Description
Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-9, 2 bars, Lucknow, Relief of Lucknow, Private Robert Irvine, 93rd Highlanders, one of the famous Thin Red Line at Balaklava during the Crimean War.
One of the famous Thin Red Line at Balaklava, where the regiment held off repeated charges from the Russian Cavalry, then went on to the Indian Mutiny taking part in the Relief and Capture of Lucknow, during which the 93rd Highlanders won 6 Victoria Crosses in a single day at the storming of Secundra Bagh in Lucknow during 1857, then winning a 7th when Lt William Bean fought off 11 rebels at the gates of Kaiser Bagh.
Officially impressed: “Robt Irvine 93rd Highlanders”
Confirmed on the medal roll, and also entitled to the Crimea Medal, 3 bars, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol, for service in Crimea being present at the “Thin Red Line” action.
The roll do not indicate how this medal was named, leaving it likely to have been unnamed or named in a regimental style.
With full copy service papers and roll entries.
Robert Irvine, was born in Forfar, Scotland circa 1834.
He first enlisted for service at Dundee signing “his mark” as he could not write to join the 42nd Foot, aka the Black Watch on 11th February 1853.
Initially he signed on to receive a handsome bounty of “Four Pounds Stirling” which today would be worth about £650.
After a year in the Black Watch, he Volunteered to the 93rd Highlanders no 18th February 1854.
Just in time to be posted for active service in the Crimean War,
He was mostly a well behaved soldier, if not for 1 incident when he was arrested on 30th October 1857, during the Indian Mutiny.
Rather than be confined he was “sentenced to 50 lashes”, after this he behaved himself to earn good conduct pay by the time of his discharge.
Finishing out his 10 year contract, having served 10 years and 280 days he was discharged on 19th November 1863 to the Army Reserve.
His active service in Crimea & India:
Having volunteered to transfer to the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders on 18th February 1854, they were gearing up to sail for war, and the 93rd set off at Plymouth on 27th February 1854.
According to the Crimean Medal Rolls, he earned the medal with 3 clasps, for the Battle of Alma, Battle of Balaklava and Siege of Sebastopol.
The roll do not indicate how this medal was named, leaving it likely to have been unnamed or named in a regimental style.
He was there during the Battle of Balaklava on 25th October 1854 where the 93rd would form the famous Thin Red Line to hold off an army with barely 500 men, as the Light & Heavy Brigade charged into action.
“The Russians had now advanced far enough to bring Sir Colin Campbell’s force within range of their guns, and they opened fire with considerable effect. Sir Colin had drawn up his force on a hillock at the entrance to the gorge leading to Balaklava, and he ordered his men to lay on their faces in a line two deep on the far slope.
Lying helpless under artillery fire is notoriously a strain, and at this moment the four Russian Squadrons came into view, bearing rapidly down from the Causeway Heights, while behind them, just becoming visible, was the main body of the Russian Cavalry. The sight was once more too much for the Turks; they leapt to their feet and officers and men fled to the port, crying “Ship! Ship! Ship!”. As they passed the camp of the 93rd a soldier’s wife rushed out and fell upon them, belabouring them with a stick, kicking them, cursing them for cowards, pulling their hair and boxing their ears, and so pursued them down to the harbour.
Five Hundred and Thirty men of the 93rd and 100 invalids were now left to stand between the Russian Army and Balaklava, and Sir Colin rode down the line telling them, “Men, remember there is no retreat form here. You must die where you stand.”
To the Russian cavalry as they came on, the hillock appeared unoccupied, when suddenly, as if out of the earth, there sprang up a two line deep of Highlanders in red coats – the line immortalised in British History as the “Thin Red Line”. Every man in that line expected to be killed and, determined to sell his life as dearly as possible, faced the enemy with stern steadiness.
The Russians were taken aback. Their intelligence service was quite as inadequate as the British; they had no idea of the strength and disposition of the British troops and they suspected once more that they had fallen into an ambush. Indeed the gorge ahead would have been the perfect spot for an ambush.
The Russian cavalry checked, halted, and from the Thin Red Line came a volley of the deadly musket-fire, every bullet aimed, which formation in line made possible. The Russians wavered, steadied, advanced and a second volley was fired.
Once more the Russians wavered, and such was the eagerness of the 93rd that there was a movement forward: the men wanted to dash out and engage the cavalry hand to hand, and Sir Colin was heard shouting sternly “Ninety-Third! Ninety-Third! Damn all that eagerness.”
The British line steadied, a third volley was fired, and the Russians wheeled and withdrew in the direction of the main body of their cavalry. The Highlanders burst into Hurrahs. Balaklava for the moment, was saved.”
After finishing the Crimean War, he would see further service earning this medal during the Indian Mutiny.
He received the classic 2 clasps “Lucknow” and “Relief of Lucknow”, during which the regiment covered themselves with glory and earned 7 Victoria Crosses.
Having been welcomed by their old leader from the Thin Red Line, Sir Colin Campbell they under very heavy fire took part in the storming and capture of Secundra Bagh aka Sikandar Bagh, on 16th November 1857.
Not much needs to be said but on this single day 6 Victoria Crosses were earned by the regiment for this action. Victorious the Regimental Colours of the 93rd were raised on top of a tower the next morning, a message and signal of hope to the desperate garrison in the Residency of Lucknow who were taking part in the “Defence of Lucknow”.
They would also fight in the Second Battle of Cawnpore in December 1857.
They would add a further Victoria Cross when Lieut William McBean killed 11 rebels with his during the Storming and Capture of Kaiser Bagh in March 1858.
Not done, they went on to Capture the City of Bareilly in May 1858 and in the skirmish at Russulpore in October 1858.
Having made it through some of the craziest moments in war he came through it relatively unscathed, aside from a slip up during the war that would have left him with hefty scars on his back from receiving 50 lashes, he retired in 1863.
