Crimea
The most famous feats of the 93rd Regiment of Foot took place during the Crimean War. War had broken out between Britain and Russia in 1854, and the 93rd was among the most honored British regiments during the war. They received righteous battle honors for their service at the British and French victory at the Battle of Alma, and their service at the Allied Victory (British, French, Ottoman, Sardinian) during the Siege of Sevastopol. However, their most honorable victory would take place during the Battle of Balaclava. The Ottomans had resisted the attacks against the Russian artillery and infantry, but only for a little while. Soon, they were too outmatched, and retreated to the 93rd. There, the 93rd's nickname, "Thin Red Line", was born. Impressively, the Thin Red Line managed to halt the Russian advance, of both infantry and cavalry, without suffering a single casualty. This was the turning point of the entire battle, as the 93rd had halted the Russian advancement for long enough, and had done enough damage to the Russian troops, for General Scarlett's Heavy Cavalry Brigade to charge the Russian troops onto the defensive. Without the 93rds efforts, the Battle of Balaclava may have turned out to end in a Russian victory. The 93rd, along with the Heavy Brigade and remnant Ottoman soldiers and a few British Royal Marines that had been appointed to serve with the regiment, had managed to force the Russians into a retreat, after the Russians, seeing their foolproof charge undoubtedly repressed, had decided they have had enough.
Quote from Argyll History records:
The rest, a formidable mass, swept on to charge the 93rd drawn up in line, two deep. "There is no retreat from here, men," Campbell told them as he rode down the line, "you must die where you stand." And the reply of John Scott, the right-hand man, was taken up by them all: "Ay, Sir Colin. An needs be, we'll do that." They fired two volleys and the cavalry charge split in half, galloping to right and left and finally into full retreat. Some of the younger soldiers started excitedly forward for a bayonet charge, but Sir Colin called out, "93rd, 93rd, damn all that eagerness!"
The nickname Thin Red Line was officially coined by Journalist for The Times W. H. Russell. In 1881, Robert Gibb had painted The Thin Red Line, which depicted the 93rd repressing the Russian cavalry charge. It remains to be a very popular work.
The Thin Red Line by Robert Gibb
Quote from Argyll History records on Russell's response to the 93rd:
The Times correspondent, W. H. Russell, who standing on the hills above could clearly see that nothing stood between the Russian cavalry and the defenceless British base but the "thin red streak tipped with a line of steel" of the 93rd. Condensed almost immediately into "The Thin Red Line", the phrase has survived to this day as the chosen symbol of everything for which The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders believe themselves to stand.
Asked why he had been so unorthodox as to receive a cavalry charge in line instead of in a square, Sir Colin Campbell said; "I knew the 93rd, and I did not think it worth the trouble of forming a square."
A more staid historical author, Thomas Carter, also gave due credit. In describing the engagement, he wrote "Advancing in great strength, supported by artillery, the Russian cavalry appeared on the scene. One portion of them assailed the front and right flank of the 93rd, but were instantly driven back by the vigorous and steady fire of that distinguished regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Ainslie."
India
1857: the year of the Indian Rebellion. Imperialist India, controlled by foreign powers including the English and Dutch, struggles for stability. An uprising arises, and the 93rd is summoned for duty.
In June of 1856, the 93rd officially leave Crimea. They return to Portsmouth to garrison there, before being sent to China to see Sir Campbell, and finally, to India. The Sutherland Highlanders witness the cruelty of the mutineers; slaughtered women and children lining the Ganges River outside Cawnpore. They reached Lucknow, where a company would soon engage battle with large rebellious forces. After
their victory against the rebels, the 93rd to push through Oude, driving the rebels out, claiming Buntara.
In mid-November, a little over their victories in suppressing the rebels at Oude, they were brigaded with the 53rd, 84th, 90th, 1st Madras, and the 4th Punjab Rifles. Lieutenant-Colonel Adrian of the 93rd would lead this brigade. Less than a week later, the 93rd was ready for their biggest battle since Balaclava. The Secunder Bagh, a thick-wall fortification, controlled by over 2,000 garrisoned rebels, must fall. After an opening was made by a heavy cannonade, the 93rd rushed in, charging with bayonets. Though they were against many more men, many of which were firing shots straight into their mass, they staid firm. Hours of hand-to-hand fighting. Over 2,000 Indian rebels lay dead at the feet of the 93rd. The Secunder Bagh had fallen to the 93rd. The following morning, the regiment's colors were raised above the roof of Secunder Bagh. Six Victorian Crosses were awarded to the regiment for their valiant victory that day.
The Secunder Bagh was taken as Residency in claim of the British. Two days after the battle had taken place, the 93rd would escort men, women, children, approximentally 1,000 wounded, the King of Oude, and 250,000 pounds belonging to the government to safety during an attack made by the rebels on Residency.
One week after the Evacuation of Residency, the 93rd would engage in the Battle for Cawnpore. The very soil they had arrived to a month earlier would be the home of another victory. The rebels had routed, and the 93rd spent the following few days clearing out the remaining rebels that would be hiding throughout Lucknow. The following year, in March, 93rd and its brigade would storm the Martiniere. Over half a dozen more battles would occur before the 93rd was sent back to Scotland. They had spent 12 years in India, and 3 in Crimea. 93rd arrives in Leith, and disembarks for Edinburgh in 1871. In 1873, at Edinburgh, a festival was thrown for the regiment, in celebration for their victories in both Crimea and India, and to salute them as they leave to garrison several British locations. Finally, the 93rd disembarks from Dublin, Ireland in 1877, and arrived two years later to garrison in Gibraltar in 1879.
|
