Charlie
Askew 1974-93 (127& HQ) Email
THE HISTORY OF
127 (DRAGON) BATTERY ROYAL ARTILLERY
127 (Dragon) Battery was originally raised as 6 Company Madras Artillery
in 1778 and sadly its earliest activities are obscure. It is known
that the Battery became B Company of 2nd Battalion, Madras Artillery
in 1812 and remained as such until 1862 and gained its honour title
during this period - in 1842.
CHINA WAR
In early 1841 the Battery was part of an expeditionary force sent
to China to quell the mutinous Chinese in what later became known
as the first China war. The Battery was equipped with various guns,
12 pdr howitzers, 9 pounder guns and 5 1/2" mortars, all of
which had to be dragged for miles across swamp and paddy fields
by manpower alone. At the first major siege of the war at Canton,
such was the preliminary bombardment by the Madras Artillery, that
the town surrendered just before the main assault and the inhabitants
were allowed to evacuate the town on the payment of a fine of 6
million dollars.
The war dragged on with periodic clashes until the last engagement
on 21st July 1842 when the fortified city of Chin - Kiang - Foo
was stormed. The guns were dragged into action only 400 yards from
the enemy. After bringing down effective artillery fire, the gunners
joined the infantry storming the walls and driving the enemy back
until all resistance ceased. The Chinese agreed to peace terms the
following month and the Governor General of India published a special
order of the day entitling the batteries of the Madras Artillery
to wear the insignia of a Dragon with an imperial crown and the
word China on all their appointments.
The official Battery day is Chin - Kiang - Foo day,
which is celebrated on the 21st July each year.
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