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'''John Holmes''' was an [[Anglo-Indian]] mercenary in [[Sikh Empire]]. He served in the Sikh | '''John Holmes''' was an [[Anglo-Indian]] mercenary in [[Sikh Empire]]. He served in the Sikh Army during the final years of [[Punjab]]'s independence, and rose from a trumpeter to the rank of Colonel. He served with the [[Sikh Khalsa Army]], during the [[First Anglo-Sikh War]]. | ||
He joined Bengal Horse Artillery and in September 1829 resigned his post and moved to [[Punjab]] in search of a better future. He joined [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Punjab)|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]'s army. It is suspected that he simultaneously worked for Ranjit Singh and spied for the British. He took part in the | == Biography == | ||
He joined the [[Bengal Army|Bengal Horse Artillery]] and in September 1829 resigned his post and moved to [[Punjab]] in search of a better future. He joined [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Punjab)|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]'s army. It is suspected that he simultaneously worked for Ranjit Singh and spied for the British. He took part in the [[Battle of Peshawar (1834)|Battle of Peshawar]] (1834) and the [[Battle of Jamrud (1837)]]. He was also appointed the Revenue Officer of [[Gujrat Division|Gujrat]] for two years (1835–36). While most of the European Officers were discharged from the Sikh Army after the First Anglo-Sikh war, John Holmes was retained in service as a reward for supplying secret information to the [[Ludhiana district|Ludhiana]] Political Agency. He was posted at [[Bannu Division|Bannu]] where, in October 1848, the Sikh troops under his command mutinied and killed him for his treasonable conduct. | |||
He was the last European attached to the Sikh army.<ref>*Punjab Records, No. 246/1669, 4/10/48</ref> | He was the last European attached to the Sikh army.<ref>*Punjab Records, No. 246/1669, 4/10/48</ref> | ||
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes, John}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes, John}} | ||
[[Category:Year of birth missing]] | [[Category:Year of birth missing]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:1848 deaths]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Bengal Artillery soldiers]] | ||
[[Category:Mercenaries in India]] | [[Category:Mercenaries in India]] | ||
[[Category:British people of the First Anglo-Sikh War]] | [[Category:British people of the First Anglo-Sikh War]] | ||
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{{India-mil-bio-stub}} | {{India-mil-bio-stub}} | ||
{{UK-mil-bio-stub}} | {{UK-mil-bio-stub}} | ||
[[Category:British mercenaries killed in action]] | |||
Latest revision as of 15:48, 19 November 2023
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2017) |
John Holmes was an Anglo-Indian mercenary in Sikh Empire. He served in the Sikh Army during the final years of Punjab's independence, and rose from a trumpeter to the rank of Colonel. He served with the Sikh Khalsa Army, during the First Anglo-Sikh War.
Biography[edit | edit source]
He joined the Bengal Horse Artillery and in September 1829 resigned his post and moved to Punjab in search of a better future. He joined Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army. It is suspected that he simultaneously worked for Ranjit Singh and spied for the British. He took part in the Battle of Peshawar (1834) and the Battle of Jamrud (1837). He was also appointed the Revenue Officer of Gujrat for two years (1835–36). While most of the European Officers were discharged from the Sikh Army after the First Anglo-Sikh war, John Holmes was retained in service as a reward for supplying secret information to the Ludhiana Political Agency. He was posted at Bannu where, in October 1848, the Sikh troops under his command mutinied and killed him for his treasonable conduct.
He was the last European attached to the Sikh army.[1]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ *Punjab Records, No. 246/1669, 4/10/48
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