Chillianwala is a very important battle fought on 13th January, 1849. In memory of that victory and to honour their fallen soldiers, British erected an obelisk at the battle field. It is just outside Chillianwala village. Chillianwala is located in Mandi Bahauddin district. About 15 kilometers east of Mandi Bahauddin city. The location of this monument is at 32° 39' 44.22" N, 73° 36' 21.60" E.
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The obelisk. (22.02.2009.)
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Graves of British soldiers. (22.02.2009.)
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The obelisk. (22.02.2009.)
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A cross at the monument. (22.02.2009.)
The foundations of this monument were laid by Richard Southwell Bourke, the 6th Earl of Mayo, the Viceroy and Governor General of India, in 1871.
After this battle British annexed Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and made it a part of the British India. It was the hardest battle the British had to fought in India. Sikh army not only stopped but repulsed the attack of British Indian army, with terrible losses. However, Sikhs due to their own weak and exhausted army did not make any counter attack and retreated to Gujrat. It is a very important historical place, students of history should visit it.
I shall appreciate your comments on the above post. Similarly I most welcome your suggestions to improve it or any more information on this subject, which I shall use with all due credit.
Tariq Amir
May 10, 2014.
Doha - Qatar
A few months ago, while browsing, I came across a website
"http://www.victorianweb.org/history/empire/india/36.html"
and discovered a very interesting piece of information about the battle of Chillianwala. Besides giving details of the battle, it mentioned something which I neither read anywhere before, not I was expecting. It was about three small cemeteries, where some of the British soldiers fallen in the battle were buried.
So on the first available opportunity, I decided to visit that place again and see those graves by myself. So I was there again, more than 6 years after my first visit on 22.02.2009. There was not much trouble in locating the graves as the writer has given the exact coordinates of all the three small cemeteries. Otherwise, it is not easy task to locate them in the countryside, where most of the people have no idea of the existence of these graves. Just to satisfy my curiosity about what the locals think of these graves, I asked a group of young women near the first cemetery who was buried there. Most of them believed the graves belonged to Khatris (Hindus). That was interesting, considering Hindus traditionally cremate their dead. However, one of them answered correctly, saying that the Angrez (English) are buried there. In my later interviews, a couple of people gave the same response—that the graves were of Khatris. One even claimed they belonged to Gujars.
I have copied some additional details below from the above-mentioned website. The location of the three mass graves containing about 200 dead of the 24th was unknown for many years until rediscovered in 1993 by Brigadier Ian McLeod, the British Defence Advisor in Pakistan. He had been asked by the Royal Regiment of Wales Museum to provide some advice on the possible commissioning of a painting of the battle. He spotted the three enclosures standing amidst farmland. On a subsequent visit in June 1993 he and I decyphered the remains of an inscription on one of them “In memory of the men of HM 24th Foot who fell around this spot in the battle of Chillianwala on 13th January 1849”.It was some time later that I discovered a copy of General Sir George MacMunn’s Vignettes from Indian Warswhich contains eight pages (pp. 134-43) on the battle and crucially a map which shows the location of the “three enclosed trench graves”. MacMunn tells the grisly story of their origin. “All night long the Sikhs roamed the deserted battlefield ... massacring any British wounded they could find. Most of the dead were slashed across the mouth and the ghastly grin their faces presented was a horrible sight. Most of the bodies had been stripped and ... many of the stripped bodies seemed to have been dragged through the thorn bushes so much were they torn. An attempt was made to collect the dead at the Chillianwala mound and a great many are buried in the long trenches there. A contemporary account however tells that camels were sent out to collect them and that before long the indecent sight of the corpses lashed on the camels coming into camp was too horrible and demoralising and the remainder were buried out where they fell. This explains these three large nameless graves on the south of the Moong road.”
View from the main road. (23.08.2015.)
Cross and obelisk. (23.08.2015.)
Cross. (23.08.2015.)
Another view of the cross. (23.08.2015.)
Base of the cross, South Side. (23.08.2015.)
(Latin: From the Cross, Salvation.)
TO RECORD
THE NAMES OF THE
BRAVE OFFICERS WHO FELL IN
THE
GREAT BATTLE
FOUGHT ON THE ADJOINING PLAIN
13TH JANUARY 1849
THIS COSS
WAS PLACED BESIDE THEIR TOMB BY
RIHARD 6TH EARL OF MAYO
VICEROY & GOVRENOR GENERAL
1871
Details of the battle in English. (23.08.2015.)
