BATTLE HONOURS FOR THE FIRST AFGHAN WAR, 1839-1842
Afghanistan, 1839-1842--Ghuznee, 1839--Khelat, 1839--Kahun,
1840--Jelalabad--Khelat-i-Ghilzai--Candahar, 1842--Ghuznee,
1842--Cabool, 1842--Cutchee.
AFGHANISTAN.
This distinction is borne by the
4th Hussars.
Somerset Light Infantry.
The Queen's.
Royal Munster Fusiliers.
Leicesters.
31st D.C.O. Lancers.
3rd Skinner's Horse.
3rd Sappers and Miners.
34th Poona Horse.
2nd Q.O. Light Infantry.
5th Light Infantry.
6th Light Infantry.
16th Lancers.
119th Multan Regiment.
It commemorates their share in the ill-judged campaign which had
for its object the forcible imposition of an unpopular Sovereign
on an unwilling people. Many of the oldest and most experienced of
our Indian statesmen foretold disaster from the outset. The Duke
of Wellington expressed himself in no measured terms on the folly
of endeavouring to overthrow the _de facto_ ruler of Afghanistan,
and to put on his throne a monarch who did not own an acre of
land nor a rupee which he did not owe to our bounty. Unsuccessful
negotiations were entered into with Runjeet Singh, the ruler of
the Punjab, with a view to permitting our army to march through
the Punjab. This favour was refused, and the Bengal troops, which
mobilized at Ferozepore, were compelled to march down the left bank
of the Sutlej, through Bhawulpore, and then, crossing the Indus by
a bridge of boats thrown across that river at Bukkur, to traverse
the desert of Scinde, and, ascending the Bolan Pass, to enter
Afghanistan by way of Kandahar. The chief command it was intended
should have been held by Sir Harry Fane, the Commander-in-Chief in
India, but at the last moment--indeed, after the army had assembled
at Ferozepore--its composition was considerably reduced, and Sir
John Keane, the Commander-in-Chief in Bombay, assumed the command.
The troops destined for the expedition consisted of some 27,000
men, including the reserve divisions at Ferozepore and in Scinde,
and were brigaded as under:
Cavalry Division--Major-General E. Thackwell: Wing of the 4th
Hussars, 16th Lancers, the 2nd and 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry, a
wing of the 1st Bombay Cavalry (now the 31st Duke of Connaught's
Own Lancers), the 34th Poona Horse, the 1st and 4th Local Horse
(now the 1st Duke of York's Own Lancers), and the 3rd Skinner's
Horse.
This fine force of cavalry was formed in three brigades:
First Infantry Division--Major-General Sir W. Cotton.
First Brigade--Brigadier-General J. R. Sale, C.B.: 13th (Somerset
Light Infantry), the 16th and 48th Regiments of Bengal Infantry.
Second Brigade--Major-General W. Nott, C.B.: 31st, 42nd, and 43rd
Regiments of Bengal Infantry.
Third Brigade--Brigadier-General A. Roberts: 2nd Bengal European
Regiment, 30th, 35th, and 37th Regiments of Bengal Infantry.
The 35th Bengal Infantry was left at Bukkur to hold the bridge
over the Indus, and preparations were made to punish the Scinde
Sirdars, who evinced a determination to oppose the passage of our
troops through their country. Wiser counsels prevailed, possibly
due to the fact that H.M.S. _Wellesley_ had with a couple of
broadsides knocked the forts at Kurrachee into pieces, and that
the Bombay troops were advancing from the south. On reaching
Quettah, the Bombay column, which was under Sir John Keane, the
Commander-in-Chief, joined hands with the Bengal army. This force
consisted of the 4th Hussars, the two Bombay cavalry regiments
named above, the 2nd (Queen's), 17th (Leicesters), and the 19th
(now the 119th) Bombay Infantry. Leaving the 43rd Bengal Infantry
at Quettah, the army pushed on to Kandahar, losing an immense
number of its baggage animals _en route_, and suffering much from
marauding Baluchis, and still more from the terrible heat in the
passes. It must be remembered that the men marched in leather
stocks, in leather shakos, and red coatees! In June the army
reached Kandahar, and thence a force was detached, under Brigadier
Sale, to the Helmund River, meeting with a certain amount of
opposition. Leaving a strong garrison under Colonel Herring in
Kandahar, and entrusting the chief command in Southern Afghanistan
to General Nott, the Commander-in-Chief advanced to the north
towards the end of June, reaching the neighbourhood of Ghuznee
on July 21, where the first serious opposition was encountered,
the Afghans being signally worsted by our cavalry, who were well
handled by General Thackwell, a Peninsular veteran, who had lost an
arm at Waterloo.
