03-31-2005, 09:59 PM
http://www.pjoxenham.fsnet.co.uk/Oxenham...WillOx.htm
WILLIAM OXENHAM VC
(1821-1874)
Then in May 1857 the uprising and mutiny of the Indian Army swept through Northern India. The 32nd and their families were at that time stationed at Lucknow, and a detachment with most of the families fifty miles away at Cawnpore. At Cawnpore, after three weeks of excruciating agonies from heat, privation and harassment in an open entrenchment their supplies were exhausted, and on the morning of 27th June the garrison were forced to accept the rebel's offer of a free passage to safety. However most were massacred by the riverside as they embarked in the boats provided for their withdrawal. Later Havelock had hoped to rescue the two hundred European women and children held by the rebels at Cawnpore, but when he entered the abandoned city on 17th July, he found that he was too late; they had been murdered, and their bodies thrown down a well. In all the Regiment here lost 3 Officers, 82 other ranks, 47 women, and 55 children.
A few days later, on Jun 30th, there was a disastrous battle of, and retreat from, Chinhut when 117 of the 300 officers and men of the 32nd who took part failed to return. Capt R.P.Anderson, 25th Regiment, Native Infantry, accompanied the Chinhut force, and it is from his " Personal Journal of the Siege of Lucknow " that much of the following information was obtained.
A first consequence of this defeat was the occupation of Lucknow by the rebels, and one of their many acts was to bring a six-pounder to bear on the outer verandah of the post subsequently known as Anderson's post. Captain Anderson had been Asst Commissioner at Lucknow, but reverted to military service for the Siege. The post consisted of ten men of the 32nd, and ten civilians, trained by Sergeants of the 32nd. " The post, however, was so important that orders were sent to its garrison to hold it to the last extremity. . . . The house which was thus being defended was the residence of Mr Capper of the Bengal Civil Service. Mr Capper had volunteered to aid in its defence, and was standing for that purpose under the verandah, behind one of the pillars, when the enemy's fire brought down the verandah, and buried him under six feet of wood and masonry. Capt Anderson, 25th Native Infantry, though not the senior officer present, at once called upon the garrison to assist in rescuing the buried gentleman. The work was one of no ordinary danger, for there was no protection against the concentrated fire of the enemy, and one at least of those present expressed the opinion that the act would be useless, as Mr Capper would probably be dead. Anderson was not discouraged by these doubts. Announcing his intention to rescue Capper at all risks, he called on those around to aid him, and set to work with a will. He was speedily joined by Corporal Oxenham, 32nd Foot, Monsieur Geoffroi, a Frenchman, Signor Barsatelli, an Italian, and two Englishmen, Lincoln and Chick, from the Post Office Garrison. The enemy's round shot continued to pour over the place where Capper lay, and to be able to work the six men I have mentioned were forced to lie on their stomachs and grub away in that position. At length they succeeded in extricating Capper's body, but his legs still remained buried. The situation for him was now replete with danger, for to stand up was almost certain death. In this dilemma, Oxenham, obeying a signal from Anderson, who was supporting the head, dashed round to the other side, and extricated, by a supreme effort, the buried legs. This done, Capper was hauled in by the other five men, and was saved. For this act, Oxenham received the Victoria Cross; but Mr Capper ever considered that he owed his life mainly to Anderson, who alike suggested the attempt and by his example carried it to a successful issue. Anderson was recommended for the Cross in 1868, but it was not bestowed upon him. " The rescue work took no less than three-quarters of an hour, and Capper suffered from only a few bruises and faintness.
The facts say that the heroic Defence of Lucknow lasted 140 days from 30th June 1857 until 17th November, and for the first 87 days the 32nd fought alone until a relief column got through on 25th September. The Regiment fought off constant attacks by Indian mutineers whilst their womenfolk nursed the sick and wounded. During the siege they lost 15 Officers and 364 other ranks killed, and 11 officers and 198 other ranks wounded as well as scores who died of sickness. Many of the women and children also died.
Four Victoria Crosses were won by the 32nd at Lucknow, by Cpl Oxenham, Pte Dowling, Lieut Lawrence, and by Lieut Gore-Browne. In consideration of the enduring gallantry displayed in the defence of Lucknow, the regiment too received official recognition and the award of the coveted Light Infantry distinction.
But the facts alone do not tell of all the other acts of gallantry in the dreadful conditions that must have existed during the long siege and the intense heat in the plains of Northern India. But Capt Anderson's Journal describes them in graphic and often poignant detail, and he emphasises that the men who performed these deeds were for the most part weak and feeble from malnutrition, exposure, and sickness or wounds. He himself lost his wife and one of his two children at Lucknow.
