The evening commenced with Nigel Amies, who is a historical educator working with schools and museums, appearing at public events in the costume of a British soldier, tonight of the 1840s. The subject was the East Norfolk Regiment’s involvement in the Anglo-Sikh War of 1845-46.
Dressed in red jacket with yellow cuffs, Nigel allowed us to experience the weaponry used, the weight of the cannon balls, flintlock rifles which were in use at the time. Men would walk many miles a day in blistering heat and over sand carrying their supplies with them. The conflict was brought to life with pictures. Personal letters written by Private Benjamin Baldwin of the 9th East Norfolk’s, known as the “bible boys” as their commanding officer had given each soldier a bible. The memories are powerful indications of life in the army at this time, of the injuries inflicted by weapons of the time.
War is a complicated business the reasons that lead to conflict are complex to say the least. During the first war between the British East India Company and the Sikh army, there were five battles which resulted in the Lahore treaty of 1846 and the defeat of the Sikh army. Much of the Punjab, including Kashmir, were handed to the British with the Sikhs expected to pay the English a colossal war indemnity. A second Anglo-Sikh war ended in 1849.
The Punjab is in Northern India, a huge area of fertile lands and rivers where the first and second Anglo-Sikh wars were fought. Following the annexation of the Punjab to British territories there was an amendment to the Lahore treaty forcing the young Maharaja Duleep Singh to give up any claims to sovereignty. At the age of fifteen Duleep Singh was exiled to England with his mother in 1854. Duleep Singh married in 1864 and they made their home at Elveden Hall in Thetford. He became a close friend to Queen Victoria who became godmother to his eldest son, describing Duleep as her “affectionate friend”. This is, of course, another story.
This Victorian era when so much was changing in this country and across the world is still it seems surrounded by stories, of wars, of travels of discovery, challenging times, much like today. The war in Ukraine rages where territory is still the end game. I think of my granddad who fought and survived the First World War and of my father who fought for our freedom in the Second World War. For a world where in the end we need to care for each other, putting aside our differences and weapons of war.
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