Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Lucknow (Driver Thos. Cope, F Tp. R.H. Arty.) fitted with silver ribbon brooch, very fine £500-600

Sold with a full copy on CD of Thomas Cope’s 117pp personal diary, describing his voyage from England to India and his experiences at the battle of Lucknow, which is held in the collection of the National Army Museum, Chelsea. It also contains many poems and songs which are worthy of further research.

Thomas Cope was born on 7 August 1833, at Hill Ridware, Staffordshire. His father John Cope, was an Agricultural Labourer, and his mother was named Elizabeth. The 1851 census shows him working as a Groom for Richard Freer a Practising Surgeon in the historic market town of Rugeley, Staffordshire. With his knowledge of horses he attested for The Royal Horse Artillery on 23 July 1855. In April 1863 he was promoted to Bombardier but was reduced back to Driver in May 1864 and sentenced to 3 days in jail. Again he was promoted to Bombardier in August 1872 but reduced to Driver in January 1874, where he remained until retirement on 13 February 1877, aged 43. His service in India is listed as 15 years 10 months. His conduct was Good and Temperate.
Thomas Cope died on 17 October 1910.

His diary covers the period from 31 July 1857 until 9 March 1858. Sailing in the S.S. Scotland from Woolwich, Driver Cope describes sea state, wind direction and speed. He marvels at the changing colours of the water, the catching of whales and porpoises and the myriad of birds at Cape Town. The S.S. Scotland runs into a dreadful storm just past the Cape that batters the ship. They hear that a transit ship sailing nearby is lost with all hands including the loss of the 90th Regiment of Foot... but through the mercies and providence of almighty God the crew both soldiers and sailors were all saved. Unable to sling their hammocks for several days they helped the crew baling out the water sloshing in the middle deck. Throughout it all Cope, who is suffering dreadful seasickness, describes the sea as “troublesome”. The Forecastle continuously plunges into the sea and Cope thought every moment was his last. A ship named Blenheim, on their Port quarter, carrying the 2nd Dragoon Guards to Calcutta, flew the distress flag but survived the ordeal. With the storm abating the Scotland gave a sudden roll on to her side... as if she was going never to return. There were injuries to the Sergeant Major and Gunner George Adkins. Later, Driver William Munks fell overboard and was lost. Off Madras they were again engulfed in a storm. He eventually sails up the Hoogly and arrives in Calcutta.

The Corps boarded Flats and left Calcutta and on December 15 he disembarks from the Steamer Hardinge at Allahabad. On 22 January they marched from Allahabad with the 4 guns and 3 squadrons of the 2nd Dragoon Guards to join General Franks at Secundra.

‘Next day,’ he states, ‘we marched until 1230 hours and opened fire on the Sepoys which they returned with zeal and energy. They had a good position and every shot fell around our men and striking them... fought for 4 hours when they fled leaving 4 guns... and a great deal of men dead’.

February 5th. ‘Took a Rajah and some of his men and burned down his place [palace].’

March 2nd. ‘Marched to the Allumbagh and from there to the Dilkoosha where we had to fight very hard for every inch of ground we went... arrived at the Dilkoosha House and in sight of the Martiniere where there was a constant fire kept up by our artillery and infantry. The shot from the Sepoys very annoying’.

March 4th. ‘Started from Selempore Camp... The guns were ordered to the front where we came to a fort and the Sepoys fired on us which we soon returned and sharp work it was while it lasted for the bullets fell like so many hailstones but not a Sepoy got away for they were all killed’.

March 6th. ‘Marched over the river with General Outram and at day break we came in with Sepoys at drill at which we made a charge on them and drove them into the city and opened fire on them and strew them on the ground very thick... We retired and pitched our camp.’

March 7th. ‘Turned out at 0800 and to our surprise our camp was surrounded by the Sepoys and they had thrown their batteries and they open up a tremendous fire on our camp knocking holes through the tents and striking the men as they sat in their tents and as they stood on parade. We got under their fire but not before some of our horses had been struck with the enemy shot. A very heavy fire was kept up by both parties for a long while but we routed them and got possession of the bridge opposite the yellow bungalow. We then retire leaving a great many dead on the plain.’

Sold with a comprehensive file of research including aforementioned Diary on CD, a print out of the same, and copied discharge papers.