Description
Indian Mutiny, clasp, Delhi – 61st Regiment (Gloucestershire Regiment)
Indian Mutiny, clasp, Delhi, Private Patk Looby H.M’s 61 Regt (Engrave in running script) Light collectors mark between claw and regiment.
Patrick lobby was born in Shannonbridge , Ireland, in 1836
He served from 30th July 1856 to 18th October 1871, then transferred to the 88th Foot to 29th April 1873
This medal and clasp are confirmed as his only entitlement on his service papers.
The 61st During the Mutiny:
On 13th June over 400 men of the 61st led by Lieutenant-Colonel W.T. Jones left Ferozepore and marched for two weeks under a blazing sun the 250 miles to Delhi to join the growing army of British and loyal Indian troops surrounding the city’s walls. The mutineers made sortie after sortie against the besieging forces, one of the most serious being an attempt to capture or destroy the siege train which was coming up from Ferozepore. The 61st took part in the action, which was led by John Nicholson, in saving the siege train at Najafgarh, and soon its heavy guns were in position and pounding the walls of Delhi.
By 13th September two practicable breaches had been made in Delhi’s walls and the storm of the city began at dawn the following day; the fighting for the city continued for six days. The 61st were under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Deacon, Colonel Jones now leading one of the assault columns.
Deacon wrote in his report after the storm:
“… Not a word was spoken, or a trigger pulled, until the stormers and the support had reached the summit of the breach and the magazine yard, when a cheer and a charge were given and made, on which the Enemy, taken most completely by surprise, fled precipitately, throwing down their port-fires at their guns. Several of them were bayonetted close to the breach, the others were closely pursued by H.M.’s 61st and the 4th Punjaub infantry.
“… On reaching the summit of the breach, two heavy iron guns (apparently 32-pounders) were found pointed at it loaded, one of which was temporarily spiked by Assistant Surgeon H.T. Reade and Color Sergeant Mitchell, both of Her Majesty’s 61st regiment. … ”
Delhi finally fell to the British on 19th September, a smouldering ruin as the victorious soldiers took their revenge and their officers dealt out summary justice.
At Delhi the 61st had taken to dyeing their uniforms “karky” and thereby set the fashion that the rest of the army was to follow.
Condition – VF, contact wear and some edgenicks
