Here's the next part, the next section will be from the rebel perspective.
PART FOUR
Lt Colonel Christie-Smyth, commanding officer 1st Duke of Wellington’s, was incredulous as Connors explained what had happened at the parade ground.[4] The thin columns of smoke had been noticed by some of the garrison in the cantonment but fires started by the dry conditions were not uncommon, and as a result little attention had been paid. Connors and his men had ridden hard, and had reached the bridge across the canal separating the town from the cantonment within minutes of their escape. Galloping past the startled sentry at the gates they had dismounted breathlessly and forced their way through to Christie-Smyth’s HQ. “So the 23rd are gone?” the commander repeated to himself, quiet now, as he stared through the dusty window towards old town. He’d heard the tales – everyone had – of what had happened during the great Mutiny of ’57. Lady May, who he often saw in the club, had been a young girl at the siege of Lucknow – Christie-Smyth vaguely remembered someone telling him that her father and brother had been killed there – but she never talked about it, understandably. Christie-Smyth pulled himself together. Harrow and Sandhurst had prepared him for this. “Right”, he exclaimed suddenly, turning to his aide, “the rebels have two choices – the town or the cantonment. Whatever they decide, our priorities are to protect the Europeans, secure the cantonment, and ensure this doesn’t spread. Send Major Parker with 1 company to the Governor’s Residence – he is to bring the Governor here and coordinate the evacuation of the Old Town. Major Horrocks’ men will secure the water pumps and the perimeter of the cantonment.” The men waited – they all knew the decision Christie-Smyth was wrestling with now. After a long pause the commanding officer picked up his swagger stick and strode towards the door. Stopping before he left the room, he turned. “Disarm the Punjabis and have them confined to barracks.”
[FONT="][4] On the Lahore map the initial rising of the 23rd happened under the scale at the far north-east of the map.
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PART FOUR
Lt Colonel Christie-Smyth, commanding officer 1st Duke of Wellington’s, was incredulous as Connors explained what had happened at the parade ground.[4] The thin columns of smoke had been noticed by some of the garrison in the cantonment but fires started by the dry conditions were not uncommon, and as a result little attention had been paid. Connors and his men had ridden hard, and had reached the bridge across the canal separating the town from the cantonment within minutes of their escape. Galloping past the startled sentry at the gates they had dismounted breathlessly and forced their way through to Christie-Smyth’s HQ. “So the 23rd are gone?” the commander repeated to himself, quiet now, as he stared through the dusty window towards old town. He’d heard the tales – everyone had – of what had happened during the great Mutiny of ’57. Lady May, who he often saw in the club, had been a young girl at the siege of Lucknow – Christie-Smyth vaguely remembered someone telling him that her father and brother had been killed there – but she never talked about it, understandably. Christie-Smyth pulled himself together. Harrow and Sandhurst had prepared him for this. “Right”, he exclaimed suddenly, turning to his aide, “the rebels have two choices – the town or the cantonment. Whatever they decide, our priorities are to protect the Europeans, secure the cantonment, and ensure this doesn’t spread. Send Major Parker with 1 company to the Governor’s Residence – he is to bring the Governor here and coordinate the evacuation of the Old Town. Major Horrocks’ men will secure the water pumps and the perimeter of the cantonment.” The men waited – they all knew the decision Christie-Smyth was wrestling with now. After a long pause the commanding officer picked up his swagger stick and strode towards the door. Stopping before he left the room, he turned. “Disarm the Punjabis and have them confined to barracks.”
[FONT="][4] On the Lahore map the initial rising of the 23rd happened under the scale at the far north-east of the map.
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OOB Lahore 1915
23 Cavalry
1 Duke of Wellington’s
23 Pioneers
28 Punjabis
OOB Lahore 1915
23 Cavalry
1 Duke of Wellington’s
23 Pioneers
28 Punjabis