26 MAY 1928, Page 29

A pathetic and a unique interest attaches to Oude in

1857 (Williams and Norgate, 5s.), for its author, • now in his ninety-fourth year, is the last surviving officer of those who took part in Lawrence's defence of Lucknow. Colonel Bonham was at the time a subaltern in the Bengal Artillery and attached to the Oude. Irregular Force, and he describes :the various mutinous incidents in Oude which led up to the mutineers' final investment of Lucknow, though of the siege itself failing health hai prevented his giving any account. The book is a renewal of proud and sad memories—of the staunchness of the Sikhs, of the refusal, half fatuous, half admirable, of regimental officers to believe in the disaffection of their troops, of the hairbreadth escapes and hideous sufferings of British men, women, and children, and of the calm and steadfast courage of Sir Henry Lawrence. A very notable little footnote to Indian history.