AROUND
THIS TOMB WAS FOUGHT THE SANGUINARY BATTLE OF
CHILLIANWALLAH
13TH JANUARY 1849
BETWEEN THE BRITISH FORCES UNDER LORD GOUHG;
AND THE SIKHS UNDER RAJAH SHER SINGH;
ON BOTH SIDES DID INNUMERABLE WARRIORS PASS FROM THIS LIFE;
DYING IN MORTAL COMBAT
HONORED BE THE GRAVES OF THESE HEROIC
SOLDIERS;
IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL IN THE RANKS OF THE
INDIAN ARMY.
THIS MONUMENT
HAS BEEN RAISED BY THEIR SURVIVING COMRADES
AT WHOSE SIDE THEY PERISHED;
COMRADES WHO GLORY IN THEIR GLORY, AND LAMENT THEIR
FALL
Details of the battle in Punjabi (Gurmukhi Script). (23.08.2015.)
ਇਸ ਥਾਂ ਦੇ ਗਿਰਦੇ ਜੋ ਚੇਲਿੰਵਾਲਾ ਮਸਾਹੂਰ ਹੈ ਸੰਮਤ ਈਸਵੀ ੧੯੪੯ ਤਾਰੀਕਜਨਵਰੀ ਮਹੀਨੇ ਕੀ ੧੩ ਅੰਗਰੇਜਾਂ ਦੀ ਫੌਜ ਜਿਹਦਾ ਸਿਰਦਰ ਲਾਰਦ ਗਾਫ ਸਾਹਿਬਅਤੇ ਸਿਖਾਂ ਦੀ ਫੌਜ ਜਿਹਦਾ ਸਿਰਦਰ ਰਾਜਾ ਸ਼ੇਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੀ ਆਪਸ ਵਿਚ ਅੱਤ ਭਾਰੀ ਯੁਧਪੈ ਗਿਆ ਵਾਹ ਵਾਹ ਕੀ ਸੂਰਮਗਤੀ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਹੋਈ ਦੋਹਾਂ ਫੌਜਾਂ ਵਿਚੋ ਸੂਰ ਬੀਰ ਅਣੁਗਣੂਤਮਾਰੇ ਗਏ ਪਰਮੇਸਵਰ ਇਨਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਬਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਰੋਸ਼ਨ ਕਰੇ ਅੱਤੇ ਜਗ ਵਿਚ ਨਾਉਓਹਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਓਘਾ ਰਖੇ ਆਸ ਅੰਬਰਤ ਨੂੰ ਉਨਾਂ ਅੰਗਰੇਜਾਂ ਨੇ ਜ੍ਵ ਜੁਧ ਵਿਚੋ ਬਚ ਰਹੇ ਸਨਆਪਣਿਆਂ ਮਿਤਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਯਾਦਗਾਰੀ ਲਈਉਸਾਰਿਆ ਉਨਾਂ ਦੇਮਰਨ ਤੇ ਅੱਤ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਹੁਂਦੀ ਹੈ ਪਰ ਉਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਨਾਮਵਰੀ ਤੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਇਜਤ ਜਾਣਦੇ ਹਨ.
اس تھاں دے گِردے جو چیلیانوالہ مشہور ہے، سنہ عیسوی 1849 تاریخ
جنوری مہینے کی 13، انگریزاں دی فوج جیہدا سردار لارڈ گاف صاحب
اتے سکھاں دی فوج جیہدا سردار راجہ شیر سنگھ سی، آپس وچ ات بھاری یُدھ
پے گیا۔ واہ واہ کی سورمگتی پرگٹ ہوئی۔ دوہاں فوجاں وچوں سور بیر انگنت
مارے گئے۔ پرمیشور انہاں دیاں قبراں نوں روشن کرے اتے جگ وچ ناؤں
اوہناں دا اوگھا رکھے۔ اس امبارت نوں، اوہناں انگریزاں نے جو یُدھ وچوں بچ رہے سن،
اپنیاں متراں دی یادگاری لئی اوساریا۔ اوہناں دے
مرن تے ات چنتا ہوندی ہے، پر اوہناں دی ناموری نوں اپنی عزت جان دے ہن۔
Around this place, which is known as Chillianwala, on the 13th of January in the year 1849, a tremendous battle took place between the British army, whose commander was Lord Gough, and the Sikh army, led by Raja Sher Singh. What an extraordinary display of bravery was witnessed! From both armies, countless valiant warriors were slain. May the Almighty illuminate their graves and keep their names exalted in the world.
