BATTLE HONOURS FOR THE SECOND AFGHAN WAR
Afghanistan, 1878-1880--Ali Masjid--Peiwar Kotal--Charasiah--Kabul,
1879--Ahmad Khel--Kandahar, 1880.
AFGHANISTAN, 1878-1880.
This battle honour was granted to all regiments which took part in
any of the operations during the course of the war in Afghanistan
between the years 1878 and 1880. In the two campaigns there were
no less than thirty-one regiments of cavalry and eighty battalions
employed, and though few of these were actually under fire, yet all
were accorded the distinction. It is borne on the colours of the
following regiments:
Carabiniers.
8th Hussars.
9th Lancers.
10th Hussars.
11th Hussars.
15th Hussars.
Northumberland Fusiliers.
Royal Fusiliers.
King's Liverpool.
Norfolks.
Devons.
Suffolks.
West Yorkshire.
East Yorkshire.
Leicesters.
Royal Irish.
K.O. Scottish Borderers.
East Lancashire.
East Surrey.
Hampshire.
North Lancashire.
Berkshire.
K.O. Yorkshire L.I.
Shropshire L.I.
King's Royal Rifles.
Manchester.
Seaforth Highlanders.
Gordon Highlanders.
Rifle Brigade.
1st Skinner's Horse.
3rd Skinner's Horse.
4th Cavalry.
5th Cavalry.
8th Cavalry.
10th Hodson's Horse.
11th Probyn's Lancers.
12th Cavalry.
13th Watson's Horse.
14th Murray's Lancers.
15th Cureton's Lancers.
17th Cavalry.
18th Tiwana Lancers.
19th Fane's Lancers.
21st Daly's Horse.
22nd Sam Browne's Horse.
23rd Cavalry.
25th Cavalry.
26th Light Cavalry.
32nd Lancers.
33rd Light Cavalry.
34th Poona Horse.
35th Scinde Horse.
36th Jacob's Horse.
38th Central India Horse.
39th Central India Horse.
Q.O. Corps of Guides.
1st P.W.O. Sappers and Miners.
2nd Q.O. Sappers and Miners.
3rd Sappers and Miners.
2nd Q.O. Light Infantry.
3rd Brahmins.
4th Rajputs.
5th Light Infantry.
6th Light Infantry.
8th Rajputs.
9th Bhopal Infantry.
11th Rajputs.
12th Pioneers.
13th Rajputs.
14th Sikhs.
15th Sikhs.
16th Rajputs.
17th Loyal Regiment.
19th Punjabis.
20th Brownlow's Punjabis.
21st Punjabis.
22nd Punjabis.
23rd Pioneers.
24th Punjabis.
25th Punjabis.
26th Punjabis.
27th Punjabis.
28th Punjabis.
29th Punjabis.
30th Punjabis.
31st Punjabis.
32nd Pioneers.
42nd Deoli Infantry.
44th Merwara Infantry.
45th Sikhs.
51st Sikhs.
52nd Sikhs.
53rd Sikhs.
55th Coke's Rifles.
56th Punjab Rifles.
57th Wilde's Rifles.
58th Vaughan's Rifles.
61st Pioneers.
64th Pioneers.
75th Carnatic Infantry.
81st Pioneers.
90th Punjabis.
101st Grenadiers.
104th Wellesley's Rifles.
105th Mahratta L.I.
108th Infantry.
109th Infantry.
110th Mahratta L.I.
113th Infantry.
115th Mahrattas.
119th Multan.
124th Baluchistan.
127th Baluch L.I.
128th Pioneers.
130th Baluchis.
1st Gurkhas.
2nd Sirmoor Rifles.
3rd Gurkhas.
4th Gurkhas.
5th Gurkhas.
A very large number of these regiments were employed in keeping
open the three lines of communication with Afghanistan--viz., by
the Khyber, the Kuram, and the Bolan Passes. Though they did not
participate in any of the actions which appear on the colours of
certain more fortunate regiments, they were nevertheless exposed
to continuous hardship, and some to constant attack by the
fanatical tribes who inhabit the borderland between Hindustan and
the territories of the Amir. Some, indeed, suffered more heavily
in these long-forgotten skirmishes than did many of the regiments
which added two or three names to their list of battle honours.
