Chapter V: Part 5

The Highland brigade having been kept in reserve during the war, had few casualties in proportion to other regiments. The Seventy-first had only 2 men killed, 6 wounded, and 1 taken prisoner. Major K. Hunter, Lieut. Northey, Assistant-Surgeon Gilborne, and about 100 non-commissioned officers and men died of sickness. The regiment whilst stationed at Malta occupied the Floriana, Ricasoli, and Verdala Barracks.

[Sidenote: 1857.]

On the 1st of January, 1857, the following was the strength and composition of the regiment:—

-----------------+----------+--------+---------+--------
Nationality. | English. | Irish. | Scotch. | Total.
-----------------+----------+--------+---------+--------
Head-quarters | 32 | 47 | 795 | 874
Depôt at Perth | 25 | 37 | 290 | 352
-----------------+----------+--------+---------+--------
Total | 57 | 84 | 1,085 | 1,226
-----------------+----------+--------+---------+--------

of which, 1,043 Presbyterians, 67 Church of England, and 116 Church of Rome.

On the 26th of November, a draft of 2 officers and 41 men joined the head-quarters from the depôt.

[Sidenote: 1858.]

On the evening of the 2nd of January, 1858, the regiment received orders by telegram to proceed overland to India. The head-quarters and six companies, under Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, embarked on board the line-of-battle ship “Princess Royal,” on the 4th, 36 hours later, and disembarked at Alexandria on the 18th. Two companies, under Major Hope, which proceeded in Her Majesty’s ship “Vulture,” disembarked there a few days previously. The regiment then proceeded in two divisions, by railway, to a place half way between Cairo and Suez, where they were mounted on donkeys, and proceeded to Suez, a distance of about 20 or 25 miles. Owing to the smallness of the donkeys, and the size of many of the men, most of them preferred marching to riding. The head-quarters and right wing, under command of Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, arrived at Bombay on the 6th of February, and proceeded to Mhow by bullock train in several detachments, the last of which arrived on the 17th of March. The whole marched from Mhow on the 30th of March, to join the Central India Field Force, under Major-General Sir Hugh Rose, K.C.B. They joined the second brigade at Moti on the 3rd of May, were present at the action of Koonch on the 7th of May, the actions at Muttra and Deapoora on the 16th and 17th of May, action at Golowlee on the 22nd of May, occupation of Calpee on the 23rd of May. This wing was also present at the action of Morar on the 16th of June, on which occasion Lieut. Wyndham Neave, 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, and 2 privates were killed and 8 privates wounded. Private George Rodgers was granted the Victoria Cross for distinguished conduct and courage on this occasion. Lieut.-Colonel Campbell, Major Rich, and Lieut. Scott were especially mentioned.

On the 19th and 20th the whole force, in conjunction with Brigadier Smith’s column, took possession of Gwalior. Great sufferings from the excessive heat were undergone by the Central India Force, all the actions having taken place in the two hottest months of an Indian summer. To avoid the excessive power of the sun, the marches were always, when practicable, conducted at night, but owing to the heat and the plague of flies, but little rest could be got in the daytime, the thermometer in the tents generally standing at 120°. About 50 men of the regiment died of sunstroke on the march, and many died soon after arrival at Morar from utter exhaustion and weakness.

[Sidenote: 1859.]

After the capture of Gwalior the regiment returned to Morar, where it was stationed till the 12th of August, when it returned to Gwalior, and was stationed at the Lashkar and Phaol Bagh, and returned again to Morar on the 6th of June, 1859. On the 11th of November a small field force, under Lieut.-Colonel Rich, Seventy-first, including a detachment of the Seventy-first, went out into the jungle to look for the rebel forces, and defeated them at Ranode and at Nainwass, on which last occasion 3 privates were killed. This detachment returned to Gwalior on the 27th of May, 1859.

