HOW LORD ROBERTS WON HIS V.C.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 217, 1 February 1913, Page 2 (Supplement)

HOW LORD ROBERTS WON HIS V.C.

A NEW YEAR REMINISCENCE. (By a Royal Sapper and Miner). Being a lad barely 19 when the following events took place, you will not expect a. "graphic description" such as a v/ar veteran correspondent could give of those stirring times, 1857-8. Well, you know from history that we, under Sir Colin Campbell, bad relieved that grand old Christian soldier, Henry Haveloek, from his celebrated defence of the British Residency in Lucknow, and laid his body to rest at Alumbagh, about November 22, 1557. A hurried march was then made for Caw-npore, and on the morning of December 0, the mutineer Sepoys, under Nana Sahib, attacked. The advance was made by the 42nd, 84th and SBth Connatight Rangers, some of the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, whose chaplain then was that grand, broadminded Christian gentleman, Mr. Cowie, the late Primate of New Zealand. The enemy were smashed up, and what was left of them retired up the Grand Trunk road towards Delhi. We pursued them up to Kodagunga, about 80 miles from Cawnpore, where that river is crossed by a bridge. We arrived there on New Year's Day. ISSB. The village is about SOO yards from the bridge, which the enemy bad destroyed, fixing their field guns to rake the same. As we could not get at them that night we were marched back about half a mile, and encamped behind a knoll. We sappers, under Major Lothian Nicholson and Lieut. P. H. Scratchier. R.E.. went to work at night and repaired the bridge, assisted by 25 men of the Naval Brigade, under Captain Peel, of the Shannon frigate. Everything was ready for crossing at 5 a.m. on January 2, ISSB, when "Bobs" executed his plucky job.

The 42nd were marched across the bridge and deployed to the right. The 53rd followed, and deployed to the left; while the XavaJs, nnder Peel, and the Bengal Horse Artillery kept pounding away at the enemy's guns from the near bank of the riv?r. A number of our fellows hit the dust while crossing, as the range was so short. After some time the cavalry and artillery crossed, Peel's long 32's doing splendid execution, dismounting four of the enemy's guns. To wind up the job. the infantry charged the gnus, and drove the garrison through the village out to the plain beyond. Thp cavalry and light artillery closed in upon both flanks beyond the village, and accounted for about 7000 annihilated. It was in this melee that "Bobs." seeing one of his mounted men in difficulty, and two Sowars (Bengal cavalry) making for him. put spurs to bis horse and sailed up to them. One of them, as "Bobs" closed, levelled his carbine straight at his breast ami pulled the trigger, but. providentially, it missed fire. "Bobs" brought his right hand to his left ear, and with one swing nearly severed the head from the body, and with the point of bis sword ran the other fellow through the neck, grasped the colors, wheeled his horse, and rode in a proud man. Lord Mansfield, the Chief of Staff, viewed "Bobs'" little game through his field glasses, and when the game was finished exclaimed, "Well done, 'Bobs'!" So the coveted V.C. was secured He seems pretty lively on the Job vet, by your Home accounts. We Scotties used to call him "'Wee Babbie."