and fifty-seven transports carrying troops.
The total strength of the expeditionary force amounted to 5,344 British and 5,770 native troops. On August 4 the troops disembarked at a place called Chillingcherry, some ten miles east of the capital, meeting with no opposition; but on the 10th the advanced brigade, under Gillespie, a most dashing officer, who had distinguished himself greatly in the West Indies, had a sharp encounter with the French, who were driven back, our casualties amounting to 90 killed and wounded. On the 20th the siege of Fort Cornelis was commenced, the Admiral landing a naval brigade and some heavy guns to aid in the operations. On the 26th the fort was carried by assault, Gillespie again distinguishing himself, pursuing the beaten enemy with the 22nd Light Dragoons for a distance of thirty-five miles, capturing 2 general, 30 field, and 214 other officers; 280 guns and 6,000 prisoners fell into our hands as a consequence of this bold attack, and the operations were brought to a conclusion by the unconditional surrender of the island. Gillespie, who was left in command on the departure of the Governor-General, experienced some difficulty in inducing the natives to learn submission, and a number of expeditions were necessary ere peace was fully restored. On the institution of the Land General Service Medal in 1847, the survivors of the expedition received that medal with a clasp inscribed "Java." The Governor-General, on his own initiative, at the conclusion of the operations, bestowed gold medals on field officers and silver medals on all other ranks; but the privilege of wearing these was confined to officers and men in the service of the East India Company.
Casualties in the Expedition to Java, 1811.
| Regiments. | Officers. | N.C.O.'s and Men. | ||
| K. | W. | K. | W. | |
| Royal Navy | - | 5 | 15 | 55 |
| Royal Artillery | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
| Bengal Artillery | 1 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| Madras Artillery | - | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Bengal Engineers | - | 1 | - | - |
| Madras Engineers | - | 1 | - | - |
| 22nd Light Dragoons | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 |
| 14th West York | 1 | 5 | 11 | 90 |
| 59th East Lancastrian | 5 | 10 | 18 | 128 |
| 69th Welsh | 3 | 8 | 14 | 60 |
| 78th Seaforth Highlanders | 1 | 7 | 33 | 137 |
| 89th R.I. Fusiliers | - | 8 | 11 | 65 |
| Governor-General's Bodyguard | - | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Madras Pioneers | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 3rd Bengal Native Vols. | - | - | - | 3 |
| 4th Bengal Native Vols. | - | 2 | 11 | 28 |
| 5th Bengal Native Vols. | - | 1 | 2 | 22 |
| 6th Bengal Native Vols. | - | 3 | 4 | 22 |
Persian Gulf, 1819.
This distinction is borne only by the 121st Pioneers, formerly the Bombay Marine Battalion, and was awarded to that regiment by the order of the Governor of Bombay in Council as a recognition of its services when employed under Sir W. Grant Keir in the destruction of the piratical strongholds in the Persian Gulf in the year 1819. A previous expedition had been undertaken against the same tribes in the year 1809, when Sir Lionel Smith, with the 65th (York and Lancasters), the 47th (North Lancashire), and the 2nd Bombay Infantry had taught the pirates that they could not attack vessels flying the English flag with impunity. For some years the hot bloods of the Arabian coast abstained from exercising their predatory habits, but in the year 1817 they plundered several vessels, massacring their crews. The vessels of the East India Squadron had more than one sharp tussle with the pirates, but these were always able to escape to their lairs, where the seamen were unable to follow them. It was determined in 1819 to despatch a second expedition against the Joassma, the offending tribe. The command was entrusted to Major-General Sir W. Grant Keir, an officer who had conducted more than one successful campaign in Cutch and against other recalcitrant petty potentates. The troops selected were the 65th (York and Lancaster Regiment), and the flank companies of the 47th (Loyal North Lancashires). These two corps had been associated in the previous expedition in the year 1809. In addition to the British contingent, the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Bombay Native Infantry (now the 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry), the 11th Marine Battalion (now the 121st Pioneers), and the flank companies of the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Bombay Infantry (now the 105th Mahratta Light Infantry), also accompanied the force, which was convoyed by H.M.S. Liverpool and several of the Honourable East India Company's cruisers.
The whole force assembled at the Island of Larrack, in the Persian Gulf, on November 24, and the General at once proceeded in the Liverpool to Ras-el-Khima, the pirates' stronghold, where he made a careful reconnaissance. Attempts were made through the Imaum of Muscat to open negotiations with the chief of the Joassma tribe, but to these he returned a defiant reply. The General thereupon sent for the transports, and on December 3 the whole force disembarked unopposed. It was evident that the fort had been considerably strengthened since 1809, and the General borrowed some 24-pounders from the Liverpool in order to construct and arm his shore batteries. Whilst the siege operations were in progress, the Arabs made more than one determined sortie; but when the bombardment commenced in earnest, they made but a feeble reply. This is scarcely to be wondered at. Their guns were all of small calibre, and the Liverpool claimed that she had thrown upwards of 1,200 32 and 24 pound shot into the place in twenty-four hours.
On the evening of December 9 the breach was declared practicable, but when the storming-parties approached the place at dawn on the 10th it was found deserted. Information was received through the Imaum of Muscat that the Arabs had retreated to another stronghold farther inland. The General then re-embarked a portion of his force, and proceeded up the coast to Rhams, which also was found to be abandoned; but here it was ascertained that the tribes were still defiant, and were massed in a hill fort of Zaya, some miles inland. The two British corps, with the artillery, were at once despatched to destroy this work, and on the 18th of the month Sir Grant Keir was able to report to Government the destruction of all the piratical strongholds and the submission of their chiefs.
The expedition had been attended with some loss, but the official report of the casualties in the Bombay Gazette tends to show that these fell on the British, and not on the native, corps engaged. The York and Lancaster Regiment have been accorded the distinction "Arabia" as a recognition of their services; but the 47th (Loyal North Lancashires), although they were twice employed with the 56th on the by no means pleasing duty of chastising Arab pirates, have not as yet been permitted to add the word "Arabia" to the other battle honours which are embroidered on their colours.
Casualties during the Expedition to the Persian Gulf in 1819.