The Gwalior VCs – Mutiny Reflections

The Gwalior Campaign, though short-lived, did see six men awarded with the Victoria Cross – four alone for a single charge at Kotah-ki-Serai by men of the same regiment. The other two were for actions of singular estimation at Morar and in the Gwalior Fortress. There would have been other recipients for the latter actions, but circumstances did not allow for their fruition. We begin our history of the Victoria Cross at Morar Cantonments.

16th June, Action at Morar – Private George Rodgers, 71st (Highland) Regiment

“For daring conduct at Marar, Gwalior, on the 16th of June, 1858, in attacking by himself a party of seven Rebels, one of whom he killed. This was remarked as a valuable service, the party of Rebels being well armed and strongly posted in the line of advance of a detachment of the 71st Regiment.” (The London Gazette.11 November 1859, No.22324, p. 4033)

This was the only Victoria Cross awarded to the 71st for the Indian Mutiny, and the honour belonged to Private George Rodgers. The 71st was not a regiment that particularly coveted the VC – Sergeant Major Blackwood, who also fought at Morar, noted, “In the 71st, from the old Peninsular times, there has been a high feeling of what one’s duty was, and many theatrical show discouraged...” The feeling was so prevalent in the 71st, that they submitted no VC recommendations for either Crimea or for the Indian Mutiny, believing that it was a soldier’s duty to keep steady under fire and obey orders; soldiers were not meant to rush out alone and “mix it ” with the enemy. Private George Rodgers, however, was an exception, as his action was witnessed not only by his comrades but Brigadier General Sir Robert Napier.
“The Regiment, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, was closing in on the enemy when fire was opened from the flank upon the two leading companies. Colonel Campbell then wheeled one of his reserve companies to the flank and ordered its commander, Lieutenant Stewart, to attack the enfilade position, which was at the foot of a small hill. As Stewart advanced, the rebels charged him, and he, in his position, some distance ahead of his company, was in imminent danger of being cut to piece; for like most British officers he was neither as swordsman nor a pistol shot, and might as well have been carrying an umbrella as these two weapons. Sergeant Ewing, however, hastened forward to his assistance in time, and the skilled man-at-arms, with point and parry, short point and jab, gave his officer’s assailants their speedy quietus. The company then surged forward up the hill, with the rebels fleeing before them. At the top, seven rebels flung themselves down near a small temple, but Rodgers, who was hot on their heels far in advance of the rest of the company, went straight amongst them. General Napier, who had watched the whole action with great admiration, then had the opportunity to see what a British soldier really can do after a few months’ practice on sacks in Malta. In the few minutes allowed him before his company arrived, Rodgers had killed six of them. After this, he weakened, for the seventh he took prisoner.”
Napier was so impressed, he wanted to recommend both Ewing and Rodgers for the VC, but that night while the 71st sat in the bivouac, heated discussions broke out with Ewing himself he had done nothing extraordinary that extricate his officer from a sticky situation, it was in fact his duty to keep an eye on the man as he was utterly incapable of defending himself. It was much speculated whether the death of Lieutenant Neave might have been avoided if he had been a better swordsman but no one had been able to save him from being cut to pieces in the deadly ravines of Gwalior.

It was finally decided that Rodgers, whose deed was truly astonishing, should be permitted to accept the nomination for the VC. What Rodgers thought of this is not recorded, but it obviously did not go to his head for he continued to serve with his regiment right through to the end of the mutiny and beyond.

Born in 1829, the son of John Rodgers, a plasterer by trade and his wife Margaret (née Miller), in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland, George enlisted with the 71st, stating his profession as a lithographer. He served in the Crimea before his regiment was sent to India.

Medal entitlement of Private George Rodgers VC – 71st ( Highland ) Regiment
Victoria Cross
Crimea Medal ( 1854-56 ) 1 clasp: “Sebastopol”
Turkish Crimea Medal ( 1855-56 )
Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 ) 1 clasp: “Central India”
India General Service Medal ( 1854-95 )1 clasp: “Umbeyla”

Following the Umbeyla Campaign, the 71st left India and returned home in 1865, upon which Rodgers obtained his discharge and returned to Glasgow. Unfortunately, his life was cut rather short by an unfortunate incident when, on the morning of 9 March 1870, he called on his sister at her house at 24 Govan Street. Unfortunately, Rodgers had succumbed, rather badly, to the vice of drink, so much so that he demanded spirits from his sister. Having none, she managed to persuade her brother to “have a lie down.” When his sister left the house, George got up and rummaged through her kitchen, where he found a bottle that he mistook for spirits. Promptly swallowing the contents, he would have found, much to his horror the bottle contained Vitriol (sulphuric acid). The fatal dose led to his horrible and painful death later that day. He was buried at the Southern Necropolis in the Gorbals district of Glasgow in accomodation ground, which cost 36 shillings and nine pence. A headstone commemorating Private George Rodgers was unveiled on 1 December 2004.