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| Neil's Arch. Lucknow, Unitede Provincescommons.wikimedia.org |
Neill's Arch at Lucknow. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 4 December 1886. Volume: 89 , Issue: 2485. Neill's Arch at Lucknow.
''Much regret and some indignation could not fail to be felt in India at the beginning of the demolition of this interesting monument, which marks the spot where General Neill was killed, when leading the troops to the relief of the Residency. on Sept. 25, 1837. The following is an extract from Colonel Malleson's " History of the Indian Mutiny," Trelating the inci. dent :-" As our men approached the archway, a tremendous fire opened upon them. Neill, who was leading them, passed through the archway, then suddenly pulling up his horse, he directed his aide-de-camp, Gordon, to gallop back and recall a half-battery which had taken a wrong road. He remained there sitting on his horse, his head turned in the direction from which he expected the half battery to emerge, when a sepoy, who had taken post on the arch, discharged his musket at him over the parapet on the top. The bullet entered his head behind the left ear. and killed him.
Thus fell one of the bravest and most determined men in the British Army." In the East we succeed more by prestige than is generally believed. Anything tending to lessen that prestige is, detrimental to our rule in India, and we consider that such monuments as are to be seen in Lucknow should be preserved as long as possible. They indicate the ground where Englishmen, civilians as well as soldiers, died in the defence of their families, and for the honour and glory of their country, and indirectly for the welfare of all.
The demolition was commenced by order of the Municipal Committee of Lucknow, but was countermanded by the Governor-General of India in time to save a small portion of the building from destruction. We are indebted to Captain G. D. Carleton, of the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, for two sketches. One represents the arch as it is now, with the mark of a cross indicating approximately the spot where General Neill fell. The other sketch represents the arch as it was. and is drawn from the other side of the arch.''
