Part 21

=The Black Mountain Expedition.=--In 1888 a punitive expedition under Brigadier-General M'Queen, C.B., was sent into the Hazara or Black Mountain district on the left bank of the Indus, beyond the north-west frontier of India, to punish Khan Khel and to chastise the Azakis and Hassanzais for the murder on June 18th of Major Battye, Captain Thurston, and a number of the native surveying party which they led. The district lies in a perfect maze of mountains, on the crags and precipices of which watch-towers and villages were perched, frequently 9,000 feet above sea-level; indeed, the Northumberland Fusiliers and the Kybeerees actually carried the Gorapher Peak 9,500 feet above sea-level, thus establishing a record in altitude for an assault by British troops. The expedition entered the district from two directions, and the fourth column concentrating on October 1st prepared to act on the offensive. On the 4th they proceeded against the enemy, who was found in great force--official figures say 4,000--at the village of Kotkai, which, built upon a great mass of broken rocks on a steep spur, was defended by well-built sangars, but this was taken after some hard fighting, in which the 18th Royal Irish met a charge of Ghazis, who rushed from cover and surprised the Irishmen, but they "went at them with a will, bayoneting or shooting every Ghazi within reach." In this rush 88 fanatics paid the penalty of their madness.

Leaving the 29th Punjab Infantry in possession of Kotkai as an advance post, the expedition pushed on and blew up the hill fortress of Maidan; meanwhile the other column had been pressing forward from the Agror Valley, climbing mountains and destroying watch-towers and hostile villages, so that the pressure of the two forces, together with the losses they had sustained, compelled the hillmen to sue for peace, promising better behaviour in the future, and paying the heavy indemnities imposed. In this campaign, which concluded on November 9th, the Hazara field force lost 2 officers mortally wounded, and about 100 men killed and wounded.

The following regiments were engaged in the Hazara or Black Mountain expedition: 1st Batt. Northumberland Fusiliers; 1st Batt. Suffolk Regiment; 2nd Batt. Royal Irish Regiment; 2nd Batt. Sussex Regiment; 2nd Batt. Seaforth Highlanders; 240 men of the Scottish Division Royal Artillery; 4th Goorkas; 3rd, 14th, and 45th Sikhs; 4th, 24th, and 29th Punjab Infantry; 4th Bengal Native Infantry; 34th Pioneers; 15th Bengal Cavalry, and a Native Mountain Battery.

=Hazara, 1888.=--To those not already in possession of the India medal it was awarded with the bar HAZARA 1888, while the bar was added to the medals of those who already possessed the I.G.S. 1854 medal. Bronze medals were awarded to the followers.

=Chin-Lushai, 1889-90.=--In February 1889 an attack was made upon another surveying party under Lieutenant Stewart, in which he and his men were killed. A punitive expedition was consequently formed to proceed against the tribes inhabiting the Chin Hills and Lushai. The expedition advanced on November 15th in two columns, Brigadier-General Symons proceeding against the Chin tribes, and Colonel Tregear against the Lushais. The little forces had to make their way through the roadless and pestilent jungle, which caused the troops much suffering from disease, until, having destroyed the enemy's villages and crops, and captured a few stockades, the chiefs of the tribes thought it expedient to submit, which they did, and on April 30th, 1890, the expedition was disbanded.

The following troops took part in the expedition: those under General Symons were the King's Own Scottish Borderers, detachments of the 1st Cheshire Regiment and the Norfolk Regiment, who with the 2nd Batt. 4th and 24th Goorkas, and two companies of the Queen's Own Madras Sappers and Miners, constituted the Burma Field Force. The native troops under Brigadier Tregear consisted of the 2nd Goorkas, 3rd and 9th Bengal Infantry, 28th Bombay Pioneers, and one company of Bengal Sappers and Miners. The India Medal 1854 with bar for CHIN-LUSHAI 1889-90 was given to those who did not already possess the medal, while to those already issued the bar was added. A bronze medal and bar was given to all authorised camp followers.

=Samana, 1891.=--The Meeranzies, a Pathan tribe, forgetful of the lesson given them by Sir Neville Chamberlain in 1855, again caused considerable trouble in 1891, and Sir William Lockhart marched from Kohat on April 5th to chastise them. Being defeated with considerable losses at Mastaon, they were glad to submit, and by May 25th the war was concluded, and native troops were left to garrison Samana. The British losses in this expedition were over 100 officers and men killed and wounded.

