Changes

'''1857'''

The 88th had been put under orders for India in the ordinary course of relief. When they embarked the news of the first outbreak of mutiny among the Sepoys had only just reached England. It was as yet however only vaguely known that "disturbances" had occurred and their extent and character were not realized. As the long voyage in sailing ships round the Cape without touching anywhere brought The Connaught Rangers to Bengal with nothing later than the English information of three and a half months before, they were at the outset somewhat bewildered when the lightship at the mouth of the Hoogly signalled "Delhi is taken." It was in fact only when the pilots came on board that they first heard any account of the great Sepoy mutiny.

Next morning, November 27th, the regiment paraded before daybreak. General Windham said, in the hearing of the 88th when on parade, "If the enemy has crossed the canal bridge I will attack him: if not we shall have a quiet day." His only cavalry consisted of fifty troopers of a native Police Corps and some of these had been sent out to scout: the sole precaution apparently that was thought necessary. They returned soon, with the English lieutenant in charge, and reported that they had not found any of the enemy, whereupon it was arranged to give up the day for the men to clean themselves and their clothing which they had no opportunity of doing before. The troopers' reconnaissance however had been incomplete, and danger soon proved nearer at hand than was anticipated. Before the morning was far advanced a gun was heard, then another, and quickly afterwards round shot were hurtling through the camp. It was an unpleasant surprise. "What, twelve o'clock so soon!" said some of the men as they heard the first gun. The bugles at once sounded the alarm, and the 88th were quickly under arms. Some of the men, indeed, who were washing, buckled on their belts without waiting to get on their coats. It was a bad surprise and the camp was thrown into confusion at the outset. The camels at once became unmanageable and went off over the plain: the bullocks also ran off: the elephants trumpeted and got unmanageable. Many of the native followers at the same time deserted, making for [[Cawnpore]]. The enemy, who were the Gwalior rebels and had forty guns with them, appeared to be firing from in front and also from both flanks. As the men fell in, one party of the Rangers was told off to skirmish together with the Rifles, and another to act as escort to the naval gun, belonging to the Shannon's Naval Brigade accompanying the force, which was posted near the road. Its bullocks had all run away, and the officers and men with the gun had all been either killed or wounded. The skirmishers, under Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell, were sent to its assistance and the gun was dragged away by men of the 88th and Rifle Brigade, with some of the 82nd. The adjutant of the 88th, while keeping the men steady under a severe fire, was wounded in the leg and obliged to retire. Lieutenant Vernor was ordered temporarily to act as adjutant in his place.

On the morning of November 28th the pickets of the 88th were relieved by the 34th, and the regiment was ordered to the house occupied by Major-General Windham, where they were engaged throwing up earthworks until the afternoon. Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell then received orders to advance the whole detachment and cover the flank of the position. The Rangers remained doing that until evening when they were recalled to Windham's Head-quarters. Tantia Topee set fire to part of the town during the night; burning a quantity of stores belonging to the British army, including clothing provided for the relieved garrison of [[Lucknow]]. There was some sharp fighting on the 28th, which prevented the enemy from reaching Windham's entrenchment and the Ganges bridge. Brigadier Carthew however could not with the inadequate force at his disposal make serious impression on the rebels. Colonel Malleson in his history comments on Windham's measures in these words: "A real general," he says, "having in reserve a fine British regiment, such as was the 88th, would have at once hurried to the scene of action." The strength of The Connaught Rangers however, it should be said, after the previous fighting could hardly have much exceeded 300 men. That evening, the 28th, Sir Colin Campbell with his staff, riding in advance of his troops, crossed the still intact bridge of boats into [[Cawnpore]]. He promptly took stock of the situation and prepared measures to retrieve the misfortunes of General Windham. Sir Colin had successfully on the 25th brought away the [[Lucknow]] garrison and the women and children. On the 29th and following days the regiment furnished pickets and working parties. Vernor states that during this period the rebels managed to get field-pieces on to the top of some houses and "killed and wounded a few of our men," also that they were dislodged or silenced by a party of thirty good shots. On December 30th Colonel G.V. Maxwell arrived with the two companies from Futtipore and resumed command. He had now six companies (the Grenadiers, Nos. 2, 4, 5, 7, and the Light Company, and also a part of No. 6). Sir Colin meanwhile, in order to disencumber himself of his long train of sick, wounded and non-combatants, spent several days in bringing them across the Ganges and despatching them towards Calcutta. He attacked and defeated the rebels on December 6th, but the 88th was not engaged. Nos. 3 and 8 Companies, under Major Maynard and Captain Priestley, reached the camp of the 88th on December 17th. They had come by rail from Calcutta to Ranigunj, by rail again for 40 miles from Allahabad, and by bullock dak the rest of the way. En route, at one place they occupied and burned a rebel village. The remaining detachment, under Major Bourke, also arrived during the month.

