| Sikh Pioneers - The Sikh Pioneers at Delhi | | | Captain Shebbeare's Victoria Cross
As Captain, R.H. Shebbeare was soon to be deputed to the Punjab to raise the Second Pioneer Regiment, and went to it with a Victoria Cross on his breast, the story may well be told in its actual place here, with the adventures of the Fourth Column under Major Reid.
While the three assaulting columns were busily engaged inside the city with more or less success, the fortune of war went against us on the right. The Fourth Column, whose duty it was to clear the suburb of Kissengunj and enter the city by the Lahore Gate met with a definite reverse. An advance through the tortuous suburbs was made without the support of artillery fire, which had been promised but failed to materialize. The consequence was that upon assaulting the foremost breastworks, the enemy, untouched by artillery fire, withheld their musketry fire until our troops were within fifty yards. They then poured a heavy and well directed volley of fire into the Sirmoor Battalion of Gurkhas and the Guides, who suffered severely. An endeavour was made by the Guides, led by Captain Shebbeare, to storm a large loopholed courtyard in the suburb of Kissengunj. Twice Captain Shebbeare charged up to the wall, twice were the stormers driven back. He tried to organize a third attack, but one third of the Europeans and many of the Native soldiers had fallen. He then collected some men and covered the retreat of the column. He came out of the action with a bullet through his cheek and a bad scalp wound from another. For this act of gallantry Captain Shebbeare was awarded the Victoria Cross, of which the second Regiment was to be so proud, when he commenced to raise them a month later.
Shortly after the capture of Delhi, Captain Shebbeare wrote to his mother as follows*:
"I had little time and less convenience for writing, but I wrote each time to tell you I was happy and well. You will also have seen my name twice in the list of wounded, which would rather alarm you as you did not receive my letters".
"I was wounded by three bullets on the 18th July, and again by one on the 14th September, but I am glad to say that I was not seriously hurt by any of them. In addition to these wounds, two musket balls went through my hat; one while in the trenches at Hindu Rao's House and the other in Kissengunj on the 14th September. The first slightly grazed my scalp, giving me severe headache and making me very sick. The second cut through a very thick turban and knocked me down on my face, but without doing me any injury.. I was hit oftener in the campaign than any other officer, I think, but was always so little hurt that my friends used to laugh and say I was made of India rubber!".
* Furnished by his nephew, C.D. Shebbeare, Esq.
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