Indian Mutiny, Central India, 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment.

Description Indian Mutiny, Central India, 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment. Indian Mutiny, clasp, Central India, Edwd Groves, 95th Regt Edward Groves was born in Rochford near Tenbury in Herefordshire in December 1838. Edward, then a shoemaker, enlisted in the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment at Derby on the 7th December 1857 at the age of 19.  He was destined to serve with the Regiment for 14 years and 6 months of which all but 11 months was spent in India. The regiment had embarked for home from the Crimea in June 1856 having suffered losses of 637 dead and 462 invalided out.  The 95th had been home from the Crimea for less than a year when it was ordered overseas again, this time for service at the Cape of Good Hope.  The 95th embarked at Kingstown with the left wing, commanded by Major J.A.R. Raines sailing aboard the hired transport the “Polmaise” on the 18th June 1857.  The Headquarters, together with the light and grenadier companies under Lieutenant-Colonel H. Hume C.B. sailed on the 26th on the transport “Beechworth”. During the week between the sailings, news of the Mutiny in India reached England and both the Polmaise and the Beechwood were diverted to India, landing at Bombay in October.  On arrival, the regiment was involved with mutineers who had been arrested, Major Raines presiding over their court martial.  One was transported for life but the other two were sentenced to death by being blown from the muzzles of guns.  The sentences were carried out on the 13th October in the presence of the “mutinously inclined regiment” with the 95th providing a large armed presence to keep the peace. Although Edward enlisted after the 95th had sailed for India he must have caught up with them fairly quickly as he was to participate in the Central India campaign and his service was to earn him the Indian Mutiny Medal with the Central Indiaclasp. After some more local policing, the 95th started its march through Central India in early 1858, the regiment coming together completely in February.  Over almost a year and a half, the battalion marched around 2500 miles carrying out its part of the Central India campaign.  During this campaign the 95th took part in a series of actions including: 6th January 1858 – Rowa The 95th stormed the fortified village of Rowa and it was there that Private Bernard McQuirt was to win the 95th’s first Victoria Cross which he earned for gallantry in saving the life of Captain McGowan who, after being first into the village, had become separated from his men.  McQuirt was shot through the arm and received 5 sword cuts: he was one of 3 men severely wounded in this action 22nd – 30th March 1858 – Kotah Kotah was a large fortified city in Rajputana where the mutineers had fortified a portion of the town near the Palace. A significant force under Major-General Roberts was assembled to besiege the mutineer’s positions which were stormed on the 30th.  It was at Kotah that the 95th captured the Ram that accompanied the regiment throughout the rest of the campaign and started the tradition of the Ram as the regimental mascot.  The storming cost the 95th one officer and two other ranks killed 25th – 28th May 1858 – Chundaree After a long and grueling advance on the town, the 95th were to find that the forces had been withdrawn. 17th June 1858 – Kotah-ki-Serai The 95th were engaged at the battle of Kotah-ki-Serai along with a number of other units including the 8th Hussars and the 1st Bombay Lancers and suffered 7 casualties (1 officer and 6 other ranks).  Brigadier Smith in his report of the action said “I have only to add that I cannot speak too highly of the steady and soldierlike conduct of both the officers and men of the 95th Regiment and of the 10th Native Infantry, who, though exhausted by fatigue and want of food, stormed the heights under a burning sun and a heavy fire”. 19th June 1858 – Gwalior Imperial forces including the 95th came together on the 18th June in anticipation of the battle for Gwalior which commenced in earnest on the 19th.  The fighting around Gwalior lasted a total of 4 days, the 95th suffering 1 killed and 17 wounded.  5 officers, the Regimental Surgeon and 4 other ranks were mentioned in despatches. 21st August 1858 – Powree 1 officer and 1 private were wounded during the operations relating to the storming and destruction of the fortifications at Powree.  The garrison was known “to have consisted of some of the most guilty and formidable of the mutineers” and men were sent in pursuit, the force consisting of men from the 95th, the 8th Hussars, the 10th Bombay Native Infantry and the 25th Bombay Native Infantry. 