John Blick Spurgin

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Sir John Blick Spurgin KCB CSI (1821–1903) was a British army officer, a prominent figure of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.[1]

Early life[edit]

He was the son of John Spurgin and his first wife, Eliza(beth) Walsham (or Walshman) Dax. He joined the Madras Army in 1842, and served with the Royal Madras Fusiliers.[2] Entering at the rank of ensign, he became 2nd lieutenant in 1847.[3] He was posted for a year's duty at Warley Barracks;[4] and during this period he married.[5]

With the Royal Madras Fusiliers, Spurgin took part in the Second Anglo-Burmese War and the capture of Pegu (Bago). He was promoted to captain in 1856.[3]

Rebellion of 1857[edit]

At the outbreak in May 1857 of the Indian Rebellion, the upper command echelons of the Madras Fusiliers were sparse. The colonels were absent: Scudamore Winde Steel had returned permanently to the United Kingdom in 1856, and John Laurie (died 1861 at age 69) was officially on furlough.[6][7] Morden Carthew, one of the lieutenant colonels, fought in Bengal as a Brigadier-General.[8] The other lieutenant-colonel, Daniel H. Stevenson, was in poor health, and returned to the United Kingdom. The outcome was that at the end of April 1857, James George Smith Neill, who had just arrived from work with the Ottoman allies, took command of the Fusiliers, who had been anticipating a posting to the Anglo-Persian War that had just concluded.[9]

During the early stages of the rebellion, in June 1857, Neill sent Spurgin with troops on rapid night marches along the Ganges River, from Benares (Varanasi) to Allahabad (Prayagraj), to support Henry Havelock's flank.[10] Once at Allahabad, Neill decided on an advance by road to Kanpur (known then as Cawnpore) by road, by Major George Renaud on a punitive mission with a force that left on 30 June, while Spurgin moved along the Ganges, held back a few days to co-ordinate with Havelock.[11]

On 3 July, on the steamer Brahmaputra, Spurgin set off along the river for Kanpur, having to forage for fuel on the way.[12] The memoirs of Francis Cornwallis Maude, who calls the steamer Burrampoota and other variations, gives its captain as Dickson of the East India Company Marine. There were two Fusiliers lieutenants, Nelson Henry Arnold and Bailie (Bailey), both of whom died in the campaign according to Maude (not clear in the latter case), and an army surgeon. (Lieutenant W. S. Bailey had been shot on 13 June.)[13][14][15] The vessel carried a number of Madras Fusiliers, two nine-pounder guns, and 20 invalided gunners.[16] It proceeded in parallel with Havelock's advance on land, some 5 miles (8.0 km) away, towing five boats of provisions, and able to average just 1 knot (1.9 km/h; 1.2 mph) along an unfamiliar waterway. On 6 July it came under fire from the bank, requiring an engagement with a landing party. On 7 July a fort with guns was bombarded. On 11 July the steamer anchored, on Havelock's orders, and was attacked by artillery. Rebel boats massed for a crossing but were destroyed, and the rebel leader submitted to Spurgin.[17]

On 9 July Neill sent a telegram to Charles Canning, in which he emphasised that Spurgin was following orders, and that the steamer was underpowered at 30 horsepower (22 kW). He said the river route to Kanpur was vital, and Havelock should be told so. Renaud was advancing on Fatehpur.[18] Jwala Prasad for the rebel leader Tatya Tope sought battle there on 12 July, as Renaud and Havelock made rendezvous.[19] A later newspaper report stated that Spurgin was present at this major action of the Awadh campaign.[20]

Kanpur was taken by Havelock on 17 July.[9] Spurgin's diary makes it clear that, in retaliation for rebel atrocities, sepoys were shot in Kanpur out of hand.[21]

On 22 July, Spurgin was appointed a staff officer to Neill at Kanpur.[22] On 31 July he replied to a letter from Captain Simpson, DAAG at Meerut to the west, including an account of the death of Sir Hugh Wheeler at the Satichaura Ghat.[23]

Spurgin acted as brigade major in the Oudh Field Force (1st Brigade). Neill was killed by a sniper on 25 September, in central Lucknow. Spurgin recovered the body.[9] His manuscript diary include an account of the relief of Lucknow; copies of diary entries from October and November 1857 are in the British Library.[24][25] He went on to participate in Sir James Outram's operations against the Alambagh and Qaisar Bagh.[10]

Spurgin was promoted to major in July 1858.[26]

Later life[edit]

In 1859 Spurgin left India.[27] In 1866 he was promoted, from lieutenant-colonel to colonel.[28] He retired on half pay for a period, in 1872, from the 102nd Foot.[29]

From 1873 to 1877 Spurgin commanded the 66th sub-district in Ireland.[30] In 1877 he was made major-general, and posted to Naas in Ireland. The Naas Barracks was the future regimental depot of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. It was in 1881 that Spurgin's old regiment, from 1861 correctly the 102nd (Royal Madras) Fusiliers, was merged with the former Royal Bombay Fusiliers (103rd), to form the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.[31][32] In 1880 he was given the three-year appointment of the command at Aldershot of the 1st Brigade. He had the retirement rank of Lieutenant-General.[30]

Spurgin was made honorary colonel commandant of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in 1895, when Robert Walter M'Leod Fraser moved to the colonelcy of the Royal Irish Regiment.[30] He died at his home, 167 Victoria Street, London, on 27 November 1903.[33]

Awards and honours[edit]

Spurgin was knighted in the 1893 Birthday Honours, being made KCB.[34] He had previous been made CB in 1869, and CSI in 1871.[30]

Family[edit]

In December 1848, at St Pancras New Church, Spurgin married Emma, third daughter of Henry Wakefield; she died in 1886 at age 60.[5][35] Of their children:

