All Souls Church, Cawnpore

Pastor Frank Carroll

At the time of Indian Independence in 1947 the
Memorial at Cawnpore was dismantled and removed  
to within the Memorial Church compound
(the Wheeler entrenchment). Above is a vintage pic
of the Memorial Well

The bust of Tantya Tope atop a plinth covering what was
the Memorial Well situated in the Nana Rao Park, Kanpur.
where in July 1857 about 200 women and children
were massacred and their remains thrown into the well.
It is strange that at the time of India's Independence
it was decided to dismantle the memorial around the
well and move it to the church compound. It is even
 more strange, bizarre, that the bust of Tatya Tope, 
Nana Sahib's general should be installed 
over the well! 
**
In top pic Mark Probett, a descendant of a family 
that was all but wiped out except for two boys, boarders 
at La Martiniere College, were at the Lucknow Residency.
Keeping to local custom Mark held a 'puja' for the 200
souls that were thrown down the well.
Mark writes: The story of Cawnpore has drawn me twice
to India over the last 3 years or so. It is quite 
extraordinary the doors that have opened since my first 
interest and the various people who I can really call my
good friends, who have popped up around the world
and directly related to those events. Even Sir Mark
Havelock Allan, great grandson of Sir Henry Havelock
of first relief of Lucknow.
My father was born in Allahabad, his father in Jamalpore
father before (at) Cawnpore and great, great grandfather
William Probett born England, but at the age of 16
arrived in Calcutta with the Bengal Horse Artillery, 3rd
Troup, 3rd Brigade.
William, his young wife Ellen and their 7 children, plus 
Ellen's large family of Walshes and brothers-in-law
were all at Wheelers Entrenchment and I presume
mostly all killed there, or Sati Chaura Ghat. 22 in
total. I am certain that their paths would have crossed
with Jonah Shepherd and his good wife Ellen, brother 
Daniel...

(to be concluded)   

The Memorial Church, Kanpur
Pics from Pastor
Frank Carroll sent
through Ruth Shepherd who had

grown up in Kanpur

 The well that provided the beleaguered people at the
entrenchment with water
(Pic courtesy Mark Probett)