GHUZNEE, 1839.
This battle honour was the first granted during the reign of Queen
Victoria, and was awarded to the following regiments, who were
present at the storming of the Afghan fortress by Sir John Keane on
July 23, 1839:
4th Hussars.
16th Lancers.
The Queen's (R.W. Surrey).
13th Somerset L.I.
17th Leicesters.
1st Bengal Fus. (Munsters).
3rd Skinner's Horse.
31st Duke of Connaught's Lancers.
34th Poona Horse.
3rd Sappers and Miners.
119th Multan Regiment.
All the regiments of the old Bengal army which participated in this
feat of arms, or in the subsequent operations in Afghanistan, were
swept away in the Mutiny of 1857.
Sir John Keane, against the advice of his artillery officers, had
left his siege-train behind, owing to difficulties of carriage, and
there was nothing to be done but to carry Ghuznee by storm. There
were men present who had assisted at the storming of Bhurtpore in
1826, and all remembered the terrible losses incurred by Lord
Lake's army at the unsuccessful assaults of that fortress in
1805. The prospect was not a pleasing one, but with the Oriental
_l'audace, l'audace, toujours l'audace_ is the best policy in the
long-run. On July 23 Keane carried the place by assault with but
trifling loss, and so earned a peerage.
CASUALTIES AT THE STORMING OF GHUZNEE, JULY 28, 1839.
+-------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|4th Hussars | - | - | - | - |
|16th Lancers | - | - | - | - |
|2nd Queen's | - | 6 | 4 | 27 |
|17th Leicester | - | - | - | - |
|13th Somerset L.I. | - | 1 | 1 | 30 |
|Munster Fus. | - | 9 | 1 | 51 |
|Bengal Artillery | - | - | - | - |
|Bombay Artlly. | - | - | - | - |
|Bombay Engrs. | - | 1 | - | - |
|3rd Skinner's H. | ? | ? | ? | ? |
|31st Lancers | ? | ? | ? | ? |
|34th Poona H. | - | - | - | - |
|119th Mult. R. | - | - | - | - |
+-------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
On August 8 the army reached Kabul, and the puppet Shah Sujah was
installed on the throne, the brave Dost Mohammed flying before
our arms, only to rally for a fresh desperate venture for the
kingdom. The Bombay column was now ordered back by way of Ghuznee
and Kandahar, and the Commander-in-Chief, with the 16th Lancers
and some details of the 13th Light Infantry and of the Bengal
regiments, returned to India by the Khyber.
KHELAT, NOVEMBER 13, 1839.
This battle honour is borne by the
Queen's (Royal West Surrey).
Leicesters.
3rd Skinner's Horse.
3rd Sappers and Miners.
2nd Q.O. Rajput L.I.
It commemorates a scarcely remembered, but very successful, affair
carried out by a column of the invading army of Afghanistan. On
the capture of Ghuznee (p. 254) and the flight of Dost Mohammed,
it was erroneously anticipated that the people of the country were
willing to accept Shah Sujah as their Sovereign. Sir John Keane,
misled by the political officers, determined to send back a large
portion of his army to India, and whilst one column was to return
by the Khyber Pass, in the north, another was told off to return by
the Bolan, in the south. This column was placed under the command
of Major-General Willshire, and comprised the regiments above
named, with a company of Bombay Artillery and one of Sappers. All
were much under their proper strength, and this I touch upon in
passing, as it brings out into stronger relief the nature of the
task achieved by General Willshire's force.
STRENGTH OF BRITISH TROOPS.
The Queen's 13 officers, 331 other ranks.
Leicesters 24 " 374 " "
Artillery 2 " 38 " "
STRENGTH OF NATIVE TROOPS.
2nd Q.O. Light Inf. 11 officers, 373 other ranks.
