| Thomas Owens |
Camel Corps, 72nd Highlanders
________________________________________________________________________________
Relatively little is known about Thomas Owens as compared to many of his fellow soldiers
of the day as there are no soldier’s papers (series WO 97) available for him at the
National Archives. As a result, information about Thomas and his military service must
be gleamed from various rolls which are available.
On the 8th of February, 1853, Thomas transferred to H.M. 98th Regiment with the rank
of private as a volunteer from the Royal North Lincoln Militia. He was assigned
Regimental Number 4083, with his name was recorded as Thomas Owen, not Owens. Odds
are that Thomas was illiterate and unable to notice the mistake made in recording his
name.
On the 26th of August, 1857, Thomas transfers to the 72nd Highlanders along with
numerous other men of the 98th Regiment. Still a private, he was assigned a new
regimental number of 52 and his name was recorded on this occasion in the regimental
records as Owens and not Owen. On the 4th of September, 1857, Thomas Owens sailed
for India with the 72nd Highlanders on board the S.S. Scotia, the regiment having been
ordered to India as reinforcements for the suppression of the Indian Mutiny which had
erupted in May of that year. The Highlanders arrived in India on the 10th of December,
1857.
During the Indian Mutiny, the 72nd Highlanders took part in the Central India campaign
in the force under the command of Major General Sir Hugh Rose, K.C.B. However, Thomas
Owens is shown on a roll of a small detachment under the command of Lieutenant Vesey
consisting of approximately 100 officers and men of the 72nd Highlanders who were
chosen to form a Camel Corps for detached duty from the main forces of the regiment.
of the day as there are no soldier’s papers (series WO 97) available for him at the
National Archives. As a result, information about Thomas and his military service must
be gleamed from various rolls which are available.
On the 8th of February, 1853, Thomas transferred to H.M. 98th Regiment with the rank
of private as a volunteer from the Royal North Lincoln Militia. He was assigned
Regimental Number 4083, with his name was recorded as Thomas Owen, not Owens. Odds
are that Thomas was illiterate and unable to notice the mistake made in recording his
name.
On the 26th of August, 1857, Thomas transfers to the 72nd Highlanders along with
numerous other men of the 98th Regiment. Still a private, he was assigned a new
regimental number of 52 and his name was recorded on this occasion in the regimental
records as Owens and not Owen. On the 4th of September, 1857, Thomas Owens sailed
for India with the 72nd Highlanders on board the S.S. Scotia, the regiment having been
ordered to India as reinforcements for the suppression of the Indian Mutiny which had
erupted in May of that year. The Highlanders arrived in India on the 10th of December,
1857.
During the Indian Mutiny, the 72nd Highlanders took part in the Central India campaign
in the force under the command of Major General Sir Hugh Rose, K.C.B. However, Thomas
Owens is shown on a roll of a small detachment under the command of Lieutenant Vesey
consisting of approximately 100 officers and men of the 72nd Highlanders who were
chosen to form a Camel Corps for detached duty from the main forces of the regiment.
The Camel Corps detachment of the 72nd Highlanders was attached to the 2nd Brigade, Rajputana Field Force, a movable column
formed under the command of Brigadier Parke. The other units in Brigadier Parke’s column were the Aden Troop of the Scinde
Horse, the 2nd Southern Mahratta Horse, Gaekwar’s Horse, a detachment of two nine pound guns from the Bombay Artillery and
detachments from the 8th Hussars, the 2nd Bombay Light Cavalry, and the Gujrat Irregular Cavalry. The composition of the
column was such that it was highly mobile enabling it to intercept and engage the fast moving retreating rebel forces.
A British victory in the Mutiny no longer in doubt, the mission of Brigadier Parke’s column was to pursue and engage the forces
under the notorious rebel leaders Rao Sahib and Tantia Topee with a view towards capturing these ring leaders of the rebellion
and to help pacify and secure large areas of Central India. The column spent 17 months in the field engaged in physically
demanding and dangerous campaigning in an extremely hostile climate. The column secured a major victory over the rebels at
Chota Udaipur (or Udepur) where the column surprised and defeated a large force of rebels.
The Revolt in Central India relates the story of this battle in which the Highlanders played a key role:
“After marching 240 miles in ten days, Brigadier Parke, … came up with Tantia Topa and Rao Sahib on the 1st December,
opposite Udepur on the River Or. The town is situated on the right bank of the river, surrounded by dense jungle and mountains,
with the exception of a small clear space, leading up to the town, on which the rebels had been encamped. Udepur is on the
direct road to Baroda from Kuksi and the east.