In remembrance of those comrades, the surviving British soldiers who lived through the battle constructed this memorial. Though they feel deep sorrow over their companions’ deaths, they consider their fallen comrades’ fame and honor as their own pride.
Details of the battle in Punjabi (Shahmukhi). (23.08.2015.)
جنوری کی تیرہویں تاریخ سنہ 1849ء میں اس معرکہ میں انگریزی فوج سے جن کا سردارلارڈ گاف صاحب تھا، اور سکھوں کی فوج سے جن کا سردار راجہ شیر سنگھ تھا، بڑی بھاری لڑائی پڑٰی۔ دونوں لشکرآپس میں خوب ڈٹ لر بے دھڑک لڑے اور ایسی جم کر لڑائی لڑے کہ ان گنت مارے گئے۔ واہ کیا بہادری (سے) لڑ گئے۔ اللہ ان کی قبروں کو نورانی کرے اور جگ میں ان کا نام روشن رکھے۔ اس رن میں جو کہ انگریزی فوج کے کھیت رہے، اور اپنی جانوں پر کھیل گئے۔ ان کی یادگار کے لیے یہ عمارت، ان لوگوں نے مل کر تیار کروائی ہے، جو کہ اس معرکہ میں اجل کے پنجہ سے بچ رہے تھے۔ اگرچہ ان کے مرنے سے بے چین ہیں، مگر ان کی نام آوری کو اپنی آبرو جانتے ہیں۔
On the thirteenth day of January in the year 1849, a fierce battle took place between the British army, led by Lord Gough, and the Sikh forces, commanded by Raja Sher Singh. Both armies fought valiantly and fearlessly, engaging in such a determined clash that countless lives were lost. What bravery they displayed! May God illuminate their graves and keep their names shining in the world.
In this battlefield, those from the British army who fell and gave their lives are commemorated through this building, which was constructed by the survivors of that battle. Though they are anguished by the loss of their comrades, they regard the fame of the fallen as their own honor.
Details of the battle in Persian. (23.08.2015.)
ارآنجا کہ بتاریخ سیز دھم (13) جنوری سنہ 1839ع دریں معرکہ متعلقہ چیلیانوالامحاربہ شدیدہ فی مابین افواج انگریزی کہ رئیس ایشان لارد گاف صاحب برد و اقوام سکھان کہ سپہ سالار ایشان راجہ شیر سنگھ برد۔ واقعہ شدہ۔ در ھر دو جانب عساکر بے شمار جنگ کدن(یا کذن)از دار بنا بقا شتافتر۔ بر ارواح ایشان رحمت و بر قبور ایشان عزت باد،بناع علیٰ ھذا بناءے ھذا یادگار دلاوران کہ در صفوف انگریزانِ جان باختند ساختہ شد و اھتمام ایں بنید از اعانت رفیقان ایشان کہ در مقاتلہ موقومہ شریک بردند و جان بسلامت بردند و نام آرائی ایشان را باعث عزت خود ھا میپندارند ۔ وفوات ایشان را سبب اندوہ خود ھا می شمارند۔
Thus it was that on the thirteenth day of January in the year 1839*, a fierce battle took place at Chillianwala between the British forces, whose commander was Lord Gough, and the Sikh armies, led by their general Raja Sher Singh. In this encounter, countless soldiers from both sides fought with unwavering resolve and hastened from the realm of existence to the abode beyond. Mercy be upon their souls, and honor upon their graves. Accordingly, this memorial structure was erected in remembrance of the brave warriors who laid down their lives in the ranks of the British army. The construction of this edifice was undertaken with the support of their comrades—those who participated in the same battle, survived its perils, and now regard the valor and renown of the fallen as a source of personal pride. They consider the death of their companions a cause of deep sorrow.
The obelisk. (23.08.2015.)
A closer view. (23.08.2015.)
Graves of the British soldiers. (23.08.2015.)
My best friend and cousin, Nasir Mahmood. (23.08.2015.)
