This Day in History: 1857-06-01

The Sirmoor Battalion, on its way to quell the mutineers in Delhi, left Bulandshahr ‘at 18.00hrs and marched in terrific heat 43km that night along the canal bank, bivouacking at 11.00hrs next day under some thin ‘babul’ trees as the men were quite exhausted. The march was resumed at sunset under peculiarly difficult circumstances as the country in the vicinity of the canals was flooded owing to the damage done by the rebels to the ‘bunds’ and escape channels; great trouble was at times found in getting along, the men frequently almost swimming. At length they reached Brigadier-General Wilson’s camp, where they met the 60th Rifles for the first time with whom such a close and lasting friendship was to spring up’.