Sappers 3 " 127 " "
The Baluch tribes had shown themselves uniformly hostile towards
us during the whole course of the expedition to Afghanistan. They
had attacked our convoys, murdered officers, and cut up camp
followers with impunity, and apparently with the full approval
of their chiefs. General Willshire, on the return march of the
Bombay column, was instructed to inflict condign punishment on
the Khans of Khelat. These, on the other hand, determined to make
a sturdy resistance. On approaching Khelat the General found the
Baluchis massed on the heights surrounding the city, and he at
once took measures to attack them. Whilst the Bombay artillery
shelled the heights, three columns of infantry, each consisting
of but four weak companies, pushed up the three principal spurs,
the remainder of the force, under the General's own personal
command, being held in reserve. The Bombay artillery always held
the reputation of being second to none, and the accuracy of their
fire not only silenced the few Baluch guns which were posted on
the heights, but compelled the enemy to seek shelter behind the
walls of the fortress before the advancing columns had come to
close quarters. The General, seeing the enemy streaming towards
the walls, endeavoured to forestall them, and it became a race as
to who should reach the open gateway first. Although in this we
were beaten by a short head, yet we were so close in rear of the
Baluchis that they were unable to make any very well-organized
stand: our men were close at their heels. The gates were blown in,
and British private, well supported by the Bengal sepoy, pressed
into the place. If we compare the numbers present at Khelat with
those which assisted at the storming of Ghuznee, and then study the
two casualty lists, it will at once be seen that, although the name
of Khelat may not be so familiar as that of Ghuznee, the feat of
General Willshire's army is in no way inferior to that which gained
for Sir John Keane the title of Baron Keane of Ghuznee.
CASUALTIES AT THE STORMING OF KHELAT.
+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|The Queen's | 1 | 5 | 2 | 42 |
|Leicesters | - | 1 | 6 | 32 |
|2nd Q.O. L.I. | - | 2 | 2 | 17 |
|Bombay Saps. and Miners | - | - | 2 | 6 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
KAHUN, 1840.
_105th Mahratta Light Infantry._
In the month of March, 1841, the Governor of Bombay issued the
following Order in Council:
"In order to testify his admiration of the gallantry, prudence, and
perseverance which distinguished Captain Brown in the defence of
Kahun, and the fidelity and bravery of the officers and men under
his command, the 5th Regiment of Native Infantry shall be permitted
to have 'Kahun' inscribed on their colours and borne on their
appointments."
Outside the ranks of the 105th Mahratta Light Infantry there are
few who know of the gallant deed which this one word commemorates.
On his return to India after the successful capture of Ghuznee, Sir
John Keane deemed it advisable to occupy the forts of Quetta and
Kahun, commanding as they did two passes between Afghanistan and
the Lower Indus. Quetta is well known to the present generation of
soldiers, but Kahun is still in the territory of the Murri tribe.
It is situated in a valley some ten miles long by five broad, at
the western extremity of an exceedingly difficult pass. The town in
1840 was surrounded by a lofty wall, 25 feet in height, with six
bastions, but unprovided with a ditch. The force told off to hold
the fort consisted of 300 men of the 105th Mahratta Light Infantry
(then the 5th Bombay Infantry), under a Captain Lewis Brown, of
that corps. He was instructed to move in with six months' supplies,
as it was considered quite possible that the Baluchis would refuse
to supply him with provisions. The 500 camels, with provisions,
were to be escorted back to Sukkur, on the Indus, by a company
of the 5th and a squadron of the Scinde Irregular Horse, under
Lieutenant Clarke of the 5th, who were to march up to Kahun under
Brown's orders. Two guns were at first told off for this force, but
this order was afterwards countermanded. However, Brown, contrary
to orders, did succeed in taking one gun with him. Leaving Sukkur
late in April, Brown reached Kahun on May 12, his march having
been vigorously opposed by the Baluchis. On the 15th he sent back
the camels, adding a second company to the infantry escort, as he
considered the attitude of the tribes very threatening. He thus
reduced his force to 140 bayonets, 12 gunners, and 1 gun. On the
return march Clarke's little force was attacked by a large body of
Baluchis and totally annihilated. Brown now saw that he would have
to fight for life. He at once commenced to strengthen the walls,
levelled all houses in the immediate neighbourhood, cut down all
trees within musketry range, and dug a ditch round the place. On
August 31 an effort was made to relieve him. Major Clibborn, of the
101st Grenadiers, with 300 bayonets of his own regiment, 200 sabres
