WHEN THE AFRIDIS WERE UP.
One hundred and forty miles south of Chitral, as the crow flies, is the
border city of Peshawar, standing like a sentinel on the north-western
frontier of India. It is, indeed, the guardian of the gate, for before it
winds westward the famous Khyber Pass, which links Afghanistan with our
great Eastern Empire.
Peshawar stands almost in the heart of the Afridi country, surrounded
with the hill tribes of Mohmunds, Swats, Buners, Khels, Afridis and
Orakzais. Fierce warlike races are these, with whom from the beginning of
things we have had trouble. At one time we thought we had tamed them, and
we gave them the rifles they had hitherto stolen, put them into khaki,
and made them wardens of the passes. But the wild tribesmen cannot live
without fighting; disputes over boundaries arose, and these eventually
culminated in a rising that threatened to weaken our grip on these
frontier posts. Whence came the Malakand, Swat, and Tirah campaigns of
1897-98.
When in 1897 Sir William Lockhart, Commander-in-Chief in India, moved
towards the rebellious tribes with an army numbering 35,000 men, it was
evident that there was a powerful combination between the Mohammedan
clans in the hills north, west, and south of Peshawar, against British
rule. It was, in a sense, a Holy War, with Mad Mullahs as instigators,
though behind them was the sinister influence of the Amir of Afghanistan.
The campaigns were comparatively brief, but they must ever rank as among
the most difficult in modern history. The fighting was never in the open.
Our soldiers--Highlanders, Dorsets, and Ghurkas alike--had to scale
precipitous cliffs, worm their way up tortuous hillside paths, and storm
the stone “sangars” behind which their enemies were strongly posted.
In the tangle of hills in which the engagements took place the agile
Afridis and their brother-clansmen were perfectly at home. Rocks, caves,
and bushes afforded them ample shelter, and from the heights that lined
the passes they poured a deadly fire upon the British troops. The work of
dislodging them, of driving them from their strongholds, taxed the powers
of our men to the utmost.
Of the several V.C.’s won in this arduous mountain warfare the first fell
to Lieutenant Edward Costello, of the Indian Staff Corps, for a gallant
rescue of a native lance-havildar at Malakand. The wounded havildar lay
out in the open, exposed to the enemy’s fire, when the lieutenant saw
him, on a piece of ground, too, that was overrun with swordsmen. But the
young officer with a couple of sepoys ran out to his assistance, and
brought him into the hospital.
A month later, in the Swat valley beyond the Malakand Pass, three Crosses
were earned for a very brilliant action. At Landikai, on August 17th,
1897, the advance guard of Sir Bindon Blood’s brigade shelled the enemy
from their position and drove them out into the plain. Across this the
Swatis retreated at top speed, making for the shelter of the hills on the
other side.
In pursuit of the flying tribesmen went Colonel Robert Bellew Adams,
Captain Palmer, Lieutenant Greaves, and Viscount Fincastle, the latter
being present in the capacity of _Times_ correspondent. Palmer’s horse
was soon hit, its rider being saved by some of his men who galloped
after him. Greaves’ horse, becoming restive under the din of the firing,
suddenly bolted, and away went the lieutenant careering among the enemy.
Seeing him alone among the Swatis, Colonel Adams and Viscount Fincastle
spurred hastily to his rescue, but before they could reach him the
hapless lieutenant had been struck down by a swordsman. In the hope that
he was not killed they pushed on, and with a furious charge swept the
ground clear around his body.
A well-aimed shot now brought down Fincastle’s horse, leaving the young
war-correspondent to meet his enemies on foot. He at once endeavoured to
raise Greaves on to Adams’ saddle, but the wounded man slipped off again,
and a rush of Ghazis prevented a second attempt for the time. Standing
over the lieutenant’s body, Fincastle bravely kept the enemy at bay,
being well aided by Colonel Adams. Then two sowars rode up to them, and
another attempt was made to lift Greaves to the saddle. They succeeded in
their object, but another bullet hit the poor fellow again as they raised
him and killed him.
By this time Lieutenant MacLean of the same squadron had led the rest of
the troopers to the cover of some trees. Leaving them here, he dashed
out with three sowars to the others’ help. Shots fell thickly among
them from the Ghazis on the hillside, but together they managed to get
Greaves’ body on to a trooper’s horse, and at once made off for shelter.
Fincastle and MacLean were on foot, the latter’s horse having also been
shot; and as they went along the young lieutenant was hit in both thighs
and mortally wounded. Colonel Adams escaped with a sword-cut in his right
hand.
