Sepoy Mutiny (1 results)
[Edward Mason Wrench] Three hectograph duplicates of manuscripts describing his service and that of his uncle Captain Henry Kirke in the 12th Royal Lancers, during the Sepoy Mutiny [Indian Rebellion] of 1857. With typed transcript and commentary.
Edward Mason Wrench (1833-1912) of the 34th Regiment of Foot and 12th Royal Lancers [The Indian Mutiny; Sepoy Mutiny; Indian Rebellion of 1857; Capt. Henry Kirke; Maj.-Gen. William Astell Franks]
Published by Two duplicate letters one dated from Park Lodge Baslow Derbyshire on 23 December and 'Christmas 1907'; and the other from the same place 'Aug 1909' and 13 September 1909. Third duplicate and typescript without place or date 1907
- Softcover
- Manuscript
Seller: Richard M. Ford Ltd, London, , United KingdomRichard M. Ford Ltd
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Wrench was the son of a clergyman, and well educated and well connected (being presented to the Prince of Wales and staying at Chatsworth in his old age). His obituary in the British Medical Journal (27 April 1912), describes how, after service in the Crimea, 'he was transferred to the 4th Lancers, went to Madras with that regim…ent in the following month, and served with it during the whole of the Indian Mutiny. For his services in India he received the Indian medal and clasp for Central India. He returned to England in 1860, and married in 1861 his cousin, the daughter of Mr. William Kirke, of Markham Hall, Nottinghamshire'. The four items in the present collection are all in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The three duplicates - all closely and neatly written in a vivid and informative style - are among ones produced by Wrench for circulation within his family, there being copies in the collection of Wrench papers in Nottingham University Library. They comprise two letters and a narrative account. The typescript, by an unnamed individual, is not present at Nottingham. None of the four items is in the Imperial War Museum catalogue. ONE: Duplicate of Autograph Letter by Wrench ('Edwd M Wrench M.V.O - F.R.C.S. late asst Sugeon 12 R Lancers'). Dated at beginning 23 December 1907, and at end 'Christmas 1907 - Park Lodge Baslow Derbyshire'. The letter describes the 'Jubilee commemoration' at the Royal Albert Hall, and is headed 'My last Parade'. It begins: 'It was indeed well done (The dinner to the surviving Veterans who fought in the Indian Mutiny campaign in 1857, given by the proprietors of the London Daily Telegraph) a procession of heart stirring episodes from the Inspection by F.M. Lord Roberts on the steps of the Albert Memorial (where I found private Meredith of the 24th who was with me in the trenches at the assault on the Redan Sebastopol June 18 1855) to the surging chorus by the thousands in the Albert Hall of Auld Lang Syne, near the end of what Lord Curzon in his thrilling speech said was a "ceremony" rather than a festival, a speech that made the tears tremble on my eyelids. They overflowed at the solemn sounding of the "last post" recalling to my memory in the words of the poet, O Hara, a charge of the 12th Lancers I rode with at the battle of Banda [.]'. He names others present, including 'Col Robertson [.] he was still the bravest of the brave, for though 86, he was in velvet Levee dress, silk stockings & pumps, without a great coat. (He told me he was a teetotaller) his picturesque appearance attracted Lord Roberts eye, and drew a heavy fire on us, not of rifles, but of snap shot cameras, the result of which has been my portrait in such good company, scattered by the hundreds of thousands in The Daily Mirror of Decr 24 [.] I have looked down the barrel of a loaded musket, near enough to see a Sepoys yellow eyes taking aim at the butt end and ridden with cannon balls hopping over my head like balls in a cricket ground, I cannot compare my perils during the Sepoy Mutiny to many others of the Kirke family'. 2pp., 8vo. TWO: Duplicate of Autograph Letter by Wrench ('Ed M Wrench'). Dated at beginning 'Park Lodge Baslow Aug 1909' and at end 13 September 1909. 3pp., 8vo. The letter begins: 'Having recently discovered that General W A Franks [Major-General William Astell Franks (1838-1929)] now living at Northland Road Southampton, was present when Uncle Henry Kirke died when fleeing from the Mutineers of his Regt. 12 BNI in 1857, I took the liberty of writing to him, he very kindly responded to my enquiries & I feel sure the information he has afforded will be interesting, adding much to our scanty knowledge of that terrible time.' There follow extended transcriptions from Franks's letters: '[.] I saw him the day he died [.] he was on his horse but rolling about on it [.] he looked at me with a vacant stare & was deadly pale. I could see he was dying. Shortly after he fell off his horse, he was the only one of o.