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the man who raised 5th Punjab Infantry- now 10 FF

Agha A
Agha A

Lieutenant-General James Eardley Gastrell had a distinguished career serving in the Bengal Native Infantry and Revenue Survey Department in British India. He raised the 5th Punjab Infantry in 1849 and saw active service in several campaigns. Gastrell made his name as an eminent revenue survey officer and wrote an important report on the 1864 Calcutta cyclone. After serving in the military and seeing combat against rebels and in the Sikh Wars, he had a long and notable career as a civilian administrator in the Revenue Survey Department before retiring with the rank of Lieutenant General in 1894.

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the man who raised 5th Punjab Infantry- now 10 FF
Lieutenant-General James. Eardley Gastrell, Commissioned 13th Bengal Native Infantry , raised 5th Punjab Infantry, made his name as an eminent Revenue survey officer and environmentalist , notably his famous report on the Calcutta Cyclone of 1864 , written while serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Revenue Survey Department. Sadly this great civilian administrator received no mention in British national biography works. February 2022 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.23462.80966 Project: MILITARY HISTORY Agha H Amin J. E. Gastrell was born in Bristol in January 1819 and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 11 December
1835. He served against the Jaipur rebels in 1838 and in the Bundlecund campaign of 1842-43. He subsequently saw active service in the Second Sikh War in the commissary department crossing the Chenab and the actions at Ramnuggur, Chillianwala and Goojerat . Raised 5th Punjab Infantry later Vaughans Rifles at Leiah on 18th May 1849. In April 1850 the battalion marched to Dera Ghazi Khan , with parts sent to Jhang. Captain Drew of 45th Madras Infantry succeeded Gastrell in command in early 1851.Drew did not serve in the unit as he was on leave. Drew was succeeded by Captain Vaughan originally 21st Bengal Native Infantry , later 2nd Punjab Infantry in 1852 , being confirmed on 22nd October 1852. Gastrell reverted to 13th Bengal Native Infantry . Gastrell saw further action during the Santhal campaign of 1855 in Bengal , commanding a column in 'the final beating up and subjection of the tribe. Bengal Army List of 1856 described him as having been seconded to Surveyor Generals department.
After a distinguished career in Surveyor Generals Department and having gained the rank of lieutenant general Gastrell died in 1894. Vaughan described 5th Punjab Infantry as badly trained and not up to the expectations of Punjab Frontier Forces commander Brigadier Hodgson of 12th Bengal Native Infantry. It is a fact of history that 5th Punjab Infantry made its mark under command of Vaughan in various frontier campaigns as well as battles of 1857-59 where it played crucial role in disarming sepoys in Punjab and later in cold weather campaign of 1859 . No wonder that Gastrell was virtually ignored in 5th Punjab Infantry histories- Major A.H Amin (Retired) OLD PAVO CAVALRY WHICH FOUGHT GROUPED WITH 5TH Punjab CAVALRY IN BATTLES INSIDE AND ON NEPAL FRONTIER IN 1858-59.

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the man who raised 5th Punjab Infantry- now 10 FF

  • 2. Lieutenant-General James. Eardley Gastrell, Commissioned 13th Bengal Native Infantry , raised 5th Punjab Infantry, made his name as an eminent Revenue survey officer and environmentalist , notably his famous report on the Calcutta Cyclone of 1864 , written while serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Revenue Survey Department. Sadly this great civilian administrator received no mention in British national biography works. February 2022 DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.23462.80966 Project: MILITARY HISTORY Agha H Amin J. E. Gastrell was born in Bristol in January 1819 and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 11 December
  • 3. 1835. He served against the Jaipur rebels in 1838 and in the Bundlecund campaign of 1842-43. He subsequently saw active service in the Second Sikh War in the commissary department crossing the Chenab and the actions at Ramnuggur, Chillianwala and Goojerat . Raised 5th Punjab Infantry later Vaughans Rifles at Leiah on 18th May 1849. In April 1850 the battalion marched to Dera Ghazi Khan , with parts sent to Jhang. Captain Drew of 45th Madras Infantry succeeded Gastrell in command in early 1851.Drew did not serve in the unit as he was on leave. Drew was succeeded by Captain Vaughan originally 21st Bengal Native Infantry , later 2nd Punjab Infantry in 1852 , being confirmed on 22nd October 1852. Gastrell reverted to 13th Bengal Native Infantry . Gastrell saw further action during the Santhal campaign of 1855 in Bengal , commanding a column in 'the final beating up and subjection of the tribe. Bengal Army List of 1856 described him as having been seconded to Surveyor Generals department.
  • 4. After a distinguished career in Surveyor Generals Department and having gained the rank of lieutenant general Gastrell died in 1894. Vaughan described 5th Punjab Infantry as badly trained and not up to the expectations of Punjab Frontier Forces commander Brigadier Hodgson of 12th Bengal Native Infantry. It is a fact of history that 5th Punjab Infantry made its mark under command of Vaughan in various frontier campaigns as well as battles of 1857-59 where it played crucial role in disarming sepoys in Punjab and later in cold weather campaign of 1859 . No wonder that Gastrell was virtually ignored in 5th Punjab Infantry histories- Major A.H Amin (Retired) OLD PAVO CAVALRY WHICH FOUGHT GROUPED WITH 5TH Punjab CAVALRY IN BATTLES INSIDE AND ON NEPAL FRONTIER IN 1858-59.