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![Go to record War Services of Officers of the Bengal Army 1863 [HEIC]](../themes/fibisnew/images/viewrecord.png) War Services of Officers of the Bengal Army 1863 [HEIC] |
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 Officers of the Bengal Army 1863 - Rank and Services A-B
| Date transcribed | 2008-01-31 | | Transcribed by | Peter Bailey | | Comment | Each Officer of the Bengal Army still alive and serving in 1863 is mentioned with his Career Progression and War Service |
 | Surname | Anderson | | | First Name(s) | R P | | | Rank | Major | | | Regiment | late 25th Native Infantry | | | Commissions | Ensign, 28 Dec 42 / Lieut, 13th Jan 49 / Captain, 23 Nov 56 / Bt-Major, 24 Mar 58 | | | Service | Major Anderson served during the Punjab Campaign. Present at the actions of Ramnuggur, Sadoolapore, Chillianwallah, Goojerat, and the passage of the Chenab. Medal and 2 Clasps. Previous to the siege of Lucknow volunteered and proceeded with a party of Sikhs (under Captain Forbes) to escort European fugitives (from Seetapore in Oude) into Lucknow. Volunteered and joined a party of 200 of HMs 32nd Volunteers, with two guns and Sikh Cavalry, and charged the Lucknow Police Battalion, which broke into open mutiny on the 12th June 1857. Commanded a most exposed and dangerous outpost during the entire siege of Lucknow, from the 30th June till 22nd November 1857. Worked for three-quarters of an hour under a fire of musketry and round shot (the enemy only 40 yards off), and succeeded in extricating W. Capper, Esq., of the B. C. S., who had been buried under the ruins of the verandah of the outpost. Held a sand-bag breast-work (41/2 feet high), which connected his post with the Cavvnpore Battery, with six men of HMs 32nd Regiment, from the commencement of the siege till the arrival of the relief under Generals Outram and Havelock. The enemy had eleven guns in position, firing day and night at this outpost. The farthest of these guns was 100 yards, the nearest only 40 yards. Amongst these was a Company's 8-inch howitzer (taken at Chinhut), a 24 and an 18-pounder. At the commencement of the siege there was one 18-pounder and one 9-pounder behind this breast-work, but they had to be withdrawn, as they were completely commanded by the enemy's riflemen in the adjacent houses. On the identical spot on which this 41/2- feet breastÂwork stood, General Outram (after the relief arrived) constructed an 18-feet thick battery, and placed in it two 18 and three 9-pounders, with two 8-inch mortars in rear of them. The men of HMs 32nd were relieved regularly every week. Major Anderson was not. Proceeded as a guide and led the right assault in a sortie on the " Garden Guns," under General Sir R. Napier, 1st October 1857. Present at Cawnpore on its re-occupation. Proceeded as Commissariat Officer withthe Highland Brigade under General Sir Hope Grant, in the pursuit of the Gwalior rebels and capture of their guns at Serai Ghaut. Made a forced march at night, whilst the enemy were retreating towards Bithoor and Serai Ghaut, in charge of a convoy of Commissariat stores escorted by Sikh horsemen, and brought all in safe, within the rear guard of General Hope Grant's Force, that had marched in advance, in time to issue supplies to the troops the following day. Slightly wounded in the head and face, and knocked down in the sortie on the " Garden Guns." Slightly wounded in the foot by a piece of a shell during the siege. Medal and Clasp, with " Defence of Lucknow." Promoted by Brevet to Major, for services at Lucknow. Permitted to count one year additional service for Lucknow. Thanked most cordially by the Commissary General of India (Colonel Ramsay) for his services in the Allahabad Commissariat for eighteen months, during the last Burmese war. Specially mentioned in the Lucknow Despatch by General Inglis, as having satisfactorily commanded a dangerous outpost during the entire siege; and the outpost is prominently mentioned as the one where a desperate attempt at escalade was repulsed. (Vide Despatch of General Inglis, j Thanked, with others, by the Governor-General of India and the Commander-in-Chief, for services at Lucknow, mentioned in the Despatch of General Hope Grant, when with the Highland Brigade at Serai Ghaut. |
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Each Officer in the Bengal Army still alive in 1863 is mentioned together with his promotion progression and War Services.
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