The left wing, which had arrived at Bombay on the 8th of February, started on the 11th of March for Mhow, and arrived there on the 17th of April. On the 9th of June a company was sent to Indore. On the 2nd of September the whole of the detachment in Mhow marched with a field force under command of Major-General Michel, C.B., in pursuit of the rebels, under their celebrated leader Tantia Topee. It was present at the actions at Rajghur, 15th of September, Mongrowlee, 9th of October (on which occasion 1 private was killed), Sindwaho, 19th of October, and Koorai, 25th of October, and afterwards marched to Goonah, where it arrived on the 17th January, 1859. On the 25th of November a party of 50 men, mounted on camels, left Mhow with a small column, under command of Major Sutherland, Ninety-second Highlanders, and was engaged with the rebels at Rajpore on the 25th November, when the latter were defeated, after which they returned to Mhow.

On the 1st of January, 1859, the company which had been stationed at Indore marched to join a column under Brigadier-General Sir Robert Napier, K.C.B., and was present at the attack on the fort of Nahargurh on the 17th of January, on which occasion 2 privates were severely wounded. Captain F. W. Lambton, in command of the company, was specially mentioned for his daring attack, for which service he was subsequently granted a brevet-majority. Two companies joined head-quarters from Goonah, in June, leaving a detachment of three companies there.

The head-quarters were inspected on the 2nd of December, 1859, by the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Clyde. His Excellency was pleased to express his satisfaction, both at what he himself saw, and at the reports which he had received regarding the state of the regiment from other sources. The report of His Excellency to His Royal Highness the General Commanding-in-Chief produced the following letter from the Adjutant-General of the Forces.

“_Horse Guards,_
“_24th January, 1860._

“SIR,

“His Royal Highness the General Commanding-in-Chief is much
gratified to hear from General Lord Clyde, Commander-in-Chief in
India, that at his Lordship’s late visit to the station occupied by
the regiment under your command, he found it in the highest order.
After the recent arduous and continuous duties on which it has been
employed, great credit is due to its Commanding Officer and to
every rank in the corps, and His Royal Highness requests that his
opinion may be communicated to them accordingly.

“I have the honour to be, Sir,
“Your most obedient servant,
(Signed) “G. A. WETHERALL, _General,
“Adjutant-General_.

“_Colonel W. Hope,
“Commanding Seventy-first Regiment._”

The three companies on detachment at Goonah rejoined head-quarters on the 19th of December, and the regiment, after being broken up into detachments for two years, was brought together again.

In the month of December Colonel R. D. Campbell died in London, and the command of the regiment devolved on Colonel W. Hope, C.B.

[Sidenote: 1860.]

On the 22nd of July cholera broke out in the regiment, and in spite of every sanitary measure being taken, did not finally disappear till the 16th of September, during which time it carried off 1 colour sergeant, 2 sergeants, 66 rank and file, 11 women, and 11 children. It is worthy of remark that during this time only 1 officer was slightly attacked.

On the 20th of December, the regiment having been relieved by the Twenty-seventh Enniskillens, marched to Sealkote, in the Punjab. The state of discipline of the regiment whilst at Gwalior can be gathered from the following official reports:—

Extract from a Report from the Political Agent at Gwalior to the Government of India, dated 15th June, 1859:—

“When it was determined in June last to post a British force at the
Laskar, the people expected with dread and deprecation a violent
and dangerous, at the least a rude and overbearing, soldiery;
but Her Majesty’s Seventy-first Highlanders soon falsified their
expectations, and created new feelings. His Highness and the best
informed men of the Durbar have assured me that those soldiers,
who passed ten months in the Phoolbagh, have by their manners,
habits, dealings, and whole demeanour so conciliated the respect
and regard of all, that nothing could be more acceptable than the
domestication of such a force in the capital. The Durbar further
considers that it would bring to Gwalior incalculable industrial
advantages, through affording a constant supply of superintendents
of public works and skilled labour. I venture to express the hope
that His Excellency may consider the Durbar’s view of the conduct
of Her Majesty’s Seventy-first Highlanders, commanded by Colonel
Campbell, C.B., a very high and true compliment, as worthy of
express recognition as good conduct in the field. It is, in my
humble judgment, a most fully deserved compliment.

(Signed) “A. A. CHARTERS MACPHERSON,
“_Political Agent_.”

