Changes

*'''1763''' disbanded

*'''1793''' raised in Ireland by Earl of Clanricard as the 88th Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers)

*'''1922''' disbanded on Irish independence<br>

== History in India ==

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.

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'''

== External Links ==

[[Category:British Army Infantry Regiments]]