A Brief History of the King's Royal Rifle Corps — John Shaqi
A Brief History of the King's Royal Rifle Corps
History
A Brief History of the King's Royal Rifle Corps
Great Britain. Army. King's Royal Rifle Corps
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]
[Illustration:
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 Geog^l. Estab^t. 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.
[Sidenote: Aug. 21st, 1860, TAKU FORTS.]
[Sidenote: PEKIN.]
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