Little Andaman Island

7 May 1867

The Andaman Islands are in the bay of Bengal.

A captain and some crew of the ship, Assam Valley, landed on Little Andaman Island to fetch wood. When these men did not return, they were feared to have been eaten by cannibals.

A ship was sent to investigate, and a detachment of the 24th Regiment went ashore. Fighting off natives they discovered the bodies of the missing sailors, but when their ammunition run out they had to resort to hand to hand fighting.

Getting back to their boat they had to tackle rough seas and surf to reach their ship.