Based on extracts from- A short history of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 1741-1922 for the young soldiers of the Regiment. By R.B. Crosse
Battle honours gained:- Delhi, 1857.
For the 52nd in Bengal the next three years, until the spring of 1857, were uneventful, except that in 1856 the 52nd took part in the annexation of the kingdom of Oudh.
In May, 1857, the native troops at Meerut and Delhi mutinied, and disaffection began to spread. The 52nd therefore left Sealkote to join a movable column which was being formed at Wuzeerabad. Before marching the Commanding Officer caused the white clothing to be dyed khaki, both because it was a good colour for service and to reduce the amount of kit to be carried; the 52nd being thus the first regiment to wear what is now the universal service dress of the Army. In June and July the Regiment was at Lahore, Umritzar, Jullundur, and other places, taking part in the disarming of native regiments, and on July 10th and 11th marched forty-two miles in twenty hours, from Umritzar to Goordasepore, to intercept the Sealkote mutineers. These were encountered on the 12th at Trimmoo Ghat, on the banks of the Ravee River, where a sharp fight ensued, followed four days later by the capture of an island in the river to which the rebels had retreated.
In August the 52nd joined the force besieging Delhi, where an epidemic of cholera reduced the strength of the Regiment to less than 300 fit for duty. On September 14th Delhi was assaulted by three columns, the 52nd being in the third, under Colonel Campbell, which stormed the Cashmere Gate. Here an old soldier, Bugler Hawthorne, who had accompanied the explosion party to sound the signal for the gate to be rushed, and who subsequently most gallantly bound up and carried to safety a wounded officer, and Lance-Corporal Smith, for removing a wounded comrade under a heavy fire, both received the Victoria Cross.
The 52nd was not afterwards engaged, and spent the winter at Jullundur, returning for two more years to Sealkote in 1858.