Members of the Sirmoor Battalion outside Hindu Rao's house on the Delhi Ridge, 1858 (c)

Photograph by Felice Beato (1825-1907), Indian Mutiny, 1858 (c).

The house was built in 1820 for William Fraser (1784-1835), agent to the Governor General in Delhi, and was bought by the Mahratta Chief Hindu Rao after Fraser's death. It was then the scene of fierce fighting during the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859). During the Siege of Delhi in 1857, the house was garrisoned by the Sirmoor Battalion (later 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles) and 1st Battalion The King's Royal Rifle Corps, who were both subjected to repeated forays by the mutineers inside the city. The garrison was under continuous fire for over three months until the British had finally gathered enough men to assault Delhi in September. During that period the Sirmoor Battalion suffered 327 casualties out of a total strength of 490, including eight of their nine British officers.