As I like to do lets have abit of background on the subjects:
Firstly Probyn
Dighton Probyn entered the light cavalry arm of the Bengal Service as a Cornet in 1849 being posted into the 6th Light Cavalry. Three years later he was appointed Adjutant of the newly raised 2nd Punjab Cavalry, commanded by Captain Sam Browne, which formed part of the 11,000 strong Punjab Irregular Force responsible for policing the turbulent tribes living on the Trans-Indus Frontier.
When the mutiny broke at Meerut on 10th May 1857, Dighton Probyn was at Jullundur, the station of his parent regiment, the 6th Bengal Light Cavalry. For the next twelve months Probyn's squadron of the 2nd Punjab Cavalry fought throughout the mutiny, Probyn himself being 'Menioned in Despatches' many times for his gallant actions, too numerous to mention here.
By the end of 1857 the squadron of 2nd Punjab Cavalry which Probyn commanded was frequently referred to as Probyn's Horse, as Lieutenant E.H. Verney, RN said :
Two bodies of irregular Sikh cavalry are attached to the main army; one is distinguished by wearing red turbans, is commanded by Captain Hodson of the Indian Army, and is known as Hodson's Horse; the other wears blue turbans, is commanded by Lieutenant Probyn of the Indian Army, and is known as Probyn's Horse. Their dress consists of the whitey-brown 'kharki', each man is armed with a tulwa and brace of pistols, and one or two troops with lances.
During the final days of the fall of Lucknow in early 1858, the 2nd Punjab Cavalry was constantly engaged in patrolling and was frequently sent short distances in persuit of fleeing mutineers and rebels. By this time, Probyn, worn down by the rigours of continual campaigning, was a shadow of his former self and, on the advice of the surgeons, started out to England.
Three days after his departure the last of the rebel forces were dislodged from Lucknow and on 24th March 1858 Probyn was promoted Brevet Major.
t will be noted below that Hope-Grant's despatch, which was the basis for the award of Probyn's VC, actually quotes no specific dates. Probyn's VC is undated because the award encompasses several separate acts of gallantry over a period of time. He was invested with his Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria at a parade held on Southsea Common on 2nd August 1858
The citation appeared in the London Gazette, 18 June 1858
Captain Dighton MacNaughten Probyn, 2nd Punjab Cavalry, Indian Army.
In single handed combat with a sepoy, he was wounded in the wrist, by the bayonet, and his horse also was slightly wounded; but, though the sepoy fought desperately, he cut him down. The same day he singled out a standard bearer, and, in the presence of a number of the enemy, killed him and captured the standard.
These are only a few of the gallant deeds of this brave young officer.
( Despatch from Major General James Hope Grant KCB, dated 10th January 1858 ).
In 1870, at the age of thirty-seven, Probyn was promoted Major-General and appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Viceroy of India, Lord Mayo. In 1872 Probyn returned to England to become Equerry to the Prince of Wales and in March 1875 accompanied the Prince on his tour of India which was designed to show that the rule of the Honourable East India Company had given way to a greater authority. The triumphant tour ended after seventeen weeks and on his return to England, Probyn was rewarded with a K.C.B. ( Civil Division ), a K.C.S.I., and by being advanced to the rank of Lieutenant-General.
In 1911, Probyn was paid a unique tribute by being advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath ( Military Division ), thus becoming the only non-Royal to hold the highest grade of the Order in both civil and military divisions. Probyn's twilight years were spent chiefly at Sandringham in Norfolk. In June 1924 he was taken ill and was nursed at Sandringham in the room previously occupied by Queen Victoria. He died there on 20th June and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London.
on now to the 72nd :
The regiment was formed in 1778 as the 78th Highland Regiment, and in 1786 the 72nd Highland Regiment. was added. in 1881 both Regiments became the two battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders.
Battle Honours
1790 - 1792 India
1789 - 1791 Mysore during the third Mysore War
1806 Cape of Good Hope, against the Dutch
1803 - 1815 Battle of Maida. during the Napoleonic wars
1811 - Java, War against the Dutch
1835 - Sixth Kaffir War, South Africa
1854, -1856 Sebastopol during the Crimean War
1856 - 1857 Kooshab, The Persian War
1857 - 1858 Lucknow, and Central India during the Indian Mutiny.
1878 - 1890 Peiwar Kotal, Charasiah, Kabul, Kandahar Second Afghan war
1882 - Tel El Kibir The revolt of Arabi Pasha
1882 - 1884 First Sudan war
1895 - Chitral. Chitral Campaign
1896 - 1898 Atbara, Khartoun, reconquest of the Sudan
1899 - 1902, Paardeburg, During the Boer War
1914 - 1918 Marne 1916, 1918 Ypres 1915, 1917, 1918, Loos, Somme 1916, 1918, Arras 1917, 1918 Valenciennes. Palestine 1918, Baghdad. during World War One
1939 - 1945 St Valery-enCaux, Caen, Rhineland, El Alamein Akarit, Sicily 1943, Anzio Madagascar, Imphal Burma 1942, 1944.
Also shown on the Colours is an Elephant inscribed Assaye
Many VC's and gallantry award were awarded to members of the Regts all shoing just how battle hardened these men were in aweful conditions.
Now onto the Guides Cavalry :
The Corps of Guides was the most famous of the Indian Army regiments during the period of British rule. They had a reputation for bravery and efficiency that was the envy of all the other units. The North-West Frontier where they operated was rarely quiet and although many of the cavalry and infantry regiments saw frequent action there, none was engaged more than the Guides.
The corps was raised in Peshawar by Lt Lumsden in December 1846, comprising one troop of cavalry and two companies of infantry, about 300 men in all. It was the brainchild of Sir Henry Lawrence perhaps inspired by Napoleon's elite Guides. Recruitment was made easier by offering a higher rate of pay than normal. This attracted a large number of applicants so Lumsden could pick and choose men of high intelligence. One of their first tasks was a peace-keeping role in Lahore some time after the death of Maharajah Ranjit Singh. An effort by the Maharani to seize power was foiled and the Guides escorted her out of the Punjab, a task more dangerous than it sounds as rescue attempts were expected.
On the 26th July 1897 the Corps was ordered to Malakand to reinforce the garrison which was under attack. This journey involved a distance of 30 miles over flat country, 7 miles uphill and a 2000 ft climb to the summit of the Malakand Pass, all accomplished in 16 hours. On arrival they went straight into battle and were kept very busy until 2nd August. The garrison was commanded by Col W H Meiklejohn (20th Punjabis) who was anxious to provide relief for the neighbouring fort of Chakdara. This proved to be impossible after an aborted attempt by the Guides cavalry and 11th Bengal Lancers to reach them. Both forts were relieved by Sir Bindon Blood's famed Malakand Relief Force.
Many other books are of course available but here are just a few of my favourites :
Continued in next post
Nap
