Lot Essay
Brevet Major Prideaux William Gillum was born at Middleton Hall in Essex in July 1823, appointed an Ensign in the 54th Foot in October 1843 and advanced to Lieutenant in December 1847. Over the next ten years he enjoyed a succession of overseas postings, including Gibraltar, Malta, Canada and the West Indies, his advancement to Captain taking place in August 1854. But it was his subsequent gallantry in the Sarah Sands incident that brought him to the notice of his seniors.
On 11.11.1857 the four-masted iron Steamer Sarah Sands was about 800 miles from Mauritius when shortly before 4 p.m. Sergeant Murray of the 54th's Grenadier Company reported smoke rising from an aft hatch. It was quickly discovered that a serious fire had developed in the stern hold. The ship's Master, Captain Castle, put the vessel's head to wind and prepared provisioned boats for the women, the sick and the younger Drummers, only to find his own crew swarming into them. Any hope of saving the vessel thus devolved on the Officers and men of the 54th. The first task was to clear the magazines of 90 barrels of powder, which was duly accomplished at no small risk though two barrels containing the ship's signalling powder were overlooked. Meanwhile, the greater part of the 54th had lined the ship's sides and were bringing up water to fight the flames in buckets, mess tins and other receptacles. The next greatest danger lay in the coal. A hole was cut in the deck by which the men kept the coal bunker drenched, while others poured water into the burning after-hold: 'In the smoke and heat man after man choked and fell senseless but was handed out and replaced by another, while all the time the buckets were being passed along. Sergeant Murray was conspicuous in this and Captain Gillum, cheerful and calm, did marvels in organising the work and keeping the men going'.
After four hours, the mizzen rigging flared up, bringing the mast crashing down over the side and causing the stern to veer round to windward, thereby spelling destruction. The mutinous sailors in the boats refused Captain Castle's instructions to take the ship in tow, and it was only due to the prompt action of a Lance-Corporal who cut the rigging free, that the ship's head could be returned to the windward by backing the mainsail: 'All this time the ship's pumps were kept going by willing hands, while a party under Captain Gillum started to cut away the bridge and deck cabins and heaved all the inflammable lumber overboard. Spare spars were lashed together into rafts, the boats being inadequate to accommodate the whole ship's company'. Captain Castle began to despair but was told by Major Brett, the Senior Officer of the 54th on board, "We shall fight on till driven overboard". The next crisis came at about midnight when the flames reached the magazine and the signalling powder exploded: 'The explosion hurled into the air masses of flaming debris, most of which fortunately fell clear of the ship, which rolled violently and dipped her stern so deep that she seemed about to founder. Then, as she righted and her stern rose, Captain Gillum's voice was heard shouting "She's all right, boys, pull away at the pumps".'
Worryingly, sharks attracted by the blaze could now be seen circling the ship, but a beneficial effect of the explosion had been to admit masses of water through a hole blown in the port quarter, which helped by 7 a.m. to extinguish the last of the flames. The boats were hoisted in board and the shame-faced sailors made to assist in rigging a jury-mast and making the other preparations for the voyage, without navigational instruments, of 800 miles to Mauritius. The weather was kind and on 24 November the crippled Sarah Sands crawled into Port Louis. When news of the remarkable escape reached the authorities at home, the Commander-in-Chief, the Duke of Cambridge, issued a General Order to be read on parade before every Regiment in the Army, emphasising the 'remarkable gallantry and resolution' diplayed by all ranks of the 54th. Further to this, Major Brett and Captain Gillum, who were awarded Brevets, and two Lieutenants and 25 N.C.Os and men were 'specially commended' for conduct in these 'alarming and dangerous circumstances'.
Gillum went on to witness active service in the Indian Mutiny, from February 1858 until the end of hostilities. He commanded two Companies in the attack on Fort Tirhol on 21.3.1858 and participated in the taking of the rebel fort at Dehaign on 14.7.1858, and in the final assault on Tirhol between 17-18.7.1858. Gillum retired by the sale of his Commission in December 1861.
On 11.11.1857 the four-masted iron Steamer Sarah Sands was about 800 miles from Mauritius when shortly before 4 p.m. Sergeant Murray of the 54th's Grenadier Company reported smoke rising from an aft hatch. It was quickly discovered that a serious fire had developed in the stern hold. The ship's Master, Captain Castle, put the vessel's head to wind and prepared provisioned boats for the women, the sick and the younger Drummers, only to find his own crew swarming into them. Any hope of saving the vessel thus devolved on the Officers and men of the 54th. The first task was to clear the magazines of 90 barrels of powder, which was duly accomplished at no small risk though two barrels containing the ship's signalling powder were overlooked. Meanwhile, the greater part of the 54th had lined the ship's sides and were bringing up water to fight the flames in buckets, mess tins and other receptacles. The next greatest danger lay in the coal. A hole was cut in the deck by which the men kept the coal bunker drenched, while others poured water into the burning after-hold: 'In the smoke and heat man after man choked and fell senseless but was handed out and replaced by another, while all the time the buckets were being passed along. Sergeant Murray was conspicuous in this and Captain Gillum, cheerful and calm, did marvels in organising the work and keeping the men going'.
After four hours, the mizzen rigging flared up, bringing the mast crashing down over the side and causing the stern to veer round to windward, thereby spelling destruction. The mutinous sailors in the boats refused Captain Castle's instructions to take the ship in tow, and it was only due to the prompt action of a Lance-Corporal who cut the rigging free, that the ship's head could be returned to the windward by backing the mainsail: 'All this time the ship's pumps were kept going by willing hands, while a party under Captain Gillum started to cut away the bridge and deck cabins and heaved all the inflammable lumber overboard. Spare spars were lashed together into rafts, the boats being inadequate to accommodate the whole ship's company'. Captain Castle began to despair but was told by Major Brett, the Senior Officer of the 54th on board, "We shall fight on till driven overboard". The next crisis came at about midnight when the flames reached the magazine and the signalling powder exploded: 'The explosion hurled into the air masses of flaming debris, most of which fortunately fell clear of the ship, which rolled violently and dipped her stern so deep that she seemed about to founder. Then, as she righted and her stern rose, Captain Gillum's voice was heard shouting "She's all right, boys, pull away at the pumps".'
Worryingly, sharks attracted by the blaze could now be seen circling the ship, but a beneficial effect of the explosion had been to admit masses of water through a hole blown in the port quarter, which helped by 7 a.m. to extinguish the last of the flames. The boats were hoisted in board and the shame-faced sailors made to assist in rigging a jury-mast and making the other preparations for the voyage, without navigational instruments, of 800 miles to Mauritius. The weather was kind and on 24 November the crippled Sarah Sands crawled into Port Louis. When news of the remarkable escape reached the authorities at home, the Commander-in-Chief, the Duke of Cambridge, issued a General Order to be read on parade before every Regiment in the Army, emphasising the 'remarkable gallantry and resolution' diplayed by all ranks of the 54th. Further to this, Major Brett and Captain Gillum, who were awarded Brevets, and two Lieutenants and 25 N.C.Os and men were 'specially commended' for conduct in these 'alarming and dangerous circumstances'.
Gillum went on to witness active service in the Indian Mutiny, from February 1858 until the end of hostilities. He commanded two Companies in the attack on Fort Tirhol on 21.3.1858 and participated in the taking of the rebel fort at Dehaign on 14.7.1858, and in the final assault on Tirhol between 17-18.7.1858. Gillum retired by the sale of his Commission in December 1861.