A BRILLIANT DISPLAY OF BRITISH PLUCK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 58, 22 March 1881, Page 4

A BRILLIANT DISPLAY OF BRITISH PLUCK.

» In the pfi^cialdespatohes from India relative to the late war there, Lieu-Senant-Generak J. M. Priuiose, under vlate Candahar,lst October, writes :— •'ln forwarding the accompanying [ documents, I would most respectfully wish to bring to Ins Excellency the Commander-in-Chiefs notice the gallant and determined stand made by the officers men of the 60th Regiment at Maiwand. The disposition of the regimtnt was as follows:— Fighting line : 16 officers, 464 men —all ranks. Baggage guard in real' ; 4 officers, 63 men — all ranks. With smooth-bore battery : 1 officer, 42 men — a ll ranks. Sick: 32 men. Of this number 10 officers and 275 non-commissioned officers and men were wounded. These officers and men nearly all fell fighting desperately for the honor of their Queen and country. I have it on the authority of a colonel of. artillery of Ayoub Khan's army, who was present at the time, that a party of the 66th Regiment, which he estimated at 100 officers and men, made a most determined stand in the garden marked 'A' on the accompanying plan. They were surrounded by the whole Afghan . army and fought on until only 11 men were left, iuHicting euormous losses on the enemy. These 11 charged out of the garden and died with their faces to the foe, fighting to the death. Such was the nature of their charge nnd the grandeur of their bearing that although the whole of the Ghazis were assembled around them not one dared approach to cut them down. Thus, standing in the open, back to back, firing steadily, every shot telling, surrounded by thousands, these 11 officers and men died ; and it was not until the last man had been shot down that the Ghazis dared advance upon them. He further adds that the conduct of these men was the admiration of all who witnessed it. This is the testimony of a man who witnessed the scene, and who gave the- information before BrigadierGeneral Eaubeuy proceeded to Maiwand. From an examination of the ground, from corroborative evidence, and from the position in which the bodies were found, I have not the least hesitation in stating that this account is true ; and I think his Excellency will agree with me when I say that history does not afford any grander or finer instance of gallantry and devotion to Queen and country than that displayed by the 66th Regiment on the 27th July, 1880. A nominal roll of the officers and men who fought and died thus nobly has been already forwarded to you, and inquiries from survivors elicit the following facts:— Lieutenant- Colonel Jas. Galbrith was last seen on the nullah bank, kneeling on one knee, with a color in his hands, officers and men rallying around him, and on this spot his body was found. Here, too, fell Captain William Hamilton M'Math, a gallant soldier, and one who would, had .Ins life been spared, have risen to distinction in her Majesty's service. Close by, JSecond-lieutenant Harry James Outram Barr was shot dead over one of the colors. Captain Ernest Stephen Garrett and Francis James Cullen werp both killed on tke field in front of the nullah, up to the last moment commanding their companies and giving their orders with as much coolness as if on an ordinary regimental parade. Captain Walter Roberts was mortally wounded in the garden where the last stand was made, and here also fell Lieutenant Maurice Edward Rayner, Lieutenant Kichard Trevor Chute, Second-lieu-tenant Walter Eice Olirey, and Second -lieu tenaut Arthur Honeywood. The two la ter officeis were seen holding up tho colors, the pole of one of which was shattered to pieoes, as rallying points ; and Lieutenant Honey wood was shot down whilst holding a color high above his head, shouting, ' Men, what shall we do to save this ? ' Sergt-major Alexander Cuppage was shot dead outside the garden whilst carrying a color ; snd many other non-eommis-sisned officers and men laid down their lives in the attempt to save the colors of their regiment on that day. With the gallant band who made this last grand effort, fought and died Major George Frederick Blackwood, Royal Horse Artillery ; Lieutenant Thomas Rice Benn, Royal Engineers; and Lieutenant Charles William Hinde, Ist Bombay Grena* diers, Native Infantry, with some of his men. The men of the 66th on baggage guard under command of Captain 8. Quarry did excellent service during the retreat. Tho party told off to man the smooth bore battery, under Lieutenant G. De la M. Faunce, worked their guns steadily and well during the fight."

"I say, neighbour Snobs, if you don't keep your hens oat of my garden I will shoot* them." "Very well, Doolittle, shoot away ; only if you kill any jjlnnr hens throw them in my yard." urack'went the fowling piece morning after morning, and the large fat hens were pitched into neighbor Snobs' yard lib c rain. After a fortnight or more Doolittle discovered that Snobs never had any hens, and that h« had been shooting bis own, the hens having broken out of his own coop. "How one thing brings up another," said his lady, in pleasing retrospection. "Yes," replied Dibbs: "an emetic, for instance. " She left the table in a huff. "Matilda, yon an my dearest duck." • Augustus, y©« ait trying to staff me»" fthtWMtftuftftfaUtt '