NINE SURVIVORS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3840, 30 November 1936, Page 2

NINE SURVIVORS

THE SIEGE OF LUCKNOW. September 26 was the seventyninth anniversary of the Relief of Lucknow. Mr. A, F. Dashwood, known as the “Lucknow Baby,” because he was born during the siege, has for many years made a hobby of keeping in touch with all the living survivors of the siege. There are now nine, two others, Mr. R. R. Anderson and Mrs. S. Haynes, having died during the year, says the Daily Telegraph. Mr. Dashwood, who lives in London, said that since the last anniversary he had acquired reproductions of the famous dispatch sent by Sir Henry Havelock to Sir John Inglis, who succeeded Sir Henry Lawrence as commander of the besieged garrison. The dispatch is written on two sheets of tissue-like paper measuring about two inches by three. The most vital words in the message were written in Greek characters in case it should fail into the enemy’s hands. The sheets were twisted into a tiny spill and put in a pen quill less than an inch long. A loyal native secreted them on his person and after two days passed through the enemy lines and reached the garrison. Text of Message. The message reads:— “Cawnpore, Aug. 24, 1857. “My dear Colonel—l have your letter of the 14th and I can only say, Do not negotiate, but rather perish, sword in hand. Sir Colin Campbell, who came out at a moment’s notice to command the troops on the news of Gen. Anson’s death, promises me fresh troops, and you will be my first care. The reinforcements may reach me in from twenty-two to twentyfive days, and I will prepare everything for a inarch on Lucknow. “Major Havelock to Colonel Inglis.” Brown with age and almost undecipherable, the dispatch has been for many years a treasured heirloom in the Inglis family. Mr. Dashwood remembered seeing it during his boyhood. After many years he was able to get in touch with Lady Collier, the present owner, and secure her permission to reproduce it. The oldest survivor of the siege is Mr. C. G. Palmer, of Vancouver, who was ten at the time. He is the only living holder of the Lucknow Medal, which was given to him in recognition of his bravery in serving the guns with powder. The other survivors are scattered over the Empire, but every year Mr. Dashwood hears from them on the anniversary of the relief. They are:— Mr. A. G. Campagnac, Bangalore; Sir Ramsay Couper, Australia; The Rev. R. A. Edgell, Eastbourne; Mr. M. P. E. Darrah, Hove; Mrs. Hollingbery, Ealing; Mrs. Pryce, Bath; and Mrs. A. Thompson, Fordinggridge. Mr. Dashwood seldom misses a race meeting and still plays a good game of golf. Keen on all games, it is his boast.that he has not missed a ’Varsity match at Lord’s in sixty years.