William Kinnear European (Madras) Light Infantry

2nd European (Madras) Light Infantry colours

Parents:

• Birth*: William Kinnear European (Madras) Light Infantry was born on 5 February 1838 at Dunnichen, Angus, Scotland, ; parents William Kinnear, Janet Stirling.²
• He was the son of William Kinnear linen hlw and Janet Stirling yarn winder.
• Baptism: William Kinnear European (Madras) Light Infantry was baptised on 9 February 1838 at Dunnichen, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; parents William Kinnear, Janet Stirling.²
• Burial*: He was buried on 24 June 1858 at Belgaum, Bombay, India, ; Burials at Belgaum in the Archdeaconary of Bombay, died 1858 24th June, Dysentry, William Kinnear, 20 years, Private 2nd Bombay Regt, buried 1858 24th June; signed J Churchill chaplain, minister and chaplain of Belgaum.³
• (Deceased) Death*: He died on 24 June 1858 at Belgaum, India, , at age 20.⁴

• (Witness) Birthday Book: He was mentioned in a Birthday Book compiled by Margaret Anderson Kinnear powerloom weaver .⁵
• Newspaper Article: The Dundee Perth and Cupar Advertiser reports on Tuesday, June 29, 1858:
  INDIA HOUSE DESPATCH
  "Bombay Presidency. Serious disturbances at Gudduck in Dharwar. The Collectorate was headed by Bheemkao of Moonderger, and the Dessayee of Hembge, who occupied the fort by treachery. The chief of Nurgoond is greatly suspected. Acting political agent Manson, attended by a few horsemen, proceeded rapidly to Nurgood district, where he was treacherously attacked on the night of the 29th May, by eight hundred men, headed by the chief Nurgoond and was killed with all his escort. It being greatly feared that the disaffection would spread all over Souther Mahratta reinforcements were ordered immediately to Belgaum and Kolstor. In the meantime it is hoped the outbreak has been promptly repressed. A Madras column under Major Hughes, on the 1st June, took the fort of Coppal by assault, and among the slain were Beehm Eao and Dessayee. On the same day Colonel Malcolm, with a light Bombay detachment, arrived at Margoondee, and stormed the town. On the next day he occupied the (query) [sic] fort, which was evacuated. During the night the pusuit of the chief was then commenced; intelligence has just been received of his capture by Mr Southern, Superintendent of Police, on June 3.⁶
  
• Newspaper Article: The Dundee Courier reports similarly on Wednesday June 30, 1858:
  A telegram from Malta, received at the India House, says:-
  Bombay Presidency.—Serious disturbances had occurred at Guddirck in the Dharwar collectorate, Bombay Presidency. The insurgents were headed by Bheem Rao of Moonderger and the Dessayee of Henibge, who occupied a fort by treachery. The Chief of Nargood was greatly suspected. The Acting Political Agent Manson, attended by a few horsemen, proceeded rapidly to the Nurgood district, where he was treacherously attacked on the 29th May by 800 men, headed by the Chief of Nurgood, and was killed with all his escort. It being greatly feared that the disaffection would spread over all the Southern Manratta country, reinforcements were ordered immediately to Belgaum and Kolstor. Meantime, it is hoped the outbreak has been promptly repressed.
  A Madras column under Major Hughes, on the 1st June took the fort of Copal by assault, and among the slain were Bheem Rao and Dessayee. On the same day, Colonel Malcolm, with a light Bombay detachment, arrived at Margoonde, and stormed the town : next day he occupied the (?) [sic] fort, which was evacuated during the night. A pursuit of the chief was then commenced, and intelligence has been received of his capture by Mr Southern, superintendent of police, on June 3d.
  The Aurungabad district of the Nizam's country was much disturbed by Arabs and Rohillas, who have plundered several towns. The Resident strongly urged that a European regiment should be immediately sent from Bombay to Jaulnah. A field detachment of about 450 of all arms was despatched.
  The above telegram is dated Bombay, 4th June.⁷
  
