About this Edition
"Twelve years in the army" by John G. Gollan is a military memoir written in the mid-19th century. It recounts a Scottish Highlander’s service with the 79th Cameron Highlanders across the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion, blending frontline action, camp hardships, and plainspoken reflections. The focus is on battles such as Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and the siege of Sebastopol, followed by operations around Cawnpore and Lucknow, and ends with his return voyage. The voice is direct and patriotic, often advocating for recognition of the rank-and-file soldier. The opening of the memoir traces the author’s humble Inverness upbringing, youthful fascination with soldiering, and eventual enlistment in the 79th at Edinburgh. It swiftly moves into the Crimean campaign: embarkation via Varna, cholera losses, the landing in the Crimea, the assault at Alma, the “thin red line” at Balaclava, the brutal hand-to-hand fighting at Inkerman, a desperate winter with daring forays for firewood, and the final bombardment culminating in the fall of Sebastopol. After a triumphant but sobering return and royal review, the narrative turns to India in 1857: arrival at Calcutta, a hard march via Benares and Allahabad, a skirmish en route, the grim scenes at Cawnpore, and the assault on Lucknow (including a night barricade at the iron bridge and fierce street fighting, followed by plunder). It then condenses pursuit and battles across Rohilkhand around Bareilly, punitive actions against mutineers,
Subjects & Topics
Great Britain. Army. Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Themes & Literary Context
As an enduring classic of Great Britain. Army. Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, Twelve years in the army: or, The incidents of a soldier's life explores core human themes of great britain. army. queen's own cameron highlanders. This verified public domain edition preserves the complete original text with in-browser privacy and full offline access.
Estimated Length
approx. 65,000 words
Est. Reading Time
5 hours
