The THIRTY-FIRST regiment, under its distinguished and experienced leader, Major-General Sir Henry Smith, rejoined the head-quarter camp on the 8th of February, just in time for the crowning and decisive victory of Sobraon. The arrival of Sir Henry Smith’s force enabled the Commander-in-Chief to carry his plan of attacking the enemy into execution. Two days were allowed, that this division should rest after its fatigues.
The entrenched camp of the Sikhs was in a position judiciously chosen in a bend of the river, about five or six miles from the British camp. The defences of the enemy were constructed scientifically by European engineers.
On the morning of the 10th of February, some hours before daylight, the several divisions were silently formed in column of attack. Major-General Sir Henry Smith’s division was on the extreme right; it was formed into two lines; the first line consisted of the first brigade, to which the THIRTY-FIRST regiment belonged, under Lieut.-Colonel Spence: this line was supported by the second brigade at a short distance in the rear. When the day dawned, the first brigade found itself about three-quarters of a mile in front of the enemy’s works. The cannonading, which commenced a little after daylight, continued with little interruption, until about nine A.M. A stray shot was now and then sent at the regiment, but did no damage, when orders were given to the infantry to advance to the attack. The men, who had been lying down, instantly jumped up, formed line, and advanced.
The ground immediately in front of the enemy’s works was very irregular, which made it difficult for the men to keep their places. The enemy’s fire, which commenced at a distance of two or three hundred yards, grew gradually more and more heavy; and firing, as the Sikhs did, from behind lofty entrenchments at the assaulting party, who offered a fair mark as they scrambled up the ramparts, they shot down a number of the British troops, while the survivors, after in vain attempting to reach the top, the loose nature of the soil rendering the footing extremely insecure, were compelled to fall back on the advancing second brigade, who saw with indignation that the enemy were hacking the wounded.
The line was quickly re-formed and advanced a second time; the same determined resistance was again made: but the men, burning to revenge their comrades, would not be deterred. Here Lieut. Tritton, bearing the Queen’s colour, was shot through the head; and Ensign Jones,[33] who carried the regimental colour, was, nearly at the same time, mortally wounded; the regimental colour, falling to the ground, was seized by Serjeant Bernard M‘Cabe, who, rushing forward, crossed the ditch and planted it on the ramparts. The men cheering, scrambled into the works as best they could, and drove the enemy, who were beaten at all points, before them into the river, Lieut. Noel gallantly carrying the Queen’s colour in front of the regiment, the staff of which was shivered in his hand.
The attack having been everywhere successful, the slaughter of the Sikhs, as they crossed the river, was tremendous. Many casualties, however, in the THIRTY-FIRST regiment occurred within the enemy’s works. Lieutenant Timbrell was dangerously wounded by a grape-shot, which broke both his thighs, and Lieutenant Elmslie was also severely wounded by a musket-ball. Captain Garvock, Major of Brigade, and Lieutenant and Adjutant Bolton, were both severely wounded outside the works, where Lieutenants Gabbett and Law were also wounded. Thirty-five rank and file were killed, and 102 wounded.
Two stands of colours were captured by the regiment, making four stands altogether.
The first brigade, on this glorious occasion, was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Spence, whose horse was shot during the advance, and the sword in his hand bent nearly double by a grape-shot.
Captain White, the senior Captain, being left sick at Loodiana, from the effects of the sun on service, Captain Longworth commanded the regiment during the action. He was promoted for his gallant conduct to be major in the army; his horse was killed under him. Captains Garvock and Lugard were also promoted to be majors in the army on the same occasion.