George Bell Chicken

Chicken, Master, Indian Navy, of the Dehree Naval Brigade, and Lieutenant and Adjutant Nolan, of the 2nd Bengal Police Battalion, both Volunteers, doing duty with my troop, rendered me the greatest assistance and service.

The former Officer, who, I regret to say, was most severely wounded, performed a very gallant act, in charging into the jungle, and attacking a body of some 20 Sepoys, who were preparing to rally and open fire upon the now scattered pursuers.

[6]A note was attached from Captain Rattray, commanding officer of the Bengal Military Police Battalion that included the following: It is also my pleasing duty to bring forward the name of George Bell Chicken, Master, Indian Navy.

This officer volunteered for service with my corps when it started from Dehree, with a determination as he expressed it, to win his medal, and nobly has he earned it; he, as Lieutenant Baker writes, charged into the middle of a considerable number of the enemy, and he succeeded in killing five before he was cut down himself.

[7]This note was forwarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W. W. Turner, Commander of the Troops on the Grand Trunk Road, who attached the following about Mr. Chicken: I beg most respectfully and warmly to request, that the Brigadier-General will be pleased to bring to the notice of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, the judgement and gallantry of Lieutenant Baker, who on all former occasions has shown a marked zeal and intelligence, and the officers named by him, particularly Mr. Chicken, Master, Indian Naval Brigade, who was severely wounded.

[8]When this note reached the Commander-in-Chief of the Army in India, Lord Clyde, the following was included in a note sent to the Governor-General Lord Canning: I have the honour to request, on the part of his lordship, that you will have the goodness to direct the attention of the Right Honourable the Governor-General to the brilliancy of the exploit performed by Lieutenant G. C. Baker, of the Bengal Police Battalion, which is deserving of the highest encomium, on account both of conception and execution.

For great gallantry on the 27th September, 1858, at Suhejnee, near Peroo, in having charged into the middle of a considerable number of the rebels, who were preparing to rally and open fire upon the scattered pursuers.