On the 30th November Brigadier Parke reached the village of Chandpur, 45 miles west of Kuksi, and learnt that the rebel army
had marched that morning to Udepur, en route to Baroda and Gujarat. The force marched that night through dense jungle for 22
miles, at the end of which the narrow road debouched into a less thickly wooded plain, which gradually opened out as they
advanced. Shortly afterwards the advance guard of the Aden Troop sabred some of the men of the enemy’s outlying picquets,
which gave the alarm. Brigadier Parke moved rapidly forward, throwing out skirmishers of the 72nd Highlanders. The cavalry
was formed in two lines in rear of the artillery and infantry support; the Irregular Cavalry in the first and the 8th Hussars and
2nd Bombay Cavalry in the second line.
The enemy, mostly well-mounted cavalry soon appeared in front and on both flanks, with the evident intention of opposing the
advance. To clear the right flank, the Southern Mahratta Horse under Lieutenant Kerr made a brilliant charge, and captures a
standard. The artillery now moved forward with the Highlanders skirmishing on both flanks; the enemy’s trumpets sounded the
“Advance, and they came on with a bold front, but were turned by the artillery and Enfield rifles; at the same time another
body threatened the British left. Front was changed, the Gujrat Horse at the same time charging to the original front, led by
Lieutenant Newton, driving the enemy before them through the town of Udepur, across the river and into the mountains. The
artillery was now brought up rapidly into new positions and opened fire with canister. The ground in the immediate front was
much broken; and several small huts on the right were held my matchlockmen. These were cleared by a party of Highlanders
under Lieutenant Champion, and the rebels fled past the right, giving the opportunity for a charge by the 8th Hussars under
Captain Clowes, 2nd Bombay Cavalry, under Captain Smith, and a Troop of Mahratta Horse under Lieutenant Bannerman, who
distinguished himself, and had his horse wounded.
The enemy were now driven across the river, which runs almost in a semicircle round the town, the opposite side and a small
island were held by their infantry, of whom a considerable number were killed, including many dressed in British uniforms and
accoutrements. The cavalry pursued, killing many, until the remainder were scattered in the jungles and mountains.
The loss of the enemy, who were three or four thousand strong, amounted to some 300 men; of the British forces 10 were killed
and 15 wounded. In his Despatch Brigadier Parke brought to notice the services of that portion of the 2nd Brigade which was
not present in the action, “but which has marched upwards of fifteen hundred miles during the hot, as also during the rainy season
in the pursuit of rebels throughout the greater part of Rajputana, through Malwa, and has crossed eight principal rivers on this
side of India, some at great risk and with much difficulty.” (Id. at pgs. 220-222.)
Thomas Owens’ entitlement to the Indian Mutiny medal with Central India clasp is verified by the medal roll for the 72nd
Highlanders. The men of the Camel Corps of the 72nd Highlanders, as did the men of Ross’ Camel Corps (comprised primarily of
men detached from the 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade) and probably the Camel Corps detachments from 71st Regiment and the
80th Regiment, received the Indian Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India. The medals to the men of these camel corps, like
Thomas Owens’ medal, are all named to their parent regiment, in Thomas’ case, the 72nd Highlanders, with no indication of their
extraordinary and unusual service with a camel corps. There is ample precedence for Mutiny medals issued to men on detached
duty being named in this manner, as for example, the men of the 64th, 78th, 84th and 90th Regiments detached from their
regiments to serve with Captain Barrow’s famed Volunteer Cavalry in the relief of the besieged garrison at Lucknow, who
received their Mutiny medals named to their parent regiment.
In December of 1860, Thomas Owens again transferred regiments, this time to the 4th Company, 2nd Battalion of the Bombay
Artillery where he was given the rank of gunner and the regimental number of 5263. His name was again recorded in the
regimental records as Thomas Owens, which can now be assumed to have been his actual name. Following his transfer to the
Bombay Artillery, Thomas Owens’ trail goes cold.
formed under the command of Brigadier Parke. The other units in Brigadier Parke’s column were the Aden Troop of the Scinde
Horse, the 2nd Southern Mahratta Horse, Gaekwar’s Horse, a detachment of two nine pound guns from the Bombay Artillery and
detachments from the 8th Hussars, the 2nd Bombay Light Cavalry, and the Gujrat Irregular Cavalry. The composition of the
column was such that it was highly mobile enabling it to intercept and engage the fast moving retreating rebel forces.
A British victory in the Mutiny no longer in doubt, the mission of Brigadier Parke’s column was to pursue and engage the forces
under the notorious rebel leaders Rao Sahib and Tantia Topee with a view towards capturing these ring leaders of the rebellion
and to help pacify and secure large areas of Central India. The column spent 17 months in the field engaged in physically
demanding and dangerous campaigning in an extremely hostile climate. The column secured a major victory over the rebels at
Chota Udaipur (or Udepur) where the column surprised and defeated a large force of rebels.
