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'''Gun lascars''' , or gun-lascars, were Indian recruits retained for "manhandling and cleaning field artillery including pioneer work of guns, carriage of ammunition and had light pioneering tools for the construction of gun platforms, erecting batteriesduring siege warfare and throwing up protective earthworks around the guns. In fact the gun lascars did everything on and around the guns except aim and fire".<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=eV262iNGUb4C&pg=PA119 Gun lascars] page 119 ''The Evolution of the Artillery in India: From the Battle of Plassey (1757) to the Revolt of 1857'' by Romesh C. Butalia. Sample pages Google Books.</ref>
They were also described as a native powder-monkey.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/firstimpressions01baco#page/151/mode/1up Page 151] ''First impressions and studies from nature in Hindostan; embracing an outline of the voyage to Calcutta, and five years residence in Bengal and the Doáb, from MDCCCXXXI to MDCCCXXXVI , Volume I'', by Thomas Bacon, Lieut. Of the Bengal Horse Artillery 1837 Archive.org</ref>
== External links ==
*[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=CtP1ImudK88C&pg=PA119&dq=The+evolution+of+the+artillery+in+India:+from+the+battle+of+Plassey+Gun+lascars+were+an+essential+component+of+the+artillery+arm&lr=&as_brr=3&cd=1#v=onepage&q&f=false Gun lascars] Google Books*[http://www.warfare.altervista.orgtk/19C/Gold-Gun_Lascar_Corps.htm Image: Officers and Private of the Gun Lascar Corps, Madras Establishment] from Charles Gold's ''Oriental Drawings'' 1806. warfare.altervista.orgtk == References ==<references />
[[Category:Military ranks]]
