PART II.—1825–1870.
IV.
1825–1856.—Sikh War—South Africa.
1830, 60th THE DUKE OF YORK’S OWN RIFLE CORPS becomes 60th THE KING’S ROYAL RIFLE CORPS.
In 1827 took place the death of Field-Marshal H.R.H. the Duke of York,[[25]] who had been Colonel-in-Chief for thirty years, and had given his name to the Regiment. He was succeeded by his brother, Field-Marshal H.R.H. Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge.[[26]] In 1830 the title of the Regiment, by order of William IV, was again changed to The King’s Royal Rifle Corps.
A long peace followed the great wars of the Napoleonic period, and from Toulouse in 1814 until the Sikh War in 1848 the Regiment was not engaged on active service. But from 1848 onwards the British Army entered upon a famous series of campaigns, in nearly all of which the Regiment has taken a memorable share. Its success may be said to be largely due to the excellence and the example of the 1st Battalion, which—directly inheriting the Peninsular honours and traditions of the 5th Battalion as Riflemen—had maintained, in spite of the long peace, its reputation for smartness, discipline, and warlike efficiency.
MAP II
SPAIN, PORTUGAL, AND SOUTH-WEST FRANCE.
Illustrating the area of Operations referred to in Part I, Section 3.
Stanford’s Geogl. Estabt., London.
Fortunate at this period in many officers of great experience, the Regiment owed much to Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Henry Richard Molyneux,[[27]] who commanded the 1st Battalion (then quartered in the Mediterranean) from 1836 until his untimely death in 1841. The high efficiency of the Battalion and its strong esprit de corps when it sailed for India in 1845, under his successor Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. Henry Dundas,[[28]] were largely due to his strong personality and to his powers of organisation. Dundas commanded the Battalion from 1845 to 1854 with conspicuous success. In the Sikh War, both as Colonel and as Brigadier-General, he showed the highest qualities of leadership and courage, and throughout the nine years of his command the Battalion held a foremost place in the British Army in India.
1848–49, PUNJAUB.
Jan. 22nd, 1849, MOOLTAN.
It was thus under these favourable circumstances that the Regiment began its career in the East, and under Dundas played a prominent part in the Sikh War. Employed in covering the advance, it rendered conspicuous service at the storming of the city of Mooltan. “Nothing could exceed the gallantry and discipline of the 60th Royal Rifles” are the words of the Gazette, 7th of March, 1849.
Feb. 21st, 1849, GOOJERAT.
Subsequently, by forced marches, the Battalion joined the army under Lord Gough[[29]] in time to share in the final battle of Goojerat, a victory over a combined force of 60,000 Sikhs and Afghans. The result of this triumph of British arms was the annexation of the Punjaub, and the retreat of the Ameer Dost Mahomed Khan with the Afghan army beyond the Khyber Pass.
Upon the 8th of July, 1850, H.R.H. Adolphus Duke of Cambridge died, and was succeeded as Colonel-in-Chief by Field-Marshal H.R.H. Prince Albert, Consort of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria.
1851–2–3, SOUTH AFRICA.
In 1851 the 2nd Battalion, which had been on home service since 1847, embarked for South Africa, and was employed in the Kaffir War during that and the two following years. It took part under Lieut.-Colonel Nesbitt in many actions with the enemy, including the passage of the Great Kei, the operations for clearing the Water Kloof, and the attack on the Iron Mountain.
Feb. 26th, 1852, WRECK OF THE ‘BIRKENHEAD.’
A detachment of the 2nd Battalion (forty-one all ranks, with seven women and thirteen children) formed a portion of the troops on board the ill-fated troopship Birkenhead, which, on the night of February the 26th, 1852, was wrecked on the South African coast under conditions which evoked from the troops on board a memorable display of steady discipline and serene courage in the face of danger. The men fell in and stood calmly on parade awaiting death while the ship was sinking “without a cry or murmur among them.” The whole ship’s company with few exceptions perished.
On September the 23rd, 1852, General Viscount Beresford became Colonel-in-Chief, vice H.R.H. Prince Albert, and was upon his death on the 28th of January, 1854, succeeded by Field-Marshal Viscount Gough.
In 1855 and 1857 the 3rd and 4th Battalions were raised at Dublin and at Winchester respectively. Thus in 1857 the Regiment again consisted of four Battalions.
V.
1857–1860.—Delhi. Rohilkund. Pekin.
