Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-80

[saffie53]

Hi, Just found this site - been reading most of day about 2nd anglo-afghan war, trying to find info on 6th Dragoon Guards and the part they played during this war.  Have a medal handed down through family for 1194 Pte W Brown in an old broach fitting (gg grandfather) Any info would be much appreciated

[Garen]

Hello Saffie

The 6th Dragoons were called into the Afghan War in the second campaign which was ignited due to the 'massacre' at the British embassy in Kabul (Sep 1879). The Carabiniers, as they were also known, entered Jalalabad at the end of October 1879 and one of their early tasks was to escort the resigned Amir, Yaqub Khan, to India. They were involved in a number of minor actions in the Khyber region and left the region for good in August 1880.

Hope that is of interest, all best -
Garen

[Garen]

Where can I read up about the trek of the column that included the 15th Hussars?

There is not as much material on Phayre's Kandahar column from Quetta as there is on Roberts' from Kabul. The Official Account and Hanna both contain some material - books that are not easy to get hold of, though there may be print-on-demand editions around (beware, they can be terrible quality, maybe Google Books has them digitised?). Another obscure book I'd recommend is Le Messurier's account of travelling that route - though that was on the initial advance in 1878/79, so before Albert was there, and in a cooler clime.

If you can get hold of the late Brian Robson's book on the Second Afghan War, that is a very good overview of the entire campaign.

Hanna, Colonel. H. B.: The Second Afghan War 1878-79-80: Its Causes, Its Conduct and Its Consequences. Archibald Constable & Co. 3 Volumes, 1899, 1904, 1910.

Cardew, F. G. (under direction of C. M. MacGregor, with P. Oliver): The Second Afghan War 1878-80 Abridged Official Account. Produced by the Intelligence Branch Army Headquarters, India. John Murray, 1908.

Le Messurier, Major: Kandahar in 1879 Being the Diary of Major Le Messurier, R.E. W. H. Allen & Co. 1880.

Robson, Brian: The Road to Kabul, the Second Afghan War 1878-1881. Arms & Armour Press, 1986 (Spellmount 2003).

Best wishes - Garen

[Beevee]

Thanks Garen . Will try to read more details on Phayre's column where I can find them.
Regards, Beevee

[saffie53]

Garen,

Thanks for the info, have now visited your site and found others mentioning the 6th Dragoon guards found them all to be a great interesting read.  Hopefully will be able to retrieve copies of service records for 1194 pte W Brown and find a little more info on him from th National Archives.

Thanks once again,

Saffie

[J11]

Garen,

I was wondering if you had any information on what F Troop (cited as the relevant troop by another reliable source) 15th Hussars did during the 2nd Afghan War.  My gg grandfather Private Niel (sic) Fergusson regimental number 1234 had a totally undistinguished, not to say disreputable, 30 year career with the 15th.  The phrase "drunken squaddie" seems to cover it!  I note from his military record that under Medals and Decorations it says Afghanistan 78.79.80 although under Special Instances of Gallant Conduct there is the expected NIL.  It occurred to me that maybe I am being a bit harsh on him and that there might be some actions in which his troop, and therefore he, might have been involved in Afghanistan which might offset the unfortunate military record ( gonorrhea, alcoholism, malingering ) I have so far.  Many thanks,

Jenny 

[Garen]

Hello Jenny

I don't have any specific information, off the top of my head, regarding F Troop in particular, I'm afraid. I can tell you about the 15th Hussars in general, which may or may not be known to you (copied from one of my earlier posts) ...

They marched on Kandahar in December 1878/January 1879, with two squadrons of the 15th seeing action en route at Takht-i-Pul and in the Ghlo Pass (not sure if one of those was F Troop or not); they were at Kandahar for just a few days before they accompanied General Biddulph up to Khelat-i-Ghilzai, stayed there a fortnight, and then returned to Kandahar. Soon after they were sent back into the Pishin Valley, opening up a route through Yargistan and then returning to India (Mirat). They started for the Afghan border again in August 1880, pausing at Quetta and eventually reaching Kandahar after the campaign had been effectively ended by Roberts' victory at the city earlier on Sept 1st. They were back in India in October. They went on to see service in South Africa in 1881 before returning to England.

Out of interest, the 15th Hussars suffered greatly from the cold at the Bolan Pass on their first advance to Kandahar, and greatly from the heat at the same location on their second advance in August 1880.

Having 'Nil' under Gallant Conduct is not at all unusual, so it's certainly not a sign of anything. I'd also have to say that drink and disease was very much a part of army life in India - so, as you suggest, don't be too harsh. (Demotions, prison and court martials would set him apart, though with enough company, for sure).

Best wishes - Garen.

[niikib]

Could you please help me with Alfred Shakespeare born 1864 brierley hill,i have tryed & tryed,but come up with nothing.
This is my military album.Alfred is the third pic.if you can tell me any thing about the others i would be grateful
http://s1101.photobucket.com/albums/g437/niikib/military/

[J11]

Thanks for your reply, Garen.  He definitely went to Afghanistan and I think he may have been on the first advance to Kandahar.  His medical record for 1878 says muscular rheumatism and gives the cause as "cold".  Unlikely to have got that in India.

Jenny