The following regiments were engaged: 1st Batt. King's Royal Rifles, two companies of the 2nd Batt. Manchester Regiment and No. 3 Mountain Battery of the Royal Artillery; 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Punjab Infantry; 3rd Sikh Infantry; 1st Batt. 5th Goorkas; 15th Sikhs; 19th, 22nd, 27th, and 29th Bengal Infantry; 23rd Punjab Pioneers; 19th Bengal Lancers; Bengal Sappers and Miners, and No. 3 Peshawar Mountain Battery.

The India Medal 1854, with bar for SAMANA 1891, was awarded for this campaign; bronze medals with bar being given to authorised followers.

=Hazara, 1891.=--In 1891 trouble again broke out in the Black Mountain district, and another punitive expedition under Major-General Ellis was necessary in order to compel that respect for British authority which it was believed the campaign that had only concluded about sixteen months previously had succeeded in achieving. The expedition set out on March 12th, and took a couple of months to bring the tribes to their senses. On May 16th they surrendered unconditionally, hostilities were concluded, and the troops returned.

The Hazara Field Force of 1891 comprised the 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers; 2nd Seaforth Highlanders; 1st King's Royal Rifles; 6 men of the 2nd Manchester; Nos. 1 and 9 Mountain Batteries of the Royal Artillery; 4th Sikh Infantry; 5th Goorkas; 11th, 19th, 27th, 28th, and 37th Bengal Infantry; Bengal Sappers and Miners; 32nd Punjab Pioneers; Infantry of the Guides Corps, and the 2nd Derajat Mountain Battery. The I.G.S. 1854 Medal was given in silver to the troops, and in bronze to authorised camp followers, with bar inscribed HAZARA 1891. Those already in possession of the medal had the bar attached thereto.

=Burma, 1889-92.=--During the years 1889-90-1-2 a series of expeditions was organised to put down disturbances in Burma and Lushai; for the services rendered by the various forces the India Medal 1854, with bars for BURMA 1889-92 and LUSHAI 1889-92, were issued to the troops who took part in the following expeditions: The Pokhau expedition from April 16th to May 16th, 1889; Touhon expedition from September 17th, 1889, to April 1890; Chinbok Column, January 1st to 20th, 1890; Thetta Column, January 1st to 4th, 1891; Chinbok Column, January 8th to February 14th, 1891; Morneik Column, January 27th to March 28th, 1891; Wuntho Field Force, February 18th to May 7th, 1891; Tlang-Tlang Column, March 29th to April 3rd, 1891; Baungshe Column, December 25th, 1891, to February 29th, 1892; Irrawaddy Column, December 15th, 1891, to April 18th, 1892; North-Eastern Column, December 15th, 1891, to April 7th, 1892.

=Lushai, 1889-92.=--The medal with bar LUSHAI 1889-92 was awarded to the officers and men comprising the Lushai Expeditionary Force from January 11th to May 5th, 1889; the relieving force under Lieutenants Swinton, Cole, and Watson, which went to the assistance of the forts Ayal and Changsil when attacked by the Lushais, September 9th to December 9th, 1890; the expedition under Captain Hutchinson against the Jacopa Village to avenge the attack on Mr. Murray, February 20th to March 3rd, 1891; the expedition under Captain Lock from March 1st to June 1892, necessitated by the general rising of the Eastern Lushais, and the attack at Lalbura upon a force under Mr. M. Cabe; also the force under Captain Shakespear, which advanced into the South Lushai hills between March 16th and May 13th, 1892. All dates are inclusive.

Two divisions took part in this campaign, and European troops participated only with the Burma section. 1st King's Own Scottish Borderers, and detachments of 1st Batt. Cheshire and Norfolk Regiments. The native troops were: 2nd Batt. 4th and the 42nd Goorkas; two companies of the Queen's Own Madras Sappers and Miners. The troops engaged with the Chittagong column were: 2nd Goorkas, 3rd and 9th Bengal Infantry; 28th Bombay Pioneers, and a company of Bengal Sappers and Miners.

=North-East Frontier, 1891.=--Early in 1891 the British Resident at Manipur was attacked, and columns from Tamu on March 28th, Silchar on April 15th, and Kohmia on April 20th were sent forward to secure the submission of the Rajah and the punishment of those responsible for the attack on the Resident. The Rajah submitted to the terms laid down, and by May 7th, 1891, the campaign was brought to a conclusion.

