Page:Dictionary of National Biography. Sup. Vol II (1901).djvu/413

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Havelock-Allan
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Havelock-Allan

was captured by a gallant charge. For this service he received the Victoria Cross on 15 Jan. 1858. Some controversy resulted from the action of the general in thus recommending his son, but there was no question as to the gallantry of young Havelock, whose daring and energy were acknowledged by all.

On 21 July Havelock was appointed deputy-assistant adjutant-general to the force. On the first advance from Cawnpore to Lucknow he was present at the actions of Onao on 29 July, Bashiratganj on 5 Aug., when his horse was shot under him, and again on the 12th, and at Bithor on 16 Aug. In the second advance from Cawnpore, after Outram had joined the force with reinforcements, he took part in the actions at Mangalwar on 21 Sept., where he distinguished himself in the pursuit of the enemy; and at the Alambagh on 23 Sept., where, it is stated, he twice saved Outram's life. Two days later he displayed great gallantry at the successful attack on the Char-bagh bridge of Lucknow, where an entrance to the city was gained. He was recommended by Outram for the Victoria Cross (Malleson, Hist. of the Indian Mutiny, i. 537 et seq.) He was dangerously wounded on this occasion, and his horse was shot under him.

As soon as he was convalescent he took part in the defence of the residency at Lucknow until the relief of the garrison by Sir Colin Campbell. When Sir Colin had gained the Moti-Mahal on 17 Nov. 1857 young Havelock and some other officers accompanied his father and Outram across the half-mile of open space between it and the residency to confer with Sir Colin. A heavy musketry fire opened on the party, and with three others Havelock was struck down, severely wounded. In spite of his wound he attended his father's deathbed on 24 Nov., and his funeral at the Alambagh on the 26th. The baronetcy and pension of 1,000/. a year proposed to be conferred upon his father for his distinguished services was bestowed upon him. The creation was dated 22 Jan. 1858.

In December 1857, though still suffering from his wounds, Havelock was appointed, at his own request, deputy-assistant adjutant-general to the Azimgarh and Janpur field force under Brigadier-general Franks, with whom he had served for some years as adjutant of the 10th regiment. He now assisted him in the operations against the rebel chief Mahudi Haisan in the successful actions at Nasratpur on 23 Jan. 1858, at Chanda and Hamirpur on 19 Feb., Sultanpur on 23rd, and the check at Dhaorara on 4 March, when the column joined the commander-in-chief at the siege of Lucknow. He distinguished himself on 14 March at the storm of the Imambara, forced his way into a palace which commanded three bastions of the Kaisar-Bagh and cleared them of defenders, taking part the same day in the storm and capture of the Kaisar-Bagh. On 19 March Lucknow was won.

On 29 March Havelock, as deputy-assistant adjutant-general to the field force in the Behar and Ghazapur districts, accompanied Sir E. Lugard's column to the relief of Azimgarh, and was present at the successful actions of Metahi on 11 April and of 15 April. The rebels were pursued into the jungles of Jagdispur, where a desultory warfare ensued. In October Havelock proposed to mount some of the infantry to make up for the deficiency in cavalry, and was given the command of a small flying column of mounted infantry. He pursued the Shahabad rebels for two hundred miles in five days, fighting three actions on 19, 20, and 21 Oct., finally driving them into the Kaimur hills. He was again wounded during the operations.

On 25 Nov. 1858 Havelock was appointed to the command of the 1st regiment of Hodson's horse, which he held until March 1859. He led it through the campaign in Oude under Lord Clyde, including the successful action of Bajadua on 26 Dec., the capture of Masjadua on the following day, the defeat of the rebels near Bandi on the Rapti on 31 Dec., and other operations until the end of the campaign. He was frequently mentioned in despatches for his services during the mutiny (ib. 13 Oct. 1857, 17 Feb., 31 March, 25 May, 17 July, 31 Aug., and 16 Nov. 1858 ; 31 Jan., 22 Feb., and 24 March 1859). He received the medal and two clasps, a year's service for Lucknow, and the brevets of major and lieutenant-colonel.

On Havelock's return home in 1860 he joined his regiment (the royal Irish) at Shorncliffe camp. On 1 Oct. 1861 he was appointed deputy-assistant adjutant-general at Aldershot. In August 1863 he accompanied his regiment to New Zealand, and on 25 Oct. was appointed deputy-assistant quartermaster-general to the forces in that colony, serving throughout the Maori war of 1863-4 under Major-general (afterwards General Sir) Duncan Alexander Cameron. He took part in the Waikato campaign and was present at the storm and capture of Rangiriri on 20 and 21 Nov. 1863. He commanded the troops engaged in the affair of Waiari in January 1864, was present at the action of Paterangi and Rangiawhia