Author Topic: Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80  (Read 218097 times)

Offline Garen

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 304
    • View Profile
Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80
« on: Saturday 27 August 05 16:41 BST (UK) »
Hello fellow researchers,

I'm new to this forum and just wanted to register my interest in this campaign (Afghanistan 1878 - 1880). I am happy to help with questions anyone might have, and I am also interested in hearing from the descendants of people who were involved in or around the war.

I have a lot of information at hand but am always interested in more. Queries are welcome, as I like to help out if I can, and it also forces me to look into different aspects of the campaign and I learn more for myself each time.

I have a website, which will be going through some bigger updates over the next few months, at http://www.angloafghanwar.info

All the best -
Garen.
Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80 - http://www.angloafghanwar.info
Family research - http://www.garenewing.co.uk/family/

Offline dortmund

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 876
    • View Profile
Re: Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 27 August 05 18:28 BST (UK) »
Hi Garen,

My Great-Grandfather James Kersley (51st Regt of Foot) was at Ali Musid with the 51st, he later was the RSM of the 51st at Pontefract.


Trevor
Ethell in Yorkshire & Kent
Gamble in Hemsley & York
Kersley In Sheffield & Winchester
Roberts in Llanwrst & Sheffield
Lill in Boston
Wake in Yorkshire

Census information is Crown Copyright, from "http://wwwnationalarachives.gov.uk"

Offline Garen

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 304
    • View Profile
Re: Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 27 August 05 18:44 BST (UK) »
Hello Trevor,

As you probably know, the 51st had quite a busy time at Ali Musjid, even after the battle. One particularly exciting episode, a few days later, saw 200-300 Afridis rush a small piquet manned by just 17 men of the 51st - the attack was repulsed.

I'm not sure if you're aware of this link which publishes the diary of Colonel Ball-Acton, who commanded the 51st int he second phase of the war (second-in-command during the first phase).

http://www.parsonsfamily.co.uk/acton_afghan1.php
Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80 - http://www.angloafghanwar.info
Family research - http://www.garenewing.co.uk/family/

Offline dortmund

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 876
    • View Profile
Re: Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 27 August 05 19:25 BST (UK) »
Hi Garen,

Thanks for the info. I have attatched this below taken from The Bugle 1st Feb 1879 (the Bugle was the regimental mag of the 51st).

Trevor
Ethell in Yorkshire & Kent
Gamble in Hemsley & York
Kersley In Sheffield & Winchester
Roberts in Llanwrst & Sheffield
Lill in Boston
Wake in Yorkshire

Census information is Crown Copyright, from "http://wwwnationalarachives.gov.uk"


Offline Garen

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 304
    • View Profile
Re: Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 27 August 05 19:40 BST (UK) »
That's wonderful, Trevor, thanks so much for sharing it. The Khyber was a real hot-spot of trouble. If it wasn't Afridi tribesmen it was cholera!

Thank you again.
Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80 - http://www.angloafghanwar.info
Family research - http://www.garenewing.co.uk/family/

Offline liverpool annie

  • Deceased † Rest In Peace
  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • ********
  • Posts: 13,434
  • Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 27 August 05 20:57 BST (UK) »





Garen - you probably have this already -  but I thought you might be interested!!

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~clday/regiments.htm

Annie
Cooper : Muels : Howarth : Every : Price : King

http://web.archive.org/web/20130407030702/http://www.freewebs.com/liverpoolannie

http://web.archive.org/web/20130407191115/http://manchestersoldiers.webs.com

http://web.archive.org/web/20130807102055/http://www.powv.webs.com/
Be who you are and say what you feel -  because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind ! Dr. Seuss

Erect no gravestone .... let the Rose every year bloom for his sake ! Rilke Sonnets to Orpheus, I

Offline Garen

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 304
    • View Profile
Re: Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 28 August 05 01:33 BST (UK) »
Thank you for that one, Annie - it's already on my links page, a great resourceful site.
Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80 - http://www.angloafghanwar.info
Family research - http://www.garenewing.co.uk/family/

Offline Garen

  • RootsChat Senior
  • ****
  • Posts: 304
    • View Profile
Re: Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80
« Reply #7 on: Monday 05 September 05 23:09 BST (UK) »
Trevor -

I don't know if you are aware of the book 'Scenes Through the Battle Smoke' by the Rev. Arthur Male, but I was just researching through it (having read it a few years ago) when I came across the story you posted up about the Afghan in Sergeant Isaac Webster's tent..

"... With their lithe forms they [the Afghans] are accustomed to wriggle their tortuous course unseen along the ground, sheltered and concealed by every tiny bush or boulder. In this way, eluding most cunningly even the keen-eyed native sentries, they were known to creep into the very tents where the men were sleeping, to plunder, and even murder. A sergeant of the 51st, for instance, lying wakeful and restless in a tent under the very nose of a sentry, flung his hand careless over the side of his charpoy, and it alighted on the bare skull of one of these creeping robbers, who had got in and was lying there waiting for further opportunity. In a moment both men sprang up, and for a brief instant there was a life and death struggle. The Afghan, armed with his keen heavy knife, cut and slashed to free himself; while the sergeant, unarmed, and hampered with his heavy greatcoat, in which he was lying, could only hold on and shout for assistance. In rushed the guard, but out at the other side rushed the robber, breaking from his captor's grasp, whom he left behind bleeding from many a wound."

It's on page 76-77 (I have a c.1910 edition) - which you may already know.

Best -
Garen.
Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80 - http://www.angloafghanwar.info
Family research - http://www.garenewing.co.uk/family/

Offline dortmund

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 876
    • View Profile
Re: Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80
« Reply #8 on: Tuesday 06 September 05 17:43 BST (UK) »
Hi Garen,

Thanks for the extract, I was not aware of the book you quote, but I also have a copy of the Bugle extract and a copy of  Extracts from ‘History of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry’ by Col. H.C. Wylly, C.B., Volume 1.

Which also details the incident.

Trevor
Ethell in Yorkshire & Kent
Gamble in Hemsley & York
Kersley In Sheffield & Winchester
Roberts in Llanwrst & Sheffield
Lill in Boston
Wake in Yorkshire

Census information is Crown Copyright, from "http://wwwnationalarachives.gov.uk"