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With the Tonghoo Field Force, Burma-Somerset Light Infantry Crossing the Twsa River, from a Sketch by a Military Officer
16 January 1886
Wood-engraving
32 cm high by 22.3 cm wide — 11 ⅞ inches by 8 ⅞ inches
Illustration for The Graphic, p. 53. [Click on image to enlarge it.]
Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham. See below for commentary.
The Anglo-Burmese Wars between two expanding empires, the British Empire and the Konbaung dynasty, had three stages: the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-26); the Second Anglo-Burmese War (1852-53); and the Third Anglo-Burmese War (1885-86). The British finally succeeded in annexing the last part of Burma's once-extensive empire, Upper Burma, on 1 January 1886. The Konbaung dynasty had been brought down, and King Thibaw deposed, in British India's most expensive and longest oconflict, costing £400 million and spanning six decades.
The Graphic's caption here indicates that the British regiment from Somerset had been renamed and repurposed for the final stage of the war. The camaraderie of the young British soldiers wading manfully through waist-high water carrying their tropical kit seems designed to elicit the unqualified support of a patriotic British public.
When the proclamation of imperial annexation was formally delivered by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, Lord Dufferin (1844-1910), the once independent country was reduced to a mere province of British India. However, "resistance continued for several years" (Aung-Thwin). A few months later, the periodical would run more illustrations of fighting in Burma.
Left: Detail of the head of the column of British Mounted Police fording the river on foot. Centre: The Head of the Column — Mounted Police Scouts entering Gyobin (16 January 1886, p. 63). Right: In the administrative headquarters of the Police in Hkamti District, Gyobin Police Guard-House and Stockade — Exterior, with Barbed Wire Defences (16 January 1886, p. 63).
When the proclamation of imperial annexation was formally delivered by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, Lord Dufferin (1844-1910), the once independent country was reduced to a mere province of British India. However, "resistance continued for several years" (Aung-Thwin). A few months later, the periodical would run more illustrations of fighting in Burma.
Our engravings are from sketches by an officer now serving in Burma, and show some of the skirmishes which have taken place between our troops and the rebels during the campaign. The first depicts some Dacoits being shelled by our guns from the top of the cliff at Popa Pass, on March 19th, our force consisting of the 8th King's Regiment, 2nd Queen's Own Bengal Light Infantry, 11th Bengal Infantry, a mountain battery of two guns, and a detachment of Sappers and Miners. The whole force was commanded by Colonel Ommaney, 11th Bengal Infantry. The enemy held a strong position, but, after some sharp fighting, were defeated, and retired with loss. One gunner was wounded. ["The Late Rebellion in Lower Burma," Vol. 34, p. 5]
Aung-Thwin, Michael Arthur. "The British in Burma, 1885—1948." The Encyclopedia Britannica, britannica.com/topic/history-of-Myanmar/The-British-in-Burma-1885-1948 (Accessed 27 March 2025).
“The Fighting in Burma.” The Graphic: An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper, Vol. 34 (3 July 1886): 5.
“With the Tonghoo Field Force, Burma-Somerset Light Infantry Crossing the Twsa River,” from a Sketch by a Military Officer. The Graphic: An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper, No. 842, Vol. 33 (16 January 1886): 53.
Created 5 April 2025