Chin Drum

In May 1889, 65 men of the 2nd Battalion with 60 Gurkhas were sent to attack the village of Tartan. Tartan was defended by two stockades behind which the Chin tribesmen were well defended. Captain Otway Mayne and 65 of the Norfolk Regiment, along with 60 Gurkhas, attacked the Dacoit village of Tartan. It was strongly defended with two stockades and in the end a bayonet charge was made against the lower stockade. Maj Otway Mayne later wrote:

“Lt Michel was killed about 10 to 15 yards away from me in a ravine close against a concealed stockade; in fact, I was going down to fetch him out when I got knocked over and Surgeon-Captain Le Quesne went down and bound him up and brought him out. Le Quesne was later tying up my right arm for me when a bullet passed between us and got him in the left arm. I was with young Michel when he died, about ten minutes later, having been shot high up in the femoral artery. On this occasion also Corporal Stephenson distinguished himself. He was killed and died at the same time as Michel from a spear wound in the throat”