14th Hussars.
North Staffords.
Durham Light Infantry.
Seaforth Highlanders.
33rd Queen's Own Light Cavalry.
34th Poona Horse.
35th Scinda Horse.
2nd Queen's Own Sappers and Miners.
3rd Sappers and Miners.
104th Wellesley's Rifles.
120th Rajputana Infantry.
123rd Outram's Rifles.
126th Baluchistan Infantry.
129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis.
It recognizes the services of a force which was employed in Persia during the winter 1856-57, in a campaign for which no less than four battle honours were granted. The army was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram, K.C.B., an officer of the Bombay army, who was affectionately termed the Bayard of India. His force was organized as follows:
First Division: Major-General Stalker.
First Brigade—Brigadier N. Wilson, K. H: 64th (North Staffords), 120th Rajputana Infantry.
Second Brigade—Brigadier R. H. Honnor: 106th (Durham Light Infantry), and 104th Bombay Rifles.
Second Division: Major-General H. Havelock, C.B.
Third Brigade—Brigadier H. Hamilton: 78th (Ross-shire Buffs), 126th Baluchistan Infantry.
Fourth Brigade—Brigadier J. Hale: 123rd Outram's Rifles and 129th Baluchis.
Cavalry Brigade—Brigadier J. Jacob: 14th Hussars, 33rd Queen's Own Light Cavalry, 34th Poona Horse, and 35th Scinde Horse.
The casus belli may be summed up in one word—Herat. That city had long been considered the key of India, and when, early in 1856, the Persians captured it from the Afghans, we insisted on its restoration. On this being refused, it was determined to compel acceptance of our demands. Sir James Outram, who had been nominated to the chief command, was on his way from England, and, in order to lose no time, the First Division of the expeditionary force, under General Stalker, accompanied by a powerful squadron of vessels belonging to the Indian Marine, left Bombay on November 9 for the Persian Gulf. On December 5 the fleet bombarded the fortifications of Bushire, and the following day the troops disembarked unopposed.