|
|
[BAYLEY (John Arthur)
Reminiscences of School & Army Life, 1839-1859.
1st Ed., vii+206pp. No imprint/place.
1875
#62131
|
![[HLMainPic]](booksThumbs/62131.jpg "Click on the left or right of the image for more images")
Engaging memoirs of Eton College (including an account of fagging: "Many a young peer, who in the nursery or school-room at home had never been controlled or contradicted, learnt a useful lesson when he found that he was bound, under pain of a thrashing, to run up Eton as fast as his legs could carry him & fetch a pound of sausages for Smith major's breakfast; Smith possibly being well known to be the son of a rich tradesman..."), further education in Germany then service in the 52nd Light Infantry from 1851. Served a year or two in Ireland until the regiment was ordered to India in 1853. He describes garrison social life & a march in the Punjab - 513 miles up the Grand Trunk Road to Umballa, &c., the annexation of Oude in 1856 & events of the Mutiny. He witnessed the atrocity of native soldiers blown from the mouths of cannon, various operations up country & the attack on Delhi in which he was wounded. A printed note to the title-page states that "The following Reminiscences were originally intended solely of the amusement of the writer's Nephews & Nieces. They are now printed for the use of such of his friends as may care to read them." Orig. red cloth, gilt title to front, little spotted & worn but VG, inscribed by author on tp: "C.D. Lucas from J.A. Bayley" (the recipient possibly Adml. Charles Davis Lucas VC) with one or two small ink corrections to the text & an interesting marginal statement next the account of the assault on the Kashmir Gate by the 52nd on 13th Sept. 1857, in which Bayley was wounded in command of a storming party. By the close of the action the 52nd had been "compelled to retire" but the marginal note states: "In 1876 General Campbell [commanding the 52nd in 1857], speaking to me on this subject, said - I retired in obedience to an order brought by a Staff Officer. J.A.B." Just five copies on Library Hub (formerly COPAC), confirming the identity of the author. Ladendorf 228. Raugh 6456. Bayley also contributed an article to the Ox. & Bucks. L.I. Chronicle 1905 on "The Beginning of the Indian Mutiny" & another short booklet "The Assault of Delhi: A Vindication of H.M. 52nd Light Infantry.... From the Aspersions of Sir John Kaye, in the Third Volume of his History of the Sepoy War." See illustrations on our website.
£450
|
|
|