5th September 1858 – Beejapore In the battle at Beejapore, the Company of the 95th led the attack as dawn broke.  Many of the enemy were killed and their forces chased from the field.  Lieutenant Fawcett was killed and two men wounded, one of whom died. 14th November 1858 – Koondrye This was the last action of the Mutiny in which the 95th was engaged as a battalion. Although this was the last full battalion action for the 95th, detachments were to see action at Sandwaho, Kownee, Pertabghur and the demolition of the fort of Narghar.  Some mopping-up operations followed and at Jamnir the Brigade with which the 95th had served was broken up, its work done. The three medal rolls submitted by the 95th contain a total of 777 names.  On the 2nd August when, at Poona, the medals with the “Central India” clasp were presented to the regiment by General Sir William Mansfield K.C.B. 14 officers and 527 men received their awards. Edward was to receive three awards of Good Conduct Pay during his service with the colours. Between the 2nd and 3rd awards Edward had, on the 27th February 1868, re-engaged to complete 21 years in the Army.  He was not however destined to serve out his time and on the 11th June 1872 after 14 years 188 days service he was discharged at Fort Rowner in Gosport, Hampshire on account of him “being found unfit for further service”. The Board of discharge, presided over by a Colonel sitting with Lieutenant Colonel Foster and Captain Parkinson, recorded that: “his character & conduct have been very good. He is in possession of three Good Conduct Badges. He is in possession of the medal for the Indian Mutiny & one clasp for Central India. His name has never been entered in the Regimental defaulters book. He has never been tried by court martial.” The disability that led to his discharge was stated by the Regimental Surgeon to be “Dysentery”.  The Surgeon noted that “His disability was incurred while in service in India.  When during a period of 12 years he had frequent attacks of the complaint, attributable to malarious influence”.  He noted also that the disability was “attributable to exposure to malarious influences during a continuous service of 12 years in India, the disease being prevalent at the time”. As to Edward’s present state and whether the disability was likely to be permanent or temporary, the Surgeon stated that “His constitution is quite broken down, and the disease being of a permanent nature will incapacitate him from [doing] his [    ] [    ] [work].”  Finally, he noted that the disability “has not been caused or aggravated by him or intemperance.” The physical description of Edward, aged 33 years and 6 months, as set out in his discharge papers was: Height:             5 feet 7½ inches Complexion:     Pale Eyes:                Grey Hair:                 Dark brown Marks/Scars:     None Edward indicated that his intended place of residence when discharged was 90, Wick Road, South Hackney, London. On the 2nd July 1872 began to receive a pension through the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, presumably as an out-pensioner. In February 1908 Edward sought either a pension or an increase in pension and a report was obtained on his medical condition from an officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps.  The report was signed at St. George’s Barracks on the 10thFebruary 1908 by Captain Browne-Mason of the R.A.M.C. and contains the following information: “The disability for which he was invalided is not of much consequence to him now. His age is 70 & his main disability is senility though he has an inguinal hernia on the left side which causes him great pain & inconvenience at times.” The disability was permanent “& will continue” As to the extent of his capacity to earn a full livelihood, the doctor said “Totally incapacitated. In my opinion his present employment must be in the nature of charity” Edward was following the employment of “Scavanger” and had been earning 25/-per week but was then earning only 5/- a week and was employed by Hackney Borough Council. A note on his records dated the 20th February states “Incapacity should be in a measure be attributed to his long service in India.” The 1909 Regimental Annual of the Sherwood Foresters lists Edward as amongst the surviving pensioners of the 95thwho hold medals for the Crimean or Central Indian campaigns.  The list, however, incorrectly states that Edward was entitled to a Crimea Medal in addition to his Indian Mutiny Medal. Edward died in Hackney in 1912. Condition – GVF, some discolouration to reverse. NOTE: Sorry we cannot accept payment by PayPal for this item, We can accept payment by Credit / Debit Card, Bank Transfer or Cheque.