The Story of the Guides eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 176 pages of information about The Story of the Guides.

The Story of the Guides eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 176 pages of information about The Story of the Guides.

Just outside the garden is the old graveyard, where rest in God the brave hearts who have fought the good fight, and now with sword in sheath watch with kindly pride the keen young blades who follow in their steps.  Side by side lie two of the heroic Battyes, Wigram and Fred, two of the four brothers who died for their Queen and Country.  As has been related elsewhere, Wigram was killed in 1879 while charging at the head of his squadron at Futtehabad in Afghanistan, and Fred fell mortally wounded just as he had completed a most brilliant operation at the Panjkora river, on the march to the relief of Chitral in 1895.  Close to them lies that kindly, upright gentleman, beloved of all, Bob Hutchinson, who fell at the head of the Guides during a night attack on the border village of Malandrai in 1886.  A few yards in another direction may be seen a stone to the memory of A.M.  Ommanney, a young officer who was assassinated by a fanatic in mistake for his brother.  Besides these, and many other single graves, there are large inclusive monuments to the memory of the officers and men of various regiments who have fought on these borders.  Amongst them may be seen those erected to the memory of the officers and men of the 71st Highland Light Infantry, 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, and 101st Royal Bengal Fusiliers, all killed in the Umbeyla campaign of 1863.

Outside the old graveyard, standing at the meeting of three roads, is a very fine mulberry tree, planted at the spot where, according to old soldiers, Colonel Spottiswoode, of the 55th Native Infantry, in deep distress at the mutiny of his regiment, determined to take his own life rather than live to see it disgraced, and under which, according to tradition, he lies buried.

Passing through the bazaar, we come to the Memorial arch and tank, erected by Government to Major Sir Louis Cavignari, Mr. W. Jenkyns, Lieutenant Walter Hamilton, V.C., Surgeon Kelly and the native officers, non-commissioned-officers, and men of the Guides who fell in the defence of the Kabul Residency, September, 3rd, 1879.  Just outside the memorial garden is the spot where Lieutenant A.M.  Ommanney was assassinated, now known as the Ommanney cross-roads.

Every road in the cantonment has a name, and each name in itself is an honoured memory.  Some bear the names of old officers of the corps, while others keep green the memory of those fallen in war.  Amongst the former will be found Sir Alfred Wilde, Sir Charles Keyes, Sir Frances Jenkins, and Sir John McQueen.  Sir Alfred Wilde commanded the corps with great distinction during the Umbeyla campaign of 1863, and afterwards went on to command the Punjab Frontier Force, as did also Sir Charles Keyes.  Of Sir Frances Jenkins a book might be written, for his connection with the Guides extended over nearly twenty-four years.  He was one of the most accomplished soldiers who have ever served in the Indian Army and carried with him much of the breezy skill in war of

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The Story of the Guides from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.