Early in 1857, Neill returned to the
Indian subcontinent. Six weeks after his arrival came the news that all northern India was aflame with revolt (see the
Indian rebellion of 1857). Neill acted promptly; he left
Madras with his regiment at a moment's notice, and proceeded to
Benares. On 9 June, Neill set out for Allahabad, where a handful of Europeans still held out in the fort against the rebels. According to one of his officers, he also allowed troops under his command to
summarily execute non-combatants without due process and burn their houses. His Sikh forces stationed at
Jaunpur revolted upon seeing these atrocities. Meanwhile, Havelock, in spite of a succession of victories, had been compelled to fall back for lack of men; Neill criticized his superior's action. A second expedition had the same fate, and Neill himself was now attacked, though by his own exertions and Havelock's victory at Bithor (16 August) the tension on the communications was ended. Havelock's men returned to Cawnpore, and cholera broke out there, whereupon Neill again committed himself to criticisms, this time addressed to the commander-in-chief and to Outram, who was on the way with reinforcements. , photograph by Felice Beato In spite of his acts of insubordination, Havelock gave his rival a brigade command in the final advance. The famous march from Cawnpore to
Lucknow began on 18 September; on the 21st there was a sharp fight; on the 22nd incessant rain; on the 23rd intense heat. On the 23rd, the fighting opened with the assault on the Alum Bagh, Neill at the head of the leading brigade, exposing himself. The next day he was again heavily engaged, and on the 25th he led the attack on
Lucknow itself. His men were entering the city when Neill was suddenly killed in action, shot in the head at Khas Bazaar. ==Memorials==