'''1858'''

For the next two months The Connaught Rangers supplied mobile detachments to keep the country between the Ganges and the Jumna clear of the enemy, the permanent camp continuing at Akbarpore. The ten companies had usually a little over 800 of all ranks available, with about 120 or so on the sick list.

Owing to the trials of the hot weather campaign under canvas the Rangers were ordered into cantonments at [[Cawnpore]], arriving there on June 2nd. The cessation of active work, however, with its excitement produced the usual reaction, with the result that, notwithstanding the better protection from the heat, fever and cholera broke out and before long more than half the battalion was on the sick list. The sickness fortunately abated after some weeks, and then, on July 17th, The Connaught Rangers left [[Cawnpore]] for [[Lucknow]], once more in British hands. The regiment, after being at first under canvas at Bohura, moved to the "Old Cantonments" at [[Lucknow]] on August 5th. Five companies, with the regimental Head-quarters, remained there. The other five companies were attached to the Field Force at Nawabganj, an arrangement that continued with little alteration for about five months. The half-battalion at [[Lucknow]] was generally over 400 strong, while the five Field Force companies mustered about 350 of all ranks fit for duty. On July 1st, there had been 207 sick. This number decreased to 108 by September 1st, and to 45 only on December 1st. Although drafts were received from home from time to time, the enrolled strength in India between August and December 1858 decreased somewhat, from 917 to 872.

<nowiki>*</nowiki> The same officer.

The 88th marched from [[Cawnpore]] on January 22nd 1859 and arrived at [[Delhi]] on February 15th. The march started at 3 a.m. every day. One officer remained with each company. The others were allowed to move from camp to camp at their own hours and in their own manner; thus some obtained good shooting in places near the line of route. At Delhi the regiment had to remain under canvas for awhile, there being no barracks for Europeans. Delhi had not hitherto been considered healthy for Europeans and had always been garrisoned by native troops. Most of the men were then put into the large school buildings, with three companies in the Palace and the officers scattered about in bungalows.

The flank companies of battalions were abolished by an order issued in 1858, when all companies were ordered to be sized and clothed alike. Thus the Grenadier and the Light Company of The Connaught Rangers disappeared; Captain Baynes of the Grenadier and Brevet-Major Mauleverer of the Light Company were the last flank-company commanders. An order of 1862 completed the change by directing that companies should be lettered instead of being numbered, and should stand on parade according to the seniority of their captains.

A Horse Guards Circular of May 3rd 1861 fixed the establishment of battalions serving in the East Indies at ten service companies, with a strength of 958 of all ranks, and two depot companies comprising 120 of all ranks; a total of 1,078.

Four companies (B, C, F and K) under Brevet-Major T. Gore proceeded to Agra for temporary duty at the end of October, owing to the absence of British infantry from that station consequent on the annual relief arrangements. On the arrival of the 41st Foot from England C Company returned to [[Cawnpore]], while the three other companies marched on December 21st to Futtegurh to relieve the three there. A, C, D and G rejoined Headquarters at [[Cawnpore]] on January 11th and 17th following, Brevet-Major Radcliffe remaining in command at Futtegurh.

'''1866'''

The Cawnpore Brigade was now transferred to the Allahabad Division and the next inspection of the regiment was made on March 15th by the officer commanding that division, Major-General Troup, C.B. The 88th was also inspected later (on October 19th) by Brigadier-General W.C. Forest, commanding the Cawnpore Brigade.

'''1867'''

The effective strength of the service companies on January 1st was 38 officers, 45 sergeants and 791 drummers and rank and file, making a total of 874.

"It has afforded His Royal Highness much gratification to perceive by a perusal of this document, as well as from the assurance contained in your own observations accompanying it, that the state of this corps is very satisfactory."

The 88th was again inspected on October 16th, this time by Major-General Haly, who announced his decision to this effect: "He is much pleased with the regiment and will have the satisfaction of making a favourable report."

'''1869'''

Colonel G.V. Maxwell, C.B., who had been employed on the Staff of the Army in India since January 23rd 1864, resumed command of the 88th on February 3rd, on completion of his five years' tenure of the Staff appointment. He left for England however on fifteen months' leave almost immediately and the command again devolved on Colonel E.H. Maxwell.

On March 3rd 1869, Shere Ali, Ameer of Afghanistan, entered British territory on a State visit to the Viceroy. He was received with due ceremony at Peshawar on the 4th, thence proceeding after a few days to meet the Viceroy, the Earl of Mayo, at [[Umballa]]. The 88th marched to [[Peshawar]] on March 1st to take part at the reception of the [[Ameer]], returning to [[Nowshera]] on the 9th.

