The Waziristan campaign 1919–1920 was a military campaign conducted in Waziristan by British and Indian forces against the fiercely independent tribesmen that inhabited this region. These operations were conducted in 1919–1920, following the unrest that arose in the aftermath of the Third Anglo-Afghan War.
Waziristan campaign 1919–1920
2nd/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles, who were stationed in the North-West Frontier following the 1919–20 campaign
The prelude to the 1919–1920 campaign was an incursion by the Mahsud Tribe in the summer of 1917 while British forces were otherwise engaged fighting in the First World War. The British Forces eventually restored calm, however, in 1919 the Waziris took advantage of unrest in British India following the Third Anglo-Afghan War to launch more raids against British garrisons. It has been asserted that one of the reasons for these raids was that a rumour had been spread amongst the Wazirs and the Mahsuds, that Britain was going to give control of Waziristan to Afghanistan as part of the peace settlement following the Third Anglo-Afghan War. Buoyed by this prospect and sensing British weakness, the tribes were encouraged to launch a series of large scale raids in the administered areas. By November 1919, they had killed over 200 people and wounded a further 200.[2]
Operations
The first attempt to subdue them began in November 1919, when Major-General Sir Andrew Skeen launched a series of operations against the Tochi Wazirs.[3] These operations were largely successful and terms were agreed,[4] and in December Skeen turned his attention to the Mahsuds. As the 43rd and 67th Brigades were grouped together as the Derajet Column and committed to the fighting,[4] they met heavy resistance as the largely inexperienced Indian units came up against determined, well-armed tribesmen. Due to the denuding of the Indian Army caused by commitments overseas during the First World War, many of the battalions employed in this campaign were second-line units with disproportionately large numbers of very young soldiers with inexperienced officers.[3]
The fighting continued for about 12 months in this vein, and the British had to resort to using aircraft on a number of occasions to suppress the tribesmen. There were a number of successes, though, notably the 2nd/5th Gurkhas' stand during the eight-day battle in January 1920 at Ahnai Tangi, and the efforts of the 2nd/76th Punjabis who fought their way through to support them. Equally notable was the counter-attack launched against the Mahsuds by just 10 men of the 4th/39th Garhwal Rifles, led by Lieutenant William David Kenny,[5] who received a posthumous Victoria Cross for his actions.[3][6]
The Mahsuds took heavy casualties during the fighting at Ahnai Tangi and it was these casualties, as well as the destruction of their villages a month later by bombers of the Royal Air Force, that temporarily subdued the Mahsuds. When the Wana Wazirs rose up in November 1920, they appealed for help from the Mahsuds, but still recovering from their earlier defeat, no support was forthcoming and the Wazir opposition faded away. On 22 December 1920, Wana was re-occupied.[3]
Minor raids by the Wazirs and forays by British forces continued into 1921; however, following the 1919–1920 campaign, the British decided upon a change of strategy in Waziristan. It was determined that a permanent garrison of regular troops would be maintained in the region to work much more closely with the militia units that were being reconstituted following the troubles that occurred during the 1919 war with Afghanistan. During this conflict, a large number of men from the irregular militia units from Waziristan deserted and turned against the British.[9] As part of this policy, it was decided that a garrison would be maintained at Razmak.[3] Throughout 1921–1924, the British undertook a road construction effort in the region that led to further conflict during the 1921–1924 campaign.[10] An aerial strafing and bombardment campaign dubbed Pink's War was carried out by the Royal Air Force in 1925.[11] Conflict flared up again in Waziristan in 1936, resulting in another campaign that lasted until 1939.[12]
^Not to be confused with another VC recipient of the same name, a drummer who served with the Gordon Highlanders and who received his VC for actions in 1914 at Ypres, Belgium.
Ashcroft, Michael (2007). Victoria Cross Heroes. London: Headline Review. ISBN978-0-7553-1633-5.
Barthorp, Michael (2002). Afghan Wars and the North-West Frontier 1839–1947. London: Cassel. ISBN0-304-36294-8.
Beattie, Hugh (2019). "Chapter 7: British policy in Waziristan and the Razmak base". Empire and Tribe in the Afghan Frontier Region: Custom, Conflict and British Strategy in Waziristan until 1947. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN978-1-83860-085-3.
Wilkinson-Latham, Robert (1977). North West Frontier 1837–1947. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN0-85045-275-9.
Further reading
General Staff, Indian Army Headquarters (2003) [1923]. Operations in Waziristan, 1919–1920. Naval & Military Press. ISBN978-1-843-42773-5.
Moreman, Tim (1998). The Army in India and the Development of Frontier Warfare 1847–1947. London: Macmillan. ISBN978-0-312-21703-7.
