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Blowing up the Cashmere Gate at Delhi by William Holmes Sullivan (PC)
"The party selected for the hazardous operation were Lieutenants Home and Salkeld, with Sergeants Smith and Carmichael and Corporal Burgess of the Royal Sappers and Miners, Bugler Hawthorne of the 52nd to sound the advance, and a number of native sappers, covered by the fire of the 60th Rifles. By some mistake it was daylight before the party reached the spot. Lieutenant Home rushed through the outer barrier gate, and across the drawbridge; followed by four men, each carrying a bag of powder. Having arranged his bags under a heavy fire directed through the open wicket, he jumped in to the ditch. The firing party then followed with four more bags of powder and lighted a portfire. Lieutenant Salkeld, while endeavouring to fire the train, was shot through an arm and leg. He sank but handed the portfire to Sergeant Carmichael, who fell dead in the attempt to apply it. Corporal Burgess seized the fatal portfire, he too fell mortally wounded, but not before he had successfully fired the train. The mighty Gate was burst to fragments, Bugler Hawthorne sounded the advance and with a cheer the 52nd burst through the gateway and secured the barrier. Of all the explosion party only Sergeant Smith and Bugler Hawthorne lived to be rewarded with the Victoria Cross." - From 'Our Redcoats and Bluejackes' by Henry Stewart
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