War Medals and Their HistorySteward, William Augustus
History
War Medals and Their History
Steward, William Augustus
Great Britain. Army -- Medals, badges, decorations, etc.; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Medals, badges, decorations, etc.
=Kotah.=--General Roberts, in order to deal with the mutineers who had
murdered the Resident, Major Burton, and his two sons, pushed past all
opposition in Rajpootana, and in spite of great hardships advanced
against Kotah, and on March 30th, under the leadership of the 72nd the
troops poured through the Kittenpole Gate, which had been blown up by
the Engineers; and after terrific fighting, in which Lieutenant Cameron
of the 72nd gained his V.C., the mutineers gave way, and by the evening
Kotah, with its 70 guns, was denuded of mutineers. The force engaged
included 250 of the 72nd Highlanders; 500 of the 83rd; 250 of the 95th;
a like number of the 10th and 13th Bengal Native Infantry; a number of
Sappers, and a detachment of the 8th Hussars.
The Highland brigade, after the capture of Lucknow, was engaged in
assisting to stamp out the rebellion in the province of Rohilcund, and
to that end were employed in Brigadier Walpole's force, which marched
from Lucknow with the object of advancing upon the district from one
point while Brigadier John Jones advanced from Roorkee. In Walpole's
advance he called upon the Rajah in possession of the jungle fort
of Rhooyah to surrender the place, and on his refusal ordered four
companies of the "Black Watch" to advance without protection or cover
against the strongest face of the fort, from which, after gallantly
remaining in an exposed position for six hours, they ultimately
retired, but not before Brigadier Adrian Jones of the 93rd, Lieutenants
Douglas and Bramley of the 42nd, and Lieutenant Willoughby of the
Punjabis had been killed, also a sergeant and 6 privates of the 42nd,
a lieutenant, 3 sergeants, and 34 privates wounded, in an affair that,
but for the want of spirit on the part of the commander, might have
been settled in a few minutes by a bayonet charge into the mud fort!
Next day the place was found to be deserted, and after burying their
dead the British marched in pursuit of the mutineers, whom they caught
up and defeated at Allahgunge.
=Three V.C.'s won by 42nd.=--In this unfortunate affair
Quartermaster-Sergeant Simpson of the 42nd gained the V.C. for bravely
going back and rescuing an officer and a private who lay dangerously
wounded. Private Davis of the 42nd was also awarded the coveted
distinction for going up to the very walls of the fort and rescuing the
body of Lieutenant Bramley. Lance-Corporal Alex Thompson of the 42nd
also received the Cross for assisting Major-General W. M. Cafe to bear
away, under a heavy fire, the body of Lieutenant Willoughby, and going
to the rescue of Private Spence, who had been mortally wounded in the
same effort.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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