of the Scinde Horse, with three guns, reached the foot of the
pass, within sound of gunshot of the beleaguered garrison. There
Clibborn was attacked by an overwhelming force of Baluchis, and
after a stubborn fight was driven back, with the loss of all his
guns, 5 officers and 190 men killed. The garrison had long since
been deprived of all meat rations, and on September 5 Brown found
that he had but six bags of flour left. On this day he received an
official letter from the Brigade-Major at Sukkur, informing him
of the defeat of the relieving force, and further adding that it
would be impossible to make another attempt, as there were no more
troops available. Brown was therefore told that he must act on his
own resources, and either cut his way out or make arrangements with
the Baluch chiefs for a safe conduct to Sukkur. On more than one
occasion Dodah Khan, the head of the Murri tribe, had offered to
allow Brown to march through his country if he would hand over the
fort, but without superior orders Brown felt he was not entitled to
treat. Now he had full power to act on his own responsibility, and
on September 12, after a close siege of four months, the gallant
Brown entered into an arrangement with the Baluch chief, and
evacuated the fort which he had held so nobly. The Baluchis, unlike
the Afghans at Kabul, held to their word. Brown's return march was
unmolested, and early in October the remains of his own worn-out,
half-starved garrison reached Quetta. Few battle honours have been
more worthily earned than Kahun.
The forebodings of the prophets of evil came to pass. We had
placed Shah Sujah on the throne of his fathers, but it was not in
our power to enthrone him in the hearts of his people. Expedition
after expedition was undertaken to punish tribes which refused
to accept his rule, and who in doing so showed active hostility
to ourselves. In 1841 it was determined to evacuate the country,
but a rising of the tribes in the Khyber Pass effectually cut off
all communication between Kabul and India. Sir Robert Sale was
despatched with a brigade to open the pass, but he found that he
was compelled to fight his way at every step, and finally threw
himself into Jelalabad, a semi-fortified town midway between Kabul
and Peshawur. Shortly after his arrival he learnt of the murder of
the Envoy, Sir William Macnaghten, and of the attempt of the Kabul
garrison to reach the shelter of Jelalabad. Of the army which left
Kabul, but one man reached the shelter of Sale's defences, the 44th
Foot being absolutely annihilated. Lady Butler's picture, "The
Remnant of an Army," depicts Dr. Bryden riding, sorely wounded,
into the snowed-in fortress.[21]
JELALABAD.
This battle honour, with a mural crown, is borne by the Somerset
Light Infantry, and commemorates their gallant defence of Jelalabad
in the winter of 1841-42. As a feat of arms the defence was not of
any striking value. The garrison suffered from want of food, and
they were exposed to attack on the part of the Afghan tribes; but
as a matter of fact they were left pretty much undisturbed, their
casualties during the six months' siege being but 4 men killed, 2
officers and 14 men wounded. On April 5 Sale made a sortie, driving
off the besiegers, and so relieving himself before the arrival
of the avenging army under Pollock. In this action the 13th lost
their gallant Colonel Dennie, a soldier whose loss would have
dimmed a far more glorious victory than that won under the walls of
Jelalabad; the losses on this day were, in addition to the Colonel,
8 men killed, 2 officers and 31 men wounded. As the native infantry
regiment which shared with the 13th the glories of the defence
of Jelalabad no longer exists, I have not given the casualties
incurred by any corps but the Somerset Light Infantry. The total
casualties of the 13th throughout the campaign amounted to 4
officers and 62 men killed, 19 officers and 238 non-commissioned
officers and men wounded.
KHELAT-I-GHILZAI.
This honour, with the word "Invicta," is borne by the 12th
Pioneers (the Khelat-i-Ghilzai Regiment). During our occupation
of Afghanistan certain strategic points had necessarily been held
in order to maintain our communications with India. Amongst these
were the forts of Ghuznee and Khelat-i-Ghilzai, between the capital
and Kandahar. The former was entrusted to a Colonel Palmer, of
the 27th Bengal Infantry; the latter to Captain Craigie, with
a regiment of infantry raised in Hindustan for the army of the
Shah Sujah. Unfortunately, the Ghuznee garrison was compelled
to surrender, but Craigie and his men weathered the storm, and
though besieged for four long months, and reduced to sore straits
for food, they repelled more than one assault. For its gallant
defence of Khelat-i-Ghilzai the Shah's regiment was brought on
the establishment of the Bengal army, and now remains with us as
the 12th Pioneers (the Khelat-i-Ghilzai Regiment). In addition
to the name "Khelat-i-Ghilzai," the regiment is allowed to carry
an honorary standard, and bears on its colours the proud motto
"Invicta."
