Gun II.274 ‘Sutlej Gun’

Sikh Horse Artillery Light 6pr (5 seer) Cal: 3.25" (5.5 pounder)

Panjab, Lahore, about 1838

Throughout Maharajah Ranjit Singh‘s reign, Sikh engineers had access to East India Company patterns and workshops, as well as periodic diplomatic gifts of cannon. These accelerated artillery development to such an extent that by the late 1830‘s, Sikh artillery rivalled that of the Company in both quantity and quality.

This cannon is one of the finest surviving examples and clearly shows the exceptional technical and artistic expertise in the Sikh foundries and workshops. The barrel, produced in Lahore in 1838, is based on the British Light 6 pounder; the carriage on the Bengal artillery pattern introduced in 1823, but lavishly decorated with brass, copper, steel and mother of pearl inlay.

This cannon was almost certainly captured at the Battle of Aliwal, where four guns attributed to the work of the prominent Sikh engineer, Lehna Singh Majithia, were singled out for specific mention. It may have been made for the Fauj-I-Khas, or Royal Brigade, the elite brigade of the Sikh army. Commanded by his best French officers, using French drill and Imperial flags and eagles, it was also known as the ‘French Brigade‘ or the ‘French Legion‘.

Image©Royal Artillery Historical Trust