Part 18

=Bhootan, 1864-6.=--The Umbeyla campaign was but the precursor of another, for that restless spirit which seems to thrive so well on the frontier engendered another outbreak, and disturbances among the Bhootanese in 1864 necessitated the sending of an expedition of four columns to invade Bhootan, a district to the north-east of India. The left column met with little opposition at Dhalimcote, where the fort was bombarded and stormed, or at Bhumsong, where the stockaded positions were evacuated without a shot being fired by the enemy, although they made something of a stand at Chamoorchee. Buxa was taken by one column, and while another pressing on to the Barungah Pass found small opposition, the other reached Bisheusing unmolested. The annexation of Bhootan was then formally declared. In 1865, however, the inhabitants endeavoured to free themselves from British dominion, and rather determined fighting ensued; at the various places already mentioned attacks were made upon the garrisons, and it became evident that stronger force was necessary to hold the country. Reinforcements were hurried forward under Brigadier-General Tombs, C.B., V.C., but after the defeat of the Bhootanese at Dewangari, a hill post at the summit of the Dungarah Pass, hostilities came to an end, and with a stronger permanent military establishment peace was ensured, but not effectually until in 1866 a force of 7,000 men was sent into the country. This determined attitude on the part of the Indian Government resulted in the Deb Rajah of Bhootan signing a treaty of peace.

[Illustration: Naval General Service.

New Zealand.

Ashantee.

Afghanistan.

I.G.S., 1895.

Sudan, 1899.

South Africa, 1900.

SEVEN PHASES OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S LIFE AS REPRESENTED ON THE OBVERSE OF HER WAR MEDALS.

1881]

The following regiments were engaged in the campaign, for which a bar was granted on April 28th, 1870: 55th and 80th Foot; 2 batteries of Royal Artillery; 2nd Goorkas; 11th, 12th, 18th, 43rd, and 44th Bengal Infantry; 5th and 14th Bengal Cavalry; 19th, 29th, and 30th Punjab Infantry.

=Looshai.=--The introduction of tea-planting into Assam, and the consequent immigration of Europeans, encouraged the predatory hill tribes of the vicinity to extend their depredations, and the Looshai expedition had to be organised to punish the tribes which had been making incursions into the fertile districts at the foot of the mountains. Two columns were sent into the district. One under General Bouchier, composed of native troops with artillery sappers, advanced from Cachar, and so harassed the Looshais that they sued for peace, but it was hardly agreed to before they attacked the British column and wounded the commander. The right column, which had set out from Chittagong, joining hands with the left, assailed the stronghold of Lungvel, and taking it by storm burnt it. The payment of an indemnity was then agreed to, likewise the residence of Government agents in the Looshai villages.

The troops engaged in the operations, which extended from December 1871 to February 1872, were native troops only: 2nd and 4th Goorkas; 22nd and 27th Punjab Infantry; 42nd and 44th Assam Infantry; a battery of Peshawar Mountain Artillery; two companies of Sappers and Miners, and 100 Native Police. The troops were under the command of British officers.

ABYSSINIAN WAR

In January 1864 Theodore "The Negus," or Emperor of Abyssinia, fancying himself insulted by the British Government, imprisoned the British Consul, Captain Cameron, together with the Europeans resident in his territory. Mr. Hormuzd Rassam, with Lieutenant Prideaux and Dr. Blane, was sent by the British Government to obtain the release of the prisoners, but they also were incarcerated, and it ultimately became necessary to send an expedition to secure the release of the prisoners. The Resident at Aden, Colonel Merewether, commanding a reconnoitring party, landed at Mulkutto in Annesley Bay, where he established a base, and, entering into friendly relationship with the local chiefs and tribesmen, prepared the way for the army which under Sir Robert Napier was to march on Magdala and effect the release of the captives.

