Battle Honours of the British Army: From Tangier, 1662, to the Commencement of the Reign of King Edward VIINorman, Charles Boswell
History
Battle Honours of the British Army: From Tangier, 1662, to the Commencement of the Reign of King Edward VII
Norman, Charles Boswell
Great Britain -- History, Military; Great Britain. Army -- History
The Sikhs, too, were by no means disheartened, and towards the
middle of January a strong force crossed the Sutlej and threatened
our line of communication at Ludhiana. Sir Harry Smith was detached
to attack them, which he did at Aliwal, having fought a successful
little action on January 20 at Buddiwal.
ALIWAL, JANUARY 28, 1868.
The following regiments have been awarded this battle honour:
16th Lancers.
East Surrey.
West Kent.
Shropshire Light Infantry.
Gov.-General's Bodyguard.
3rd Skinner's Horse.
7th Rajputs.
13th Shekhawati Regiment.
1st Gurkhas.
2nd Gurkhas.
Sir Harry Smith, the hero of Aliwal, was an officer who had seen
considerable service in the Rifle Brigade, having been present at
practically every engagement during the Peninsular War, either
as Adjutant of the Rifle Brigade or on the staff of the Light
Division. He at this time wore only the Waterloo medal, for a
grateful country had not as yet recognized the services of the
Peninsular veterans. His division constituted a very efficient
fighting force. There were four batteries of horse and one of field
artillery. His cavalry was in two brigades--
First Cavalry Brigade--Brigadier MacDowell: 16th Lancers, 3rd
Light Cavalry, and 4th Irregulars.
Second Cavalry Brigade--Brigadier Stedman: Governor-General's
Bodyguard, 1st and 5th Light Cavalry.
--the two brigades being under a distinguished officer,
Brigadier-General Cureton, who was to fall two years later at the
head of the cavalry brigade at Ramnuggur.
First Infantry Brigade--Brigadier Hicks: 31st (East Surrey), 24th
and 36th Bengal Infantry.
Second Infantry Brigade--Brigadier Wheler: 50th (West Kent), 48th
Bengal Infantry, and the 2nd Gurkhas.
Third Infantry Brigade--Brigadier Wilson: 53rd (Shropshire Light
Infantry), 30th Bengal Infantry, and the Shekhawati Battalion
(now the 13th Bengal Infantry).
Fourth Infantry Brigade--Brigadier Godby: 47th Bengal Infantry
and the 1st Gurkhas.
The total strength was 3,000 cavalry and 7,100 infantry, with
twenty-eight field-guns and two 8-inch howitzers. Covering his
front with his cavalry and horse artillery, Sir Harry Smith, who
was a consummate drill, advanced in true light division order
against the Sikhs, who held a position with their rear resting on
the River Sutlej, close by the village of Aliwal. On the extreme
right was Stedman's cavalry brigade, then in succession Godby's
and Hick's infantry, with three batteries and the howitzers in
the centre; then came Wheler's and Wilson's brigades, with two
batteries between them, and on the left the 16th Lancers, with the
3rd Bengal Light Cavalry.
CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF ALIWAL.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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