Florentia Sale
Encyclopedia
Lady Florentia Sale was an Englishwoman who, whilst married to her husband, Sir Robert Henry Sale
, a British army officer, travelled the world whilst stationed with him. She was dubbed "the Grenadier in Petticoat
s" for her travels with the army, which took her to regions such as Mauritius
, Burma and India
, and various other areas under the control of the British Empire
.
, the daughter of George Wynch, a member of the civil service. George Wynch's father Alexander was the Governor of Madras
for a time during the 1770s. It is possible she is named after her paternal grandmother, Florentia Craddock, wife of Alexander. She was raised by her uncles and received a good education as a child.
of the British Army
. She accompanied him on his numerous postings, raising their children whilst he fought. The couple's first child, a daughter, Mary Harriet was born a year after their marriage, on 17 February 1810 in Walajabad
. By the time of the birth of her second child, she had moved to Mauritius
, where Sale was stationed; George Henry was born in 1811 in Port Louis
, Mauritius. Five of the couple's other children were born in Port Louis too, the last being in 1818. On 1 October 1820 she bore her eighth child, Henrietta Sarah, in Montluel
, France
. Her last child, Alexandrina was born nearly three years later, on 2 January 1823 in Calcutta, India.
During the First Anglo-Afghan War
, Lady Sale, along with other women and children, as well as soldiers, were kidnapped
in 1842 for nine months. The group were taken hostage by Akbar Khan
following the massacre in the Khurd Karbul Pass. Amongst the hostages with Lady Sale was her youngest daughter Alexandrina, along with her husband Lieutenant John Sturt and their newlyborn daughter. Sturt was fatally injured by three dagger wounds to the abdomen, with Lady Sale nursing her son-in-law in his final hours. Upon his death she secured him a Christian
burial; he was the only fallen officer to receive such a burial. Lady Sale, then bribed
the Afghan officers into releasing them, and were then rescued by Sir Richmond Shakespeare on 17 September, 1842. Her couragous and defiant actions meant that she endangered herself frequently; she was shot in the wrist, with the bullet lodging there. Throughout her time held captive, Lady Sale had kept a diary, detailing the events of the ordeal. A year later Lady Sale published her journal, which documented her experiences throughout the Afghan War, and the book received critical acclaim.
Lady Sale's husband died in action in 1845, leaving her widowed. She remained for the most part of the rest of life in India
. After her husband's death she received pension of £500 per annum in light of her conduct as a prisoner and her husband's military services. Sale took a trip to the Cape of Good Hope
in 1853 for her health, though she died not long after her arrival, on 6 July 1853, in Cape Town
, South Africa
.
Robert Henry Sale
Major General Sir Robert Henry Sale GCB was a British Army officer who commanded the garrison of Jalalabad during the First Afghan War and was killed in action during the First Anglo-Sikh War....
, a British army officer, travelled the world whilst stationed with him. She was dubbed "the Grenadier in Petticoat
Petticoat
A petticoat or underskirt is an article of clothing for women; specifically an undergarment to be worn under a skirt or a dress. The petticoat is a separate garment hanging from the waist ....
s" for her travels with the army, which took her to regions such as Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, Burma and 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...
, and various other areas under the control of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.
Early life
Florentia Wynch was born on 13 August 1790, in Madras, during Company rule in IndiaCompany rule in India
Company rule in India refers to the rule or dominion of the British East India Company on the Indian subcontinent...
, the daughter of George Wynch, a member of the civil service. George Wynch's father Alexander was the Governor of Madras
Governors of Madras
-English Agents:In 1639, the grant of Madras to the English was finalized between the factors of the Masulipatnam factory, represented by Francis Day, and the Raja of Chandragiri. In 1640, Andrew Cogan, the chief of the Masulipatnam factory, made his way to Madras in the company of Francis Day and...
for a time during the 1770s. It is possible she is named after her paternal grandmother, Florentia Craddock, wife of Alexander. She was raised by her uncles and received a good education as a child.
Marriage and adult life
In 1809 Wynch married Sir Robert Henry SaleRobert Henry Sale
Major General Sir Robert Henry Sale GCB was a British Army officer who commanded the garrison of Jalalabad during the First Afghan War and was killed in action during the First Anglo-Sikh War....
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. She accompanied him on his numerous postings, raising their children whilst he fought. The couple's first child, a daughter, Mary Harriet was born a year after their marriage, on 17 February 1810 in Walajabad
Walajabad
Walajabad is a panchayat town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics: India census, Walajabad had a population of 10,859. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Walajabad has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of...
. By the time of the birth of her second child, she had moved to Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
, where Sale was stationed; George Henry was born in 1811 in Port Louis
Port Louis
-Economy:The economy is dominated by its port, which handles Mauritius' international trade. The port was founded by the French who preferred Port Louis as the City is shielded by the Port Louis/Moka mountain range. It is the largest container handling facility in the Indian Ocean and can...
, Mauritius. Five of the couple's other children were born in Port Louis too, the last being in 1818. On 1 October 1820 she bore her eighth child, Henrietta Sarah, in Montluel
Montluel
Montluel is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.It is situated on the outskirts of Lyon. The inhabitants are known as Montluistes.-Population:-Personalities:*Claude André , Catholic Bishop of Quimper...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Her last child, Alexandrina was born nearly three years later, on 2 January 1823 in Calcutta, India.
During the First Anglo-Afghan War
First Anglo-Afghan War
The First Anglo-Afghan War was fought between British India and Afghanistan from 1839 to 1842. It was one of the first major conflicts during the Great Game, the 19th century competition for power and influence in Central Asia between the United Kingdom and Russia, and also marked one of the worst...
, Lady Sale, along with other women and children, as well as soldiers, were kidnapped
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
in 1842 for nine months. The group were taken hostage by Akbar Khan
Akbar Khan
Amir Akbar Khan Amir Akbar Khan Amir Akbar Khan (1816 – 1846;, born as Mohammad Akbar Khan and famously known as Wazir Akbar Khan, was an Afghan Prince, a general, a tribal leader and Emir. He was active in the First Anglo-Afghan War, which lasted from 1839 to 1842...
following the massacre in the Khurd Karbul Pass. Amongst the hostages with Lady Sale was her youngest daughter Alexandrina, along with her husband Lieutenant John Sturt and their newlyborn daughter. Sturt was fatally injured by three dagger wounds to the abdomen, with Lady Sale nursing her son-in-law in his final hours. Upon his death she secured him a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
burial; he was the only fallen officer to receive such a burial. Lady Sale, then bribed
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
the Afghan officers into releasing them, and were then rescued by Sir Richmond Shakespeare on 17 September, 1842. Her couragous and defiant actions meant that she endangered herself frequently; she was shot in the wrist, with the bullet lodging there. Throughout her time held captive, Lady Sale had kept a diary, detailing the events of the ordeal. A year later Lady Sale published her journal, which documented her experiences throughout the Afghan War, and the book received critical acclaim.
Lady Sale's husband died in action in 1845, leaving her widowed. She remained for the most part of the rest of life in India
Company rule in India
Company rule in India refers to the rule or dominion of the British East India Company on the Indian subcontinent...
. After her husband's death she received pension of £500 per annum in light of her conduct as a prisoner and her husband's military services. Sale took a trip to the Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
in 1853 for her health, though she died not long after her arrival, on 6 July 1853, in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
External links
- Will we make it to Jalalabad? Biographical article on Lady Sale by Bijan Omrani.