In consequence of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877, our relations with
Russia became very strained, and owing to what the Sultan of Turkey
considered our neglect to afford him material support against
Russia, the long-standing friendship between England and Turkey was
imperilled. Both nations turned towards the Amir of Afghanistan as
the one potentate who could assist them to indulge in the policy of
pinpricks towards England, and both nations despatched Missions to
Kabul with this end in view. The Afghan Amir soon showed a change
in his policy towards us. In accepting a Russian Mission at Kabul
he defied treaty rights, and in refusing to accept an English
Mission he inflicted on us a deliberate insult. The English Cabinet
in the month of October, 1878, presented an ultimatum, and on
November 21 our armies crossed the frontier.
The plan of campaign was simple. Afghanistan was to be invaded by
three columns, operating respectively by the Khyber route from
Peshawar, by the Kuram route from Kohat, and by the Bolan Pass on
Kandahar. The detail of the northern force was as under:
PESHAWAR VALLEY FIELD FORCE.
Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel Browne, V.C., K.C.S.I., C.B.,
commanding.
Cavalry Brigade--Brigadier-General C. J. S. Gough, V.C., C.B.:
Two squadrons 10th Hussars, 11th Probyn's Lancers, Guides Cavalry.
Commanding Royal Artillery--Colonel W. J. Williams: One horse,
one field, three heavy, and three mountain batteries.
First Infantry Brigade--Brigadier-General H. T. Macpherson, V.C.,
C.B.: 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade, 20th Brownlow's Punjabis, 4th
Gurkhas.
Second Infantry Brigade--Brigadier-General J. A. Tytler, V.C.,
C.B.: 1st Battalion Leicestershire, Guides Infantry, 51st Sikhs.
Third Brigade--Brigadier-General F. Appleyard, C.B.: 81st (North
Lancashire), 14th Sikhs, 27th Punjabis.
Fourth Infantry Brigade--Brigadier-General W. Browne: 51st
(King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry), 6th Jat Light Infantry,
45th Sikhs.
Mobilizing at Peshawar in the early days of November, 1878, the
column crossed the frontier at Jumrood on November 21, and
advanced on Ali Masjid, the hill fortress at the Afghan entrance
of the Khyber Pass. Some show of fight was made, and Sir S. Browne
deferred making the assault until the arrival of all his troops. In
the course of the night the Afghans evacuated the fort, which was
occupied by our men. Thus, with a casualty list of under sixty, the
main road to Kabul had been opened.
ALI MASJID.
This battle honour is borne by the
10th Hussars.
Loyal North Lancashires.
Leicester.
K.O. Yorkshire L.I.
Rifle Brigade.
11th Probyn's Lancers.
Q.O. Corps of Guides.
6th Light Infantry.
1st P.W.O. Sappers and Miners.
14th Sikhs.
20th Brownlow's Punjabis.
27th Punjabis.
45th Rattray's Sikhs.
51st Sikhs.
4th Gurkhas.
The casualties incurred were:
+-------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | - | 1 | 9 |
|51st K.O. Yorkshire L.I. | - | - | 1 | 1 |
|14th Sikhs | - | 1 | 8 | 24 |
|20th Punjabis | - | - | - | 1 |
|27th Punjabis | 2 | - | 4 | 6 |
+-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
KURAM VALLEY FIELD FORCE.
Major-General F. S. Roberts, V.C., C.B., commanding.
Cavalry Brigade--Brigadier-General Hugh Gough, V.C., C.B.: One
squadron 10th Hussars, 12th and 25th Cavalry.
Commanding Royal Artillery--Colonel A. H. Lindsay: One horse, one
field, and two mountain batteries.
First Infantry Brigade--Brigadier-General A. H. Cobbe: 1st
Battalion Liverpool Regiment, 23rd Pioneers, 29th Punjabis, and
58th Vaughan's Rifles.
Second Infantry Brigade--Brigadier-General J. B. Thelwall: 72nd
(Seaforth Highlanders), 21st Punjabis, 56th Rifles, and 5th
Gurkhas.