“_Camp, Agra,
“29th November, 1859._

“MY LORD,

“As your Lordship is going to Gwalior, I trust you will not think
that I exceed my office if I venture to send you an extract
from a report of June last, in which I attract the attention of
Government to the admirable conduct of Her Majesty’s Seventy-first
Highlanders, and to its appreciation by Maharajah Scindia and
his people. The importance of such conduct on the part of the
first British troops stationed at the capital of Gwalior might
scarcely be over-stated. Having lived with the Seventy-first at the
Phoolbagh for about twelve months, my pride in them as soldiers and
countrymen must be my excuse to your Lordship for venturing upon
the irregular communications of my impressions.

“General Napier’s views will, I trust, confirm them.

(Signed) “A. A. CHARTERS MACPHERSON,
“_Political Agent_.”

Extract from remarks by His Royal Highness the General Commanding-in-Chief, on the Confidential Reports for the year 1859:—

“_Horse Guards,
“10th November, 1860._

“Brigadier-General Sir Robert Napier’s Report upon the
Seventy-first Regiment is as satisfactory to His Royal Highness and
as creditable to the corps as it is excellent in itself.

(Signed) “H. D. TORRENS,
“_Assistant Adjutant-General,
“Her Majesty’s Forces_.

“_Simla,
“1st March, 1861._”

[Sidenote: 1861.]

The regiment marched into Sealkote on the 17th of February. The following was the strength and composition of the regiment at this time:—

-----------------+----------+---------+---------+--------
Nationality. | English. | Scotch. | Irish. | Total.
-----------------+----------+---------+--------+--------
In India | 29 | 659 | 43 | 731
Depôt at Perth | 36 | 177 | 41 | 254
-----------------+----------+---------+--------+--------
Total | 65 | 836 | 84 | 985
-----------------+----------+---------+--------+--------

of which 790 were Presbyterians, 67 Church of England, and 128 Roman Catholics. A draft of 130 men on its way to India is not included. The proportion of English and Irish in the regiment at this time was less than in any other Highland regiment.

[Sidenote: 1862.]

The regiment remained stationed at Sealkote till the 1st of November, 1862, when, having been relieved by the Ninety-third Highlanders, it marched to Nowshera, where it arrived on the 21st of November, detaching one company to Attock.

[Sidenote: 1863.]

The regiment remained at Nowshera till the 14th of October, 1863, when, in accordance with instructions received from head-quarters, it marched to Nawakilla, in the Yusufzai country, leaving all sick men and invalids behind at Nowshera. The force which was assembled at Nawakilla for service in the hill country was under the command of Brigadier-General Sir Neville Chamberlain, K.C.B. The object of the expedition was to destroy Mulka, on the Mahaban Mountain, the stronghold of certain Hindoostanee fanatics, generally known as the “Sitana” fanatics, who infested our frontiers, and were incessantly attacking the villages in our territory. Mulka is just beyond the English frontier, and in the territory of the Indoons. The force marched in two divisions; the first, entirely composed of native troops, marched on the 18th; the second, composed of European troops, marched on the 20th. The Umbeylah Pass was seized without difficulty, but, owing to the bad road, the march, although a comparatively short one, lasted nearly 24 hours, and several days passed before all the guns and baggage were brought up. On the 21st the regiment encamped near the village of Umbeylah. On the 26th of October, 150 men of the Seventy-first, under Major Parker, were engaged in repelling an attack from the enemy, on which occasion 1 private was killed and 5 were wounded. Privates William Clapperton and George Stewart were recommended for the medal for service in the field on this occasion. On the 30th the enemy made another attack on the pickets, but were repulsed. The Seventy-first had 3 privates wounded on this occasion. On the 6th November a party of the regiment was attacked by the enemy, having been sent too far to the front, and not properly supported. Ensign C. B. Murray, Lieut. Dougal, Seventy-ninth, attached, 1 sergeant, and 3 privates were killed, and 4 privates were wounded. Captain Mounsey and Lieut. Davidson, the latter of the Indian Army attached to the Seventy-first, were specially mentioned for their gallantry on this occasion. On the 18th the whole force changed position to higher ground, and was immediately attacked by the enemy, who was not repulsed before night. On this occasion Captain C. T. Smith, Lieut. Gore Jones, of the Seventy-ninth Highlanders, doing duty with the Seventy-first, and 4 privates, were killed, 1 sergeant and 4 privates were wounded. Major Parker was specially mentioned for his services. On the 19th Captain Aldridge and 1 private were killed; 1 private was wounded. On the 20th, the enemy, having succeeded in driving out the 101st Fusiliers from the “Crag Picket,” by a sudden and unexpected attack, the Seventy-first were ordered up to retake it. The “Crag Picket” was situated at the top of a very rocky hill, which rendered the operation doubly difficult. Led by Colonel W. Hope, C.B., who was severely wounded, and supported by two native corps, the Seventy-first, in spite of the natural obstacles and the determined resistance of the enemy, retook the “Crag Picket” at the point of the bayonet. The loss on this occasion was 7 privates killed, 1 field officer, 2 sergeants. 3 corporals, and 19 privates wounded. On the 27th, 1 private was killed. On the 15th of December Major-General Garvock, commanding the Peshawur division, had succeeded Sir N. Chamberlain in the command of the whole force, when the latter was wounded on the 20th of November. Having received strong reinforcements, he attacked and defeated the enemy on all points. The regiment, being on picket duty, was not engaged on this occasion. Shortly after the Boneyrs asked for and obtained terms of peace. The regiment returned to Nonshera on the 30th December.