The force at the command of Sir Robert was about 4,000 British and 8,000 Indian troops, with a transport service and camp followers numbering about 14,000. How splendidly this mass of men was organised, and led with remarkable rapidity across a most difficult country, was a military feat reflecting the greatest credit upon the Indian veteran, who was rewarded with the peerage of Magdala. With this intrepid warrior they had, on scant rations, and each soldier carrying accoutrements, etc., weighing 55 lb., scaled "mountains and descended precipices ... traversed along the face of deep ravines, where a false step was death!" scorched by the intense sun by day, and chilled to the bone by the cold night air. But the valley of Bachelo was reached; the three brigades formed into one, and then the fighting commenced, when, after descending 3,800 feet, the army attempted to ascend the other side of the ravine, but the 4th with their Sniders--in use for the first time in warfare--and the Rocket Battery of the Naval Brigade, did excellent service; and one body of the enemy being disposed of, the other, amounting to about 5,000 men who made a rush at those in charge of the convoy, was practically decimated by the fire from the battery under Colonel Penn and the Sniders of the infantry. It is said that in one hour each man had discharged ninety rounds of ammunition! Then the guns and rockets were directed upon Magdala, the capital standing 9,000 feet above sea-level. Theodore made overtures for peace, released the captives, and sent a present of sheep and cattle in token of submission; but the fortress was stormed on Easter Monday, April 13th, 1867, the 33rd with the Engineers leading the way, with the 45th in support. The fortress taken, it was discovered that Theodore--deserted by his men--had committed suicide. The fortifications having been destroyed and the huts burned, the troops returned to Mulkutto, and before the end of June 1867 the British force had left Africa.

The following troops were engaged: 4th, 26th, 33rd, 45th; Royal Artillery and Engineers; 3rd Dragoon Guards, and the following Indian regiments: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 10th, 18th, 21st, 25th, and 27th Bombay Infantry; Bombay and Madras Sappers and Miners; 3rd Bombay Cavalry; 10th and 12th Bengal Cavalry; Scinde Horse and a Naval Brigade (see Naval Section).

=Abyssinia Medal.=--By a general order dated March 1st, 1869, a medal was granted to all Her Majesty's British and Indian forces, naval and military, who took part in the operations in Abyssinia under Sir Robert Napier between October 4th, 1867, and April 19th, 1868. This is a very distinctive silver medal, being considerably smaller than the others issued. On the obverse, within a beaded circle, is the bust of Queen Victoria facing left, crowned and veiled, encircled by a star of nine points with the letters of the word ABYSSINIA between the angles. The portrait of the Queen is similar to that on the New Zealand medal. On the reverse, within a beaded circle surrounded by a wreath of laurel tied at the base, the recipient's name, rank, and regiment or ship are stamped in relief in the centre. The Indian troops had their names and regiments generally engraved, but I have several in my possession with the names stamped in relief, and also in intaglio. The medal is suspended from a silver swivel ring attached to a crown soldered on to the top of the medal, which is 1¼ in. in diameter, by means of 1½ in. wide ribbon of red, with broad white borders.

ASHANTEE, 1873-4

There had been troubles on the Hinterland and in the West Coast settlements as far back as 1824 and 1826, and again in 1863; but the more serious outbreak of hostilities occurred in 1873, when the Ashantees crossed the River Prah, and, attacking the Assims and Fantees, opened a road for themselves to Elmina and Cape Coast Castle, and in company with the Elminas attempted to capture Fort Elmina, but were beaten off. A force of 20,000 Ashantees, however, sat down before Mampon, 10 miles from the British forts, and there they remained until the advent of Sir Garnet (afterwards Viscount) Wolseley in October 1874, when they abandoned their camp, and fell back behind the Prah. A small force was sent to Elmina to disperse the natives, which it did, while the main force, composed of the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, the 42nd Black Watch, and 2nd 60th Rifles, pressed forward over the Prah--which the Ashantees asserted no white man could cross--over the Adansi Hills, and across the Bahrein River on to Amoaful, where 20,000 Ashantees under General Amanquatia stubbornly fought for five hours before giving way, and then desultory fighting continued for at least six hours more before the enemy actually retreated, having lost their General and considerably over 2,000 men. In this stubborn fight the 42nd, which had led the attack, and repeatedly charged the enemy, lost Major Baird, who was mortally wounded, and had 7 officers and 104 men placed _hors de combat_ by wounds.

[Illustration: BRONZE STAR FOR ASHANTI, 1896.]

[Illustration: INDIA 1895 MEDAL FOR THREE CAMPAIGNS.]

[Illustration: MAYOR'S STAR FOR DEFENCE OF KIMBERLEY.]