The Manipur Field Force consisted of about 300 of the 4th King's Royal Rifles; 1st Batt. 2nd Goorkas; 2nd Batt. 4th Goorkas; detachments of the 42nd, 43rd, and 44th Goorkas; 18th Bengal Infantry, and the 8th Bengal Mountain Battery. For this expedition the bar for the N.E. FRONTIER 1891 was added to the India General Service Medal 1854.

=Hunza, 1891.=--Lieutenant-Colonel Algernon Durand had foreseen that trouble was brewing, and made very praiseworthy efforts not only to circumvent it, but to ensure that should hostilities occur he would be in a position to defend himself against the robbers and slave-dealers who surrounded him. An attack had been made on the Chalt garrison, and further trouble was anticipated when Durand informed the chiefs of Hunza and Nagar, without referring to their misconduct, that the British intended having free access to their territory in order that "all requisite arrangements might be made for holding the frontier, and that unless they complied with our demands troops would enter their country, and make roads in spite of them." The tribesmen armed, and "confident in the strength of their defiles ... and to defeat Kashmir troops as of yore," they collected, and Colonel Durand concentrated at Chalt, from whence on November 29th an ultimatum was sent to the chiefs; but the envoy was insulted and robbed of his horse, so the British force crossed the Hunza River on December 1st by a temporary bridge thrown by Captain Aylmer, V.C., and the war which Colonel Durand had striven to prevent commenced, and with a little force of 1,000 men and 2 guns he opposed himself to about 5,000 or 6,000 men.

The force was made up of 180 of the 5th Goorkas, 400 Goorkas and Dogras of the Kashmir Bodyguard, 250 Dogras of the Kashmir Raga Pertab Regiment, 150 Punyali levies, and the commander's personal escort--20 men of the 20th Punjab Infantry. The only Europeans present were officers. The forts of Nilt were assaulted and captured after very desperate fighting, in which Captain Aylmer and Colonel Durand were severely wounded, and in the moment of victory the command passed out of the latter's hand. In two hours the place was captured, but owing to the failure to advance 4 British officers had been lost, and nearly 40 men killed and wounded after the successful assault. The cliff opposite Nilt, a very difficult position, was next scaled after "a little Dogra sepoy named Nagdu one night succeeded in climbing 1,200 feet up the cliff, and found a practicable path." Then the place was stormed by the men under the command of Captain Colin Mackenzie of the Seaforths; Lieutenant Manners-Smith led a little body of Kashmir troops up a cliff 1,000 feet high, and within two days Nagar was occupied, and the Hunza chief with Uzr Khan fled across the frontier. It is noteworthy that from the men of the district against whom we had fought, Colonel Durand raised the Hunza-Nagar levies who later fought so well for us.

In this little hard-fought campaign three Victoria Crosses were won, by Captain (now Major-General C. B.) Aylmer, Lieutenant (now Major) Boisragon, and Lieutenant (now Lieutenant-Colonel C. I. E.) Manners-Smith, while several of the native troops earned the Order of Merit for their gallantry and devotion.

For this arduous expedition the I.G.S. Medal 1854, with bar for HUNZA 1891, was issued to those participants who had not already received the medal for other services. Those who possessed the medal received the bar only.

=East and West Africa.=--A great deal of fighting had been forced upon us by the African tribes, against whom expeditions or columns had been sent from 1887 to 1892. First against the Yonnie Tribe, when the coloured men of the 1st West India Regiment fought side by side with men from the crews of H.M.S. "Acorn," "Icarus," and "Rifleman," from November 13th, 1887, to January 2nd, 1888. Next an expedition had to be sent up the Gambia River, the men of H.M.S. "Swallow" composing the force which operated between December 29th, 1891, and February 5th, 1892. Then the 1st West India Regiment again took the field on March 8th, 1892, against Tambi, men of H.M.S. "Alecto," "Race," "Sparrow," "Thrust," and "Widgeon" co-operating, and in the same year the native troops took part in the expedition against Toniataba, and in the expedition against the Jebus. For these services a medal similar to that issued for the Ashantee War was granted on November 1st, 1892, but, as in the case of the Zulu War medal, dates upon the bars are the only indication of the particular service, or services, rendered. Three bars were sanctioned, 1887-8, 1891-2, and 1892, so that the last bar was issued for three different expeditions. This is known as the East and West Africa medal, but it was not a distinct issue, for those who possessed the Ashantee medal were only given the bar or bars. The ribbon is the same as used for suspension with the Ashantee medal, and the names were either engraved or impressed on the edge of the medal.

