BATTLE HONOURS FOR SERVICES IN INDIA, 1803-1809

Ally-Ghur, 1803—Delhi, 1803-04—Assaye, 1803—Laswarree, 1803—Deig, 1803-04—Cochin, 1809.

FIRST MAHRATTA WAR, 1803-04.

In the London Gazette of February 28, 1851, appeared a notification that Her Majesty the Queen had been graciously pleased to sanction the bestowal of a medal on the survivors of the First Mahratta War of 1803-04. The following clasps were issued with this medal, now generally known as the First Indian General Service Medal. It was also bestowed on the survivors—few, indeed, in numbers—of (1) the siege and capture of Seringapatam, by the force under Lord Harris; (2) the Second Mahratta War, 1817-18; (3) the campaign in Nepaul; (4) and that in Burmah, as well as on (5) the troops who took Bhurtpore, under Lord Combermere, in 1826.

The following clasps were issued with the medal in connection with the First Mahratta War:

1. Ally-Ghur.
2. Delhi.[12]
3. Assaye.
4. Asseerghur.
5. Laswarree.
6. Argaum.
7. Gawilghur.
8. Deig.[13]

The growing power of the Mahrattas and the insolence of the Mahrajah Scindia rendered it necessary for us to strengthen and rectify our frontiers in the North-West of India. Delhi, which for centuries had been the capital of the Mogul Empire, had fallen into the hands of the Mahrattas, and the aged King had been treated with barbarous cruelty. Our own territory, as well as that of our allies, had been invaded. At last Lord Lake, the brilliant leader at Lincelles, who had become Commander-in-Chief in India, determined on action. Scindia was a formidable foe, and it was a matter of doubt as to which of the other Ruling Chiefs would follow him in the field; his troops had been organized and drilled by Frenchmen, many of whom he entrusted with high command, and it was computed that his army numbered 100,000 men, the greater part cavalry. India was a country in which we could take no risks; we were always fighting, as it were, with our backs to the wall, for there was no Suez Canal, nor were there fast steamships to pour reinforcements into the country when necessary. Lord Lake therefore assembled practically the whole of his available army, and advanced simultaneously from the north, south, east, and west.

I. The main army, under his own command in the north, was the most powerful in point of numbers, but it contained only one regiment of British infantry (the 76th, long known as the Hindoostan Regiment). It was composed as under:

Cavalry Division: Colonel Vandeleur, and also commanding the First Brigade.

First Infantry Division: Major-General Ware.

Second Division: Major-General St. John.

It must be borne in mind that at this time each regiment of cavalry and battalion of infantry had two galloper guns. There was also a powerful siege-train attached to the army. This army was to advance westward on Agra and Delhi.

II. The division under Sir A. Wellesley:

Sir Arthur Wellesley was entrusted with the army of the south, and had under his orders, not only his own division, but also the one in Guzerat and the Hyderabad subsidiary force, commanded respectively by Colonels Stevenson and Murray. A fourth army was assembled in Cuttack, on the coast of Bengal, under Colonel Harcourt. These forces were composed as follows:

19th Light Dragoons, 4th, 5th, and 7th Regiments of Madras Cavalry; the 74th and 78th (Highlanders); and eight regiments of Madras sepoys, of which only three now survive. This force amounted to 3,000 British and 5,000 native troops, and it was subsequently strengthened by 2,500 Mysorean horse and a considerable body of cavalry sent by the Peishwa.

The Hyderabad subsidiary force, also under Wellesley's orders, comprised 120 English gunners, the Scots Brigade (now the 2nd Connaught Rangers), 900 native cavalry, and 6,000 native infantry. It was commanded by Colonel Murray.

III. The division in Guzerat, which was to insure the safety of Cambay, and then to operate from the west, was under Colonel Stevenson, and comprised the 65th (York and Lancasters), 75th (Gordon Highlanders), the 86th (Royal Irish Rifles), and detachments of the 61st (Gloucesters), 84th (York and Lancasters), and 88th (Connaught Rangers), with 200 English artillerymen.

