Description

Papers of A.F. Bradshaw, Assistant Surgeon, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade 1857-59; served in Bengal, United Provinces, Punjab; later Staff-Surgeon to Commander-in- Chief, India.

Also, papers of Frederick Ewart Bradshaw, eldest son of Surgeon-General A.F. Bradshaw. Served with Rifle Brigade in 1890s. Also on Punjab Commission.

Donated by Miss Lenox Conyngham.

Small Collections Box 4

1. Letters from A.F. Bradshaw:
   1. 1. Xerox copy of TS “Extracts relating to the Indian Mutiny Campaigns” from letters written home in 1857-58-59 by A.F. Bradshaw, Assistant Surgeon, 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade, from India
         20 Oct. 1857 Letters written from the voyage out to India on the ship Sussex. Detailed description of the voyage activities, daily routine, food, company etc.
      2. 19 Nov. 1857 Calcutta, Madrasa College.
      3. 1 Dec. 1857 Letters written from camps during the campaign against the rebel forces of the Mutiny, in and around Lucknow, Cawnpore and Allahabad (U.P.) These letters describe in detail the campaigning life of an officer – style of camping, attitude to natives; servants – dress and duties etc.; amusements; garrisons; shopping in Cawnpore; Nana Sahib; attitude to mutineers; Lucknow after the siege; looting, promotion. Becomes very ill and then goes to Simla from 25 May 1858 to convalesce.
      4. 8 June 1858 From Simla Club, Simla. Describes journey from Lucknow to Simla by horse-dawk. Staging Bungalows. Simla manners and customs. Loot and Prize money from Lucknow. Rejoins Battalion in Oude.
      5. 21 Nov. 1858 Joins 5th Fusiliers and marches to Sultanbad from Allahabad, where the 2nd Battalion was. Sir Colin Campbell joins the camp at Partabgarh. Report on interference with Sir Colin Campbell’s command by Govenor-General at Allahabad. Description of Sir Colin Campbell (now Lord Clyde). Hears discussion between Russell (The Times correspondent) and the Chief of Police about the Massacre at Cawnpore. They thought the sepoys had been much maligned. Rejoins 2nd Battalion and marches through Oude, with Major General Sir James Grant.
      6. 11 Dec. 1858 Marches to Lucknow. Prices there in shops. From there under Lord Clyde, they march in chase of Beni Madhu – Skirmishing – (Joined by some Baluchis) to Faizabad. Result of the new Royal Medical Warrant recently published, very advantageous to his career. Trying to catch Nana Sahib. Thinks war will be over soon everywhere.
      7. 1 Jan. 1859 Impressed with the beauty of Oude. Skirmishes near Nanpara, 26 December 1858 with the rebels. Take the Fort of Madjidia. Disarmament of rebels carried out by Oude Military Police. Camp on the Raptee River, Nepal, 12 miles from Nana Sahib, who is hemmed in.
      8. 16 Jan. 1859 Account of foot-racing and horse-racing in camp. Also Punjab Cavalry sports: Tent pegging etc. Passes Colloquial examination in Urdu.
      9. 11 Feb. 1859 Still in camp near Raptee river, Nepal. Trying to hem in Sir Jung Bahadur and rebels.
      10. 12 Mar. 1859 Bahraich described. In camp still, though the heat is great. A little about medical cases. A fair described.
      11. 9 July 1859 Lucknow. Bad march. Attitude towards the sick. Various marches of the campaign described. Queries the move from Bahraich. Men’s health.30 Dec. 1859 Has heard about the new Army Medical School established by the Director General of Medical Staff and Mr. Sidney Herbert – a new rule that medical personnel must pass an examination after 5 years. The Civil Service give a ball to the Military in the Kaisar Pusund.
      12. 15 Jan. 1860 Cawnpore. Marches from Lucknow. Repeats opinion by a Hindustani scholar that brutalities inflicted upon the European women and children in Cawnpore done by Muslim soldiers not Hindus. Enumerates the retribution inflicted. Describes the well at Cawnpore which he goes to see. Thinks he may go to China.
2. Letter from F.E. Bradshaw to his mother from Leiah 16 February 1896. This gives a description of attack by thieves at Murtaya, mouth of Gomal Pass. 8 ff.
3. A memoir on Colonel Rohat Alexander Wauchope with map by Colonel Sir S.G. Burrard. 10 ff.
4. Two newspaper cuttings:
   1. n.d. “The Gurkhas at Neuve Chapelle – Sir John French’s thanks”. 1 ff.
   2. The Times 16 August 1915. “The Indians at Ypres”. 1 ff.