The Bengal Naval Brigades during the Great Sepoy Mutiny

 

 

 

Source: British Library: IOR: L/MAR/762 - Bengal Naval Brigades - Ms. list of European Officers and Seamen who served on the books of H.M.’s vessel CALCUTTA 1st August 1858 to 31st December 1859

 

This is one of two volumes relating to the great Sepoy Mutiny that are supposed to be available as original documents. However, I have attempted to draw this twice, but on both occasions have had to rely on the microfilmed version. Unfortunately, some entries are so faint and difficult to make out that the original would be required. Most, both officers and men, are shown as either having come from Acbar (the Bengal Marine’s flagship), or as volunteers. Interestingly, some of the latter were seemingly raised at Singapore and some were shown as having come from Semiramis and Calcutta. At this point, I am not entirely sure of the administrative importance of some of these differences.

.

Examples:-

 .

General Number

6214

Entry

August 1 1858

Where

Acbar

Names

Avis, George

Rank

AB

Country where bore

Maryburg Maritius

D, DD, or Run

D

When

January 24 1859

Where

Service

  

 

General Number

7162

Entry

August 20 1858

Where

Volunteer

Names

Bulkley, William

Rank

AB

Country where bore

New York, America

D, DD, or Run

R

When

Decr 31 1858

Where

“Calcutta”

 

  

General Number

5792

Entry

August 1 1858

Where

Acbar

Names

Gilham, John

Rank

AB

Country where bore

Bristol, England

D, DD, or Run

DD

When

Decr 13 1858

Where

Singhboour

 

 

General Number

7463

Entry

September 6 1858

Where

Volunteer Singapore

Names

Bell James

Rank

1C PO

Country where bore

Greenock, Scotland

D, DD, or Run

D

When

December 8 1859

Where

Punjuab

 

 

 

Source: BL: IOR: L/MAR/763 - Bengal Naval Brigades - Names of Officers and European Seamen employed, being original printed copy with autograph signatures, and enclosure of Marine Letter from Fort William, No 28. Also Alphabetical List of European Officers and Seamen of the Indian Navy serving with the Bengal Naval Brigades 1860

 

This is the other volume whereby the original cannot be found and has to be seen as a microfilm copy. I am not sure whether the second list has been microfilmed or not, but I certainly could not identify this while working on this microfilm.

The list that is there was constructed in June 1859, as per a request from the Bombay Presidency and is printed by Naval Brigade (alphabetically). From there the general format is by rank, or at least those in command and then the rest, sometimes in strict rank and alphabetical order and sometimes less efficiently. Often a military style of ranks is shown, but not always and occasionally naval ranks and rates are used. These others include 1st Officer, 2nd Officer, petty officers, cooks and boatswains. Once again, at this stage of my studies I do not understand the reasons behind this (other than surmising that these units were perhaps more shambolic than is maintained in the British accounts of these events). Promotions also appear in the remarks columns and occasionally other pertinent info, such as those discharged sick. Incidentally, the details in the casualty returns have been identical in all the checks that I have so far conducted.

 

Examples:-

 

Naval Brigade Berhampore

.

NAMES

Rank

Date of Entry

Date of Discharge

REMARKS

James Smart

Commander

Dec 7, 1857

July 3, 1858

 

John Kaine

Ditto

June 20, 1858

Jan 22, 1859

 

Charles Bennett

Serjeant

Dec 8, 1857

Dec. 13, 1858

 

George Shepperd

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

 

Edward Roberts

Guard

Ditto

Ditto

 

W. Davis

Ditto

Ditto

Ditto

 

...

 

 

 

 

A. Harrison

Ditto

Ditto

 

Died, 9th September 1858

...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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