Francis Newcombe
 |
 |
 |
 |
Francis Newcombe’s two clasp medal for the Indian Mutiny only gives a limited insight
into the varied and diverse service Newcombe saw during his career with the colours. He
could have never anticipated what lay before him when he enlisted in the 78th Highlanders
on the 17th of December 1850, at Glasgow at 22 years of age.
Seven months after enlisting, Newcombe sailed with a small party of the 78th Highlanders
for India aboard the “Earl Balcarras”. In January of 1857, the 78th Highlanders joined
the expedition to Persia. The 78th Highlanders took part in the battles of Khushab,
Hartheh and Muhammarch. Francis Newcombe was awarded the India General Service
Medal with clasp for Persia for his service in this campaign. Unfortunately, the
whereabouts of this medal are unknown.
The 78th Highlanders returned from Persia to Bombay on the 22nd of May 1857, and
learned of the outbreak of what was to become the Great Indian Mutiny of May 10th at
Meerut. They were ordered to proceed to Calcutta and arrived there on the 9th of
June. The 78th Highlanders thereafter marched to Allahabad to join up with and become
part of General Havelock’s small column. This column’s first engagement with the
Mutineers occurs at Futtehpore, where the Mutineers suffer heavy casualties and the loss
of 12 of their guns.
On the 16th of July, the column arrived before Cawnpore. After defeating the forces
under Nana Sahib, the force enters the city only to find that all of the European
residents who they had come to relieve, including all of the women and children, had been
slaughtered in one of the worst atrocities of the Mutiny.
into the varied and diverse service Newcombe saw during his career with the colours. He
could have never anticipated what lay before him when he enlisted in the 78th Highlanders
on the 17th of December 1850, at Glasgow at 22 years of age.
Seven months after enlisting, Newcombe sailed with a small party of the 78th Highlanders
for India aboard the “Earl Balcarras”. In January of 1857, the 78th Highlanders joined
the expedition to Persia. The 78th Highlanders took part in the battles of Khushab,
Hartheh and Muhammarch. Francis Newcombe was awarded the India General Service
Medal with clasp for Persia for his service in this campaign. Unfortunately, the
whereabouts of this medal are unknown.
The 78th Highlanders returned from Persia to Bombay on the 22nd of May 1857, and
learned of the outbreak of what was to become the Great Indian Mutiny of May 10th at
Meerut. They were ordered to proceed to Calcutta and arrived there on the 9th of
June. The 78th Highlanders thereafter marched to Allahabad to join up with and become
part of General Havelock’s small column. This column’s first engagement with the
Mutineers occurs at Futtehpore, where the Mutineers suffer heavy casualties and the loss
of 12 of their guns.
On the 16th of July, the column arrived before Cawnpore. After defeating the forces
under Nana Sahib, the force enters the city only to find that all of the European
residents who they had come to relieve, including all of the women and children, had been
slaughtered in one of the worst atrocities of the Mutiny.
It is about this time that Newcombe’s career takes a decidedly different turn. Accompanying Havelock’s column was Barrow’s
Volunteer Cavalry, an irregular cavalry unit raised by Captain L. Barrow of the 5th Madras Light Cavalry and comprised of
volunteer officers from various regiments, as well as some civilians. As stated in Memoirs of Major-General Sir Henry
Havelock, K.C.B., by John Clark Marshman: “On the 15th he (Havelock) had directed the officers commanding the infantry
detachments to select a hundred of their men, who appeared to be the best suited for cavalry. He now inspected them in person,
and made choice of forty-one, to whom the horses of the Irregular Horse were made over, and his cavalry was thus raised to
sixty.” Francis Newcombe was one of those thus chosen to serve with Barrow’s Volunteer Cavalry, one of the most famous of the
irregular cavalry regiments raised during the Mutiny. Even Francis Newcombe probably could hardly believe that having
enlisted in a kilted Highland regiment, he would end up in an irregular cavalry unit fighting mutineers in what had been a peaceful
India at the time of his enlistment.
While serving with Barrow’s Volunteer Cavalry, Newcombe continued to be carried on the roll of the 78th Highlanders for
payroll purposes. His Indian Mutiny medal is properly named to that Regiment, not withstanding his service with Barrow’s
Volunteer Cavalry.
