Victoria Cross
&
Indian Mutiny

On May, 1857 the Indian Mutiny began when Sepoys (Indian soldiers) broke into open rebellion.  The spark for the mutiny came with the introduction of a new Enfield rifle that used a cartridge rumored to be greased with a mixture of beef and pork fat, which would highly offensive to both Hindu and Muslim soldiers.

By June 1857, the siege of Lucknow began in earnest with about 8000 mutineers laying siege to the British Residency and the defenses surrounding it.  855 British officers and other ranks as well as 712 Indians, 153 civilian volunteers and 1280 non-combatants were holed up in and around the Residency.

The first relief effort by General Henry Havelock on September 25, 1857 was a pyrrhic victory in that his relief force was so weakened that they were in turn trapped in the Residency with the remaining defenders.

A second relief effort under Sir Colin Campbell ended up breaking through in November, 1857 .  The Largest number of Victoria Crosses ever awarded on a single day, 24, were for the actions during this second relief on November 16, 1857.  Many of the VC's were awarded to the 93rd highlanders and the 53rd Regiment for their part in breaking through the wall of the Secundra Bagh palace.  The next day Campbell linked up with the besieged garrison and made arrangements to evacuate Lucknow.  The siege lasted 148 days.

Britains has done a great job with this range of figures.  The original sculptures were done by Andrew Stadden.  I was privileged to be given the task of painting the masters and so can attest to quality of these sculpts.  It's nice to see such animation and detail in a figure that still pays homage to the old toy soldier by being finished in glossy paint.