The Central, or Kuram Valley, Field Force assembled at Kohat, and
advanced up the Thull Valley to be ready to cross the frontier on
November 21. The Afghans were known to be holding the Peiwar Kotal
in force, but the approaches to this position were well known,
having been accurately surveyed many years before by Sir Frederick
Roberts, predecessor in the post of Quartermaster-General Sir Peter
Lumsden. A frontal attack was out of the question, and there were
elements of weakness in Sir Frederick Roberts's army. One of his
British regiments was dangerously weak, both in physique and in
numbers, and one of his native regiments was disaffected. However,
this did not deter the officer, who throughout his career had ever
displayed, not only great personal gallantry, but quickness of
decision and a long-acquired habit of accepting to the full all
responsibility in cases of doubt. The frontier was crossed on the
exact date, the Peiwar Kotal reconnoitred, its defences accurately
estimated, and on December 2 the Kuram route was in our hands.
PEIWAR KOTAL, DECEMBER 2, 1879.
The regiments authorized to bear this distinction are the
King's Liverpool.
Seaforth Highlanders.
12th Cavalry.
23rd Pioneers.
29th Punjabis.
56th Punjab Rifles.
58th Vaughan's Rifles.
5th Gurkhas.
A medal and clasp, inscribed "Peiwar Kotal," were issued to the
troops engaged.
The battle honour commemorates a sharp little fight between the
Kuram column of the Afghan army, commanded by Major-General
Frederick Roberts, of the Royal Artillery, and the Afghan army.
The Afghans were drawn up behind a strongly entrenched position
on the summit of the Peiwar Kotal, a pass at the entrance of the
Kuram route to Kabul. Their numbers were estimated at 10,000 men,
and they had a well-equipped force of artillery. The position was
capable of being turned by a well-known but exceedingly difficult
path, known as the Spin Gawi. Roberts determined to turn the
position with the bulk of his force, numbering only 2,263 men, with
eight guns, whilst a frontal attack was entrusted to Brigadier
Cobbe, with 1,000 men and five guns. Starting at midnight, the
turning column pushed up an almost inaccessible path in the dead
of night, and as dawn broke appeared on the left flank of the
astonished Afghans. The resistance was for a time stubborn, but
as the troops were enabled to form across the ridges and bring a
rifle-fire to bear on the enemy, the issue soon was put beyond
doubt, and so the future Earl Roberts was able to secure his first
victory.
CASUALTIES AT THE ACTION OF THE PEIWAR KOTAL, DECEMBER 2, 1879.
+--------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | 1 | - | - | 3 |
|8th K. Liverpl. | - | 1 | 1 | 7 |
|72nd Seaforth Highlanders | - | 1 | 2 | 9 |
|12th Cavalry | - | - | - | - |
|23rd Pioneers | 1 | - | 2 | 7 |
|29th Punjabis | - | - | 5 | 12 |
|56th Punjabi Rifles | - | - | 7 | 11 |
|58th Vaughan's Rifles | - | - | - | 4 |
|5th Gurkhas | - | - | 2 | 16 |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
The army destined for the invasion of Afghanistan from the south
was double the strength of the northern columns. It was composed of
two divisions, which were under the command of Lieutenant-General
Donald Stewart, an officer of the Indian army who had held a high
staff appointment at the Siege of Delhi, had subsequently commanded
the Bengal division in the expedition to Abyssinia, and who had
seen a considerable amount of service on the Peshawar frontier
when Adjutant of a native regiment. He had held responsible staff
appointments in peace, and had earned a good reputation for
handling large bodies of troops at manœuvres. The command of the
Second Division was entrusted to Major-General Michael Biddulph,
an artillery officer who had done good service in the Crimea, and
had served in many situations in India, in all of which he had
displayed high military qualifications. This army, the composition
of which is given below, was intended to provide for the occupation
of Southern Afghanistan, and also to despatch one division to join
hands with the northern army at Kabul, should such a step be deemed
advisable. From Multan and Quetta as bases, the Kandahar army
advanced on the capital of Southern Afghanistan, which was occupied
without resistance.
KANDAHAR FIELD FORCE.
First Division: Lieutenant-General Donald Stewart commanding.
Cavalry Brigade--Brigadier-General Walter Fane, C.B.: 15th
Hussars, 8th Cavalry, 19th Fane's Lancers.
Commanding Royal Artillery--Brigadier-General C. G. Arbuthnot,
C.B.: One horse, three field, two heavy, three siege, and one
mountain battery.
First Infantry Brigade--Brigadier-General R. Barter, C.B.: 2nd
Battalion King's Royal Rifles, 15th Sikhs, and 25th Punjabis.
Second Infantry Brigade--Brigadier-General W. Hughes: 59th (East
Lancashire), 12th Kelat-i-Ghilzai Regiment, 1st and 3rd Gurkhas.