The following was the loss sustained by the regiment in the Umbeylah Pass. 5 officers (including Lieutenants Dougal and Jones of the Seventy-ninth attached), 1 sergeant, and 17 privates killed; 1 officer, 4 sergeants, and 42 privates wounded.

[Sidenote: 1864.]

On the 4th of January the regiment marched for Peshawur, where it arrived on the 5th. On the 21st of January it was inspected by His Excellency Sir Hugh Rose, K.C.B., who expressed himself in the most complimentary manner with reference to the conduct of the regiment in the late campaign. The three men whose names had appeared in General Orders, Privates William Malcolm, William Clapperton, and George Stewart, were called to the front, and were addressed by His Excellency in terms of approval of their gallant conduct in the presence of the enemy. On the 23rd of October the regiment commenced its march for Calcutta prior to embarkation for England. At Rawal Pindee it was called upon to give volunteers for the other regiments in the Bengal Presidency. 200 men volunteered, and were transferred accordingly. At Umbala, on the 14th of December, at a general parade of the garrison, medals for “gallant conduct in the field” were presented by Major-General Lord George Paget, commanding the Sirhind division, to Sergeant-Major John Blackwood, Privates William Malcolm, William Macdonald, William Clapperton, and George Stewart. Sergeant-Major J. Blackwood, who had been dangerously wounded, was also granted an annuity of £15 a year, and was shortly afterwards invalided on account of his wound. He has since been appointed one of Her Majesty’s Yeomen of the Guard and Sergeant-Major of the Second Royal Lanark Militia.

[Sidenote: 1865.]

On the 4th of February the head-quarters and right wing under Colonel Hope, C.B., embarked at Calcutta; the left wing, under Major Gore, embarked on the 14th of February.

The right wing arrived at Plymouth on the 29th of May, and shortly afterwards proceeded to Edinburgh Castle, where it was joined by the left wing, which disembarked at Gravesend on the 19th of June.

The following divisional and general orders were published before the regiment left India:—

Extract of divisional order by Major-General Sir John Garvock, K.C.B., Commanding Peshawur Division.

“_Rawul Pindee,
“1st November, 1864._

“The Seventy-first Highland Light Infantry being about to leave
the Peshawur Division _en route_ for England, the Major-General
desires to offer them his best wishes on the occasion. He has
known the regiment for a number of years. He was very intimately
associated with it in the Mediterranean, and his interest in it
is now materially increased in no small degree by its having
served under him in the field, and done its part, and done it
well, in obtaining for him those honours which Her Majesty has
been pleased to confer. The Major-General had not assumed command
of the Yusufzai Field Force when the Seventy-first recaptured the
‘Crag Picket,’ but he well knows it was a most gallant exploit. Sir
John Garvock, K.C.B., begs Colonel Hope, C.B., and the officers,
non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of the Seventy-first Light
Infantry to believe that although they will be soon no longer under
his command, he will continue to take the liveliest interest in
their career, and he now wishes them a speedy and prosperous voyage.

