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Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment

January 01, 1970

The siege of the Sherpur Cantonment
Part of Second Anglo-Afghan War

Assault on the Sherpur cantonment.
Date15–23 December 1879
Location
Kabul, Afghanistan
34°31′58″N 69°09′57″E / 34.53278°N 69.16583°E / 34.53278; 69.16583
Result British victory
Belligerents

 British Empire

Afghanistan
Commanders and leaders
Frederick Roberts

Mir bacha khan [1]

Mohammed Jan
Strength
7,000 Anglo-Indian troops 50,000 tribal warriors[1]
Casualties and losses
33 dead and wounded 3,000 killed[1]

The siege of the Sherpur Cantonment was a battle fought in December 1879, during the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

Background edit

On 3 September 1879 Sir Pierre Cavagnari, the British Resident in Kabul, and his escort were massacred by mutinous Afghan troops, initiating the second phase of the Second Anglo-Afghan War. A force was assembled and named the Kabul Field Force, under the command of Major-General Frederick Roberts. After defeating Afghan forces at Chariasab on 6 October, Roberts marched into Kabul on 13 October. With Kabul itself vulnerable to attack, Roberts based his force in the unfinished Sherpur cantonment, a mile north of the city. A military commission was then set up to try those responsible for Cavagnari's death. While a strong response to the murders was considered necessary, the resultant public executions helped unite Afghan opposition against the British presence.[2]

At the end of November, an army of tribesmen under the command of Mohammed Jan Khan Wardak, who had denounced Amir Mohammad Yaqub Khan as a British puppet and instead declared Musa Jan the new amir, gathered in the area north of Kabul. On 11 December a small detachment (c.170 men) of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and the 14th Bengal Lancers encountered a 10,000+ Afghan army advancing on Kabul.[3] In an attempt to delay the advance, the outnumbered Lancers charged the Afghans.[3] Heavy casualties were suffered and the Afghans continued their advance.[3] Anglican chaplain James Adams was awarded the Victoria Cross for rescuing the wounded.[4]

The siege edit

On 15 December, the Afghan army began to besiege the British forces entrenched in the Sherpur Cantonment. As news of a relief column under the command of Brigadier General Charles Gough reached Mohammed Jan, he ordered his troops to storm the cantonment on 23 December. By midday, the assault had been repulsed, and the Afghan army dispersed. No quarter was given to Afghans found in the area with weapons.[5]

The Sherpur Cantonment is maintained up to the present as a British military cemetery.[6]

Order of battle edit

British regiments edit

British Indian Army regiments edit

Gallery edit

  •  
    The Afghan forces charge (illustration by Sidney Paget)
  •  
    Bengal Sapper and Miners Bastion, in Sherpur Cantonment circa 1879
  •  
    View inside the Sherpur Cantonment today

References edit

  1. ^ a b British Battles: The Second Anglo-Afghan War. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  2. ^ Robson, Brian (2008). "Roberts, Frederick Sleigh, first Earl Roberts (1832–1914)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/35768. Retrieved 25 February 2009. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. ^ a b c A Short History of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers 1715–1949
  4. ^ "No. 25008". The London Gazette. 26 August 1881. p. 4393.
  5. ^ Forbes, Archibald (1912). The Afghan Wars 1839–42 and 1878–80: Chapter IV: The December storm. Gutenberg Project E-book.
  6. ^ Afghanistan's 'graveyard of foreigners'

January 01, 1970
siege, sherpur, cantonment, siege, sherpur, cantonmentpart, second, anglo, afghan, warassault, sherpur, cantonment, date15, december, 1879locationkabul, afghanistan34, 53278, 16583, 53278, 16583resultbritish, victorybelligerents, british, empire, british, raja. The siege of the Sherpur CantonmentPart of Second Anglo Afghan WarAssault on the Sherpur cantonment Date15 23 December 1879LocationKabul Afghanistan34 31 58 N 69 09 57 E 34 53278 N 69 16583 E 34 53278 69 16583ResultBritish victoryBelligerents British Empire British RajAfghanistanCommanders and leadersFrederick RobertsMir bacha khan 1 Mohammed JanStrength7 000 Anglo Indian troops50 000 tribal warriors 1 Casualties and losses33 dead and wounded3 000 killed 1 The siege of the Sherpur Cantonment was a battle fought in December 1879 during the Second Anglo Afghan War Contents 1 Background 2 The siege 3 Order of battle 3 1 British regiments 3 2 British Indian Army regiments 4 Gallery 5 ReferencesBackground editOn 3 September 1879 Sir Pierre Cavagnari the British Resident in Kabul and his escort were massacred by mutinous Afghan troops initiating the second phase of the Second Anglo Afghan War A force was assembled and named the Kabul Field Force under the command of Major General Frederick Roberts After defeating Afghan forces at Chariasab on 6 October Roberts marched into Kabul on 13 October With Kabul itself vulnerable to attack Roberts based his force in the unfinished Sherpur cantonment a mile north of the city A military commission was then set up to try those responsible for Cavagnari s death While a strong response to the murders was considered necessary the resultant public executions helped unite Afghan opposition against the British presence 2 At the end of November an army of tribesmen under the command of Mohammed Jan Khan Wardak who had denounced Amir Mohammad Yaqub Khan as a British puppet and instead declared Musa Jan the new amir gathered in the area north of Kabul On 11 December a small detachment c 170 men of the 9th Queen s Royal Lancers and the 14th Bengal Lancers encountered a 10 000 Afghan army advancing on Kabul 3 In an attempt to delay the advance the outnumbered Lancers charged the Afghans 3 Heavy casualties were suffered and the Afghans continued their advance 3 Anglican chaplain James Adams was awarded the Victoria Cross for rescuing the wounded 4 The siege editOn 15 December the Afghan army began to besiege the British forces entrenched in the Sherpur Cantonment As news of a relief column under the command of Brigadier General Charles Gough reached Mohammed Jan he ordered his troops to storm the cantonment on 23 December By midday the assault had been repulsed and the Afghan army dispersed No quarter was given to Afghans found in the area with weapons 5 The Sherpur Cantonment is maintained up to the present as a British military cemetery 6 Order of battle editBritish regiments edit 9th Lancers 67th Foot 72nd Highlanders 92nd Highlanders British Indian Army regiments edit 12th Cavalry 14th Murray s Lancers Queen s Own Corps of Guides 5th Cavalry Punjab Frontier Force 1st PWO Sappers and Miners 23rd Bengal Native Infantry Pioneers 28th Bengal Native Infantry Punjabis 3rd Sikh Infantry 5th Punjabis Vaughan s Rifles 2nd Gurkha Rifles 4th Gurkha Rifles 5th Gurkha Rifles 22nd Derajat Mountain Battery Frontier Force 24th Hazara Mountain Battery Frontier Force Gallery edit nbsp The Afghan forces charge illustration by Sidney Paget nbsp Bengal Sapper and Miners Bastion in Sherpur Cantonment circa 1879 nbsp View inside the Sherpur Cantonment todayReferences edit a b British Battles The Second Anglo Afghan War Retrieved 2008 10 15 Robson Brian 2008 Roberts Frederick Sleigh first Earl Roberts 1832 1914 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 35768 Retrieved 25 February 2009 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b c A Short History of the 9th Queen s Royal Lancers 1715 1949 No 25008 The London Gazette 26 August 1881 p 4393 Forbes Archibald 1912 The Afghan Wars 1839 42 and 1878 80 Chapter IV The December storm Gutenberg Project E book Afghanistan s graveyard of foreigners Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment amp oldid 1198218586, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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