Pearl's Naval Brigade

[1] The Pearl and the frigate HMS Shannon were despatched from Hong Kong to Calcutta in July 1857 after receiving news of the rebellion.

En route, they rescued the crew of the transport HMS Transit, which wrecked off Bangka Island, Sumatra.

[3] For 10 months, the brigade was commanded by the Pearl's captain, Edward Southwell Sotheby, who was later raised to the rank of admiral and knighted.

For their role in suppressing the Indian uprising, Sotheby and his brigade were mentioned in dispatches on 13 occasions relating to the operations in Oudh, and received thanks of the governor-general of India and of both Houses of Parliament.

For his service, Sotheby was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) and appointed an extra aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria.