Combat History Part 5

During this period between 1815 and 1854 the heaviest fighting was in India, when the Sikhs were persuaded by the British withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1842 that the British in India were militarily too weak to prevent them from conquering the whole sub continent. The crossing of the river Sutlej, the boundary between the Punjab and British India, by the Sikh army of 20,000 men was followed by the four major battle of Mudki, Ferozeshah, Aliwal and Sobraon, and the 31st and the 50th fought with great distinction in all of them.

The defeat of the Sikhs at Sobraon ended the war, although the initial assault on their position, on 10th February 1846, had failed. The British were repulsed with many casualties and it seemed that the battle would be lost. Both officers carrying the colours of the 31st were killed, and at that moment when defeat seemed inevitable, Sergeant Bernard McCabe of the 31st picked up the Regimental Colour, dashed forward under heavy fire and planted it on the highest point of the Sikh entrenchment.

This put new life into the 31st, the 50th and the other regiments which then took their objectives in desperate hand to hand fighting. When the Sikhs at last turned and fled 10,000 casualties and 67 guns were behind them. The 50th emerged from the battle commanded by a subaltern, having lost half the rank and file.

Sobraon Day was celebrated as a great regimental occasion in the Officers' Mess of the 31st the victory was commemorated by the Ceremony of the Huntingdonshire Salt. Part of the Colour carried by Sergeant McCabe was enclosed in the lid of a salt cellar from which every newly joining officer was invited to 'take salt with the Regiment'. He then signed the Salt Book.

Sobraon Day in the 1st Battalion Queens Regiment was still celebrated each year. The Regimental Colour was handed over by the Commanding Officer to a Sergeant who was selected for the honour, The Colour Party being preceded by the Band and Drums then marched the Colours through the ranks of the Battalion, who lined the route from the Officer's Mess to the Sergeant's Mess where it remained with the Queen's Colour and Third Colour until midnight.