  • John Henry Spurgin, only son, was an officer in the Scots Fusiliers. He married in 1887 Beatrice Emma Wingrove, daughter of Drummond Wingrove.[36]
  • Emma Louisa (died 1887 or 1891) married in 1877 Peter Aubertin.[37][38]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Wikisource Buckland, C.E. (1906). "Spurgin, Sir John Blick". Dictionary of Indian Biography. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Lim.
  2. ^ Debrett's illustrated baronetage and knightage (and companionage) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 1884. p. 752.
  3. ^ a b "(428) - Army lists > Hart's Army Lists > New annual army list, and militia list > 1867 - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland". digital.nls.uk.
  4. ^ Allen's Indian Mail, and Register of Intelligence for British and Foreign India, China, and All Parts of the East. 1847. p. 250.
  5. ^ a b "Marriages". London Evening Standard. 4 December 1848. p. 4.
  6. ^ East-India Register and Army List. W.H. Allen. 1857. p. 34.
  7. ^ "Deaths". Cheltenham Examiner. 31 July 1861. p. 8.
  8. ^ Walford, Edward (1919). The county families of the United Kingdom; or, Royal manual of the titled and untitled aristocracy of Great Britain and Ireland. Containing a brief notice of the descent, birth, marriage, education, and appointments of each person, his heir apparent or presumptive, as also a record of the offices which he has hitherto held, together with his town address and country residence. Dalcassian Publishing Company. p. 108.
  9. ^ a b c Moreman, T. R. "Neill, James George Smith (1810–1857)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/19863. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  10. ^ a b "Obituary: Lieutenant-General Sir John Spurgin". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 1 December 1903. p. 4.
  11. ^ Kaye, John; Malleson, George Bruce (16 December 2010). Kaye's and Malleson's History of the Indian Mutiny of 1857-8. Cambridge University Press. p. 207. ISBN 978-1-108-02324-5.
  12. ^ Dodd, George (1859). The history of the Indian revolt, and of the expeditions to Persia, China, and Japan, 1856-7-8 [signed G.D.]. éditeur non identifié. p. 249.
  13. ^ Maude, Francis Cornwallis; Sherer, John Walter (1894). Memories of the Mutiny. Vol. I. & Sydney, Remington & Company. p. 74.
  14. ^ "Lieutenant N. H. Arnold". Imperial War Museums.
  15. ^ Annand, A. McK. (1965). "Indian Mutiny Letters of Lieutenant William Hargood, 1st Madras Fusiliers". Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research. 43 (176): 197 note. ISSN 0037-9700. JSTOR 44226401.
  16. ^ History of the Organization, Equipment, and War Services of the Regiment of Bengal Artillery. H.S. King and Company. 1895. p. 362.
  17. ^ Maude, Francis Cornwallis; Sherer, John Walter (1894). Memories of the Mutiny. Vol. I. & Sydney, Remington & Company. pp. 75–76.
  18. ^ Commons, Great Britain Parliament House of (1857). Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons. Ordered to be printed. p. 109.
  19. ^ Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers: Fatehpur. Government of Uttar Pradesh. 1980. p. 32.
  20. ^ Army and Navy Gazette. 16 February 1895. p. 13 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001394/18950216/067/0013. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ^ Saha, Panchanan (2008). 1857 Revolt: British Response. Biswabiksha. p. 77. ISBN 978-81-901959-6-6.
  22. ^ The Indian News and Chronicle of Eastern Affaires: 1857. 1857. p. 594.
  23. ^ Young, Keith; Norman, Henry Wylie (1902). Delhi - 1857; the siege, assault, and capture as given in the diary and correspondence of the late Colonel Keith Young. Edited by Henry Wylie Norman and Mrs. Keith Young, with a memoir and introd. by Henry Wylie Norman. London W. & R. Chambers.
  24. ^ British Library (2004). India During the Raj: Eyewitness Accounts : Diaries and Related Records Held in the British Library, London. Adam Matthew Publications. p. 82. ISBN 978-1-85711-263-4.
  25. ^ "Sir John Blick Spurgin papers. - British Library". searcharchives.bl.uk.
  26. ^ Colburn's United Service Magazine and Naval and Military Journal. Henry Colburn. 1858. p. 638.
  27. ^ Allen's Indian mail and register of intelligence for British and foreign India: 1859,7/12. 1859. p. 713.
  28. ^ "Brevet". Naval & Military Gazette and Weekly Chronicle of the United Service. 3 February 1866. p. 6.
  29. ^ "From Friday's Gazette". Naval & Military Gazette and Weekly Chronicle of the United Service. 19 October 1872. p. 10.
  30. ^ a b c d "Spurgin, Sir John Blick". Who's Who. A & C Black. Retrieved 17 December 2021. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  31. ^ "To be Major-Generals". Broad Arrow. 15 September 1877. p. 8.
  32. ^ Farmer, John S. (3 August 2020). The Regimental Records of the British Army. BoD – Books on Demand. p. 280. ISBN 978-3-7524-0178-3.
  33. ^ "Society and Personal". Aberdeen Press and Journal. 24 December 1903. p. 4.
  34. ^ "Birthday Honours". Army and Navy Gazette. 3 June 1893. p. 15.
  35. ^ "Deaths". Reading Mercury. 29 May 1886. p. 5.
  36. ^ "Totton, May 4". Hampshire Advertiser. 4 May 1887. p. 3.
  37. ^ Walford, Edward (1919). The county families of the United Kingdom; or, Royal manual of the titled and untitled aristocracy of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland . London : R. Hardwicke. p. 47.
  38. ^ Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1910). Armorial Families: A Directory of Gentlemen of Coat-armour. T.C. & E.C. Jack. p. 54.
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