The outbreak of the Great Mutiny of the Native Army in India began on the 10th of May, 1857, at Meerut, where the 1st Battalion was at that time quartered under the command of Lieut.-Colonel John Jones.[[30]] The Battalion at the moment was mustering for evening church parade. On hearing the news it immediately fell in, and Captain Muter,[[31]] the senior officer present, with great promptitude instantly despatched a company to secure the Treasury. The Battalion thereupon marched towards the city, when being joined by the 6th Carabiniers and a Battery of Horse Artillery (all the European troops available), it proceeded to occupy the lines of the Native troops, thus effectually preventing the mutineers from establishing themselves in the city, so that they were forced forthwith to retreat towards Delhi. The story is told that while hurrying to the native lines the Battalion came upon the body of a lady lying dead and mutilated by the roadside. This lady was well known both to the officers and men for her devotion and care for the women and children of the Battalion, and the men as they passed—exasperated at the sight—raised their rifles in the air and swore to avenge her death. It is not too much to say that the Battalion, and their leader known later as “Jones the Avenger,” made good their oath.
May 30th and 31st, 1857, HINDUN.
Marching in pursuit, under Brigadier Archdale Wilson, the Meerut troops fought two successful actions upon the Hindun River, in which the 1st Battalion took a prominent part, and on the 7th of June it joined the army under Major-General Sir Henry Barnard at Alighur.
June 8th to Sept. 20th, 1857, DELHI.
At one o’clock on the following morning the whole of Barnard’s force moved against Delhi. On reaching Badlee-ke-Serai it was found that the mutineers were strongly posted in an entrenched position along the ridge from the flagstaff to Hindoo Rao’s house, overlooking the cantonments and city, but after a sharp engagement of about three quarters of an hour the ridge was cleared of the enemy and occupied by our troops. Thus began the famous siege of Delhi—a period full of glorious memories to all Sixtieth Riflemen. From then on to the final assault on the city (June the 8th to September the 20th) the Battalion was constantly employed either as outposts near Hindoo Rao’s house, or with the various columns which were sent forward to drive the mutineers back into the city, when, emboldened by the strength of overwhelming numbers, they made repeated assaults upon our position on the ridge. It is recorded that the Regiment was during this period engaged in twenty-four separate actions.
On the morning of September the 14th, after six days of bombardment, two breaches were considered practicable in the walls of the city, one in the curtain to the right of the Cashmere Gate, the other to the left of the water bastion. The assault was delivered at three points, namely upon the two breaches and the Cashmere Gate, while a fourth column followed as reserve. The whole of the Battalion was split up in skirmishing order to cover the advance of the assaulting columns, and in this appropriate and congenial duty they greatly distinguished themselves.
The assaults were successful, and after an heroic struggle the city was partially occupied by night-fall. But it was not until September the 20th that the place and its defences were completely in the hands of our troops, and then only after continuous and desperate hand to hand fighting in the streets. Nothing could exceed the determined valour of the Regiment, and every Rifleman will remember with justifiable pride and pleasure that, having joined the army before Delhi, its services were officially pronounced to be “preeminent in the memorable siege and capture.”[[32]]
“All behaved nobly,” writes Lord Canning, the Governor-General of India in his final despatch upon the siege and capture of Delhi (dated November the 9th, 1857), “but I may be permitted to allude somewhat to those Corps most constantly engaged from the beginning, the 60th Rifles, the Sirmoor Battalion,[[33]] and the Guides. Probably not one day throughout the siege passed without a casualty in one of these Corps; placed in the very front of our position, they were ever under fire. Their courage, their high qualifications as skirmishers, their cheerfulness, their steadiness were beyond commendation. Their losses in action show the nature of the service. The Rifles commenced with 440 of all ranks; a few days before the storm they received a reinforcement of nearly 200 men; their total casualties were 389.”
We may conclude this page of the Regiment’s history by citing the judgment of the General under whom they served, who described the Battalion as “a glorious example both in its daring gallantry and its perfect discipline.”[[34]]
1858, ROHILKUND OUDH.
In the following year the 1st Battalion formed part of the Roorkee Field Force under Jones, now promoted Brigadier-General, which operated against the rebels from the 11th of April until the 24th of May, 1858.
During this short campaign Jones’ force swept through the whole Province of Rohilkund from north to south; fought one battle (Nugeenah, 21st of April); defeated the enemy in three actions (Bagawalla, 17th of April, Dojura, and Bareilly, 3rd of May); assaulted and captured one city (Bareilly, 6th of May); and relieved two others (Moradabad, 18th of April, and Shahjehanpore, 11th of May); destroyed two forts (Bunnai, 24th of May, and Mahomdee, 25th of May); and took thirty-seven guns. It was said of the gallant Jones that “he never assaulted a position that he did not take, nor attacked a gun that he did not capture.”
The 1st Battalion again took part in operations in Oudh, under Brigadier Sir Thomas Seaton and Brigadier Colin Troup, from the 8th of October until the 31st of December, 1858. Four successful actions were fought with the rebels (Bunkagaon, 8th of October; Pusgaon, 19th of October; Rissoolpur, 25th of October; and Baragoan, 23rd of November); and the Fort of Mittowlis captured (10th of November); thence the Battalion formed part of a flying column, which cleared the rebels out of the Khyreeghur jungles.