The most difficult task was that assigned to Wellesley, for he had to arrange for the security of an enormous tract of country, ruled over by chiefs whose friendship was more than doubtful. After providing for the defence of Guzerat, he left 2,000 men, including the 86th (Irish Rifles), near Baroda, a force of similar strength with the 65th (York and Lancaster) on the Taptee, and retained the rest for active operations under himself and Stevenson.

IV. Harcourt had with him for the advance through Cuttack the 80th Foot, two companies of the 22nd, and the 25th Light Dragoons, two regiments of Bengal cavalry, including a squadron of the Governor-General's Bodyguard, and four regiments of Bengal infantry.

The campaign opened with a simultaneous advance of all four armies, Lake moving on Ally-Ghur, Wellesley on Ahmadnagar, Stevenson on Broach, and Harcourt on Balasore.

On September 3 Lake stormed and carried the fortress of Ally-Ghur.

Ally-Ghur, September 3, 1803.

This battle honour is borne on the colours of the West Riding Regiment alone; no other corps which shared in that decisive victory being now existent; the two native regiments which bore such a gallant part in the storming of the fortress having been swept away during the Mutiny of 1857.

On the issue of the India General Service Medal in 1851 the survivors of this action were granted that medal, with a clasp inscribed "Ally-Ghur."

Ally-Ghur was held by a powerful force under the command of the Frenchman Perron, and it made a gallant defence. The troops selected for the assault were the 76th Foot, the 1st Battalion of the 4th and the 17th Native Infantry, under Colonel the Hon. G. Monson, the casualties being:

In the fortress were 280 guns, which, with a large number of prisoners, fell into our hands; Scindia's French Commander-in-Chief, Monsieur Perron, a man of unusual ability, also threw himself on the generosity of Lord Lake.

Leaving a garrison in Ally-Ghur, the Governor-General now pushed on to Delhi, where a large force had been assembled, under Monsieur Bourquieu. On the 11th of the same month (September) was fought the first action in which British troops were ever engaged on this historic spot.

Delhi, September 11, 1803.

This distinction is borne only by the West Riding Regiment and the 2nd Queen's Own Rajput Light Infantry, the latter one of the most distinguished regiments in the Bengal army. The India General Service Medal of 1851 was issued to the few survivors, with a clasp inscribed "Delhi." Our total losses in this action amounted to 463 killed and wounded.

The last regiment in the above return, the 15th Bengal Infantry, now being the 2nd Queen's Own Rajput Light Infantry, is the only regiment of the Bengal army still existing; the others, alas! disappeared in the rebellion of 1857.

Assaye, September 23, 1803.

This battle honour, the first won by Wellington as an independent commander, is borne by the

19th Hussars.
Highland Light Infantry.
Seaforth Highlanders.
2nd Queen's Own Sappers and Miners.
62nd Punjabis.
64th Pioneers.
84th Punjabis.

On the issue of the India Medal of 1851 the survivors were awarded the medal, with clasp "Assaye."

Wellington's force did not amount to more than 4,500 men, of whom only 1,300 were British, and he was further handicapped, as, owing to the nature of the ground, he was compelled to leave his heavy field-guns in the rear. Opposed to him were some of Scindia's finest troops, including two brigades commanded by the Frenchmen Pohlman and Dupont, with a well-equipped brigade belonging to the Begum Somroo. In all, the enemy were estimated at 30,000, with 100 guns. That they were well handled during the fight was self-evident, for when Wellesley's turning movement was discovered, the Mahrattas changed position with all the accuracy of veterans. The fight was one of the most stubbornly contested of any that we have fought even in India. Our casualties amounted to 23 officers and 381 men killed, 30 officers and 1,035 men wounded. Those of the enemy were estimated at upwards of 6,000 whilst of the 100 guns with which they commenced the action, no less than 98 remained in our hands. The losses suffered by the regiments at Assaye which still figure in the Army List were as follows:

On November 28 Sir Arthur Wellesley captured Argaum, where we lost 346 officers and men killed and wounded. No battle honour was awarded for this action, but on the issue of the India Medal the survivors received the medal, with clasp "Argaum."