• Newspaper Article*: The Dundee Courier reports on Wednesday, July 21, 1858:
  REPORTED DEFEAT OF THE REBELS AT GWALIOR.
  The Government have received the following despatch by the Ottawa, which reached Suez on the 7th instant. It is dated "The Bombay Standard Office, June 19":—
  13,000 of the rebels left Calpee on the 23d May, and reached Gwalior on the 1st June. They were joined by 7000 of Scindia's troops, sent out to oppose them. They took possession of Gwalior, and plundered it. Scindia escaped to Agra. The force under Sir H. Rose from Calpee, the division under Brigadier Hicks from Jhansi, and the column under Colonel Smith from Chumbrace, are all by this time before Gwalior. There is a report that the place has fallen, with tremendous loss to the insurgents.
  Sir Edward Lugard defeated the rebels at Jugdespore on the 27th May, and recovered the guns lost at Arrah.
  A rising near Dharcol has been extinguished by the capture of the fort of Kapol; and Nurgoondor Manson, the political agent, who had gone out to confer with the Chief of Nurgoondee, was murdered. The Chief of Nurgoondee, who caused the murder, was hung at Belgaum with others.
  Rohilcund is quiet. The people of Luckuow were beginning to come in.
  Disarming proceeds quietly on both sides of India. The disarmed Sepoy regiments in Bengal have been discharged in small parties. The native officers and those in Bombay have been disarmed, and the number of their regiments blotted trom the army list.
  The rains have not yet commenced; they are nearly a fortnight behind, and the weather is most oppressive.⁸
  
• Newspaper Article: The Dundee Courier reports on Wednesday July 21, 1858:
  By the latest telegraphic news from India, we learn that no fewer than 13,000 of the rebels escaped from Calpee, and advanced on Gwalior, which they reached on the 1st of June, and that on their way thither 7000 of Scindia's troops, sent out to oppose their march, treacherously joined the rebel forces. This shews how little reliance can be placed on the fidelity of those Indian levies which still profess to adhere to our standard. Gwalior was taken and plundered, but a powerful force was marching to its relief, headed by Sir Hugh Rose. There was a current rumour that it had fallen with tremendous loss to the insurgents, but this, although probably true, cannot yet be received as authentic. The Bombay mail brings details of the defeat which Scindia himself sustained at the head of what he believed to
  be his faithful troops. Baba Sahib, chief of Nargoond, the cowardly murderer of Mr Manson, was apprehended on the 2d June by Mr Souter, Superintendent of Police at Belgaum, and was executed on the 12th, along with seven of his accomplices.⁹
  
• Newspaper Article: The Dundee Courier reports on Wednesday August 25, 1858:
  Deaths. - Major-General F. E. Lester, Bombay Artillery, at Belgaum, July 3 ; Colonel H. W. Hartley, H.M., 8th (King's) Regiment, at Jullunder, June 25 ; and Lieut W. Morris, C.B., 17th Lancers, at Poona, July 11th.¹⁰
  

Census & Directory Entries

Member of Household	6 June 1841	William Kinnear European (Madras) Light Infantry was listed in the 1841 census at Heyman Street, Dunnichen, Forfarshire, Scotland, . William Kinnear, head, 35, Linen Hand Loom Weaver, Angus; Janet Kinnear, 25, winder, Angus; William Kinnear, 3, Angus.11
Member of Household	30 March 1851	They was listed as a member of the household of William Kinnear linen hlw and Janet Stirling yarn winder in the 1851 census at Dunnichen, Forfarshire, Scotland, . William Kinnear, son, unm, 13, scholar, Dunnichen; William Kinnear, head, mar, 45, hand loom weaver (lin) Dunnichen; Janet Kinnear, wife, mar, 39, yarn winder, Dunnichen.12

Military Service

• Military Service*: William Kinnear European (Madras) Light Infantry served with the 2nd Madras (European) Light Infantry on 6 April 1857 at Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, , Entry from Bombay Soldiers Records 1851-1857 A-K
  Entered the Service 1857
  Surname Kinnear
  Forename(s) William
  Rank or Situation Private 2nd European Light Infantry
  Regimental Number 2796
  Occupation before Enlisting Mason
  Town and County Forfar, Forfar
  Where first enlisted Dundee
  Date of Attestation 6 April 1857
  Term of enlisted service 12 years
  In what ship arrived from Europe, or Service Entertained Vernon
  Year of Arrival or When that service entertained 1857
  Date & nature of Casualty Died 24 June 1858 at Belgaum. Cas. List 1 Jul
  IOR Reference L/MIL/12/113.¹³

Notes

• Note for Web*: William Kinnear European (Madras) Light Infantry Wiliam Kinnear died within days of the end of the Indian Mutiny (May 1857 - 8 July 1858). The following newpaper articles give a flavour of events as they unfolded around the time of his death. It is thought that he served with The Bombay European Regiment, an arm of the Honourable East India Company (HEIC) army. Records of his military service have not been found. on 25 June 1858.^14,15,16
  

  Map showing Belgaum in India