Hewing their way through the dense bush, constantly assailed on all sides by the natives, the army pushed on in three columns, and after passing the village of Egginassie encountered considerable opposition, and later stormed the village of Bequah, where Lord Gifford earned his Victoria Cross. In effecting the bridging of the Ordah, severe skirmishing took place, and at Ordah-su a lengthy battle was fought, the village being ultimately carried and held by the Rifles. In this battle the ill-fated Wauchope, who later met his death at Magersfontein, was severely wounded when serving with the 42nd. Forcing its way onward, with the pipers of the Black Watch playing at its head, the army entered Commassie practically unopposed, and the reign of the barbarous King Koffi Calcali came to an end, a reign in which "murder, pure and simple, monotonous massacre of bound men," was the "one employment of the King, and the one spectacle of the populace."

In the march on Commassie 80 European officers and men were killed, and 261 officers and men wounded, but the number of deaths from disease was very great. The grim spectre of disease is always more to be feared than the bullets of an enemy. In this war Captain (afterwards Lieutenant-Colonel) Reginald Sartorius, who had accompanied the column from Accra in the advance on Commassie, but did not reach there until it was abandoned, earned the V.C. for a daring ride of 55 miles across country in order to communicate with the General Commanding, and at Abogov, under a heavy fire, carrying a wounded Houssa soldier into cover. For his services Sir Garnet Wolseley was offered a baronetcy, which he declined, but accepted a grant of £25,000.

The troops engaged were the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers; 42nd Black Watch; 2nd Batt. 60th Rifles; 150 Royal Engineers; 2nd West India Regiment; Houssa Artillery and a Naval Brigade.

=The Ashantee Medal.=--By a general order dated June 1st, 1874, Her Majesty granted a medal to her naval and military forces who had been employed on the Gold Coast under Sir Garnet Wolseley during the operations against the King of Ashantee from June 9th, 1873, to February 4th, 1874, with a bar inscribed COMMASSIE to those who were present at Amoaful, and the actions between that place and Commassie, including its capture, and to those who during the five days of those actions were engaged on the north of the Prah in maintaining and protecting the communications of the main army. This medal has since been given for a number of expeditions in Central Africa, and on the East and West Coast. The recipient's name and regiment, or ship, and the date 1873-4, are engraved in square Roman capitals on the edge of the medal, and blacked in for the campaign 1873-4, but after that date the names are found impressed as well as engraved. On the obverse is the diademed head of Queen Victoria facing left, with plain veil falling over the back of the crown behind, surrounded by the legend VICTORIA REGINA. On the truncation L. C. WYON. The reverse, by Sir Edward Poynter, P.R.A., represents British troops fighting natives in the bush, and while it may be alleged to pictorially represent something of the difficulties met with by the troops--which I do not consider it does--it cannot be said to fulfil the requirements of a decoration for personal wear. The medal, which is 1⅖ in. in diameter, with a straight clasp and claw clip arrangement, fastened by a rivet through the medal, is suspended from a ribbon 1¼ in. wide, yellow with black borders, and two narrow black stripes. The bars are plain, with a raised straight border.

=Perak.=--Perak, on the western side of the Malay Peninsula, had been independent of Siam since 1882, but the sovereignty of the State had been in dispute. In order to put an end to the constant feuds, the offer of Ismail, one of the claimants, to surrender the sovereignty to Britain was accepted, and Mr. Birch was appointed British Resident in Perak city. Ismail a few months later, desirous of securing the throne, attacked the Residency and murdered the Resident. The neighbouring Rajahs joined with him, and it became necessary to dispatch a punitive expedition. A party of troops and a Naval Brigade therefore proceeded up the Perak River, destroyed the village of Passir Sala, and captured 6 guns, while General Colbourne's column marched through the jungle, so "dense and dark that during all the time not a vestige of sun or sky was visible overhead," and during the advance (on Kintra) the troops--1,300 men of the 80th and a naval brigade from the "Modeste" and "Ringdove"--"were without cover of any kind, and slept in the damp dewy open." On the capture of Kintra, the Maharajah Lela and Ismail fled into the jungle; meantime Brigadier-General Ross, with a detachment of the Buffs and some Goorkas, stormed Kotah Lama and burned it. On January 19th Ismail was decisively worsted, and on March 22nd he was captured and sent to Singapore, and the districts which had been the scene of constant conflict became, under British rule, prosperous and contented.

