Cape Mounted Rifles. Fortunately, we had as Governor a man well qualified to deal with the crisis. Sir B. D'Urban was an officer who had acted as Adjutant-General to Lord Beresford throughout the Peninsular War, and he now had as his Adjutant-General Colonel Harry Smith, subsequently known as the victor of Aliwal, and whose name will be associated with a later war in South Africa.
Leaving the 98th (North Staffords) to garrison Cape Town, General Sir B. D'Urban moved up the 72nd (Seaforths) to Grahamstown, then held by a wing of the 75th (now the 1st Gordons). A laager was constructed round Port Elizabeth, and the inhabitants formed into battalions of irregulars, and placed under the command of regular officers. A similar proceeding was adopted at Grahamstown, and in April Colonel Harry Smith was ready to take the field. His force did not number more than 3,000 men. It was composed of the 72nd (Seaforths), Cape Mounted Rifles, some 1,500 mounted Boers, and two weak battalions of armed Hottentots. Desultory fighting continued for some weeks—indeed, it was not until the month of December that a permanent peace was concluded, our frontiers being pushed still farther to the north.
This distinction commemorates a long-forgotten campaign, and is borne by the
7th Dragoon Guards.Royal Warwicks.Scottish Rifles.Inniskilling Fusiliers.Royal Highlanders.Sherwood Foresters.Argyll Highlanders.Rifle Brigade.
For some considerable time prior to the outbreak of hostilities our relations with the Gaikas, a powerful tribe on the Natal frontier, had been on the verge of breaking-point; and as no embargo was placed on the importationof arms, it was foretold that as soon as these gentry felt themselves strong enough a struggle for the mastery was inevitable. In the early spring of 1846 the storm broke by the Gaikas attacking a convoy of prisoners and releasing some of their own tribesmen, and for a time Grahamstown was practically besieged. There was but a small force in the Colony to make head against the insurrection, but as the Boers had as much, if not more, to lose at the hands of the Kaffirs, large numbers of them were enrolled for defence. The Governor of the Colony was General Sir Peregrine Maitland, and he promptly moved up to the front with all theavailabletroops. Fortunately, a transport conveying the 90th (Scottish Rifles) from Ceylon to England had put into Port Elizabeth in distress, and the regiment was at once disembarked and sent up to the front.
In April, Colonel Somerset, of the Cape Mounted Rifles, took the field, with the 7th Dragoon Guards, the 91st (Argyll Highlanders), and his own regiment, strengthened by some Burghers and Hottentot levies, and on April 16 inflicted a sharp defeat on the enemy. The 6th (Royal Warwicks), 27th (Inniskilling Fusiliers), 45th (Sherwood Foresters), and the Rifle Brigade were successively sent out to reinforce Sir Peregrine. In the early part of 1847 an advance was made into the Amatole Bush, and after a few trifling skirmishes the Gaikas sued for peace, and our frontier was pushed up to the Kei River.
The following regiments are entitled to bear this distinction, for which a medal was granted by an Army Order of November 21, 1854
12th Lancers.Queen's Royal West Surrey.Royal Warwick.Suffolks.Royal Highlanders.Oxford Light Infantry.King's Royal Rifles.Highland Light Infantry.Argyll Highlanders.Rifle Brigade.
Sandilli, the Gaika chief, had never reconciled himself to accepting loyally the terms of the treaty entered intoafter the war of 1847. In December, 1851, a party of the 45th (Sherwood Foresters) was surprised and cut up, although we were supposed to be at peace with the tribes. The Governor of the Colony, Sir Harry Smith, was a man of energy, and one who knew the country well, for he had been in actual command of the troops during the war of 1835. Since then he had added to his reputation in India, both in the Gwalior and Sikh Wars. He was not the man to sit down tamely under such an insult. He at once proceeded to Grahamstown to judge for himself the necessity of the case, and then wrote home for reinforcements. Without waiting for these, he commenced operations by an invasion of the Amatole Bush with two columns, the one commanded by Colonel Fordyce, of the 74th, the other by Colonel Mitchell; these operations were not unattended with loss, and further movements in the Waterkloof Mountains cost the 74th their Colonel and some thirty men.
In the autumn reinforcements commenced to arrive from England. These included the same battalion of the Rifle Brigade which had done so well in the previous campaign; but this time the Rifles were armed with the Minié, a weapon which ranged up to 1,000 yards. A few of the same weapons were served out to each company of the other regiments, and though perhaps in close Bush fighting the old Brown Bess was effective enough, yet, when it happened, which it often did, that the Kaffirs were holding a position with open country in its front, the long range of our weapons won the day before our men began to suffer any loss.
The policy of Sir Harry Smith did not commend itself to the Home Government, and in the early part of 1852 General Sir George Cathcart was sent out to the Cape to replace him. Sir George had earned a high reputation as a writer on military subjects, and was an officer of considerable experience. He had acted on the staff of his father, who was attached to the Russian army during the campaign of Leipsic, as well as in that of 1813-14 againstNapoleon, and he had been Aide-de-Camp to the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo. It was not until the commencement of 1853 that Sandilli sued for peace, when Sir George Cathcart returned home. He subsequently became Adjutant-General of the army, but resigned that position to take command of a division in the Crimean War, and he fell gallantly leading on his men at the Battle of Inkerman on November 5, 1855.