A wing of the 2nd Battalion, which had been ordered from the Cape, also took part in the final stages of the operations against the mutineers.
In March, 1860, the 1st Battalion embarked for England, and in a General Order Lord Canning, Governor-General of India, bore further testimony to the services of the Battalion in eloquent and unprecedented terms, concluding with the following memorable tribute:
“It is not more by the valour of its officers and men, conspicuous as that has been on every occasion, than by the discipline and excellent conduct of all ranks during the whole of their service in India, that this Regiment has distinguished itself. The Governor-General tenders to the Battalion his warmest acknowledgments for the high example it has set in every respect to the troops with which it has been associated in quarters as well as in the field; and he assures its officers and men that the estimation in which their services are held by the Government of India confirms to the full the respect and admiration with which they are universally regarded.”[[35]]
MAP III
NORTH-WEST INDIA & PUNJAUB
Illustrating the area of Operations referred to in Part II, Sections 4 and 5, also Part III, Sections 7 and 9.
Stanford’s Geogl. Estabt. London.
The splendid services rendered by the Regiment in the period in its history above briefly recorded may perhaps be equalled, but can hardly be surpassed by future generations of Riflemen. The good conduct, sound discipline, and unflinching courage of the 1st Battalion during its service in India (1845–1860) will always be regarded by the Regiment as marking a Golden Age in its history and a landmark in its traditions.
Aug. 21st, 1860, TAKU FORTS.
PEKIN.
On the 28th of February, 1860, the 2nd Battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel Palmer,[[36]] embarked at Calcutta to join the Franco-British Expedition to China under General Sir Hope Grant. Six months later the Battalion took a vigorous part in the assault and capture of the Taku Forts on the Peiho River (August the 21st), and thence marched to and occupied Pekin on the 13th of September.
In September, 1861, the Battalion returned to England.
VI.
1861–1870.—North America. Red River.
1861, TRENT AFFAIR.
In 1861 the 4th Battalion was hurriedly despatched to Canada at the time of the Trent affair, when war with the Northern States of America seemed imminent, and Fenian raids were threatened. This Battalion—commanded for fourteen years (1860–1873) by Lieutenant-Colonel Hawley,[[37]] an officer of commanding personality and ability—achieved at this period and later the highest reputation for its system of light drill and of organisation then far in advance of the age, a system which has gradually been adopted by the whole Army. The Regiment, both individually and collectively, is deeply indebted to Hawley. Sir Redvers Buller[[38]] and Lord Grenfell[[39]] owed their early training to his tuition; and there are few Riflemen of our generation who have achieved distinction who do not directly or indirectly owe their success to his inspiration and teaching, and his influence is still generally acknowledged in the Regiment to-day.
In 1869 the 4th Battalion returned to England, and was quartered at Aldershot, where its high state of efficiency was universally acknowledged.
Upon the death of Lord Gough, on the 3rd of March, 1869, Field-Marshal H.R.H. George Duke of Cambridge,[[40]] the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army, was appointed Colonel-in-Chief.
1870, RED RIVER EXPEDITION.
In 1867 the 1st Battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel Feilden,[[41]] was moved from the Mediterranean to Canada, and on the outbreak of Riel’s Rebellion in 1870 was selected by Colonel Wolseley[[42]] to take part in the Red River Expedition. The force, numbering 1200, consisted of two guns, R.A., the 1st Battalion 60th Rifles, and two specially raised battalions of Canadian Militia. After a journey of 600 miles by land and lake, it reached Thunder Bay, on Lake Superior. Leaving Lake Shebandowah, fifty miles from Lake Superior, on the 16th of July, the Expedition then traversed in boats 600 miles of a region of rivers, lakes, and forest, practically unexplored and trackless, and after six weeks of incessant toil, on the 24th of August reached Fort Garry (now the city of Winnipeg), the headquarters of the rebel forces under Louis Riel. Wolseley, by a brilliant coup de main, pushed on with the 1st Battalion in fifty boats, and took Riel and his followers completely by surprise. Hurriedly the insurgent leader abandoned Fort Garry, and the rebellion collapsed.
The direct effect of this achievement, in which the Regiment was fortunate enough to take so prominent and decisive a share, has been the unification of the Dominion of Canada and the opening up to a great and prosperous future of the whole wide region of the great North-west, destined to become one of the most populous and most important portions of the Empire.
Thus for a second time has the 1st Battalion of the Regiment been privileged to play a direct and almost single-handed part in the addition of vast regions to the British Crown in North America: first, in 1758–1764, under Bouquet, in conquering those territories west of the Alleghany Mountains, now some of the most prosperous States of the American Union; and, second, in 1870, under Wolseley, in crushing a rebellion, the overthrow of which has enabled the prairies of the North-west Territories of Canada to be welded into what are now among the most flourishing Provinces of the Dominion.