The troops engaged were: 1st Batt. 3rd; detachments of the 10th and 80th; Royal Artillery and Engineers; a Naval Brigade, and detachments of Indian troops.

An issue of the India General Service Medal 1854 was authorised with a bar for PERAK on September 1st, 1879, for the campaign from November 2nd to March 20th, 1875-6, and by a general order issued in 1881 to those who had been engaged between November 27th and December 10th, 1874.

=Jowaki.=--Living on the hills of the Afghan frontier, the Jowakis, a branch of the Afridis, long had a bad reputation as marauders, disturbing, robbing, and slaughtering the inhabitants of the Peshawar Valley; finally they attacked a British outpost, and it became necessary to teach them a serious lesson. A force composed of the 9th and 51st Regiments, and two companies of the 4th Rifle Brigade, with Royal Engineers, Artillery, and Indian regiments, was therefore sent against the hillmen under the command of Generals Keyes and Ross. The Jowaki villages, fortified Sangars and crops, were destroyed, and on December 1st, 1877, the stronghold of Jummoo was taken with little opposition. By the end of January 1878 the Jowakis sued for peace; unwilling, however, to accept the terms imposed, the hostilities were resumed, but after a crushing charge by the Bengal Cavalry, on February 15th, their spirit was damped, and they unconditionally accepted the terms laid down for peace.

By another order dated March 1st, 1879, a medal with bar for JOWAKI was awarded to the troops who took part in the operations between November 9th, 1877, and January 19th, 1878.

The troops engaged were the 9th and 51st; two companies 4th Batt. 60th; two companies Royal Engineers; a battery of Field and a battery of Royal Horse Artillery; 20th, 22nd, and 27th Punjab Infantry; 14th Sikhs; 17th Bengal Cavalry.

=Campaign against Galekas and Gaikas.=--On September 25th, 1877, the Galekas attacked the old allies of the British, the Fingoes, and a party of mounted police at Guadana, but were repulsed. Troops were immediately sent to the scene of hostilities, Kreli's country was invaded and his kraal burnt, and a stiff fight was made at Umzintzani before crossing the Krei. The Connaught Rangers then proceeded to the front, with 50 mounted men of the 24th, and the bandsmen of that regiment as gunners with a 7-pounder gun and Naval Brigades from the "Active" and "Florence." The Galekas, who had joined forces with the Gaikas under Sandilli, were badly beaten at Nynnuxa, but rallied in the Chickaba Valley, where the British column attacked them on January 14th, 1878, and drove them off with considerable loss in men and cattle. On February 25th General Thesiger (later Lord Chelmsford) took over the command from Sir Arthur Cunningham, and Sandilli's force was defeated in the Amotala Mountains by the column under Colonel (now Field-Marshal Sir Evelyn) Wood. In succeeding skirmishes Sandilli was killed; then the Galeka chief, Kreli, surrendered, and an amnesty was proclaimed on June 28th, 1878, for all who had taken part in the war except the sons of Sandilli.

=The Griqua Campaign.=--Meanwhile an outbreak in Griqualand West had to be suppressed, and this was done by the colonial troops, without the assistance of the regulars, but not until several sharp engagements between the Griquas and the Colonials had been fought between June 11th and July 20th, 1878, when an amnesty was declared and the war was at an end.

=The Basuto War.=--Following closely on the suppression of the rising in Griqualand came the Basuto War, occasioned by the refusal of Morosi and his son Dodo, chief of the Baphutis, to pay the hut tax. Morosi had fortified an almost inaccessible mountain near the Orange River, and thither, after a skirmish with the Cape Mounted Rifles, he gathered his people, and for nine months defied the forces and artillery ranged against him in his mountain fastness, which with only one accessible side he had, with considerable skill, fortified and loopholed for musketry fire. After many futile attempts to storm the place Morosi was killed, and what was considered to be an impregnable mountain fortress was taken, and the fortifications blown up. Then it was decided to disarm the natives, and some hard fighting took place against the rebel chief Letherodi, and the rising was not stamped out until the Imperial and Colonial forces in the field totalled 15,000 men. In April 1878 an amnesty was proclaimed, and although the Basutos had been badly defeated they gained practically all they asked for prior to the rising.