There was during that season, it may be mentioned incidentally, a good deal of fever at Nowshera, and a great part of the regiment suffered from it, but the epidemic was not serious.

'''1870'''

The effective strength on January 1st 1870, was 36 officers, 43 sergeants and 700 of other ranks; a total of 779.

Brevet-Colonel G.V. Maxwell, C.B., was placed on half-pay from April 1st 1870, thus ceasing to be borne on the rolls of the regiment. He was at the same time, being in command of a brigade, appointed a temporary Brigadier-General. At Agra, the Brigadier-General in local command having been sent home on sick leave, Colonel E.H. Maxwell took his place, as from May 4th. He continued to hold the command until he left Agra with the 88th in the November following. Colonel E.H. Maxwell for two months of this time also held command of the [[Meerut]] Division, during the absence of Major-General Travers on leave. In the interim the acting regimental command devolved on Brevet-Lieut.-Colonel Mauleverer.

The Connaught Rangers began their homeward journey on November 5th. At 4 p.m. that afternoon the Left Wing (E, F, G and H Companies) under Brevet-Colonel Mauleverer quitted Agra by special train, Colonel Maxwell with Head-quarters and the other four companies following the next afternoon. The journey of 992 miles to Deolali in the Bombay Presidency took five days, the trains halting at Allahabad, Jubbulpore, Sohagpore, and Kundwah on successive days; waiting in a siding during the hottest hours while the men got their meals cooked. At some of the sidings there were tents standing for the accommodation of regiments making the journey. The 88th finally assembled at Deolali on the 11th. A guard of four officers and 150 men with the baggage was sent forward to Bombay on November 15th and next day the rest of the regiment entrained for Bombay. Arriving at two in the afternoon and going on board the troopship Jumna, the passage home began on the following morning.

"IN MEMORY of the Undermentioned officers of the CONNAUGHT RANGERS.

Capt. L.S. Scott, died at [[Jullunder]], 1 April, 1870, aged 31 years."]

The following table shows the principal changes which had taken place in the constitution of the regiment during its service in India (taken from the detailed statistical return rendered on its departure).

The strength embarked was 30 officers, 36 sergeants, 25 corporals, 18 drummers and 480 privates; besides 8 officers' wives, 15 officers' children, 44 soldiers' wives and 74 soldiers' children. The regiment had come out to India in four different vessels. It returned, as a minority only of the passengers, in a single ship. "I think there were 1,700 souls on board," writes Colonel Maxwell, "but everything was in such beautiful order that there was no confusion. My regiment got on capitally, and Captain Richards, of the Jumna, reported very favourably of the men's conduct when in his ship." The Jumna reached Suez, with fair weather, on December 3rd 1870. That, it may be recorded, was the last trooping season in which regiments were conveyed across the Isthmus from Suez to Alexandria by railway. The train with the 88th left Suez in the evening of the 4th and arrived at Alexandria next morning to re-embark in the troopship Crocodile. The Solent was reached on December 21st. The regiment disembarked in a snowstorm on the Gosport side of Portsmouth harbour next day and marched to Forts Grange and Rowner. Head-quarters and three companies proceeded to the former (where the depot was already quartered); the remaining five companies to Fort Rowner.

With regard to the depot maintained at home during the absence of the regiment in India. The two-company detachment left at Portsmouth for that service when the 88th sailed in July, 1857, proceeded the next month to Colchester, where it remained till 1865. At that period the various regimental depots were grouped into "Depot Battalions" with a separate numbering. The 88th Depot belonged first to the 9th Depot Battalion, and then to the 10th, without however change of station. It left Colchester on February 2nd 1865, and embarked on board the Ibis for Ireland, reaching Cork on the 5th. On the following day it arrived at Fermoy, where it was posted to the 19th Depot Battalion, which again was very soon afterwards re-numbered the 13th. On January 18th 1866 that battalion moved from Fermoy to the Curragh Camp, where the 88th Depot remained until June 29th. On July 3rd it went to Parkhurst (Isle of Wight) and was posted to the 5th Depot Battalion. On March 22nd 1870 an Order was issued abolishing the Depot Battalion system as from the ensuing April 1st. It directed that in lieu, depots of battalions serving abroad should be severally attached to battalions serving at home. The 88th Depot accordingly, on the reduction of the 5th Depot Battalion, moved on March 31st from Parkhurst to Bristol, where it joined the 50th Foot. It was moved to Fort Grange (Gosport) on October 11th following to await the arrival of the regiment from India, being meanwhile temporarily attached to the 2nd Queen's.

Captain W. Lambert From August 1870.