BATTLE HONOURS FOR THE SECOND AFGHAN WAR

Afghanistan, 1878-1880—Ali Masjid—Peiwar Kotal—Charasiah—Kabul, 1879—Ahmad Khel—Kandahar, 1880.

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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.

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:

Kuram Valley Field Force.

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.

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 manoeuvres. 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.

Second Division: Major-General M. A. S. Biddulph, C.B.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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—

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.

Casualties at the Sortie from Kandahar, August 16, 1880.

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.

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.

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