External links
Waziristan Revolt (1919–1920)
British and Indian Army Frontier Military Operations
January 30, 2023
waziristan, campaign, 1919, 1920, waziristan, campaign, 1919, 1920, military, campaign, conducted, waziristan, british, indian, forces, against, fiercely, independent, tribesmen, that, inhabited, this, region, these, operations, were, conducted, 1919, 1920, fo. The Waziristan campaign 1919 1920 was a military campaign conducted in Waziristan by British and Indian forces against the fiercely independent tribesmen that inhabited this region These operations were conducted in 1919 1920 following the unrest that arose in the aftermath of the Third Anglo Afghan War Waziristan campaign 1919 19202nd 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles who were stationed in the North West Frontier following the 1919 20 campaignDateNovember 1919 December 1920LocationWaziristan and North West Frontier of IndiaResultBritish Indian Army victoryBelligerentsWaziristanBritish Empire IndiaCommanders and leadersMusa Khan Mahsud Fazaldin Khan MahsudSkipton ClimoAndrew SkeenStrengthTochi Wazirs 13 500Wana Wazirs 11 900Mahsuds 10 9004 Brigades 1 Air Force WingCasualties and lossesUnknown 2 286 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Operations 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksBackground EditThe prelude to the 1919 1920 campaign was an incursion by the Mahsud Tribe in the summer of 1917 while British forces were otherwise engaged fighting in the First World War The British Forces eventually restored calm however in 1919 the Waziris took advantage of unrest in British India following the Third Anglo Afghan War to launch more raids against British garrisons It has been asserted that one of the reasons for these raids was that a rumour had been spread amongst the Wazirs and the Mahsuds that Britain was going to give control of Waziristan to Afghanistan as part of the peace settlement following the Third Anglo Afghan War Buoyed by this prospect and sensing British weakness the tribes were encouraged to launch a series of large scale raids in the administered areas By November 1919 they had killed over 200 people and wounded a further 200 2 Operations EditThe first attempt to subdue them began in November 1919 when Major General Sir Andrew Skeen launched a series of operations against the Tochi Wazirs 3 These operations were largely successful and terms were agreed 4 and in December Skeen turned his attention to the Mahsuds As the 43rd and 67th Brigades were grouped together as the Derajet Column and committed to the fighting 4 they met heavy resistance as the largely inexperienced Indian units came up against determined well armed tribesmen Due to the denuding of the Indian Army caused by commitments overseas during the First World War many of the battalions employed in this campaign were second line units with disproportionately large numbers of very young soldiers with inexperienced officers 3 The fighting continued for about 12 months in this vein and the British had to resort to using aircraft on a number of occasions to suppress the tribesmen There were a number of successes though notably the 2nd 5th Gurkhas stand during the eight day battle in January 1920 at Ahnai Tangi and the efforts of the 2nd 76th Punjabis who fought their way through to support them Equally notable was the counter attack launched against the Mahsuds by just 10 men of the 4th 39th Garhwal Rifles led by Lieutenant William David Kenny 5 who received a posthumous Victoria Cross for his actions 3 6 The Mahsuds took heavy casualties during the fighting at Ahnai Tangi and it was these casualties as well as the destruction of their villages a month later by bombers of the Royal Air Force that temporarily subdued the Mahsuds When the Wana Wazirs rose up in November 1920 they appealed for help from the Mahsuds but still recovering from their earlier defeat no support was forthcoming and the Wazir opposition faded away On 22 December 1920 Wana was re occupied 3 Two other Victoria Crosses were also awarded resulting from this campaign to Captain Ishar Singh then a sepoy 7 and to Captain Henry John Andrews 8 Aftermath EditMinor raids by the Wazirs and forays by British forces continued into 1921 however following the 1919 1920 campaign the British decided upon a change of strategy in Waziristan It was determined that a permanent garrison of regular troops would be maintained in the region to work much more closely with the militia units that were being reconstituted following the troubles that occurred during the 1919 war with Afghanistan During this conflict a large number of men from the irregular militia units from Waziristan deserted and turned against the British 9 As part of this policy it was decided that a garrison would be maintained at Razmak 3 Throughout 1921 1924 the British undertook a road construction effort in the region that led to further conflict during the 1921 1924 campaign 10 An aerial strafing and bombardment campaign dubbed Pink s War was carried out by the Royal Air Force in 1925 11 Conflict flared up again in Waziristan in 1936 resulting in another campaign that lasted until 1939 12 See also EditNorth West Frontier military history List of Waziristan Campaign Victoria Cross recipientsNotes Edit Lee Roger A Waziristan Revolt 1919 1920 Retrieved 3 April 2016 Wilkinson Latham p 25 a b c d e Barthorp p 158 a b Ashcroft p 97 Not to be confused with another VC recipient of the same name a drummer who served with the Gordon Highlanders and who received his VC for actions in 1914 at Ypres Belgium Ashcroft pp 98 99 No 32530 The London Gazette Supplement 25 November 1921 p 9609 No 32046 The London Gazette Supplement 7 September 1920 p 9133 Barthorp pp 154 155 Beattie Chapter 7 Royal Air Force History RAF History Timeline 1918 to 1929 Royal Air Force Archived from the original on 2 January 2010 Retrieved 9 March 2018 Wilkinson Latham p 28 References EditAshcroft Michael 2007 Victoria Cross Heroes London Headline Review ISBN 978 0 7553 1633 5 Barthorp Michael 2002 Afghan Wars and the North West Frontier 1839 1947 London Cassel ISBN 0 304 36294 8 Beattie Hugh 2019 Chapter 7 British policy in Waziristan and the Razmak base Empire and Tribe in the Afghan Frontier Region Custom Conflict and British Strategy in Waziristan until 1947 Bloomsbury Publishing ISBN 978 1 83860 085 3 Wilkinson Latham Robert 1977 North West Frontier 1837 1947 London Osprey Publishing ISBN 0 85045 275 9 Further reading EditGeneral Staff Indian Army Headquarters 2003 1923 Operations in Waziristan 1919 1920 Naval amp Military Press ISBN 978 1 843 42773 5 Moreman Tim 1998 The Army in India and the Development of Frontier Warfare 1847 1947 London Macmillan ISBN 978 0 312 21703 7 External links EditWaziristan Revolt 1919 1920 British and Indian Army Frontier Military Operations Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Waziristan campaign 1919 1920 amp oldid 1117298266, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
