Andaman Islands Expedition
Encyclopedia
The Andaman Islands Expedition was a British expedition to the Andaman Islands
in the Bay of Bengal
, India
. For actions during the expedition, five soldiers of the 24th Regiment of Foot were awarded Victoria Cross
es. David Bell
, James Cooper
, Campbell Mellis Douglas
, Thomas Murphy
and William Griffiths risked their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through dangerous surf to rescue some of their comrades who had been sent to the island in order to locate the commander and seven of the crew from the ship Assam Valley. They were feared murdered by the "cannibalistic islanders"; the Onge adivasi
tribesmen.
The British in India had largely ignored the island of Little Andaman
before 1867. On 21 March 1867 the captain and seven crew of the Assam Valley went ashore for wood and were seen to get over the reef at the Southern tip of the island by the Assam Valley. They brought their boat ashore and went into the jungle. After not being seen for two days, the Assam Valley sailed to Rangoon to report the event. This occurrence is termed the Assam Valley Incident and became the precursor event to the skirmishes that are sometimes referred to as the Onge Wars, in which dozens of Onge were killed. A ship was sent to Little Andaman but it returned without any success other than to report a piece of clothing, possibly a sailors cap, on the beach.
A few days later, the Kwang Tung, the station ship of Port Blair
was sent with the British Officer in Charge of the Andamanese, Mr. Homfray; along with some local people to show the friendly intentions of the crew. This did not work as the party were attacked by the native Onge people on arrival and were forced to retreat to their boats under covering fire. The missing men were not located and this expedition was deemed a failure and so a larger expedition with a small military contingent was sent. This party, again on the Kwang Tung arrived on 6 May 1867, seven weeks after the initial disappearance. Three boats were sent ashore, all coming under fire from the Onge. A skull, believed to be from the initial party was found in the jungle, while four bodies were found decomposed on the beach. Although the Onge attempted to lure the landing party into the jungle, the soldiers stayed on the beach returning fire. When ammunition became low, the rescue boat was signalled, but capsized on its way in, drowning a Lieutenant.
, James Cooper
, Campbell Mellis Douglas
, Thomas Murphy
and William Griffiths onboard. All of the party was rescued and returned to the Kwang Tung.
Andaman Islands
The Andaman Islands are a group of Indian Ocean archipelagic islands in the Bay of Bengal between India to the west, and Burma , to the north and east...
in the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. For actions during the expedition, five soldiers of the 24th Regiment of Foot were awarded Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
es. David Bell
David Bell (VC)
David Bell VC was born County Down, Ireland . Bell was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.He was approximately 22 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion,...
, James Cooper
James Cooper (VC)
James Cooper VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, Campbell Mellis Douglas
Campbell Mellis Douglas
Campbell Mellis Douglas VC , was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, Thomas Murphy
Thomas Murphy (VC)
Thomas Murphy VC was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
and William Griffiths risked their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through dangerous surf to rescue some of their comrades who had been sent to the island in order to locate the commander and seven of the crew from the ship Assam Valley. They were feared murdered by the "cannibalistic islanders"; the Onge adivasi
Adivasi
Adivasi is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups claimed to be the aboriginal population of India. They comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India...
tribesmen.
Initial expedition
Little Andaman
Little Andaman island is the fourth largest of the Andaman Islands of India with an area of 734.39 km², lying at the southern end of the archipelago. It is separated from Rutland Island in Great Andaman by the Duncan Passage. It is home to the Onge tribe, who call the island Egu Belong, and...
before 1867. On 21 March 1867 the captain and seven crew of the Assam Valley went ashore for wood and were seen to get over the reef at the Southern tip of the island by the Assam Valley. They brought their boat ashore and went into the jungle. After not being seen for two days, the Assam Valley sailed to Rangoon to report the event. This occurrence is termed the Assam Valley Incident and became the precursor event to the skirmishes that are sometimes referred to as the Onge Wars, in which dozens of Onge were killed. A ship was sent to Little Andaman but it returned without any success other than to report a piece of clothing, possibly a sailors cap, on the beach.
A few days later, the Kwang Tung, the station ship of Port Blair
Port Blair
Port Blair is the largest town and a municipal council in Andaman district in the Andaman Islands and the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India...
was sent with the British Officer in Charge of the Andamanese, Mr. Homfray; along with some local people to show the friendly intentions of the crew. This did not work as the party were attacked by the native Onge people on arrival and were forced to retreat to their boats under covering fire. The missing men were not located and this expedition was deemed a failure and so a larger expedition with a small military contingent was sent. This party, again on the Kwang Tung arrived on 6 May 1867, seven weeks after the initial disappearance. Three boats were sent ashore, all coming under fire from the Onge. A skull, believed to be from the initial party was found in the jungle, while four bodies were found decomposed on the beach. Although the Onge attempted to lure the landing party into the jungle, the soldiers stayed on the beach returning fire. When ammunition became low, the rescue boat was signalled, but capsized on its way in, drowning a Lieutenant.
Rescue
Attempts to leave the island were thwarted by heavy surf and a lack of equipment. Two hundred Onge attempted to launch an attack but they were repelled by the freshly resupplied soldiers; the ammunition coming on a capsized rescue boat. Eventually, a boat from the Assam Valley arrived with David BellDavid Bell (VC)
David Bell VC was born County Down, Ireland . Bell was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.He was approximately 22 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion,...
, James Cooper
James Cooper (VC)
James Cooper VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, Campbell Mellis Douglas
Campbell Mellis Douglas
Campbell Mellis Douglas VC , was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, Thomas Murphy
Thomas Murphy (VC)
Thomas Murphy VC was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
and William Griffiths onboard. All of the party was rescued and returned to the Kwang Tung.
Victoria Cross citation
The citation was gazetted on 17 December 1867:
THE Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Officer and Private Soldiers of Her Majesty's Army, whose claims to the same have been submitted for Her Majesty's approval, for their gallant conduct at the Little Andaman Island, as recorded against their names, viz. :—
2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment: Assistant-Surgeon Campbell Millis Douglas, M.D, Private Thomas Murphy, Private James Cooper, Private David Bell, Private William Griffiths.
For the very gallant and daring manner in which, on the 7th of May, 1867, they risked their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through a dangerous surf to the rescue of some of their comrades, who formed part of an expedition which had been sent to the Island of Little Andaman, by order of the Chief Commissioner of British Burmah, with the view of ascertaining the fate of the Commander and seven of the crew of the ship " Assam Valley," who had landed there, and were supposed to have been murdered by the
natives.
The officer who commanded the troops on the occasion reports : About an hour later in the day Dr. Douglas, 2nd Battalion, 24th
."Regiment, and the four Privates referred" to, gallantly manning the second gig, made their way through the surf almost to the shore, but finding their boat was half filled with water, they retired. A second attempt made by Dr. Douglas and party proved successful, five of us being safely passed through the surf to the boats outside. A third and last trip got the whole of the party left on shore safe to the boats. It is stated that Dr. Douglas accomplished these trips through the surf to the shore by no ordinary exertion. He stood in the bows of the boat, and worked her in an intrepid and seamanlike manner, cool to a degree, as
if what he was then doing was an ordinary act of every-day life. The four Privates behaved in an equally cool and collected manner, rowing through the roughest surf when the slightest hesitation or want of pluck on the part of any one of them would have been
attended by the gravest results. It is reported that seventeen officers and men were thus saved from what must otherwise have been a fearful risk, if not certainty of death.