On December 14 the hill-fortress of Gawilghur was carried by assault, the Scots Brigade, now the 2nd Connaught Rangers, being the stormers. Here we lost 126 killed and wounded. No battle honour was granted for Gawilghur, but it was included in the list of actions for which the India Medal was granted, and a special clasp, with the word "Gawilghur," was added to the decoration.

Laswarree, November 1, 1803.

This battle honour has been awarded to the

8th Hussars.
West Riding Regiment.
1st Brahmins.
2nd Queen's Own Light Infantry.
4th Rajputs.

On the issue of the India General Service Medal in 1851, it, with a clasp inscribed "Laswarree," was issued to the survivors.

This was the hardest-fought action in Lord Lake's campaign, our total casualties amounting to 267 killed and 682 wounded, amongst the former being General Ware, commanding the First Division of the army, and Brigadier-General Vandeleur, commanding the Cavalry Division. The Commander-in-Chief was, as usual, in the thick of the fight, having no less than three horses killed under him, three of his staff being killed. The victory, however, was complete. It is noticeable for the fact that our infantry came into action after a forced march of sixty-five miles in forty-eight hours, a feat which rivals that so extolled by Napier at Talavera. Unfortunately, the Indian army had no historian to paint with stirring language the deeds of the giants who lived in those days.

Casualties at Laswarree amongst Regiments still borne on the Army List, November 1, 1803.

In the meantime Agra had fallen into our hands, despite a very gallant defence by the Mahrattas under their French commanders, our losses amounting to the respectable total of 228 killed and wounded, amongst them being 5 British officers.

The other columns had not been idle. Colonel Harcourt, advancing through Cuttack, had added that province to our fast-increasing Indian possessions, and at the capture of the fort of Barabuttee had given the 22nd Foot (the Cheshires) an opportunity of distinguishing themselves. He then pushed on to the westward, to co-operate with the army of Sir Arthur Wellesley.

Sir Arthur, moving from the west, had carried the fortress of Ahmadnagar by storm, with a loss of but 141 killed and wounded, the 74th (Highland Light Infantry) and the 78th (Seaforths) being the principal sufferers. On September 22 he came across the main army of the Mahrattas, some 30,000 strong, under their French leaders, and as we have seen on p. 249, defeated them at Assaye.

Deig, November 13 to December 23, 1804.

The battle honour "Deig" is borne by the

West Riding Regiment.
Royal Munster Fusiliers.
2nd Queen's Own Light Infantry.

It recognizes the services of those regiments at the battle with Holkar's troops on November 13, and the subsequent siege operations, which ended with the capture of that city by assault on December 23 following. The attitude of Holkar during Lord Lake's campaign in the year 1803 had given us good cause to doubt his loyalty. Why he did not throw in his lot with Scindia in 1803 can only be ascribed to the immemorial jealousy between the two Princes. No sooner was a truce patched up between Scindia and ourselves than Holkar embarked on a series of operations which were evidently intended to provoke hostilities. Lord Lake spent the hot weather of 1803 on the frontier, and in September he took up the challenge. Lord Lake's army was massed in the vicinity of Agra, and consisted of an infantry division of three brigades, commanded by Major-General Fraser, a cavalry division under Brigadier Macan, and a reserve infantry division of two brigades under Brigadier Don. The infantry division included the 76th (West Riding Regiment), the 1st Bengal European Regiment (now the 1st Munster Fusiliers), and six regiments of Bengal infantry, of which only the 2nd Queen's Own Rajput Light Infantry now remains. The cavalry division included the 8th and 27th regiments of Light Dragoons, and four regiments of native cavalry. Brigadier-General Don's brigade consisted of four battalions of Bengal infantry. On October 14, 1803, Holkar, throwing off the mask, made a sudden attack upon Delhi, which was held by a garrison of Bengal troops under Colonel Ochterlony. He was beaten off, with heavy loss, and on learning that Lord Lake was moving on Delhi, Holkar precipitately retreated. His infantry retired on Deig, he himself towards Furracakabad. Lake ordered Fraser, with his division, to march at once to Deig, whilst he, with the cavalry and Don's brigade, followed up the Mahratta Prince. On November 13 Fraser found the Mahratta army drawn up outside the fortress of Deig. They held a very strong position, with one flank resting on a morass and the other on a large tank. After a sharp fight, in which our little force lost 148 killed and 479 wounded, the Mahrattas broke, and took refuge behind the walls of the fortress. In the engagement General Fraser lost his leg from a round shot, and he sank beneath the effects of the wound. Lake, following up the Maharajah, overtook him, and cut up his army, with a loss to the 8th Hussars of but 2 killed and 13 wounded, those of the enemy being estimated at 2,000. Lake now made his way to Deig, ordering up the siege-train from Agra, and he also called up reinforcements in the shape of a column from Bombay, and the flank companies of the 22nd (Cheshires) from Cuttack. On the morning of December 23 the breach was declared practicable, and the orders for the assault given. Three columns were told off, under Colonel Macrae, of the West Riding Regiment. The centre or main column was led by Macrae in person. It consisted of two companies of the 76th (West Riding), two of the 22nd (Cheshires), and two of the 1st Bengal European Regiment.[14] The right and left columns were each composed of two companies of the Bengal European Regiment, and five of the 12th Bengal Infantry, a regiment no longer with us. Considerable opposition was experienced, especially from a body of Afghan mercenaries in Holkar's pay; but Christmas morning found the British flag flying over the walls of Holkar's stronghold, our total loss amounting to no more than 43 killed and 184 wounded.