=Central Africa Medal.=--In 1895 a series of operations were found necessary in Central Africa, and to decorate the native troops engaged the same medal was awarded without bars. It was, however, suspended from a brown, white, and black ribbon, 1¾ in. wide, by means of a swivel ring, so that the ribbon was run through the ring as in the case of the Abyssinian medal. This slight distinction, and the issue of a new ribbon, constitutes the medal a distinct decoration, and those who had already received the West African medal were entitled to it. It, moreover, distinguishes the Central Africa medal from the East and West Africa medal, which again had name bars added for WITU 1890 to the crews of ten of H.M. ships; LIWONDI 1893 to 3 officers and 34 men of H.M.S. "Herald" and "Mosquito"; WITU AUGUST 1893 to 200 seamen and 36 marines; JUBA RIVER 1893 to 1 officer and 40 men of the "Blanche"; LAKE NYASSA 1893 to 100 Sikhs and parties of men from H.M.S. "Adventurer" and "Pioneer"; a bar inscribed 1893-94 was issued to those who took part in the operations against the Sofas from November 1893 to January 1894; GAMBIA 1894 was inscribed on the bar to 50 of the 1st W.I.R. and parties of seamen and marines from four of H.M. ships; BRASS RIVER 1895 to men of four of H.M. ships, and NIGER 1897 to the troops taking part in the expedition to Egbon, Bida, and Ilorin or garrisoning Fort Goldie and Lokoja from January 6th to February 25th, 1897. The bars are square and set somewhat far apart; the name and rating, etc., of the recipient impressed on the edge.

Between January 1894 and April 1898 a series of operations and expeditions was found necessary against various chiefs in British Central Africa, and for these a bar inscribed CENTRAL AFRICA 1894-1898 was added to the Central Africa medal, which when issued in 1895 had a swivel ring instead of a clasp. When the bars were added in 1899 the straight-bar clasp with claw clutch--as used with the first issue of this medal, the Ashantee--replaced the swivel ring.

=Ashanti, 1896.=--In 1895 trouble in Ashantee necessitated the sending of a small force, comprising the 2nd Batt. of the West Yorkshire Regiment, and a composite battalion made up of 20 men of each of the three Guards Regiments, and the following eight regiments: 1st Yorkshire Light Infantry, 1st Leinster Regiment, 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, 2nd Devons, 2nd Shropshire Light Infantry, 3rd Batt. Royal Rifles, 2nd Batt. Rifle Brigade, together with the necessary detachments of Artillery, Engineers, Army Service, Ordnance, and Medical Corps. For this campaign against King Prempeh, a very distinctive decoration was given: a St. Andrew's Cross bisects the corners of a four-pointed star, over which is a circular centre containing the Imperial crown surrounded by a plain band inscribed ~ASHANTI~ above, and ~1896~ below. On the back, in raised letters, is the inscription FROM THE QUEEN. The star is suspended from a yellow ribbon, with rather broad black stripes near the edges, by means of a ring; it was issued unnamed, but the Colonel of the Yorkshires had the name of each of his men and that of the regiment engraved upon their stars.

=West African Medal.=--For their services against Mwele a number of men from four of H.M. ships were awarded the West African medal, but, instead of a bar, MWELE 1895-6 was impressed on the edge, on either side of the clasp claw, together with the name and ship of the recipient. Those already in possession of the medal had Mwele and the date engraved on the edge. The 24th and 26th Bombay Infantry were also engaged, and they likewise received the medal: the latter have the names, etc., engraved in slanting script like India 1895 medals. A bar for NIGER 1897 was issued later, and in 1898 bars for BENIN 1897 were issued to men from nine of H.M. ships, and a bar for DAWKITA 1897 was also added for the members of the Gold Coast Constabulary who took part in the defence of Dawkita. In 1899 authority was given to add the bar for SIERRA LEONE 1898-99 to the East and West Africa medal for those engaged in the country between February 1898 and March 1899. Men of the West African Rifles and 1st West India Regiment were engaged, also some Royal Garrison Artillerymen. The name and date are arranged in two lines, and the bar is consequently rather wider than the others. The named edges are engraved in capital Roman letters, but some issued to Europeans are impressed. In 1900 it was decided to issue four more bars, and to revert to the use of dates instead of names; these bars cover 1896-8, 1897-8, 1898, and 1899. In the following year the bar inscribed 1896-99 was issued to those who had been employed in the northern parts of the Gold Coast, or in the hinterland of Lagos; later those who had been engaged in the Kadima and Munchi expeditions were awarded the medal and bar for 1900.

