BIHT Lecture: Monday 7 July 2025, 17:00-19:30pm
Valerie Haye, of the BIHT (British in India Historical Trust), has supplied the following details of a lecture on Sir Charles James Napier (1782-1853), being given on Monday 7 July by Peter Stanley:
A Slashing Onslaught: Sir Charles James Napier in India
Peter Stanley
Monday 7 July 2025, 17:00-19:30
East India Club, 16 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LH
‘Sir Charles James Napier was one of Victorian Britain’s most celebrated generals: his statue stands in Trafalgar Square. A hero of the Peninsular War he won fame as the conqueror of Scinde. Colourful and controversial he was mercurial: a complex and fascinating commander in war and in peace. In 1849 Napier was appointed commander-in-chief, India, clashing with governor-general Lord Dalhousie over army reform and resigning prematurely amid rancour. Why did Napier act as he did? What led him to defy Dalhousie? Did the controversy doom the Bengal Army to mutiny in 1857? Why was Napier one of the most outstanding but also the most contentious commander-in-chief of the Indian armies?
Peter Stanley, a BACSA member, recently retired from the University of New South Wales, Canberra, as Research Professor. He has published widely on the history of the Indian Army, including White Mutiny (1998), Die in Battle, Do not Despair: The Indians on Gallipoli, 1915 (2015), Terriers in India: British Territorials 1914-19 (2019), Hul! Hul! : The Suppression of the Santal Rebellion in Bengal, 1855 (2022) and John Company’s Armies: The Military Forces of British India, 1824-57 (2024)’.
The lecture will be preceded by drinks and book sales from 5pm in the East India Room, where drinks can be purchased from the pay bar. The lecture will take place in the Clive Room at 6pm. For those who would like to stay, an optional two-course meal (main course, dessert and coffee) will follow at 7.30pm in the East India Room. Dietary requirements accommodated where notified. Drinks can be purchased separately. Dress code: jacket and tie (men); dress or smart separates (women). All welcome.
Tickets for the lecture cost £20 and for the lecture and meal £65. Drinks can be purchased separately.
Bookings: https://www.britishinindia.org.uk/live-lectures-2025
Bookings for the meal close on 30 June.
Bookings for the lecture close on 6 July.
Valerie Haye, British in India Historical Trust
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Diary Dates
BACSA Newsletter readers, family and friends may be interested in the following events:
| Date / Time | Event | Place |
| On now (until Sunday 19 October 2025) | Ancient India – Living Traditions This new exhibition explores the origin of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist sacred art in the ancient and powerful nature spirits of India, and the spread of this art beyond the subcontinent. | British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG Click here for further details, and to make a booking. |
| Saturday 28 Jun 2025, 10:00-16:30 | FIBIS (Families in British India Society) Open Meeting and Annual General Meeting | Union Jack Club, Sandell Street, London SE1 8UJ. Click here to register for this free event. |
| Monday 7 Jul 2025, 17:00-19:30 | ‘A Slashing Onslaught – Sir Charles Napier in India’ BIHT (The British in India Historical Trust) Lecture by Prof Peter Stanley | The East India Club, 16 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LH. Click here for further details, and to make a booking. |
| Wednesday 16 Jul 2025, 6:00pm | ‘Unfolding the Story of the abandoned Sheikhupura Fort: From a Haveli and a Royal Hunting Palace of the Mughals, to a British prison for the Sikh Maharani’ Commonwealth Heritage Forum Lecture in the series ‘Lost/Abandoned Places across the Commonwealth‘ by Saba Samee | Zoom lecture, free. Click here for further details, and zoom joining instructions. |
| Thursday 31 Jul 2025, 6:00pm for 6:30pm | ‘The Narinda Cemetery of Old Dacca’ Lecture by BACSA Executive Committee Members Charles Greig and Rosie Llewellyn-Jones | The East India Club, 16 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LH. Click Events to register and book tickets. |
| Sunday 5 Oct 2025 – Friday 17 Oct 2025 | British India: The East India Company & Mutiny Tour A 13-day tour in India led by Dr Rosie Llewellyn-Jones | Delhi, Meerut, Lucknow, Cawnpore, Serampore, Calcutta. Click here (or ring 020-8901-7320) for further details. |
| Thursday 16 Oct 2025, 11:30am | BACSA General Meeting (Members only) | Union Jack Club, Sandell Street, London SE1 8UJ. Further details (including registration instructions) will be published nearer the date. |
| Sunday 26 Oct 2025 | 150th anniversary of CSI Christ Church, Salem to include ‘Holy Communion Service, a Congregation feast and a concluding ceremony’. All are welcome to attend the church’s sesquicentennial celebrations – including descendants of former congregation members. | CSI Christ Church, Fort Road, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. For further details, please contact: ‘csichurchsalem@gmail.com‘. |
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