Second Division: Major-General M. A. S. Biddulph, C.B.
Artillery--Colonel Le Mesurier commanding: One field and two
mountain batteries.
Cavalry Brigade: Brigadier-General C. H. Palliser, C.B.: 21st
Daly's Horse, 22nd Sam Browne's Horse, and 35th Scinde Horse.
First Infantry Brigade--Brigadier-General R. Lacy: 70th (East
Surrey), 19th Punjabis, and 127th Baluchis. Second Infantry
Brigade--Brigadier-General T. Nuttall: 26th Punjabis, 32nd
Pioneers, 55th Coke's Rifles, and 129th Baluchis.
The three columns now proceeded to occupy strategic positions in
the country until the Amir should accede to our demands. Sir S.
Browne pushed up the Khyber Pass to Gundamak, General Roberts
undertook the pacification of the tribes bordering on the Kuram
route, and General Stewart despatched his Second Division to the
Helmund. In the spring of 1879 the Amir Shere Ali died, and his
successor at once opened negotiations with the Indian Government.
A fresh treaty was concluded, under which the Amir assented to the
nomination of a British Envoy at Kabul. Sir Louis Cavagnari was
selected for this important post, and towards the end of July left
for the Afghan capital, accompanied by a small escort of the Corps
of Guides. Our troops were recalled within the new frontier, and
all boded well, but on September 3 the Mission was attacked in the
Residency at Kabul, and every member slain, the little escort of
the Guides adding to the reputation of the regiment by refusing
all overtures from their co-religionists, and dying by the side of
their officers. Such an outrage demanded swift retribution, and Sir
Frederick Roberts at once took up the command of the troops in the
Kuram Valley, and prepared for an advance on Kabul. His army was
composed as under:
DETAILS OF THE KABUL FIELD FORCE.
Major-General Sir Frederick Roberts, K.C.B., V.C., commanding.
Cavalry Brigade--Brigadier-General Dunham Massey: 9th Lancers,
12th Cavalry, 14th Lancers, and 25th Cavalry.
Royal Artillery--Brigadier-General B. L. Gordon: Two horse and
two mountain batteries.
First Infantry Brigade--Brigadier-General Herbert Macpherson,
V.C., C.B.: 67th (Hampshire Regiment), 92nd (Gordon Highlanders),
and 28th Punjabis.
Second Infantry Brigade--Brigadier-General T. D. Baker, C.B.:
72nd (Seaforths), 53rd Sikhs, 23rd Pioneers, 58th Vaughan's
Rifles, and 5th Gurkhas.
Third Brigade--Brigadier-General J. Tytler, V.C., C.B.: 85th
(Shropshire Light Infantry), 11th and 13th Rajputs, and 20th
Punjabis.
Fourth Brigade--Brigadier-General T. E. Gordon: 2nd Battalion
King's Liverpool Regiment, 7th Rajputs, 21st and 29th Punjabis.
Leaving his Third and Fourth Brigades to maintain communications
with India, Sir Frederick at once pushed on to Kabul, meeting with
no opposition until in the immediate vicinity of the capital. On
the way he had been joined by the new Amir, who wished to disclaim
all participation in the attack on the Residency. His presence was
not an unmixed blessing. It was more than suspected that he was in
close communication with the malcontents, and that he was cognizant
of the intention of his troops to hold the position at Charasiah,
where, on October 6, Sir Frederick fought and dispersed the Afghan
army, with but little loss on our side.
CHARASIAH, OCTOBER 6, 1879.
This battle honour is borne by the following regiments:
9th Lancers.
Hampshires.
Seaforth Highlanders.
Gordon Highlanders.
12th Cavalry.
14th Murray's Lancers.
25th Cavalry.
1st P.W.O. Sappers and Miners.
23rd Pioneers.
28th Punjabis.
58th Vaughan's Rifles.
5th Gurkhas.
The force at Sir Frederick Roberts's disposal only amounted to
4,000 men and eighteen guns. The enemy occupied a series of hills
some three miles in extent, and dominating the plain to a height of
over 3,000 feet. The brunt of the fighting fell on the two Highland
regiments. Again the British General, who showed himself an adept
in mountain warfare, essayed a turning movement with Baker's
brigade, and, with a loss of but 88 killed and wounded, made his
way into Kabul.
