During the eighteenth and early years of the nineteenth century, the red tide of British expansion had covered almost the entire Indian subcontinent, stretching to the borders of the Punjab. There the great Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh had developed his military forces to thwart any British advance into his kingdom north of the River Sutlej. Yet on the death of Ranjit Singh, unworthy successors and disparate forces fought over his legacy while the British East India Company seized on the opportunity and prepared for battle. In the winter of 1845, the First Anglo-Sikh War broke out. From the start, the two-month campaign was marred by Victorian arrogance and bluster on the British side and personal ambition, intrigue and treason in the Sikh camp. Five keenly fought contests ensued, including the great battle of Ferozeshah where the British force found itself caught between two powerful Sikh armies and came close to destruction. Declining to retreat, Sir Hugh Gough, the British Commander-in-Chief, told his second in command: ‘My mind is made up. If we must perish, it is better that our bones should bleach honourably at Ferozeshah than rot at Ferozepore: but they shall do neither the one nor the other.’ The fate of the British Empire in India would be decided that day. Amarpal Singh writes a warts-and-all tale of a conflict characterised by treachery, tragedy and incredible bravery on both sides. In an innovative approach to history writing, the narrative of the campaign is accompanied by battlefield guides that draw on eyewitness accounts and invite the reader to take a tour of the battlefields, either physically or virtually. Fully illustrated with period drawings, modern-day photographs and new maps, The First Anglo-Sikh War gives a forgotten conflict the meticulous attention it deserves.

The First Anglo-Sikh War

History

Singh, Amarpal

Asia

Amberley Publishing

This is the tale of the bloody war that ended in the conquest and annexation of the Punjab by the East India Company. A disgruntled garrison’s chance killing of two young British officers sent to govern the city of Multan sparks an unexpected war between the East India Company and the Sikh Empire. Following calls for retribution, Sir Hugh Gough, the veteran British Commander-in-Chief, strikes into the heart of the Punjab with a large force to face the Sikh army. After two inconclusive contests at Ramnuggar and Sadulpore, he nearly comes to grief at the small village of Chillianwalla by the Jhelum River, with half his line repulsed and his force in confusion. Only the fast-gathering darkness and jungle obscure the advantage lying with the Sikh army and prevent a complete British disaster. Recovering from the setback, Gough would achieve a decisive victory at the final battle of Gujrat, paving the way for British rule up to the Khyber Pass. The Second Anglo-Sikh War is the warts-and-all story of the conflict that led to the demise of the Sikh Empire. Continuing his innovative approach to history writing from The First Anglo-Sikh War, Amarpal Singh augments the narrative of the campaign with battlefield guides that draw on eyewitness accounts and invite the reader to take a tour of the battlefields, either physically or virtually. Fully illustrated with period drawings, modern-day photographs and new maps, The Second Anglo-Sikh War gives this neglected conflict the attention it sorely deserves.

The Second Anglo-Sikh War

This is the tale of the bloody war that ended in the conquest and annexation of the Punjab by the East India Company. A disgruntled garrison’s chance killing of two young British officers sent to govern the city of Multan sparks an unexpected war between the East India Company and the Sikh Empire. Following calls for retribution, Sir Hugh Gough, the veteran British Commander-in-Chief, strikes into the heart of the Punjab with a large force to face the Sikh army. After two inconclusive contests at Ramnuggar and Sadulpore, he nearly comes to grief at the small village of Chillianwalla by the Jhelum River, with half his line repulsed and his force in confusion. Only the fast-gathering darkness and jungle obscure the advantage lying with the Sikh army and prevent a complete British disaster. Recovering from the setback, Gough would achieve a decisive victory at the final battle of Gujrat, paving the way for British rule up to the Khyber Pass. The Second Anglo-Sikh War is the warts-and-all story of the conflict that led to the demise of the Sikh Empire. Continuing his innovative approach to history writing from The First Anglo-Sikh War, Amarpal Singh augments the narrative of the campaign with battlefield guides that draw on eyewitness accounts and invite the reader to take a tour of the battlefields, either physically or virtually. Fully illustrated with period drawings, modern-day photographs and new maps, The Second Anglo-Sikh War gives this neglected conflict the attention it sorely deserves.