The Revolt in Central India relates the story of this battle in which the Highlanders played a key role:
“After marching 240 miles in ten days, Brigadier Parke, … came up with Tantia Topa and Rao Sahib on the 1st December,
opposite Udepur on the River Or. The town is situated on the right bank of the river, surrounded by dense jungle and mountains,
with the exception of a small clear space, leading up to the town, on which the rebels had been encamped. Udepur is on the
direct road to Baroda from Kuksi and the east.
On the 30th November Brigadier Parke reached the village of Chandpur, 45 miles west of Kuksi, and learnt that the rebel army
had marched that morning to Udepur, en route to Baroda and Gujarat. The force marched that night through dense jungle for 22
miles, at the end of which the narrow road debouched into a less thickly wooded plain, which gradually opened out as they
advanced. Shortly afterwards the advance guard of the Aden Troop sabred some of the men of the enemy’s outlying picquets,
which gave the alarm. Brigadier Parke moved rapidly forward, throwing out skirmishers of the 72nd Highlanders. The cavalry
was formed in two lines in rear of the artillery and infantry support; the Irregular Cavalry in the first and the 8th Hussars and
2nd Bombay Cavalry in the second line.
The enemy, mostly well-mounted cavalry soon appeared in front and on both flanks, with the evident intention of opposing the
advance. To clear the right flank, the Southern Mahratta Horse under Lieutenant Kerr made a brilliant charge, and captures a
standard. The artillery now moved forward with the Highlanders skirmishing on both flanks; the enemy’s trumpets sounded the
“Advance, and they came on with a bold front, but were turned by the artillery and Enfield rifles; at the same time another
body threatened the British left. Front was changed, the Gujrat Horse at the same time charging to the original front, led by
Lieutenant Newton, driving the enemy before them through the town of Udepur, across the river and into the mountains. The
artillery was now brought up rapidly into new positions and opened fire with canister. The ground in the immediate front was
much broken; and several small huts on the right were held my matchlockmen. These were cleared by a party of Highlanders
under Lieutenant Champion, and the rebels fled past the right, giving the opportunity for a charge by the 8th Hussars under
Captain Clowes, 2nd Bombay Cavalry, under Captain Smith, and a Troop of Mahratta Horse under Lieutenant Bannerman, who
distinguished himself, and had his horse wounded.
The enemy were now driven across the river, which runs almost in a semicircle round the town, the opposite side and a small
island were held by their infantry, of whom a considerable number were killed, including many dressed in British uniforms and
accoutrements. The cavalry pursued, killing many, until the remainder were scattered in the jungles and mountains.
The loss of the enemy, who were three or four thousand strong, amounted to some 300 men; of the British forces 10 were killed
and 15 wounded. In his Despatch Brigadier Parke brought to notice the services of that portion of the 2nd Brigade which was
not present in the action, “but which has marched upwards of fifteen hundred miles during the hot, as also during the rainy season
in the pursuit of rebels throughout the greater part of Rajputana, through Malwa, and has crossed eight principal rivers on this
side of India, some at great risk and with much difficulty.” (Id. at pgs. 220-222.)
Thomas Owens’ entitlement to the Indian Mutiny medal with Central India clasp is verified by the medal roll for the 72nd
Highlanders. The men of the Camel Corps of the 72nd Highlanders, as did the men of Ross’ Camel Corps (comprised primarily of
men detached from the 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade) and probably the Camel Corps detachments from 71st Regiment and the
80th Regiment, received the Indian Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India. The medals to the men of these camel corps, like
Thomas Owens’ medal, are all named to their parent regiment, in Thomas’ case, the 72nd Highlanders, with no indication of their
extraordinary and unusual service with a camel corps. There is ample precedence for Mutiny medals issued to men on detached
duty being named in this manner, as for example, the men of the 64th, 78th, 84th and 90th Regiments detached from their
regiments to serve with Captain Barrow’s famed Volunteer Cavalry in the relief of the besieged garrison at Lucknow, who
received their Mutiny medals named to their parent regiment.
In December of 1860, Thomas Owens again transferred regiments, this time to the 4th Company, 2nd Battalion of the Bombay
Artillery where he was given the rank of gunner and the regimental number of 5263. His name was again recorded in the
regimental records as Thomas Owens, which can now be assumed to have been his actual name. Following his transfer to the
Bombay Artillery, Thomas Owens’ trail goes cold.
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