The Sammy House and Sabzi Mandi, Delhi, India 23 June 1857

23 June 1857

The centenary of the Battle of Plassey fell on 23 June 1857 and there was a widespread belief in India that British rule would end on that day. The mutineers chose it to mount another attack on the rear of the British position. They advanced through the Sabzi Mandi, to the south-west of the Ridge, threatening the Mound Battery to the north, which protected the British camp, and Hindu Rao’s House on the Ridge itself. The British cleared the streets of the Sabzi Mandi three times but on each occasion the mutineers reoccupied them. Fighting continued all day but the British eventually prevailed, strengthened by the arrival at Delhi earlier in the day of reinforcements under Major W Olpherts VC. A picket was posted in Sabzi Mandi to prevent further rebel incursions through it. In the fighting that day Colour Sergeant S Garvin, 60th Regiment, led an attack on the Sammy House (a corruption of Swami House or Temple), on the City side of the southern end of the Ridge, while Private J McGovern distinguished himself by rescuing a wounded soldier.