Bengal Cavalry Charging

Stations

The Bengal Register of 1826 tells us that the 5th BLC was stationed at Keitah. In 1829 they moved to Kurnaul. In 1834 they moved to Cawnpore. They spent the years from 1841 to 1842 in Afghanistan and were then involved in the Sikh Wars of the 1840s in the Punjab. On 24 Feb 1850 they were posted to Nakodah, and in November 1855 moved to Peshawar.

Jellalabad 13 Nov 1841 - 16 April 1842

Sir Robert Sale's force arrived at Jellalabad on 13th Nov 1841. Sale had been the commanding officer of the 13th Somersetshire Light Infantry since 1825 and he now had under his command the 700 men of the 13th, as well as 600 sepoys of the 35th Native Infantry, 130 sowars of the 5th Bengal Cavalry commanded by Captain Christopher Oldfield, 90 sowars of Shah Shujah's cavalry, 14 pieces of artillery, sappers and miners and some Afghan Jezailchis. He also had around 3,000 camp followers, 750 camels and 300 wounded or sick. The fort was in a poor state of repair but the enemy had to be dispersed before work on the walls could begin. A sortie of 700 men of the 13th LI and the 35th Native Infantry charged out of the fort on 14 Nov to attack Piper’s Hill.This was successful, and another sortie was organised on 27 Nov which allowed them to have 6 weeks of uninterrupted work on the walls, and a ditch outside.

But all that was ruined when an earthquake struck on 19 Feb 1842. The quake also affected the local villages, and the enemy dispersed to their homes, providing temporary relief from the siege. The men of the 5th BLC squadron were employed in the work of rebuilding. They came into their own as cavalrymen when the final sortie took place on 7 April. The force was organised in three columns. The cavalry, made up of the squadron of the 5th, and 90 men of Shah Shujah’s Irregular Horse, was commanded by Captain Oldfield. As soon as the Afghan tribesmen began to retreat the cavalry pursued them so that by nightfall there was not an Afghan within 8 miles of Jellalabad. Total losses to Sale’s force in this battle were 14 killed and 66 wounded. The minimal casualties of the 5th BLC can be calculated by the fact that the squadron had a strength of 130 at the start of the siege and there were 122 recipients of the Jellalabad Medal (inscribed ‘VII April 1842’ the date of the final sortie that defeated Akhbar Khan’s Afghan army). The siege lasted 155 days, at the end of which the relieving force led by General Pollock marched into Jellalabad on 16 April 1843. The squadron earned the 5th Bengal Light Cavalry the battle honours JELLALABAD and CABOOL 1842.

Punniar, 29 Dec 1843

In the Gwalior campaign two squadrons of the 5th BLC fought at Punniar, with a detachment at Maharajpore. Both battles were fought and won on the same day, but 20 miles apart. The 5th fought alongside the 8th and 11th BLC, the 8th Irregular Cavalry, and the 9th Lancers. General Sir George Grey commanded this wing of the army, attacking Maharattas entrenched in the hills near Punniar, and suffering 215 casualties.

Maharajpore, 29 Dec 1843

The detachment of the 5th BLC at Maharajpore was part of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade with 1st BLC, the 4th BLC (Lancers), a detachment of the 8th BLC, and the Governor-General’s Bodyguard, all under the command of Sir John Littler. The other cavalry brigade (1st) consisted of the 16th Lancers, the 10th BLC and the 4th Irregular Horse, commanded by Sir Joseph Thackwell. The enemy, part of the Maharatta Confederacy, decided to take advantage of Britain’s loss of military prestige in Afghanistan and their perceived weakness. Littler’s brigade was ordered to make a direct attack on the enemy’s entrenched position covered by artillery fire while Thackwell’s brigade attacked the left flank and the enemy camp. The flanking movement was held up by a ravine, and the 16th Lancers lost two men killed and seven wounded. The heaviest casualties (800 in all) fell to the 39th and 40th, and the 16th BNI. The casualty figures for the Indian cavalry regiments are not shown. The battle honours for MAHARAJPOOR and PUNNIAR were awarded to the regiment.

