The Sikh War 1848-1849

Punjaub 1848-49

The province of Mooltan had been only two years under British rule. The two British emissaries who had been sent in April, 1848, to support the new Sikh Governor were murdered and the whole of the Western Punjaub broke into revolt, backed by the Ameer of Afghanistan. By the end of the year sufficient troops were assembled and operations began. MOOLTAN was invested on 27th December and taken by assault on 21st January, 1849. The 1st Battalion, under the command of Major M. G. Davies (Lieutenant-Colonel Dundas having been given command of a division), covered the advance and lost 11 killed and 31 wounded during the siege. It then marched to join the army under Lord Gough.

Goojerat, 21st February 1849

At Goojerat Lord Gough gained a complete victory over a force of 60,000 Sikhs and Afghans, capturing 53 guns. Lieutenant-Colonel J. Bradshaw commanded the 1st Battalion in this battle, after which he was given a brigade and Major Davies resumed command. A vigorous pursuit followed. Sixteen thousand of the enemy surrendered at Rawal Pindi with 41 guns. The Afghans were followed up as far as the Khyber Pass, which was reached on 18th March. The Battalion had marched 496 miles since 3rd February.

"Nothing could exceed the gallantry and discipline of the 60th Royal Rifles" were the words of the Gazette.

Rifleman Burke's Standard

In December the same year a punitive expedition, including about 200 of the 1st Battalion was sent into the Yussufzai country. It was here that Rifleman Michael Burke captured the standard now in the Regimental Museum. He pulled a Pathan off his horse and shot him and another Pathan. His companion, Rifleman Connell, was killed. For this Burke was promoted Corporal on the field. He subsequently became Regimental Sergeant-Major. The silver centrepiece in the Museum, mounted on the mess elephant's tusk, was presented to the 1st Battalion by Major T. Maughan, R.A., in commemoration of Burke's exploit.

Succession Of Colonels-In-Chief

On 8th July, 1850, H.R.H. Adolphus Duke of Cambridge died, and was succeeded as Colonel-in-Chief by Field-Marshal H.R.H. Prince Albert, Consort of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. On the resignation of the Prince Consort in 1852, General Viscount Beresford became Colonel-in-Chief, to be succeeded in 1854 by Lord Gough.

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