The Scots in India

In the past, problems between the British Army and  local populations have escalated into terrible bloodshed.  When the Scots played their part in imperial expansion in the Indian subcontinent, events led to the notorious Indian Mutiny of 1857, cultural clashes exacerbating the bloody uprising and Scots forces playing a part in quelling the insurrection.

The army had totally underestimated the extent of simmering bitterness amongst the Indian Sepoy soldiers who felt that their way of life was not being respected.  Resentment against British rule had been building for some time and it finally exploded with devastating consequences in 1857 with the outbreak of the famously bloody Indian Mutiny.  The Indian soldiers attacked both British soldiers and civilians with a large number of women and children being brutally slaughtered.  It was one of the most violent episodes ever in the history of the Empire.

The Scottish Regiments really came to the fore William Macbean enlisted as a young man in the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders, the regiment he remained with until he retired. He spent fifteen or sixteen years in the ranks as a non-commissioned officer. In 1854, while serving in the Crimea, he was raised to the rank of ensign. At Varnia he was in charge of the wounded men when he successfully intervened in a dispute between French and Turkish troops. He was awarded the 'Order of Medjidie' by the Sultan.

during the siege of Lucknow as they attempted to return Indian to British rule. An amazing 34 soldiers from Scottish Regiments won Victoria Crosses during the campaign. One famous recipient of the medal was General Mcbean, 
Macbean served at the siege of Sebastapol. In India he was honoured with the Victoria Cross for his actions at the main breach of the Begum Bagh at Lucknow in 1858, where he single-handedly killed eleven of the enemy. In 1973 he attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and on his retirement in 1877 he was accorded the rank of Major General. 

one of Scotland’s great solders. At Lucknow, he killed 11 mutineers with his bare hands and a rusty old knife, with only the last mutineer killed at sword point. When Mcbean was given his award he was congratulated for a good day’s work. His reply? “Tuts, it only took me twenty minutes”.

Scots at War examines the fact that the current conflict is not the first time that British troops have been in Afghanistan.  In the late 19th century, the country was of huge importance strategically as the British were very concerned about the Russians encroaching into their Empire in India.  Afghanistan was seen as a vital buffer zone to keep Russia at bay and the British wanted to make sure that they were in control.

When Afghanistan refused to accept British influence, war was inevitable. The 72nd and 92nd Scottish regiments played a key role in the successful campaign to assert British control here.  But it was their involvement in one of the most celebrated military marches that they would be remembered for. With the war seemingly won, the Highlanders and the rest of the British army were pulling out of Afghanistan when they heard of  a British force west of Kandahar had been wiped out and the city was under siege.

One of the greatest and most successful commanders of the Victorian era, General