Historical record of the Thirteenth, First Somerset, or the Prince Albert's Regiment of Light Infantry: containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1685, and of its subsequent services to 1848.Cannon, Richard
History
Historical record of the Thirteenth, First Somerset, or the Prince Albert's Regiment of Light Infantry: containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1685, and of its subsequent services to 1848.
Cannon, Richard
Great Britain. Army -- History; Great Britain. Army. Somerset Light Infantry
On the 3rd October, the regiment was again engaged with the enemy
at _Julgar_, about sixteen miles from Charekar, and although the
attack of the storming party on the fort was not successful, yet
Lieut.-Colonel Tronson, commanding the storming party, and Brevet
Major Kershaw, Lieutenant and Adjutant Wood, Lieutenants Edward
King, and George Wade (the four latter officers having at one time
attained the crest of the breach) highly distinguished themselves,
and were particularly mentioned by Major-General Sir Robert Sale in
his despatch, who also acknowledged the assistance he received from
his major of brigade, Captain Hamlet Wade. The scaling-ladders,
hastily constructed from the poles used in carrying the litters for
the sick, were of little use; no sooner did the soldiers attempt
to ascend them, than they sank into the soft débris on which they
were planted: under these circumstances the storming party retired,
leaving the Serjeant-Major of the Regiment (Airey) and fourteen
men lying dead under the walls. Serjeant Hurst, of the THIRTEENTH,
unable to move from his wounds, was carried off by Lieutenant King;
and a Sepoy was, in like manner, conveyed to the rear by private
Thomas Robinson of the regiment, under a most terrific fire.
Lieutenant and Adjutant Wood, three serjeants, two corporals, and
twelve privates were wounded.
It was subsequently determined to renew the attack, when it might
be made by a combined movement against the breach, gateway, and
wicket, with better chances of success, but the enemy, however,
notwithstanding the precautions taken to intercept them, succeeded
in escaping from the fort before seven o’clock P.M., at which hour
the British took possession of it, and measures were taken for its
destruction.
The THIRTEENTH came again in contact with the enemy on the 19th
October at _Babookooshghur_, when they were attacked in camp at
night, but experienced little loss. On the 2nd November, the
regiment was engaged with the Affghans at _Purwan_, where they had
taken up a strong position under Dost Mahomed, who however retired
from the field, and delivered himself up to the authorities at
Cabool, when the purposes for which the force commenced operations
being effected, it was directed to return to Cabool, and the
THIRTEENTH took possession of the new cantonments there on the 8th
November.
[Sidenote: 1841]
After having been nearly three years on active service, the
regiment was in expectation of commencing its march back to India,
in October 1841; but at this period the government of Shah Shoojah
became so unpopular, that the Affghans appeared determined to
effect, by violence or circumvention, the expulsion of the British,
by whose aid he had been reinstated in the sovereignty of Cabool.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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