The regiments entitled to bear this distinction on their colours and appointments are the
King's Dragoon Guards.17th Lancers.Buffs.King's Own Lancasters.Somerset Light Infantry.Royal Scots Fusiliers.South Wales Borderers.Scottish Rifles.South Staffords.Northamptons.Middlesex.King's Own Royal Rifles.Wiltshires.Connaught Rangers.Argyll Highlanders.
The campaign was undertaken with a view of punishing the Zulus, a powerful tribe bordering our Colony of Natal, for continual violations of our territory. The Zulus were undoubtedly the most powerful tribe in Southern Africa, and on more than one occasion they had defeated the Boers. We unfortunately entered on the campaign with our usual contempt for the forces opposed to us. The General in command was Major-General Lord Chelmsford, an officer who had considerable war experience, and who had held the highest staff appointments in India, both in war and in peace. He had served in the Crimea, first as a regimental officer in the Grenadier Guards, and subsequently on the staff. Exchanging into the 95th (Derbyshire Regiment), he served with that fine old corps in Central India, and in 1867 he was Adjutant-General to the Abyssinian Expeditionary Force.
The invasion of Zululand was to have been carried out by five columns, the Commander-in-Chief exercising ageneral supervision of the whole, but at the outset moving with the two centre columns.
No. 1 column was under the command of Colonel Pearson, of the Buffs, and consisted of the 2nd Battalion of the Buffs, the 99th (Wiltshires), a strong naval brigade, and some native levies. It numbered 4,750 men, with four guns.
No. 2 column was under the command of Colonel Durnford, of the Royal Engineers. It consisted entirely of native levies, commanded by British officers, and was 3,300 strong. Its commander had considerable colonial experience, and was generally looked upon as the best officer in South Africa for dealing with native questions.
No. 3 column was under the command of Colonel Glyn, of the 24th (South Wales Borderers). It consisted of both battalions of that unfortunate regiment, one of native levies, with six guns. Its strength was 4,700 men.
No. 4 column was under Colonel (better known as Field-Marshal Sir Evelyn) Wood, V.C., C.B., of the 90th (Scottish Rifles). He had with him the 13th (Somerset Light Infantry), his own corps, and native levies, including a regiment of Frontier Light Horse, under Colonel Redvers Buller, V.C., C.B. Its strength was 2,270 men, with six guns. In composition and leadership there is no doubt that this was the best organized of the five columns.
No. 5 column was under that exceptionally fine soldier Colonel Hugh Rowlands, V.C. It consisted of the 80th (South Staffords), with a number of native levies, bringing up its strength to 1,600 men, with three guns. The duty of this column was to watch the western frontiers of Zululand, and to keep a watch over another recalcitrant chieftain, Sekukuni, who had to be dealt with in the near future.
The army crossed the frontier in three columns—No. 1, under Pearson, following the easternmost road, near the sea, to Etshowe; Nos. 3 and 4, with the Commander-in-Chief, crossing the Tugela River at Rorke's Drift; whilst Sir Evelyn Wood took a more northerly course. OnJanuary 22 Lord Chelmsford, leaving Colonel Durnford at Isandhlwana, within the Zulu border, moved forward to reconnoitre. No means were taken to keep touch with Durnford's column, which was attacked by an overwhelming force of the enemy, and the whole force annihilated, the 24th losing no less than 25 officers and 591 non-commissioned officers and men. To the credit of the corps it must ever be remembered that not a man fell back; all died at their post. The colours were borne away at the distinct orders of the commanding officer by two young officers, Lieutenants Coghill and Melville, whose dead bodies were found some days after in the bed of the Tugela River, with the blood-stained standards lying safe beside them. A few hours later the Zulus followed up this success by a vigorous attack on the post at Rorke's Drift, on the Tugela River, held by one company of the 24th. Its commander, Lieutenant Bromhead, came of a famous fighting family, and he was associated with a sapper officer, Lieutenant Chard. The post was defended with unsurpassed heroism. After some hours the Zulus, unable to stand against the accurate shooting of the 24th, fell back, and so the communications with the Cape were maintained, and the Commander-in-Chief, who, although within hearing of the firing, was ignorant of the true state of affairs, was enabled to fall back and to reorganize his army.
Colonels Pearson and Wood held on to their positions. Wood was attacked on the 25th by the Zulus at Kambula, but beat them off after a sharp engagement with but slight loss, his two regiments showing themselves worthy of their high reputations as light infantry corps.
Pearson, on the other hand, was shut up in Etshowe, and was only relieved some days later by the Commander-in-Chief, who on his march to Etshowe inflicted a defeat on the Zulus at Ginghelovo.
The news of the disaster to the 24th caused a strong sensation in England. Reinforcements were hurried out to the Cape, and the command of the forces entrusted toSir Garnet Wolseley. On his arrival in Natal he reorganized his army, which was now constituted as under:
First Division: Major-General Hope Crealock.