Francis Newcombe
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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