=The Relief of Chitral.=--Early in 1895 the war cloud was gathering in Chitral; the Nizam-ul-Mulk, the nominee of the British, had been shot at the instigation of his supposedly idiot half-brother, Amir-ul-Mulk, and the Indian Government was in no great haste to recognise the succession attained in such a way, especially as the Mehtar indulged in the most savagely murderous deeds. Later came the news to Surgeon-Major (afterwards Sir George) Robertson that on the night of January 22nd Umra Khan had crossed the Lowari Pass into Chitral territory with 3,000 or 4,000 followers, demanding that Amir-ul-Mulk should join him. Then Robertson made up his mind to reach Chitral, and occupy the fort in the valley, as speedily as possible. The little force pressed on, many an unfortunate man getting frost-bitten during the terribly cold nights. An ultimatum was then sent to Umra Khan, indicating that he must at once leave Chitralis territory. Of course he did not; one or two unfortunate affairs happened--the disaster at Mastuj and at the Koragh defile, where a number of the surviving Sikhs, after existing without food or water for seven or eight days, were cajoled, by the promise of life, from the little sangars in which they had taken refuge, and then cruelly murdered. The gallant defence of Rashun under Edwardes and Fowler, until they were captured by the cunning of Muhammad Isa, must be mentioned _en passant_.

On March 27th the famous march to Chitral began, and to join up with the force marching from India Colonel J. G. Kelly set out with his little force of 400 of the 32nd Pioneers and 40 Kashmir Sappers, with two mountain guns, from Gupis. Laboriously climbing the hill tracks, a foot deep in snow, until almost snowblind, his men reached Ghizr, 10,000 feet above sea-level, where a body of Hunza-Nagar levies were encamped. These he added to his force; then Kelly endeavoured to push through the great carpet of snow 3 feet thick. It was of no avail, for the pitiless snow blinded his men, and he had to return to Ghizr until it stopped, which it did on April 3rd. Of the heroic march of these men, of the difficulties they faced and undauntedly overcame, one is tempted to write at great length, but Sir George Robertson does fitting justice to this party of his rescuers in "Chitral, the Story of a Minor Siege."

The main force from India under Major-General Sir Robert Low advanced across the Malakund Pass after a smart fight on April 3rd, in which the Gordons and Scottish Borderers, "racing for the honour of their regiments ... swarmed over the Dechoities at a wonderful speed, and breathless but triumphant had crowned the pass by 2 o'clock, the 60th Rifles being close up." Here the British force lost 11 killed, and 47 wounded. The Jandol Valley was attacked on April 17th, and occupied next day. On the 19th General Gatacre started with a couple of battalions and some guns for Dir and Chitral; pushing across the rugged Janbatai ridge, he learned that the garrison of Chitral was almost at its last gasp--and five days' march lay between him and his goal! He therefore asked permission from Sir Robert Low to make a dash for Chitral with 500 of the Buffs, a few native sappers, and a couple of mountain guns; but when sanction was obtained it was learned that Kelly had reached Chitral, and that there was no need to hurry.

=The Defence of Chitral.=--Meanwhile Surgeon-Major Robertson had "directed" by a gesture Amir-ul-Mulk to leave the Mehtarship, and had raised in his stead his little brother Shuja-ul-Mulk. Then on March 3rd an unfortunate and desperate fight took place, in which Surgeon Whitchurch earned the V.C. by one of the most unselfish actions on record, and some devoted Goorkas gained the Order of Merit for the rescue of a mortally wounded officer. On March 4th the siege began in earnest, and preparations were made for the defence. Within the walls were 550 persons to be fed; to defend the place about "340 riflemen, but, excluding those in hospital, only 83 Sikhs--good shots, and trustworthy soldiers," and 52 Chitralis. How well they held the fort until the enemy melted away on April 18th, 1895, is one of the glorious records of British pluck and Indian devotion and gallantry. During the siege, and the reconnaissance of March 3rd, 41 were killed, and 62 wounded, the latter including the commander.

The following took part in the defence: Sir George Robertson, K.C., S.I., and 6 officers; Surgeon-Captain H. F. Whitchurch, 90 of the 14th Sikhs, 300 of the 16th Punjabis, and 4th Kashmir Rifles, assisted by about 40 servants and followers, who likewise received the India Medal 1895, with bar for the DEFENCE OF CHITRAL 1895. It is noteworthy that the new medal is thicker than the one it replaced, and weighs 1¼ oz. instead of 1 oz.