The Naval Brigades of the Indian Mutiny

The sailors and guns of the Royal Navy in India



The activities of the Royal Navy's brigades-when its sailors left their ships with their precious guns to fight on land in concert with the army-are justifiably compelling to students of military history. Unusual aspects of warfare are always evocative and the naval brigades have performed exceptionally (as their several V. C. awards demonstrate) in many campaigns, often in difficult and exotic locations and on hard fought battlefields-particularly during the small colonial wars of the Victorian era. Perhaps the most interesting of all these campaigns was when the crews of H. M. S 'Shannon' and H. M. S 'Pearl' were called upon to fight during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. The crews fought in different theatres of the campaign; that of the 'Pearl' operated close to the Nepalese border, while the men of the 'Shannon,' under the inspirational leadership of Sir William Peel, were present at the relief of Lucknow. This unique Leonaur edition brings together two essential and compelling first hand accounts and includes maps and illustrations, some of which are not to be found in the original (or any other) editions. Highly recommended in every way.

Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.