The condition of these small cemeteries is not good. All the three are just crumbling enclosures of approximately 10 x 10 metres, with one metre high walls. The first cemetery, about 70 metres south of the Chillianwala - Kot Baloch road, is almost covered with thick vegetation and nearly invisible. I could not enter it because of thick vegetation in and around the enclosure. The first cemetery is located at 32°39'21.66"N, 73°35'18.46"E.
The second cemetery is right on the same road, approximately 600 m from the first cemetery. Although it is not totally covered with bushes, it is nevertheless in bad shape. A nearby resident told me that now, seldom does someone come to visit this place, though until a decade ago, people occasionally used to come here. Signs of grave-type structures are clearly visible here, but it is mostly a heap of bricks. The entrance, which is in the north wall on the road, was closed with bricks a long time ago. On the front wall, it was clearly visible that somebody had deliberately vandalized the cement plaque. The second cemetery is located at 32°39'20.40"N, 73°34'56.04"E.
Further 100 metres in the direction of Kot Baloch is the third and last cemetery. It is about 50 metres south of the road, in the lush green fields, a perfect final resting place. But the walls of the enclosures have almost fallen apart, and there is not much left. I am afraid that in a few years, all signs of the cemetery will completely vanish. The third cemetery is located at 32°39'18.19"N, 73°34'51.91"E.
A view of the first cemetery. (23.08.2015.)
A closer view of the first cemetery. (23.08.2015.)
A portion of the wall of the first cemetery. (23.08.2015.)
North Eastern corner of the first cemetery. (23.08.2015.)
The second cemetery is right on the same road, approximately 600 m from the first cemetery. Although it is not totally covered with bushes, it is nevertheless in bad shape. A nearby resident told me that now, seldom does someone come to visit this place, though until a decade ago, people occasionally used to come here. Signs of grave-type structures are clearly visible here, but it is mostly a heap of bricks. The entrance, which is in the north wall on the road, was closed with bricks a long time ago. On the front wall, it was clearly visible that somebody had deliberately vandalized the cement plaque. The second cemetery is located at 32°39'20.40"N, 73°34'56.04"E.
The second cemetery. (23.08.2015.)
Another view of the second cemetery. (23.08.2015.)
All the details have been deliberately scraped off. (23.08.2015.)
Further 100 metres in the direction of Kot Baloch is the third and last cemetery. It is about 50 metres south of the road, in the lush green fields, a perfect final resting place. But the walls of the enclosures have almost fallen apart, and there is not much left. I am afraid that in a few years, all signs of the cemetery will completely vanish. The third cemetery is located at 32°39'18.19"N, 73°34'51.91"E.
The third cemetery. (23.08.2015.)
A closer view of the third cemetery. (23.08.2015.)
Broken walls of the third cemetery. (23.08.2015.)
I wonder what happened to the Sikh soldiers who fell on that fateful day? The battle continued till evening and the Sikh army retreated, so they definitely had no time to cremate their soldiers. So what happened to them? Similarly, there were Muslims in both armies; where were they buried? I hope somebody will enlighten us about that.
Tariq Amir
October 9, 2015.
Doha - Qatar.
Update: 13.09.2025.
Recently, I was searching for WW1 monuments in Punjab, when I found the following book on the net. You can download it at:
https://ia601403.us.archive.org/10/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.34672/2015.34672.A-List-Of-Inscriptions-On-Christian-Tombs-And-Monuments-In-The-Punjab-North-west-Frontier-Province-Kashmir-And-Afganistan_text.pdf
This book provided me with valuable information about the battle, particularly regarding the officers and soldiers who fell on that fateful day. It also helped me interpret the inscriptions on the obelisk, especially those in Urdu and Farsi, which, due to their highly calligraphic style, were difficult to read. In some places, the text is illegible. The information about the fallen officers is given below:
(East side)
List of corps engaged.