Both Adams and Fincastle received the V.C. for their brave attempt
to rescue Greaves, while Lieutenant Hector Lachlan Stewart MacLean
was gazetted at the same time as one who would have been awarded the
decoration had he lived.
* * * * *
There was a sharp piece of fighting in the Mamund Valley some weeks
later, where two young Engineer officers, Lieutenants Watson and Colvin,
distinguished themselves in driving the enemy from the burning village
of Bilot, and added V.C. to their names. But I must pass on to tell of
the famous storming of the heights of Dargai and of how the “gay Gordons”
there covered themselves with fresh glory.
In the advance of the British troops from Shinwari towards Karappa a
large portion of the division under Major-General Yeatman-Biggs was
ordered to take the route through the Chagru Kotal. As soon as this
movement was commenced, however, the Afridis posted themselves in great
force in the Samana Hills along the Khanki Valley, giving them the
command of the track along which the army must necessarily pass.
The working parties on the Chagru Kotal were so harassed by the Afridi
sharpshooters that it became important that the Dargai and other hills
in the vicinity should be cleared. On October 18th, Sir Power Palmer,
who was entrusted with the conduct of the operations in place of General
Yeatman-Biggs, who had fallen ill, made a sweeping attack on the Dargai
position. The 3rd Ghurkas, led by Lieutenant Beynon with a revolver in
one hand and an alpenstock in the other, led the dash up the cliff-side,
and successfully dislodged the enemy.
Unfortunately, for several reasons, the heights could not be held. The
water-supply was difficult of access, and to have placed a detachment
alone on Dargai while the Afridis were masters of the Khanki Valley
would have been to risk a serious disaster. Under orders from the
Commander-in-Chief, the troops therefore retired from the position.
As soon as this retreat was accomplished, the enemy, who had been greatly
reinforced, reoccupied the heights and set about constructing stone
“sangars,” in anticipation of another assault. This followed two days
later, after fresh preparations had been made. General Yeatman-Biggs
had proposed another route avoiding the Chagru defile, but Sir William
Lockhart determined to adhere to his original plan, viz. to force the
passage of the Chagru Kotal.
On Wednesday, October 20th, in the early morning, the troops,
strengthened by the addition of two battalions and a battery from the
first division, left the Shinwari camp. The honour of carrying the
Dargai heights, which had to be stormed immediately the Chagru Kotal
was reached, was given to the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Ghurkas, with
the Dorset and Derbyshire Regiments in the second and third lines
respectively. Behind these came the 1st Battalion of the Gordon
Highlanders (the old 75th).
To understand properly the difficult nature of the task set them,
something must be said about Dargai itself. I cannot do better than quote
the description given by Captain Shadwell in his excellent book on the
campaign.
“The village of Dargai lies on the northern side of a small plateau.
The eastern edge of this tableland breaks off, at first, in an almost
abrupt cliff; but some distance lower down the ground, though very steep,
shelves away less precipitously. This slope is thrown out from the bottom
of the cliff in the form of a narrow and razor-like spur, with the path
or track lying along its northern side, well within view and range of
the cliff-head. But by climbing along the southern side of this spur,
troops can move from Chagru Kotal, or certainly from Mama Khan, a village
half-way between the former place and the plateau, unseen by the enemy.
“Connecting the crest of the spur, however, and the foot of the cliff,
there is a narrow neck or saddle one hundred yards long by thirty broad,
whose sides are far too precipitous to allow of any movement along
them. Though devoid of all cover and completely exposed to the heights
above, this ridge had to be crossed, so as to reach the path ascending
to the summit; and here it was that the casualties in the attack by
Brigadier-General Westmacott’s Brigade (on the 18th) and the heavier
losses of the 20th occurred.”
This, then, was the dangerous passage to be “rushed” by our troops. In
addition to its exposure to the enemy’s fire, it may be added that the
ground was thickly strewn with rocks and boulders which greatly impeded
progress.
As on the first assault, the post of honour was allotted to those game
little fighters, the Ghurkas. The 1st Battalion of the 2nd Ghurkas,
with a party of specially trained scouts from the 3rd, under Lieutenant
Tillard, swarmed up the slope at the word of command and dashed headlong
across the zone of fire. In the rush through the pitiless rain of bullets
that at once descended two officers fell, one shot dead and the other
mortally wounded, while thirty men bit the dust, never to rise again; but
the rest reached cover on the opposite side.