(Signed) “J. WRIGHT, _Lieut.-Colonel,
“Assistant Adjutant-General_.”

General order by His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief.

“_Head-quarters, Calcutta,
“27th January, 1865._

“The services of the Seventy-first Highland Light Infantry in
India entitle them, on their departure to England, to honourable
mention in general orders. A wing of the regiment, on their arrival
in India in 1858, joined the Central India Field Force, and His
Excellency is enabled to bear testimony to the good services which
they performed, and the excellent spirit which they displayed
during that campaign. The regiment more recently distinguished
itself under their Commanding Officer, Colonel W. Hope, C.B., in
the late operations on the frontier. Sir Hugh Rose cannot, in
justice to military merit, speak of the Seventy-first in a general
order without reverting to an earlier period, when in two great
campaigns in Europe they won a reputation which has earned them an
honourable page in history.

“Sir Hugh Rose’s best wishes attend this distinguished regiment on
their leaving his command for home.

“By order of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief.

(Signed) “G. HAYTHORN, _Colonel,
“Adjutant-General._”

The losses of the regiment during the seven years it was quartered in India were Captain W. F. Smith, Captain R. B. Aldridge, Lieut. Wyndham Neave, and Ensign C. B. Murray, 2 sergeants and 24 rank and file killed, 1 officer, Colonel W. Hope, C.B., 4 sergeants, and 50 rank and file wounded. Major H. Loftus, Lieut. and Adjutant Cowburn, Ensign Swainson, and Surgeon W. Simpson, and about 250 men, died of disease. About a half of the loss incurred by disease occurred during the six weeks that the Central India campaign lasted, and during the six weeks that the cholera was raging in the regiment in 1860.

The depôt companies joined the regiment in Edinburgh, and the establishment of the regiment was fixed at 12 companies, with 54 sergeants, 31 buglers and pipers, and 700 rank and file.

In October occurred the death of Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Parker, of typhoid fever, after a service of 23 years in the regiment.

[Sidenote: 1866.]

In February, authority was received from the Commander-in-Chief for the officers of the regiment to wear a sword with a cross hilt instead of a basket hilt on all occasions except at levees, &c.

In the same month the regiment embarked at Granton, for Aldershot, where it arrived on the 19th, and remained stationed there till December, when it proceeded to Portsmouth, and embarked on board Her Majesty’s ship “Tamar” for Ireland, where it arrived on the 14th. The head-quarters and five companies proceeded to Fermoy, detaching three companies to Cork and two to Ballincollig. During the whole of this year, when a Fenian outbreak was anticipated, the regiment was much broken up into detachments, having at different times sent detachments to the following places:—Cork, Ballincollig, Mallow, Millstreet, Dungarvan, Mitchelstown, Tralee, Limerick, Killarney, and Rathkeale. On the 27th of November Colonel W. Hope, C.B., retired on half-pay, after a service of 32 years in the regiment, and after having commanded it for eight years, much and deservedly respected and regretted by all ranks. The command now devolved on Major J. J. Macdonell.

[Sidenote: 1868.]

The regiment proceeded to Dublin on the 30th April, 1868, at which time its establishment was increased to 800 privates. On the 22nd of July the regiment proceeded to the Curragh Camp, and remained there till the 17th of October, when it embarked on board Her Majesty’s ship “Simoom” for Gibraltar, where it arrived on the 22nd of the same month.

[Sidenote: 1869.]

On the 1st of April the establishment of the regiment was reduced by 100 privates.

[Sidenote: 1870.]