CANDAHAR, 1842.
This battle honour was conferred on the troops which, advancing
from Kandahar under General Nott, aided in the release of the
captives in Kabul, and in the punishment of the Afghans for the
murder of our Envoy in 1841. The regiments still entitled to bear
this honour are the
South Lancashire.
Welsh.
1st Skinner's Horse.
34th Poona Horse.
5th Light Infantry.
6th Light Infantry.
12th Pioneers (Khelat-i-Ghilzai Regiment).
Throughout the winter of 1841-42 General Nott had been subject to
considerable annoyance from the tribes of Southern Afghanistan.
On two occasions he had been attacked at Kandahar, and he had
experienced some difficulty in keeping open his communications with
India by the Bolan Pass. It was not until he had heard that General
Pollock was at Jelalabad that he was able to commence his advance
towards Kabul. His force was divided into two brigades of infantry,
with a small, but very efficient, force of cavalry, consisting of
the 3rd Bombay Cavalry (now the 33rd Queen's Own Light Cavalry),
and two regiments of irregular cavalry, one of which is still with
us as Skinner's Horse. His artillery comprised two batteries of
horse and two of field artillery. The First Infantry Brigade was
under Brigadier Wymer, and consisted of the 40th (South Lancashire
Regiment), the 16th and 38th Regiments of Bengal Infantry, and the
12th Khelat-i-Ghilzai Regiment, this last alone being with us.
The Second Brigade comprised the 41st (Welsh Regiment), the
42nd and 43rd Regiments of Bengal Infantry (now the 5th and 6th
Regiments of Light Infantry).
On passing Khelat-i-Ghilzai, which all through the winter had been
most gallantly defended by the 3rd Regiment of the Shah's infantry,
under Captain Craigie, Nott, in obedience to instructions,
destroyed the fortifications. At Ghuznee he met with his first
opposition, and was able, with but little loss, to inflict a sharp
defeat on the Afghans.
GHUZNEE, 1842.
This distinction was conferred on the regiments which marched
up from Kandahar, under General Nott, and were present at the
successful little skirmish outside the fortress of Ghuznee in
August, 1842. The regiments authorized to bear this honour are the
South Lancashire.
The Welsh.
33rd Q.O. Light Cavalry.
5th Light Infantry.
6th Jat Light Infantry.
12th Khelat-i-Ghilzais.
The losses were slight; indeed, when we examine the casualty
returns of nearly all the engagements that have been inscribed on
the colours of the British army for services in Afghanistan, it is
impossible to avoid the conclusion that the honours have been very
liberally bestowed.
CASUALTIES AT GHUZNEE, 1842.
+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | - | - | 3 |
|40th S. Lancs. | - | 1 | - | 12 |
|41st Welsh | - | - | - | 4 |
|33rd Q.O. Light Cavalry | 2 | 2 | 15 | 7 |
|Christie's Horse | - | 1 | 7 | 14 |
|5th Light Inf. | - | - | - | - |
|6th Jat. Lt. Inf. | - | - | - | - |
|12th Khelat-i-Ghilzais | - | - | - | - |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
CABOOL, 1842.
This distinction was granted to all the regiments which
participated in the operations in Afghanistan, having for their
object the release of the captives in the hands of Akbar Khan, or
of the relief of the garrisons at Jelalabad and Khelat-i-Ghilzai.
The command of the army operating from Peshawur was entrusted
to General George Pollock, of the Bengal Artillery, whilst the
Southern army, which advanced from Kandahar, was, as we have seen,
commanded by General Nott, a distinguished officer of the Indian
army. The regiments authorized to bear this distinction are the
3rd Hussars.
Norfolk.
Somerset Light Infantry.
East Surrey.
South Lancashire.
Welsh.
33rd Q.O. Light Cavalry.
4th Rajputs.
5th Light Infantry.
6th Light Infantry.
12th Khelat-i-Ghilzai.