Product Description 
On 10 May 1857, the most serious threat to British supremacy in India appeared at Meerut, a large military station near Delhi. After months of increasing tension, sepoys of the 3rd Light Cavalry along with the 11th and 20th Native Infantry pointedly refused to use the new cartridges supplied to them. ‘The company Raj is over forever,’ declared the men to their British officers as they burned their cantonments, and the cry of ‘Dilhi chalo’ (Let's go to Delhi) was heard as they marched to the old Mughal capital. There the Mughal empire was declared as resurrected and the Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, an ageing pensioner of the British Government, affirmed as the ruler of all Hindustan once again. With the mutiny spreading rapidly, it became imperative for the British Government to recapture Delhi as the success or failure of the uprising hinged entirely on the possession of the city and the destruction of the rebel army. It would take three months of bloody fighting for the British Delhi Field Force to defeat the rebel sepoys and recapture the city, a period in which it became unclear quite who besieged whom. Singh comprehensively narrates the story from the uprising at Meerut to the climactic capture and sack of Delhi. 
 Review 
'A meticulous portrait of a city left to the mercy of the eclipsing Mughal court on the one hand and surmounting British authority on the other. Written with clarity and depth, it is Amarpal Singh's extensive knowledge of military history that enlivens The Siege of Delhi. A valuable addition to the literature on the 1857 mutiny.'--Aanchal Malhotra, author of Remnants of a Separation and oral historian\n'That old-fashioned thing: a confirmed page-turner ... Vividly reconstructed and gripping in its pace, The Siege of Delhi is a must-read.'--Manu S. Pillai, historian and author of The Ivory Throne and Rebel Sultans\n'The Siege of Delhi describes the period with a sense of urgency and painstaking details based on contemporary and primary accounts in an engaging narrative that offers new insights and information.'--Rana Safvi, author of the Where Stones Speak trilogy\n'Amarpal Singh brings to life the many haunting monuments that still dot the Delhi landscape 150 years on. A uniquely valuable and readable account indeed amongst the scores of books on the subject of the 1857 Mutiny.'--Pushpindar Singh Chopra, Delhi Forum for Strategic Studies\n'Amarpal Singh once again brings to life key historical events in a wonderful book that covers a critical period in both British and Indian history. He is to be commended for this excellent study.'--Iain Smith, The Sikh Pioneers and Sikh Light Infantry Association\n'An elegantly written, deeply researched, downright enthralling account of the course and causes of the most critical campaign of the Mutiny.'--Joshua Provan, author of Wild East: The British in Japan 1854-1868\n'An important study of a key moment in the Mutiny of 1857. As always, the author brings to life the events with his knowledge and insights into the topography and landscape of the scene of battle.'--Dr Christopher Brice, author of Brave as a Lion: The Life and Times of Field Marshal Hugh Gough\n'Thoroughly researched, engagingly written, and utterly comprehensive. The most important account of the savagely fought Siege of Delhi to emerge in decades.'--Mark Simner, author of Chitral 1895: An Episode of the Great Game 
 About the Author 
Amarpal Singh Sidhu was born in the Punjab, India. He spent over 20 years working in the software industry before turning to his real interest in military history and the exploration and analysis of battlefields. His first book "The First Anglo-Sikh War" has been well received. Amarpal has appeared and collaborated on history programs for several TV channels. He currently lives in London with his wife and two sons. His other interests include the later Roman Empire, Byzantium, the Ottoman Empire and World War Two.

The Siege of Delhi

Europe

The First Anglo-Sikh War broke out in 1845; from the start it was marred by Victorian arrogance and bluster on the British side, and personal ambition, intrigue and treason in the Sikh camp. Five keenly fought contests ensued, including the great battle of Ferozeshah. With its ammunition spent, artillery destroyed and with no food and water, the British force found itself caught between two powerful Sikh armies. The Governor-General Sir Hardinge accompanying the army gave orders to burn all state papers in preparation for the worst; the fate of India would be decided that day.Amarpal Sidhu's book uses numerous eye witness accounts of the First Sikh War, a conflict characterized by treachery, suffering and incredible bravery on both sides. Over a hundred photographs and new scale maps show the campaign as never before.Each chapter of The First Anglo-Sikh War has a corresponding 'Guide' chapter giving firsthand accounts of visitors to the battlefield from just a few hours after the battle, when fresh corpses and the detritus of war cover the ground, to up to 30 years later, when the land has been reclaimed by forest and agriculture. The reader is then invited to take his own tour of the battlefield. GPS coordinates of particular assaults and troop and artillery formations have been meticulously collected by the author to provide an accurate map of events, which can be plotted against the modern landscape using accessible software such as Google Earth. Detailed walking guides of the battlefields are also given.'Amarpal Sidhu has done some excellent research in both British and Sikh documents and has thoroughly explored the sites of the battles, to produce an important new book on this war.' - Brigadier Bill Woodburn, Royal Society of Asian Affairs Journal March 2012  'A remarkably well researched work offering a refreshingly alternative perspective on the Anglo-Sikh wars and the surging imperial intrigues that presaged them' - Harbinder Singh Rana, Director of the Anglo-Sikh Heritage Trail  'This book is a 'must read' and for those who are contemplating a visit to the area, this book is an essential companion' - CHOWKIDAR Magazine (Journal of the British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia)  'The book is expertly written, its accounts of the battlefield actions very informative and riveting. One of the best publications I have seen on the Sikh Wars and I certainly recommend it. I'm certainly going to look out for Sidhu's next publication, The Second Sikh War' - WARGAMES ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE May 2011

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Books by Singh, Amarpal

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Singh, Amarpal. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The First Anglo-Sikh War

The Second Anglo-Sikh War

The Second Anglo-Sikh War

The Siege of Delhi

The First Anglo-Sikh War