Derby Museum and Art Gallery – Piece of Lucknow Gate Pinched by British Soldier in 1857

This is handy, it’s part of the Lucknow Gate that was pinched by Riding Master Captain Richard Shaw of the 9th Lancers as he fancied a little souvenir following the end of the siege of Lucknow during the Indian Mutiny. Built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784, the gate stands at over 60 feet in height and it did lead to a rather decadent palace, but the British knocked that down in 1857.

The gate after it was damaged by the British during the mutiny (image copyright of the IWM). I should add that some people don’t think that it should be called a mutiny, they prefer a term such as the First Indian War of Independence. Whichever, this was very much a one-sided battle in terms of the outcome, as 6,000 British lost their lives, but around 800,000 Indians lost their lives. That’s some brutal putdown.

As for Richard Shaw, he was born in Portsmouth in 1802 and enlisted into the 17th Lancers in 1823. He must have been competent, or well connected,  as he was rapidly promoted and became the Troop Sergeant Major in 1842. After returning home from his Indian adventures, he moved to the 7th Light Dragoons in 1860 and he later became a Military Knight of Windsor. This was a role for former military officers and enabled him to live in the grounds of Windsor Castle until his death in 1872. He had married Helen Callahan in Dublin in June 1830 and they had three sons.

This is the sort of fascinating exhibit in a museum which tells a real story, a reminder of very different times.