THE INDIAN MUTINY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 19

THE INDIAN MUTINY.

REMINISCENCES OF LUCKNOW

STORY OF EYE-WITNESS

In Saturdays issue of the "Star" appeared an obituray notice of Mrs. Sarah Nichols, who died at the age of 96. She was connected with the stirring times of the Indian Mutiny, as her husband, the late Mr. John Nichols, belonged to the 7Sth Highland Regiment. Carefully saved amongst her papers was a newspaper clipping headed "Reminiscences of Lucknow." "What a TStli Man Saw." This is understood to be an account given by the husband of Mrs. Nichols. Another document saved bv the old lady was a sermon preached in St. Andrew's Church, Bombay, bv the Rev. George Cook on April 24* 1859, before H.M. TStli Highlanders.

The advance to relieve Lucknow is thus described;— Our force advanced on the Residency on September 25, JSS7, under a most destructive lire. Two miles had to bo fought before the Residency_ could be reached. The roads (veie barricaded and entrenched, and u'l the houses were loopholed. Our Regiment halted to defend a bridge, the column itself pushing on. Soon' afterwards the Regiment was attacked bv a large force with a fierce fire of shot and shell and musketry. Two of the enemy's guns were captured, but the men of the Regiment fell fast. As soon as all the baggage had passed, the Regiment followed the column as a rearguard along one side of a canal. The enemy, from a gun planted on a bridge, enfiladed the Regiment, and also opened a most destructive fire across the canal. The Regiment being almost surrounded had to stand at bay. Colonel Lockhart. Captain Hastings, Lieutenat Swanson, and a number of men had already fallen. A cry for help having reached the column ahead a company of the 90th Regiment and a few horse were sent to succour the Regiment. Under fire all the time the little force did not reach the column until late in the evening, when it was within half a-milo of the Residency. Although darkness was their coming on the Highlanders, with another corps, now led by General Outram and General Havelock, went forward through the streets under a perpetual fire. At last the Residency was gained. Lieutenant Kirbv, waving the Queen's Colours, was mortally wounded, and Colour Sergeant Christie ultimately had the honour of carrying the flag to the Residency.

On the 26th. the wounded and their relief party were fired on. and being ultimately surrounded by 1000 of the enemy, took refuge in a house. Some of the wounded captured hy the enemy were burnt alive, and others were horribly tortured. The 7Sth men of the party. Hollowell, Ward and McPherson. proved themselves heroes on the occasion iu defending their wounded comrades. Hollowell here won his Victoria Cross, as did Surgeon Home, of the 90th Regiment, and two others. Surgeon Gee. of the 78th, was made a C.B. That was not so bad, five V.C.'s and a C.B. won in a few hours by a few gallant men. The party was not relieved until next morn-

The relief of the Residency being completed on the 27th, an order, issued on that date by General Outram, referred to it as a feat unsurpassed in history, and the Highlanders, as led on bv Coli :icl Stistcd, their brave commander, we ! eulogised for their heroism. In eff cting the relief 535 men were killed and wounded, the 78th Regiment beinj: the heaviest sufferer, losing 122 killed and wounded—ten officers and 112 men out of a total of 428 in two davs.

An idea of what the defenders "of the wounded had to go tlirough may be gathered by the following: The party defended themselves against the enemy for over 30 hours. Private McManus, of the sth Fusiliers, killed numbers of the rebels, who fell near the door of the building, and thus afforded additional protection. Privates McManus and Ryan, with the utmost devotion, sallied out to carry in a wounded officer and a private, while; Private Hollowell. by his steady aim, shot down every Sepoy' that made his appearance. The rebels set fire to the roof of the building. There were then only nine men left of the besieged able to handle their rifles. They lifted their wounded comrades and rushed into the square, then took refuge in a shed filled with dead and dvin~ Sepoys. Still they held out until" re"lieved next morning by a partv under Captain Moorsom. More than 40 wounded soldiers perished on that occasion. The text of the sermon, referred to above, was the suitable one of "Quit you Like Men." The preacher pointed "out that, however, strong the individual might be in warfare, it was combination, discipline, harmony of spirit and of action that constituted true strength, before which opposing hosts were borne down and scattered.