For the very gallant and daring manner in which,
on the 7th of May, 1867, they risked their lives in manning a
boat and proceeding through a dangerous surf to the rescue of
some of their comrades, who formed part of an expedition which
had been sent to the Island of Little Andaman, by order of the
Chief Commissioner of British Burmah, with the view of
ascertaining the fate of the Commander and seven of the crew of
the ship " Assam Valley," who had landed there, and were
supposed to have been murdered by the natives.
The officer who commanded the troops on the occasion reports : "
About an hour later in the day Dr. Douglas, 2nd Battalion, 24th
Regiment, and the four Privates referred to, gallantly manning
the second gig, made their way through the surf almost to the
shore, but finding their boat was half filled with water, they
retired. A second attempt made by Dr. Douglas and party proved
successful, five of us being safely passed through the
surf to the boats outside. A third and last trip got the whole
of the party left on shore safe to the boats.'' It is stated
that Dr. Douglas accomplished these trips through the surf to
the shore by no ordinary exertion. He stood in the bows of the
boat, and worked her in an intrepid and seamanlike manner, cool
to a degree, as if what he was then doing was an ordinary act of
every-day life. The four Privates behaved in an equally cool and
collected manner, rowing through the roughest surf when the
slightest hesitation or want of pluck on the part of any one of
them would have been attended by the gravest results. It is
reported that seventeen officers and men were -thus saved from,
what must otherwise have been a fearful risk, if not certainty
of death. (LG 17/12/1867) |