The battalion arrived in India in October 1857 and saw little serious action during the 1857-59 battles, with its only major action being the relief of Azamgarh in April 1858 where it helped relieve British troops besieged by rebels. While British writers exaggerated the importance of this action, it was in reality a minor engagement. The battalion performed capably but was not seriously tested in major battles like Cawnpore and Lucknow, and lost relatively few men at 12 killed during the relief of Azamgarh. It was awarded two Victoria Crosses for the action, which some argue was preferential treatment due to connections of the battalion's commander, though awards often reflect commander bias.

1. 1

2. 2
This battalion arrived in India on 3rd October 1857
and saw little serious action in the battles of 1857-
59.1
Its only major action was relief of Azamgarh where
HM 37th Foot , Madras cavalry and a horse artillery
battery was besieged by rebels.HM 13TH Foot
comprising 369 men , a troop of HM 2nd Dragoon
Guards, 2 relieved HM 37th Foot at Azamgarh on 6th
April 1858. British writers like Malleson etc much
exaggerated this affair but in reality it was a minor
action.
1
Page-36- BRITISH AND INDIAN FORCES ON THE
BENGAL ESTABLISHMENT- Op cit.
2
Page-365- THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL AND INDIAN IN
THE MUTINY OF 1857-- COLONEL JULIAN R. J. JOCELYN-
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. LONDON-1915

3. 3

4. 4
The battalion performed well but one cannot say
that it was put into any real test where its merit could
be judged. Although Malleson greatly exaggerated
its role in relief of Azamgarh .
One may state that being well linked the battalion
received preferential treatment and was not hurled
into the hell of reliefs of Cawnpore and Lucknow
despite the fact that it had arrived in India in October
1857.
The battalion was awarded two Victoria crosses,
whereas many units which suffered far more in
terms of gravity of threat of task and casualties
sustained ,received NIL Victoria Crosses.
Lord Mark Kerr (the battalion’s commanding officer)
social connections may have played a part as far as
these VCs were concerned. This is normal in all
armies worldwide.

5. 5
One may state that General Campbell was biased in
favour of infantry when it came to the grant of VC.
Sergeant W.Napier and Private Peter Carlin were
awarded VC for the puny action during relief of
Azamgarh.3
The battalion lost Captain W.H Jones on 6th April
1858 during relief of Azamgarh.4
The battalion lost 12 killed in action during relief of
Azamgarh.5 By any standards, it escaped very lightly
3
Pages-88 and 89- THE VICTORIA CROSS-AN OFFICIAL
CHRONICLE-Op cit.
4
Page-23- CASUALTY ROLL FOR THE INDIAN MUTINY
1857-59-Op cit.
5
Pages-22 to 24- CASUALTY ROLL FOR THE INDIAN
MUTINY 1857-59-Op cit.

6. 6
the harsh rigours of war as far as casualties were
concerned.
NIL ---(except that the battalion won two Victoria
Crosses which was good for them only!). Relief of
Azamgarh much exaggerated by Malleson cannot be
called a serious affair as in April 1858 the company’s
superiority was clear cut and the rebels were
disorganized and on the run following the loss of
Lucknow in March 1858.
NIL.