Head Quarters 1st Brigade Bengal Horse ArtilleryHead Quarters 2nd Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery1st troop 2nd Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery2nd troop 2nd Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery3rd troop 2nd Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery4th troop 2nd Brigade Bengal Horse ArtilleryHead Quarters 3rd Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery1st troop 3rd Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery2nd troop 3rd Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery1st Company 1st Battalion Bengal Artillery3rd Company 1st Battalion Bengal ArtilleryHead Quarters 4th Battalion Bengal Artillery1st Company 4th Battalion Bengal Artillery2nd Company 4th Battalion Bengal Artillery4th Company 4th Battalion Bengal Artillery3rd Company 7th Battalion Bengal Artillery
4th, 6th, 7th and detachment 5th Company of PioneersHer Majesty's 3rd Light DragoonsHer Majesty's 9th Light Dragoons (Lancers)Her Majesty's 14th Light Dragoons1st Bengal Light Cavalry5th Bengal Light Cavalry6th Bengal Light Cavalry8th Bengal Light Cavalry3rd Bengal Irregular Cavalry9th Bengal Irregular CavalryHer Majesty's 24th FootHer Majesty's 29th FootHer Majesty's 61st Foot
2nd Bengal European Regiment
15th Bengal Native Infantry20th Bengal Native Infantry25th Bengal Native Infantry30th Bengal Native Infantry31st Bengal Native Infantry36th Bengal Native Infantry45th Bengal Native Infantry46th Bengal Native Infantry56th Bengal Native Infantry69th Bengal Native Infantry70th Bengal Native Infantry
(West side)
Names of European Officers killed or died of wounds
Staff
- Brigadier John Pennycuick C.B.K.H. 24th Foot Commanding 5th Brigade 3rd Division. (C.B.K.H.: Companion of the Bath, Knight of Hanover)
- Brigadier Alexander Pope C.B. 6th Light Cavalry commanding 2nd Brigade of cavalry died of wounds 20th April, 1849. (C.B.: Companion of the Bath)
- Captain and Brevet Major Charles Erkins 7th Light Cavalry Deputy Adjutant General of the Army.
- Captain Charles Robinson Harris 24th Foot Brigade-Major 5th Brigade 3rd Division.
Bengal Artillery
5. Captain and Brevet Major Edward Christie died of wounds 15th January 1849.6. Lieutenant James Manson14th Light Dragoons7. Lieutenant Augustus John Cureton6th Light Cavalry8. Lieutenant Alexander Maccaughy ShepherdHer Majesty's 24th Foot
9. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Brookes.10. Major Henry William Harris11. Capatain Charles Lee12. Capatain Robert William Travers13. Captain John Saunders Shore14. Lieutenant George Philips15. Lieutenant Orlebar Bletstow Payne16. Lieutenant John Acton Woodgate17. Lieutenant William Philips18. Lieutenant Ensign Hector C. Bartholomew Collis19. Lieutenant Alexander Pennycuick
Her Majesty's 29th Foot
20. Lieutenant Henry Torrens Metge died of wounds 18th January, 1849.25th Native Infantry21. Lieutenant Aureliar Money30th Native Infantry22. Captain William Hercules Ross23. Ensign Alphonse Charles de More36th Native Infantry24. Lieutenant Augustus Nicholls Thompson died of wounds 14th January, 1849.45th Native Infantry25. Captain Radcliffe Haldane died of wounds, 22nd March 1849.
56th Native Infantry
26. Major Daniel Banefield27. Lieutenant William Walder Warde28. Ensign Francis Wrightson Robinson(North side)Names of Native Officers killed6th Light CavalryJemadar Shiu Dayal Singh BajpaiJemadar Rambakhsh Singh25th Native InfantrySubadar Chattardari SinghSubadar Jurawan SinghSubadar Shiu Dayal Singh
Jemadar Tulsi PandeJemadar Shaik DukhiJemadar Asadali Khan30th Native InfantryJemadar Alladad Khan36th Native InfantrySubadar Kasiram Singh, aged 65Jemadar Kanhai TiwariJemadar Ghulam Hussain Khan (died of wounds 1st February 1849.56th Native InfantrySubadar Sewa Upadhya, aged 70.Subadar Bahadur KhanJemadar Mansa RamJemadar Gayadin
56th Native Infantry
Subadar Shaik SubhaniSubadar Shaik Niamat AliNumber of N.C. officers and men killed(N.C. Non Commisioned)Europeans: 9 Sergeants, 1 drummer and 276 rank and fileNatives: 44 Havilars, 4 drummers, 227 rank and file, 1 lascar and 2 sycesAbstract of killedEuropean Officers (including 6 died of wounds): 28Native Officers: 18European Non-Commissioned Officers and Men: 286Native Non-Commissioned Officers and Men: 278Total of all Ranks: 610Of the British Offcers whose names appear on this monument, those of Nos. 6, 8, 14, 17, 18, 21, 25 and 26 have been incorrectly or imperfectly engraved. Those should be as follow:-
Lieutenant James Alexander MansonLieutenant Alexandr Maccaughey ShepherdLieutenant George PhillipsLieutenant William PhilippsEnsign Hector Charles Bartholomew CollisLieutenant Aurelian MoneyCaptain Radcliff HaldaneMajor Daniel Bamfield
In addition to details about the fallen soldiers, the book also provides a fairly detailed account of the course of the battle, which I am sharing here for your interest and information.