CASUALTIES AT THE ACTION OF CHARASIAH, OCTOBER 6, 1879.
+--------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|9th Lancers | - | - | - | 1 |
|Royal Artillery | - | - | - | - |
|67th Hampshire | - | - | - | - |
|72nd Seaforth Highlanders | - | 1 | 3 | 33 |
|92nd Gordon Highlanders | - | - | 3 | 6 |
|12th Cavalry | - | - | - | - |
|14th Murray's Lancers | - | - | - | - |
|25th Cavalry | - | - | 1 | 2 |
|23rd Pioneers | - | 1 | 1 | 2 |
|28th Punjabis | - | - | - | - |
|58th Vaughan's Rifles | - | 1 | 4 | 4 |
|5th Gurkhas | - | - | 4 | 7 |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
On the issue of the medal for Afghanistan, a clasp inscribed
"Charasiah" was issued to all the troops engaged.
KABUL, 1879.
This battle honour was granted to the regiments which took part in
the operations in the neighbourhood of Kabul under Sir Frederick
Roberts in the month of December, 1879. It is borne on the colours
and appointments of the
9th Lancers.
Norfolk.
Hampshires.
Seaforth Highlanders.
Gordon Highlanders.
12th Cavalry.
14th Murray's Lancers.
25th Cavalry P.F.F.
Q.O. Corps of Guides.
1st P.W.O. Sappers and Miners.
23rd Pioneers.
28th Punjabis.
53rd Sikhs.
58th Vaughan's Rifles.
2nd Gurkhas.
4th Gurkhas.
5th Gurkhas P.F.F.
With his entry into Kabul, which was effected without further
opposition after the Battle of Charasiah, the difficulties of Sir
Frederick Roberts's army were only at their commencement. The
Amir was in our camp, but it was clear that he was heart and soul
with his people, and that they were bitterly opposed to us was
self-evident. They appeared forgetful of the ease with which they
had been defeated at Ali Masjid, at the Peiwar Kotal, and again at
Charasiah; but they remembered the campaign of 1842, when they had
annihilated a British army. Early in December the clouds broke, and
after a few engagements, in which we were not uniformly successful,
Sir Frederick Roberts withdrew his whole force into an entrenched
position at Sherpur, just outside the city, and there awaited the
attack. His dispositions were thoroughly sound. Reinforcements were
ordered up from the line of communications, but these were delayed,
owing to determined attacks by the tribes on our posts at different
points between Kabul and Peshawar.
From December 14 to 24 Sir Frederick was practically besieged in
Sherpur. On the 23rd the much-vaunted attack was delivered, but
the troops vied with their commander in steadiness. None had
lost confidence in him owing to the unfortunate failure of his
combinations against the enemy at the commencement of the month--a
failure for which the General-in-Chief was by no means responsible.
If the Afghans thought that they were likely to catch a British
army asleep at midnight, the attack on Sherpur must have woefully
disappointed them. In spite of the fact that 100,000 men had
assembled to sweep the British out of the land, the assault was
repelled before the arrival of a single man of the reinforcing
troops, and with a loss of but 57 officers and men killed and
wounded during the siege of ten days.
A clasp was added to the Afghan medal for this brilliant feat of
arms.
CASUALTIES IN THE ENGAGEMENTS NEAR KABUL, DECEMBER 11 TO 23, 1879.
+--------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|9th Lancers | 3 | 4 | 20 | 28 |
|Royal Artillery | 2 | - | 3 | 8 |
|Roy. Engineers | 2 | 1 | - | - |
|67th Hampshire | - | - | 1 | 11 |
|72nd Seaforth Highlanders | 2 | 2 | 12 | 39 |
|92nd Gordon Highlanders | 1 | 1 | 3 | 25 |
|12th Bengal C. | - | - | 5 | 4 |
|14th Lancers | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 |
|25th Cavalry P.F.F. | 2 | 2 | 8 | 6 |
|Q.O. Corps of Guides | 1 | 3 | 15 | 37 |
|23rd Pioneers | - | - | - | 1 |
|28th Punjabis | - | - | - | 1 |
|53rd Sikhs | - | 5 | 5 | 9 |
|58th Vaughan's Rifles | - | - | 4 | 17 |
|5th Gurkhas | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
The complicity of the Amir Yakub Khan in the attack on the
Residency was never clearly proved, but it was very evident that he
made no attempt to save the lives of the Envoy and his Staff. His
desire, therefore, to abdicate was encouraged, and he was deported
as a State prisoner to India. His successor, the Amir Abdur Rahman,
had been a fugitive on Russian soil for many years, and his hold
on the people was but slight. It was deemed advisable to show our
strength in those parts of the country where no British army had
been seen, and in the month of March, 1880, Sir Donald Stewart,
who was in command at Kandahar, left the capital of Southern
Afghanistan for Kabul. His force consisted of:
Cavalry Brigade--Brigadier-General C. H. Palliser, C.B.: 19th
Fane's Lancers, 21st Daly's Horse, and 22nd Cavalry.