After the brave Ghurkas, the Dorsets and the Derbys tried time and time
again to follow, only to be mowed down in heaps. All that succeeded in
crossing the ridge were a few who made a dash for it singly or in small
parties. How deadly was the marksmanship of the Afridis is shown by the
fact that when Lieutenant Hewett, of the Dorsetshire Regiment, led a
section forward, he was _the only one_ to reach the crouching Ghurkas.
Every one of the men following him was killed.
It was in a pause at this juncture that Private Vickery, of the same
regiment, made himself conspicuous by running out repeatedly and at last
succeeding in dragging back to shelter a wounded comrade who was lying
out in the open; this and several other acts of bravery gaining him a
V.C. in due course.
For a time it seemed a sheer impossibility that the position could be
carried, though the artillery was playing upon the enemy’s sangars
continually. Noon came, and still the three companies of Ghurkas were
waiting under the cover of the rocks until their comrades should join
them for the final dash up the heights.
At last General Yeatman-Biggs ordered that the position must be taken
at all costs. Brigadier-General Kempster, in command of the brigade,
now brought forward the 1st Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders and the
3rd Sikhs, and told them they were to make the assault. Far up on the
hillside the jubilant Afridis were shouting defiance, amid the waving
of standards and beating of drums, confident that their stronghold was
impregnable. They rejoiced too soon.
Drawing up his men, Colonel Mathias, of the Gordons, said: “Highlanders!
the General says the position must be taken at all costs. The Gordons
will take it!”
With their Colonel, Major Forbes Macbean, and Lieutenant Gordon at their
head, and their pipers, Findlater and Milne, playing the familiar “Cock
o’ the North,” the Gordons dashed over the fiery zone, with the Derbys,
the Dorsets, and the Sikhs pressing close behind them.
Almost the first to be hit were Major Macbean, who cheered on his men
as he lay on the ground, and the two pipers. Milne was shot through the
lung and fell senseless, but Piper “Jock” Findlater, who was shot in both
ankles, propped himself up against a boulder and continued to play his
pipes with unabated energy. And to the inspiriting strains of the old
regimental air, the Highlanders and the others got across.
[Illustration: PIPER FINDLATER … PROPPED HIMSELF UP AGAINST A BOULDER AND
CONTINUED TO PLAY HIS PIPES.--_Page 236._]
It was perhaps owing to the suddenness of the rush after the long wait,
and to the renewed artillery fire, that the Gordons accomplished the task
with fewer losses than had attended the previous attempts; yet for all
that the casualties were heavy. In the charge up the steep slope, where
some of the Afridis were already turning tail, more men were to fall ere
the heights were won; but won they were, the enemy being sent flying in
all directions.
It was a grand dash, worthy of the splendid reputation of the Gordons,
and well did they deserve the burst of cheers with which the other
regiments spontaneously greeted them as they returned. Sir William
Lockhart, too, at a parade two days afterwards, had a word or two to say
about that exploit which filled the Highlanders with pride.
For his gallantry in continuing to play his pipes while wounded “Jock”
Findlater in time was awarded the Victoria Cross. There were many who
considered that Piper Milne also merited the honour, but the authorities
thought differently, and his claim was passed over.
Two other Crosses on the same day were gained by Private Lawson, of the
Gordons, for rescuing Lieutenant Dingwall and a fellow-private under a
most severe fire; and by Lieutenant H. S. Pennell, of the Derbyshires,
for a brave endeavour to save Captain Smith of the same regiment. Only
after a second attempt, when he discovered that the wounded officer was
dead, did Lieutenant Pennell desist from his efforts.
What other gallant deeds were performed equally deserving of reward it
is impossible to say. In the fierce swirl of the fight many must have
passed unnoticed, and many heroes must have fallen at the moment of their
self-sacrifice. But we do know that it was not only British officers and
men who distinguished themselves in that memorable fight. For the record
speaks of one Kirpa Ram Thapa, a native officer of the 2nd Ghurkas, who
though badly wounded in two places refused to fall out, and insisted on
leading his company to the very end.
One other story that I may note has a humorous touch about it, and is
characteristic of the good terms on which officers and men are in the
Highland regiments. As the Gordons streamed up the ascent to the summit
of Dargai, after their bold dash, Colonel Mathias, who was not quite the
man he was in his younger days, showed signs of being winded.
“Stiff climb, eh, Mackie?” he said, turning to his colour-sergeant, who
was by him; “I’m--not--so young--as I--was, you know.”
“Never mind, sir!” the sergeant is said to have answered, slapping his
colonel encouragingly on the back and nearly knocking the remaining
breath out of him. “_Ye’re gaun verra strong for an auld man!_”