Aliwal 28 Jan 1846

The Army of the Sutlej was commanded by the Commander-in-Chief Sir Hugh Gough, although the battle of Aliwal was fought by a Division of the army commanded by Sir Harry Smith against a Division of the Sikh Khalsa army under Ranjodh Singh. The British/Bengal Cavalry was in two brigades: Brigadier Stedman commanded the 1st and 5th BLC together with the Governor-General’s Bodyguard and the Shekhawati Cavalry. Brigadier G M Macdowell commanded the 16th Lancers, the 3rd BLC and the 4th Irregular Cavalry. The battle began with an infantry attack against the Sikhs at Aliwal, then Stedman’s cavalry, on the right flank, were ordered against the mounted Ghorchurras who were filling a gap made by the infantry. This charge was successful and the enemy horsemen were pushed back to the Sutlej. The battle is best known for the action of the 16th Lancers whose squadrons made repeated separate charges on the left of the line, particularly against a defensive formation of the Avatabile Regiment, an elite Sikh unit trained by an Italian officer. It is said of the Indian troops in this war, that they hesitated to fight the Sikhs at Mudki and Ferozeshah but fought bravely at Aliwal. The 5th BLC was awarded the battle honour ALIWAL on 12 August 1846.

Sobraon 10 Feb 1846

Sir Hugh Gough was in command of the army against Tej Singh's Khalsa Army in this battle on the Sutlej, 30 miles west of the site of the battle of Aliwal. The cavalry, under the command of Sir Joseph Thackwell was in three brigades; the 5th BLC in Brigadier Charles Cureton’s brigade with the remnants of the 16th Lancers, the 3rd BLC, and the 4th Irregular Cavalry. They were positioned at the rear of the infantry, on the extreme left to watch the ford over the Sutlej at Hurrikee in case the Sikh cavalry crossed over to attack the left flank. The infantry performed prodigious feats of bravery to scale the high walls of the Sikh fortifications and eventually all three infantry Divisions gained a foothold in the defences. Then Gough ordered the cavalry to attack and silence the enemy artillery. The 3rd Light Dragoons galloped along the battery positions cutting down gunners and spiking guns but they were brought to a halt by grapeshot. They were then reinforced by the 4th and 5th BLC and renewed the attack, but were checked by a Sikh battery, still intact, which opened fire on them. However, the battle was a complete victory to the British/Indian army which caused thousands of Sikh deaths, many through drowning in the river as they fled the field. The casualties of the 5th BLC are not available. The battle honour SOBRAON was granted to the regiment on 12 Aug 1846.

The Ramnuggur Jug

Ramnuggur, 22 Nov 1848

At Ramnuggur on 22 Nov 1848 the 5th BLC was commanded by Lt-Col W Alexander, providing support for the 14th Light Dragoons. A round shot from the Sikh artillery hit Alexander’s arm, killed the QM sergeant and wounded Adjutant Ryley in the foot. Alexander fell from his horse but was saved by Sergeant-Major Mallet, an English NCO serving in the regiment. The Colonel’s arm had to be amputated and he suffered pain ever since. Sir Joseph Thackwell praised their action in this battle where they behaved with firmness, approaching the enemy and firing their pistols. ‘The 5th has always been regarded as the finest cavalry regiment in Bengal’. The battle failed to dislodge the Sikhs from their main position, and their leader, Sher Singh, was hailed as the victor, and Sikh morale lifted. There was to be no battle honour for Ramnuggur.

Chillianwallah, 13 Jan 1849

The 1st Cavalry Brigade consisted of the 5th and 8th BLC, together with the 3rd and 14th Light Dragoons, under Brigadier White, in Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell’s Division. They were placed on the extreme left with three Troops of Horse Artillery, but the 14th LD were moved over to Pope’s Cavalry Brigade on the right flank. There was also a Troop of the 5th BLC on detached duty as personal bodyguard to Lord Gough. These men, under the command of Lieutenant Henry Stannus, performed well in the battle.

As the army approached the Sikh position, Gough decided to pitch camp and attack the next day, but the Sikhs went on the offensive so the battle was fought then and there, on 13th Jan. The enemy had vacated their trenches and moved forward into the jungle near Chillianwallah. The Jhelum River was behind them. There was an attempt by the Sikhs to turn the British flank which the 1st Brigade was ordered to prevent. Enemy cavalry tried to get in the rear of this brigade, threatening the three squadrons of the 5th BLC and the Grey squadron of the 3rd Light Dragoons. The Grey squadron forced their way through the enemy but the 5th BLC wavered and retreated, ignoring the pleas of their officers. It was assumed that the Grey squadron, led by Captain Walter Unett, had been wiped out. They suffered 46 casualties, including Unett and Stisted who were wounded. Thackwell still had the rest of the 3rd LD and the 8th BLC, who with Horse Artillery were ordered over to the right wing. But Sikh artillery fire caused havoc with this movement and there were many casualties amongst the 3rd LD.