THE ZULU WAR

Then a war was entered upon which was to alternately bring disaster and as frequently demonstrate the stern inflexibility of the white man. Zululand, to the north-east of Natal, produced the finest and bravest black warriors against whom Britain has fought. Chaka on becoming chief in 1810 organised the tribe on a martial basis, and to his determined and ruthless efforts to establish a military despotism the splendid fighting qualities of the Zulu were due. Our story commences with the recognition of Cetewayo as King of the Zulus by the British Government in 1872. His father Panda had reverted to the peaceful pastoral pursuits of the tribe, but Cetewayo determined to again organise his countrymen as a military nation, and with such success did he do this that he felt himself in a position to defy white authority. The seizure of two women on British territory, claimed as the runaway wives of a chief, and the refusal of Cetewayo to make reparation for the incursion into British territory, led to the invasion of Zululand on January 11th, 1879. It was decided to invade the country by three columns. The first, or southern column, under Colonel Pearson of the Buffs, was composed of the 2nd Batt. Buffs; six companies of the 99th; 100 Mounted Infantry; 19th Hussars; Royal Artillery with 4 guns; 170 Seamen and Marines from H.M.S. "Active," with a Gatling gun and Rocket Battery; Mounted Colonial Volunteers, and about 1,000 natives. The second, or central column, under Colonel Glyn of the 24th, comprised seven companies of the 1st Batt. and the 2nd Batt. 24th Regiment; Royal Artillery with 2 7-pounders; Natal Mounted Police; Mounted Colonial Volunteers, and 1,000 natives. The third, or northern column, under Colonel Evelyn Wood, consisted of the 1st Batt. 13th; the 90th Regiment; Royal Artillery with 4 7-pounders; 100 Mounted Infantry; 200 Frontier Light Horse; 100 local Volunteers; a body of Boers under Commandant Piet Uys, and 5,000 Swazies.

[Illustration: MEDAL FOR ASHANTI, 1900.]

[Illustration: MEDAL FOR TIBET, 1903-4.]

[Illustration: (Obverse.) (Reverse.)

MEDAL AWARDED FOR NATAL NATIVE REBELLION.]

On January 22nd a body of about 6,000 Zulus were defeated at Inyezane by Colonel Pearson's force, which then marched on to Ekowe (Etschowe), where a depot was formed without opposition, but on the same day the central column, which had crossed the river at Rorke's Drift, where a detachment of the 24th was left, met with overwhelming disaster at the isolated hill of Isandhlwana. Lord Chelmsford, with Colonel Glyn, had marched out leaving one company of the 2nd 24th, and five companies of the 1st 24th, with 70 artillerymen and 2 guns, mounted police, volunteers, and native friendlies, to defend the unfortified camp, and while he was reconnoitring in the south-west the Zulu impi of 14,000 attacked the camp at Isandhlwana, where the men, standing back to back, faced the fearful odds until almost every white man had fallen where he stood. A Zulu chief afterwards said, "They turned back to back and fought till they died. Not one tried to escape."

In this desperate struggle Lieutenants Coghill and Melville made a gallant attempt to save the colours of the 24th, and with their precious charge essayed to swim the Buffalo, but Melville's horse being killed Coghill returned to assist him, and his horse being also shot the colours fell into the river, from which they were rescued ten days later. The brave officers were found dead side by side. For this gallant effort the Victoria Cross was posthumously conferred upon the two officers. Around the fatal hill of Isandhlwana 50 British officers, and over 800 non-commissioned officers and men, met their death; the five entire companies of the 1st 24th were annihilated, and 90 men of the 2nd Battalion killed.

=Rorke's Drift.=--Meanwhile on that fatal day the little force which had been left under Lieutenant Bromhead at Rorke's Drift to guard 35 sick men and the stores, had performed prodigies of valour. About 80 men kept at bay 3,000 Zulus from 5 o'clock on the afternoon of the 22nd until 4 a.m. on the 23rd. Again and again the Zulus tried to rush the hastily improvised fort; they set fire to a building which had been converted into a hospital, and forced the devoted band into the inner defences. Half a dozen times they rushed the meagre entrenchments, but were forced back, until at last on the morning of the 23rd they retired, leaving 370 dead around that well-kept post. The gallant men who defied that army lost 17 killed and 2 wounded, 5 of the sick men being burnt to death despite the strenuous efforts of their comrades to rescue them.