On the 31st of March the regiment sustained the loss by death of Lieut.-General the Honourable C. Grey, the Colonel of the regiment. General Grey had previously commanded the regiment from 1833 to 1842, and had always taken the greatest interest in its welfare. He was succeeded by Lieut.-General R. Law, K.H., who in the earlier part of his military career had served in the Seventy-first during the whole of the war in Spain, having been present with the regiment at all the actions in which it was engaged, and having been wounded several times. He was also severely wounded by a cannon ball at the battle of Waterloo, whilst performing the duties of adjutant. On the 1st of April the establishment of the regiment was reduced from 12 to 10 companies.

According to a return furnished to the Horse Guards in 1872, the Seventy-first proved to be the most national one among the Highland corps, the numbers being 710 Scotch, 25 English, and 18 Irish.

[Sidenote: 1873.]

By general order dated 17th March, 1873, the regiment was associated with the Seventy-eighth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs), and formed into the Fifty-fifth Brigade, together with the Ross, Caithness, &c., and Inverness, Nairn, and Elgin militia regiments, with its depôt established permanently at Fort George.

[Sidenote: 1874.]

On the 24th of April the service companies embarked on board Her Majesty’s ship “Tamar,” for passage to Malta, where they disembarked on the 30th of the same month.

On the 10th of May the death of Lieut.-General Law took place. He was succeeded in the command of the regiment by Lieut.-General the Honourable G. Cadogan, who was transferred from the 106th at his own request. General Cadogan is nephew of Lieut.-Colonel the Honourable H. Cadogan, who commanded the regiment throughout the whole of the Peninsular war, and was finally killed at the battle of Vittoria.

[Sidenote: 1876.]

The regiment still remains quartered at Malta. The composition and nationality of the regiment at the present date is as follows:—

-------------------------------+----------+--------+---------+-------
Mode of Enlistment. | English. | Irish. | Scotch. | Total.
-------------------------------+----------+--------+---------+-------
Enlisted for Seventy-first | 12 | 6 | 526 | 544
-------------------------------+----------+--------+---------+-------
Transfers from other regiments | 7 | 3 | -- | 10
-------------------------------+----------+--------+---------+-------
From schools | 7 | -- | -- | 7
-------------------------------+----------+--------+---------+-------
Fifty-fifth Brigade | 34 | 25 | -- | 59
-------------------------------+----------+--------+---------+-------
Total | 60 | 34 | 526 | 620
-------------------------------+----------+--------+---------+-------

It will be seen by the above how little the Seventy-first has profited by the Depôt Brigade system.

HARRISON AND SONS, PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HER MAJESTY, ST. MARTIN’S LANE.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Journal of a French officer.

[2] Major in the Seventy-third, Lieut.-Colonel by “local” rank, dated 23rd May, 1781.

[3] The effective return of the regiment at this time was 29 officers, 934 sergeants, rank and file.

[4] On the 23rd of May, 1821, His Majesty King George IV was graciously pleased to authorise the Seventy-first to bear on the regimental colours and appointments the word “Hindoostan” in commemoration of its distinguished services in the several actions in which it had been engaged, while in India, between the years 1780 and 1797.

[5] The royal authority was subsequently granted for the Seventy-first to bear the words “Cape of Good Hope” on the regimental colours and appointments, to commemorate its distinguished gallantry at the capture of that colony.

[6] The absurdly contradictory name of Glasgow Highland Light Infantry has not been in use for many years.

[7] The correct number of rank and file wounded is not given.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
the text and consultation of external sources.

Some hyphens in words have been silently removed, some added,
when a predominant preference was found in the original book.

Variant spellings of McLeod and MacKenzie, and some other Scottish
names, have been left unchanged.

Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text,
and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.

Pg 8: ‘ohn Mackenzie’ replaced by ‘John Mackenzie’.
Pg 69: ‘bear the the word’ replaced by ‘bear the word’.
Pg 106: ‘being commited’ replaced by ‘being committed’.
Pg 130: ‘Enniskeillens,’ replaced by ‘Enniskillens,’.
Pg 134: ‘Garvoch, commanding’ replaced by ‘Garvock, commanding’.
Pg 138: ‘for Aldershott’ replaced by ‘for Aldershot’.