A few days after the retreat of Sher Singh to the Jhelum, Lord Gough crossed the Chenab by a bridge-of-boats, and, with the rest of the Army, joined the force under Sir Joseph Thackwell at Helan, to which place the latter had advanced after the action of Sadulapur. Here the whole force halted until the 12th of January, when, intelligence having been received that Chattar Singh, the Hazara rebel, was on the move to join Sher Singh on the Jhelum, Lord Gough marched towards the same point with the intention of attacking Sher Singh before this reinforcement should reach him. In the prosecution of this object, he reached Chillianwala during the afternoon of the 13th, and there found himself in the presence of the Sikh Army (30,000 strong, with 62 guns), which occupied an extended position reaching from Fateh Shah-ki-Chak on their right to Rasul on their left. Preparations were made for encamping. Lord Gough having no intention of delivering battle that day; but Sher Singh, determined to bring on an engagement at once, having advanced from his entrenched position and opened a heavy fire of artillery on the British force, and there being a strong probability that he would advance his guns still further and cannonade the encampment during the night, it became a matter of necessity to dislodge him from his position, and Lord Gough accordingly formed up his forces and moved forward to the attack. On the extreme right of the British line was placed Pope’s brigade of Cavalry (the 9th and 14th Light Dragoons and the 1st and 6th Light Cavalry) and three troops of Horse Artillery. To the left of these was Gilbert’s Division, composed of the brigades of Godby (the 2nd European Regiment and the 31st and 70th Native Infantry) and Mountain (the 29£h Foot and the 30th and 56th Native Infantry). On the extreme left was White’s brigade of Cavalry (the 3rd Light Dragoons and the 5th and 8th Light Cavalry) with three troops of Horse Artillery. To the right of these came Campbell’s Division composed of the brigades of Pennycuick (the 24th Foot and the 25th and 45th Native Infantry, Penny (15th, 20th and 69th Native Infantry), and Hoggan (the 61 st Foot and the 36th and 46th Native Infantry), but of these Permy’s brigade (less the 20th Native Infantry, which was on baggage-guard) was held in reserve. The heavy artillery was massed in the centre, and the field batteries were placed between the infantry brigades.
Advancing to the attack of the enemy’s position, after an hour’s cannonading, the British line had to make its way for nearly a mile through thick jungle. Pennycuick’s brigade (Her Majesty’s 24th leading) was the first that came into action: emerging in some disorder from the jungle at a distance of three hundred yards from the Sikh batteries; the British troops were received with a murderous fire of grape and musketry, which mowed them down in scores before they could close with the enemy, but rushing on with the most undaunted bravery, they threw themselves on the Sikh guns, bayonetted the gunners, put to flight the infantry in support, and for a moment were masters of the position; but the Sikhs, quickly rallying, renewed the fight and, aided by their cavalry, not only recovered their guns, but drove back the exhausted assailants almost to the point from which they had advanced. Penny’s brigade was immediately pushed into the fight to fill the gap caused by this repulse, and advanced with great gallantry and steadiness, but losing its way in the jungle it got too far to the right, and eventually came up on the left of Godby’s brigade. The Sikhs would thus have been entirely victorious in this part of the field had it not been for the splendid gallantry of Hoggan’s brigade and the skill with which its movements were directed by General Campbell: moving forward on the left of, though not in communication with, Pennycuick’s brigade, it made its way steadily through the jungle and with a rush carried the Sikh guns in its front; then, driving the enemy before it with immense slaughter, it wheeled to the right, swept the enemy off the whole of the ground from which Pennycuick’s brigade had just been repulsed, and maintained its position there until the close of the engagement.
The Cavalry on the left were principally occupied in protecting the flank of Campbell’s Division, but the grey squadron of the 3rd Light Dragoons and the 5th Light Cavalry had an opportnnily of executing a charge on a portion of the Sikh, right, which in the case of the former was delivered with great gallantry and effect, though at the expense of many lives. The 5th Light Cavaby, being much broken in getting through the scrub, and coming under a severe fire of musketry, were unable to make an impression, and suffered a repulse.
