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The War in India
The Illustrated London
News - Sketches in the Punjaub and Sikh Country - Sikh Guide
at Prayer 07/03/1846
Sardar Sham Singh, seeing
his army facing defeat, took the final fatal plunge. He
spurred forward against the 50th Foot, brandishing his sword
and calling on his men to follow him. But soon he fell from
his horse, his body pierced with seven balls. He had remained
true to his vow to the last. Bravely the Sardar had not
only gone forward to defend his own positions, but had pushed
deep into the enemy lines. As proof of this his dead body,
according to the British Commanderin-Chief, 'was sought
for in the captured camp by his followers', who were permitted
to search for their dead leader. His body was discovered
where the dead lay thickest. His servants placed the body
on a raft and swam with it across the river. Three days
later the party reached Attari. Sham Singh's widow, who
knew of her husband's resolution not to survive defeat,
had already immolated herself with the clothes which the
Sardar had worn on their wedding day. Her Samadh along with
that of her husband is still to be seen outside the village
of Attari. - Winston Churchill Accounts of Anglo-Sikh Wars,
by Karnail Singh
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