The heavy casualties sustained in this battle were caused by the lack of artillery support for the infantry and Gough’s insistence on the use of the bayonet. The 24th, relying on ‘cold steel’ under Colonel Pennychuick charged the Sikh guns, bringing about the heroic actions of him and his son who both died, and the loss of their Colours. The flanks of the 24th were covered by the 25th and 45th BNI regiments who also suffered heavy losses. Similarly, the 61st Regiment distinguished itself, supported by the 36th and 46th BNI.

As night fell the soldiers were in desperate need of water. The 2nd cavalry brigade provided outlying pickets. The idea that the enemy had been defeated was a delusion. If the British positions had been attacked that night it would have been an undisputed Sikh victory. The casualty figures were high, 89 officers and 2,357 men, killed or wounded. The casualties of the 5th BLC: 2 sergeants, 1 trumpeter, 3 rank and file, 7 horses killed. Wounded: 2 British officers, one Indian officer, 2 sergeants, 11 rank and file, 7 horses.

Passage of the Chenad (Sadulapore) Dec 1848

A Force under Sir Joseph Thackwell was sent along the river to cross at the ford of Runnee Khan Kee Puttun, 13 miles distant, to outflank the Sikh army and attack their entrenchments. The 5th and the 8th Bengal Light Cavalry were part of the cavalry brigade together with the 3rd Light Dragoons and 3rd and 12th Irregular Cavalry. The infantry regiments accompanying the cavalry were the 24th and 61st Regiments of Foot with six Native Infantry regiments, 22nd 25th 31st 36th 46th and 56th. Also 3 Troops of Horse Artillery, 2 Native Field Batteries, two 18-pounders and a Pontoon train. The cavalry assembled at 1am on 1st December, and the infantry 2 hours later which delayed the process. The force made its way along the road by the river, hoping to maintain silence for a surprise attack. But they were accompanied by camp followers who could not be compelled to keep quiet. On reaching the ford, several disadvantages became apparent; there were sand banks in the river which in places was dangerous quicksand, and the depth of the water did not allow the passage of guns. But they were able to commandeer 17 boats to transport the guns and infantry on the morning of the 2nd Dec. However, it was not until the 3rd Dec that the force could advance on the enemy trenches.

After six miles they were ordered to halt and wait for the 9th Lancers and 14th Light Dragoons to cross the river at another ford, Ghurriki Puttun. The land to their front was covered in sugar cane from which Sikh Gurchurras emerged and ran towards the flanks of the force. These were protected on the right flank by the 3rd LD and the 8th BLC, and Christie’s Troop of Horse Artillery. The left flank was guarded by the 3rd Irregulars, the 5th BLC and Warner’s Troop of HA. The infantry were ordered to lie down to mitigate the effect of the Sikh artillery. British artillery eventually silenced the enemy guns and Gough gave Thackwell the choice of advancing or holding off. The latter option was safer as evening was approaching. The army rested that night and found the Sikh entrenchments abandoned the next day. The losses incurred in this action amounted to 21 men and 33 horses killed, and 51 men and 33 horses wounded. The casualties in the 5th BLC: 2 horses killed, one havildar and one horse wounded.

The Sikhs moved their army westwards to the Jhelum, but not pursued by the cavalry as would have been expected. On 5 Dec the 5th BLC and 9th Lancers were ordered to make a reconnaissance from Heylah. They proceeded 8 miles into a jungle and found two large groups of the enemy. They did not engage, but reported back.

Goojerat, 21 Feb 1846

Goojerat

At Goojerat on 21 Feb 1846, White’s Cavalry Brigade was on the extreme left. The 5th and 6th BLC together with the Bombay Field Batteries and the 45th and 69th BNI regiments were in the rear protecting the baggage, all under the command of Colonel Mercer. The 1st BLC was in Lockwood’s Cavalry Brigade with the 14th LD. The 8th BLC was part of White’s brigade, on the extreme left, with the 9th Lancers, 3rd LD and the Scinde Horse. A large number of Gurchurras found their way through the heavy guns and approached Gough and his staff but Lieutenant Stannus and his Troop of the 5th BLC charged them and drove them off. Stannus was wounded in this action. The 8th BLC with the 9th Lancers stopped Sikhs taking away guns as the battle came to a close. Casualties at Goojerat in the 5th BLC: One British officer, 4 rank and file and one horse wounded.