Royal Artillery: One horse, one heavy, and two mountain batteries.
First Infantry Brigade--Brigadier-General R. Barter: 2nd
Battalion King's Royal Rifles, 19th and 25th Punjabis.
Second Infantry Brigade--Brigadier-General R. J. Hughes: 59th
(East Lancashire), 15th and 52nd Sikhs, and 3rd Gurkhas.
In all, some 2,000 British and 5,000 native troops.
Leaving Kandahar on the last day of March, Sir Donald found himself
attacked by a strong body of Afghans on nearing Ghuznee, and though
for a moment things looked threatening, at the end of an hour the
enemy were in full retreat, and the name "Ahmad Khel" had been
added to the colours of the
East Lancashires.
King's Royal Rifles.
19th Fane's Horse.
21st Daly's Horse.
22nd Sam Browne's Horse.
1st P.W.O. Sappers and Miners.
15th Sikhs.
19th Punjabis.
25th Punjabis.
52nd Sikhs.
3rd Gurkhas.
Our casualties being--
+--------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Royal Artillery | - | 1 | - | 2 |
|East Lancashire | - | 2 | 1 | 10 |
|2nd Batt. K. Royal Rifles | - | - | 4 | 1 |
|19th Punjabis | - | - | - | 3 |
|19th Fane's H. | - | - | - | 19 |
|22nd Sam Browne's H. | - | 2 | 3 | 20 |
|25th Punjabis | - | - | - | 3 |
|52nd Sikhs | - | - | 1 | 9 |
|3rd Gurkhas | - | - | - | - |
+--------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
A few days later a second skirmish took place, but the march was
not further interrupted, and by the end of the month Sir Donald
Stewart had assumed the command in Northern Afghanistan.
His successor in the south now experienced a series of mishaps. At
the Battle of Maiwand a British force was totally defeated, and
Kandahar closely invested by the Afghans. A sortie, gallantly led
by Brigadier Brooke, in which that officer lost his life, resulted
in the siege being prosecuted by the Afghans with greater vigour.
CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF MAIWAND, JULY 27, 1880.
+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Staff | 1 | 1 | - | - |
|Royal Artillery | 2 | 1 | 12 | 12 |
|Roy. Engineers | 1 | - | 2 | 3 |
|66th Roy. Berks | 10 | 2 | 276 | 30 |
|33rd Q.O. Light Cavalry | 1 | - | 26 | 18 |
|3rd Scinde H. | 1 | - | 14 | 5 |
|3rd Sappers and Miners | 1 | - | 15 | 6 |
|101st Grenadiers | 10 | 6 | 356 | 55 |
|130th P.W.O. Baluchis | 6 | 7 | 235 | 25 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
CASUALTIES AT THE SORTIE FROM KANDAHAR, AUGUST 16, 1880.
+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Staff | 3 | 3 | - | - |
|Royal Fusiliers | 2 | 2 | 22 | 28 |
|59th E. Lancashire | - | - | 2 | 2 |
|33rd Q.O. Light Cavalry | - | 1 | 6 | 2 |
|34th P.W.O. Light Cav. | 1 | 1 | - | 4 |
|3rd Sappers and Miners | - | 1 | 6 | 7 |
|119th Multan I. | 2 | 1 | 20 | 24 |
|128th Pioneers | 1 | 1 | 30 | 22 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
The precarious situation at Kandahar demanded immediate measures,
and once more Sir Frederick Roberts was chosen to vindicate British
honour and to teach the Afghans that they were powerless in the
face of well-led and well-handled British troops; and he was placed
in command of the following compact force, with instructions
to march to Kandahar with all possible despatch, and crush the
anti-British movement in Southern Afghanistan.
DETAILS OF THE KABUL-KANDAHAR FIELD FORCE.