On the 1st of February 1859, Newcombe transferred to the 64th Foot. He, however, spent only twenty-eight days with the
regiment. On the 1st of March, Newcombe volunteered to be transferred to the 87th Regiment.
In April of 1860, the 87th Regiment sailed from India to Hong Kong to take part in the 2nd China War. Upon arrival, the
Regiment learned that it was not to take part in the actual China campaign, but was ordered to garrison the city of Hong Kong.
In July of 1860, Francis Newcombe had another career change when he was selected to be detached from his regiment for
service with the Hong Kong Police Force.
When the 87th Regiment was ordered home, Newcombe returned with it, arriving in Dublin in May of 1861, after six months at
sea. On the 29th of April 1862, Newcombe transferred to the 83rd Regiment. After a period of home duty, the 83rd Regiment
was garrisoned in Gibraltar from 1867 to 1870, when it was ordered to proceed to India. As Newcombe was close to the end of
his enlistment period, rather than return to India with the regiment, Newcombe was order to England.
Francis Newcombe was pensioned off at Chetham after 21 years service on the 20th of March 1871. He was described as having
a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. His intended place of residence was listed as Dublin.
Besides his India General Service Medal and the Indian Mutiny Medal, Newcombe received the Medal for Long Service and Good
Conduct, along with a forty pound gratuity, on the 18th of November 1871, from the regimental allowance of his final regiment,
the 83rd Regiment of Foot.
By the time of his retirement, Francis Newcombe had served in four regiments, an irregular cavalry unit and a colonial police
force. He had fought in two wars and received three medals. He was 42 years of age.
Volunteer Cavalry, an irregular cavalry unit raised by Captain L. Barrow of the 5th Madras Light Cavalry and comprised of
volunteer officers from various regiments, as well as some civilians. As stated in Memoirs of Major-General Sir Henry
Havelock, K.C.B., by John Clark Marshman: “On the 15th he (Havelock) had directed the officers commanding the infantry
detachments to select a hundred of their men, who appeared to be the best suited for cavalry. He now inspected them in person,
and made choice of forty-one, to whom the horses of the Irregular Horse were made over, and his cavalry was thus raised to
sixty.” Francis Newcombe was one of those thus chosen to serve with Barrow’s Volunteer Cavalry, one of the most famous of the
irregular cavalry regiments raised during the Mutiny. Even Francis Newcombe probably could hardly believe that having
enlisted in a kilted Highland regiment, he would end up in an irregular cavalry unit fighting mutineers in what had been a peaceful
India at the time of his enlistment.
While serving with Barrow’s Volunteer Cavalry, Newcombe continued to be carried on the roll of the 78th Highlanders for
payroll purposes. His Indian Mutiny medal is properly named to that Regiment, not withstanding his service with Barrow’s
Volunteer Cavalry.
On the 1st of February 1859, Newcombe transferred to the 64th Foot. He, however, spent only twenty-eight days with the
regiment. On the 1st of March, Newcombe volunteered to be transferred to the 87th Regiment.
In April of 1860, the 87th Regiment sailed from India to Hong Kong to take part in the 2nd China War. Upon arrival, the
Regiment learned that it was not to take part in the actual China campaign, but was ordered to garrison the city of Hong Kong.
In July of 1860, Francis Newcombe had another career change when he was selected to be detached from his regiment for
service with the Hong Kong Police Force.
When the 87th Regiment was ordered home, Newcombe returned with it, arriving in Dublin in May of 1861, after six months at
sea. On the 29th of April 1862, Newcombe transferred to the 83rd Regiment. After a period of home duty, the 83rd Regiment
was garrisoned in Gibraltar from 1867 to 1870, when it was ordered to proceed to India. As Newcombe was close to the end of
his enlistment period, rather than return to India with the regiment, Newcombe was order to England.
Francis Newcombe was pensioned off at Chetham after 21 years service on the 20th of March 1871. He was described as having
a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. His intended place of residence was listed as Dublin.
Besides his India General Service Medal and the Indian Mutiny Medal, Newcombe received the Medal for Long Service and Good
Conduct, along with a forty pound gratuity, on the 18th of November 1871, from the regimental allowance of his final regiment,
the 83rd Regiment of Foot.
By the time of his retirement, Francis Newcombe had served in four regiments, an irregular cavalry unit and a colonial police
force. He had fought in two wars and received three medals. He was 42 years of age.