From the earliest days of the siege the Union Jack which flew from the tower of the Residency was constantly under heavy enemy fire and had to be secured to the flagpole instead of being lowered at nightfall. <b>In consequence of this and in recognition of the gallantry of the defenders, after the mutiny it became the only flag in the British Empire that was not lowered at sunset. It flew day and night until the end of British rule in 1947.</b>
WILLIAM OXENHAM VC
(1821-1874)
Then in May 1857 the uprising and mutiny of the Indian Army swept through Northern India. The 32nd and their families were at that time stationed at Lucknow, and a detachment with most of the families fifty miles away at Cawnpore. At Cawnpore, after three weeks of excruciating agonies from heat, privation and harassment in an open entrenchment their supplies were exhausted, and on the morning of 27th June the garrison were forced to accept the rebel's offer of a free passage to safety. However most were massacred by the riverside as they embarked in the boats provided for their withdrawal. Later Havelock had hoped to rescue the two hundred European women and children held by the rebels at Cawnpore, but when he entered the abandoned city on 17th July, he found that he was too late; they had been murdered, and their bodies thrown down a well. In all the Regiment here lost 3 Officers, 82 other ranks, 47 women, and 55 children.
A few days later, on Jun 30th, there was a disastrous battle of, and retreat from, Chinhut when 117 of the 300 officers and men of the 32nd who took part failed to return. Capt R.P.Anderson, 25th Regiment, Native Infantry, accompanied the Chinhut force, and it is from his " Personal Journal of the Siege of Lucknow " that much of the following information was obtained.
A first consequence of this defeat was the occupation of Lucknow by the rebels, and one of their many acts was to bring a six-pounder to bear on the outer verandah of the post subsequently known as Anderson's post. Captain Anderson had been Asst Commissioner at Lucknow, but reverted to military service for the Siege. The post consisted of ten men of the 32nd, and ten civilians, trained by Sergeants of the 32nd. " The post, however, was so important that orders were sent to its garrison to hold it to the last extremity. . . . The house which was thus being defended was the residence of Mr Capper of the Bengal Civil Service. Mr Capper had volunteered to aid in its defence, and was standing for that purpose under the verandah, behind one of the pillars, when the enemy's fire brought down the verandah, and buried him under six feet of wood and masonry. Capt Anderson, 25th Native Infantry, though not the senior officer present, at once called upon the garrison to assist in rescuing the buried gentleman. The work was one of no ordinary danger, for there was no protection against the concentrated fire of the enemy, and one at least of those present expressed the opinion that the act would be useless, as Mr Capper would probably be dead. Anderson was not discouraged by these doubts. Announcing his intention to rescue Capper at all risks, he called on those around to aid him, and set to work with a will. He was speedily joined by Corporal Oxenham, 32nd Foot, Monsieur Geoffroi, a Frenchman, Signor Barsatelli, an Italian, and two Englishmen, Lincoln and Chick, from the Post Office Garrison. The enemy's round shot continued to pour over the place where Capper lay, and to be able to work the six men I have mentioned were forced to lie on their stomachs and grub away in that position. At length they succeeded in extricating Capper's body, but his legs still remained buried. The situation for him was now replete with danger, for to stand up was almost certain death. In this dilemma, Oxenham, obeying a signal from Anderson, who was supporting the head, dashed round to the other side, and extricated, by a supreme effort, the buried legs. This done, Capper was hauled in by the other five men, and was saved. For this act, Oxenham received the Victoria Cross; but Mr Capper ever considered that he owed his life mainly to Anderson, who alike suggested the attempt and by his example carried it to a successful issue. Anderson was recommended for the Cross in 1868, but it was not bestowed upon him. " The rescue work took no less than three-quarters of an hour, and Capper suffered from only a few bruises and faintness.
The facts say that the heroic Defence of Lucknow lasted 140 days from 30th June 1857 until 17th November, and for the first 87 days the 32nd fought alone until a relief column got through on 25th September. The Regiment fought off constant attacks by Indian mutineers whilst their womenfolk nursed the sick and wounded. During the siege they lost 15 Officers and 364 other ranks killed, and 11 officers and 198 other ranks wounded as well as scores who died of sickness. Many of the women and children also died.
Four Victoria Crosses were won by the 32nd at Lucknow, by Cpl Oxenham, Pte Dowling, Lieut Lawrence, and by Lieut Gore-Browne. In consideration of the enduring gallantry displayed in the defence of Lucknow, the regiment too received official recognition and the award of the coveted Light Infantry distinction.
But the facts alone do not tell of all the other acts of gallantry in the dreadful conditions that must have existed during the long siege and the intense heat in the plains of Northern India. But Capt Anderson's Journal describes them in graphic and often poignant detail, and he emphasises that the men who performed these deeds were for the most part weak and feeble from malnutrition, exposure, and sickness or wounds. He himself lost his wife and one of his two children at Lucknow.
From the earliest days of the siege the Union Jack which flew from the tower of the Residency was constantly under heavy enemy fire and had to be secured to the flagpole instead of being lowered at nightfall. <b>In consequence of this and in recognition of the gallantry of the defenders, after the mutiny it became the only flag in the British Empire that was not lowered at sunset. It flew day and night until the end of British rule in 1947.</b>