Pollock's army was mobilized at Peshawur, in virtue of an
arrangement with Runjeet Singh, the Sovereign of the Punjab, who
had consented to send an army to act in conjunction with our own.
It was not until the commencement of April that General Pollock
had collected sufficient carriage for his advance. We were now
under no delusions as to the feeling of the people of Afghanistan,
and we also knew that the tribes in the Khyber Pass would oppose
every step of our way. Sir Robert Sale had relieved himself before
General Pollock started, and it was intended that his troops
should join in the advance, and take their share in carrying
out the punishment to be inflicted on the city of Kabul. Sale's
brigade was numbered the First of Pollock's army, which was thus
constituted:
Commanding the Forces: General George Pollock.
Second in Command: Major-General John McCaskill.
First Brigade--Major-General Sir Robert Sale: 13th (Somerset
Light Infantry), 35th Light Infantry, and tribal levies.
Second Brigade--Brigadier-General Tulloch: 9th (Norfolk
Regiment), 26th and 60th Regiments of Bengal Infantry.
Third Brigade--Brigadier-General Wilde: 30th, 53rd, and 64th
Regiments of Bengal Infantry.
Fourth Brigade--Brigadier-General Monteath: 31st (East Surrey),
6th and 33rd Regiments of Bengal Infantry.
The cavalry brigade was under Brigadier-General White, and
consisted of the 3rd Hussars, the 1st and 10th Regiments of Bengal
Light Cavalry, and two corps of Irregular Horse.
The artillery comprised two batteries of horse artillery, three
of field, and one mountain battery, under Brigadier-General H.
Delafosse.
Pollock determined to advance before the arrival of his Third
Brigade, leaving that to join him at Jelalabad. He left Peshawur
on April 5, and, after one or two sharp skirmishes, arrived
at Jelalabad on the 16th of the same month. Here the army was
reorganized, Sir Robert Sale being made a Divisional General, and
placed in command of the second division, which was to consist of
the 9th (Norfolks), the 13th (Somerset Light Infantry), the 16th
and 26th Regiments of Bengal Infantry.
General McCaskill, in command of the first division, had under
him the 31st (East Surrey), the 33rd and 60th Regiments of Bengal
Infantry, and the Sikh army.
In the month of August the army continued its advance on Kabul.
Some opposition was experienced in forcing the passes in which our
troops in the preceding winter had met their doom, but by the end
of September retribution had been exacted; the captives, amongst
whom were Sir Robert Sale's wife and daughter, had been released;
the Bala Hissar, or citadel, in Kabul had been destroyed, and
Nott's army had joined hands with the Commander-in-Chief. The
retirement to Peshawur was effected with comparatively little
loss, and in the beginning of November the army was once more on
the left bank of the Sutlej, in British territory.
Pollock's force met with opposition in the Khyber, both in going up
to relieve the garrison of Jelalabad as well as in the return march
from Kabul to Peshawur, the casualties of his and Nott's force
being--
+-------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|3rd Hussars | - | - | - | 8 |
|9th Norfolk | 1 | 5 | 26 | 90 |
|13th Somerset L.I. | - | 1 | 2 | 19 |
|31st E. Surrey | 1 | 2 | 5 | 40 |
|40th South Lancs | 1 | 4 | 15 | 33 |
|41st Welsh | 2 | 3 | 11 | 48 |
|5th Light Inf. | - | 2 | 8 | 17 |
|6th Light Inf. | - | 3 | 12 | 76 |
+-------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
CUTCHEE, 1839-1842.[22]
This distinction, which is borne on the appointments of the 35th
Scinde Horse and the 36th Jacob's Horse, was awarded to those
regiments for their services in the province of Cutchee during
the operations in Afghanistan in 1839-1842. Cutchee is a province
of Southern Baluchistan, and the inhabitants had been enriching
themselves at the cost of the East India Company by a very
comprehensive system of attacks on our convoys. No general action
was fought, and the actual losses incurred by the two regiments
were trifling; but the work was none the less arduous for the
absence of fighting, and Sir Charles Napier felt it would be an
encouragement to the two newly-raised regiments if they received
some outward token that the Sirkar appreciated their good and
gallant conduct. On several occasions the regiments had shown
considerable dash, and had never hesitated to follow their British
officers against any number of Baluchis.