Yrys
Army.ca Veteran
- Reaction score
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Medals sold of Raj mutiny officer who inspired Flashman
Capt Waterman was decorated for
his miraculous escape
The medals of a British army officer who overslept and found himself
surrounded by 30,000 rebels during the Indian Mutiny have been sold.
A spokesman for Bosleys auctioneers in central England told the BBC
that the medals fetched $6,443 (£4,400).
The medals belonged to Capt Thomas Waterman, who was reputedly
the last British officer to escape from the city of Lucknow as it was sacked.
The siege of Lucknow began in 1857 after an uprising by Indian soldiers.
Sewer escape
Hindu and Muslim troops refused on religious grounds to use cartridges
supplied by the army as they were smeared in fat. This led to what the
British described as a mutiny, and what the Indians regard as their first
war of independence.
"[Capt Waterman] made an incredible escape and was extremely lucky
to get out," said a spokesman for Bosleys auctioneers. "His story in fact
inspired the author George MacDonald Fraser to write his famous Flashman
novels."
Capt Waterman woke up two hours after thousands of Britons, including
hundreds of women and children, abandoned Lucknow at the end of a
148-day siege. He had been wounded during the stand-off and was
exhausted. The only way he could escape was through filthy sewers
which he managed to do before being reunited with his 13th Native
Infantry regiment.
After his escape, Cat Waterman was awarded the Punjab Campaign
Medal and the Indian Mutiny Medal.
Capt Waterman was decorated for
his miraculous escape
The medals of a British army officer who overslept and found himself
surrounded by 30,000 rebels during the Indian Mutiny have been sold.
A spokesman for Bosleys auctioneers in central England told the BBC
that the medals fetched $6,443 (£4,400).
The medals belonged to Capt Thomas Waterman, who was reputedly
the last British officer to escape from the city of Lucknow as it was sacked.
The siege of Lucknow began in 1857 after an uprising by Indian soldiers.
Sewer escape
Hindu and Muslim troops refused on religious grounds to use cartridges
supplied by the army as they were smeared in fat. This led to what the
British described as a mutiny, and what the Indians regard as their first
war of independence.
"[Capt Waterman] made an incredible escape and was extremely lucky
to get out," said a spokesman for Bosleys auctioneers. "His story in fact
inspired the author George MacDonald Fraser to write his famous Flashman
novels."
Capt Waterman woke up two hours after thousands of Britons, including
hundreds of women and children, abandoned Lucknow at the end of a
148-day siege. He had been wounded during the stand-off and was
exhausted. The only way he could escape was through filthy sewers
which he managed to do before being reunited with his 13th Native
Infantry regiment.
After his escape, Cat Waterman was awarded the Punjab Campaign
Medal and the Indian Mutiny Medal.