The Regimental History of the 22nd (Cheshires) gives the casualties of the regiment as 2 men killed and 4 wounded; but as Lord Lake's despatch gives the names of four officers of that regiment as among the wounded, I conclude the History is wrong. I have compared the names of the wounded officers with the official Army List for the year in question, and as these stand in the official records it would appear that the Gazette is right, and the Regimental History wrong. Three out of the four officers were again wounded in the attacks on Bhurtpore in the following month, when Sergeant Shipp of the 22nd covered himself with glory, and obtained a commission in the 65th for repeated acts of gallantry.

Cochin, 1809.

On September 30, 1840, the Governor of Madras in Council conferred the above distinction on the 17th Madras Infantry (the predecessors of the 93rd Burmah Infantry), for their gallant conduct at the defence of the Residency of Cochin during the rebellion in Travancore in the year 1809.

Under the terms of various treaties the Maharajah of Travancore was bound to maintain a Subsidiary Force of native troops, officered by Englishmen of our own army, such force to be at the disposal of the East India Company, under certain conditions. Differences arose with the Maharajah, and an attempt to murder the British Resident unmasked a plot for the expulsion of the British garrisons in Southern India. The General commanding the Malabar coast, on learning of the threatening condition of affairs, at once ordered the 12th (Suffolks) and the 17th Madras Infantry to reinforce the troops of the subsidiary force at Cochin, these were permeated with discontent, having been seduced from their allegiance by the Prime Minister of the State. A very determined attack on the Residency at Cochin was repulsed by the small garrison, which consisted of a detachment of the Suffolks and a wing of the 17th Madras Infantry. Further operations became necessary, and a general movement of troops from all the stations in Southern India was ordered. The 19th (Yorkshires), 59th (East Lancashires), 69th (Welsh), and 80th (North Staffords), with a certain number of regiments of Madras sepoys, advanced on Travancore. At Palamcottah the 69th (Welsh) and the 3rd Regiment of Madras Infantry had a sharp brush with the Travancoreans, in which the Madras regiment showed considerable dash, and earned for itself the title, which its successor now bears, of Palamcottah Light Infantry. The 12th (Suffolks) and the 17th Madras Infantry were on another occasion compelled to submit to an attack on the part of the misguided Travancoreans, but the advent of such a large force had a sobering influence on the Maharajah: the obnoxious Prime Minister was removed and disgraced, the arrears of subsidy paid, and the independence of the Maharajah became a mere figment. The distinction "India" on their colours serves to remind the Suffolks that in their long tour of service in the early years of the last century they had some sharp fighting, irrespective of the campaign in Mysore. The casualties in Cochin show that it was not a mere summer picnic.

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