_Commander-in-Chief: Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Roberts,
K.C.B._
Cavalry Brigade--Brigadier-General Hugh Gough, V.C., C.B.: 9th
Lancers, 3rd and 23rd Regiments of Cavalry, and Central India
Horse.
Artillery Brigade--Colonel Alured Johnson: Three mountain
batteries.
Infantry Division: Major-General Sir John Ross, K.C.B.
First Brigade--Brigadier-General H. Macpherson, V.C., C.B.: 92nd
(Gordon Highlanders), 23rd Pioneers, 24th Punjabis, and 2nd
Gurkhas.
Second Brigade--Brigadier-General T. D. Baker, C.B.: 72nd
(Seaforth Highlanders), 52nd and 53rd Sikhs, and 5th Gurkhas.
Third Brigade--Brigadier-General C. M. Macgregor, C.B.: 2nd
Battalion King's Royal Rifles, 15th Sikhs, 25th Punjabis, 4th
Gurkhas.
The total strength being 2,562 British and 7,151 native troops,
with eighteen guns.
On August 11 the Kabul-Kandahar Force commenced its march to the
south, and on the 31st of the month reached Kandahar--a distance of
313 miles. No opposition was experienced on the march. The garrison
of Kandahar was found in a state of extreme dejection. In order
not to attract the enemy's fire the General in command had given
instructions that even the British flag should not be hoisted on
the walls. Neither Sir Frederick Roberts nor his force were the men
to delay when a fight was in prospect, and as the army of Ayub Khan
was still encamped in the vicinity, flushed with their victory over
General Burroughs at Maiwand, Sir Frederick determined on at once
attacking the Afghans, and on the very day of his arrival the Chief
sent out General Hugh Gough to reconnoitre the enemy's position.
KANDAHAR, SEPTEMBER 1, 1880.
This honour is borne by the
9th Lancers.
Royal Fusiliers.
Royal Berkshires.
King's Royal Rifles.
Seaforth Highlanders.
Gordon Highlanders.
3rd Sappers and Miners.
3rd Skinner's Horse.
23rd Cavalry.
33rd Q.O. Light Cavalry.
34th Poona Horse.
38th Central India Horse.
39th Central India Horse.
15th Sikhs.
23rd Pioneers.
24th Punjabis.
25th Punjabis.
52nd Sikhs.
53rd Sikhs.
101st Grenadiers.
104th Wellesley's Rifles.
119th Multan.
128th Pioneers.
129th Baluchis.
2nd Gurkhas.
4th Gurkhas.
5th Gurkhas.
Sir Frederick adopted the same tactics here as in his earlier
actions: making a wide sweeping movement with a portion of his
infantry and his cavalry, he pressed home the frontal attack with
the two Highland regiments, and in an hour the Afghan army was in
full retreat. The only troops actually engaged were those who had
marched down with General Roberts from Kabul.
CASUALTIES AT THE BATTLE OF KANDAHAR, SEPTEMBER 1, 1880.
+------------------------+-----------+-----------+
| |_Officers._| _Men._ |
| _Regiments._ +-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | K. | W. | K. | W. |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Staff | 1 | - | - | - |
|Royal Artillery | - | - | - | 6 |
|60th Roy. Rifles | - | - | - | 2 |
|72nd Seaforths | 2 | 2 | 11 | 20 |
|92nd Gordons | - | 2 | 19 | 69 |
|3rd Skinner's H. | - | 1 | - | 1 |
|23rd Cavalry P.F.F. | - | 1 | - | 6 |
|33rd Q.O. Light Cavalry | - | 1 | - | 1 |
|3rd Scinde Horse | - | - | - | 1 |
|38th C.I. Horse | 1 | - | - | 5 |
|15th Sikhs | - | - | 2 | 4 |
|23rd Pioneers | - | 1 | 2 | 13 |
|24th Punjabis | - | 1 | 1 | 10 |
|25th Punjabis | - | 1 | - | 1 |
|52nd Sikhs P.F.F. | - | 1 | 3 | 23 |
|53rd Sikhs P.F.F. | - | - | - | 6 |
|129th D.C.O. Baluchis | - | - | - | 1 |
|2nd Gurkhas | - | 2 | 8 | 21 |
|4th Gurkhas | - | 2 | 1 | 4 |
|5th Gurkhas | - | - | 1 | 2 |
+------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+