On the British right the fighting was as severe as on the left, and there, too, the operations of the day were not unmarked with disaster. Mountain’s brigade, advancing' with the utmost gallantry through a desolating fire, carried the batteries in its front, and though the 56th Native Infantry, broken in its advance through the jungle, was charged by tho Sikh cavalry and driven back with terrible loss, the remaining two regiments of the brigade, the 29th Foot and the 30th Native Intantry, succeeded in maintaining the position they had won, and held it until the end of the fight. At the same time Godby’s brigade, pressing forward with equal gallantry, succeeded, after a prolonged contest, in driving off the whole body of Sikhs opposed to it and in capturing every gun in its front. But in the midst of these sanguinary conflicts a grave misfortune befel the cavalry on the right flank, which at a critical moment seriously compromised the safety of Gilbert’s Division. By a false movement Pope’s brigade had got in front of the Horse Artillery so as to mask, entirely the fire of the latter, and in endeavouring to get it clear the Brigadier was cut down by a Sikh horseman. At the same moment an order (by whom given was never ascertained) was heard, directing the brigade to retire, and as the troops fell back they were suddenly and vigorously charged by a body of Sikh cavalry; a disastrous panic ensued; wheeling about and dashing headlong to the rear, the Cavalry rode over and disabled the Horse Artillery batteries, and the Sikhs, following them up closely, sabred many of the gunners and captured and afterwards carried off four guns; had it not been for the gallantry of two squadrons of the 9th Lancers and two of the 6th Light Cavalry, which, rallying as soon as they got clear of the confusion, charged and drove back the Sikh horse, the panic might have had still more disastrous results. However, notwithstanding the discomfiture of Pope’s brigade and the danger to which Gilbert’s Division thus became; exposed of being taken in flank, the latter pressed steadily on, and, as already related, captured the opposing batteries, and expelled the Sikhs from their position.
The battle was now won, but though Sher Singh had been driven from the field and almost all his guns captured, his forces were still unbroken, and when, late at night, he learnt that Lord Gough had retired from the captured position and fallen back to the village of Chillianwala, he immediately re-crossed the Jhelum, over which he had retreated with the greater part of his army, carried off all the captured guns except twelve massacred such of our wounded as had not been removed from the field, and then again took up a position on the heights of Rasul.
In this sanguinary engagement the Sikhs lost not less than 7,000 men. Our own losses were heavy, amounting to 602 killed, 1,651 wounded, and 104 missing, a total of 2,357. The regiments which suffered most were the 24th Foot with 518 casualties, the 29th Foot with 241, the 61st Foot with 114, the 25th Native Infantry with 204, the 30th Native Infantry with 285, and the 56th Native Infantry with 322. In the terrible list of killed in Her Majesty’s 24th wore inclnded no less than eleven officers, besides the Brigadier and the Brigade-Major, who both belonged to the regiment.
Brigadier Pennycuick was shot as the regiment first reached the gns. His son Alexander Penncuick, seeing his father fall, rushed to his aid and bestrode his body nntil he was overwhelmed by numbers. Colonel Brookes, Captain Harris (Major of Brigade), Captain Lee and Captain Shore fell among the guns. Captain Travers was cut down in the struggle round the guns; his company, the Grenadiers, were the first among the guns, and after having been once repulsed rallied under him and again carried them. Major Harris was unhorsed, and as he was retiring with the rest of the corps, was cut down from behind by a single Sikh horseman; he was mortally wounded and carried to the rear Ensign Collis and Ensign Phillips, carrying the colours, both fell, struck by grape, close to the guns, and Lieutenants George Phillips, Woodgate, and Payne fell at the guns. To the list of officers of this regiment who were killed or mortally wounded at Chillianwala may be added the name of Major Howell Paynter, who lingered nearly three years, suffering from a wound received in this battle.
Thus with the help of this book, I have been able to make some very important additions to this post. Now, I feel, it in in much better form and more interesting.
Tariq Amir
September 13, 2025.
Islamabad
View Monument of the Battle of Chillianwala in a larger map
Excellent work painstakingly done that are due all credit for the efforts this entails particularly when some graves are now within private enclosures.
ReplyDeleteA BIG Thank you , Sir
Thank you.
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